The Seven Days of Secret Diamond Sisters Day 7 - Book!!

IT'S HERE!!!!

TODAY IS THE DAY!

The book will be hitting the shelves at a bookstore near you! What book am I talking about?  Well just the one I've been talking about for the past SEVEN days, Michelle Madow's newest book, THE SECRET DIAMOND SISTERS.

She has written a fun, sexy, and fast-paced novel about the lavish world of the Las Vegas elite, and the three everyday sisters caught up in it's web!  I loved the book so much, and I'm very excited to be a part of this amazing 7-day countdown organized by Tiffany at About to Read.  First, don't forget to catch up on all the posts!

SO as today is release day I am going to have ALL the links for online buying that I can think of, and of course if the book isn't at a bookstore near you DEMAND they order it!  I have a soft spot for fun contemporaries, and SDS just hits all the marks so well.

And because I loved the book so much I am holding a giveaway for TWO lucky winners to receive a personalized copy of The Secret Diamond Sisters as I am driving my butt to Miami to be at Michelle's release party for the book!  HOORAY!!  BUT you only have ONE day left to enter so hurry!

Also don't forget to scroll down for more info on the book, as well as check the link at the end for all the other blogs hosting giveaways/posts/reviews.

LAST FUN FACT ABOUT THE BOOK:

Researching these books is the most fun thing ever, because it involves going to Vegas and partying with friends <3 p="">

BUY ALL THE BOOKS!!

 Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Book Depository - Books-A-Million - Inkwood Books 

The Secret Diamond Sisters by Michelle Madow

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.

(Goodreads)

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE OTHER BLOGS' GIVEAWAYS

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Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott (Review)

Title: Fire & Flood
Author(s): Victoria Scott
Edition: ARC, 320 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: February 25, 2014
Source: Received from publisher for review
Buy: Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Book Depository - Inkwood Books

The Summary

A modern day thrill ride, where a teen girl and her animal companion must participate in a breathtaking race to save her brother's life—and her own. 

Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.

Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.

The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?

(Goodreads)

My Opinion

This book is hands down one of my favorite in 2014.  Full of mystery, danger, death, and heartbreak, Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott chews you up on page 1 and spits you out on page 320.  I have never read a book so fast; you can't help but dive headfirst into the story of the mysterious Brimstone Bleed with Tella and the rest of the Contenders.

First things first, let's talk about plot.  This world is set in our reality, well a version of our reality.  All the Contenders that Tella, the protagonist, meets has a loved one who is sick and dying, just like she does.  This is the motivation for them all to go on this race with little to no information besides the fact that the winner of the race will receive a cure for their loved one.  And this race, think of it as a mix between The Amazing Race and Man vs Wild, is filled with so many different dangers that regular people don't think about.  But the Contenders do have an advantage; Victoria has created things she calls Pandoras to pair with the Contenders.  Each Pandora has a unique skill that will help the Contenders along their journey.  These can range from being able to breath fire, to shooting barbs out of their skin.  So these seemingly ordinary people are thrust into this extraordinary circumstance, and out of all of them Tella is one of the Contenders you least expect to survive.

But survive she does.  Tella is a quintessential girl.  She's into shopping, makeup and boys.  But that doesn't mean she's weak as many people assume.  She is time and time again faced with overwhelming conditions, but she finds ways of surviving.  Of course she complains, and cries, and wishes she was anywhere but in the middle of the race, but she reaches inside and finds her strength.  And maybe that strength is to allow herself to be whiney and miserable for a little while.  But the point is that Tella is a girl and she is strong.  In the words of Victoria herself, "...femininity and strength are not mutually exclusive.  You can like nail polish AND conquer the world" (3 February 2014, 3:25 p.m. Tweet).

Besides being pulled along this crazy race, you get to learn about the people behind the Brimstone Bleed the further you read.  But in great mystery style, you just get more and more questions popping up.  I'm not going to divulge more information than that the people behind everything clearly have more motives than you think.  And what's special about this plot line is that it creeps up on you unexpectedly just like it does Tella, as both you and her start to realize her own personal connection to the race.

Heart-stopping, inventive, and action-packed, Fire & Flood needs to be on your Must Read List for 2014!  Victoria Scott has produced a winner, and I for one am going to be anxiously awaiting the arrival of the next book (which based on this YouTube video may be called Salt & Stone, which makes sense because we still have ocean and mountain to get through!)  Grab your own copy of the book, which is out TODAY in bookstores across the country.  You won't be disappointed!

Extras

Check out the first 4 chapters of Fire & Flood and some background on the research Victoria Scott did over at Wattpad!

Also check out her other series, The Dante Walker Trilogy
Here's the book trailer for the first book, The Collector:

Final Rating

Book Cover: 3/5
Book Title: 4/5
Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Writing: 10/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall: 46/50: A-

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The Seven Days of Secret Diamond Sisters Day 6 - Sisters!

In just 2 days, an amazing new book will be hitting the shelves at a bookstore near you! I'm talking about Michelle Madow's newest book, THE SECRET DIAMOND SISTERS.  She has written a fun, sexy, and fast-paced novel about the lavish world of the Las Vegas elite, and the three everyday sisters caught up in it's web!  I loved the book so much, and I'm very excited to be a part of this amazing 7-day countdown organized by Tiffany at About to Read.  First, don't forget to catch up on all the posts!

To kick off Day 6 of the Seven Days of Secret Diamonds, I'm talking family; specifically my sister and what I love best about her!  Sisterly love is at the very core of this book, with three Diamond sisters of different ages coming together through this new experience.  What I loved about how Michelle wrote Peyton, Courtney, and Savannah, is the fact that I can envision them in real life as flesh and blood sisters.  They squabble and bicker, but at the end of the day they have each other's backs.  That, besides anything else, is what made me love this book so much.

Don't forget to scroll down for more info on the book, as well as check the link at the end for all the other blogs hosting giveaways.  Keep checking back here through February 25 (Release Day) for more awesome Secret Diamond Sisters posts!

FUN FACT ABOUT THE BOOK:

The character of Jackson wasn’t in the original draft — he was written in during the editing phase!

The Sisters!!

Me and my older sister

My sister Melissa is 4 1/2 years older than me, so that made growing up a challenge for her, as I was always the annoying baby always running after her, bothering her and her friends.  I was just a little brat, but I wanted my big sister's attention because to me she was everything.  And even though I annoyed her like crazy, she was always there to protect me.

Now that we're both older, we have become best friends.  She's the one I turn to, and vice versa.  I don't know what I'd do without her and I'm so blessed to have her in my life.  She is the person who can infuriate me the most, and comfort me the best.  She and I have complimentary personalities and strengths, so together we make a great team.  People who don't have this kind of relationship with their siblings are missing out because there's nothing like having a best friend for a sister.

The Secret Diamond Sisters by Michelle Madow

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.

(Goodreads)

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE OTHER BLOGS' GIVEAWAYS

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The Seven Days of Secret Diamonds Day 5 - Las Vegas!!

In just 3 days, an amazing new book will be hitting the shelves at a bookstore near you! I'm talking about Michelle Madow's newest book, THE SECRET DIAMOND SISTERS.  She has written a fun, sexy, and fast-paced novel about the lavish world of the Las Vegas elite, and the three everyday sisters caught up in it's web!  I loved the book so much, and I'm very excited to be a part of this amazing 7-day countdown organized by Tiffany at About to Read.  First, don't forget to catch up on all the posts!

To kick off Day 5 of the Seven Days of Secret Diamonds, I'm talking Las Vegas, specifically what would I do if I just woke up there!  Now I've never been to Vegas, but I've always had a fascination, especially after watching the Ocean's 11 movies.  So with my interest peaked, after reading SDS I want to go even more!  The picture of Vegas Michelle paints makes it sound like this fantasy world, and that is definitely enticing.

Don't forget to scroll down for more info on the book, as well as check the link at the end for all the other blogs hosting giveaways.  Keep checking back here through February 25 (Release Day) for more awesome Secret Diamond Sisters posts!

FUN FACT ABOUT THE BOOK:

The Diamond Hotel and Residences are based off of Michelle's favorite hotels in Vegas: The Wynn and the Encore.

The City!!

Just from the sign alone you know that you're in store for a show when you roll into Vegas.  Like the Diamond sisters before Dear Old Dad took over, I have never been to Las Vegas.  But as a vacation spot it has gotten so big that I needed to do more research.  And just like the Diamond Sisters, I'll probably be overwhelmed the first time I ever visit the city.  BUT I am nothing but prepared, and because I like to be prepared I searched for the top ten things to do in Las Vegas.  Here are the results.

First things first, I'm heading to the Bellagio to witness the awesome water fountain!  Whenever I see it in movies it looks beautiful, and I'm a sucker for water set to music.

Next up, I'm heading to one of Michelle's favorite hotels, The Wynn, for their delicious buffet.  There are 15 live-action cooking stations and food from all over the world.  Uh, I am there for sure!!

Then it's back to close out the night with some hard partying at the Bellagio's The Bank.  I'd have to hit it on Thursday in order to take part in Glitz & Glamour Champagne Thursdays where ladies get complimentary entry and open champagne bar until 1:00am.  YES please!

But I'll wind the whole trip down with a visit to The Venetian's Canyon Ranch SpaClub for some luxury relaxation.  I'll need it after partying at the clubs.

And then I shall board my plane and start my normal life again.  Because after all, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!

The Secret Diamond Sisters by Michelle Madow

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.

(Goodreads)

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE OTHER BLOGS' GIVEAWAYS

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The Seven Days of Secret Diamonds Day 4 - Characters!

In just 4 days, an amazing new book will be hitting the shelves at a bookstore near you! I'm talking about Michelle Madow's newest book, THE SECRET DIAMOND SISTERS.  She has written a fun, sexy, and fast-paced novel about the lavish world of the Vegas elite, and the three everyday sisters caught up in it's web!  I loved the book so much, and I'm very excited to be a part of this amazing 7-day countdown organized by Tiffany at About to Read.  First, don't forget to catch up on all the posts!

To kick off Day 4 of the Seven Days of Secret Diamonds, I'm talking favorite sister!  It is awfully hard to pick between the Diamond sisters because all three are such fun and real characters.  But I did make the choice, and I'm very happy with it!

Don't forget to scroll down for more info on the book, as well as check the link at the end for all the other blogs hosting giveaways.  Keep checking back here through February 25 (Release Day) for more awesome Secret Diamond Sisters posts!

FUN FACT ABOUT THE BOOK:

Michelle has one brother and no sisters, so she got a lot of help from her best friends who have sisters to make the Diamond sisters’ relationships authentic!

The CHARACTER!!

Drumroll please.............It's Courtney!!  Woooooh!  Yes my FAVORITE Diamond sister has to be, hands-down, no contest, Courtney!  She is by far the most relatable character for me.  She is studious and serious and would do anything for her sisters.  Those are all qualities I admire immensely.   The biggest thing I think we have in common (and one of the biggest reasons I like her so much) is her love of reading!  Reading is the best, so whenever a character is really into it I become extremely happy.

I do wish that she took a page out of Peyton's book and became a little more outspoken and assertive. While she doesn't do things just to be popular (unlike Savannah), Courtney thinks things through before she acts.  BUT she does do things she thinks will make other people happy, which is almost ad worse.  If she had a little bit of Peyton's attitude, I think she would be much happier.

So Michelle did this awesome post about The Secret Diamond Sisters, which is awesome and really gives you a sense of how the girls look.  And has I'm all about Courtney, I wanted to share the actress Michelle picked for her: Alexandria Deberry; you may recognize her from the Disney show A.N.T. Farm.  I love this pick because she is so fresh faced, and her wavy blonde hair is Courtney's to a T.  Good choice for sure!

The Secret Diamond Sisters by Michelle Madow

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.

(Goodreads)

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE OTHER BLOGS' GIVEAWAYS

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The Seven Days of Secret Diamonds Day 3 - Makeup!

In just 5 days, an amazing new book will be hitting the shelves at a bookstore near you! I'm talking about Michelle Madow's newest book, THE SECRET DIAMOND SISTERS.  She has written a fun, sexy, and fast-paced novel about the lavish world of the Vegas elite, and the three everyday sisters caught up in it's web!  I loved the book so much, and I'm very excited to be a part of this amazing 7-day countdown organized by Tiffany at About to Read.  First, don't forget to catch up on Day ONE (giveaway) and Day TWO (review).

To kick off Day 3 of the Seven Days of Secret Diamonds, I'm talking makeup, specifically makeup that inspires me from the book!  I've picked my favorite type of makeup, eyeshadow, and lined up my favorites for each Diamond sister!  I think each pick really goes well for each sister!

And don't forget to scroll down for more info on the book.  Also check the link at the end for all the other blogs hosting giveaways and keep checking back here through February 25 (Release Day) for more awesome Secret Diamond Sisters posts!

FUN FACT ABOUT THE BOOK: 

Michelle started outlining The Secret Diamond Sisters in October 2010. That’s almost four years from idea to bookshelves!

The Makeup!!!

Courtney first: 

She was the easiest sister!  I knew right away I knew that the original Naked palette by Urban Decay was the one for her.  It has a lovely range of neutral colors, which is perfect for non-priss, serious Courtney.  She can be put together without too much caked on.

Next up, Peyton: 

Peyton was a little tougher because I really had to think about a shadow palette that held the right colors.  But again Urban Decay did not fail me.  I present the Black Palette.  As you can see the colors are perfect for punk-goth Peyton, giving her not just black but subdued dark blue and purple to express her rebel side, but also stay girly!

Finally there's Savannah:

This would be the Urban Decay Vice palette!  It has a great mix of the first two palettes and some extra bright colors because as you'll find out Savannah is a fashionista and such a bubbly girl!  And I feel like she is a product of her two sisters, as she is given the opportunity to shine by them.

The reason I focused on Urban Decay is because I love the pigment in its products.  I find that all the makeup I own from UD has upheld a full day of activities without being ruined, and the colors always pop off my face.  Eye shadow is the makeup I play around with the most, and I thought the Diamond sisters would too!

What kind of makeup do you just love?  Or are you more a natural beauty person?  Let me know!

The Secret Diamond Sisters by Michelle Madow

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.

(Goodreads)

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE OTHER BLOGS' GIVEAWAYS

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The Seven Days of Secret Diamonds Day 2 - Review!

Title: The Secret Diamond Sisters
Author(s): Michelle Madow
Edition: ARC, 382 pages
Publisher: Harlequin TEEN
Publication Date: February 25, 2014
Source: Received from author for review
Buy: Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Book Depository - Inkwood Books

The Summary

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.

(Goodreads)

My Opinion

The premise of the book is not generally something I gravitate to, but I had previously read Michelle's other books, The Transcend Time Saga, and absolutely loved them!  So when she contacted me about reviewing her newest book, The Secret Diamond Sisters, while it may not usually appeal to me, I agreed.  And I'm so glad I did because this book is fantastic!  Also I'm so happy the book got picked up by a major publisher! It'll give Michelle and her awesome writing so much more exposure, so that's awesome!

Savannah, Courtney, and Peyton are three completely different girls, but their bonds of sisterhood definitely bring them together.  With their mother's drinking problem the girls have had to rely on each other to survive, with much of the burden fallen on Peyton and Courtney as the two oldest siblings.  This has allowed Savannah to be a little more naive and carefree, which as the youngest of the three worked really well with her character.  Character development is what Michelle does best, and the three sisters are fully developed, dynamic characters.  The differences and similarities is what makes them work.  As I said, each sister is different: Peyton is the alternative rebel, wanting to be free and on her own; Courtney is the hardworking nerd, always chasing after the best in everything; And Savannah is the happy-go-lucky dreamer, who's always wishing for the next bigger thing.  But they also all contain such love for each other that their bond can stand up to a lot, even the high intensity, dizzying Vegas elite life style full of backstabbing and seduction.

Las Vegas itself is another character. Michelle has said on her blog that she vacations a lot in Vegas with her family, and it is one of her favorite cities.  That's extremely apparent as she describes The Strip to a T.  all the glitz and glamour that people expect from Vegas is there, but always with that undercurrent of danger.  From what I've read Vegas isn't a city to mess around with; due to the massive amounts of money moved through the casinos crime can be rampant, and while that isn't in the book I think Michelle does a good job of always reminding you that there is much more to the city than meets the eye.  But on a more fun note, the buildings are majestic, the people are glamorous, and the parties are epic, making me want to hop a plane on over.

I don't want to give too much away but I will say that hold on to your love triangles, because we got more of a pentagon going on here.  There are a lot of boys in the Diamond sisters' lives, and wooh boy do things bounce around.  Each of the guys are sexy as hell and offer a different perspective on life on The Strip for Savannah, Courtney, and Peyton.  Some may be working with better intentions than others, though!  Full of drama and romance, this was such a fun book to read.  I think lovers of the Gossip Girl series or The A-List series will fully enjoy diving into The Secret Diamond Sisters!  The book comes out February 25, 2014 and I'm part of an awesome seven day event celebrating all things Diamond.  Check it out here AND enter my giveaway to win a signed copy of the book here!  Happy reading!

Extras

FUN FACT: 

Michelle started outlining The Secret Diamond Sisters in October 2010. That’s almost four years from idea to bookshelves!

Check out Michelle Madow's other books, The Transcend Time Saga!

Final Rating

Book Cover: 5/5
Book Title: 3/5
Plot: 8/10
Characters: 9/10
Writing: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall: 43/50: B

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