Book Shelf: The Queen of Zombie Hearts (White Rabbit Chronicles #3) by Gena Showalter

I thought I had nothing left to give. I thought wrong. They started the war. Now I will end it.

In the stunning conclusion to the wildly popular White Rabbit Chronicles, Alice "Ali" Bell thinks the worst is behind her... until Anima Industries, the agency controlling the zombies, launches a zneak attack, killing four of her friends. It's then she realises only the worst has only begun.

As the surviving slayers prepare for war, Ali discovers she, too, can control the zombies... and she isn't the girl she thought she was. She's connected to the woman responsible for killing — and turning — her boyfriend's mother. How can their relationship endure? As secrets come to light, and more slayers are taken or killed, Ali will fight harder than ever to bring down Anima — even sacrificing her own life for those she loves.

More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

The Queen of Zombie Hearts is the third novel in Gena Showalter’s sensational White Rabbit Chronicles and is the final book in the series told strictly in Ali POV, seeing our strong and daring heroine take on Anima’s forces in one final battle.

Alice “Ali” Bell has been to hell and back in recent times. Now a seasoned slayer, she’s been kidnapped, tortured by Anima Industries and possessed by her zombie alter-ego. So when Anima launch an unexpected attack on the slayers, taking the lives of some of the people Ali cares about, Ali’s decides it’s time to stop Anima once and for all. Even if it means trusting someone Cole is sure she shouldn’t trust, and putting her faith in a new rag-tag group of slayers who have just as much to lose as Ali’s gang…..

So…..Gena Showalter is a legend. A pure writing legend. And I’m oh so much of a fangirl where she’s concerned. I’ve read more books of hers than I can name and I’ve loved every one of them, with The Queen of Zombie Hearts absolutely no exception!

Gena Showalter has created a riveting world within the White Rabbit Chronicles. Her clever twist on zombies and her ability to base the series loosely around Alice in Wonderland has been wonderful from the get go! Her writing is flawless; managing to be sharp, witty and entertaining and her ability to create characters with fantastic dynamics and chemistry is something I really love. The dialogue in this series is perfect and Showalter writes some wonderfully detailed fight sequences throughout the novel also. 

I’ve really enjoyed following Ali throughout this series and have always found her to be a strong, resilient young woman. She has fire inside and out and I love that she isn’t afraid to take risks, make hard choices and yet still manages to be a normal teenage girl at the end of the day who loves her friends, family and her boyfriend. 

All the characters have had such life in this series and I’ve fallen in love with all the slayers in Ali’s life. Obviously Ali and Cole are stand outs, but I love Kat and Frosty, Reeve and Bronx, Gavin, Mackenzie, Jaclyn, Mr Ankh and even Ali’s Nanna. Oh, and Gena Showalter’s decision to branch out and introduce us to a new faction to zombie slayers has only added to my list as River, Chance and Camilla have left me intrigued and eager to get to know them more!

The Queen of Zombie Hearts is a great conclusion to Ali’s journey in this series, but is not without its loss and sadness. Showalter doesn’t shy away from taking the lives of certain characters, although there is rhyme and reason behind these decisions; some of which open even more doors of possibilities for the characters effected. 

Fast paced, exciting and endlessly addictive The Queen of Zombie Hearts is without a doubt a must read and leaves me ready to dive into the fourth book, A Mad Zombie Party, told through the eyes of slayers Frosty and Camilla as they unexpectedly find that their path to redemption lies in the other……

Rating:
Source: I purchased from Big W
Format: Paperback
Buy it: Bookworld | The Nile | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Recommendation: This series is BRILLIANT and perfect for those who love zombies, hunting and romance
Cover: Very pretty and perfect with the others in the series.
Will I read sequel/continue with series: Yes! I'm going to jump straight into the next one!

Cover Reveal: Downfall by S.D. Wasley

I'm honored to be helping Amazon bestselling author S.D. Wasley reveal the cover for her first NA novel, set for release on January 7th 2016! Perfect for lovers of Lauren Kate's Fallen and the Richelle Mead's Bloodlines series, Downfall will kick of The Incorruptibles series!

Frankie’s cousin wants her to do three things this year:
1. Lose her inhibitions
2. Do something spectacularly stupid
3. Fall madly in love

Travelling was Frankie’s life. As the daughter of a big-name evangelist, she’s been able to feed her hunger for new sights throughout most of her teenage years. Then a hushed-up scandal gets her thrown off the tour circuit and stuck at her uncle’s house in the town of Augur’s Well.

Forced to repeat her failed senior year, it looks like a dismal existence for Frankie—until she’s invited to the bizarre meeting place of four mismatched people ... and falls hard for the fascinating, secretive Cain Aleister.

Furtive meetings in an underground chamber ... Latin words carved into a stone wall ... intense desire ... and a secret so elusive she’ll do almost anything to bust it open. Until now, Frankie never believed in grand passions—but that’s not the only one of her beliefs about to implode right before her eyes.

Looks like Frankie’s going to score three for three.

Add on Goodreads!

S.D. Wasley was born and raised in Perth, Western Australia.

She has been composing literary works since before she could write – at five years of age she announced her first poem in the kitchen, improv-style. Today, she lives in the Swan Valley wine region with her two daughters, surrounded by dogs, cats and chickens.

S.D. Wasley writes crossover and young adult fiction in the genres of mystery, paranormal and urban fantasy, as well as literary fiction. Recent published work has appeared in Vine Leaves Literary Journal, and her flash fiction piece titled “The Search” will appear in the forthcoming Visible Ink anthology as the introductory piece.

SD Wasley’s debut novel, The Seventh, was published with Evernight Teen in January 2015 and the sequel, The Rift, is expected to be released in November 2015.

 

Visit S.D:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook
 

Having previously read S.D. Wasley's debut novel The Seventh, I for one am looking forward to checking out Downfall--it seems like a really intriguing story and I know S.D. Wasley has something awesome in store for us!

Blog Tour: Abby and the Cute One by Erin Butler- Dream Cast & Giveaway

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Abby and the Cute One by Erin Butler, the fifth and final book in the Backstage Pass series! Yesterday I posted my review for Abby and the Cute One and today I have a super fun Dream Cast from author by Erin Butler as well as a tourwide giveaway!

____________________________

He's cute. He's famous. And he could ruin everything...

Every member of Seconds to Juliet has a girlfriend-except for Nathan Strong. Now the band's manager is leaning hard on "The Cute One" to play the role of the band's heartthrob. With the band's sales in decline, it's up to Nathan to keep the fans' fantasy alive.

The plan is to stage a fake relationship and a fake breakup, and then let the fans fight to be the one to mend Nathan's broken heart. Just one problem. There's another girl in the picture-one Nathan can't stay away from. In private, Nathan's stealing kisses with the band's new opening act, Abby Curtis.

If they're caught, no one wins. Abby will be fired, and the band might not recover the success they need to survive. But even with the pressure mounting, Nathan and Abby can't stop themselves from stealing one more touch, one more kiss. And it's only a matter of time before it all falls apart.

Add on Goodreads or check out my review!

Purchase:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes

Abby and the Cute One Dream Cast!

I started thinking about who to cast as Nathan and Abby before I even started writing the book and I KNOW I have the perfect Nathan. The best part? He can already sing.

Does anyone recognize him? It's Nathan Sykes from a boy band called The Wanted. You might know their songs, I Found You, Chasing the Sun, Glad You Came, and Walks Like Rihanna. They even had a reality show called The Wanted Life. Before you ask, of course I watched the show! I freaking loved it! Nathan is sooooo adorable, has a British accent, and some pipes, too! Check out this live performance from YouTube: https://youtu.be/iRhUoTj6YTg You can watch the whole thing OR skip to 3:00 in and watch the boy sing. A little background info (Because I will never miss an opportunity to gush about boy bands!), the reason why this performance from The Wanted was so special is because Nathan had throat surgery (Scary!), and this was his first show back.

Since The Wanted broke up, Nathan Sykes has gone solo and has a few singles out. Don't worry, my Nathan will never go solo! :) But, you should check out Nathan Sykes’ new music because he's a tremendous singer!

Okay, wow, I just fell down a Nathan Sykes YouTube black hole! Let's get to Abby before I waste the entire day!

It's Caroline from The Vampire Diaries! AKA Candice Accola. This pic of her completely embodies how I pictured Abby in my head. She's even got her hat on!! And seriously, don't they make the cutest couple??

Aren't Nathan and Abby cute together?

Erin Butler is lucky enough to have two jobs she truly loves. As a librarian, she gets to work with books all day long, and as an author, Erin uses her activ e imagination to write the kinds of books she loves to read. Young Adult and New Adult books are her favorites, but she especially fangirls over a sigh-worthy romance. She lives in Central New York with her very understanding husband, a stepson, and doggie BFF, Maxie. Preferring to spend her time indoors reading or writing, she'll only willingly go outside for chocolate and sunshine — in that order.

Visit Erin:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Go back to the beginning and check out the whole series here!

 

Book Shelf: Abby and the Cute One (Backstage Pass #5) by Erin Butler

He's cute. He's famous. And he could ruin everything...

Every member of Seconds to Juliet has a girlfriend-except for Nathan Strong. Now the band's manager is leaning hard on "The Cute One" to play the role of the band's heartthrob. With the band's sales in decline, it's up to Nathan to keep the fans' fantasy alive.

The plan is to stage a fake relationship and a fake breakup, and then let the fans fight to be the one to mend Nathan's broken heart. Just one problem. There's another girl in the picture-one Nathan can't stay away from. In private, Nathan's stealing kisses with the band's new opening act, Abby Curtis.

If they're caught, no one wins. Abby will be fired, and the band might not recover the success they need to survive. But even with the pressure mounting, Nathan and Abby can't stop themselves from stealing one more touch, one more kiss. And it's only a matter of time before it all falls apart.

More info on Goodreads......


Review:

Abby and the Cute One by Erin Butler is the fifth and final instalment in the Backstage Pass series and tells the tale of the last single Seconds to Juliet member remaining Nathan, and the singer/songwriter who steals his heart.

I must admit, I really am sad to see this series come to an end. All the novels in Backstage Pass series have been fresh, fun contemporary reads that are littered with romance, friendship and entertainment. Just downright enjoyable stories; this series is one that has been easy to get lost in, and Abby and the Cute One is no exception.

Nathan Strong is the last single man standing, having watched all his bandmates fall in love and pair off, and with that status comes great responsibility. Nathan’s manager expects him to be the eligible bachelor he is and go on a series of PR related dates to boost Seconds to Juliet’s media interest. This isn’t a problem…..until Nathan meets Abby Curtis, the hot new talent who will be opening for them on their recent tour. Sweet, genuine and honest, Abby is someone Nathan actually wants to be with, but with stolen kisses and secrets rendezvous getting harder and harder, both Abby and Nathan must decide what is most important and what they are willing to fight for; their careers or each other?

If I’m honest, Abby and the Cute One isn’t my favourite book in this series by far, but it really was a sweet, enjoyable read. I’ve loved following these boys and seeing them fall for their respective girls. Nathan just rounded out a great bunch in lovely, sweet fashion.

Nathan and Abby were really down to earth characters, even though he is technically an internationally renowned music sensation. They had an endearing chemistry and the fact they shared a passion and love of music saw them bond and connect really quickly.

Obviously there is some drama and a lot of teen angst in this novel, but it’s hard to do anything but follow Nathan and Abby along for the ride and enjoy everything that Erin Butler has written.

Cute, fun and very sweet, Abby and the Cute One is an enjoyable conclusion to what has been a very enjoyable series. I’m sorry to see my time with the Seconds to Juliet boys come to an end, but I highly recommend anyone who hasn’t read the series yet to do so—you won’t be sorry!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Entangled Publishing (Thanks!)
Format: Kindle ebook via Netgalley
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
My Recommendation: A very fun contemporary read!
Cover: It's very fresh and fun
Will I read sequel/continue with series: This is the last book in this series, but boy has it been good. I wouldn't hesitate to read more from any of the authors in this series!

Owl Post #76

Inspired by The Story Siren's In My Mailbox, Owl Post allows us bloggers to showcase the books we've bought, won or received throughout the week and is hosted by Brodie over at Eleusinian Mysteries. We all know that the Owl Post is the fastest way to send and receive mail and they certainly make me happy every time they drop a book off.  

Hello my lovelies!

 

Hope you've all had a great week in books. I actually didn't get any myself, but I did remember a few I forgot to share last week :)

   For Review

From Bloomsbury: - Madame Tussaud's Apprentice by Kathleen Benner Duble This book isn't something I would normally think to read but it does seem to be popular and perhaps I'll try to read it in the future.   .....Thank you guys! ____________________________   From Scholastic: - The Marvels by Brian Selznick This book was a real surprise for me, but boy is it stunning. It's a very heavy hardback, with gold at the pages edges and is filled with really beautiful black and white pictures. It really is a beautiful book to just look at!   ....Thank you guys!    I Received:

 The lovely author Chloe Jacobs very generously sent me some beautiful bookmarks for the second book in her Mylena Chronicles, Greta and the Glass Kingdom. Aren't they beautiful! Thanks so much to Chloe!   And that's me. What have you received recently!    

Free Ebooks

Hello everyone and happy Sunday. Please enjoy these freebies I've recently found :)

Some fab books this week! Hope you all snagged some new ones!

Book Shelf: Finding It (Losing It #3) by Cora Carmack

Spending a few months travelling around Europe – with no parents, no responsibilities and a no limit credit card – Kelsey’s having the time of her life.

But when she completely embarrasses herself in front of the hottest guy she’s ever seen, she soon realises there’s more to life than the next party.

What she doesn’t realise is that although she’s on a journey to find herself, she will end up finding The One...

More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

Finding It is the third instalment in Cora Carmack’s brilliant Losing It series and follow Kelsey Summers, best friend of Losing It protagonist, Bliss, as she jets around the globe; finally discovering her own version of happiness in this sensual and exciting story!

Personally, I’ve always found something thrilling about the idea of backpacking across Europe; meeting new people, seeing incredible sights, sleeping wherever you find somewhere to sleep and just basically living. Admittedly, I’ve never had the chance to do so myself, though I hope to in the future, but for the time being Finding It gives me the opportunity to live vicariously through Kelsey as Cora Carmack details her trip across Europe.

I have to say I enjoyed the overall adventure of this story. Though I missed the dual POV’s we had in Faking It, I found it easy to witness things unfold through Kelsey’s eyes. I would have loved to have been in Hunt’s head as well, but I was satisfied all the same. In all honesty, Finding It isn’t my favorite book in the series--that honor still belongs to Losing It, with Faking It in the number two spot, but Finding It was still a great read in its own rights.

This book can in my opinion, easily be read as a standalone, or as part of the series. You don’t need to have read the previous books to read this one, though having done so myself, I think it gave me a greater appreciation for the discoveries we made about Kelsey in this book. Finding It really allowed me to see her in a different light and realize there’s a lot more to her than the fun-loving, party girl we’ve previously known.

I like Kelsey; I do. She feisty, witty and full of life, but she’s also very damaged. Something that really only becomes evident in Finding It as Kelsey fights to loose herself in drinking, partying and men. She’s travelling the globe on the journey of a lifetime, but it’s also very clear from the beginning of this book that Kelsey is running. Running from her painful past and even her present.

I enjoyed the way Cora Carmack wrote Kelsey. It’s very easy to see her as real—I’ve known people who experienced life the way she did and who chose to get lost in the meaningless experiences as she did, but that being said, seeing Kelsey be swept off her feet so intimately and begin to trust and let someone in as she did Hunt was very sweet. With her vulnerabilities on display, and the truth about her childhood revealed, Carmack details Kelsey’s journey to trust and love perfectly amidst the adventure she is on.

And the source of Kelsey’s salvation lies in her form of Jackson Hunt; a tough ex-military man who proves to be unexpectedly adventurous and incredibly sweet as he joins Kelsey on her trip across Europe. This handsome and protective new companion of Kelsey’s is quite the mysterious, but alluring stranger, who quickly becomes a friend and then more to Kelsey. I seriously adored Jackson! He was appealing from the very beginning, but every time he would do another sweet or kind thing for Kelsey, I fell for him a little bit harder. I will be honest; Jackson’s secrets were something I had a feeling about from the beginning. It wasn’t something I hadn’t seen before, or been not expecting, but I still enjoyed the repercussions it had on his and Kelsey’s sweet, sexy and sensual relationship.

Sensual, addictive and intense, Finding It is another great story by Cora Carmack. With sexy characters, passionate romance and an endearing storyline, this will be sure to entertain!

Rating:
Source: Purchased by me from The Book Depository
Format: Paperback
Buy it: Bookworld | The Nile | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Recommendation: This is a MUST READ NA series!
Cover: Love the red, although the guy is not how I picture Hunt at all!
Will I read sequel/continue with series: This is the last full length novel in this series, but I'll read ANYTHING Cora Carmack writes!