Blog Tour: Giveaway + Review of Saving sunni

"Sir dipped the huge blade closer and closer, occasionally catching a piece of the plastic wrap with the tip in a movement that seemed much too fast to be safe. The plastic made a very satisfying ripping sound, but only a tiny piece actually came loose—not enough for me to even feel. He was very theatrical, and I knew it was making a good show. I pretended to be terrified, screaming occasionally, although not too much for fear of accidentally setting off my panic. He swung the knife up and down the length of my body, occasionally holding it against my throat and tracing a white-hot line, making some of the women in the audience gasp. It was hard for me not to smile when he ran the blade across my skin; that was actually the safest part of the play, and I knew he was doing it mostly to calm me down."

Overall Thoughts:

I usually pride myself on being open-minded to any and all books that interest me, so I'm definitely glad that I gave this book a chance! It was different to say the least, but it also made me think in a completely new way.

Saving sunni is about a woman named Jessie Chambers, but prefers the name "sunni". She is a submissive in a polyamory relationship, which means that she believes that it is possible to love and be physical with more than one person as long as it's completely consensual. Her partners are: Sir Rune Wulfgar (the Dominant), and sage (the other submissive). The three work as any other family would, except their relationship is contracted out beforehand to acquire everyone's wants and needs. But what happens when their affair is outed to the media by none other than sunni's abusive ex-husband, who appears to have "Found Jesus" and wants her back no matter the cost?

What I liked about this book:

At first, I didn't understand why sunni and sage's names weren't capitalized but as I read more and figured out the plot, I thought that was really clever and unique of the authors to do it that way.

I liked that even though I didn't read Becoming sage (which is the first book in the Keyhole Series), Saving sunni was understandable enough to be a stand alone book.

Now let's get down to the nitty-gritty, the beginning of the book had me blushing so hard! I wasn't completely familiar with the BDSM lifestyle before reading this book, so it was like dunking my head in ice water! It was a shock. But as I continued reading, I started to understand why sunni and sage would become subs in the first place; I started to understand the appeal; I started to understand their relationship more, and I can't NOT say it's not interesting because it is.

What I disliked about this book:

Even though I found the plot and the writing to be incredible, it was slightly hard to connect with the characters. I found myself studying more about their dynamic and how they functioned instead of their personalities and feelings. In short, the plot kind of overshadowed the characters a lot of the time, which is both a good and a bad thing.

Verdict:

I love that this book taught me a lot about the BDSM lifestyle, which I won't be practicing or anything *Blushes* but I love that it informed me about something that I had no clue about before, much less have an opinion on.

Giveaway:

SAVING SUNNI SWAG

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Blog Tour: Giveaway & Excerpt of The Catalyst by Zoe Winters

Click to view blog tour schedule on Dark Minds Book Tours!

It started with one lost, shivering pup; it may end in a war...

Panthers don’t do responsibility. They don’t do long-term relationships. They definitely don’t raise kids. But when Z discovers a young wolf in the forest, he takes him in, unaware of the powerful beings hunting the pup.

Fiona is a witch who can’t leave her house; the birds have told her something bad will happen. The mailbox is as far as she’ll go, but even that may provide more danger than she’s bargained for. When a wolf pup stumbles into her garden, her safe, wrapped-up world heads for a free fall.

But along with danger, the pup brings a chance at love—a chance an agoraphobic witch and a bachelor panther shifter aren’t likely to find on their own. 

Excerpt:

Just have to make it to the mailbox. Everything will be okay. Fiona Patrone stared out the window at the lonely box at the end of the driveway. Her house was surrounded by trees in a heavily wooded area of Golatha Falls—so far out it was amazing the mailman delivered. And yet it felt so open and unknown out there. It was safer inside. There probably isn’t any mail. Just check it tomorrow. Nothing important. Not worth going out. The thoughts tunneled through her mind like vicious moles. If she didn’t venture out, she’d be even more a prisoner of her own mind and fears. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d gone past the mailbox. If she got to the point where she couldn’t even get that far… The birds outside screeched then, chattering warnings, screaming the same awful things they screamed at her every day. If you go out there, something bad will happen. She believed them. Birds had no reason to lie. They were excellent seers, so much so, that for centuries people had read bird entrails, not realizing that you needed a live bird to get any knowledge of value. Something bad. They could at least give her a little detail, some clue as to what she should fear, but the threat remained the same—vague and foreboding as ever. Fiona had been able to understand the language of animals before she could understand that of humans—a rare and special gift for a witch to inherit. Though she’d always seen it as a curse. If not for those damned birds, she’d be outside living her life. Maybe she would have found love, a job, something. Well, she had a job—on the Internet. Her money was direct-deposited. She ordered her clothes online and had her groceries delivered. Thanks to the web, agoraphobia had never been so easy. At least from a logistics standpoint. She took in a slow, measured breath, her hand poised over the doorknob. You can do this. You can do this. You can do this. Fiona mentally repeated it like a subliminal message she prayed would take hold. The doorknob clicked in her hand. She moved through what felt like invisible molasses as she forced herself out the door and into the throng of screeching, angry birds. The wind had a new crispness. Almost Halloween. As a witch, shouldn’t she be in her element right about now? But the idea of ghosts and goblins and veils thinning served to make the whole ordeal seem more dangerous. Fifty-five steps. She counted them every day because counting them was the only way she could make herself get there. It wasn’t far. She could run back into her house if the birds were right. The mailbox held nothing of interest: an electric bill that could have waited until tomorrow. On her way back, step twenty-four, she became aware of the eerie silence. The birds had stopped their squawking, and a stillness blanketed the yard. She would have run straight for the front door except for the plaintive cry coming from somewhere nearby. Ignore it. It’s not your concern, she told herself. Thirty-five. But the noise happened again. So sad, scared. Her heart softened at the sound. She’d want someone to help her if she were in distress. Fiona tucked the electric bill into the waistband of her jeans and struggled through the wild growth of the front yard. She hadn’t worked on the garden in five years, and it showed. When she reached the side of the house, she found a wolf pup with wide, brown eyes, crying. He was old enough that he should have started learning the language of his kind, but he hadn’t. There were no words she could pick up and decipher. She could still get emotions and basic information, especially if those emotions were strong. In some circles, this made Fiona dangerous; in others, it would make her a pawn of those who might want to capitalize on such information. The pup was lost, hungry, scared. She didn’t sense a mother wolf nearby. Had he been abandoned? Her mind screamed at her to leave him there. But he was so hungry and pathetic. She couldn’t stop herself from scooping him up and taking him inside. She sat him on the kitchen counter, and he stared curiously at her, turning his little wolf head to the side. He was reddish-brown and white, the cutest thing she’d seen in forever. At least he seemed old enough to be weaned. She’d made a roast the previous night and wasn’t sure how that would fly with the little guy, but it was what she had. She cut some meat up and put it on the counter. The pup’s tail wagged as he gobbled up the food. She placed a bowl of water down, and he took care of that, too. He stared at her from the top of the counter as if to say What next? Oh wow, yeah. She hadn’t thought through that part. If he was just lost, his mother would be coming soon. If he was all alone, she couldn’t have a wolf in her house. Even understanding what he needed, it was just insane. And probably illegal. He positioned himself on the edge of the counter, shifting his weight from paw to paw, negotiating the drop to the ground. His full concentration was on the jump. When he made it to the linoleum floor, he looked up at her, all pleased with himself, and she melted. So cute. “Well, maybe you can stay for a little while. Until I figure out what to do with you.” Those words had barely tumbled past her lips when the window over the breakfast nook shattered, and a large ball of black fur leaped into her kitchen. It must be the mother. But no. As her confusion cleared, she could see it was a large, angry black panther. Fiona edged back, afraid he’d pounce if she made any sudden moves. What she wouldn’t give right now to have a few handy incantations at the ready. For spells, she needed all the proper tools: sage stick, herbs, candles, salt, etc. She could incant a little if she was very focused, but now, with her heart pounding so fast, wasn’t one of those times. Her own name was a blank—forget coming up with a snappy protection chant. She grabbed at stray pots and pans and emptied a whole drawer of utensils as she threw everything she had at him. But he batted the objects away, prowling closer, his growl low and menacing. Within seconds, he had her backed into a corner, claws out, swiping at her. She screamed and grabbed her arm, which was starting to bleed. Her side burned as well. All at once, her brain snapped into sharp focus. She was going to die in a matter of seconds if she didn’t figure something out right now. He’d stopped clawing at her for a minute and was growling, something about her taking the pup, wanting to hurt him, people after him. Oh, wait. Wait! She could feel the magic crackling around the panther. Therian! That meant there was a person in there. Somewhere. She called on every reserve of courage she had to form words. “I wasn’t trying to hurt him. He was lost and hungry. I brought him in to feed him. That’s all. I’m not whoever you think I am.” The panther stared at her hard and growled again. “Yes, I understand you.” How is that possible? He growled. “Rare gift. I meant the pup no harm. I swear.” She held her hands out defensively, hoping he believed her. An insane panther therian in her house wasn’t how she wanted to go out. Blood dripped in a steady flow down her arm; her shirt was torn near her ribcage where more blood was pooling. Oh God. That swipe alone could have killed her. Breathe, Fiona. He’s calm now. Everything will be fine. Thank God he was a therian and could understand her as well as she understood him. She still couldn’t figure out what a panther’s concern with a wolf pup was. But really, all she wanted was to get the both of them out of her house and call a window repairman. She was trying to forget the bleeding part. She vowed she’d listen to the birds next time. So you can understand him? The panther’s gaze shifted to the pup who gingerly stepped around the broken glass, sniffing things. “Well, he doesn’t have language like you have yet, but I know what he needs. My gift runs a little deeper than just speech.” Not to toot her horn or anything. He shifted—–right in the middle of her kitchen. Her eyes didn’t know where to go. Tanned, muscular legs. And… oh dear, skip that, skip that! But her brain had already processed parts of a man she’d never seen outside of television or the Internet, due to her phobia. There weren’t a lot of opportunities to hook up with men when you never left your house. Farther up, there were very nice abs and pecs—–and those arms. Oh boy. She swiped the back of the hand that wasn’t bleeding across her face, afraid she might be drooling. She wanted to lick him, but under the circumstances that seemed a little weird. Her arm and side burned like fiery hell, but damn, he was pretty. So sleek and lithe, just like what he shifted into. When her gaze made it up to his face, a boyish smirk graced his lips. There was a twinkle in his brown eyes. His dark hair was longish, but somehow still masculine. Oh yes, there wasn’t an unmanly bone in his body. “So,” he drawled, moving closer by mere centimeters, “should we just get it on now?” Her mouth dropped open. He couldn’t have just said that. A strange look crossed his face. “Sorry. Wild animal here. A little amped up. That was inappropriate.” He extended a hand, attempting to move past the new awkwardness. “Let me look at you.” The pain in her arm and side flared fully to life as she processed everything that had just happened in her kitchen. When she didn’t respond to his request, he pulled her toward him and lifted her shirt to inspect her side. He frowned. “Not as bad as it could have been. Nothing major harmed.” She was about to get angry and indignant about his flippant attitude toward what he’d just done, but then his eyes met hers, warm and honest. “I’m very sorry about your injuries. I was afraid for the pup and sensed the magic on you. I thought you were one of the ones who tried to take him. I’m all he’s got.” The pup, as if sensing he was being talked about, clomped through the kitchen debris to sit between them, his little wolf gaze going back and forth. Fiona looked back at the man standing in front of her, so sincere and intense… and attractive, and then the waterworks started. “Oh, no, don’t cry,” he said, almost in a panic over the concept of female tears. It wasn’t pain that had brought forth the tears; it was the fact that this was what it took to get near a hot guy for her: a near-death experience, and him breaking into her kitchen: the idea that he was going to take the pup and go on his merry way, and she’d have the memory of him emblazoned on her brain, but that would be all. Her close brush with maleness. Inches from her, but no dice. It wasn’t that she wanted to take him up on his carnal offer. He was a stranger. And, as he said, a wild animal. And she wished he’d cover himself with something, because judging from outward signs, he was all raring and ready to go. Like most therians, he was unaffected by his own nudity or arousal. Something she wished humans shared in common with them, so she wouldn’t feel so freaked out by his nearness… or so much longing for something she wasn’t going to ever have since she couldn’t make it past her own mailbox. His smooth, deep voice interrupted her mental hysteria. “Do you have bandages?” “Bathroom, down the hall,” she said absently, feeling stupid for going all blubbery on him. Thank God he couldn’t read her mind and know why she’d been crying. That would have been too mortifying for words. Better for him to think she was just a big wimp who couldn’t take surface abrasions than to know the truth. Copyright 2012, Zoe Winters.

Buy Links:

Barnes and Noble

Amazon 

Smashwords

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway Giveaway Details:
1 Ebook copy of Blood Lust
1 Ebook copy of Save My Soul
Open Internationally
Ends 7/06/12

Congratulations Winner!

The winner of the ebook copy of Caterpillar is... Janita!

I will be emailing you shortly! Thank you to everyone who entered! Don't forget to check back here for future giveaways!

Congratulations Winner!

The winner of the ebook copy of First Visions is... Liss Martz Villegas!

I will be emailing you shortly! Thank you to everyone who entered! Don't forget to enter the Caterpillar giveaway which is up now!

Blog Tour: Giveaway + Excerpt + Review of First Visions by Heather Topham Wood

Two years ago, 21-year-old Kate Edwards became deathly ill and slipped into a coma. While unconscious, she crept into the mind of a missing boy and awoke with the knowledge of his location. Friends and family were skeptical and wary of her new ability to see into the minds of others. Their fears prompted Kate to keep her psychic powers a secret. Feeling alienated, she dropped out of college and spent most of her days holed up at her mother’s home. 

Now another child has been abducted. Police detective Jared Corbett seeks out Kate for her help in solving the case. Reluctantly, Kate agrees and they must work together to bring 8-year-old Cori Preston home to her family. Although attracted to one another, Jared has a girlfriend with ties to the abduction case and Kate is sarcastic and guarded since her coma. With visions she can’t control and an uncontrollable attraction to the detective, she wonders if she can leave the past behind and finally stop hiding from the world. Otherwise, Cori may be lost forever.

Overall Thoughts:

Loved the mystery "Who done it?" kind of plot mixed in with the psychic and mystic tendencies.

First Visions is about a 21 year old girl named Kate Edwards, who contracted bacterial meningitis two years prior. Before she was sick, she was just a regular college student, excited about life and ready for any challenge that came her way. Little did she know that she'd be approached by the biggest challenge of her life. Her sickness caused her to fall into a deathly coma for an entire week. When she woke up, she was completely healed and... she gained psychic abilities! She's gets visions - mostly when she's asleep and dreaming - about lost people and can help find out who and how they were abducted.

Kate once used her abilities to find a little boy named Matt Spencer when she awoke from her coma and though she did an honorable deed, it made her life a living hell. The media caused her to lose her friends, self-confidence, and even her own father. Ever since, she's just kept the visions to herself. But what happens when a cute stranger who goes by the name of Detective Jared Corbett shows up at her doorstep, asking her to use those hidden-away abilities to find the adorable Corinne Preston, the little sister of his long-term girlfriend...

What I liked about this book:

This book was definitely unique and it didn't take long for me to become truly engrossed. Mystery stories are always so suspenseful and this story definitely was!

I also became very fond of the main character, Kate Edwards. She was sarcastic, defensive, introverted, and pretty funny at times. I like for my main characters to have a bit of a kick to them, so I couldn't not love her!

What I disliked about this book:

For some reason, I felt like this was a very light read. That's not technically a bad thing but with the unique plot and the round characters, I thought it could have been much more daring and heavy!

Verdict:

I really liked how easy it was to get into and through this story! 

Excerpt:

     I shouldn’t be here, Kate told herself for the millionth time. She had no idea what possessed her to come to the detective’s apartment. Weariness had set in after driving around for hours with intermittent crying spells. As it grew later and stores closed, she had the inspiration to head over and provide an explanation to Jared on the reasoning behind her lies. She had been shocked when he answered the door shirtless. If she wasn’t such a damn head case at the moment, she might have tried to jump him right then and there. He was perfectly built with lean and hard muscles. She imagined throwing herself against his chest and him wrapping his strong arms around her. I really need a boyfriend, she lamented silently.

     He returned wearing a t-shirt and khakis. “Where’s your girlfriend?” she blurted hoping the reminder of his other half would prevent her from slipping into a frenzied state of lust again.

     “She’s staying at her parents. Why don’t you sit down?” he motioned to a chair at the kitchen table.

     She did a quick survey of the apartment. Instantly, it became obvious his girlfriend did most of the decorating. A modern white leather sofa set was situated in the living room while the kitchen had this sort of country chic thing going on. A small eat-in area was outfitted with a table for two complemented with a lace tablecloth and white French chairs. The apartment had an open floor plan with the living room, dining room and kitchen all connected with open doorways. It looked as though a master bedroom and a spare bedroom were situated down the hallway.

     After they had both settled into their chairs, he questioned, “How did you find out where I lived?”

     She gave him an incredulous look. “I’m psychic, remember?”

     He looked uncomfortable. “Oh.”

     She rolled her eyes at him. “Jeez, you’re gullible. I put your name in Google and got your address,” she answered. “By the way, for a detective, that’s a pretty dumb move not to have your listing private. Any random psycho could show up at your door in the middle of the night.”

“Well, you have the dubious honor of being my first late night Google stalker,” he answered.

     “Awesome,” she sighed. Kate felt drained at the moment and the speech she had rehearsed in the car on the way here escaped her. “It’s been a long day.”

     “Are you ok? Sorry about creating a wedge between you and your mother. I never meant to complicate things for you. Have you spoken to her yet?” He was watching her closely.

     “No, I need a little space. I’m not going home tonight.” His disapproval was written clearly across his face. “Don’t give me that look. I need a day to process things. If I talk to her now, I doubt I’ll be rational.”

     “I don’t know. I think you should at least call her…” he started.

     She gave him a sharp look. “I’m not asking you, Detective Corbett, I’m telling you. I’m spending the night at my friend Julie’s house. After I leave, you could phone my mom and pass the information along if you want. Seems as though you’ve become besties overnight.” She swallowed hard. “Anyway, I’m not here to discuss my mom. I want to tell you about the vision I had about Cori.”

     He nodded and she described everything she saw in the dream in excruciating detail. Stopping only to answer a few questions he had during her recital, she could sense his disappointment over the vague description of the kidnapper. The words about the fall down the stairs were stuck in her throat and it took a few tries for her to force them out.

     “I’m sorry I don’t have more to tell you. Physically, he was tall and wiry with dark eyes. The ski mask and his clothing hid any other distinguishing features. I wish I did see his face because I got the impression he was somehow connected to the family.”

     “Why do you say that?”

     “He mentioned her father. The way he said ‘your rich daddy’ with such malice made me feel like the break-in was a personal attack against him.”

     His eyes were intense and serious as Jared asked, “Do you think she’s…dead?”

     She closed her eyes and felt an overwhelming sadness. “I can’t tell you for sure. I’m sorry. The fall was probably not hard enough to kill her and most likely she only lost consciousness for a short period of time. I’m guessing she was alive last night though. My visions don’t normally fit into a pattern. One night I might dream about an abduction, the next I could see my parents on a date as teenagers.

     However, a few things have been pretty consistent. For one, I don’t seem to receive visions from the dead. If Cori had been killed, it’s not likely I would’ve been able to see how she was abducted.”

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congratulations Winner!

The winner of the ebook copy of Absolution is... Paulina Bodura!

I will be emailing you shortly! Thank you to everyone who entered! Don't forget to enter the Caterpillar giveaway which is up now!

Blog Tour: Giveaway + Review of Caterpillar by Kate Oliver

Click to see blog tour schedule!

In a small college town in northern California, a lonely young man is working himself to the bone to solve a sixty-year-old problem ... a stranger with a will of iron and eyes the color of ice is searching for someone he can't identify ... and a girl who loves plants is about to grow roots of her own.

When Cara Gallagher's parents are transferred overseas again, she's off to spend her senior year of high school living with her sister, a graduate student at the famed McNair University. Cara, a girl with a passion for science and an indifference to people, hopes this move will be her first step in claiming the independence she craves. Cara has her future planned down to the letter: her college, her major, her career.

Then she saves Will Mallory's life, and both of their futures are completely rewritten.

The last years of Will's life have been spent shifting from one identity to the next, dodging the FBI, and trying desperately to find a way home. But Will's home is forty-four light years away, and to reach it he'll have to outwit the man who's hunting him--and leave behind the only love he's ever known.

Overall Thoughts:
I've never read an alien story in Young Adult before so I definitely appreciate the unique plot!

Caterpillar is about a 17 year old girl named Cara Gallagher who is a foreign service brat, meaning she's always moving around and never has any constant friends. When she's forced to live with her beloved older sister for her senior year in high school, she not looking to find any attachments to anything or anyone. All of that is soon forgotten when she ends up saving the life of a college boy named Will Mallory. But what happens when this young boy who's shown Cara more love and kindness than she's used to, is exposed for who he really is? Not a warm-blooded human, but an intergalactic alien...

What I liked about this book:
Like I said before, I've never read a young adult book about aliens and I'm a huge supporter of creativity and trying new things. I also liked how, even though Will and Cara were created completely differently, they're feelings and personalities are so similar.

What I disliked about this book:
I wish there were more supernatural elements added into this book. It would've been nice if Will had laid out all of his abilities on the table and presented it in some epic or climatic way. He does show Cara some of his cool skills but because this was an alien story, I felt like there should have been more metaphysical, space, and/or ghostly related ideas in the story.

Verdict:
This was definitely a refreshing story to read, and I'm surprised that this was the author's very first book!

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review + Excerpt: This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self.

To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live.

But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside.

When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

Overall Thoughts:
Survival stories are always the most exhilarating to read, and this was certainly no exception! My body was literally shaking with anticipation while reading this book!

This is Not a Test is about a group of six teenagers who are violently uprooted from their homes and seek refuge in their high school when a zombie apocalypse takes over. Exciting, huh? This book centers around a girl named Sloane Price who has become like an empty shell ever since her older sister, Lily Price, ran away six months prior.

The group consists of: Rhys Moreno, the most level-headed and balanced guy of the bunch; Cary Chen, the best survivor with a fiery persona; Grace & Trace Casper, twins who are like yin and yang in the way that they balance each other out; Harrison, a meek little freshman boy; and of course Sloane, the seemingly strong girl who always seems to be in control of her emotions.

We follow this unfortunate band as they struggle to survive in a deadly world that resists their existence. With the ever-decaying zombies knocking against the barricades, and their ever-present fear of being truly yet desperately alone, can they survive this zombie apocalypse? Much less, venture out of the safe remains of their beloved school to find some help?

What I liked about this book:
Courtney Summers is a genius! I love how she takes a seemingly used idea (i.e. zombie apocalypse), and completely twists it to transform it into one of the most chilly and suspenseful book I've read in a while!

The weird thing is: you don't even see much zombies in this book. They are not the main focus, like I thought they'd be, but I was still scared! The author used the character's paranoia and utter fear to frighten the readers... which is brilliant!

What I disliked about this book:
I really loved the ending don't get me wrong but the last paragraph left me feeling slightly confused. I felt like the author wrote it to mean something profound and big but I couldn't for the life of me understand what it meant.

Verdict:
I read this book in half a day not by choice, but because it wouldn't let me go until and unless I finished it!        

5 TARGETS!

---

Excerpt:

Lily, 
I woke up and the last piece of my heart disappeared. I opened my eyes and I felt it go.

I sit on the edge of the bathtub and run the fingernail of my thumb up the inside of my wrist. I trace a vein until it pitchforks out and disappears under the fleshiest part of my palm. Lily couldn’t sleep; a few weeks before she left, she had all these pills to help her do that. I didn’t know why at the time but now I think her guilt was probably keeping her up at night. When I searched her bedroom earlier, I couldn’t find them, which is too bad. I was counting on it. Her. I should know better. It just seemed like maybe the stars would align for this–that the day I decided to die, everything would go right.

    But they didn’t and now I’m not sure what I’ll do.

Page: 1

In My Mailbox #15 / Stacking the Shelves #2

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. Every week you are to share the books you received that week. It could either be ones you bought, or gotten at the library, and ones that you'd receive to review on the blog.

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. Every week you are to share the books you've added to your shelves.

Won:

The Summer of No Regrets by Katherine Grace Bond

Huge Gracias to Susan from A Soul Unsung for the book! She said it was her new favorite summer read so it should be awesome!

Review:

Silver by Rhiannon Held

Thank you to Tor Forge Publishing for sending me this book! It's been a minute since I read a werewolf story so hopefully it'll be good!

This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Loren Jaggers for sending it to me! I've heard so many good things about this book! I was so freaking stoked to get it!

Bought:

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (Obviously)

See what had happened... I kind of never finished the Harry Potter series... Don't shoot!

Thanks all I got this week! Please leave a link to your post and I will definitely stopped by!

Congratulations Winner!

The winner of the paperback copy of Demon Soul is... Courtney Wyant!

I will be emailing you shortly! Thank you to everyone who entered! Don't forget to enter the Absolution giveaway which is up now!

Breaking Dawn Part 2 Pictures!

Seeing these pictures just pumped me up so much! I can't wait to see Breaking Dawn Part 2!

Blog Tour: Giveaway + Excerpt of Absolution

Click to view blog tour schedule!

In 1947, a gangster murders private investigator Raymond Adams. In 2011, he's brought back to life for 24 hours to solve the supernatural murder of a Hollywood Adult film star. 

When the son of a Pit Lord is murdered in Hollywood, the celestial beings in charge of the Four Realms ask Raymond Adams to figure who did it and find the victim's missing soul. Without memories of his life, he accepts the case to gain eternal peace. But the job is daunting:

24 hours to nab a killer...

24 hours to find a missing soul...

24 hours to unravel the victim's exotic private life...

24 hours to stop a plot to send the universe into chaos...

With only the help of a possessed cop and a medium, Adams must trek through a Hollywood underground filled with pornography, prostitutes, the homeless, and sadists, along with supernatural monsters. But can he solve the case when his own haunting memories keep surfacing, telling him exactly what kind of man he was in life?

Excerpt:

     I was in a preparation chamber made completely out of light. I hovered like a cloud watching child-like celestials regenerate and reanimate my corpse. They didn't bother with new clothes and simply fixed up the suit I had been buried in. When finished, they vacuumed me into my old body, a loving experience I could only compare to dying.

     “Cold...” I said and my throat was dry like the Mojave in the middle of summer. They explained my body was mostly dead but this would improve as time passed. To help me with the shivers, the merciful celestials threw in a brown overcoat, shoes, and a fedora.

     “Gun,” I said. True I was dead, but the people I was going to deal with were not and I had a feeling they would want to stay that way. Protection was necessary.

     They gave me a revolver loaded with ten Thunderbolt bullets. I also got a good watch to keep track of time, an enchanted magnifying glass, and a special rune to communicate with the Committee. The big people wanted regular updates on my progress.

     The celestials opened a portal to the Realm of the Living and sent me through it.

Giveaway

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Purchase:

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Review + Excerpt: The Last Princess by Galaxy Craze

Happily ever after is a thing of the past.

A series of natural disasters has decimated the earth. Cut off from the rest of the world, England is a dark place. The sun rarely shines, food is scarce, and groups of criminals roam the woods, searching for prey. The people are growing restless.

When a ruthless revolutionary sets out to overthrow the crown, he makes the royal family his first target. Blood is shed in Buckingham Palace, and only sixteen-year-old Princess Eliza manages to escape.

Determined to kill the man who destroyed her family, Eliza joins the enemy forces in disguise. She has nothing left to live for but revenge, until she meets someone who helps her remember how to hope—and to love—once more. Now she must risk everything to ensure that she not become... The Last Princess.

Overall Thoughts:
This was such an inspiring story about a courageous girl looking for revenge in a hopeless and bleak world!

The Last Princess is about a sixteen year old girl named Princess Eliza who suddenly finds herself alone when everyone she loves is devastatingly ripped away from her by one man - Cornelius Hollister, who killed both her parents and captured her brother and sister.

The world of London, England has seen better days especially because it's experiencing things like natural disasters, food scarcity, and revolutionary revolt groups. To Princess Eliza, these are the least of her problems because she plans on throwing away her crown and secretly joining the rebels in the hopes of gaining the upper advantage so she could avenge her family's downfall on the one man who is responsible for it all. But what happens when Princess Eliza falls irrevocably in love with his son... who has a little secret of his own.

What I liked about this book:
Princess Eliza! I loved that she starts out as a sweet and innocent girl who is used to everyone fighting her battles for her and by the end of the book she turns into this powerful, unyielding warrior.

Also, I really adored the ending. It has the "happy every after" feeling to it that you'd expect from a story about a princess, with a world-stopping twist that would make any Dystopian novel proud!

What I disliked about this book:
Um... it ended?

Verdict:
This was such an empowering novel that will make you want to fist pump until you've finished it!

5 TARGETS!

---

Excerpt:

I peered through the opening in the closet doors. Mary held Jamie's hand as guards grabbed them both. She risked a single, meaningful glance over her shoulder, as though willing me to understand.

She wanted me to escape.

"Where's the other one? Your sister?" the guard yelled at Mary, but she said nothing. "Search the room." he ordered the soldier behind him.

The young man moved toward the closet, opening the door. He stopped as we stared at each other.

"It's empty," he called out a moment later, his green eyes gleaming. And then he closed the closet door, leaving me surrounded by blackness once more.

Blog Tour: Review of Hope is Love by Sylvia Hubbard

Meet Hope, but most people call her Jona. She was a person living in the world, but not living on the inside.

Bad things happen to good people and Hope was the person we lose in the system and she grows up just going from day-to-day trying to make a dollar out of the pennies she find.

But she’s smart on the street. She keeps to herself, but she’s just there. A body without a soul and she’s going nowhere.

Then meet James from LOVE LIKE THIS.

He’s one of the bad characters that once the story is over you really don’t give a fig about. Now he’s lost again and you’ll find him here in HOPE IS LOVE.

Can they find what they are looking for?

Overall Thoughts:
The concept of this plot was very original and novel which was why I was easily interested in it in the first place!

Hope is Love is about a woman named Hope who people call "Jona". Life is a day-to-day struggle for her, seeing as she lives on the hard streets of Detroit as a homeless person. One day, she's the sole witness to an attempted murder gone wrong...

A man named James ends up being dumped into a dumpster after someone tried to do away with him, and Jona/Hope has no choice but to take care of him, if for no other choice than to collect the reward money when he wakes up. The only problem is that when he does, he has no recollection of who he is. The only thing he's sure of is that he's attracted to his savior.

What I liked about this book:

Jona/Hope is someone who is easily likable and admirable. Although she grew up on the tough and rugged streets of Detroit, she's still been able to maintain a clear head and a good sense of who she is.

Also, James wasn't a bad match either. Granted, he was a very terrible person before he met Jona/Hope, but I love the fact that she indirectly changed him for the better.

What I disliked about this book:

There were some grammatical errors in this story, which some people find very annoying. I'm not really that person, I can usually overlook that but just so you know.

Verdict:

Great concept, fair delivery.

Contact the author:

Website  http://sylviahubbard.com

Blog  http://sylviahubbard.com/category/uncategorized/

Facebook  http://facebook.com/michigansliteraryworld

Twitter  http://twitter.com/sylviahubbard1

Goodreads  http://goodreads.com/sylviahubbard

Dirty Little Secret #8

Dirty Little Secret is a weekly meme hosted byUnder the Covers. Every Thursday we get to know other bloggers & our readers more intimately by asking them questions, hoping to reveal their dirty little secrets.

Share your experiences with blogging! List Two "Don't" and One "Do" when it comes to blogging and reviewing.

Don't:

Don't accept reviews from any 'ole author! I made that mistake when I first started out and let me just tell you, it sucked so bad! I was reading books I disliked which made me want to slowly and painfully pluck my eyes out from my skull! I just remember getting so excited when someone would ask if I'd review their book, it's like, "I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy!" But still, calm yourself and only accept to review a book YOU LIKE!

Don't be antisocial and impersonal on your blog! I can tell you from personal experiences that some of my favorite blogs to read are the ones that share the most about themselves! I love when someone is on their blog sharing fun photos or complaining about school or something I could relate to! I understand that some just want to be strictly book blogs but hey, that's no fun! Join some memes or something and have fun!

Do:

Do socialize as much as you can! Whether you want to admit it or not, socializing is really the only way to gain followers and viewers. When I started out, I was so timid and afraid to ask other fellow bloggers for help about something really simple which is understandable but now *shrugs*. I've become a lot more comfortable with that and that's only because I socialize more. I've come in contact with a lot more bloggers so of course I'm more comfortable talking to them... and my blog status isn't hurting either. Also, don't be afraid to ask me for help about anything, I'm a friendly person, promise :)

Congratulations Winner!

The winner of The Future of Our Past giveaway is... Martha Compos!

I will be emailing you shortly! Thank you to everyone who entered! Don't forget to enter the Demon Soul giveaway which is up now!

Blog Tour: Review of Shadow Visions by Gabriella Hewitt

A shadow warrior on a mission, Manuel must track down a demon who is sacrificing women marked with hummingbird tattoos. He is in danger of losing his humanity to his eagle spirit until he comes across Ixa Reyes, a beautiful San Diego detective working on the same case, who also bears the mark of the Aztec sun god. She is his salvation and redemption from a past filled with failure. Only she wants nothing to do with him or her heritage.

When a demon kidnaps her grandfather, the wind god, they must work together to save him and all mankind. Manuel has twenty-four hours to help Ixa control her elemental power over wind—that is if he can control his own desires to claim her body and soul. Because if he should fail this time, the god of war will usher in a new era filled with blood and destruction such as the world has never known.  

Overall Thoughts:
This fiery story was pretty easy to get through and had daring thrills to it!

Shadow Visions is about a tough woman named Ixa Reyes, who is also a hardcore detective. For years, she has been searching for the one man who took everything away from her when he brutally murdered her entire family: Galante. A few years back, Ixa succeeded in putting the man behind bars, but he manages to escape and comes back with a vengeance. He slaughters two young women with one thing in common: A hummingbird tattoo. Ixa is his next victim. The two foes run into each other but it's no even match; Galante is not human, he's a demon. Luckily, Ixa is rescued when her hero swoops down and saves her... literally. Manuel Del Sol is his name, and it turns out that he is Ixa's spirit mate, as well as her new partner in this quest to put an end to Galante.

But Ixa Reyes is no ordinary human either, which she is painfully aware of but tries her hardest to hide. She is a direct descendant of the god of wind, meaning that she has control over the element of wind, but also cannot contain it. Manuel has a limited amount of time to help Ixa gain control over her element, and protect her from a mad man who wants her head, as well as... fall desperately in love with her.

What I liked about this book:
I really liked that it was jam-packed with action, literally from page 1 until it ended! Because there was always some kind of battle going on, whether it be between Manuel and Galante, or Ixa and Manuel, or Manuel and his sexual urges (Hehe...), I was never bored while reading this book.

What I disliked about this book:
I wished that the events in this book spanned out to a longer course of time. This book only went through a couple of days, and in that time span a lot of things occurred like Manuel and Ixa falling in love. A part of me understands why they fell so hard so fast, they're soul mates I get it, but also, two days?!

Verdict:
It was very fast-paced and exciting, and although the romance was a bit rushed, I still thought it was still pretty powerful and fierce!

Blog Tour: Review of The Binding by L. Filloon

Click to view blog tour!

Two nights after her eighteenth birthday, Lily is attacked while out jogging, but is saved by Tharin Lunar, a Sidhe prince. When she discovers that her attacker is her own brother, Lucas, who disappeared four years ago, Lily refuses to believe that her brother would truly hurt her and becomes determined to find Lucas and bring him home. Lily finds that Lucas’ disappearance is somehow tied to Tharin; so when he informs her that she is his betrothed and must return with him to Velesi, fulfill a treaty between their families and unite the two strongest clans through their marriage, Lily agrees. However, she’s not going to Velesi for a wedding, but to bring home her only family, Lucas.

On their journey to the borders of Velesi, the realm of the Thirteen Clans, they’re pursued by a Sidhe assassin group call the Ange, meet with an ogre crime lord that ends badly, deal with a sleazy troll motel manager, and when they discover that there’s a bounty on their heads, they must keep one step ahead of every assassin, bounty hunter and low-life criminal in Velesi.

Protecting Lily has become the biggest challenge of Tharin’s life. Lucky for him he has help in the form of his twin brother, Tolan, Lily’s best friend Julia and his three bodyguard cousins.

Overall Thoughts:

This was the first book that I read about elves, so I didn't really know what to expect, and I'm pleasantly surprised with what I found!

The Binding is about 18 year old Lily Michaels, who is ambushed on her eighteenth birthday by no one other than her own brother who has been missing for the past four years! Then, enters Prince Tharin Lunar! The mysterious stranger interferes and saves her life. Once the two meet, Lily's life is forever changed. Prince Tharin explains to her that he is a Sidhe Prince and that she is a princess.   In fact, she discovers that her name isn't even Lily, it's Princess Lilianethia Senestra Michaels! How official! She comes to find out that they are also betrothed due to a treaty made by their parents long ago. Now plain jane Lily Michaels has become a princess, and is engaged... oh and she has magical abilities.

What I liked about this book:

This enchanting story was filled with action, love, and magic! Don't let the prince/princess thing fool you; there is ton's of butt-kickingly awesome action that will keep you on your toes.

Also, I didn't know how Prince Tharin was going to look when I found out that he was an elf, but he's described as a beautifully handsome guy with a kind of stoic expression... not bad, not bad at all!

What I disliked about this book:

In the beginning of the book, I was a little confused about the Sidhe life and some of the facts, but a little later in the story it all gets cleared up.

Verdict:

This was a unique take of elves and a very enjoyable read overall!

Contact the author:

Blog

Twitter

Review + Excerpt: Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

When Carlos Fuentes returns to America after living in Mexico for a year, he doesn’t want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him at a high school in Colorado . Carlos likes living his life on the edge and wants to carve his own path—just like Alex did. Then he meets Kiara Westford. She doesn’t talk much and is completely intimidated by Carlos’ wild ways. As they get to know one another, Carlos assumes Kiara thinks she’s too good for him, and refuses to admit that she might be getting to him. But he soon realizes that being himself is exactly what Kiara needs right now.

Overall Thoughts:
Finished in one sitting! I was so absorbed in this book and was glad to see some of the old characters I was fond of in Perfect Chemistry reappear in this book!

Rules of Attraction follows Carlos Fuentes, who (If you read Perfect Chemistry...) know is Alex Fuentes's younger brother. We get to see a slightly older Carlos this time around, as he's no longer 15 years old but 17 and is in his senior year in high school. The story starts out with Carlos moving from Mexico to Colorado to stay with his older brother, Alex. He's got that Fuentes fire in him because he's definitely not happy about the move and makes that very obvious.

On his first day, he runs into a kind yet nervous girl named Kiara Westford who becomes his peer guide. The two start off very shaky, seeing as Carlos gives her an attitude because he really doesn't want to be there but Kiara doesn't necessarily take his crap lying down and Carlos actually likes that. Then one day, the police search the school for a monthly drug inspection and find tons of it in Carlos's locker. The only thing is... it wasn't his. Someone's framing him, and now Carlos has made it his mission to find out who, and get revenge.

What I liked about this book:
I liked that they kind of stuck with the same theme as Alex's story, even though that made it pretty predictable. I didn't care, I loved reading it just the same. But there were also many differences; Carlos's story had a couple more edgy twists to it, which I enjoyed!

Also, my Spanish vocabulary has definitely expanded because of this series :)

What I disliked about this story:

Best cover of the trilogy!

Like I said, there was an "issue" of predictability but I didn't mind.

Verdict:
Read it!

Chain Reaction is the next and final book in this trilogy and because I have no life, I'm going to start on it now! Sad, but true.

4 TARGETS!

---

Excerpt:

"Well, I guess now is a good time to go over house rules." My temporary guardian settles into the chair by the desk.

"Rules?" A feeling of dread washes over me.

"Don't worry, I only have a few. But I do expect them to be followed. First off, no drugs or alcohol. As you already know, marijuana isn't hard to find in this city, but you have to stay clean per court order. Second, no profanity. I have a six-year-old who is very impressionable, and I don't need him hearing cuss words. Third, curfew on weekdays is midnight, on weekends it's two. Fourth, you're expected to clean up after yourself and help around the house when asked, just like our own children. Fifth, there's no TV unless you're done with homework. Sixth, if you bring a girl up to your room you must keep the door open . . . for obvious reasons." He rubs his chin, seemingly searching for more rules to spout. "I think that's it. Any questions?"

"Yeah, one." I shove my hands in my pockets, wondering how long it'll take for Professor Dick to realize I'm antirules. Of any kind. "What happens when I break one of your fuckin' rules?"