Saturday, November 30, 2013

Stacking The Shelves


I haven't done a book haul in what seems like ages.. and I've definitely gotten some new reads, most of which have been for my Kindle. Here they are!














Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Book Review: The Rising by Terra Harmony

The Rising

Terra Harmony

271 Pages

Fifteen-year-old Serena is the youngest member of a dying race. The increasing acidity of the ocean is destroying her home, slowly eating away at the once thriving underwater landscape. But since the night of Serena’s birth, it is an outside force that most threatens their dwindling population. Werewolves, who once served as protectors for mermaids in the Kingdom of the Undine, now seek to eliminate all who dwell in the ocean — and Serena is about to find herself right in the middle of the deadly conflict.
Given the title of Werewolf Liaison, Serena is determined to make things right for her people. When she ventures to The Dry, she meets Liam, the werewolf with hazel eyes, and her whole world gets turned upside down. As Serena discovers the real history between werewolves and mermaids, she is left wondering who her true enemies are.
The Rising is the start to a new trilogy called the Painted Mermaids Trilogy, and it's a great, strong beginning. I was drawn in by the stunning cover and the interesting and new to me premise of the story. I mean, how often do you see books that involve both mermaids AND werewolf's? I don't read too much of either, but I've been making an effort to change this, and The Rising was a great start for me.

Serena is your average girl living underwater. She's feisty but not overly so, and she sees things in a completely different way from others living in her undersea kingdom. Her viewpoints are different, and she challenges everything people believe in, which I loved about her. Strong female characters are always, always a win for me. Brains over beauty any day!

The other characters were equally strong and interesting, and I even found myself admiring the king of the kingdom... so surprising for me since I really quite disliked him at first. He came off as selfish to me upon meeting him, but this has to do with a sad past that you have to read about to truly understand.

This isn't your typical love story and there was so much more to it than I has been originally anticipating. Though I has expected a cute and unique love story between a werewolf and a mermaid, the story was about so much more. The final chapters were a race to the finish for me, with secrets and action and so much goodness packed into about 50 pages. I can't wait to dig into the next installment!


Waiting on Wednesday

These Broken Stars

Annie Kaufman

384 Pages

Expected Publication: December 10, 2013

It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone.

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help.

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?
Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.
This is another excited YA release, again sci-fi, something I'm way into. Both the plot and romance sounds intriguing, and it comes out in only 2 weeks!

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Book Review: Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry

Gathering Blue

Lois Lowry

241 Pages

Published in 2000

In her strongest work to date, Lois Lowry once again creates a mysterious but plausible future world. It is a society ruled by savagery and deceit that shuns and discards the weak. Left orphaned and physically flawed, young Kira faces a frightening, uncertain future. Blessed with an almost magical talent that keeps her alive, she struggles with ever broadening responsibilities in her quest for truth, discovering things that will change her life forever.
Gathering Blue is the second installment of the Giver Quartet, a classic series that was finally wrapped up about a year ago. This is my second time reading this one, and it was just as great as I remembered.

Set in a society very similar to that which we saw in The Giver, people are assigned task and such in life and must abide by a certain set of rules. For most people there is no technology or running water. The society is out in the woods, set off from the rest of the world and is more like a village you would have found in times past.

Kira was a great character, someone who beat the odds from the time she was born. She's crippled, not able to perform hard manual labor. In most cases these people are banned from the village, but her mother fights for her and she is allowed to remain. As time goes on she proves her worth with her extraordinary weaving skills; something very important in a society like hers.

Many secrets are kept from the general populace and slowly Kira discovers these and thinks about straying. There is a huge secret revealed at the very end that I hadn't seen coming when I first read the book, but of course knew about this time around. Lois Lowry does a good job of keeping you on your toes, wondering what corrupt part of society you're going to learn about next.

A classic tale that I'll be sure to read to my children (age 3 currently, due in 9 weeks with #2!), over and over again, the Giver quartet is a timeless tale of bravery and beating the odds.


Thursday, November 21, 2013

Random Readathon!!

So.. I bought a Kindle a mere 2.5 weeks ago and got quite a bit of reading done.. until my daughter broke it already. I have an issue where I go into a reading slump if I have to stop a book half way through.. which is what happened when the Kindle broke. A new one is on the way and I've resigned myself to finishing my review book on my computer and having a readathon from now until the end of November. Hubby has the week off so I do as well.. time for some serious relaxing!! I'd like to finish this..



Plus this huge stack..



Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday

Rebel Belle

Rachel Hawkins

384 Pages

Expected Publication: April 8, 2014

Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.
Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him--and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.
With snappy banter, cotillion dresses, non-stop action and a touch of magic, this new young adult series from bestseller Rachel Hawkins is going to make y'all beg for more.
Harper sounds like a seriously kick-ass main character. I can't wait to read all about her kicking butt!

Friday, November 15, 2013

Book Review: All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

All Our Yesterdays

Cristin Terrill

368 Pages

Published September 3rd, 2013

"You have to kill him." Imprisoned in the heart of a secret military base, Em has nothing except the voice of the boy in the cell next door and the list of instructions she finds taped inside the drain.
Only Em can complete the final instruction. She’s tried everything to prevent the creation of a time machine that will tear the world apart. She holds the proof: a list she has never seen before, written in her own hand. Each failed attempt in the past has led her to the same terrible present—imprisoned and tortured by a sadistic man called the doctor while war rages outside.

Marina has loved her best friend James since the day he moved next door when they were children. A gorgeous, introverted science prodigy from one of America’s most famous families, James finally seems to be seeing Marina in a new way, too. But on one disastrous night, James’s life crumbles apart, and with it, Marina’s hopes for their future. Now someone is trying to kill him. Marina will protect James, no matter what. Even if it means opening her eyes to a truth so terrible that she may not survive it. At least not as the girl she once was.

All Our Yesterdays is a wrenching, brilliantly plotted story of fierce love, unthinkable sacrifice, and the infinite implications of our every choice.
This book confused the hell out of me when I first started reading it. Right away we jump straight into the action with some pretty intense scenes, and though it was confusing and I had no clue what was happening, I was still riveted. Slowly things are revealed to us and my knowledge and understanding grew. I may be a bit slow at times, but I think I was 75 pages in or so before I really got what was going on and who was who and such. After that.. things got so so so good!

All Our Yesterdays is a story about time travel. I should have gathered that through the cover, but I didn't. Since I jumped in blind, this may be why I was so confuzzled in the beginnings chapters. Chapters break between two viewpoints; that of Em and that of Marina.. two of.. the same character. Yup, they're the same character, just from two different periods of time.

Em and a boy named Finn are being kept in a dungeon type area and are regularly tortured. Em sees a drain in the middle of the floor that she is oddly drawn to.. because she has hidden a message from her previous self in it but just doesn't remember. The story basically follows the duo (Finn and Em) escaping from the clutches of their captor, "The doctor" and trying to change history and save the world. In short, they are trying to stop the time machine from ever being made, because with it the world turns into a pretty dark and scary place.

Was I the only one who knew who The Doctor was really early on? Like, as soon as I started reading about another key character, I knew who he was.. he just had to be. When it was finally revealed, I shouted Ha! and got some pretty strange looks, but it came as no surprise.

The story line did a great job of moving along fast, jumping along from place to place to keep your attention. I read this in two sittings, the same day, and though the beginning was strange the rest of the story more than made up for it. I'm sooo glad I picked this one up.


Thursday, November 14, 2013

Damselfly Book Blitz and Giveaway!


Damselfly (Damselfly #1)
Release Date: 11/11/13

Summary from Goodreads:
In 2065, the Lilliput Project created Lina - the first six-inch-tall winged girl - as the solution to a worldwide energy and food crisis. Isolated in a compound amidst the forests of Denmark, Lina has grown up aware of only one purpose: learn how to survive in a world filled with hawks, bumblebees, and loneliness. However, on the eve of her sixteenth birthday, she discovers that she’s not the only teenager her size. Six 'Toms' were created shortly after Lina, and now her creators need to prove to the world that tiny people are the next logical step in human evolution. In other words, they need to prove that reproduction is possible.
Um. No thanks. Lina's already fallen in love with a boy she met online named Jack. Only he has no idea that thumbelina1847 could literally fit inside his heart.
When her creators threaten to hurt Jack unless she chooses a husband from among the ‘Toms’, Lina agrees to star in a reality TV series. Once the episodes begin to air, the secret of her size is out. Cut off from any contact with the outside world, Lina assumes Jack is no longer interested. After all, what guy would want to date a girl he can’t even kiss?
Slowly, very slowly, she befriends the six young men who see her as their only ticket to happiness. Perhaps she can make just one guy’s dream of love and companionship come true. But her creators have a few more twists in store for her that she never thought possible.
She’s not the only one playing to the cameras.


Available from:
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Prequel
(linked to Goodreads)


About the Author
I'm a visual effects artist for film and television by day, and at night I don my author cape and pen stories for the YA crowd. I love a good fairy tale, especially if there's a creepy twist, so that's what I write.

I met my husband in the World of Warcraft and we live in Los Angeles with our cat. We spend our time playing video games, reading, hiking, sweeping up cat hair, and cursing the terrible traffic.

I have a bachelor's degree in Religion and Philosophy from Hillsdale College, and some of my past jobs have included: swimming lessons teacher, lifeguard, furniture salesperson, barista, and loan officer. I was especially terrible at the loan officer bit and that's what prompted me to make a major change and go off to Canada to get a diploma in 3D Animation and Visual Effects. After that, I moved to Los Angeles by myself and roomed with two crazy sisters I found on Craigslist. But that's another tale. 

Author Links:
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icongoodreads32_zps60f83491.png  photo icontwitter-32x32_zpsae13e2b2.png

Excerpt:
He breached the space between us far too quickly for comfort. I needed time to figure out 

what do with him, how to meet those eyes without blushing. But there he was, standing in my 

space, looking at me. Looking at me.

A grin spread across his face, easy as breathing. I didn’t want to look too eager. Then 

again, I didn’t want to turn him off either. I certainly didn’t want him to go away.

“Hi,” he said. White teeth, crinkling eyes. “You must be Thumbelina.”

The words wrapped around my throat, choking me. How did he know? “What?”

“Thumbelina1847? I really thought I’d guessed it right.”

“Oh. Oh.” I held the relief from my face as much as possible. “How did you figure it 

out?”

“Well, let’s see here. You don’t look like an ‘aragornnn20’ or a ‘woodchuckman’ or 

a ‘nosteroids.’ Shall I continue?”

“So which one are you?”

“I’m Jack.”

“Jacknostalk?”

“That’s me.”

“Kinda creepy name.”

“Yeah. I didn’t realize it until it was too late to change it. I should have made 

it ‘beanstalk’ instead. Do you mind if I park my chair here?”

“I guess. Since you left your stalk at home.” Oh, me of little wit.

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***GIVEAWAY***
1-$50 Amazon Gift Card (INT)
1-Damselfly Necklace (US only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday

Isla and the Happily Ever After

Stephanie Perkins

352 Pages

Expected Publication: May 13, 2014

From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever.
Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.
I've been waiting for this for so so so long now!! Both Anna and Lola were amazing, as I'm sure you'll agree. ;)

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Book Review: Perfect Ruin by Lauren Destefano

Perfect Ruin

Lauren Destefano

356 Pages

Published October 1st, 2013

On Internment, the floating island in the clouds where 16-year-old Morgan Stockhour lives, getting too close to the edge can lead to madness. Even though Morgan's older brother, Lex, was a Jumper, Morgan vows never to end up like him. She tries her best not to mind that her life is orderly and boring, and if she ever wonders about the ground, and why it is forbidden, she takes solace in best friend Pen and her betrothed, Basil.
Then a murder, the first in a generation, rocks the city. With whispers swirling and fear on the wind, Morgan can no longer stop herself from investigating, especially when she meets Judas. He is the boy being blamed for the murder — betrothed to the victim — but Morgan is convinced of his innocence. Secrets lay at the heart of Internment, but nothing can prepare Morgan for what she will find — or who she will lose.
I really enjoyed the Chemical Garden trilogy by Lauren Destefano. Her writing style is unique and absolutely captivating, I'd go as far as saying her words have a lyrical tinge to them. Of course I was super excited about this one when I first heard about, months ago. When I saw it on sale for $1.99 for my brand new Kindle I snagged it up immediately.

Perfect Ruin is about a 16 year old girl named Morgan who lives on a floating chunk of earth, or island as some might call it. The whole premise of this was so different from anything I'd ever read before, it really helped draw me into the story asap. People are free to do almost anything they want here, but there are rules and regulations as there are in any society. It is said that no one can leave, due to the wishes of the "sky gods". People really believe in these gods and it keeps them from jumping off the edge.. that and anyone who jumps off the edge is seriously messed up for life afterwards and they never make it off the island.

One of these jumpers is Morgans brother, Lex. He's kind of crazy, an author who has now gone blind due to jumping. He's supposed ot be on medication; the whole family is; but none of them take it. Later in the story a girl is found murdered on the train tracks, something that never happens in Morgan's society. Soon the governmental forces are trying to figure out what is going on and.. things get crazy.

I loved the characters in this book, though Morgan wasn't my favorite. I loved Basil, her best friend who she's set up with to marry. He was calm in the most heated situations and you could tel he was truly in love with Basil; he'd probably do anything for her. I also loved her best friend Pen, a spunky and at times over emotional character who always tried to stick by her side.

There is a lot of action in this tale and it was confusing at times, but I still ripped through it in a day. Lauren Destefano has done it again, and I can't wait for the second in the series!! Especially with that huge cliff-hanger..