Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Waiting on Wedesday #25



Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine where you can spotlight an upcoming release that you're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on....



The Dead Girls Detective Agency by Suzy Cox.....
Releases on: September 8th 2012.
Add it: On Goodreads.

When Charlotte comes to after being pushed onto the subway tracks, she is informed by a group of teenage girls that she is dead…they all are. Meet the Dead Girls Detective Agency. With the support of these dynamic girls—including fashionable Lorna, who can’t wait to find out if the devil actually wears Prada, and nerdy Nancy, who insists on staying in limbo to help out other girls—Charlotte follows leads and tracks down clues to solve her own murder. With plenty of juicy mysteries and some pretty cute guys, readers are sure to fall in love with this fun and suspenseful page-turner!

Fans of Meg Cabot, Sara Shepard, and Ally Carter will delight in this exciting new paperback original.

Thoughts:
YEEE! I love these kinds of books! Mysterious, fun, fresh--this sounds right up my alley. The Dead Girls Detective Agency looks like a fantastic read and I'm so excited to meet Charlotte and her new friends--they look like a hoot! Totally looking forward to this book's release!

What do you think? Will you be adding The Dead Girls Detective Agency to your to-read list? And what are you waiting on this week?


Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Book Shelf: Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey


For seventeen years, Eloise Hart had no idea the world of Faery even existed. Now she has been abducted and trapped in the Rath of Lord Strahan, King of Faery. Strahan was only meant to rule for seven years, as Faery tradition dictates, and then give up his crown to another. But he won't comply, and now chaos threatens both worlds.

The only one who can break his stranglehold on the Faery court is his wife. . . Eloise's aunt Antonia. Using Eloise to lure Antonia, Strahan captures his wife, desperate to end the only threat to his reign. Now Eloise must become the rescuer. Together with her best friends Jo and Devin, she must forge alliances with other Fae, including a gorgeous protector named Lucas, and Strahan's mysterious son, Eldric—who may or may not betray them.

(Blurb from Goodreads....)


Review:

Stolen Away is yet another brilliant tale by author Alyxandra Harvey that explores the world of Faerie in a quick, fun and modern setting!

I love Alyxandra Harvey’s books and this one is no exception. Harvey is a talented storyteller who always manages to entertain me with her captivating world and her precise and easy to read writing. In Stolen Away, Harvey delves into the world of the Fae in a story that is entertaining and romantic. Personally, I would have liked a bit more world building and at times I did feel as though parts of the story were rushed, but I’m taking into consideration that this is a stand alone novel when I look at that. The mythology was lovely and I loved the overall plotline!

Told in dual perspective, the book continues back and forth between best friends and protagonists Eloise and Jo. This isn’t new for Harvey, with some of her other books set out in a similar manner, and it gives us an insight into the different goings on during the story from both girls. I found both Eloise and Jo to be likable characters and it was easy to follow them throughout the story. Both had their individual personality traits and were strong young women. As always with Harvey’s books, the feeling of friendship is undeniable with both characters dedicated to helping each other no matter what.

Filled with a fantastic range of characters both from the mortal and human world, Stolen Away never lacks for flair and magic. It was so incredibly easy to get lost in the Faerie world that was so beautiful throughout the story. The Fae creatures and characters both Eloise and Jo met added a new layer of fun to the story, from a tiny warrior faerie Jo quickly befriends to Eloise’s colourful mother and aunt, they were all wonderful editions to the story.

In the amidst of the danger and adventure both girls manage to find romance, Eloise with her protector Lucas and Jo with Eldric, a mysterious boy who isn’t who he appears. I enjoyed both relationships; they were sweet and romantic, although they came on a bit fast for my liking. The passion was undeniable between Jo and Eldric, while Eloise and Lucas was more a subtle underlining to the tale.

Overall Stolen Away was an easily enjoyable story. Beautifully written and created, the tale draws you in easily and holds you the entire time!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Bloomsbury Australia (Thank-you so much!)
Format: Paperback
AU Release Date: Available now.
Expected AU Price: $15.99
Recommend: Yes.
Recommend borrow or buy: Buy if you're a Harvey fan like me, or borrow if not.
Cover: Love it--simple, but stunning.
Read sequel/continue with series: This is a stand alone novel, but I'll definitely be reading more books by

Monday, March 26, 2012

In My Mailbox #32



Hello my lovelies!

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren where we can share the books we bought, borrowed or received throughout the week. For more info on just what it is and how to participate, head here.

I wasn't able to post an IMM last week due to my crazy study schedule, which has gotten a bit better, but is still nuts. Really, why must we have so many assignments due at the same time?!? It's madness.

Anywhoo, here are the books I've gotten in the last 2 weeks....


I Bought:
~Supernaturally by Kiersten White
~Hereafter by Tara Hudson
~Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
~Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
~Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted


I loved Paranormalcy and I'm a massive Maggie Stiefvater fan, so I've been meaning to get Supernaturally and Forever for, well, forever, lol, and I finally got copies. Eager to read both these books! Hereafter, I have actually read and loved, but I read it off Netgalley, so I wanted to get myself a copy before the next book comes out. YEE! So excited to read Under The Never Sky! Heard such great things about it! As for Crazy Beautiful, it caught my interest a while back and when I went to the Claudia Gray signing last week, Dymocks had a hardback copy of it for $5. Score! Had to get it. I'm so pleased I left the store only buying one book, haha.



For Review:
~Ondine: The Summer of Shambles by Ebony McKenna


The lovely Ebony McKenna sent me a copy of her book Ondine to read and review. This book looks so very cute and fun and I cannout wait to dive into it! Thank-you so much to Ebony for sending me this!

I Won:
~ The Hunger Pains: A Parody by The Harvard Lampoon


I was excited to win a copy of The Hunger Pains thanks to the Summer of Supernatural Facebook Page and HarperCollins Australia! This looks so funny and I'm eager to see what they do with the series--hope it's hilarious, but not bad, lol.


And that's my mailbox! Really thrilled with my haul this week and am looking forward to reading these awesome books! What did you get? I'd love to know!

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Book Shelf: Balthazar by Claudia Gray


Haunted by memories from his first days as a vampire, Balthazar has spent hundreds of years alone—without allies, without love. When he emerges from his isolation to help Skye Tierney, a human girl who once attended Evernight Academy, Balthazar has no idea how dangerous it will be. Skye’s psychic powers have caught the attention of Redgrave, the cruel master vampire responsible for murdering Balthazar and his family four centuries ago. Having learned of Skye’s powers and the remarkable effect her blood has on vampires, he plans to use her for his own evil purposes. As they stand together to fight the evil vampire, Balthazar realizes his lonely world could finally be changed by Skye...just as Redgrave realizes that he can destroy Balthazar once and for all by taking her for his own.

In a story filled with forbidden love and dark suspense, one of the most beloved characters in Claudia Gray’s New York Times bestselling Evernight series will captivate readers with his battle to overcome his past and follow his heart.

(Blurb from Goodreads....)


Review:

Balthazar is the book all Evernight fans have been waiting for, and with its enthralling storyline it does not disappoint!

I’m a big fan of Claudia Gray. I’ve read all her books and while some may say vampires are done, I disagree when it comes to this series. The Evernight series never ceases to entertain me and while the storyline in Balthazar is nothing I haven’t seen before, Gray’s darkly gothic writing and beautiful storytelling had me captivated from the very first page.

Finally, finally we have Balthazar’s story. After all the wishing and the waiting, one of the most beloved if not saddest and loneliest characters finally get’s his story. We’ve all wanted this story and I’m pleased to say I’m thrilled with what Claudia Gray did! I’ve always loved Balthazar, but in this book I feel like we see a very different side to him. With the kindness and charm that he showed throughout the Evernight series hiding his true sadness, it’s in his story that we see the real pain he houses and we get to see the real Balthazar. There’s no denying that he’s sexy, with his dark good looks and appeal, but as he’s front and centre in this book, Gray’s ability to sweep us back into the various stages of Balthazar’s past allow us to see him as we’ve never seen him before. It’s almost like he’s a different character, but looking back I can see the hints of his true nature we saw throughout Evernight. And I liked what I saw—it was raw and it was horrible; sadder than I expected but I liked it none the less. He wasn’t so much just the 400 hundred vampire that he was, although there’s no doubt that he accomplished everything a vampire is, but rather a man conflicted and vulnerable at times.

We were first introduced to Skye Tierney in the final Evernight book, Afterlife, and I must say she made an impression on me even back then as a human girl who managed to handle her discovery of vampires with surprising grace and bravery. I liked Skye in this book; she was easy to read about and follower---a worthy love interest for Balthazar. She was brave and had plenty of courage. She was rational, but very normal; reacting as I expected her to. I liked the little bit of fire Skye had at times too; tempting and baiting Balty no matter how hard he tried to resist—it was funny seeing a centuries old vampire so flustered by a mere mortal.

I was both thrilled and a tad disappointed with the relationship between Skye and Balthazar. Thrilled because I loved how Claudia Gray wrote it; Skye and Balthazar were both so comfortable with one another. Their relationship was without a doubt one of attraction yet it was built on the friendship that developed throughout the novel. It was sweet and endearing and passionate and fiery at the same time. From their heated stares and hilariously exchanged texts to their soft conversations and the laughs they shared, Balthazar and Skye had chemistry.....and this is also why I’m a tad disappointed. Balthazar and Skye have attended the same school for two years, why couldn’t they have found each other before now? I understand that writers don’t always plan certain things when they begin a series, but I would have loved to have seen their relationship throughout the entire Evernight series! Still, I’m thrilled to see them find each other now.

With an exciting plot full of danger and excitement that see’s Balthazar face people from his past Balthazar is a fantastic read! A few characters from the Evernight series make cameos and we finally get to see Balthazar get his long deserved happily ever after. I’m feeling satisfied with how this story ended, but there are still a few loose ends left untied if you ask me. I feel like Balthazar finally found the happiness he deserved by the end of this book and am thrilled Claudia Gray allowed us to see it!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by HarperCollins Australia (Thank-you so much Lara!)
Format: Paperback.
AU Release Date: Available now.
Expected AU Price: $19.99
Recommend: Yes!
Recommend borrow or buy: Buy.
Cover: It's pretty--fits in well with the Evernight books.
Read sequel/continue with series: This is a stand-alone companion to the Evernight series, but I'll definitely read more by Gray!

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Blog Tour: Initiation by Imogen Rose EXCERPT + GIVEAWAY


Welcome to the Initiation by Imogen Rose Blog Tour! Today, I'm going to share with you my review of excerpt from the novel! I love excerpts! They show me a hint of the novel and always make me want more.

I was supposed to be sharing my review with you guys also, but as I'm sure you all know, I've been a bit stressed for time due to TAFE work and assignments and I'm falling behind with some of my review books. Hopefully I'll be able to get to Initiation soon. So sorry!

First lets take a look at Initiation:

Welcome to Bonfire Academy. Set in the foothills of the alpine mountains in St.Moritz, this exclusive private school caters to a special kind of student. Enter at your own risk... but if you are human, you may not want to enter at all.

Warning: This YA story is set in a school for paranormals who are very different from normal human teens. This, the language and some scenes might not be appropriate from younger YA readers.
Recommended for those sixteen and above.

This is part one of the prequel series (Bonfire Academy) in the Bonfire Chronicles. Book two, INTEGRATION, will be released summer 2012.

Find Initiation on Goodreads!



And without further ado....

Excerpt:



“Want me to remove the gag? Maybe I will for a moment. I probably need to re-salt it.”

He yanked out the gag, shocking my mouth into mind-numbing pain. I couldn’t move my lips; they seemed to be stuck in an open position. The inside of my mouth was completely dry, my tongue immobilized. How the hell was I supposed to talk? I needed something to drink. And eat.

“Gross. You look like a blow-up doll. Close your mouth.”

I couldn’t even muster a sound in response.

“Too dry? Well, I have to keep you salted, but here’s some water.” He dripped some into my mouth.

I felt my tongue getting moist enough to move a little, so I tried swirling it around. I needed more. I made a rasping sound from the very back of my throat.

“Last bit.” He dripped some more water. That was enough to moisten the walls of my mouth and my lips. I tried putting them together. It was flipping agony, but I managed.

“Good. I couldn’t stand looking at that ugly tongue anymore.”

“What’re you gonna do with me?” I whispered hoarsely.

“Don’t know yet. I’ll wait and decide after I spring Tad, Jeremy, Andrew, and Hank tonight, with help from your friends.”

“My friends?”

“Yeah. Quinn, Sienna, and Jewel were very cooperative once I told them I had you. They’re going to help me bust out Tad and the others.”

“Who are you?”


Ooooh. Interesting! Definitely has me interested to know what's going on. How about you? Eager for more?


And there's an excellent giveaway running throguhout the tour, so feel free to enter with the Rafflecopter below!

4 signed paperback copies of INITIATION

1 of each:
~Inititation Sack Pack
~Initiation Bear
~Initiation Toiletry bag
~Initiation Gym Bag






Open to US Shipping




a Rafflecopter giveaway


Meet author Imogen Rose:



Imogen Rose is the author of the bestselling YA series, the Portal Chronicles. She was born in a small town in Sweden and moved to London in her twenties. After obtaining a PhD in immunology from Imperial College, she moved with her family to New Jersey, where she’s been based for the past ten years.

For as long as she can remember, Imogen has dreamt stories. Stories that continued from night to night, from dream to dream. So, even as a child, going to bed was never an issue, just an anticipation of the story to come.

PORTAL, Imogen’s first novel, would have remained in her imagination, to be shared only with her daughter, Lauren, had her eight-year-old not insisted that she write it down. In the course of a month, Imogen typed while Lauren waited eagerly by the printer for the pages to appear, and a novel took shape.

The warm reception PORTAL received encouraged her to continue with the story and the Portal Chronicles. The Bonfire Chronicles is Imogen’s new YA paranormal series.

Imogen is a self-confessed Hermès addict who enjoys shopping, traveling, watching movies and playing with her dog, Tallulah.

Visit Imogen:
Website // Goodreads // Facebook // Twitter // Blog


I'd like to say a big thank-you to Bewitching Book Tours for putting this tour together and thank you all for stopping by!



Monday, March 19, 2012

No IMM this week

Hey guys!

I hope you're all having a fab week filled with lots of books! There'll be no IMM from me this week as I have more assignments than I know what to do with and no free time.
Link to your posts and I'll check out what you all got this week if I have time. I'll be back next week though, so until then...happy reading!

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Cover Reveal: Whisper by Heather Hildenbrand!

Today I have the pleasure of sharing with you the cover of Whisper, a new book by author Heather Hildenbrand, one of my favorite self-published authors!

Introducing Whisper!


The Cherokee believe when a person dies, their soul is reborn. Life is repeated. An endless cycle of lessons to be learned, love to be found, destiny to be fulfilled. For the past six months, in every flower, every bird, I’ve imagined my parents, relieved of their human forms.

Now, after five months at the Skye View Wellness Center, it was summer, a time for parties and friends, but that’s the last thing I want to do. So when my best friend Erin convinces me to attend a bonfire at Eagle Point, I can’t handle the crowd full of sympathetic stares or drunk class clowns who would use my tragedy as a way into my heart – or my pants. The solitude of the woods offers an escape, until I stumble upon a boy, unconscious and bleeding, his pockets stuffed not with identification but with poetry illustrating the beauty of dying. I’ve seen enough death. I will not leave this boy’s side.

Even after he wakes, when the only thing he can remember are visions of events that haven’t happened yet....


Whisper will be out around mid April and I think it looks fabulous. I love Heather Hildenbrand's books and I'm really excited to read this one! Hope you all decide to check it out!

Add it on Goodreads!

Visit Heather to learn more:
Website // Goodreads // Facebook // Twitter


Thursday, March 15, 2012

Book Shelf: Winter's Light (Winter Saga #2) by M.J. Hearle


Blake is gone.

He sacrificed himself to save Winter, leaving her alone, unprotected... hunted.

An ancient enemy is rising, but Winter is no longer the innocent girl who was fated to die at Pilgrim's Lament. She will not wait to be saved. She will do what she must to survive, even accept an unsavoury alliance with those who destroyed her love.

In the gathering darkness, the enemy of an enemy is not always a friend, and Winter must find the strength to stand alone and fight for the one she loves. For she is the key to unlocking the secrets beyond the veil of shadows.

And she is Blake's only hope.

(Blurb from Goodreads.....)


Review:

Winter’s Light is a darkly intense follow up to Winter’s Shadow by M.J. Hearle that doesn’t disappoint with it’s rich description and enthralling storyline!

I find the world crafted by Hearle in this series to be hauntingly beautiful. Hearle’s prose is exquisite; deeply gothic and one that flows easily, sweeping you up straight into the story. It captures you from the very beginning and it’s easy to get immersed in the tale. In Winter’s Light, the storyline from Winter’s Shadow continues and the tragic events of the first book continue to impact on the storyline of it’s sequel.

The combination of past and present that Hearle blends is both tantalizing and intriguing and the inclusion of new mysteries and new characters weave with old to leave you glued to the pages and eager to know what’s next. I loved getting a glimpse into some of the events that are a part of the history of the Malfaerie and Demori and learning more about Lamara, the young woman we’ve only heard about proved to be insightful. It was easy to be drawn to her desperate plight and brave nature.

Winter has been through an incredibly lot lately. The last three months have been hard on her and loosing Blake has taken its toll. I find Winter to be a fantastic heroine to follow! M.J. Hearle writes her voice with such perfection that it’s no problem at all to slip into her head. She undertakes such growth throughout this book in her determined quest to save her lost love and her inner strength that she demonstrates definitely endeared her more to me. Her ability to make tough choices and her desire to do the right thing make her a force to be reckoned with; I can’t wait to see what she’ll do next.

While I’ll be the first to admit I missed Blake, Jasmine continues to be a fantastic character and best friend to Winter and Sam steps up in his search for redemption. I love Jas. Her witty remarks and devotion to her best friend is beautiful and I found I really loved Sam in this book. I liked him in the first book, but here he truly touched my heart with his desire to make up for his actions in the first book and his desire to be a friend to Winter. I also liked Elena. As one of the new characters introduced and part of the mysterious Bane, I admit she wasn’t who I thought she was at first sight and I loved seeing Hearle unveil her character. I’d definitely like to see more of her in future books.

With twists, turns and betrayal, Winter’s Light is a spectacular read! A heart-racing and surprising ending is bound to leave you begging for more and desperate to know what Hearle has in store for this series next!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Pan Macmillan Australia (Thank-you sooo much Charlotte!)
Format: Bound ARC
AU Release Date: May 2012
Expected AU Price: $16.99
Recommend: Yes!
Recommend borrow or buy: Buy it.
Cover: Am I the only one in love with this cover?!? It's stunning, just stunning!
Read sequel/continue with series: Yes! Oh, yes.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Waiting on Wedesday #24



Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine where you can spotlight an upcoming release that you're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on....




Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson
Releases on: October 9th
Add it: On Goodreads.

Nothing ever happens in Norway. But at least Ellie knows what to expect when she visits her grandmother: a tranquil fishing village and long, slow summer days. And maybe she’ll finally get out from under the shadow of her way-too-perfect big brother, Graham, while she’s there.

What Ellie doesn’t anticipate is Graham’s infuriating best friend, Tuck, tagging along for the trip. Nor did she imagine boys going missing amid rumors of impossible kidnappings. Least of all does she expect something powerful and ancient to awaken in her and that strange whispers would urge Ellie to claim her place among mythological warriors. Instead of peace and quiet, there’s suddenly there’s a lot for a girl from L.A. to handle on a summer sojourn in Norway! And when Graham vanishes, it’s up to Ellie—and the ever-sarcastic, if undeniably alluring Tuck—to uncover the truth about all the disappearances and thwart the nefarious plan behind them.

Deadly legends, hidden identities, and tentative romance swirl together in one girl’s unexpectedly-epic coming of age.

Thoughts:
Two words. Valkyrie Rising. That's it guys. All I have to hear is the name of the title and I'm in! I've always been a massive fan of anything Valkyrie or involving Valhalla, so that was guaranteed to get me wanting this but that storyline...*SQUEE* Mythological warriors, deadly legends, hidden identities...oh, and a romance! Looks. Awesome! I want! I neeeeed! Gimme! Please, please October come soon!

What are you all waiting on this week? Tell me, I'd love to know!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Book Shelf: Afterlife (Evernight #4) by Claudia Gray


Destiny awaits Bianca and Lucas . . .

Bianca and Lucas have always believed they could endure anything to be together. When a twist of fate not only transforms Bianca into a wraith but also turns Lucas into a vampire--the very creature he spent his life hunting--they are left reeling.

Haunted by his powerful need to kill, Lucas can turn to only one place for help . . . Evernight Academy. Bianca is determined to remain with him. But with the vampire leader of Evernight waging a war against wraiths, her former home has become the most dangerous place she could be, despite the new powers her ghostly transformation has given her.

A battle between wraiths and vampires looms, and Bianca and Lucas face a terrifying new reality. They've overcome every obstacle life has thrown at them, but is their love strong enough to survive the challenges "after" life?

(Blurb from Goodreads.....)


Review:

Afterlife marks the end of Claudia Gray’s Evernight series and it ends with a heart-pounding conclusion bound to leave you feeling satisfied.

Despite all the vampire books out there that litter the YA genre, I still find the Evernight series to be fun, exciting well written reads. Each book has been of a high standard and has continued to entertain me, even though vampires are something I’ve seen quite a bit. Gray’s plotline and her vampiric myths have been engaging and interesting and are never boring. I’m always drawn into the Evernight books and Afterlife is no exception!

It’s taken me a while to get to this book and I’m almost sorry, however I’m glad I can now dive straight into Balthazar. I easily read this book in one sitting and its gripping storyline had me eager to see how Bianca and Lucas’s journey would end. One of the things I’ve loved about this series are the characters that litter it’s pages. They have such a great dynamic together and actually have personality. With our main characters Bianca and Lucas front and centre, we’ve also had the pleasure of seeing some of the other characters including, Balthazar, Raquel, Dana, Vic, and Ranulf shine. Written perfectly to fit the story, I’ve loved seeing them throughout the series and the humour, romance and excitement they constantly have brought to the series has been a pleasure to read about. Personally, I’d continue reading just to see them!

As far are star-crossed lovers go Bianca and Lucas have been great to read about. I’ve enjoyed reading about their adventures and seeing them develops both as individuals and as a couple. Throughout the series their unwavering dedication to one another and love has been sweet and as a heavy focus during the series I always enjoyed seeing them together. There’s no doubt that they’ve both changed throughout the series, but they’re still very much the great characters they were in the first book. In Afterlife, Lucas faces his worst nightmare and it was humbling seeing him not to be quite as strong as he’s always been as he struggled with being a vampire. It made him more human and I liked seeing him in a different light. I felt sorry for him even as I enjoyed watching he and Bianca find their way in their new lives.

I thought it was really interesting how Claudia Gray developed Bianca’s character. The history between the vampires and the wraith were really intriguing from the beginning and I enjoyed seeing how this played out into Bianca’s life. As a person, Bianca was always easy to read about, a good individual with just the right amount of spirit to make her fun to read about but it was the complicated history of her existence that made her awesome to follow. I thought it was exciting and I was constantly on edge to see what would happen with Bianca and her existence.

As I’m sure you’re well aware, Gray has also written a companion novel featuring Balthazar, the saddest, loneliest and perhaps the most intriguing of all the Evernight side characters. In the beginning, when there was the hint of a love triangle, he always remained noble and true and while I still cheered on Lucas, Balthazar managed to worm his way into my heart. In Afterlife, we have our first glimpse of Skye, the new character and human girl at Evernight Academy that will be his love interest in his book. Seriously, I love Skye already. Her fire, kindness and bravery throughout her small parts of this novel have me dying to learn more about her already!

Afterlife is an exciting read. As the final novel in the series it doesn’t disappoint with all the action, humour and romance that have made this series so brilliant! Gray weaves together a complicated story with on your seat action, betrayal and excitement that will have to glued to the last page and desperate to know how it all ends!

Rating:
Source: I bought.
Format: Paperback.
Recommend: Yes.
Recommend borrow or buy: Buy.
Cover: It's pretty and fits in well with the others.
Read sequel/continue with series: While this is the last in the series, I'll definitely be reading Gray's companion novel and anything else she puts out!

Buy it here:

buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

Monday, March 12, 2012

In My Mailbox #31



Hey everyone!

Welcome to In My Mailbox!

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren where we can share the books we bought, borrowed or received throughout the week. For more info on just what it is and how to participate, head here.



For Review:
From Pan Macmillan.....
~Forgiven by Jana Oliver
.....Thank-you Charlotte so much!

From Simon & Schuster....
~Choker by Elizabeth Woods
.....Thank-you so much guys!

I Bought:
~A Beautiful Evil by Kelly Keaton



SQUEEE! Forgiven! Freaking Forgiven! Beck! Beck, Beck, Beck, BECK!! So excited for this one in case you couldn't already tell. I adore this series and I'm totally in love with Beck. This is most definitely my next read. Really it's a struggle not to start it right now! I also received Choker for review and although it's not my kind of thing usually, I may get to it one day. I HAD to have a copy of A Beautiful Evil by Kelly Keaton as I loved Darkness Becomes Her and I'm eager to have more of Ari!

I Won:
~Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder


I was also thrilled to win a copy of Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder thanks to HarlequinTEEN Australia and Lisa at Read Me Bookmark Me Love Me. Obviously I've already read this but I adored it and am really happy to have a finished copy. Thank-you Lisa! Love ya girlie!

So that's my mailbox this week!
What did you get in your mailbox this week?


Saturday, March 10, 2012

Blog Tour: Creepy Hollow series by Rachel Morgan Excerpt



Welcome to the Creepy Hollow blog tour! Today I have the pleasure of sharing my review of Guardian, the first novelette in the new Creepy Hollow series by Rachel Morgan as well as an excerpt from one of my favorite parts of the book--a scene I'm sure will have you begging for more!

First for my review....please check it out here or look to my previous post for my complete thoughts on Guardian. Oh, and just so you know....I loved it!

I was thrilled when Rachel Morgan invited me to be a part of this tour and I'm really excited to share this small excerpt with you. It's such a cheeky sneak peak into one of the interactions between Violet and Nate, the main characters in Guardian.

Now before you dive straight into the excerpt, take a little look at Guardian.....



1. Receive assignment.
2. Save a life.
3. Sleep.
4. Repeat.

Protecting humans from dangerous magical creatures is all in a day’s work for a faerie training to be a guardian. Seventeen-year-old Violet Fairdale knows this better than anyone—she’s about to become the best guardian the Guild has seen in years. That is, until one of her assignments—a human boy who shouldn’t even be able to see her—follows her into the fae realm. Now she’s broken Guild Law, a crime that could lead to her expulsion.

The last thing Vi wants to do is spend any more time with the boy who got her into this mess, but the Guild requires that she return Nate to his home and make him forget everything he’s discovered of the fae realm. Easy, right? But Nate and Vi are about to land themselves in even bigger trouble—and it’ll take all Vi’s training to get them out alive.


Excerpt:


No way,” he says, rustling the leaves as he stands. “You can’t be a faerie. You’re way too big.”

I lower my hands. “Excuse me?” I’ve been called many things in my seventeen years, but big has never been one of them. Quite the opposite, in fact.

“Aren’t faeries supposed to be, like, really tiny? With wings and a wand and faerie dust?”

“I’m not Tinker Bell!”

He takes a step back. “Okay, okay. Since this is a dream I guess you can be whatever you want to be.”

“Did it feel like a dream when I kicked you just now?”

“Actually that did kind of hurt.” He rubs his leg.

I shake my head. “This is such a mistake. You should not be here.”

He crosses his arms. “So you don’t have wings then?” he asks, completely ignoring what I just said.

“Sure I do, they’re in my pocket.”

“Really?”

“No!” I’m trying to think of the best way to fix this, and I wish he’d just keep quiet.

“Oh, wait, you do have a wand though. I saw you using it on my wall.”

“It’s not a wand, it’s called a stylus. Just a stick, really.”

“But it—”

“You know, if it weren’t my sole purpose in life to protect humans like you from crazy magical fae, I’d leave you here to find your own way home.”

“Is that what you were doing in my room?” he asks after a moment.

I sigh. Why am I telling him any of this? “Yes. I was on assignment.”

“I was your assignment?”

Wow, you catch on fast. “Yes.”

He hesitates a moment, then grins. “That’s kind of hot.”



Meet Rachel Morgan!


Rachel Morgan is the author of Guardian, the first novelette in the Creepy Hollow series. She was born in South Africa and spent a large portion of her childhood living in a fantasy land of her own making. These days, in between teaching mathematics to high school children, she writes fiction for young adults.

Buy Guardian from:
Amazon US // Amazon UK // Smashwords

The Creepy Hollow Series:
Website // Goodreads // Facebook // Book Trailer

Author Info
Blog // Twitter // Facebook // Goodreads // Google+


I'd like to say a big thank-you to Rachel for inviting me to participate in the tour and urge you all to check out the complete tour schedule for reviews, guest posts and giveaways!

Check out the complete blog tour over at Rachel's website!


Book Shelf: Guardian (Creepy Hollow, #1) by Rachel Morgan


1. Receive assignment.
2. Save a life.
3. Sleep.
4. Repeat.

Protecting humans from dangerous magical creatures is all in a day’s work for a faerie training to be a guardian. Seventeen-year-old Violet Fairdale knows this better than anyone—she’s about to become the best guardian the Guild has seen in years. That is, until one of her assignments—a human boy who shouldn’t even be able to see her—follows her into the fae realm. Now she’s broken Guild Law, a crime that could lead to her expulsion.

The last thing Vi wants to do is spend any more time with the boy who got her into this mess, but the Guild requires that she return Nate to his home and make him forget everything he’s discovered of the fae realm. Easy, right? But Nate and Vi are about to land themselves in even bigger trouble—and it’ll take all Vi’s training to get them out alive.

(Blurb from Goodreads....)


Review:

Guardian by Rachel Morgan is an incredibly fun, exciting, although somewhat short story that caught me from the very beginning and left me desperately wanting more!

One of the things I loved about this novelette is that Morgan begins the start of her captivating tales pretty much straight away. There’s no prelude or messing around. Violet and Nate meet, get tangled up due to a series of events and their story begins! Morgan’s writing style is fantastic; easy to read, vivid, and perfectly descriptive. The world she has crafted is exciting, although I would have liked a bit more explanation of the workings within it, but seeing as this is the first novelette in a series, I foresee a lot of expansion in future books.

Our main character Violet is an awesome heroine to follow! She’s feisty and independent and well and truly able to take care of herself, despite some of the situations she finds herself in. The girl’s got spirit and flair and her sharp tongue and quick wit had me in stitches at times. Morgan writes her “voice” in such a way that you can’t help by love this quirky and sarcastic guardian.

The interactions between Vi and Nate, the human boy that she accidently returned to the fae realm with, constantly brought a smile to my face. Nate is sweet, with just the perfect amount of personality to be interesting within the story, yet not overbearing. His own wit and outlandish comments entertained me even as they annoyed Violet. His modem day references to films and occasional cluelessness endeared him to me.

There’s a romantic connection between the two of them, but it’s not rushed or forced despite the shortness of the story, but rather a delicious possibility as Violet begins to feel things she’s never before felt. Both Violet and Nate are sweet and although it’s early days I cannot wait to see how Morgan develops and enhances their relationship.

Filled with colourful characters, that personally I want to know more about, and with a feisty heroine, the tone of the story is light, while still being fun. Guardian left me wanting more and I eagerly await the next installment!

Rating:
Source: Sent by author for review. (Thank-you Rachel!)
Format: Kindle ebook ARC
Recommend: Yes!
Recommend borrow or buy: Buy it
Cover: It's stunning!! Beautiful.
Read sequel/continue with series: Definitely! I need more!
Buy it here: on Amazon

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Waiting on Wedesday #23



Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine where you can spotlight an upcoming release that you're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on....



Defiance by C.J. Redwine
Releases on: August 28th
Add it: On Goodreads.

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.


Thoughts:
First off I wanna be a little vain and say....How. Incredible. Is. That. Cover?!? It's beautiful. Reminds me a bit of Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton, but this one is more stunning. And the story *drools*. Alright so the heroine is named Rachel--we know she's gonna rock (;P) and the storyline just sounds epic. Need I mention that I've always loved the name Logan! Seriously. It's like I'm in heaven already! Need. Need. Neeeeeddd! I CANNOT WAIT FOR THIS!!!!

Don't you love the sound of this??
What are you waiting on this week? Let me know!


Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Book Shelf: Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3) by Suzanne Collins


Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plains - except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay - no matter what the personal cost.

(Blurb from Goodreads....)


Review: (Warning, contains some spoilers!)

Mockingjay marks the end of The Hunger Games series and Collins doesn’t disappoint with her heart-wrenching, action packed ending!

It’s taken me a while to get my head around this book. I recently finished it and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that there were parts that broke my heart and shattered my soul but at the end of the day I feel like Suzanne Collins wrote it right. While I have no doubt there are people out there who will disagree with me, I honestly feel that for Collins to have written this book any other way would have been a betrayal to the series.

Before I go into the rest of my review, there’s something I need to say. The Hunger Games series houses a dark, harsh world filled with pain and torment. Collins has made this clear from the very beginning and in this book she truly backs up her claims. You can’t have a dystopian world of that magnitude where people suffer so much and not show it. Suzanne Collins was brave enough and daring enough to show the loss, however heartbreaking, that her characters faced and went through. She didn’t sugar-coat it. It was agonizing and it was painful, but it was REAL. She showed the necessary evils of war in a way that was undeniable and that you couldn’t hide from. Nothing was glossed over with the pain and the deaths of the characters depicted exactly how I think they should have been. Ordinarily endings that aren’t extremely happy annoy me, as I feel cheated, but here I feel like nothing else would have been enough to truly strengthen the events of this series. Was I heartbroken to see characters I’d come to love loose their lives? Of course! Did I hate seeing Peeta and Katniss become shadows of the people they’d once been? Good lord, yes! But was it the right thing for Suzanne Collins to show after everything that has happened in this series? Absolutely!

I feel ripped and raw after reading this book. If ever a book managed to tear my heart into a million pieces it’s this one. This was a never ending ride of torment. Loss, pain, betrayal....they were all themes within this book that you couldn’t hide from. So many things seemed senseless and meaningless, from the deaths of certain characters to the decisions and actions of others. It was heart-breaking. Collins made me feel. And feel it all! She didn’t let me read an action packed, war story with a happy, Hollywood ending. Instead she forced me to read a book that was so emotional, despite it’s YA Fiction status, that every moment engraved itself in my heart. I should hate her for this....but I don’t. And here’s why....I think she was true to the human spirit. There’s only so much a person can take before they begin to fray and break and in this series Collins wrote Katniss in such a way that true to this.

Katniss Everdeen is one of the strongest heroines out there....even though she’s a shadow of who she was by the end of this book. It’s understandable that she crumbled. No one can expect to go through so much and not be left scarred, both physically and mentally. Katniss’s character is perfect in my eyes. She’s real and she’s believable and fits perfectly within the story. She was strong when it counted despite her pain and even though she’ll never be the person she once was I think she still managed to accomplish exactly what mattered. Oh, my heart bleeds for her. She’ll never be able to completely let go of the past, nor will Peeta, but I think in the end Collins wrote this perfectly too.

I was marginally surprised with the way the “love triangle” between Katniss, Peeta and Gale was resolved. In fact I feel slightly cheated. I expected there to be a bit more fight, more indecision, instead Gale just more or less walked out of Katniss’s life. I still agree that had things been different, Katniss still would have found her way back to Peeta, he was just the one she was meant to be with, but I would have like a deeper, more meaningful resolve between the three of them. However, in the end I think Katniss is right to be with Peeta. They’re very different people, and considering how much they’re both irreversibly altered after the events of this book, I still feel like they balance one another out. They’re able to understand each others pain and heal one another. I don’t think Gale would have ever been able to do that for Katniss. As Collins put it....she needed Peeta.

And yet despite the anguish and devastation left over at the end of this book, Collins leaves this series with little rays of hope. In the form of friendships that remained despite everything. In the face of a baby, born to a character loved and then lost. In the relationship between Katniss and Peeta that manages to go on despite both their pain and in the family and life they share.

Suzanne Collins ends this series on the biggest of highs and biggest of lows, leaving me as the reader feeling both devastated and fulfilled. Overall I’m happy with how the series ended, and sad to see it go, but I’m comforted knowing that every event, every moment of pain, all led to a world different than the one that started out, and even though it breaks my heart to say it, I think everything Collins wrote was necessary. And I wouldn’t change a single word of it!


Rating:
Source: I bought.
Format: Paperback
Recommend: Yes!
Recommend borrow or buy: Buy--this is a series you need to own.
Cover: This is my favorite of the Aussie Scolastic covers for the series, but again, it's not really that nice :/
Read sequel/continue with series: This is the last book in the series, but I'd love to see more by Suzanne Collins!

Buy it here:

buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery