Saturday, November 9, 2013

My Bookish Wants & Gots (68)


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.



The Collector by Victoria Scott
He makes good girls...bad.

Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence have made him one of hell’s best—a soul collector. His job is simple: weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.

Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal-opportunity collector and doesn't want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:

Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within ten days.

Dante doesn't know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of hell. But after Dante meets the quirky Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect, he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector…and uncover emotions deeply buried.


The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des RĂªves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per¬formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.






Through the Zombie Glass by Gena Showalter
Goodreads
Inspired by the childhood classic Alice in Wonderland, this harrowing and romantic story features teen zombie slayer Alice Bell who has lost so much—family, friends, her home. After a strange new zombie attack, Alice fears she may be losing her mind as well. A terrible darkness blooms inside her, urging her to do wicked things. The whispers of the dead assault her ears and mirrors seem to come frighteningly to life. She’s never needed her team of zombie slayers more—including her boyfriend, Cole—than she does now. But as Cole strangely withdraws and the zombies gain new strength, Ali knows one false step may doom them all.

 
Lover at Last by J.R. Ward
Goodreads
Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another....

Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: The male has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young—just as Qhuinn has always wanted for himself. It’s hard to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. As he’s learned firsthand.

Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions... but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn finally learns the true definition of courage, and two hearts who are meant to be together... finally become one.



Friday, November 8, 2013

Forgotten Fridays (76)

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!


Moving Target by Elizabeth Lowell
First Published: June 2001
Series: Rarities Unlimited
Goodreads

The troubling message from Serena Charters's late grandmother appears in a package containing four pages of a centuries-old illuminated manuscript -- a strange inheritance that hides many secrets...and has already cost many lives. Seeking answers, Serena turns to Erik North of Rarities Unlimited, a reclusive manuscript appraiser with a passion for the past. Without warning, they are thrust together into the center of a lethal firestorm that rages between two worlds -- one long dead, yet living on in an ancient text, the other chillingly alive and fraught with peril. In the blink of an eye, Serena and Erik have become targets of an unseen and determined stalker as they get closer to shocking revelations about Serena's legacy, the cold murder of an eccentric old woman in the heat of the Mojave Desert...and just how far a remorseless killer is willing to go. And now their only slim hope of survival is to keep moving.


Thursday, November 7, 2013

Thursday Thirteen (21)


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.*


Loveable “Bad” Guys

1. Declan Reese - Nightshade by Michelle Rowen

2. Zsadist - Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward

3. Deacon Chalk - Blood and Silver by James R. Tuck

4. Luc Cain - Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers

5. Piers Yelverton - When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James

6. Hunter of the Wolf - Comanche Moon by Catherine Anderson

7. Loki - Torn by Amanda Hocking

8. Zarek - Dance with the Devil by Sherrilyn Kenyon

9. Dimitri Belikov - Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

10. Nicholas Tanek - The Ugly Duckling by Iris Johansen

11. Weston Larson from Penitence by Jennifer Laurens

12. Bones - Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

13. Rath Roiben Rye - Tithe by Holly Black



Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Interview with Author Kay Holland

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

I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. I think my passion for creating stories and worlds is deeply rooted in the fact that I was read to a lot as a child.

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

Definitely fear. I started writing in the post-apocalyptic/dystopian genres towards the end of 2012 when there was all of that hype about the world ending. I didn’t necessarily believe in it, but I was definitely over thinking it in some aspects. I literally obsessed over zombies to the point where it freaked me out and gave me re-occurring nightmares. I eventually decided to embrace my fear, and that’s when I began researching. :)

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

It’s hard to pick one in What Remains. You’d think that the heroine would be my favorite, and in a way, she is. But the person that I’ve enjoyed writing the most is Kelly Bristow (although she prefers going by her last name.) Bristow’s my favorite because she’s the only one that’s styled after me.

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

Fantasy and mythology! You will definitely see something from me in one of those genre’s very soon. :)

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)

It’s hard to even pick three! Lol.
1. Apocalypse Z
2. The Hunger Games 1-3
3. Hollowland

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

I actually don’t need many things while writing. A comfy spot to sit is a must. Music, usually without lyrics, but either way is fine. And something to drink. :)

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 think this series would be a common choice, but the world of Harry Potter is always enticing!


What Remains:
Goodreads
This is the End—the REAL End.
This is the madness that we were unprepared for.
Hold on to hope, and security. ...
Don’t let the freaks get you.
And stay in the light.

The world as we know it is over, nature has taken brutal force, and the human race has been driven mad by an unknown disease. In an effort to escort a "Doctor" from one camp to the next, seventeen year old Max Cade will now have to reintroduce her two young friends to the horrors beyond the camp walls that she so badly tried to shield them from. Getting there was supposed to be the easy part, but when traveling through a world of ruin, sometimes the undead have other plans.



Find Kay on Facebook.



Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Future Favorites (146)

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!



Alienated by Melissa Landers
Release Date: February 4, 2014 by Disney Hyperion

Interplanetary relations have never been more exciting! The first in a funny, romantic YA sci-fi series.

Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.

Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.

Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.

But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class.

Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.



Monday, November 4, 2013

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? (164)



Books I read last week:
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Allegiant by Veronica Roth


The book I’m reading now:
Possess:
Rule #1: Do not show fear.
Rule #2: Do not show pity.
Rule #3: Do not engage.
Rule #4: Do not let your guard down.
Rule #5: They lie.

Fifteen-year-old Bridget Liu just wants to be left alone: by her mom, by the cute son of a local police sergeant, and by the eerie voices she can suddenly and inexplicably hear. Unfortunately for Bridget, it turns out the voices are demons – and Bridget has the rare ability to banish them back to whatever hell they came from.

Terrified to tell people about her new power, Bridget confides in a local priest who enlists her help in increasingly dangerous cases of demonic possession. But just as she is starting to come to terms with her new power, Bridget receives a startling message from one of the demons. Now Bridget must unlock the secret to the demons' plan before someone close to her winds up dead – or worse, the human vessel of a demon king.


Books that spark my interest this week:
The Morganville Vampires: Volume 1 by Rachel Caine
The Fallen: Volume 2 by Thomas E. Sniegoski

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Allegiant:
One choice will define you.

What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.


The final book in Veronica Roth’s Divergent trilogy was amazing, thought provoking and devastating. I don’t know exactly what I was anticipating, but this book took the series in a whole different direction then I was expecting. Veronica is a wildly talented author and immensely confident in her storytelling, she was also unafraid to use the worst qualities in a person and turn them into something good. I enjoyed the different point of views (Tris and Tobias); it gave me a more intimate and more complete view of their relationship. This book left me emotionally drained, yes, but I don’t understand why there are so many people out there that didn’t like this ending, or “demand a better one” from Veronica.  I loved it from beginning to end. While I hated, and I do mean HATED a the result of a certain event; I also understood why it happened.  Did it HAVE to happen like that? Maybe not, but in my opinion it was necessary to be true to the character. There could be no growth in this dystopian future without sacrifice, and it had to be from someone who would truly make a difference. This sacrifice saved the lives of countless others, and allowed the violent revolution against the factions to end peacefully.

While there wasn’t as much physical action in this book compared to the others, it was brimming with movement. The characters were in constant motion where the story was concerned, and I think they truly grew into their full potential by the end. While a lot of the genetic-specific stuff confused me a little (I have zero brain capacity for science-y stuffs), it really helped me to understand the world Tris lived in, or at least the one she thought she lived in. 

Veronica wrapped up this series with absolute perfection that left me emotionally ruined, but also completely satisfied and content. 





Saturday, November 2, 2013

My Bookish Wants & Gots (67)


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.




Bang by Lisa McMann
Jules should be happy. She saved a lot of people’s lives and she’s finally with Sawyer, pretty much the guy of her dreams. But the nightmare’s not over, because she somehow managed to pass the psycho vision stuff to Sawyer. Excellent.

Feeling responsible for what he’s going through and knowing that people’s lives are at stake, Jules is determined to help him figure it all out. But Sawyer’s vision is so awful he can barely describe it, much less make sense of it. All he can tell her is there’s a gun, and eleven ear-splitting shots. Bang.

Jules and Sawyer have to work out the details fast, because the visions are getting worse and that means only one thing: time is running out. But every clue they see takes them down the wrong path. If they can’t prevent the vision from happening, lives will be lost. And they may be among the casualties…


Gated by Amy Christine Parker
Do the gates keep the unchosen out or the chosen in?

In Mandrodage Meadows, life seems perfect. The members of this isolated suburban community have thrived under Pioneer, the charismatic leader who saved them from their sad, damaged lives. Lyla Hamilton and her parents are original members of the flock. They moved here following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, looking to escape the evil in the world. Now seventeen, Lyla knows certain facts are not to be questioned:

Pioneer is her leader.

Will is her Intended.

The end of the world is near.

Like Noah before him, Pioneer has been told of the imminent destruction of humanity. He says his chosen must arm themselves to fight off the unchosen people, who will surely seek refuge in the compound's underground fortress--the Silo.

Lyla loves her family and friends, but given the choice, she prefers painting to target practice. And lately she'd rather think about a certain boy outside the compound than plan for married life in the Silo with Will. But with the end of days drawing near, she will have to pick up a gun, take a side, and let everyone know where she stands.




The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa
Goodreads
In the real world, when you vanish into thin air for a week, people tend to notice.

After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for-his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.

But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all.


Countdown by Michelle Rowen
Goodreads
3 seconds left to live. Once the countdown starts, it cannot be stopped.

2 pawns thrown into a brutal underground reality game.

Kira Jordan survived her family's murder and months on plague-devastated city streets with hard-won savvy and a low-level psi ability. She figures she can handle anything. Until she wakes up in a barren room, chained next to the notorious Rogan Ellis.

1 reason Kira will never, ever trust Rogan. Even though both their lives depend on it.

Their every move is controlled and televised for a vicious exclusive audience. And as Kira's psi skill unexpectedly grows and Rogan's secrets prove evermore deadly, Kira's only chance of survival is to risk trusting him as much as her instincts. Even if that means running head-on into the one trap she can't escape.

GAME OVER.


Friday, November 1, 2013

Month In Review: October


Books I read this month and their rating:
(For full reviews, please go to "Books Read in 2013")


1. Endlessly by Kiersten White 4
2. Bad Blood by Lucienne Diver 4
3. Anastasia Forever by Joy Preble 4
4. Starstruck by Brenda Hiatt 3
5. Wyoming Bold by Diana Palmer 3
6. Divergent by Veronica Roth 5
7. Insurgent by Veronica Roth 5


Guests and Blog Tours




Forgotten Fridays (75)

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!


Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
First Published: January 2010
Series: Hex Hall
Goodreads
My Review

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.