Sunday, April 27, 2014

Ransom Blitz and Giveaway


Ransom by Rachel Schurig 
Publication date: April 28th 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:
**The first book in a brand new series from USA Today bestselling author Rachel Schurig. This New Adult Contemporary Romance novel is a complete story with no cliffhanger.**

Daisy Harris has no reason to suspect that her day will be any different than usual. She’ll go to class, alone. She won’t speak or make eye contact. She’ll spend her entire day doing her best to go completely unnoticed. That’s what life is like for Daisy now—an endless cycle of loneliness and fear. A life lived hiding behind the walls she so faithfully maintains.

Then she sees it. A magazine, left behind in class. A simple picture—just his face. And it changes everything.

It’s been a year since she’s seen Daltrey Ransome. A year since he and his brothers left town to pursue their dreams of rock and roll superstardom. A year since he left Daisy behind—left her to watch as everything she knew crumbled around her. She’s been running from Daltrey ever since, desperate to keep her secret.

But she can’t run anymore. And now that Daltrey has found her—the girl he’s loved his entire life, the girl he’d give up everything for—he’s determined never to let her go again.


AUTHOR BIO
(No author photo was made available)
Rachel Schurig lives in the metro Detroit area with her dog, Lucy. She loves to watch reality TV and she reads as many books as she can get her hands on. In her spare time, Rachel decorates cakes. Her THREE GIRLS series is available now from Amazon!

Author Links:

TEASERS




A Q&A WITH RACHEL SCHURIG

What was your inspiration for writing Ransom?
I’ve wanted to write a rock star romance for a long time. When I was in college some friends and I spent a few months following our favorite band on tour. It was one of the best times I’ve ever had! There’s something about a good road trip with good friends—add in the thrill of live music and it can’t be beat! I wanted to write about girlfriends going on an adventure like ours—and finding love along the way. Who doesn’t want to fall for a rock star??
What can you tell us about Daisy?
Poor Daisy’s had a rough year. After her best friend, Daltrey, left to hit it big with his band, Ransom, things went south for Daisy. The victim of some pretty vicious online bullying, she began to withdraw from the world around her. Severe panic attacks brought on by the trauma make it very difficult for her to interact with her peers as she starts college. By the time she meets Ransom fans Karen and Paige, she’s almost forgotten what it’s like to have friends. Karen and Paige help her regain her confidence and find the strength to rekindle her friendship with Daltrey.
What about Daltrey?
Daltrey is one of my favorite characters I’ve ever written. In many ways he’s your classic rock star—sexy, kind of dangerous, very talented, a little cocky. But he’s also incredibly sensitive and emotional. He never got over losing Daisy and now that she’s back in his life he’s determined not to lose her again. His dedication to the girl he’s always loved is pretty swoon worthy!
Can you give us three random facts about Ransom?
1. I plotted this entire book, right down to the names of all the characters, in one afternoon. In fact, I was waiting in line for a ride at Disneyland when inspiration struck. I was so glad I had my cell phone to take notes! By the time I reached the front of the very long line I had all the details squared away.
2. Daltrey and his brothers are all named after famous rock stars who influenced their father. I spent a lot of time choosing the names; I wanted the most influential musicians I could think of but I also needed to make sure the monikers sounded good as first names.
3. Music was a very big part of my writing process with this story. I created a playlist as I wrote, adding more songs as I went along. By the time I was finished I had a huge list, and I listened to it every time I worked on the book.


I'm hosting a giveaway for one ebook copy of Ransom.  It is open internationally and the winner will be selected by May 17, 2014.  To enter leave a comment on this post, or email us at thebookcookies@hotmail.com with your name, your email, and your requested format (ePub, Mobi, or PDF).  There will be a post on the blog announcing the winner and we will also send you an email.   All prizes will be sent out after May 23.

There is also a blitz-wide giveaway for a $50 Amazon gift card.  It is also open internationally.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This blitz is organized by Xpresso Book Tours.


Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Uncovering Cobbogoth Trailer Reveal

Today we will be revealing the trailer of the first book in a new YA fantasy series Uncovering Cobbogoth!

Uncovering Cobbogoth (Cobbogoth # 1)
By Hannah L. Clark
Release Date: May 13, 2014

Norah Lukens needs to uncover the truth about the fabled lost city of Cobbogoth. After her archaeologist uncle’s murder, Norah is asked to translate his old research journal for evidence and discovers that his murder was a cover-up for something far more sinister. When she turns to neighbor and only friend James Riley for help, she realizes that not only is their bitter-sweet past haunting her every step, but James is keeping dangerous secrets. Can Norah discover what they are before its too late to share her own.

Find the book on Goodreads.
Find the trailer on Youtube.









About the Author
Hannah L. Clark is the author of the YA fantasy-adventure "Uncovering Cobbogoth." It is the first book in a planned 7 book series. It will be released by Cedar Fort Publishing on May 13, 2014.
Hannah lives in Pleasant Grove, UT with her husband and son.
Author Links:
http://www.hannahlclark.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5139659.Hannah_L_Clark
http://www.twitter.com/hannieclark http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cobbogoth/201603626565950






***GIVEAWAY***
$20 Amazon gift card & ear cuff (US only)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Or:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MjM0OGI5ZGJmNWUwNzllYTYzNjAyYzhhZGU0MDc0OjI1MA==/



Trailer Reveal Organized by: YA Bound Book Tours


Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Ex-Factor Blitz


Ex Factor
Release Date: 04/22/14

Summary from Goodreads:
Nevaeh Evan’s life is uprooted after her father’s death, when she moves in with her aunt and cousin, Livvie. Her plan to lay low at her new high school isn’t working. Her friend’s jerky boyfriend keeps asking her out, the guy she likes treats her like garbage, and the thought of tumbling again makes her want to hurl.

So when her aunt pushes her into joining the elite X-FACTOR cheer leading squad, Navaeh goes along with it.  But Nev feels she doesn’t deserve to be happy. Not after what happened the night her father died.

Bodie Scott knows about grief all too well. Critically injured in an alcohol related accident the year before, Bodie struggles with the fact that he’ll never play football again, and he’s so far behind in credits he can’t see straight. That is, until he meets Nev. Haunted by their bloody pasts and wary of a shared future, Nev and Bodie turn to one another for comfort and support, and realize they’re not so alone after all. And when the party scene at school threatens the life of a loved one, the two stop at nothing to keep the past from repeating itself.


Available from:
Amazon * Barnes & Noble

About the Author
I'm a lover of books (YA & Adult romance), chocolate, reality television, and am a proud mother to three All Star cheerleaders. Woot!
I write Contemporary YA romance with cheerleaders. Yep. I write what I know, and it's my hope that my stories will not only take you on a romantic journey that will warm your heart, but that you'll find a new respect and interest in the sport of Cheerleading you may not have had before.

Author Links:
   

***GIVEAWAY***
1 ebook of Ex-Factor & $10 Amazon gift card (INT)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

READ AN EXCERPT FROM EX-FACTOR
The warm, squirrely sensation festering in my gut grew stronger with each second that passed. Despite my best efforts to ignore it, and him, I finally gave in and looked over my shoulder. I was immediately sorry I’d done so.
Jet eyes filled with what appeared to be a heavy amount of disgust regarded me coolly. I frowned and glanced down at my feet, insecurity smothering me like a thick blanket. Why was he mean mugging me? I didn’t know him. He didn’t know me. Why was he so pissed?
I took a chance and dared another peek in his direction. I was shocked to find him glaring at me still, his expression angrier if that were even possible.
He crossed his arms over his chest and raised a brow. “Seriously? You’re just gonna stand there and look pretty the entire period? How ‘bout you at least move out of the way so the rest of us can get what we need?”
I blanched, unable to speak, let alone move. In another circumstance, I’d feel giddy about his reference to my “being pretty”, but as it stood, I felt sick. Clearly irritated, a healthy dose of sarcasm coated his deep voice. Why were there never any holes around when you needed them? I was ready to crawl into one and assume the fetal position.
“Back off, asshat,” Erin snapped. She brushed past me and opened the cupboard I’d been standing in front of, and pulled out a stack of aprons. With a huff, she snatched an aging blue apron from the top of the pile and flung it at my handsome hater, the soft cotton fabric hitting him in the face. “She’s new and doesn’t know where everything is yet.”
He didn’t say anything else; just scowled for what I assumed he felt was good measure before pulling a ball of pastry dough out of the small refrigerator below.
“Ignore him,” Erin said, as she handed me an apron. “Bodie Scott is a douche with a bad temper, and totally not worth your time.”
I mashed my lips together and gave her a nod, doing my best to ignore the pang of hurt whirling in my chest, and the odd tingling sensation skimming across my flesh. My short time at Grant High thus far had been anything but great. I’d been heckled by a group of Victoria Secret Angel wannabes. I’d flirted with a hot guy who turned out to be dating the one person who’d tried to befriend me. For reasons unknown to me, I’d pissed off the only other guy I’d come across in ages who’d had any sort of impact on me. If the morning’s events were any indicator of how the rest of my day would be, I was screwed.


Book Blitz Organized by:

Monday, April 21, 2014

The Labyrinth Wall Promo

Welcome to the promo for The Labyrinth Wall by Emilyann Girdner! TheLabyrinthWallbannerThe-Labyrinth-Wall-Cover

Summary:

Araina’s isolated teenage life is forever altered when she witnesses a man emerge through a rippling wall into the dark labyrinth she calls home. As a result of the stranger’s arrival, Araina’s Creators have unleashed a series of magical attacks using the labyrinth against its inhabitants. Now Araina must decide if she will trust potentially deceitful allies in order to reach safety on the other side of the labyrinth wall.

The Labyrinth Wall is the story of a young woman who discovers that although labyrinth walls confine her and her enemies try to repress her, the power of hope can set her free.

Will the walls that confine her be the walls that set her free?

Young Adult Fantasy Novel. Hit #2 on the Amazon Best Seller list in its category the day after release and hit #26 on the Top 100 Amazon Free Best Seller List


Buy on Amazon | B&N




Meet the Author:

EmilyannLab2

Though she was born in Germany and raised in Turkey until the age of five, Emilyann Girdner spent the majority of her grade school years in Tallahassee, Florida. She discovered early she had a love for stories. Reading books, watching movies and then acting them out with friends or toys gave living an extra flavor. This is likely why she spent the first part of her college career studying Creative Writing, before switching to Graphic Design and then graduating with a BFA in Digital Art from Missouri State University in 2011. Her writing has appeared on websites and blogs including Center for Work Life, Easter Seals Florida, MU Museum of Art & Archaeology's Musings and Examiner.com. She is best known for her Amazon Best-Selling novel, The Labyrinth Wall. Emilyann is now living and working in Florida.

Given her three focus transitions as an undergraduate, it isn't a shock that she is a multi-medium lover, exploring writing, digital art, photography and design. She finds that her creativity is most fluent when given the opportunity to bounce between artistic outlets.

To truly understand this Author, there are two things to know about her. Emilyann hopes to share a love for others and God in all she does. She believes that imagination sparks beauty in the soul.


Follow Emilyann:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Literary Addicts



Follow the Book Tour

Enter to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card
a Rafflecopter giveaway

This blog tour is being sponsored by the lovely team at Promotional Book Tours, one of our partners.

Thanks for reading and make sure you watch for my review of The Labyrinth Wall, coming May 9, 2014.
Amber

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Stacking The Shelves Sunday


Welcome to Stacking the Shelves, a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, in which you show which books you have gotten this week in either physical or electronic format.  And if you didn't get any books, then you can either not post or post gloating about how you have about ten times as much control as me.

Purchased by Me:




For Review:


Thanks for reading!
Amber





Thursday, April 17, 2014

My TBR Pile

Now I don't feel like I have that many unread physical books, though I know I have a lot of unread ebooks.   I figured I would catalog them all them all for you to share.

Physical copies

  1. Before My Eyes by Caroline Bock
  2. The Rise of Nine by Pittacus Lore
  3. The Fall of Five by Pittacus Lore
  4. The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller
  5. Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
  6. The Davinci Code by Dan Brown
  7. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
  8. Origin by Jessica Khoury
  9. Starters by Lissa Price
  10. White Cat by Holly Black
  11. Red Glove by Holly Black
  12. Black Heart by Holly Black
  13. Cold Spell by Jackson Pearce
  14. Insatiable by Meg Cabot
  15. Teardrop by Lauren Kate
  16. 1984 by George Orwell
  17. The Diviners by Libba Bray
  18. A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
  19. Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
  20. World After by Susan Ee
  21. The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas
  22. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
  23. I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You by Ally Carter
  24. Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter
  25. Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter
  26. Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter
  27. Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter
  28. Heist Society by Ally Carter 
  29. Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter 
  30. Perfect Scoundrels by Ally Carter

Ebook Copies


  1. Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira
  2. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
  3. It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han
  4. We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han
  5. Let The Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger
  6. Uninvited by Sophie Jordan
  7. Midnight Fire: Rise of the Dark Angel by Melody Anne
  8. The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski
  9. Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian
  10. Fire with Fire by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian
  11. Starfire Angels by Melanie Nilles
  12. The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau
  13. Independent Study by Joelle Charbonneau
  14. Gilded Ashes by Rosamund Hodge
  15. Anathema by K.A. Tucker
  16. Fathomless by Jackson Pearce
  17. Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor
  18. Just One Day by Gayle Forman
  19. Just One Year by Gayle Forman
  20. Erased by Jennifer Rush
  21. Splintered by A.G. Howard
  22. Unhinged by A.G. Howard
  23. The Ring and the Crown by Melissa de la Cruz
  24. The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith
  25. Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy
  26. Mind Games by Kiersten White
  27. Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens
  28. On the Fence by Kasie West
  29. Half Bad by Sally Green
  30. Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
  31. Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
  32. Hollow City by Ransom Riggs
  33. The Girl of Fire of Thorns by Rae Carson
  34. The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson
  35. The Key by Jennifer Anne Davis
  36. Poison Princess by Kresley Cole
  37. Endless Knight by Kresley Cole
  38. These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner
  39. Nightshade City by Hilary Wagner
  40. Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
  41. The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
  42. Alienated by Melissa Landers
  43. Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
  44. Night of the Purple Moon by Scott Cramer
  45. Gone by Christine Kersey
  46. Super Dark One by Tanith Morse
  47. Savor by Megan Duncan
  48. An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
  49. Eternal by Chantelle Nay
  50. Family Magic by Patti Larsen
  51. Project ELE by Courtney Nuckels
  52. Shattered by Sandra Madera
  53. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
  54. Twin Souls by K.A. Poe
  55. Foreplay by Sophie Jordan
  56. Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson
  57. Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge
  58. Into the Vampire City by Philip Tucker
  59. Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi
  60. Fearless by Tawdra Kandle
  61. Daimon by Jennifer L. Armentrout
  62. Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout
  63. Pure by Jennifer L. Armentrout
  64. Deity by Jennifer L. Armentrout
  65. Elixir by Jennifer L. Armentrout
  66. Apollyon by Jennifer L. Armentrout
  67. Sentinel by Jennifer L. Armentrout
  68. The Woodlands by Lauren Nicolle Taylor
  69. Rae of Hope by W.J. May
  70. Growl by Elaine Pierson
  71. Hopeless by Colleen Hoover
  72. Prince of Wolves by Quinn Loftis
  73. Dangerous by Alycia Linwood
  74. Eve by Anna Carey
  75. Talented by Sophie Davis
  76. The Mind Readers by Lori Brighton
Those are all of my unread books that I own.  The total for physical and ebooks is 106 unread books.  I think that that is not a completely outrageous number.

Thanks for reading and let us know in the comments which of these books I should put at the top of my TBR list and how many unread books you have.

Amber

That's What He Said Thursday





That's What He Said Thursday is a weekly meme that is hosted by Chapter Break. Just take a quote from one of your favorite male characters that they said to the lucky female love interest. (Or Male if they are Gay)




Today "That's What He Said" comes from Legend by Marie Lu. This is from Day to June. Enjoy!
.

“You're brilliant,"he says."But you're a fool to stay with someone like me."
-Day to June Legend by Marie Lu


Grace

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday


Welcome to Waiting on Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine in which you talk about what books you are anxiously awaiting.

As we enter the second half of April, I have to say that the book I'm most anticipating is The Treatment by Suzanne Young, the second and final book in The Program duology.  I read The Program in June of last year and loved it so I can't wait to get my hands on it, especially since I've heard from people that got ARC's that they loved it.

The Treatment
By Suzanne Young
Publishes: April 29, 2014
Pages: 352

Can Sloane and James survive the lies and secrets surrounding them, or will The Program claim them in the end? Find out in this sequel to The Program, which Publishers Weekly called “chilling and suspenseful.”

How do you stop an epidemic?

Sloane and James are on the run after barely surviving the suicide epidemic and The Program. But they’re not out of danger. Huge pieces of their memories are still missing, and although Sloane and James have found their way back to each other, The Program isn’t ready to let them go.

Escaping with a group of troubled rebels, Sloane and James will have to figure out who they can trust, and how to take down The Program. But for as far as they’ve come, there’s still a lot Sloane and James can’t remember. The key to unlocking their past lies with the Treatment—a pill that can bring back forgotten memories, but at a high cost. And there’s only one dose.

Ultimately when the stakes are at their highest, can Sloane and James survive the many lies and secrets surrounding them, or will The Program claim them in the end?

Thanks for reading!
Amber




I'm most anticipating Talon by Julie Kagawa, the first book in her new YA series.


Talon 
By Julie Kagawa
Publishes- Oct. 28, 2014
Pages-400

Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.

Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.

Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons.

Found on GoodReads.








Have a great Wednesday!
Grace

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Adaptation by Malinda Lo


Adaptation
By Malinda Lo
Published: September 18, 2012
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Number in Series: 1
Pages: 400

Reese can’t remember anything from the time between the accident and the day she woke up almost a month later. She only knows one thing: She’s different now.

Across North America, flocks of birds hurl themselves into airplanes, causing at least a dozen to crash. Thousands of people die. Fearing terrorism, the United States government grounds all flights, and millions of travelers are stranded.

Reese and her debate team partner and longtime crush David are in Arizona when it happens. Everyone knows the world will never be the same. On their drive home to San Francisco, along a stretch of empty highway at night in the middle of Nevada, a bird flies into their headlights. The car flips over. When they wake up in a military hospital, the doctor won’t tell them what happened, where they are—or how they’ve been miraculously healed.

Things become even stranger when Reese returns home. San Francisco feels like a different place with police enforcing curfew, hazmat teams collecting dead birds, and a strange presence that seems to be following her. When Reese unexpectedly collides with the beautiful Amber Gray, her search for the truth is forced in an entirely new direction—and threatens to expose a vast global conspiracy that the government has worked for decades to keep secret.

My Rating: 0 stars 

My Thoughts:
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to finish this book.  I was really enjoying the plot and the writing, although I was a little skeptical about the characters.  I had to stop reading with the introduction of a lesbian romance.  I don't have anything against homosexuals, but being in the main character Reese's head, and reading about her thinking about another girl in a sexual way made me very uncomfortable.  That is just a personal opinion of mine, and I hope I'm not offending anyone in saying that.

Thanks for reading!
Amber


Teaser Tuesday





Welcome to Teaser Tuesday, a weekly feature hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading, in which you open the book you're currently reading to a random page and share 2 sentences without spoilers, along with the author and title of the book.

Today's Teaser is from Adaptation by Malinda Lo:



"California smelled of dry grass and oak trees, a scent that immediately made Reese remember summer at her grandparents' house in Marin, hiking around Phoenix Lake as her mom argued good-naturedly with her grandfather about criminal law.  Her eyes watered as she inhaled deeply, homesickness now throbbing like a drumbeat inside her as she climbed down from the plane."

- p. 83, Adaptation by Malinda Lo

Thanks for reading!
Amber


My Teaser Tuesday is from Cassandra Clare's City of Lost Souls.

"Summon a demon in a pentagram, and he can't get out to harm you. 
But if you step inside the pentagram, and you've put yourself in the demon's range of power."

-Pg295 City of Lost Souls, by Cassandra Clare. 

Have a great Tuesday!
Grace

















   

Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins


Rebel Belle
By Rachel Hawkins
Published: April 8, 2014
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Number In Series: 1
Pages: 384

Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.

Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him--and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.

With snappy banter, cotillion dresses, non-stop action and a touch of magic, this new young adult series from bestseller Rachel Hawkins is going to make y'all beg for more.

My Rating:  5 stars

My Thoughts:
I went into this book knowing absolutely nothing about it.  All I knew was that the cover was gorgeous and it had great ratings from people that I trust on Goodreads, and even it's overall rating is about 4 stars.
At the beginning of this book, I was a little skeptical, especially within the first couple pages.  I wasn't sure how much I was going to like Harper, because in the first scene, she is freaking out outside the Homecoming Dance because she isn't wearing any lip gloss.  Not really a character I could see myself connecting to.  But while in the bathroom putting on the lip gloss, the janitor runs in with a giant sword wound, kisses her, then dies.  Then, her history teacher breaks down the door while carrying the giant sword that killed the janitor and attacks her.  Under normal circumstances, Harper would be dead.  But instead she goes all bad-ass ninja on him and stabs him in the neck with her high heel.  After that scene, I changed my mind.
I had seen some complaints going into this book about the love triangle between Harper, Ryan, and David, which concerned me.  Love triangles don't bother me as long as they are either a. done well, or b. not a major focus.  This one was both.  I think that the entire love triangle took up maybe two pages all together, which by my calculations, is only .5%.  Not really a huge deal.
I also really liked David.  He's not your typical love interest.  Normally in YA the love interest is this dark, brooding, sarcastic, arrogant guy, while David is super nerdy, and he wears plaid pants and tweed jackets and his hair is always sticking up all over the place, and he wears glasses, which was like a breath of fresh air for me.
I also really loved Harper and David's rivalry.  They've been enemies practically since birth, and they'll bring up stuff from seven years ago that's just so hilarious because who uses the word that they beat the other with in the sixth grade bee to make a point.  It sounds ridiculous, but that's what makes it funny.
I also really like how Harper refuses to curse.  I thought that that I was really adorable and I agree with her that you don't have to be vulgar to get your point across.  
The plot wasn't particularly fast, but the writing and the characters and their dialogue was so engaging that it didn't even really matter.  The plot wasn't slow though either.  There was lots of stuff that was happening and all of it was awesome, but I wouldn't say that it's like Divergent or Legend in that something new is happening on every single page.  
I think that my favorite parts of this book were the writing and the dialogue between the characters, and I can't say that there was anything that I didn't like.  I would recommend this to anyone, I think that it's really a book that anyone could enjoy.

Thanks for reading!
Amber


Monday, April 14, 2014

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?



Welcome to It's Monday, What Are You Reading!  This is a weekly feature hosted by Book Journey in which you plan out your reading week, as well as let others know what you're currently reading!

This week I have finished two books:
                                                 
Landry Park 
By Bethany Hagen
Published: February 4, 2014
Pages: 374









The Here and Now
By Ann Brashares
Published: April 8, 2014
Pages: 288








I am currently reading:

Rebel Belle
By Rachel Hawkins
Published: April 8, 2014
Pages: 384
Currently On: Page 192








This week, I hope to read:


Adaptation
By Malinda Lo
Published: September 12, 2012
Pages: 400








Thanks for reading!
Amber

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

City of Fallen Angels



       Hey I'm back. You see I'm not dead. Funny story so I split chocolate milk on my laptop. So I finally figured out a way to write again.  So me and Mac had a conversation yesterday about how slow of a reader I am, and how I am never going to finish the Mortal Instruments in time for City of Heavenly Fire, and how she would stab me if I didn't finish City of Fallen Angels and one other TMI/TID book by the end of spring break. Well good news I finished it today, I feel so proud.

Summary- With spoiler

   Everything seems to fine at first. Clary and Jace can finally make out without the weird brother/sister atmosphere. Simon has girl problems. Alec and Magnus are on vacation. That until some one keeps murdering shadowhunter, everyone wants the daylighter with the Mark of Cain, and Jace  is having the weirdest dreams and is acting very depressed.
   Simon meets Vampire Camille, who is the head of the New York clan while instead of Raphel, who wants Simon on her side so she can claim her place as leader. Then he starts to get attacked by weird strangers. The Mark of Cain protecting him, he kills them all. Mostly turning them into grains of salt. Simon also haves some mommy issues when she finds the blood in his closet and starts to shun and ban him. So he crashes with new band mate Kyle, who really is a wearwolf and named Jordan, Mia's Ex, and did I mention that he had an afar with her and Izzy, also he turned his number one fan into a vampire. Well, on the night of Luke and Jocylin(I know I spelled that wrong) wearwolf party, he fallows Maureen to a place where they find the one who has been trying to kill him, Greater Demon Lilith, Adam's first wife.(If you don't know I suggest you read Genesis.) Putting up quite a fight to revive their sworn enemy, Sebastian, the real son of Valentine.  Using Clary as bait he manages to have him drink is blood. Once being saved by Jace, he joins the others in their current state of panic.
   Clary and Jace have more than relationship problems, they have a demon-going-in-your-head-becasue-you-died-and-were-reborn-problem-and-now-you-want-to-kill-your-girlfriend problems. Jace is having strange dreams about Clary and then killing her. Not telling Clary anything he quickly befriends Simon and Jordan. Suffering form emotional trauma he finally tells Clary everything, and together they head to the Silent City. At the party she meets Jace outside and he gives her a mysterious mark and then she passes out. She wakes up to find that Jace is now a mind-controlled slave of Lilth. Using the power of love and faith she brings Jace back and he fights Lilth. Using the help of the Mark of Cain., they both defeat her. but not kill Sebastien. Once the Clave comes Jace waits on the roof while everyone as Clary goes down stairs to see her mom. Sebastian is now alive and the mind-control runes fixes and Jace is now bound and a slave of Sebastien.

My Thoughts

   Yes that is how the story ends, cliff hanger. I was going to read Clockwork Prince but I'm jumping right in to City of Lost Souls. In my opinion this is book had a lot to do with Simon and the Mark of Cain.  Not that there is anything wring witht that. I was hoping for some serious Clace moments, which we did get, but not enough. They just found out that they are not brother and sister and I was hoping for some clace but not enough to satisfy my clace craving, and then he goes missing. So no clace in the COLS! Gahhhhhh!
   In other terms I like that she used real bible stories on her writing. Not that I'm being religious or my thing, it gives fit a good sense in real life. The Mark of Cain too.  Nice adaption are the key in a book like this, where there is a hidden world in our own.

  Well that's my review. Picture fond on Goodreads.


Grace














 

The Here and Now by Ann Brashares


The Here and Now
By Ann Brashares
Published: April 8, 2014
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Stand-Alone
Pages: 288

An unforgettable epic romantic thriller about a girl from the future who might be able to save the world . . . if she lets go of the one thing she’s found to hold on to.

Follow the rules. Remember what happened. Never fall in love.

This is the story of seventeen-year-old Prenna James, who immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Except Prenna didn’t come from a different country. She came from a different time—a future where a mosquito-borne illness has mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the world in ruins. 

Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must follow a strict set of rules: never reveal where they’re from, never interfere with history, and never, ever be intimate with anyone outside their community. Prenna does as she’s told, believing she can help prevent the plague that will one day ravage the earth. 

But everything changes when Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves. 

From Ann Brashares, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, The Here and Now is thrilling, exhilarating, haunting, and heartbreaking—and a must-read novel of the year.

*Novel provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

My Rating:  3 stars

My Thoughts:
Going into this book, I had very high hopes because Ann Brashares is the author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, which I have heard amazing things about.  Unfortunately, I think that though this book had the potential to be very good, it didn't quite live up to it.
I thought that the characters were wonderful.  All of them were relatable and their development was absolutely phenomenal, especially for such a short book.  My personal favorite of the characters was probably Andrew which may seem like kind of an odd choice for those of you that have read the books, but there were a few choices that Prenna and Ethan (the main character) made that I didn't necessarily agree with and I wasn't overly happy about.  Though of course I don't agree with the decisions that Andrew made, I found him to be a very fascinating character, with an interesting backstory and a lot of depth that you normally wouldn't expect from a character like him.
The plot was a part that lessened my enjoyment of this book, because I felt that there were several times when it dragged and there were unnecessary scenes that I ended up skimming over because I knew that they weren't relevant to the plot and I wouldn't get anything out of them so I didn't want to waste my time.  There were some interesting developments made, especially about a fourth of the way through and towards the end, which I enjoyed, but there were so few that they didn't really make a huge impact.
I also thought that though the idea was creative, the world-building was very shaky.  We hear a lot about how they have to fix the world now, so it doesn't end up like it was when they were in that time, but we don't really hear a lot about what the world was like then.  I think that that could've been incorporated in using flashbacks but unfortunately, authors don't take advice from me.  Also, Prenna writes these letters to a person named Julius all throughout the first half of the book and they are just sprinkled in in between chapters so you don't get any explanation about them.  I didn't know who Julius was until she told Ethan over three-fourths of the way through the book.  I wish that that had een explained early on so I could've enjoyed that more, because I didn't really feel anything for it, I didn't know what it was and I didn't really care.
Overall, I'd say this was a decent book.  I enjoyed the characters and writing, while I found the plot and world-building to be lacking.  I would recommend this to fans of contemporary and mystery books, because it felt like a mix of those two genres to me.  I wouldn't recommend those to hard-core time travel fans because it doesn't really focus that much on the actual traveling through time.

Thanks for reading!
Amber