This week, one book I'm REALLY excited about is Melissa Landers's
Invaded, the full sequel to
Invaded, which was one of my favorite books of 2014! It's this fun, sexy sci-fi featuring a kickbutt human girl and the alien exchange student who moves in with her family. There is kissing, and it is GOOD kissing.
Invaded is the sequel in which the girl, Cara, goes to the alien planet alone while the boy, Aelyx, has to stay on Earth to do some serious PR work after an interplanetary disaster. Melissa has a quick message to share, and then make sure you scroll to the bottom for an amazing
Invaded giveaway!
Author: Melissa Landers
Release Date: February 3, 2015
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Genre: young adult sci-fi romance
Status: book 2 of the
Alienated series
Summary: Cara always knew life on planet L’eihr would be an adjustment. With Aelyx, her L’eihr boyfriend, back on Earth, working to mend the broken alliance between their two planets, Cara is left to fend for herself at a new school, surrounded by hostile alien clones. Even the weird dorm pet hates her.
Things look up when Cara is appointed as human representative to a panel preparing for a human colony on L’eihr. A society melding their two cultures is a place where Cara and Aelyx could one day make a life together. But with L’eihr leaders balking at granting even the most basic freedoms, Cara begins to wonder if she could ever be happy on this planet, even with Aelyx by her side.
Meanwhile, on Earth, Aelyx, finds himself thrown into a full-scale PR campaign to improve human-L’eihr relations. Humans don’t know that their very survival depends on this alliance: only Aelyx’s people have the technology to fix the deadly contamination in the global water supply that human governments are hiding. Yet despite their upper hand, the leaders of his world suddenly seem desperate to get humans on their side, and hardly bat an eye at extremists’ multiple attempts on Aelyx’s life.
The Way clearly needs humans’ help . . . but with what? And what will they ask for in return?
Author's Note:
Hey, fiction lovers. I’m Melissa Landers, author of the Alienated series (YA sci-fi from Disney-Hyperion), and today I’m bouncing with excitement because THE SEQUEL IS FINALLY HERE!
It’s
been a year since we left Aelyx and Cara onboard the intergalactic
transport, and INVADED begins with an emotional goodbye as they part
ways—Aelyx returning to Earth to salvage the alliance, and Cara
continuing to L’eihr to serve out her part of the student exchange.
While they’re apart, our star-crossed lovers will face assassination
attempts, betrayal, crippling self-doubt, and a sadistic alien Phys Ed
class. (Because there’s no escaping PE, even in another galaxy.) When
Aelyx and Cara finally reunite…well, let’s just say it’s combustive. ;-)
What do reviewers think? I’m glad you asked!
“Readers
will love the seamless blend of suspense, humor, and romance set against an
interstellar landscape. Dual narratives and a tightly plotted mystery
keep the suspense running high, and the chemistry between Aelyx and Cara
smolders.” –Booklist
“Excellent character development and integration between modern reality and science fiction. Teens will be rooting for the galactic couple while enjoying the
action and suspense that runs through the two volumes.” –School Library Journal
“The protagonists'
forced separation gives greater depth to their romance. Each earns to
turn a critical eye upon the flaws of their native societies while
onfronting genuine obstacles to a future together. These complications
only underscore the growing sense of menace that propels the narrative
to an action-packed climax.” –Kirkus
I hope
you’ll make tracks to the nearest bookstore and pick up a copy of Invaded! If
you’re snowed in, here are some easy links to bring the sequel right to you:
Cara & Aelyx's story begins in Alienated!
Pub Date: February 4, 2014
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Genre: young adult, sci-fi, romance
Status: Book 1 of the Alienated series
Summary: Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.
Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks
her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream
college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs
that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to
skyrocket.
Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and
L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant
Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though:
no human boy is this good-looking.
But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia,
Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes
appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and
Aelyx to class.
Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that
Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx
has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its
potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of
her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future
of her planet.
Check out my 4 star review of Alienated here!
Cara & Aelyx share a special Christmas...
but only Until Midnight!
Pub Date: December 23, 2014
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Genre: young adult, sci-fi, romance
Status: Book 1.5 of the Alienated series
Summary: Cara and Aelyx only have one
day to spend together before he returns to earth and she travels to
Aelyx's home planet, L'eihr. Homesick and worried about the upcoming
year apart, Cara is desperate to make these final hours count. Worst of
all, Cara is missing Christmas, stuck on board an alien spaceship. When
Aelyx learns that Cara is forgoing her favorite holiday, he tries to
recreate Christmas in space by researching traditional earth customs…but
a few things get lost in translation.
About the Author:
Melissa Landers is a former teacher who left the classroom to pursue other worlds. A proud sci-fi geek, she isn’t afraid to wear her Princess Leia costume in public—just ask her husband and three kids. She lives just outside Cincinnati in the small town of Loveland, "Sweetheart of Ohio" and writes adult contemporary romance as Macy Beckett. For more information, or just to say hello, visit
www.melissa-landers.com.
Author Links:
Giveaway:
To celebrate my book birthday, I’m offering one lucky winner a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble and an autographed swag pack, completewith mini posters of BOTH books! This giveaway is open internationally, and due to sweepstakes laws, entrants must be 18 years or older to participate.
Best of luck, and happy reading!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Many thanks to Jaime & Rachel of Rockstar Book Tours for giving me the opportunity to be part of this blitz. You ladies are awesome!