Showing posts with label ARC. Show all posts

October 01, 2018

#ARCtober Sign-Up & TBR

#ARCtober is month long reading challenge that runs from October 1st through October 31st. Challenge yourself to clear those ARCs off your TBR. It is hosted by Elley The Book Otter!

If you'd like to sign-up for #ARCtober make sure to visit Elley's sign-up post!

Hehehe. So yeah. We all know I participated in ARC August. Didn't even get close to what I wanted done. Got distracted by other books I own. Lol. I really wanna get a bunch of my upcoming and old ARCs read. Especially since I'm at 72% on NetGalley. I really want to come out of October with that coveted 80%.

My TBR (AKA, Goals of what I want to actually read):

Beneath The Citadel by Destiny Soria
The Darkest Star (Origin #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Enchantée by Gita Trelease
Monsters (Ashes #3) by Ilsa J. Bick

September 17, 2018

Review: Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor

Muse of Nightmares (Strange The Dreamer #2)
Author: Laini Taylor
Publisher: Little, Brown BYR
Publication Date: October 2, 2018
Pages: 528
Format: ARC/From Publisher

In the wake of tragedy, neither Lazlo nor Sarai are who they were before. One a god, the other a ghost, they struggle to grasp the new boundaries of their selves as dark-minded Minya holds them hostage, intent on vengeance against Weep.

Lazlo faces an unthinkable choice—save the woman he loves, or everyone else?—while Sarai feels more helpless than ever. But is she? Sometimes, only the direst need can teach us our own depths, and Sarai, the muse of nightmares, has not yet discovered what she's capable of.

As humans and godspawn reel in the aftermath of the citadel's near fall, a new foe shatters their fragile hopes, and the mysteries of the Mesarthim are resurrected: Where did the gods come from, and why? What was done with thousands of children born in the citadel nursery? And most important of all, as forgotten doors are opened and new worlds revealed: Must heroes always slay monsters, or is it possible to save them instead?

Love and hate, revenge and redemption, destruction and salvation all clash in this gorgeous sequel to the New York Timesbestseller, Strange the Dreamer.

*Spoilers for Dreams of Gods & Monsters (yes, there's connections to the other series)*

August 10, 2018

Review: The House of One Thousand Eyes by Michelle Barker

The House of One Thousand Eyes
Author: Michelle Barker
Publisher: Annick Press
Publication Date: September 11, 2018
Pages: 354
Format: ARC/For Review

Who can Lena trust to help her find out the truth? Life in East Germany in the early 1980s is not easy for most people, but for Lena, it’s particularly hard. After the death of her parents in a factory explosion and time spent in a psychiatric hospital recovering from the trauma, she is sent to live with her stern aunt, a devoted member of the ruling Communist Party. Visits with her beloved Uncle Erich, a best-selling author, are her only respite. But one night, her uncle disappears without a trace. Gone also are all his belongings, his books, and even his birth records. Lena is desperate to know what happened to him, but it’s as if he never existed. The worst thing, however, is that she cannot discuss her uncle or her attempts to find him with anyone, not even her best friends. There are government spies everywhere. But Lena is unafraid and refuses to give up her search, regardless of the consequences. This searing novel about defiance, courage, and determination takes readers into the chilling world of a society ruled by autocratic despots, where nothing is what it seems.

April 14, 2018

Stacking The Shelves #95/Sunday Post #27

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and Reading Reality as a way to share all the books we got during the week!

The Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer. Its a weekly post to showcase what books you got, recap the week, and talk about what will be coming up this week on the blog!

Glass Sword (Red Queen #2) by Victoria Aveyard
Cruel Crown (Red Queen #0.1, #0.2) by Victoria Aveyard
Zombies vs The Living Dead (Surviving The Evacuation #0.5) by Frank Tayell (Review)
Lords of the North (Saxon Stories #3) by Bernard Cornwell
Oblivion (Nevermore #3) by Kelly Creagh

I had to really control myself at the bookstore. These were only about half the books I wanted. I made some touch choices about which books to keep and buy and which ones to save for later. I think I made some good choices.

April 13, 2018

Discussion: What do you do with your ARCs when you finish them?

So I wasn't actually planning on posting this yet. It was actually gonna be planned for in a few weeks, but I decided to move it up after a renewed interest in the topic this past week.

So if there's anything most of us can agree on in the bookish community its this, don't sell ARCs! I think the one thing that drives most of us nuts is seeing an ARC being sold online, or in a bookstore. This week as I was at one of the locations of my local used bookstore (it has 3 locations around town) I was browsing the Young Adult section as I usually do and low and behold I found this sitting on the shelf to be bought:

June 12, 2013

Blog Tour + Giveaway: PODs by Michelle Pickett

PODs (PODs #1)
Author: Michelle Pickett
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Publication Date: June 4, 2013
Pages: 312
Source: ARC from Spencer Hill Press

Seventeen-year-old Eva is a chosen one. Chosen to live, while others meet a swift and painful death from an incurable virus so lethal, a person is dead within days of symptoms emerging. In the POD system, a series of underground habitats built by the government, she waits with the other chosen for the deadly virus to claim those above. Separated from family and friends, it's in the PODs she meets David. And while true love might not conquer all, it's a balm for the broken soul.

After a year, scientists believe the population has died, and without living hosts, so has the virus. That's the theory, anyway. But when the PODs are opened, survivors find the surface holds a vicious secret. The virus mutated, infecting those left top-side and creating... monsters.

Eva and David hide from the infected in the abandoned PODs. Together they try to build a life--a new beginning. But the infected follow and are relentless in their attacks. Leaving Eva and David to fight for survival, and pray for a cure.

Review: I absolutely loved this book!!! I felt like it was very well rounded. It had a fantastic mix of sadness, romance, fear, absolute terror and even happiness. It is one of my favorite reads of the year so far!!! I definitely suggest it to all dystopian fans out there!!! I absolutely loved Eva! I thought she was an awesome lead character! She is strong yet sensitive, but also very independent. She wouldn't let anyone but herself make her decisions for her. I really loved that. She knew what she wanted, and she never gave up on getting that, even if it went against what other people thought would be better for her. Though she did do what she needed to do when she absolutely had to do it.

I wanna talk about the PODs. These things were interesting. First of all, I know it definitely wasn't an accident that only younger people got chosen in the raffle. I just didn't make the other connection that Eva did in regards to their grades in school. But after finding that out, it definitely made sense. I have to say. I think I'd go nuts if I was locked in a POD with like 9 other people I didn't know. I just wouldn't adjust well to that at all! Though Eva did a fine job of it. She made friends really quickly and adjusted really well despite the pain of leaving her family behind. Almost everyone in the POD did really. They all were hurting after having to leave their families behind but they made the best of it! I found it really interesting how when everyone started schoolwork in the PODs they were slowly being pushed towards what their career would be when they left the PODs. Like Eva was slowly being pushed towards becoming a teacher even though that was something she never considered before being put in the POD. The government pretty much had control over what everyone in the PODs would be doing once they were chosen to be in it. I didn't exactly like that but at least they were taking into account what subjects the people were good at and chose a field for them that coincided with their strong points. That at least was better than being put in a field you know absolutely nothing about! On another note, I was absolutely horrified at what happened to the people in PODs that had people who showed signs of the virus! Everyone in the POD was killed!!! The POD was shut off and crushed!!! It was just horrible knowing that those people that didnt show signs of the virus in those certain PODs never had a chance. They had to die with the others who were showing signs!!! I know the government did it for containment measures, but why not give the people who were still healthy a fighting chance?

People time!!! Ok. I absolutely loved David!!! He was such a sweet guy! He really cared for Eva and did whatever he could to protect her from the bad, whether inside the PODs or out. I was totally getting annoyed with him though closer to the beginning. He was such a freaking chicken about telling Eva his feelings. There was so many times when he just started to, but then shut up and chickened out! I was seriously freaking happy when he finally just kissed her!!!! I was seriously thinking "ABOUT TIME" in my head! Lol! I also loved though, that David was also a typical teenage boy with hormones as well. He was a great guy, but he also couldn't help the fact that he was attracted to Eva either. But I do have to give both David and Eva credit. Despite the fact that they really wanted to take their relationship to an intimate level, they still had enough common sense to realize the consequences of doing that would make their survival in the world that much more complicated. So they still managed to control themselves and that, that definitely wasn't easy for either of them. Now onto the others. I loved almost everyone in Eva's POD except Josh. He was just a massive pain in the butt! My favorites though were Tiffany, her baby Faith and George. Tiffany was such a nice girl! I really liked her and the friendship she formed with Eva. And George was definitely one of the nicest guys in the POD! I thought the whole thing with George and Tiffany liking each other, but not even realizing it until like 2 months before they left the POD was funny. I mean I swear it was painfully obvious to everyone but them! It was funny. But I was also happy that they had each other to lean on and look out for each other! I thought the whole thing with Tiffany going into labor was weird though! No doctors from the main POD came to help! They pretty much forced those in the POD to deliver her baby! That was ridiculous!! I still don't understand that one! I also really liked Katie. She was the youngest of the 10 in the POD. She also developed a good friendship with Eva. I do feel bad for her though because being the youngest she had the hardest time dealing with leaving her family and then knowing people in other PODs were being killed including someone she got to know.

I do have to say I did kinda see the virus mutating into something worse than the original virus happening 100%. Virus's usually mutate into a new form after some time, so I knew it would and not just die like the government thought it would. It just how much it would mutate, no one knew. Definitely made life living outside the PODs more interesting if you weren't in a village. Having to hide and run from the Infected. The one thing I'm still wondering about though is why does the Infected's blood sting if you get it on you? What makes it sting so much??? I really hope we get that answered in the next book! I definitely cant wait to see what will happen on the next book!!!

5 Stars!

Favorite Quote:

I had to concentrate on what David was saying, "I know what you said about a relationship down here not being a good idea-"

Yeah, I take that all back. I think a relationship down here is a great idea.

"-and you're probably right. But I don't give a damn about the POD. I don't care where we are or where we end up. I just want you to be mine. I don't want to wait until we're out of here." - pg. 110 of ARC

About this author

:

I'm a wife, mother, author, reader, although not always in that order. I've been an avid reader since a young child. I began writing for personal enjoyment in college, where I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in accounting. Why I chose a degree that didn't encourage creativity is a mystery to me.

I'm addicted to Reese's peanut butter cups and eat way too many while I write. I have a weird obsession with hoodies and can't write without wearing one. I hate to cook, but love to watch cooking shows.

I'm an unabashed romantic and love swoon-worthy happy endings that give me butterflies for days.

Born and raised in Flint, Michigan, I now reside in a small community outside Houston, Texas with my incredibly supportive, not to mention gorgeous, husband, three amazing school-aged children, a 125-pound lap dog, and a cat that thinks she's queen.

I write adult and young adult Sci/Fi, urban fantasy and paranormal romances.

I love to hear from readers and other authors, so drop me a note and say "Hi!"

Website/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

May 15, 2013

Review: Until I Die by Amy Plum

Until I Die (Revenants #2)
Author: Amy Plum
Publisher: Harper Collins
Publication Date: May 8, 2012
Pages: 353
Source: ARC

Kate and Vincent have overcome the odds and at last they are together in Paris, the city of lights and love.

As their romance deepens there’s one question they can’t ignore: How are they supposed to be together if Vincent can’t resist sacrificing himself to save others? Although Vincent promises that he’ll do whatever it takes to lead a normal life with Kate, will that mean letting innocent people die? When a new and surprising enemy reveals itself, Kate realizes that even more may be at stake—and that Vincent’s immortality is in jeopardy.

In Die for Me, Amy Plum created a captivating paranormal mythology with immortal revenants and a lush Paris setting. Until I Die is poised to thrill readers with more heart-pounding suspense, spellbinding romance, and a cliff-hanger ending that will leave them desperate for the third and final novel in the series.

Review: So it only took me like a year to finally read this but I finally got to it!!! Great sequel to Die For Me! I definitely didn't feel like this book was suffering from second book syndrome like so many others do. There was always something to keep your interest! Whether it be Vincent and Kate searching for a way to make their relationship work without Vincent giving in to having to die, or the newcomers at La Maison stirring up trouble. Or the biggest thing; trying to figure out what the Numa were up to in the time they all but disappeared after their leader was killed. There was never a dull moment! Someone was always doing something to keep you interested in the story! That being said...

One of the main focus points of the book was Vincent trying to find a way to curve the compulsion to die for someone. He wanted so badly to be able to make his relationship with Kate work without having to put her through the pain of constantly watching him die. And he was willing to do this by any means possible. But these means were also very dangerous and Vincent wouldn't even let Kate know about it until he had no other choice but to tell her. So since Vincent wouldn't tell her about it, Kate went out on her own to look for another way to try and help him. What she ended up researching lead to her finding out more than she was actually looking for about the revenants. Though her trying to find a way didn't come without troubles either. Though hers were less troubling up until the end than Vincents. Hers involved more lying to the people she loved, hiding where she was going (which did put her in danger with the Numa knowing about her and everything) and even getting Vincents best friend Jules caught up in the secret. Though her trying to find a way to help him actually dug up something more important and useful to the current looming threat. All the trying to help Vincent curve his compulsion and Numa threat aside... These two are just so freaking cute together!!! Come on, pizza and movie night every month before he Vincent goes dormant for 3 days. That was cute. Having something they do every month together as a couple is just awesome. And just when these two were being a cute normal couple... I loved it!!! Also, I loved how protective Vincent was over Kate. At even the slightest hint of Numa trouble he made sure he or someone he trusted was there to protect her. It was so cute!

So the newcomers and the Numa... Lets start with the newcomers... Arthur and Violette. They came in and took the place of Charlotte and Charles when they were sent of to Nice so Charles could get his head on straight. So at first I really didn't like Arthur because of his whole lets get Kate kicked out of the Revenant meetings stunt. And he just didn't grow on me until the end of the book. I honestly liked Violette more. She seemed like such a good person and she tried so hard to be a good friend to Kate. Too bad that all turned out to be crap!!! Come to find out, she was plotting against the Revenants with the Numa the entire time! Hence why at the end of the book I didn't mind Arthur so much. Come to find out, Violette was just making him say that stuff to Kate to make him look like the bad one... I was pissed!!!! And with that we'll transition to the Numa. So obviously they start causing trouble again, and everyone figured that they had a new leader because of that. But for the longest time we had no clue who it was. Well. That's because it was one of their own who turned on them. If you didn't figure it out based on information above, that would be Violette. I seriously dislike her now!!!! So the Numa are after the Champion of the Revenants because they want his power. The Champion of the Revenants is suspected to be Vincent. So you can see now why Violette wormed her way in with the group. She was trying to figure out if he really could be, and she thinks she found enough information to prove he is. So she went after him. UGH!!!!

The ending... I'm seriously sad. Me no likey cliffhangers where one of my fave characters is in a seriously dangerous situation!!!! I feel so bad for Kate not being able to do much to help Vincent. He's in danger of dying for good because of Violette and she cant do a think to stop it because the Revenants have no idea where Violette has taken him! They better get him back in If I Should Die!!! Also, I have this sneaking suspicion that there is more to Kate. Either something huge will happen to her or something huge will be revealed about her. I just have this feeling about it!

My fave quote:
"Um, yeah. I guess lying around reading books all day doesn't do much for physical endurance." - Pg. 3

4 Stars!

April 04, 2013

Review: Apollyon by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Apollyon (Covenant #4)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Publication Date: April 9, 2013
Pages: 360
Source: ARC for Review from Publisher

Fate isn’t something to mess with… and now, neither is Alex.

Alex has always feared two things: losing herself in the Awakening and being placed on the Elixir. But love has always been stronger than Fate, and Aiden St. Delphi is willing to make war on the gods—and Alex herself—to bring her back.

The gods have killed thousands and could destroy entire cities in their quest to stop Seth from taking Alex’s power and becoming the all-powerful God Killer. But breaking Alex’s connection to Seth isn’t the only problem. There are a few pesky little loopholes in the whole “an Apollyon can’t be killed” theory, and the only person who might know how to stop the destruction has been dead for centuries.

Finding their way past the barriers that guard the Underworld, searching for one soul among countless millions, and then somehow returning will be hard enough. Alex might be able to keep Seth from becoming the God Killer… or she might become the God Killer herself.

Review: Ok, so I really enjoyed Apollyon!! It sets us up for a fantastic finale in Sentinel! Ya. I'm totally gonna spoil something right in the beginning of this review but I will be unable to review this properly unless I tell. So Alex struggled with the connection with Seth for sometime but she did eventually break it. But if you kinda read into the blurb up there you kinda figure it out anyways because Alex wouldn't be doing certain things mentioned in the last part of it if she still was. So YAY!!! But Seth still found a way to get in her head which annoyed me to death. Why couldn't he just let her have a little peace???

So Alex and Aiden dealt with some serious stuff in this book. They go down to the Underworld searching for the one person who can give them answers on stopping Seth. They end up in some interesting circumstances. I was totally scared for them to go into the Underworld, but it wasn't actually half as scary as I thought it would be for them. I was actually more scared for them at the gate to the underworld than actually in the underworld just because they dealt with the hardest things at the gate. And of course, after they talk to the person who can tell them how to stop Seth they found out the answer is exactly what they don't want Alex to have to do! Cant say that was shocking, I was half expecting that anyways.

I think what I enjoyed most though about the book was how the gods kept popping up all the time. We expected Apollo being that Alex is of his bloodline, but we saw a few others pop up that didnt appear in previous books. It really showed how divided the god were. Some were on Alex's side, helping out the good guys and some sided with Lucian and Seth and whatever god he's descended from helping the bad side. I thought it was kinda funny that the gods didnt want Seth becoming the god killer but yet some were supporting his side. I mean we find out why at the very end, due to the god which I'm thinking is the one Seth is descended from (but I'm still not 100% sure), but still. I do understand though because the god (I'm not telling which one) is a pretty scary god.

The ending! WOW! The group finds their way to Covenant up in South Dakota I think it is (sorry, I dont have my ARC with me so I cant look it up) to find the road literally littered with the burnt cars of those who tried to escape to there from the New York Covenant. That made me so sad! And then finding out what caused that! Man, that just sucked! And even worse was finding out Alex's lest favorite teacher made it there too, but was perfectly fine! UGH! And then the god (still not spilling, LOL) and Alex fighting and what happens to her!!! Can I please have Sentinel???? I really wanna know what happens!!!

4 Stars!

February 09, 2013

Review: Breaking Point by Kristen Simmons

Breaking Point (Article 5, #2)
Author: Kristen Simmons
Publisher: Tor Teen
Publication Date: February 12, 2013
Pages: 400
Source: ARC from Publisher

The second installment in Kristen Simmons's fast-paced, gripping YA dystopian series.

After faking their deaths to escape from prison, Ember Miller and Chase Jennings have only one goal: to lay low until the Federal Bureau of Reformation forgets they ever existed.

Near-celebrities now for the increasingly sensationalized tales of their struggles with the government, Ember and Chase are recognized and taken in by the Resistance—an underground organization working to systematically take down the government. At headquarters, all eyes are on the sniper, an anonymous assassin taking out FBR soldiers one by one. Rumors are flying about the sniper’s true identity, and Ember and Chase welcome the diversion….

Until the government posts its most-wanted list, and their number one suspect is Ember herself.

Orders are shoot to kill, and soldiers are cleared to fire on suspicion alone. Suddenly Ember can’t even step onto the street without fear of being recognized, and “laying low” is a joke. Even members of the Resistance are starting to look at her sideways.

With Chase urging her to run, Ember must decide: Go into hiding…or fight back?

Review: I think this is a fantastic sequel to Article 5! It started out a little slow but quickly got action packed and very interesting! The sniper was introduced right in the beginning which made for a great mystery during the book! I was always wondering who the sniper was up until it all became obvious at the end. I was kinda mixed about the resistance in this book. I was very happy that they took Ember and Chase in and let them be part of it, but I was also kinda weary about it because a few members didn't exactly like them. I guess I liked them more than didnt like them though. They did give Ember and Chase a lot of help. Where ever they ended up the Resistance did their best to help them, which was really good because of the whole shoot on suspicion alone thing with Ember. She needed the most help and protection she could get. I did like how the Resistance used Ember to their advantage though. They had her go out and show that she was still alive and not in hiding just because of the FBR. It showed some people a little hope. I was very sad when the Resistance's stronghold in Knoxville was destroyed, that pretty much put everyone there on the run, and not all with each other either.

Ember and Chase. Man. These two went through so much in this book, a lot of it being fights. Ember was the one who wanted to do what she could to help the Resistance and get out there and Chase was the one who wanted her to stay hidden and safe. They had many fights over it. Though I do have to say it was nice knowing Chase wanted to protect Ember at all costs. Though they both were in for problems when Tucker showed up... Remember him? The guy from the base that totally tried to use Ember. Him. They didn't trust him at all. He said he got dishonorably discharged and that he wanted to join the Resistance but they didn't trust him. They thought he was the one who turned them in about not being dead. So it caused a lot of problems for both of them having to work with him and try to trust him. It definitely didn't go well for all three of them. Though by the end of the book I did feel like Tucker was on the side of the Resistance and helping Ember and Chase. I'm not saying I trust him, but I am saying I don't think hes working secretly with the FBR. This book though really put Ember, Chase and the whole Resistance to the test.

The ending was just WOW though. There was supposed to be a settlement entirely of Resistance and when they got there it was gone... Wiped out... :( But their might be survivors because they found tracks leading away from the settlement. So I'm hoping...

5 Stars!

January 17, 2013

Review: Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2)
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Publisher: Harper Collins
Publication Date: February 5, 2013
Pages: 465
Source: ARC/Borrowed

tick, tick, tick, tick, tick
it's almost
time for war.

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life.

Review: This book is beyond amazing! If you enjoyed Shatter Me you MUST pick this book up! So much happened!!! So many mind blowing things were revealed!!! Its gonna be so hard to write this review without revealing the massive spoilers!!!! But I'll try (and still try to do the book justice)!So maybe I'll start with something not spoilery at all? Kenji!!!! This guy is pretty awesome! Totally crushing on him after reading this!!! He was actually really cool in this book. Ok, first of all, how cool is his gift to be invisible??? I just love that so much! And it definitely comes in handy in this book! Second, Kenji was seriously being an awesome friend in this book! He was there for Juliette in times when she felt all alone, especially dealing with this thing with Adam. He knew when to be serious with her and just listen, but he also knew when to crack a joke to try and cheer her up as well. I was very happy that we got to see a lot of Kenji in this book! Especially since we got to see him being his true self.

Adam... Hmm... I still love Adam and I shall let everyone know. Unlike a bunch of people who flipped teams in this book I am still firmly on TEAM ADAM!!!! I definitely felt for him throughout the book. He really struggled. He felt like he didn't belong at Omega Point because it really didn't look like he had a gift. So this isn't as spoilery I'll let it out. Adam does have a gift. He just didn't realize it! His gift is kinda hard to explain though so I'll let you guys find out about it in the book. :P But his gift does pertain to why he can touch Juliette. His gift is also part of the reason why they have some problems in this book. :( I was also shocked at the revelation that was made about Adam and his father and his family. I am in no way letting this one out of the bag but it is SHOCKING!!! I promise! Adam... Man... He has a hard to dealing with this. And I don't blame him. But like I said, I still love him anyways. TEAM ADAM!!! :D

Juliette. Girl, you need to get a hold of your gift! She really struggled getting a grip on her gift and being able to control it but hey, there is one instance in this book where I didn't want her to control it. But for good reason. I felt kinda bad for Juliette when it came to Adam because not only was he dealing with stuff but so was she, and it was hard for both of them to deal. Especially since one of those issues dealt directly with their relationship. :( I also felt bad for her since Warner ended up at Omega Point for a bit as a hostage (you hear that right), and also managed to turn her life upside down while he was there. UGH! I STILL DON'T LIKE WARNER!!! NOT A FAN! Sorry people. Still not jumping teams. I was so disappointed to find out about him having a gift (yeah, he has one too), still not that big of a shocker. I was even more disappointed though at what happened between Warner and Juliette. I don't like him! He may be a lot more nicer in this book and I may not dislike him 100% but I still don't want him with Juliette. Though this particular scene will make all you Warner fans ecstatic! And the ending... THE ENDING!!!! I have very mixed feelings on this so I will just not share my thoughts on it. But I promise, it is a fantastic way to end the book!

5 Stars!

November 01, 2012

Review: Deity by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Deity (Covenant #3)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Publication Date: November 6, 2012
Pages: 360
Source: ARC/Borrowed

"History is on repeat, and things didn't go so well the last time. "

Alexandria isn't sure she's going to make it to her eighteenth birthday--to her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she's a goner... and so is Aiden.

If that's not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time "training"--which really is just Seth's code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time--she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome.

But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she's caught between love and Fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed... and destroyed.

Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate...

Review: As Alex would say... "OH MY GODS!" One word. AIDEN!!!! *Swoon* This is seriously the best book in the series so far! Man, I don't know where to start. Soooooo much happened in this book! Its going to be so hard to write this without saying anything too spoilery to those who haven't read it yet. I think I shall start with the hiding of what happened in New York. Man, thats a huge secret for ALex, Seth and Aiden to be keeping. And for a while they thought they got away with it, until Telly from the New York Covenant shows up (remember, he's the bad one who was trying to get Alex placed in servitude in Pure). He somehow had this suspicion about what Alex did and how Aiden covered it up. But they knew exactly how he knew about it. Now did they deny it when question. Well DUH! But man, if you think Telly is evil... You haven't seen ANYTHING yet until you read the second half of Deity. It will BLOW YOUR MINDS! Someone who we thought was becoming just a bit trustworthy and actually caring... Nope! Lying to everyones face. This person had their own agenda with how to go about getting changes made and the people he's managed to brainwash into joining his side... Its just... Its DESPICABLE what this person did. And I am definitely looking forward to seeing him taken down in the next books!!!!

Gods. Literally. The Gods! Some Gods start appearing in this book. I'm not going to say which ones, and what person actually is one even though he seemed like a normal person before it was revealed. But man!!!! You know somethings going down when the Gods get involved!!!! And OH MY GODS!!! What one of the gods did at the end of Deity when all hell broke loose... Man... DO NOT MAKE THE GODS ANGRY!!!!! BAD IDEA!!!!

So this is where I talk about the boys. I am FIRMLY on TEAM AIDEN after Deity. We all know I was wavering a bit in Pure but after Deity there's no doubt whatsoever that I am on Team Aiden now. This boy will seriously do anything for Alex and I love him for that. And man, Aiden is just so swoon worth in this book. You can't help but love him (I mean unless, your a firm believer in Seth). Aiden, man, he just did whatever he could to protect her, especially after one of the guards at the covenant ended up being against them, and attempted to kill Alex (I was so not happy about that). And just what he says to her. Man. I seriously love Aiden and Alex together (All you Team Aiden people be prepared to be really happy with this book). Alex and Aiden are seriously perfect for each other! I <3 them! Now Seth on the other hand... NOT A FAN! He hid stuff from Alex! Very valuable information that she should have known and he hid it from her! And then what he does at the end of the book! If I say anymore about that it would really spoil it but if any of you already didn't like Seth, then he's just going to prove your dislike right.

OMG!!! Alex awakened at the end!!! I'm seriously going to go nuts waiting for Apollyon after that ending!!!!!! (Yes, even after reading Elixir, which I have, Still going nuts!)

5 Stars!

October 30, 2012

Teaser Tuesday [#63]

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! just do the following:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a random page
3. Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
4. Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

1. "Aiden drew in a deep breath and dropped his arm. "You do know what this means, Alex?"

2. "Your father wasnt a mortal."

pg. 18 of ARC of "Deity (Covenant #3)" by Jennifer L. Armentrout

October 22, 2012

Review: 34 Pieces of You by Carmen Rodrigues

34 Pieces of You
Author: Carmen Rodrigues
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: September 4, 2012
Pages: 336
Source: ARC/Borrowed

A dark and moving novel—reminiscent of Thirteen Reasons Why—about the mystery surrounding a teenage girl’s fatal overdose.

There was something about Ellie... Something dangerous. Charismatic. Broken. Jake looked out for her. Sarah followed her lead. And Jess kept her distance, and kept watch.

Now Ellie’s dead, and Jake, Sarah, and Jess are left to pick up the pieces. All they have are 34 clues she left behind. 34 strips of paper hidden in a box beneath her bed. 34 secrets of a brief and painful life.

Jake, Sarah, and Jess all feel responsible for what happened to Ellie, and all three have secrets of their own. As they begin to confront the darkest truths about themselves, they will also find out what Ellie herself had been hiding all along....

Review: I really enjoyed this book! So as everyone knows I was a huge fan of Thirteen Reasons Why, so when it said reminiscent of Thirteen Reasons Why in the description I knew it was a book I'd have to read! I really liked how this book would switch between Sarah, Jake & Jess's points of view and share each of their stories about Before and After Ellie died. I also loved how when one of their stories intersected with anothers they'd continue it in the other persons POV when the other ones finished. We got to see certain situations from multiple perspectives and I really liked that, especially since some of them were about secrets about that other person. I also liked that with each different person we got to see different sides of Ellie when she was with those people and what she would tell each of them and hide from the others. It really showed you just how much she was hiding from those different people in her life.

I wanna start with Jess. She really wasn't that close to Ellie at first. Everything changed though the night that Lola made fun of Jess for being 15 but never having been kissed. Because that night after Lola left, Ellie kissed Jess and things were never the same again. After that Jess began to question her sexuality. She saw Ellie a lot more, and they had this secret relationship no one else knew about. Jess and Ellie kept this secret until Ellie's death. Nobody really understood how much Jess was hurting after Ellie's death because of that secret. So Jess grieved when no one else was around to know. Ellie opened up something inside of Jess, that even Jess herself had never known was there, and she wont ever soon forget how Ellie changed her life with that. It also hit Jess hard because not soon before Ellie died, she found out about Ellie experimenting with the pills and even cutting herself, but Jess couldn't get through to her and Ellie wouldn't really open up about why she was doing that.

Jake. Man I felt so bad for him. Ellie is his sister. He felt like it was his fault that she died. She had called him upset the night before wanting him to come home right away because she needed him, but he blew that off until the next day. So by the time he finally got home Ellie had already overdosed. He felt like if he would have come home sooner like he promised he would that she might not have done it then. He was living with that guilt. And then on top of that, Sarah had tried to overdose with Ellie and he had a hard time with that because he wanted to help her, he wanted to be there for her but he didnt know how because he's been hiding for the longest time that he's in love with her. And he doesnt know how to deal with those feelings and help her at the same time. It's also hard for him to help with her grief over Ellie's death when he's still struggling with his own grief over it. I was glad he really started seeing her and trying to just be there for her in the end, when she really needed it.

Sarah. Out of everybody in the group it affected her the hardest. She was Ellie's best friend. I mean come on, they even tried to overdose together. They were really close. They always spent time together, and they had secrets between each other that no one else knew as well. And Sarah could tell there was something wrong because of the way Ellie was acting. She said it right out that Ellie was like two different people. But she never told anyone, never tried to do anything to help her and didn't exactly try to pressure Ellie into telling her what her problems were either. So when Ellie died it hit Sarah the hardest. She didn't know what to do without her, who to talk to, and how to deal with all the pain of losing her best friend. She also didn't know how to deal with the feelings she thought weren't returned from Jake. She had so much she was trying to deal with and it was too much for her. It was so hard seeing the difference in her Before and After she died. I felt even worse for her when she tried to take her life again by cutting herself because she couldn't deal with everything. I was so thankful that Jake found her and made sure she got to the hospital after that, and that he tried much harder to be there for her after that. I'm also glad that with the help of Jake, and the place she was sent to after that, she really got the help she needed and seemed to be dealing with her issues better.

This book really showed just what the death of someone can do to the people around them and how some people hide secrets no one knows about until it's too late. This was a fantastic read!

4 1/2 Stars!

October 08, 2012

Teaser Tuesday [#60]

1. "I don't know how to explain what happens next."

2. "All I know is that my hand is around his throat and I've pinned him to the wall, so overcome by a blind, burning, all-consuming rage that I think my brain has already caught on fire and dissolved into ash."

-pg. 241 of ARC of "Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2)" by Tahereh Mafi

August 31, 2012

Review: Sweet Shadows by Tera Lynn Childs

Sweet Shadows (Medusa Girls #2)
Author: Tera Lynn Childs
Publisher: Katherine Tegen
Publication Date: September 4, 2012
Pages: 328
Source: ARC

Three teenage descendants of Medusa, now united, must claim their heritage to fight the monsters escaped from the abyss.

Gretchen may have known she was a descendant of Medusa long before her sisters--after all, she's spent her life fighting the monsters that escape the abyss--but that doesn't mean it will be easy to teach the other girls the ropes.

Greer has pressing social commitments on her plate and precious little time to train in her newfound powers. But that wretched second sight won't leave her alone, and her fabled heritage seems to be creeping into her fashionable life.

Grace has worries closer to home--like why her brother, Thane, has disappeared. He's hiding something. Could it possibly be related to the secret heritage the triplets share?

Review: This book was fantastic! I really enjoyed the first book but this one was like ten times better! First of all, there was twice as much action as the first one! It made the book so much fun to read! There wasn't a moment without monster fighting, trying to save someone, or trying to come up with a plan to save someone. It kept you hooked the entire time! I also really enjoyed the 3 different POVs (I know some people didn't like it but it works for me). I loved knowing what each girl was thinking and planning. I loved getting to see what each of their separate personality's were like as well! We really got to know more of Greer in this book (which was one of my main complaints in Sweet Venom, was that we didn't really get to know much about her). I also was really happy that Grace & Greer (especially Greer) stepped up and really embraced their destiny as descendants of Medusa. I cant believe what Gretchen did about halfway through the book (I can't say or it would spoil it too much but OMG!)! My heart was pounding when she did that! I was so scared for her, but I completely understood why she did it too. I also loved learning more about what exactly being the Key Generation meant. A few more things make sense now that they were explained in this book!

Nick. This guy. I'm not sure how I feel about him after reading this book. I was glad to finally find out why he was so involved in getting closer to Gretchen, and that he was there to protect the girls. But then after what he revealed in the end I'm not sure what I think. I really wanna trust him but I'm not sure I fully can. I hope it turns out we can in the third book! I was also really shocked to find out who exactly Grace's school counselor really is. And I was also surprised to find out the janitor at Greer's school is a monster fighting on the girls side! Didn't see that coming! The thing I want to know though, is what is up with Thane?!?!?! What does he know about Grace's heritage? How does he fit into this?? I'm so confused about how he fits in, but I know he does somehow. I really hope we learn how he fits in in the third book! Tera Lynn Childs, can we please have the third book like asap??? I'm dying to know what happens!

5 Stars!

August 16, 2012

Review: Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock

Hemlock (Hemlock #1)

Author: Kathleen Peacock
Publisher: Katherine Tegen
Publication Date: May 8, 2012
Pages: 416
Source: ARC from Publisher

Mackenzie and Amy were best friends.

Since then, Mac's life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac's hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy's killer:

A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome--also known as the werewolf virus--is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy's murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy's boy-friend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Kathleen Peacock's thrilling novel is the first in the Hemlock trilogy, a spell-binding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love.

Review: I honestly had no expectations going into this book! I wasn't even sure I wanted to read this book to be honest. I won an entire box of ARC's from the publisher so I mostly gave away the extras to other Bloggers, but I did give one to one of my besties (who doesn't blog, but does read a lot like I do). She then read it and told me that she liked it so that gave me the kick to read it, and I'm glad I did! Because I really enjoyed it! I was immediately pulled into Hemlock and it didn't let me go! The whole thing with the Trackers showing up and the info that came into the light earl regarding Amy's case was really interesting! That definitely had me hooked the most! After finding out those simple things that made a world of difference in Amy's case I was intrigued to find out if it really was a random wolf attack or something more! Mac definitely wouldn't give up until she knew the truth about Amy's death and that really inspired me! She had doubts after reading the police report and she vowed to find out the actual truth and not let Amy's case get swept under the "Wolf Attack" rug if it wasn't meant to be there. Mac was just so admirable! First of all, she took on investigating Amy's murder! Second, she was determined to help her other two friends with each of their problems as well! And helping Kyle and Jason was no easy task at many times either.

Right from the beginning of the book I thought the werewolf problem was blown out of hand! My instincts just told me that there was something wrong with the picture painted about them after Amy's murder. Kyle... I liked him from the beginning! I liked him even more when he revealed what he was to Mac! That piece of information brought them closer, which led them to explore their feelings for each other. I liked that, because they really did have feelings for each other and they needed a push to realize it! I loved seeing Mac and Kyle together, like together together, or even just hanging out or investigating! Those two are just great together no matter what they were doing! Jason... I wasn't the biggest fan of his, mostly because of him wanting to join the Trackers. I mean I get it, his girlfriend was murdered by a werewolf. It didn't mean he had to go off joining the biggest Anti-Wolf group around! He defended the Trackers like they never did anything wrong, but was to blind even when others were starting to see it that they were in the wrong and doing bad things until they actually took someone he cared about. Its like he was so wrapped up in the Tracker life and getting revenge that he couldn't see the truth and someone he cared about had to be put in danger just for him to snap out of it. I mean, I opened up a little to him at the very end for what him and Mac were about to do, but throughout the book before that I didn't really like him much, even with the revelation he gave to Mac. I was however extremely pleased with what happened to the Trackers! They had it coming for what they did!

5 Stars!

July 30, 2012

Teaser Tuesday [#50]

1. "I only have seconds to make my decision. Let Nick go, and with him our only connection to the mythological world. Or..."

2. "Without another thought I dive headfirst into the black."

pg. 166-167 of ARC of "Sweet Shadows (Medusa Girls #2)" by Tera Lynn Childs

*Quotes from ARC are not final and should be checked against final version*

July 16, 2012

Review: Spark by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Spark (Sky Chasers #2)

Author: Amy Kathleen Ryan
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: July 17, 2012
Pages: 309
Source: ARC from Publisher

Waverly and Kieran are finally reunited on the Empyrean. Kieran has led the boys safely up to this point, and now that the girls are back, their mission seems slightly less impossible: to chase down the New Horizon, and save their parents from the enemy ship. But nothing is truly as it seems…Kieran’s leadership methods have raised Seth’s hackles— and Waverly’s suspicions. Is this really her fiancé? The handsome, loving boy she was torn from just a short time before? More and more, she finds her thoughts aligned with Seth’s. But if Seth is Kieran’s Enemy No. 1, what does that make her?

In one night, a strange explosion rocks the Empyrean—shooting them off course and delaying their pursuit of the New Horizon—and Seth is mysteriously released from the brig. Seth is the most obvious suspect for the explosion, and Waverly the most obvious suspect for releasing him. As the tension reaches a boiling point, will Seth be able to find the true culprit before Kieran locks them both away—or worse? Will Waverly follow her heart, even if it puts lives at risk? With the balance of power precarious and the clock ticking, every decision counts… every step brings them closer to a new beginning, or a sudden end...

Review: This book was even better than Glow! There was so much going on! There was always something going on between people on the ship, whether it be fights, suspicion of things done, a leader overstepping his authority or actually action of something happening and everyone freaking out or trying to fix it! So much happened in this book. I wanna start off with Kieran. He seemed like a much better guy in Glow and I was disappointed in the change in him in Spark. He turned into a monster at points and Waverly had every right not to trust him or even want to listen to him anymore because of that. I mean she had just escaped the monster that was Anne Mathers and all the horrors above the New Horizon and then Kieran starts acting like her in many ways. That's definitely a way to make someone who used to trust you and love you not even like you much anymore. And then with the way he treated so many people aboard his ship. He wasn't acting like a leader, he was acting like a self righteous jerk most of the time and I was disappointed that he changed this much. I was disappointed that he wouldn't let others help him or even talk to him when they could have given him vital information that could have helped save the ship, or at the least, aided in helping find the terrorist or preventing things from happening. I was also disappointed in the fact that he had Waverly followed. He should have known that she wasn't behind the attacks or even helping or aiding in them. I was just really disappointed in Kierans massive change in character in Spark. It wasn't what I was expecting to see.

Seth. Despite the fact that I didn't like him for what he did to Kieran in Glow I did a 180 with him in Spark. I really felt for him. Yes he got what he deserved by being locked up in Glow but Kieran had no reason to accuse him of being a traitor and sabotaging their mission and messing with the ship. Seth could be a bad person, but not that bad of a person. Kieran really went overboard with his accusing Seth of stuff and not even listening to him when if he would have certain events might have been prevented or not as bad as they were. I just felt so bad for Seth, he got hurt like no freaking tomorrow, was forced to hide from everyone but Waverly when he was mysteriously let out of his cell and figured out a ton of stuff about the terrorist but either no one listened to him or he took all the blows himself and was still treated like garbage. I thought it was so messed up. And Waverly. She was trying to be as strong as she could be after what she'd been though, especially after she comes back to the Empyrean just to find it reminding her heavily of the New Horizon. And all the stuff Kieran was putting her through was just so unfair. I mean she already felt bad that she could save the parents as well when they escaped the New Horizon and then he has to add to that? Acting like she never meant anything to him and then accusing her of things he really should have know she would never do. It just never ended for Waverly and I felt bad for her. I was glad she stood up though and made then vote for leaders and such. It took away some of Kieran's power and even though he didn't like it, it was better for everyone on the ship. I was really scared for both Seth and Waverly before the terrorist was caught that they'd get hurt if he found them. I was right to be scared. The ending! OMG! I can't believe that ending! The Empyrean getting ruined, and it not even being the terrorist being the person behind it. I was shocked when I found that out. I was also happen Waverly was able to get Seth out of the Brig after the explosions. I am however very unhappy that it looks like they all now have to go and live on the New Horizon. I'm not pleased with that being their only option now! Although I cant wait for the next book to see what happens with that now! And I think I know what Seth was planning at the end of the book, I have a very strong hunch so I hope I later find out I'm right or close to right about it and that my liking him in this book wasn't for nothing.

5 Stars!

June 09, 2012

Stacking The Shelves [#6]

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews as a way to share all the books we got during the week!

Library:

Gilt (The Royal Circle #1) by Katherine Longshore
Beautiful Chaos (Caster Chronicles #3) by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Won from Epic Read & Harper Teen:

8 ARC's of Hemlock (Hemlock #1) by Kathleen Peacock

Free From Amazon:

Descended By Blood (Vampire Born #1) by Angeline Kace

NetGalley:

Dearly, Beloved (Gone With The Respiration #2) by Lia Habel

Thank you NetGalley & Random House/Del Rey!!!!

For Review from Author:

Refuge (The Refuge Trilogy #3) by Rebecca McKinnon

Oh, and just so you guys know, once I figure out how many of the Hemlock ARC's I'm gonna keep for Giveaway's I might be open to trading the ones I have left. :)

That's what I got this week! Leave your links below so I can see what you got as well!!!