Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Why Haven't I Read You? (25)

Every Wednesday I’ll choose a book off one of my (many) shelves that I haven’t read for some reason or another, and include the first few lines from the first page.
Feel free to join in, and leave your comments about the books I feature if you have read them!

B.J. Chase had worn her black tank top and khaki shorts for too many hours to count in the Venezuelan climate, where the heat and humidity were often measured in terms of ripe, riper, and “for God’s sake, take a shower.”

Feel the Heat by Cindy Gerard



Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Future Favorites (133)

Future Favorites is an awesome blog feature created by Alex over at Electrifying Reviews. I post about a book that is yet-to-be-released that I can't wait to read!


Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano
Release Date: October 3, 2013 by HarperVoyager

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Chemical Garden trilogy: On the floating city of Internment, you can be anything you dream. Unless you approach the edge.

Morgan Stockhour knows getting too close to the edge of Internment, the floating city in the clouds where she lives, can lead to madness. Even though her older brother, Lex, was a Jumper, Morgan vows never to end up like him. If she ever wonders about the ground, and why it is forbidden, she takes solace in her best friend, Pen, and in Basil, the boy she’s engaged to marry.

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 once she meets Judas. Betrothed to the victim, he is the boy being blamed for the murder, 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 whom she will lose.


Monday, July 29, 2013

Interview & Giveaway with Sofia Malamas

1. When did you first start writing, and was there something in particular that inspired you?

I started writing in high school. Not seriously, but that was when it started. I had a dream about a girl trapped in this weird white room with slides in the wall and a crazy cloud over her head that rained light—which would later become Evelyn in the Land of Nowhere. I wrote it down and it all ballooned from there.

2. What first attracted you to your genre when you began writing?

I have always been attracted to the fantasy genre—movies, books, TV, everything. I just could never get enough. Then my love for it super-sized when I started writing. Every element that I enjoyed about the genre: the magic, the adventure, the mystery, the romance was now all mine to control! Have you ever watched a movie or read a book and enjoyed it so much only to reach a very unsatisfying ending? That happened to me a lot, and for the first time I could decide how the story ended. Every fantasy I had ever had, every adventure I wish I could have taken, I could make a reality. How cool is that?

3. In regards to your own characters, who is your favorite to write and why?

My first instinct is to say Jerris, because he is his own level of awesomeness, but I really enjoy writing Evelyn too. As strange as it sounds, I also find it easier to write Jerris scenes, because I’m more like him. We have similar humor and our brains work the same way, though, I have to say, I am not as pessimistic as he his. On the flip side, that’s also why I love writing about Evelyn, because of her optimism, her humility and her kindness. Qualities I wish were more prominent in me!

4. What other genres (besides your own) do you enjoy reading?

I like reading every genre, because I like visiting all different kinds of worlds. I read the classics and literary fiction. I have a particular fondness for historical fiction because I am infatuated with certain periods of history, and recently, I’ve started dabbling in more science fiction.

5. As a reader I know how difficult it can be to name a ‘favorite’ book, would you mind listing your top three? (Past or present authors)

I have trouble picking top three of anything, let alone books (I can’t even decide a favorite color!), but the three that leap out in my head at this second are: Gone With the Wind, the Harry Potter books (because I look at them as one collective story) and The Time Traveler’s Wife.

6. What are some ‘must haves’ when you sit down to write? 

I am going to let you in on a little secret. I don’t think I have a lot of eccentricities when it comes to writing, but this is one: I have a “thinking” ribbon. In a nutshell, it’s a ribbon that I tie in my hair when I write. But it can’t be just any ribbon. There are a few “rules” or per-requisites it must meet, but, yes, I need a “thinking” ribbon!

7. If you became trapped as a character in a book or series, which would you choose and why? (Any book, any series, new or old) 

I would probably want to be Hermione from Harry Potter. Firstly, because I desperately wish I could go to Hogwarts (and ride Buckbeak). Secondly, how cool would it be to have Harry Potter be your best friend? And thirdly, I’d be so smart and could use magic!

Thanks for the great questions, Amy!

The Onyx Bridge:
It is not a peaceful time in the Four Kingdoms. War is imminent, but all fear the coming of the human child, whose arrival, it is foretold, will aid in the resurrection of the terrible Dark Lord Coriol, a being with the power to destroy them all. Nothing extraordinary has ever happened to Evelyn Leighton. That is, until the day she turns seventeen and is transported through a Monet painting into a fantastical world where humans are thought to be extinct. To stop an ancient prophecy from coming true and save the world she has learned to call home, Evelyn must set out on a quest to find a legendary weapon: The Sign of the Four. Reluctantly, she accepts the aid of Jerris, an enigmatic, irresistibly attractive male descendant of the Water Kingdom with sapphire eyes as dark as his past. With her life on the line, Evelyn finds herself battling more than vicious trolls and mythical lion warriors. She must also battle her own heart; a battle she cannot afford to lose.

MY REVIEW

About the Author:
Sofia holds a degree in Humanities and English from York
University. She lives in Toronto with her fellowship of a family, including her dog Pippin. She loves to travel and has a fetish for fantasy stories and everything Monet. The Onyx Bridge is her first novel. For more information visit: www.sofiamalamas.com.


Giveaway:
Open to Canadian and US addresses ONLY.
a Rafflecopter giveaway


It's Monday, What Are You Reading? (152)



Books I read last week:
Dark Lover by J.R. Ward
Protector by Diana Palmer

The book I’m reading now:
Lover Eternal:
In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war raging between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret bound of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Possessed by a deadly beast Rhage is the most dangerous of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.

Within the brotherhood, Rhage is the vampire with the strongest appetites. He's the best fighter, the quickest to act on his impulses, and the most voracious lover-for inside him burns ferocious curse cast by the Scribe Virgin. Owned by this dark side, Rhage fears the time when his inner dragon is unleashed, making him a danger to everyone around him.

Mary Luce, a survivor of many hardships is unwittingly thrown into the vampire world and reliant to Rhage's protection. With a life-threatening curse of her own, Mary is not looking for love. She lost her faith in miracles years ago. But when Rhage's intense animal attraction turns into something more emotional, he knows that he must make Mary his alone. And while their enemies close in, Mary fights desperately to gain life eternal with the one she loves...

Books that spark my interest this week:
Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward
Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

Saturday, July 27, 2013

My Bookish Wants & Gots (56)

My Bookish Wants & Gots is a feature over at The Book Vixen. I list the books I want - which can be old, new, or upcoming releases - and the books I recently got.




Going Once by Sharon Sala
As raging floodwaters engulf her Louisiana hometown Nola Landry is stranded on high ground, the unwitting witness to the brutal murder of three fellow survivors. Finally rescued in the aftermath of the storm, no one is willing to believe a story as horrific as hers-until three FBI agents arrive on the scene…one of whom Nola knows very well.
Tate Benton has been tracking the so-called Stormchaser serial killer for months, never expecting the trail might lead him home, or to the woman he cannot forget. Home is now a ravaged town full of memories-of love, of disappointment, of past mistakes. The investigation brings Nola back into his life. Long-buried feelings resurface, and the former lovers try to pick up the pieces in the wake of the disaster.
Amid the relief effort the killer lingers, determined to silence Nola forever. In the Stormchaser’s twisted mind the pain is far from over…and hers is just beginning.


The Witness by Nora Roberts
Daughter of a controlling mother, Elizabeth finally let loose one night, drinking at a nightclub and allowing a strange man's seductive Russian accent lure her to a house on Lake Shore Drive. The events that followed changed her life forever.

Twelve years later, the woman known as Abigail Lowery lives on the outskirts of a small town in the Ozarks. A freelance programmer, she designs sophisticated security systems--and supplements her own security with a fierce dog and an assortment of firearms. She keeps to herself, saying little, revealing nothing. But Abigail's reserve only intrigues police chief Brooks Gleason. Her logical mind, her secretive nature, and her unromantic viewpoints leave him fascinated but frustrated. He suspects that Abigail needs protection from something--and that her elaborate defenses hide a story that must be revealed.

With a quirky, unforgettable heroine and a pulse-pounding plotline, Nora Roberts presents a riveting new read that cements her place as today's most reliably entertaining thriller--and will leave people hungering for more.




Down London Road by Samantha Young
goodreads
Johanna Walker is used to taking charge. But she’s about to meet someone who will make her lose control....

It has always been up to Johanna to care for her family, particularly her younger brother, Cole. With an absent father and a useless mother, she’s been making decisions based on what’s best for Cole for as long as she can remember. She even determines what men to date by how much they can provide for her brother and her, not on whatever sparks may—or may not—fly.

But with Cameron MacCabe, the attraction is undeniable. The sexy new bartender at work gives her butterflies every time she looks at him. And for once, Jo is tempted to put her needs first. Cam is just as obsessed with getting to know Jo, but her walls are too solid to let him get close enough to even try.

Then Cam moves into the flat below Jo’s, and their blistering connection becomes impossible to ignore. Especially since Cam is determined to uncover all of Jo’s secrets …even if it means taking apart her defenses piece by piece.


Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts
goodreads
Since the beginning of mankind, civilizations have fallen: the Romans, the Greeks, the Aztecs...and now us. Huge earthquakes rock the world. Cities are destroyed. But something even more awful is happening: An ancient evil has been unleashed, and it's turning everyday people into hunters, killers, and crazies. This is the world Mason, Aries, Clementine, and Michael are living in--or rather, trying to survive. Each is fleeing unspeakable horror, from murderous chaos to brutal natural disasters, and each is traveling the same road in a world gone mad. Amid the throes of the apocalypse and clinging to love and meaning wherever it can be found, these four teens are on a journey into the heart of darkness--and to find each other and a place of safety.




Friday, July 26, 2013

Dark Lover by J.R. Ward

Dark Lover:
In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other - six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing more than Wrath, the leader of The Black Dagger Brotherhood.

The only purebred vampire left on earth, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But, when one of his most trusted fighters is killed - leaving his half-breed daughter unaware of his existence or her fate - Wrath must usher her into the world of the undead - a world of sensuality beyond her wildest dreams.


What a great introduction into a new series (for me)!  Why-oh-why have I waited so long to start reading these books? J.R. Ward created a dangerous and intricate world where vampires are a race born of this Earth of both good and evil, with a god-like figure and a devil-like one. I was hoping for a new, completely unique paranormal experience, but I did often find myself comparing this book to another wildly popular adult vampire series. But despite that, I enjoyed this from the first page to the very last. The action, tension and danger kept me on the edge of my seat while the searing heat between Beth and Wrath kept my heart pumping. I was just as attached to the secondary characters as I was to the main hero and heroine, and I’m definitely looking forward to more of them.

Beth has lived her life alone, moving from foster home to foster home with no real roots. She likes men, but just can’t seem to find one she wants to settle down with. But that all changes when a dark and mysterious, giant of a man appears in her home; telling her that he is there to protect her. Her entire life is changed in an instant, and she learns of her origins. She’s not just an ordinary human, she’s part vampire as well and reaching the age of transitioning into a full-fledged vampire. Wrath is a warrior; his life is filled with battles and strategy. He doesn’t have time to deal with a female, but she is the daughter of his fellow brother in arms, and duty quickly changes into something more. Without Wrath’s help she might not survive, and she is pulled into his world as her transition comes closer. And the more time they spend together, the more they can’t live without one another.



Forgotten Fridays (62)

I invite and welcome anyone interested to post their own Forgotten Friday and join in the fun! I feature a book that I have read and have forgotten how much I enjoyed it. Some books might recent reads and some might be older reads, but I hope this helps these (sometimes forgotten) books earn a spot on your own TBR pile!

When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James
First Published: January 2011
Series: Fairy Tales
goodreads
My Review

Miss Linnet Berry Thrynne is a Beauty . . . Naturally, she's betrothed to a Beast.

Piers Yelverton, Earl of Marchant, lives in a castle in Wales where, it is rumored, his bad temper flays everyone he crosses. And rumor also has it that a wound has left the earl immune to the charms of any woman.

Linnet is not just any woman.

She is more than merely lovely: her wit and charm brought a prince to his knees. She estimates the earl will fall madly in love—in just two weeks.

Yet Linnet has no idea of the danger posed to her own heart by a man who may never love her in return.

If she decides to be very wicked indeed . . . what price will she pay for taming his wild heart?



Thursday, July 25, 2013

Thursday Thirteen (9)


Thursday Thirteen is a weekly meme with a simple theme: each Thursday you blog a list of 13 things. What kind of things? Any kind! Just come up with a list theme and run with it.
*All of my lists are in no particular order.*

Great Young Adult Werewolf Books

1. The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

2. Fate Succumbs by Tammy Blackwell

3. Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

4. Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

5. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

6. Blessed by Cynthia Leitich Smith

7. Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin

8. Under My Skin by Judith Graves

9. Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause

10. Dust City by Robert Paul Weston

11. The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

12. 13 to Life by Shannon Delany

13. Red Moon Rising by Peter Moore


Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Why Haven't I Read You? (24)

Every Wednesday I’ll choose a book off one of my (many) shelves that I haven’t read for some reason or another, and include the first few lines from the first page.
Feel free to join in, and leave your comments about the books I feature if you have read them!

This is going to hurt like hell.

The grim thought was confirmed by the look on the gatekeeper’s face, but Bishop didn’t want anyone’s pity. After all, he’d volunteered for this.

Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen
 


Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Future Favorites (132)


Future Favorites is an awesome blog feature created by Alex over at Electrifying Reviews. I post about a book that is yet-to-be-released that I can't wait to read!



Wayfarer by Lili St. Crow
Release Date: March 6, 2014 by Razorbill

Ellie Sinder is a Charmer—the most powerful of her age that St. Juno’s Academy has ever seen. But Ellie’s stepmother, Laurissa, wields manipulation and abuse to force Ellie to work her spells ever more intensely, for Laurissa’s profit.

Then a train from over the Wastelands arrives in New Haven, bearing on it golden boy Avery Fletcher, newly returned from prep school, wearing a sweater Ellie’d love to bury her face in and a smile as bright as his blond hair. Avery’s arrival sets Laurissa off on a dark and dangerous scheme—and this time the soul up for grabs is Ellie’s.

New York Times bestselling author Lili St. Crow has created a stirringly romantic, deliciously spooky update of Cinderella, the alluring second volume in her trilogy Tales of Beauty and Madness.


Monday, July 22, 2013

Protector by Diana Palmer

Protector:
His brother had been the only family he had left in the world. Hayes, a long, tall and serious Texan, has long been suspicious of the blond-haired, bright-eyed Minette Raynor, who is both mysterious and beautiful. And now he’s convinced that Minette was involved in giving his brother the drugs that killed him. As far as Hayes is concerned, neither her looks nor anything else will stand in the way of him righting what is so very wrong.

Minette can’t get Hayes off her mind, or off her back. His investigation of her is a nuisance, but as an undercover DEA agent, that’s the least of her worries. Until she finds herself in great danger, and he’s the only one who can save her. Can she count on Hayes believing the truth and saving her life?


Along with the misleading synopsis, this book was filled with problems for me. I have been a huge fan of Diana Palmer’s Long Tall Texans series for ages, and Diana is an auto-buy for me. My shelves are filled with my favorites by her, but lately it seems that she is just recycling old plot lines with slight variations. I didn’t feel the spark I normally would from her two main characters clashing together. Instead, Minette and Hayes just seemed to fizzle on the page, and their relationship never really made my heart go all pitter-patter. Despite the romance being a little dull, a few things I did like were…Hayes’ kindness towards Minette’s younger siblings, leading to his love for them. Minette played a big role in their rescue and was her own hero when she and Hayes became kidnapped by a nefarious drug lord. We got to follow up on a few characters from previous books, and Diana foreshadowed a new character for her readers…one I can’t possibly pass up, because Diana Palmer books are my crack.



It's Monday, What Are You Reading? (151)



Books I read last week:
Anatomy of a Single Girl by Daria Snadowsky

The book I’m reading now:
Protector:
His brother had been the only family he had left in the world. Hayes, a long, tall and serious Texan, has long been suspicious of the blond-haired, bright-eyed Minette Raynor, who is both mysterious and beautiful. And now he’s convinced that Minette was involved in giving his brother the drugs that killed him. As far as Hayes is concerned, neither her looks nor anything else will stand in the way of him righting what is so very wrong.

Minette can’t get Hayes off her mind, or off her back. His investigation of her is a nuisance, but as an undercover DEA agent, that’s the least of her worries. Until she finds herself in great danger, and he’s the only one who can save her. Can she count on Hayes believing the truth and saving her life?

Books that spark my interest this week:
Scars by Cheryl Rainfield
Of Triton by Anna Banks

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Sundays with Sarah (35)

To find out more about Sarah and this feature go here.



Hi everyone, welcome to another Sundays with Sarah.

Well this week I am going to do some movie reviews and I hope that you will leave comments in the end about your favorite flicks.

I am going to do my top five films I like (in no particular order):

1. The Green Lantern

Hal Jordan, a talented test pilot, is chosen by an alien force of warriors to become their representative on Earth and use his new powers as the Green Lantern to promote order and justice before conflict destroys his world.

I've always been big on Marvel comics and super heros and Green Lantern has always been my favorite. This movie has awesome CGI and semi lame story line but in the end delivers where it needs.

4/5






2. Bulletproof Monk

A mysterious and immortal Tibetan kung fu master who has spent the last 60 years traveling around the world protecting the ancient Scroll of the Ultimate, mentors a selfish street kid in the ancient intricacies of kung fu.

Like a little Kung Fu? then this is the movie for 'Yu' ok a bad pun but Yun Fat Chow (and no not my lunch) plays a wicked and mysterious man in this action packed film. Mixed with some romance and some bad ass Nazi, this movie has a few morals to the story.

3/5  




3. Parasitic

A group of friends are trapped inside a nightclub with an unseen terror. One at a time they fall victim to the ravenous, bloodthirsty beast, and those remaining must fight to survive and destroy the creature before it is let loose into the world.

Ok if you love horror, this is a good movie. Packed with some grotesque scenes and some awesome creature effects this movie will be sure to get under your skin.

3/5 




 

4. Kit Kittredge: An American Girl

This Depression-era drama inspired by the American Girl franchise follows aspiring journalist Kit Kittredge, whose ingenuity and courage help save her family's house when their savings are stolen during a series of robberies.

Ok I am one to admit I've always had a crush on Abigail Breslin (as an actor nothing more so get your minds out of the gutter). Such a talented actress who has a dynamic range of talent in many genres this girl makes acting look easy. This movie is a great family favorite and shows us how to persevere. This is like Nancy Drew meets a box of kleenex and Hugs.

5/5 




5. Balls of Fury

Former table-tennis pro Randy Daytona (Dan Fogler) is down on his luck and down on his game when FBI agent Ernie Rodriguez (George Lopez) recruits him for a mission he can't refuse -- to smoke out his father's killer, the evil Feng (Christopher Walken). With the help of a blind sage (James Hong) and an expert trainer (Maggie Q), Daytona travels to Feng's jungle compound, where he'll face a raft of formidable players en route to the prize.

Ok if you love stupid comedy then this is a great movie. It’s one of Walkens best comedies. Enough said.

3/5 



Anyways that’s my quick post this week stay tuned as my next post will be about my cross Canada trip with a big surprise in the end



Saturday, July 20, 2013

My Bookish Wants & Gots (55)

My Bookish Wants & Gots is a feature over at The Book Vixen. I list the books I want - which can be old, new, or upcoming releases - and the books I recently got.




Luna by Julie Anne Peters
Regan's brother Liam can't stand the person he is during the day. Like the moon from whom Liam has chosen his female namesake, his true self, Luna, only reveals herself at night. In the secrecy of his basement bedroom Liam transforms himself into the beautiful girl he longs to be, with help from his sister's clothes and makeup. Now, everything is about to change-Luna is preparing to emerge from her cocoon. But are Liam's family and friends ready to welcome Luna into their lives? Compelling and provocative, this is an unforgettable novel about a transgender teen's struggle for self-identity and acceptance.





My Life in Black & White by Natasha Friend
What if you lost the thing that made you who you are?

Lexi has always been stunning. Her butter-colored hair and perfect features have helped her attract friends, a boyfriend, and the attention of a modeling scout. But everything changes the night Lexi's face goes through a windshield. Now she's not sure what's worse: the scars she'll have to live with forever, or what she saw going on between her best friend and her boyfriend right before the accident. With the help of her trombone-playing, defiantly uncool older sister and a guy at school recovering from his own recent trauma, Lexi learns she's much more than just a pretty face.



Loki’s Wolves by K.L. Armstrong and Melissa Marr
goodreads
In Viking times, Norse myths predicted the end of the world, an event called Ragnarok, that only the gods can stop. When this apocalypse happens, the gods must battle the monsters--wolves the size of the sun, serpents that span the seabeds, all bent on destroying the world.

The gods died a long time ago.

Matt Thorsen knows every Norse myth, saga, and god as if it was family history--because it is family history. Most people in the modern-day town of Blackwell, South Dakota, in fact, are direct descendants of either Thor or Loki, including Matt's classmates Fen and Laurie Brekke.

However, knowing the legends and completely believing them are two different things. When the rune readers reveal that Ragnarok is coming and kids--led by Matt--will stand in for the gods in the final battle, he can hardly believe it. Matt, Laurie, and Fen's lives will never be the same as they race to put together an unstoppable team to prevent the end of the world.


Of Triton by Anna Banks
goodreads
In this sequel to OF POSEIDON, Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she’s a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm below. Syrena law states that all Half- Breeds should be put to death.

As if that’s not bad enough, her mother’s reappearance among the Syrena turns the two kingdoms—Poseidon and Triton—against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen’s request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself—and her Gift—to save a people she’s never known?