Friday, May 31, 2013

The Dark Shore Blog Tour Stop


I am so super excited to be participating in The Dark Shore Blog Tour!  This is a huge honor!  I have a review for you guys today, so I hope you'll stick around and read it :)


The Dark Shore
by Kevin Emerson
Series: Atlanteans #2
Pages: 470
Release Date: May 21, 2013
by Katherine Tegen Books (an imprint of Harper)

Goodreads / Purchase
BEWARE THE GODS AND THEIR HORRORS. Owen and Lilly have escaped Camp Eden, but the next step on their journey to find Atlantis and protect it from Paul and Project Elysium involves crossing the perilous wastelands of a wrecked planet. And unlike in EdenWest, where bloody truths were kept hidden beneath the surface, out here the horrors live bright beneath the poisonous sun. With treachery at every turn, Owen has no choice but to bring his wounded clan to the dark shores of Desenna, a city built from the ashes of EdenSouth. Desenna's blood-soaked walls may hold the key to Owen's journey in the form of the third Atlantean as well as a deeper understanding of the true purpose of the Three, but there are also secrets lurking in the shadows, waiting to be unleashed, and once they rise, there may be no escape.
Filled with action, mind-bending twists, and powerful scenes of emotional and physical sacrifice, THE DARK SHORE takes readers on a journey to a question so great, even the gods have trouble answering it: What would you be willing to do, to save humanity from itself?


*A copy was provided by Harper for review purposes*

After a simply amazing start to this series, The Dark Shore had a lot to live up to.  While it wasn’t as amazing as The Lost Code, it was pretty darn close.  The idea for this whole series is extremely cool and imaginative.  Atlanteans and mythological gods.  Genius!  The writing was very good, as was the setting and world.  In the beginning of the book the story was really predictable and I could guess what was going to happen, but towards the middle and the end it got much more suspenseful and interesting.  The ending was really amazing, and there are a couple twists that you will NEVER see coming.

I really like this cast.  They’re just so awesome. Seven was a favorite of mine.  She was completely crazy and added a bit of humor and snark to the story.  Owen was an awesome main character.  He really developed over the course of the two books and I loved seeing him grown stronger and more confident.  Lilly and Leech were awesome characters to add to the mix, and all of them made for a perfect cast.


Since this book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger I’m expecting a third book!  I really can’t wait to see what happens in the next book(s).  These characters are so awesome and fun, and the idea is so imaginative, I don’t want to leave the world!

4 pink flowers





Follow the Tour:


May 21: ForeverYoung Adult Guest Post: A (manic) Day from My Writing Calendar
May 22: ForeverYoung Adult: Review and Giveaway (Books 1 and 2!)
May 23: EMSReviews Books: Review and Giveaway (Books 1 and 2!)
May 28: BookYAReview: Review and Q&A
May 29: The Bookshelf Sophisticate : Review and GuestPost
May 31: Emily’s Crammed Bookshelf: Review and Interview
June 3: Synchronized Reading: Review and Guest Post
June 4: Katie’s Book Blog: Review and Interview

June 5: Justin's Book Blog: Review and Discussion Post

Thursday, May 30, 2013

{Review} Clarity by Kim Harrington

Clarity
by Kim Harrington
Series: Clarity #1
Pages: 256
Release Date: February 1, 2012 (paperback edition)
by Point (an imprint of Scholastic)

Goodreads / Purchase
Don't close your eyes. Except when the truth is too dark to bear. Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift. And a curse.
When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case -- but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother -- who has supernatural gifts of his own -- becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?


*A copy was provided by Scholastic for review purposes*

Excitement?  In Eastport? Nay!


For a relatively small book, I must say that this was one of the most interesting I’ve read in a while.  I loved how Harrington explained the setting of the novel and introduced the characters and the idea smoothly, and how she moved forward with the story line right away.  It was a very intriguing mystery, and I didn’t have a guess at who was the murderer.  Sometimes I find in murder mysteries the staging is a little too obvious, or the motive isn’t a very good one, but this book didn’t suffer from either of those flaws.  The staging and story line was very good, and I liked how Harrington had the idea to make Clarity a physic.  Also, the motive was a completely believable one.  I really loved the humor in this book as well.  It added a fun aspect to an already pretty dark book.  The ending was thrilling and interesting, and there was still a lot left to be answered.

Really the only thing that I found wrong with this book was the romance.  I don’t understand why Clarity would be attracted to Gabriel.  To me, Gabriel was a jerk.  Even after he explained his issues I didn’t like him.  He insulted Clarity, tried to tear her down, ha no respect for her, and was just an all-around jerk.  Sometimes it’s good to have those kinds of people in books, but as bad guys, not boyfriends.  Even though he messed up, I was rooting for Jason, Clarity’s cheating boyfriend.  Now, I realize that I really shouldn’t be rooting for him, but it’s explained in the book, and compared to Gabriel, Jason isn’t a bad guy.  Clarity’s attraction to Gabriel was the only thing I found wrong with her.  To me she was a very strong, spirited character, and I loved her confidence, spunk, and the fact that she didn’t care what people thought.

This book was a simple, fun mystery, full of plot twist and excellent writing and staging, along with a spunky main character.  There are a ton of unanswered questions concerning the romance, so I can’t wait to read the next book.


4 pink flowers


Favorite Quote:

He had a matching bandage on his head.  We looked like two idiots who’d decided to have a head-butting competition
Page 235

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Addicted to You Blog Tour




Today I am participating in the Addicted to You Blog Tour!  It is a book written by a fellow blogger, which I think is AWESOME!



Addicted to You
by Krista & Becca Ritchie
Series: Addicted #1
Pages: 320
Release Date: July 1, 2013
by Krista & Becca Ritchie

Add on Goodreads
No one would suspect shy, Lily Calloway’s biggest secret. While everyone is dancing at college bars, Lily stays in the bathroom. To get laid. Her compulsion leads her to one-night stands, steamy hookups and events she shamefully regrets. The only person who knows her secret happens to have one of his own. Loren Hale’s best friend is his bottle of bourbon. Lily comes at a close second. For three years, they’ve pretended to be in a real relationship, hiding their addictions from their families. They’ve mastered the art of concealing flasks and random guys that filter in and out of their apartment. But when they go on a family boat trip, surrounded by open seas and limited male bodies in sight, Lily’s confronted with a big fear. Only one guy onboard can fill her addiction, and she’s sworn off going there with Loren Hale ever again. Now the only person who can truly help her, can barely help himself.

Interview


1. Why did you decide to become a writer?
Becca: I started writing when I was 12. I had a story in my head that in retrospect sounded a lot like an episode of One Tree Hill, which hadn’t aired yet (I believe). I scribbled it on pen and paper, and eventually turned to a hefty laptop. When I was 14, I self-published a YA book and the sequel. I adore all the people who read it, but it shows off my awkward teen writing phase. I’ve grown so much now, and reviewing books has certainly given me some perspective, as well as going through high school and college as an English major.
Krista: I never thought I’d be a writer, honestly. Being a twin, sometimes you unintentionally give up some of your interests for the sake of individuality. So Becca wrote stories first and I always thought “well that’s Becca’s thing. I can’t do it too.” But I did start writing after she began (in middle school), and most of my stories were just for us. Nothing special or publishable. Over the years, I started to realize that I may actually love writing, despite her love for it too. And if I practiced and tried hard I could be just as good as her. Long story short, it was a gradual process until I decided that this is something I really wanted to do.

2. Who were your biggest influences?
Krista: Even though Addicted to You is an NA book, I’ll always consider Young Adult books to be my greatest influence in writing. But I also think that (don’t laugh) television and movies play an important role in our work. We’re big TV buffs and there’s nothing better to show you how to create tone, plot, and superb characters.
Becca: Superheroes! No really, I agree with Krista. There’s so many authors that I love and cherish, but there are great storytellers in film and television that I look up to as well—like Matthew Vaughn (Kick-Ass, X-Men: First Class). We’ve watched his commentary in films just to learn more about his process.

3. Where do you like to write?
Krista: At home on a comfy chair or couch.
Becca: Home as well. On a bed, surrounded by thousands of pillows.

4. Do you have a special routine you like to do before you write?
Krista: Since we’re sometimes writing the same story, we usually like to sit down and discuss direction and character motivations before we write a particular scene.
Becca: What she said. We usually make long drives together, and during that time, we’ll brainstorm in the car and make sure our characters are on point.

5. When and how did you get the idea for Addicted To You?
Krista: I throw out concepts all the time, and usually they’re so awful that Becca just rolls her eyes. But I knew I wanted to write a contemporary book dealing with female sex addiction, and so I just kind of played around with scenarios.
Becca: Oh yes, she’s given me concepts since we were kids. Some of them are terrible, no offense Krista. I think she had one about the Earth being so hot no one could go outside and everyone lived in a bubble…watch, that’s probably already a book.

6. Did the fact that you are a blogger help you at all while writing your book?
Krista: I think it helped a lot. We wanted to write a book that we would read and give 5 stars. If us, as book reviewers, wouldn’t rate our own book 5 stars then something is wrong. So during editing we would read with that critical eye and ask ourselves if this is something we’d dock a star for. Obviously, those parts were either cut or put through the grinder.
Becca: Knowing bloggers like you helps as well. When I published my other book, Krista hadn’t started Nawanda Files yet, and there’s a sort of veil between blogger and authors that you can’t quite cross. There’s still that support, but there’s not that friendship and coalition. So we’re really lucky to be experiencing both.

THIS OR THAT

1. Dark chocolate or milk chocolate?
Krista: Milk Chocolate!
Becca: Milk Chocolate. Both of us hate dark, way too bitter.

2. Cats or dogs?
Krista: Dogs!
Becca: Dogs, preferably small, the ones you can pick up and cuddle :)

3. Hardcover, paperback or ebook?
Krista: This one’s hard…Hardcover because they look pretty on the shelf ;)
Becca: Ebook. Don’t laugh, but I start to fall asleep when I read hardcover and paperbacks almost immediately when I crack them open. No matter what type of book it is!

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE?
1. Movie?
Krista: Dead Poets Society. My blog is named after it after all!
Becca: X2 (X-Men: First Class almost beat out, but January Jones ruined Emma Frost for me.)

2. Ice cream flavor?
Krista: Coffee
Becca: Chocolate. Strangely, Krista loves coffee ice cream but hates drinking coffee.

3. Animal?
Krista: I think Narwhals are pretty cool. They’re like whales with a unicorn horns.
Becca: Fox, ‘cause they’re cute and clever.

4. Book?
Krista: Only one?! This is too difficult, so I’ll choose the first book that I think of…Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins.
Becca: Ah, this is tough. I’ll pick an underrated high fantasy that I recently loved: Cadet of Tildor.

5. Actor and actress?
Krista: Tom Hiddleston. Loki from Thor and Avengers. Have you seen all those gifs with him? They’re awesome!
Becca: Joseph Morgan who plays Klaus on The Vampire Diaries and his co-star Candice Accola who plays Caroline. Go Klaroline!!

6. Fictional character?
Krista: Peter Pan
Becca: Peter Pan (our twin moment)


That has got to be the funnest interview I've ever had on the blog.  These girls are so awesome!  And I love Tom Hiddleston too Krista, but I Hawkeye (from Avengers) is my man.  I'm kind of obsessed lol.




Giveaway:




a Rafflecopter giveaway






Get to know Becca and Krista:


Bio:
Becca Ritchie is a carnivore of pop culture, television, film and of course YA and NA books. While in college, she worked at The CW television network and put her vampiric knowledge to good use, blogging about hit series and swooning over actors’ abs. When she’s not blogging, she writes novels and has teamed up with her twin sister for their New Adult novel ADDICTED TO YOU. Available July of 2013.

Krista Ritchie is the mind behind popular trading website YA Book Exchange and created Nawanda Files, a book blog that also features books into movies news. When not pouring over entertainment news and the newest releases, she spends her time conducting research in a genetics lab. She’s happy to join forces with her sister, harnessing their twin powers to produce the first in a New Adult series.


Connect:



Follow the Tour:

May 27th: 
Nawanda Files - Tour Kick-Off
Christy’s Book Addiction – Teaser
Dana Square – Interview
May 28th:
Emily's Crammed Bookshelf – Interview
Icey Books – Excerpt
May 29th:
The Book Slayer – Guest Post
May 30th: 
The Book Babe – Excerpt
Proserpine Craving Books – Interview + This or That
May 31st:
Books and Insomnia – Teaser
June 1st: 
Gabic Reads – Guest Post
June 3rd: 
Abibliophobic – Excerpt
June 4th:
Forever 17 Books – Excerpt
June 5th: 
She Reads New Adult – Interview
June 6th: 
Fiction-Freak – Interview
June 7th: 
Pen and Muse – Interview
June 8th: 
Nawanda Files - Closing + Extra Giveaway




THANK YOU SO MUCH BECCA AND KRISTA FOR STOPPING BY!  IT WAS A TOTAL BLAST AND I WISH YOU BOTH THE BEST OF LUCK!!! <3

Saturday, May 25, 2013

1,000 Followers Giveaway

I logged onto my Dashboard on Tuesday, saw the number "1000" next to the word "Followers" and my mouth dropped open.  So what's the first thing I do? I call my mom.  Yep.  I called her at work and screamed "I GOT 1000" and she's like "whaattt?"  and I say it over again and she's like "Oh wow cool!" and I'm like "I know".

So I wanted to formally thank ALL OF MY FOLLOWERS for being so awesome and following me and commenting and entering my giveaways and just being all around amazing.


So.

Giveaway.



I have a bit of an issue.  On Tuesday I sent out 7 packages full of books, totaling $21 dollars that all came completely out of my pocket.  I'm not complaining, it's just that since I host so many giveaways I'm kind of losing money.  And for me, a 15 year old, that's kind of a big deal.  So I WILL be hosting a giveaway today,  but I also wanted to let you know about something I'm doing here on the blog.

Since I get so many books for review, and buy so many books, I own a lot of books.  I actually have completely filled up my bookshelf and have moved to my closet.  And I don't like every single book that I own and read.  I don't want to keep them, and if I give them away I'll just be wasting more money.  So I've started to sell the books I've already read that I received for for but didn't like, and also one's that I bought and either didn't like or don't want to read.

It hasn't really worked out very well.  So I'm here to ask you, followers made of awesome, to at least go check out THIS page, look at the list, and see if you want to buy any books.  I would really appreciate it because I could kind of make up the money I've lost sending out packages.  Consider it a donation to the blog, and you get a book as reward ;P


Anyway, okay, annoying part over.  Here we go, on to the giveaway!


Because you guys are so awesome, I've decided to give away two 2013 books!



THE RULES:
~There will be 1 winner
~Giveaway ends on June 8, 2013 @ 12:00 A.M.
~This giveaway is US


THE PRIZE:

Finished copy of Falling For You and signed finished copy of City of a Thousand Dolls.





a Rafflecopter giveaway


I can't say it enough, you guys are awesome, thank you thank you thank you SO much for 1,000 followers!  AAAHH I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!

Thursday, May 23, 2013

{Review} Falling For You by Lisa Schroeder

Falling For You
by Lisa Schroeder
Pages: 355
Release Date: January 1, 2013
by Simon Pulse (an imprint of Simon & Schuster)

Goodreads / Purchase
Rae's always dreamed of dating a guy like Nathan. He’s nothing like her abusive stepfather—in other words, he’s sweet. But the closer they get, the more Nathan wants of her time, of her love, of her...and the less she wants to give. As Rae’s affection for Nathan turns to fear, she leans on her friend Leo for support. With Leo, she feels lighter, happier. And possessive Nathan becomes jealous. Then a tragedy lands Rae in the ICU. Now, hovering between life and death, Rae must find the light amid the darkness…and the strength to fight for life and the love she deserves.


*A copy was provided by Simon & Schuster for review purposes*

This was a very…interesting read.  Sad, and very interesting.  First off, Schroeder’s writing is absolutely beautiful.  It sucked me right in from literally line one.  The setting and situation for this novel is heartbreaking.  There need to be more books out there dealing with serious, sometimes depressing, issues, and I think that this book is a perfect story for that category, as far as the story line and writing goes.  The characters weren't very good..  However, Schroeder decided to tackle a big subject, and pulled it off perfectly.  The story line was absolutely amazing, and the events flowed together perfectly.  The way Schroeder wrote this book was she would switch between present and past, and in the present the main character, Rae, is in a difficult situation (not gonna say what), and that adds a bit of mystery as we try and figure out how she got where she is.  And also, I’m so glad that this book had a happy ending.  The ending was crazy, thrilling, chaotic, but so good.

I will admit, there were a few times during this book that I wanted to scream at Rae for being weak and giving in, but then I realized that, given the situation that she was in, she really couldn’t do anything else.  So, by the end of this book, I thought Rae was a decent character.  Still not the strongest I’ve ever read, but decent.  She did have to be mentally tough to deal with her situation, but I was also kind of annoyed with her when it came to her love life.  She kept on giving hints to one guy, and driving away another, and that kind of annoyed me.  And of course you have the love interests, Nathan and Leo.  I’m not going to go into their characters because I don’t want to give away spoilers, but I will say that I am Team Leo.

All in all, this book took on a big, difficult issue, and while I don’t think it was amazing, I think it was decent.  What really threw me off was the romance and the fact that Rae was a bit annoying.


3 pink flowers


What other bloggers think:

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday #65


This is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlites upcoming new releases that we're highly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Antigoddess by Kendare Blake


Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date: September 10, 2013


Old Gods never die…

Or so Athena thought. But then the feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health.

Desperately seeking the cause of their slow, miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra—an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god. 

These days, Cassandra doesn’t involve herself in the business of gods—in fact, she doesn’t even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning. 

Because Hera, the queen of the gods, has aligned herself with other of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these anti-gods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get, because immortals don’t just flicker out. 

Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath.

The Goddess War is about to begin.


What are you guys waiting on this week?
Link me up!!!

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Top Ten Favorite Book Covers Of Books I've Read


Top 10 Tuesday is a meme by Broke and Bookish, hosted each Tuesday, where bloggers list their top 10 in the chosen topic of the week.



I'M BRINGING TOP TEN TUESDAY BACK!!  WHOOP WHOOP!!!!

Today's Topic:

Top Ten Favorite Book Covers of Books I've Read





Everneath by Brodi Ashton
This cover is so unbelievably gorgeous.   I love the fantasy feel it has, and the smoke and the swirls.  Plus I'm a sucker for pretty dress covers.  The red and the gray and the black work so well together..it's just stunning.

My Review












Dreamless by Josephine Angelini This whole series has gorgeous covers.  But I decided to feature this one because I think it's prettier than the first.  I love the pink dress floating on the wind and the background and the blond hair and once again pretty dress lol.

My Review














Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
This cover is more intense and kick-butt than the others.  I love the color combinations and the light explosion behind the model, and the model herself is really intense.  And, in person, it's got a shine to it.

My Review













The Dark Light by Sara Walsh
Dark, sexy, and intense.  That describes this cover.  It mirrors the book perfectly!


My Review













Don't You Wish by Roxanne St. Claire
This one is beautiful.  It's a sci-fi contemporary, and you can tell can't you?  It's absolutely gorgeous!!


My Review












Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
What's the first thing that comes to your mind when you see this cover?  Kick-ass?  I think yes.


My Review












Defiance by C.J. Redwine
This is one of my favorite book covers of 2012, maybe of all time.  It's so kick-ass and intense and dark and perfectly mirrors the book.  Plus, can I please have the model's outfit? Please!?


My Review











For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund
Just look at the cover.  Need I say more?
















Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin
In person, this cover is finished off with a sheen and it's so pretty.  On the Internet...it's still freaking gorgeous.  The red and pinks and blacks and whites work together so well!


My Review











The Selection by Kiera Cass
Once again, just look at the cover.  It's gorgeous.


My Review











What's your Top Ten this week?
Link me up!

Monday, May 20, 2013

Bout of Books Read-a-Thon Wrap Up



Bout of Books


The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 13th and runs through Sunday, May 19th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 7.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team



My Goals:

Read and review all the books I have planned
Be active on the blogs that are participating
Participate in tweet chats #BoutOfBooks (if I can figure out how lol)

My Reading Goal: I want to read more books in a week than I usually do, so I'm going to shoot for 7-10 books.


Did I Reach My Goals?

Ummmmmmm......NO!

I didn't read all the books I was planning to, I wasn't very active on blogs, and I couldn't figure out forgot to do the Twitter thing.  So, basically  this was a big fat fail.  Although, I DID read more books than I usually do in a week.  I read:




I'm currently reading Sever.  You can check out all the books I planned to read here.



I've actually reviewed a few already:




But this was my first read-a-thon I've ever participated in.  I've learned my lesson and I definitely won't be planning on reading 11 books again lol.


ANYWAY, HOW DID YOU GUYS DO!!???

Sunday, May 19, 2013

{Review} Victoria Rebels by Carolyn Meyer

Victoria Rebels
by Carolyn Meyer
Pages: 265
Release Date: January 1, 2013
by Paula Wiseman Books (an imprint of Simon & Schuster)

Queen Victoria’s personal journals inform this captivating first-person account of one of history’s most prominent female leaders. Queen Victoria most certainly left a legacy—under her rule as the longest reigning female monarch in history, the British Empire was greatly expanded and significant industrial, cultural, political, scientific, and military changes occurred within the United Kingdom. To be a young woman in a time when few other females held positions of power was to lead in a remarkable age—and because Queen Victoria kept personal journals, this historical novel from award-winning author Carolyn Meyer shares authentic emotional insight along with accurate information, weaving a true story of intrigue and romance.


*A copy was provided by Simon & Schuster for review purposes*




Every once and a while I get a craving for some historical fiction, and I always turn to Carolyn Meyer when this happens.  I was reading and loving her books even before I started blogging.  I’ve always been secretly interested in historical fiction based on famous queens, such as Mary, Queen of Scots, Queen Elizabeth I, Marie Antoinette, and now Queen Victoria.  This book, like most of Meyer’s, depicted perfectly a side of Victoria that is very interesting.  It’s shows how she grew from a child to a 24 year old queen, and all her struggles to get there.  I loved Meyer’s writing style, and it was interesting to learn about Victoria’s childhood and all the people who affected her as she grew up.

Victoria was a very different character than I’m used to.  For one, she actually lived as some point, and in this book the author can give her a personality she didn’t have.  In my opinion, Victoria was a very strong woman, but at times stupid and selfish.  From the events described in this book she sometimes held grudges that would prove fatal to someone, and was stubborn when she was in the wrong.  But, by the end of the book, when she is a grown and experienced woman, I did like her.  I got to learn a lot about her, as well as Sir John Cavoy, Victoria’s mother’s “friend”, and Albert, and Daisy, and Uncle Leopold, and a ton of other historical figures.

Meyer is a master at historical fiction, and she always manages to make her novels interesting yet informative.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and can’t wait to read more of Meyer’s books.


4.5 pink flowers


What other bloggers thought:

Saturday, May 18, 2013

{Review} A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forrest

A Shade of Vampire
by Bella Forrest
Series: A Shade of Vampire #1
Pages: 149
Format: Paperback
Release Date: December 14, 2012
by Bella Forrest

On the evening of Sofia Claremont's seventeenth birthday, she is sucked into a nightmare from which she cannot wake. A quiet evening walk along a beach brings her face to face with a dangerous pale creature that craves much more than her blood. She is kidnapped to an island where the sun is eternally forbidden to shine. An island uncharted by any map and ruled by the most powerful vampire coven on the planet. She wakes here as a slave, a captive in chains. Sofia's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn when she is the one selected out of hundreds of girls to join the harem of Derek Novak, the dark royal Prince. Despite his addiction to power and obsessive thirst for her blood, Sofia soon realizes that the safest place on the island is within his quarters, and she must do all within her power to win him over if she is to survive even one more night. Will she succeed? ...or is she destined to the same fate that all other girls have met at the hands of the Novaks?


*A copy was provided by Bella Forrest for review purposes*


Even though it’s a small book, I think that A Shade of Vampire has all the qualities of a book twice its size.  It had good world building, good writing, and a good story line.  I loved how Forrest managed to explain the world and situation without making it boring, and how she moved the story line along quickly and efficiently.  With this being such a short book, it is hard to not write an insta-love, but Forrest did a great job of building and growing the romance so it didn’t come across of too sudden or fake.  The staging was awesome, and the ending was a completely crazy and thrilling.  But it was also a happy, sweet ending.

Forrest did a fabulous job of developing her characters.  I really loved the romance, and Derek and Sofia.  Derek was nice, caring, sexy, yes, but also cute and adorable.  Sofia was strong, defiant, and didn’t take any crap.  Their romance was so sweet and genuine, and believable, it was so nice to read.

This being the first in a series, and leaving off with a bit of a cliffhanger, I can’t wait to see what Forrest does with this world and the characters in the next few books.



2.95 pink flowers (random number, I know)



What other bloggers thought:

Friday, May 17, 2013

The Rules for Disappearing Blog Tour Stop



As part of The Rules for Disappearing tour, hosted by the awesome Itching For Books, I will be featuring an excerpt!



The Rules for Disappearing
by Ashley Elston
Series: The Rules for Disappearing #1
Pages: 320
Release Date: May 14, 2013
by Disney Hyperion

Goodreads / Purchase
She’s been six different people in six different places: Madeline in Ohio, Isabelle in Missouri, Olivia in Kentucky . . . But now that she’s been transplanted to rural Louisiana, she has decided that this fake identity will be her last. Witness Protection has taken nearly everything from her. But for now, they’ve given her a new name, Megan Rose Jones, and a horrible hair color. For the past eight months, Meg has begged her father to answer one question: What on earth did he do – or see – that landed them in this god-awful mess? Meg has just about had it with all the Suits’ rules — and her dad’s silence. If he won’t help, it’s time she got some answers for herself. But Meg isn’t counting on Ethan Landry, an adorable Louisiana farm boy who’s too smart for his own good. He knows Meg is hiding something big. And it just might get both of them killed. As they embark on a perilous journey to free her family once and for all, Meg discovers that there’s only one rule that really matters — survival.




Excerpt:



We move to the music and it’s nice. Really nice. Warmth spreads from the contact on the small of my back, and the friction between his calloused hand and mine is making it impossible to concentrate. He feels strong. And safe.
The song ends and Ethan pulls back slightly. Everyone else leaves the dance area but we’re glued to our spot. His eyes are on my mouth. My heart is pounding. He moves back in and I curl my fingers in the back of his hair.
And then we hear sirens.



Giveaway:



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, May 16, 2013

See Book Feature

Today I am featuring the awesome book See, and I will be doing an interview and giveaway with the author!!


See
by Jamie Magee
Series: See #1
Pages: 323
Format: Ebook
Release Date: May 5, 2012
by Jamie Magee

Forgetting who you are, your ambitions, your passions is crippling….but remembering – embracing your purpose with a new sense of determination is more than empowering….it's life altering. Charlie Myers is on a life altering path that will cause the dammed to humble in silence. One night…just a few friends, how could it go so wrong? That was the question seventeen year old Charlie Myers was asking when she found herself in the ER. Outwardly nothing was wrong with Charlie, she was a vision of perfect heath, internally she was battling a raging headache…one the doctor told her she would overcome shortly, but Charlie knew something else was wrong …very wrong. Part of her had been stolen…she was missing memories. Those memories were sacred. They held the key to her sanity. They told her that the sinister whispers, the shadows that came to life before her were not as ominous as she felt they were. They held the bond with her late father, a famed musician. They caused her to forget the one talent that allowed her to face the darkness that haunted her every waking hour. They also masked a much deeper bond, the face of the one that had stolen her heart, long before the age of seventeen. Sitting in the ER with her angry mother she couldn’t figure out what she was missing, or even how. Her thoughts told her that she needed to protect Britain, a friend of hers, but that didn’t make any sense – Britain didn’t need to be protected from anyone, he was strong, young, and absurdly wealthy. Charlie also knew that even though her friend Bianca called Charlie her best friend, she didn’t trust her …she was almost sure she despised her, but she couldn’t figure out why, or understand how random thoughts were telling her that she adored both Britain and Bianca – that they were her saviors – that they brought silence to the unstoppable whispers, but the silence scared Charlie. In her mind anyone or anything that could bring silence to something that dark could not be good. Charlie wanted to stay in NY, figure out what she was missing, why, and who was behind it all, but her mother had other plans. Against her will, Charlie was sent to Salem to live with her sister, within that small town Charlie found her memories and so much more. Her story begins now.



Interview:




1. Why did you decide to become a writer?
I can’t say that it was ever a decision. I was just a daydreamer -- one day a daydream came along that I just could not fight the urge to put to paper. I never dreamed of sharing this with the world!

2. Who were your biggest influences?
My answer may not make any sense but I would have to say Joseph Campbell. His vast outlook on our world and his style of communicating is something I adore.

3. Where do you like to write?
Anywhere I can find a place to settle down with my laptop and headphones. Oddly the more insane it is around me the faster the story flows.

4. Do you have a special routine you like to do before you write?
Beyond a quick run through facebook I don’t. Caffeine, good music, and a keyboard is all I need to get started!

5. When and how did you get the idea for Insight and See?
A few years ago I was daydreaming while wrapping Christmas presents. Willow, my green-eyed girl, flashed a scene full of emotion before my eyes. I mulled over that daydream until the New Year came. On January second I decided to chase this scene, figure out how it came to be in the first place.
As the Insight story grew the story of SEE came into view and before I could even fathom the scope of this massive daydream two different series had emerged.

6. Is there another book in the works? If so, what can we expect?
My See series will have a fourth book release on June 10th:Redinfined. This fall I have a new series coming out as well!

THIS OR THAT

1. Dark chocolate or milk chocolate?
Dark!

2. Cats or dogs?
Love both – but I do have more dogs…

3. Hardcover, paperback or ebook?
Ebook, just because I can take all my books with me everywhere.


WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE?

1. Movie?
The Notebook.

2. Ice cream flavor?
Cookies and cream.

3. Animal?
Elephant.

4. Book?
I can not choose!

5. Actor and actress?
Morgan Freeman can't decide on the actress...

6. Fictional character?
Harry Potter :)


Giveaway:




THE RULES:
~There will be 3 winners
~Giveaway ends on May 24, 2013 @ 12:00 A.M.
~This giveaway is INT

THE PRIZE:
3 ebooks!


a Rafflecopter giveaway



THANK YOU SO SO SO SO SO MUCH Jamie FOR STOPPING BY! YOU'RE WELCOME BACK ANY TIME!! :)

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Young Adult Debut Promotions: Parallel by Lauren Miller


Young Adult Debut Promotions (YADP) is a post I do to help out debut authors, and to get them noticed.  My posts will definitely include a feature of the book, a feature of the author, and a giveaway, with an interview, guest post, or excerpt optional.  If you would like more information about YADP click here and scroll down until you come to the section talking about it.

Today I am featuring...

Lauren Miller
And she will be doing an interview, excerpt, and giveaway!



Parallel
by Lauren Miller
Pages: 432
Release Date: May 14, 2013
by HarperTeen

Goodreads / Purchase
Abby Barnes had a plan. The Plan. She'd go to Northwestern, major in journalism, and land a job at a national newspaper, all before she turned twenty-two. But one tiny choice—taking a drama class her senior year of high school—changed all that. Now, on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, Abby is stuck on a Hollywood movie set, miles from where she wants to be, wishing she could rewind her life. The next morning, she's in a dorm room at Yale, with no memory of how she got there. Overnight, it's as if her past has been rewritten. With the help of Caitlin, her science-savvy BFF, Abby discovers that this new reality is the result of a cosmic collision of parallel universes that has Abby living an alternate version of her life. And not only that: Abby's life changes every time her parallel self makes a new choice. Meanwhile, her parallel is living out Abby's senior year of high school and falling for someone Abby's never even met. As she struggles to navigate her ever-shifting existence, forced to live out the consequences of a path she didn't choose, Abby must let go of the Plan and learn to focus on the present, without losing sight of who she is, the boy who might just be her soul mate, and the destiny that's finally within reach.




Author Interview:



1. Why did you decide to become a writer?
I'm not sure it was ever a decision.  Writing has always just been my thing.  In elementary school, I'd start a new "novel" every other week.  Decorate the cover of a spiral bound notebook, spend hours coming up with the perfect title, then start writing.  I'd get about four chapters in and discover that I had no idea where my story was going and abandon it.  I did this over and over again, for years.  Afraid that I'd never finish anything, I decided to give up my writing dreams and do something practical, so I went to law school.  The only problem was, I didn't like practicing law.  So a few years into my career, I started writing again.  This time it was TV scripts!  Amazingly, I had no trouble finishing these.  Parallel was actually the first script I ever wrote.  When it didn't become a television show, I decided to turn it into a novel.

2. Who were your biggest influences?
My dad.  My love of storytelling came from him.  Instead of reading stories to me when I was a kid, he'd make stories up.  My favorites involved a character named "Debbie Dixon" who solved crimes like Nancy Drew.

3. Where do you like to write?
Either in my office at home or at the coffee shop up the street from me.  It really depends on what stage I'm in with a story. In the early stages, I like to be out in the world. When I'm rewriting, I like to be at home where I have two gigantic monitors so I can put the old draft on one screen and the new draft on another.

4. Do you have a special routine you like to do before you write?
Nope. I wrote Parallel (the novel version, not the TV script) while I was home on maternity leave with my daughter. Because she kept me so busy, I had to learn to write in every spare minute I had, so I couldn't waste time preparing to write -- I just had to get right to it.  These days, I still treat writing this way, as something I have to just dive into whenever a free moment arises.

5. When and how did you get the idea for Parallel?
PARALLEL was the answer the the questions I was asking myself the year I got married.  What if my husband and I had never met?  Would our paths have crossed some other way?  Parallel was the story that came out of those questions.  When I first began, it wasn't a sci fi story at all.  It was more like the movie Sliding Doors, where you don't really know why Helen's life splits into two versions.  But the further I got into it, the more I felt like I owed my readers an explanation.  So I started reading about parallel universe theory, and the more I learned, the more excited I got about the idea of grounding my book in real science.

6. Is there another book in the works? If so, what can we expect?
Yes!  It'll be out next year. Like Parallel, this book has a slight sci fi aspect, but its tone is a little darker.  It's more of a thriller.  I'm really excited about it!

THIS OR THAT

1. Dark chocolate or milk chocolate?
Dark, definitely.

2. Cats or dogs?
Dogs.  Sorry kitties, I'm allergic.

3. Hardcover, paperback or ebook?
Paperback.  I like my books dogeared and water stained!  Used books are my favorite.


WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE?

1. Movie?
Beaches.

2. Ice cream flavor?
Mint

3. Animal?
When I was little, I was obsessed with the yak at the Turtleback Zoo in New Jersey where we lived.  He had this enormous red tongue and reminded me of a creature from Where the Wild Things Are.

4. Book?
Hardest question ever.  There are too many!  And my favorites span the genres.  The ones that top the list are A Wrinkle in Time, Madame Bovary, The Turn of the Screw, Frankenstein, and The Prince of Tides.  Oh, and anything by John Irving.

5. Actor and actress?
Brit Marling.  She's the star of Another Earth and its co-writer, and she's amazing.

6. Fictional character?
She's not very likable, but I have a soft spot in my heart for Emma Bovary of Madame Bovary.



Excerpt:



“Abby? Abby, honey, wake up.”
My eyes fly open. My mom, still in her pajamas, is sitting on the edge of my bed, her face the picture of calm. I appreciate her effort, but I know instantly that something is wrong. There is much too much sunlight in my room.
“What time is it?”
“Five till eight.”
I blink. For a moment I am still, calculating the exact number of minutes between now and the time the late bell rings.
Thirteen.
“Abby?” My mom is clearly confused by my stillness. We both know there’s no way I’m making it to school on time, which means I’ll miss the beginning of the senior parking lottery. They start at the parking spot closest to the building and work their way toward the street, drawing names from a box at lightning speed. In order to claim your space, you have to be present at the drawing when they call your name.  If you’re not, game over.  You’re automatically relegated to the annex lot across the street.
I spring out of bed.
“Why didn’t my alarm go off? And why is my alarm clock on the floor?” I point an accusing finger at the base of my nightstand, where my clock radio is lying facedown on the carpet.
My mom bends to pick it up.
“There was an earthquake last night,” she replies, setting the clock back on my nightstand. It’s blinking 12:00. “At least, they think it was an earthquake.”
“There was an earthquake? In Atlanta?” I stare at her.
“How is that possible?”
“Apparently, it’s not the first time it’s happened. And it wasn’t just here, either.” She presses the radio button on my clock. The familiar sound of my favorite morning news program fills the room.
“No significant damage or injuries have been reported, but people are reporting power outages in various parts of the city. This is the third earthquake to hit the Atlanta area since 1878. Seismologists are baffled by the quake, which, despite its relatively small size—only five point nine on the Richter scale—appears to have triggered seismic activity all over the globe.”
I wonder briefly if I’m still asleep. An earthquake felt all over the world?

Giveaway:




THE RULES:
~There will be 1 winner
~Giveaway ends on May 23, 2013 @ 12:00 A.M.
~This giveaway is US/CAN


THE PRIZE:
A signed finished copy to one lucky winner!!!




a Rafflecopter giveaway



Get to know Lauren Miller:



Bio:

I couldn't find her bio, but I really recommend you check out her website and also her other one that, Embrace the Detour.  I just read through it (gosh I sound like such a stalker.  But I'm not!) and I really have a new respect for her.  I found it very interesting, and I really think you guys should make sure you follow her on Twitter, Facebook, ect because I certainly am.



Connect:





THANK YOU SO SO SO SO SO MUCH LAUREN FOR STOPPING BY! I'M GONNA GO STALK YOU ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR A WHILE NOW ;p
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