Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday (13)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we can not wait to read! This meme is the perfect way to add books to your TBR list. Along with upcoming releases, I sometimes include books that I have not had the chance to read or buy even if they have already come out. 
_______________________________________________________________________

The book I am anxiously awaiting is...

Title: Secret Society (Secret Society, #1)
Author: Tom Dolby
Release Date: September 29, 2009

An eccentric new girl. A brooding socialite. The scion of one of New York's wealthiest families. A promising filmmaker. As students at the exclusive Chadwick School, Phoebe, Lauren, Nick, and Patch already live in a world most teenagers only dream about.

They didn't ask to be Society members. But when three of them receive a mysterious text message promising success and fame beyond belief, they say yes to everything--even to the harrowing initiation ceremony in a gritty warehouse downtown and to the ankh-shaped tattoo they're forced to get on the nape of their necks. Once they're part of the Society, things begin falling into place for them. Week after week, their ambitions are fulfilled. It's all perfect--until a body is found in Central Park with no distinguishing marks except for an ankh-shaped tattoo.


This book has been out for ages and has been on my TBR list just as long. I love books about secret societies, they're so intriguing! 

Monday, June 25, 2012

Guest Post: Sherry Soule

Guest Post by Sherry Soule
#MMBlogTour


Hi everyone, I’m Sherry Soule—waving from Castro Valley, California, where it gets foggy even during the summer months. But even with the fog burning off by afternoon, I’m relaxing on the sofa and blabbering on Twitter about my life-long obsession with books.
It’s a real honor to be a guest here today as part of my Moonlight Mayhem Blog Tour this summer and meet all of you awesome booklovers.
For those of you who haven’t heard about my epic blog tour it’s not too late to join the fun!

Hashtag Twitter - #MMBlogTour

Okay, today’s entertaining post has a special feature from author, Sherry Soule! She has complied a few of her favorite moments and quotes from the first two YA books in the thrilling Spellbound series, BEAUTIFULLY Broken and MOONLIGHT MAYHEM. *pg numbers are from the mass market paperback edition*

Now let me introduce this turbulent, yet starry-eyed couple:

Shiloh Ravenwolf and Trent Donovan.

Quote from BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN – pg 14 “Initial Glimpse”:

Trent turned his head, his gaze capturing mine. My face flamed, interrupting my ogling. His eyes widened, then narrowed. His arms dropped to his sides. Once those hypnotic green eyes seized mine, the atmosphere shifted, and for a moment, my heart ceased to beat. His gorgeousness silenced the thoughts and whirling emotions inside my head. The lingering anxiety from earlier vanished. 
Finally, Trent turned away. I exhaled. He kept his head down like he had something to hide. Something he didn’t want people to see. Something he didn’t want me to see.

Quote from BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN – pgs. 77 -78 “Meet Charm”:

I leaned out the window and lifted the kitten. She purred and I rubbed her soft fur against my cheek, tension that had snapped my spine straight when I’d heard the eerie cry easing with the each rumbling purr. “Ah, poor baby. Are you hungry?” She loudly meowed.
Trent returned with a bowl of milk and set it on the floor. I lowered the kitten and watched her greedily lap the milk. 
“She’s cute,” Trent said. “What should we name her?”
The ball of fluff raised her head, licking white drops off her mouth.
“Charm.” I hoisted the kitten and cuddled her in my arms. 
Trent scratched her under her white chin. “Charm?”
“Yeah. It’s perfect.”
He scratched the cat behind her ears. “I’d rather have a dog,” he teased.
“Shhh, Charm will hear you.” I covered the cat’s pointy ears with my hands.
Trent grinned, taking the kitten from my arms and surprising me by kissing Charm’s head. 

Quote from BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN – pgs. 86 -87 “A Kiss”:

I went to snatch my hand away, but Trent caught my hand in his, startling me. I looked up to see warmth on his face. His smile held the promise of happiness. He scooted closer and held my gaze for a breath, glanced down. He leaned forward, as if he had no control over his actions. I inhaled his nice, soapy-clean scent, and all coherent thought left my head.
His hands gripped my waist and Trent yanked me against him, his mouth covering mine in a deep kiss. The caress of his lips was softer than I’d imagined. An unfamiliar rush of excitement engulfed my senses. My hands wrapped around his neck, fingering his silky tousled hair. His moist lips seared a path from my lips to my neck, igniting a blaze of desire that flooded my skin everywhere his lips and roaming hands touched. Boys had kissed me before, but not like this. Never like this.
Yes, yes…this is what I want and yearn for—affection. To fall in an impetuous head-over-heels kind of love. Let myself go. Surrender my heart…

Quote from ARC of MOONLIGHT MAYHEM – pgs. 85 -86 “Nervous Belly”:

Luna Pizza wasn’t super busy yet, when the door opened and swoon-worthy Trent Donovan sauntered into the restaurant with a guy I didn’t recognize, which meant I had no place to hide. I felt the air whoosh from my lungs. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. When I opened them, I swear my body froze. My heart stopped beating. A volatile, relentless thrill shot through my veins, and I shuddered. Messy blond hair, startling emerald eyes, cocky grin on his face… 

Quote from ARC of MOONLIGHT MAYHEM – pg 224 “Hero Intercedes”:

His hands flickered upward, and before I knew it, they were cupping my face. So, damnably fast now. Demonic-like fast. Trent reeled me closer. Our foreheads joined. He held me, while I trembled in his arms. I was vaguely aware of Evans and Maxwell watching, although it didn’t seem important. Nothing seemed important whenever he did this. It felt like we were enclosed in our own personal bubble made only for the two of us. Trent murmured something in my ear. We stood like that until my shaky legs gradually regained strength. I shut my eyes and pretended my body wasn’t sizzling with heat-lightning because Trent stood so close. My hormones always decided to rebel whenever he put his arms around me. And it wasn’t totally awkward and uncomfortable. No, it felt like the best thing I’d experienced since before Dad’s death. And that’s saying a lot.

Quote from ARC of MOONLIGHT MAYHEM – pg 224 “Zombie Encounter”:

Her pale brow furrowed. Her skin veiny and colorless. Sheesh, she’s a hot mess. Zombie Girl tilted her head and raised her arms. “Ashley—hag!” 
“What! Did that corpse just call me a hag?” Ashley sounded more like her usual bitchy self.
 “No, I think she means hug. It’s zombie lingo. I’ve read online that zombies can be affectionate, but hugging one often leads to, well, having your brains eaten,” I said.
“Yuk!” Ashley backpedaled, scrunching her thin face. “Beyond gross.”
Zombie Girl giggled, but it sounded choked, a mere gurgling rumble in her throat. She had these nasty bloody scrapes on her arms and legs. Her right calf had deep teeth marks. Her feet were dirty and bare, her movements jaunty and slow.
______________________________________________________________________

Book Blurb: 
Otherworldly Creatures. Dazzling Magic. Fiery Romance.
Shiloh Ravenwolf thought she was getting used to the strange events in Whispering Pines, until the full moon brings another surge of supernatural threats to her coastal town. Ferocious wolves, deadly necromancers, and shambling zombies have descended upon the neighborhood, so Shiloh needs to gain control of her magical abilities—fast! 
It sucks that she has a crippling fear of the dark, which for a demon hunter can be an epic problem.
When her classmates are attacked by a mysterious creature and her father is murdered, Shiloh vows vengeance. Forcing her phobias aside, she forms an unlikely coven of supernaturally gifted teens to help her eradicate this menace. Except that's not all Shiloh has to worry about. She’s battling a different monster within herself and struggling not to become the very thing she fights: evil. 
But with demon blood inside her—anything can happen…
Moonlight Mayhem is the second novel in the epic Spellbound series

Where you can find author, Sherry Soule online:
Official Spellbound Series Universe: http://thespellboundseries.blogspot.com/
Twitter @WriterSherry: http://twitter.com/writersherry
Book Trailer/YouTube: http://youtu.be/5uqVXKygvUs

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Sneak Peek Saturday (7)


I've decided to host a brand new meme called Sneak Peek Saturday (similar to Teaser Tuesday hosted by Should Be Reading only this one's on Saturday, obviously lol).

The premise is much the same: Just grab your current read and share 1-2 sentences from a random (or not) page with us along with the title and author. This will give us an interesting sneak peek into whatever book you are currently reading. And, if you like the sneak peek enough, maybe you'll find some new books to add to your TBR list. Be careful not to ruin the book by being too spoiler-y!
_______________________________________________________________________

My Sneak Peek:
"'You're all right with this? Stealing from the Institute?' 
'If it means finding Jace,' Isabelle said. 
Alec nodded. 'Whatever it takes.'" 
Pg 38, City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare
 What's your sneak peek? Link it in the comments!

Friday, June 22, 2012

Feature & Follow Friday (25)


Feature & Follow Friday is a meme hosted by Parajunkiee's View & Alison Can Read. Check out their blogs and the two Featured Bloggers of the week! This is great for finding amazing new blogs to follow and for gaining followers yourself!

This weeks question is: 
"If you could unread a book, which one would it be? Is it because you want to start over and experience it again for the first time? Or because it was THAT bad?" 

My answer: 
I think I'd unread all of Twilight just because when I read them I was in 7th or 8th grade. I basically became obsessed with them and am extremely embarrassed of that fact. I'd probably read them now since they wouldn't have the same effect. 

What about you? Leave your answer to this weeks question in the comments below.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday (12)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we can not wait to read! This meme is the perfect way to add books to your TBR list. Along with upcoming releases, I sometimes include books that I have not had the chance to read or buy even if they have already come out. 
_______________________________________________________________________

The book I am anxiously awaiting is...

Title: Between the Lines
Author: Jodi Picoult & Samantha Van Leer
Release Date: June 26, 2012

What happens when happily ever after…isn’t?

Delilah is a bit of a loner who prefers spending her time in the school library with her head in a book—one book in particular. Between the Lines may be a fairy tale, but it feels real. Prince Oliver is brave, adventurous, and loving. He really speaks to Delilah.


And then one day Oliver actually speaks to her. Turns out, Oliver is more than a one-dimensional storybook prince. He’s a restless teen who feels trapped by his literary existence and hates that his entire life is predetermined. He’s sure there’s more for him out there in the real world, and Delilah might just be his key to freedom.


Delilah and Oliver work together to attempt to get Oliver out of his book, a challenging task that forces them to examine their perceptions of fate, the world, and their places in it. And as their attraction to each other grows along the way, a romance blossoms that is anything but a fairy tale.


I've only read one book by Jodi (Change of Heart), but I loved it and can't wait to see what she does with this one for teens. I'll definitely be picking it up!

Monday, June 18, 2012

Review (31): The Fairytale Keeper: Avenging the Queen by Andrea Cefalo

The Fairytale Keeper: Avenging the Queen
by Andrea Cefalo

Series: The Fairytale Keeper series
Other Reviewed Titles: None
Release Date:
June 1, 2012
Publisher: Scarlet Primrose Press
Pages: 280
Source: ARC from Author
Challenge: None

My Review: 
Avenging the Queen is book one in the new series by Andrea Cefalo. At first I thought it would only be a retelling of the classic Snow White, but the more I read, the more Grimm characters started to pop up. I don’t want to give away which character is who, but I will say that there are appearances by Snow White (obviously), Cinderella, the Shoemaker from The Elves and the Shoemaker, and a few others. They are woven so well into the story and I loved when new backgrounds were introduced. 

But anyways, on to the actual book. Adelaide, nicknamed ‘Snow White’ by her mother due to her snowy complexion, dark hair and bright red lips, must bury her mother after she passes away from the fever that has upset their home in Cologne. Thousands more have been taken, but few are given the Last Rites they deserve which is why Adelaide’s father must bribe the local parish priest to make sure his wife has a proper burial. However, the ceremony goes horribly wrong which prompts thoughts of revenge in Adelaide’s mind. She gets herself and the people she loves into quite a bit of trouble as the story progresses. The beginning was a little slow for me and it took a while to get into the story, but by the middle I couldn’t seem to put the book down! 

Adelaide has to deal with things normal 15 year olds wouldn’t even dream of and she handles it all extremely well. Considering the time period, she is also very outspoken and refuses to bow down to what people tell her to do when she knows they are wrong. She was smart, clever and very brave which I liked a lot. Ivo, her best friend and love interest, was also a great character. He was so sweet and caring that I couldn’t stop myself from constantly going “awww”. Both had their own set of problems, but together seemed to strengthen each other. 

I love the cover of the book, it would have definitely caught my attention had I seen it on the shelves of my local bookstore. And the fact that it was designed by the author herself just makes it that much better!

I am very excited for the second book in the series. I can’t wait to see what happens next to Adelaide and what prompts her to become the Snow White we know and love today.

Rating: * * * *

And thank you to the author for sending me a copy for review.

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Sneak Peek Saturday (6)


I've decided to host a brand new meme called Sneak Peek Saturday (similar to Teaser Tuesday hosted by Should Be Reading only this one's on Saturday, obviously lol).

The premise is much the same: Just grab your current read and share 1-2 sentences from a random (or not) page with us along with the title and author. This will give us an interesting sneak peek into whatever book you are currently reading. And, if you like the sneak peek enough, maybe you'll find some new books to add to your TBR list. Be careful not to ruin the book by being too spoiler-y!
_______________________________________________________________________

My Sneak Peek:
"I don't want the nice lady to die,' Poppet says, tugging gently at Celia's skirt.
Celia stops walking, putting out a hand to keep Widget, who is oblivious to anything other than his popcorn, from continuing along in front of her. 
'What do you mean, dearest?' she asks Poppet.
'They're going to put her in the ground,' Poppet explains. 'I think that's sad."
Pg 125, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.  
 What's your sneak peek? Link it in the comments!

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Feature & Follow Friday (24)


Feature & Follow Friday is a meme hosted by Parajunkiee's View & Alison Can Read. Check out their blogs and the two Featured Bloggers of the week! This is great for finding amazing new blogs to follow and for gaining followers yourself!

This weeks question is: 
"Happy Father's Day! Who is your favorite dad character in a book and why?" 

My answer: 
Oh gosh, this is as hard as the Mother's Day question. I really have no idea! Unfortunately it's easier to remember books with absent mothers and fathers than books with great ones. Maybe Luke from The Mortal Instruments books? He was a good father figure to Clary. Or maybe Ron Weasley and his father. He had great parents.

What about you? Leave your answer to this weeks question in the comments below.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday (11)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we can not wait to read! This meme is the perfect way to add books to your TBR list. Along with upcoming releases, I sometimes include books that I have not had the chance to read or buy even if they have already come out. 
_______________________________________________________________________

The book I am anxiously awaiting is...

Title: Wake (Wake, #1)
Author: Lisa McMann
Release Date: March 4, 2008

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can't tell anybody about what she does they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can’t control.


Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant.


This week I chose a book that's been out for a while. This book has been on my TBR list for YEARS! I really need to find some time to read this trilogy, it seems really, really good and dark. 

Monday, June 11, 2012

Author Interview: Andrea Cefalo

Author Interview with Andrea Cefalo


Release Date: June 1, 2012
Publisher: Scarlet Primrose Press

Hi Andrea! Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions about your new book! So first off, describe The Fairytale Keeper: Avenging the Queen in 3 words.
Fairytale Maiden Fights Corruption.
Okay, I know that’s four, but oh well.


Where did the idea for the Fairytale Keeper series come from?

The idea came to me six years ago while I was getting my undergraduate degree in education. I was listening to a lecture about the commonalities of fairy tales.  The professor said that nearly all cultures have a Cinderella story. This made me wonder if one person, living thousands of years ago, could have been the real Cinderella. Could it be possible that this one girl spawned all the different versions of the story? I love Grimm’s fairytales and so I twisted my unlikely hypothesis (that the Cinderella tale originated from one girl) into the presumption that one girl could have been the origin of Grimm’s most famous fairy tales.

What was your favorite scene to write?
I like writing dialogue, action, romance, and dreams equally. I don’t really have one scene that I liked writing more than any other.

What are your thoughts on the cover? Did you have any input in the design?
Actually, I made the cover. I wanted it to have a misty, dark feel to it to match the tone of the novel. I also knew the colors black, white, and red were going to be very important since Snow White is described as having skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as a window sill.

Are you working on anything new at the moment? If so, can you tell us anything about it?
I’m working on a new beginning for the second book. The characters just started having this conversation in my head and I knew I had to change it. I think readers will like the new beginning. It’s faster. It ropes the reader in and plays on some of the drama at the end of the first book.

Do you have any advice for young writers?
  • Keep writing. I wrote poetry during high school. Looking back on it now, it wasn’t the greatest poetry, but it helped me through some rough times.  
  • Read a lot. The more you read, the better a writer you’ll become.
  • Don’t let trying to make money at writing ruin your passion for it. I don’t ever want to hate writing and if trying to be a professional writer makes me unhappy, I won’t do it anymore. I refuse to do something that makes me miserable. There are all kinds of ways to make money and life’s too short to hate your job.
Are you excited about any new books being released soon?
I keep seeing a book called Cinder everywhere. It looks like a futuristic Cinderella retelling. I think I’m going to have to check that one out. I haven’t read a single post-apocolyptic young adult novel and I love the subject. So if anyone has any suggestions, I am open to them.

Once again, thank you for sitting down with us & good luck with your new novel!
And check out my review of The Fairytale Keeper: Avenging the Queen coming next week.

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Sneak Peek Saturday (5)


I've decided to host a brand new meme called Sneak Peek Saturday (similar to Teaser Tuesday hosted by Should Be Reading only this one's on Saturday, obviously lol).

The premise is much the same: Just grab your current read and share 1-2 sentences from a random (or not) page with us along with the title and author. This will give us an interesting sneak peek into whatever book you are currently reading. And, if you like the sneak peek enough, maybe you'll find some new books to add to your TBR list. Be careful not to ruin the book by being too spoiler-y!
_______________________________________________________________________

My Sneak Peek:
"The figure hovering by the window turns. Where the sunlight hits him he is all but invisible. Part of his shoulder appears to be missing, the top of his head vanishes in a flutter of sun-caught dust. The rest of him is transparent, like a reflection of glass." Pg 63, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.  
 What's your sneak peek? Link it in the comments!

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday (10)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we can not wait to read! This meme is the perfect way to add books to your TBR list. Along with upcoming releases, I sometimes include books that I have not had the chance to read or buy even if they have already come out. 
_______________________________________________________________________

The book I am anxiously awaiting is...

Title: Dust Girl (American Fairy, #1)
Author: Sarah Zettel
Release Date: June 26, 2012

Callie LeRoux lives in Slow Run, Kansas, helping her mother run their small hotel and trying not to think about the father she's never met. Lately all of her energy is spent battling the constant storms plaguing the Dust Bowl and their effects on her health. Callie is left alone, when her mother goes missing in a dust storm. Her only hope comes from a mysterious man offering a few clues about her destiny and the path she must take to find her parents in "the golden hills of the west" (California). Along the way she meets Jack a young hobo boy who is happy to keep her company—there are dangerous, desperate people at every turn. And there's also an otherworldly threat to Callie. Warring fae factions, attached to the creative communities of American society, are very aware of the role this half-mortal, half-fae teenage girl plays in their fate.

This reminds me of The Iron Fey by Julie Kagawa which is great since I love that series. The cover is really cool too. I'll definitely be reading this!

Monday, June 4, 2012

Review (30): Messy by Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan

Messy
by Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan

Series: Spoiled, Book 2
Other Reviewed Titles: Spoiled, book 1
Release Date: June 5, 2012
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
Pages: 368
Source: Publisher
Challenge: None
My Review:
This is more of a companion than a sequel to Spoiled and does not focus on Molly. Instead her best friend, Max, gets most of the spotlight along with her half-sister, Brooke. The two join forces (a bit reluctantly) to create a blog that will launch Brooke’s acting career. Max, who is basically the brains behind the blog, is hired to pose as Brooke and secretly write all of the blog entries. It was a cute, fun read but it also had some depth to it. It really highlights how important it is to children to have parental approval and attention and shows how far Brooke is willing to go to attain both. Despite taking it a little too far, her plan pays off in the end.

I felt that both girls were very real and relatable. I loved how sarcastic Max was. And despite all her snarky comments, it was obvious by the end how much she actually did care about Brooke. As for Brooke, she once again spends most of the book trying to find ways to get the attention of her self-absorbed movie star father. And although I liked Molly from the first book, I really liked that she wasn’t the main focus of this one. It was a different perspective and a nice change. 

The cover of my ARC is completely different than the one on Goodreads. I have no idea which is the final, but I have to say that I prefer the ARC version better which is why I chose to include it in this post. I like how each letter is a different make-up item instead of all of them being different items of clothing.

I definitely enjoyed this one more than the first book. And, once again, fans of The Clique and The A-List will definitely enjoy it as well because it has elements of the two and is sort of in between both.

Rating: * * * *

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Book of the Month (2)

Book of the Month is a monthly event, hosted by Book Whales. This is done to highlight one of the books we have read in the previous month. This meme is great because it lets us recommend that one amazing book we have read that we just can't stop talking about! (I usually choose one that I have not reviewed).
_______________________________________________________________________

My book of the month for May is... 

Bloodlines (Bloodlines, #1) by Richelle Mead.

When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.
That isn't a very detailed synopsis, but I promise you this book is great! But I recommend reading The Vampire Academy books first because they set this series up since this is a spin-off. You won't regret it. (No review)

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Sneak Peek Saturday (4)

I've decided to host a brand new meme called Sneak Peek Saturday (similar to Teaser Tuesday hosted by Should Be Reading only this one's on Saturday, obviously lol).

The premise is much the same: Just grab your current read and share 1-2 sentences from a random (or not) page with us along with the title and author. This will give us an interesting sneak peek into whatever book you are currently reading. And, if you like the sneak peek enough, maybe you'll find some new books to add to your TBR list. Be careful not to ruin the book by being too spoiler-y!
_______________________________________________________________________

My Sneak Peek:
"Sethie doesn't want to exercise, the same as she doesn't actually want to diet. She wants to be one of those girls who can eat whatever she wants and not gain weight, who can eat whatever she wants and not have to exercise for a taut stomach or arms, who can eat whatever she wants and so isn't tormented by a plate of fries or a bag of chips." Pg 188, The Stone Girl by Alyssa B. Sheinmel.  
 What's your sneak peek? Link it in the comments!

Friday, June 1, 2012

Feature & Follow Friday (23)


Feature & Follow Friday is a meme hosted by Parajunkiee's View & Alison Can Read. Check out their blogs and the two Featured Bloggers of the week! This is great for finding amazing new blogs to follow and for gaining followers yourself!

This weeks question is: 
"You are a matchmaker - your goal, hook up two characters from two of your favorite books. Who would it be? How do you think it would go?" 

My answer: 
These questions keep getting harder and harder! I think I'd hook up Simon from the Mortal Instruments series with...omg I really don't know! I just want him to find some lovin'. This is a terrible answer, but I really have no idea LOL

What about you? Leave your answer to this weeks question in the comments below.