TWO by Leigh Ann Kopans, Fainting Goats, & Minions! A blog tour gone wild!

TWO by Leigh Ann Kopans

Publication Date: October 2013

From Goodreads:

Elias and Merrin’s story continues in TWO, coming October, 2013... 

Elias and Merrin are on the run.

After escaping the Biotech Hub, they thought they could breathe easy, or at least a little easier. But when bombs slam into the Social Welfare Hub only hours after their arrival, it becomes clear there's nowhere to hide - and no end to what Biotech will do to get them back. 

Their last chance for safety and answers is the Clandestine Service Hub. CS has intel on the real, broader purpose behind Fisk’s experiments , and the newfound knowledge of the horrors hidden deep within Biotech’s walls sends Merrin back to recover a secret formula that could ruin the Supers’ world forever—and might just save the lives of the Biotech victims spiraling out of control.

Elias' sisters are counted among the victims of Fisk’s experiments, and if Elias can't find and help them, their powers will destroy them--sooner rather than later. Returning to the place it all began terrifies him, but with Fisk ready to make an example out of Merrin, and his sisters’ lives --and the lives of all Supers--hanging in the balance, he might not have a choice. If he can't find the courage to face his worst fears, Elias might lose more than his newfound powers. 

He might lose everyone he loves.

My Review:
Super Heroes, Super Powers, Super Action, & Supersonic = Super Awesome!

GAH! I think that was my first word when I finished this book. Or maybe it was AHHHHH! This book was just book is just OMG amazing. The best part? We experience it all through Elias! ACK! I could seriously live in Elias’s head…all the time. Love you Elias! 

So, I had the worst time trying to write this review. I don't want to give anything away because this book is so intense you need to experience every single moment. There are so many things I want to EEEEEEEEPPPPP about! But I'm going to do my best to tell you why I loved this book without giving away any secrets. 

I’ve been waiting for this book since the moment I finished ONE. I HAD to know what happened to Elias and Merrin. Where did they go? Were they safe? What really happened to Fisk? Will Elias or Merrin ever be more than a One? So may unanswered questions. Well, let me tell you.....ALL of these questions are answered! TWO is amazing and everything I hoped it would be (and then some). When I finally finished it felt like I ate an entire tub of ice cream and chased it with a half pound bag of M&Ms. I was so worked up from all of the action and suspense it was like the biggest sugar rush ever.  If you love superheroes, you will totally fall for TWO!

Elias and Merrin lovers get ready! You will experience a whole new side of this sweet love story. Seeing things from Elias's POV is a huge treat. There were times I wanted to strangle Merrin for causing my adorable Wonder-Boy so much stress and fear. But then I remembered that Merrin is strong, fierce, and incredibly determined. She loves Elias with all of her heart, but to stay safe would not be true to who she is. Elias fell in love with the “in the action” Merrin, not a girl who stays behind and hidden in the corner. Watching Elias struggle with Merrin’s decisions is heart wrenching. But these two are meant for each other. They have to work it out….they just have too!!

The journey these two take is wild, crazy, and full of surprises. They will learn quickly they aren't safe anywhere and that the secrets at the Biotech Hub run so much deeper than they ever imagined. The action in this story is heart-pounding and the suspense will keep you on the edge of your seat.

We see some of our favorites from the first book. Leni and Daniel are back in all their glory, Elias’s wonder-twin sisters (Nora and Lia) are still trying to get a grip on all of their power, and even Merrin’s parents and brothers stop in to help. The reunions are fantastic.

We get to meet some pretty amazing new characters as well. Hayley, Click, Gallagher, and Vera are all amazing Supers with awesome powers. I won’t tell you what they can do, but Hayley is full of snarky charm, and Vera is full of geeky-goodness. I hope we see more of Click in the future, and Gallagher is a save the day kind of guy. They all add to the excitement of the story and help our fabulous duo uncover the truth behind the intentions of the Biotech Hub (which are CRAZY). I even enjoyed (and want my own personal) Kara. Seriously, where's my Kara?

Without being too spoilery, here are some of my favorite tidbits: Powers, limbs, and virginity are lost. Powers and allies are gained. Secret missions and uncontrollable powers could be deadly for some. While secret missions and new powers could turn others into really super Supers. 

I LOVED TWO! It's got it all: romance, action, suspense, mystery, secrets, and amazing super powers. What more could you want? I'm ready to throw on my cape and go supersonic! 

In a nutshell, here is what you will experience while reading TWO:

Some of this:

Followed by a little of this:

Then a little of this: 

Then there will be some of this:

You will randomly think you can do this:

And at the end you will want to do this to Leigh Ann Kopans:

My only questions is........WHEN DO WE GET MORE?????

AND..... 

For the record, I gifted my fabulous 14-year-old nephew with this series and he absolutely loves it! He shared ONE with his English class, and his teacher and classmates also fell in love with these amazing characters. This is a heart-pounding, get out your pom-poms, you won't be able to sit down series. I loved every minute of it and I know you will too!

Raised on comic books and classic novels, Leigh Ann developed an early love of science fiction and literature. As an adult, she rediscovered her love for not only reading, but also writing the types of fiction that enchanted her as a teen. Her debut novel, ONE, is about a girl with only half a superpower, the boy who makes her fly, and her struggle to make herself whole.

Leigh Ann, her husband, and four children live in Columbus, Ohio. When she’s not immersed in the world of fiction, you can find her obsessing over the latest superhero movie or using her kids as an excuse to go out for ice cream (again.)

Twitter/Website/Goodreads

Check out ONE and find out how Merrin and Elias meet! You can read my review of ONE here!

Click the cover to see ONE on Goodreads!

Review- TWO by Leigh Ann Kopans

TWO by Leigh Ann Kopans

Publication date: October 2013

From Goodreads:

Elias and Merrin are on the run.

After escaping the Biotech Hub, they thought they could breathe easy, or at least a little easier. But when bombs slam into the Social Welfare Hub only hours after their arrival, it becomes clear there's nowhere to hide - and no end to what Biotech will do to get them back. 

Their last chance for safety and answers is the Clandestine Service Hub. CS has intel on the real, broader purpose behind Fisk’s experiments , and the newfound knowledge of the horrors hidden deep within Biotech’s walls sends Merrin back to recover a secret formula that could ruin the Supers’ world forever—and might just save the lives of the Biotech victims spiraling out of control.

Elias' sisters are counted among the victims of Fisk’s experiments, and if Elias can't find and help them, their powers will destroy them--sooner rather than later. Returning to the place it all began terrifies him, but with Fisk ready to make an example out of Merrin, and his sisters’ lives --and the lives of all Supers--hanging in the balance, he might not have a choice. If he can't find the courage to face his worst fears, Elias might lose more than his newfound powers. 

He might lose everyone he loves.

My Review:
Super Heroes, Super Powers, Super Action, & Supersonic = Super Awesome!

GAH! I think that was my first word when I finished this book. Or maybe it was AHHHHH! This book was just book is just OMG amazing. The best part? We experience it all through Elias! ACK! I could seriously live in Elias’s head…all the time. Love you Elias! 

So, I had the worst time trying to write this review. I don't want to give anything away because this book is so intense you need to experience every single moment. There are so many things I want to EEEEEEEEPPPPP about! But I'm going to do my best to tell you why I loved this book without giving away any secrets. 

I’ve been waiting for this book since the moment I finished ONE. I HAD to know what happened to Elias and Merrin. Where did they go? Were they safe? What really happened to Fisk? Will Elias or Merrin ever be more than a One? So may unanswered questions. Well, let me tell you.....ALL of these questions are answered! TWO is amazing and everything I hoped it would be (and then some). When I finally finished it felt like I ate an entire tub of ice cream and chased it with a half pound bag of M&Ms. I was so worked up from all of the action and suspense it was like the biggest sugar rush ever.  If you love superheroes, you will totally fall for TWO!

Elias and Merrin lovers get ready! You will experience a whole new side of this sweet love story. Seeing things from Elias's POV is a huge treat. There were times I wanted to strangle Merrin for causing my adorable Wonder-Boy so much stress and fear. But then I remembered that Merrin is strong, fierce, and incredibly determined. She loves Elias with all of her heart, but to stay safe would not be true to who she is. Elias fell in love with the “in the action” Merrin, not a girl who stays behind and hidden in the corner. Watching Elias struggle with Merrin’s decisions is heart wrenching. But these two are meant for each other. They have to work it out….they just have too!!

The journey these two take is wild, crazy, and full of surprises. They will learn quickly they aren't safe anywhere and that the secrets at the Biotech Hub run so much deeper than they ever imagined. The action in this story is heart-pounding and the suspense will keep you on the edge of your seat.

We see some of our favorites from the first book. Leni and Daniel are back in all their glory, Elias’s wonder-twin sisters (Nora and Lia) are still trying to get a grip on all of their power, and even Merrin’s parents and brothers stop in to help. The reunions are fantastic.

We get to meet some pretty amazing new characters as well. Hayley, Click, Gallagher, and Vera are all amazing Supers with awesome powers. I won’t tell you what they can do, but Hayley is full of snarky charm, and Vera is full of geeky-goodness. I hope we see more of Click in the future, and Gallagher is a save the day kind of guy. They all add to the excitement of the story and help our fabulous duo uncover the truth behind the intentions of the Biotech Hub (which are CRAZY). I even enjoyed (and want my own personal) Kara. Seriously, where's my Kara?

Without being too spoilery, here are some of my favorite tidbits: Powers, limbs, and virginity are lost. Powers and allies are gained. Secret missions and uncontrollable powers could be deadly for some. While secret missions and new powers could turn others into really super Supers. 

I LOVED TWO! It's got it all: romance, action, suspense, mystery, secrets, and amazing super powers. What more could you want? I'm ready to throw on my cape and go supersonic! 

So in a nutshell you will spend most of the story like this:

 

Then there are the times you will do this:

You will want to see Elias like this:

And at the end you will want to do this to Leigh Ann Kopans:

My only questions is........WHEN DO WE GET MORE?????

Raised on comic books and classic novels, Leigh Ann developed an early love of science fiction and literature. As an adult, she rediscovered her love for not only reading, but also writing the types of fiction that enchanted her as a teen. Her debut novel, ONE, is about a girl with only half a superpower, the boy who makes her fly, and her struggle to make herself whole.

Leigh Ann, her husband, and four children live in Columbus, Ohio. When she’s not immersed in the world of fiction, you can find her obsessing over the latest superhero movie or using her kids as an excuse to go out for ice cream (again.)

Twitter/Website/Goodreads

One by Leigh Ann Kopans

ONE
Leigh Ann Kopans
Paperback/ebook: 374 pages
Publish Date: June 11, 2013
ISBN:  9781482690651

From Goodreads:

Sixteen-year-old Merrin Grey would love to be able to fly-too bad all she can do is hover.

If she could just land an internship at the Biotech Hub, she might finally figure out how to fix herself. She busts her butt in AP Chem and salivates over the Hub’s research on the manifestation of superpowers, all in hopes of boosting her chances.

Then she meets Elias VanDyne, another One, and all her carefully crafted plans fly out the window. Literally. When the two of them touch, their Ones combine to make them fly, and when they’re not soaring over the Nebraska cornfields, they’re busy falling for each other.

Merrin’s mad chemistry skills land her a spot on the Hub’s internship short list, but as she gets closer to the life she always wanted, she discovers that the Hub’s purpose is more sinister than is has always seemed. Now it’s up to her to decide if it’s more important to fly solo, or to save everything-and everyone-she loves.

You can find our more about Leigh Ann Kopans and her writing by visiting her website.

Pick up your copy of One at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

My Review

We follow the story of Merrin Grey, a One, with an ability to float but a desire to one day fly. The novel is almost like an uncensored diary into Merrin’s thoughts and feelings, and her journey to discover where she fits in.

In many ways Mer is your typical sixteen-year-old. She’s self-absorbed, bratty, and melodramatic at times. But she is also passionate, loyal, and fiercely determined. The voice in this is just so authentic I found myself screaming at the pages when Mer would do something impulsive, but also getting butterflies along with her when her feelings for Elias start to grow. Ms. Kopans really nails the wide range of teenage emotions and makes Mer believable.

The relationship between Mer and Elias is sweet and full of first love emotions and insecurities. I didn’t find that it was the “insta-love” you see sometimes when two people look at each other and suddenly fall in love. Mer is actually the opposite. She ignores Elias’s flirtations at first. She’s guarded because of her past experience with a boy at Superior High, and her own insecurities not only about being a One, but the typical issues most teenage girls wrestle with. It takes her some time to give in to her feelings and start to trust Elias. So when she does say the three magical words, I believe her easily. Plus, they are sixteen. A few weeks in the world of a teen is like years as an adult.

Elias grows more complex as the story progresses. There is so much more to him than just his Oneness. You really understand who he is through the relationship he shares with his parents, and the bond he shares with his sisters. While his original intentions towards Merrin may not have been as pure as the reader hopes, he is easily forgiven when you learn the “why” behind his actions.

The supporting characters are complex, each having a tie of their own to the hidden mission at the Hub. I enjoyed discovering the past each of the Ones shared, although didn’t necessarily remember. I especially liked the sibling relationships between Mer, Max and Michael, as well as Elias, Nora, and Lia. Leni and Daniel are loyal friends, and while we do get a few bits and pieces about who they are I definitely want more. I’m guessing we will see each of these characters again.

Ms. Kopans consistently weaves in mystery and surprises to keep you on your toes. The links between the characters go much deeper than expected. As a reader you will keep guessing as to how much each person knows about what’s really going on at the Hub. You will agonize with Mer about who to trust, you will feel her world crumble when she finally learns the truth, and you will cheer on her strength and determination when she won’t give up hope.

One is a great foundation to a world where Supers and Normals try to coexist and trust each other. Adding Ones to the mix makes it all that much more intriguing. Ms. Kopans has set the stage for an epic take down of those who will sacrifice anything in the name of scientific advancement. I look forward to Mer, Elias, and crew continuing their journey.