Poison Review

Book: Poison
Author: Dejana Vuletic
Book One in the Keeper of Light Trilogy
Edition Read: PDF

Blurb: 

Dessa Ambrose - the normal girl-next-door who yearns for her life to attain meaning - meets the strangely alluring Christopher Calder, who holds the secrets of the past and the keys to all the doors Dessa wishes to open. As she spends more time with Chris, Dessa begins to realize that he isn't human - or at least not a normal one. His mysterious powers leave Dessa questioning the very foundation of the world she grew up in, and when Chris finally opens the door to Dessa's future, she finds herself reluctant to walk through it.

As a newly Awakened Keeper - a God in the form of a human with power to control one of the elements of nature - Dessa learns of her affinity for Light, but as she and her friends try to remember everything from their dark pasts, the evil they knew then has followed them to the present. But unfortunately for them, none of them can remember who that evil might be.

With that evil destroying the bonds that hold them so close to one another, wreaking destruction upon the world, and attempting to claim Dessa's life at every available turn, Dessa realizes that her true destiny can no longer be avoided.

When it all comes down to it, Dessa must either forfeit herself, her power, and her will to live, or she must give up the lives of the entire world - of those she sought to protect. Can she make the ultimate sacrifice? Or is she just as spineless as the enemy believes her to be?

My Review:

**3 Stars**

SPOILER ALERT

I was provided a copy of this book from the author for an honest review. 

MY OVERVIEW: Ok, I had a hard time deciding what to rate this book. I really enjoyed the concept of it, and most of the story, but I did have some issues with it. In the end I decided on 3 stars just because of some of the issues i had.

PROS: I really liked the background story and the concept. I love how the author took the elements and brought them to life in people. [SPOILER - I also really liked how darkness used to be part of light. It really makes a lot of sense. (end spoiler)] The characters were all really great and well written. I loved Dessa and Pa the best.

CONS: Ok, so I know that all of them have "lived" for a long long time, but I have some issues with things that happened. [SPOILER - So Dessa is what, 16? And yet everyone is sooo happy that she is pregnant. What? She is still in high school. That shouldn't be an automatic "yahoo!" And she shouldn't have gotten married that young either. (Don't get me wrong, I got married young, but not that young.) I would have thought that Ricky at least, would have had some issues with all this. (end spoiler)] There were also a few times where the story didn't flow that well, mainly when Dessa and Chris first met. I think one of the biggest problems I had was the kinda graphic rape scene. I don't think it was necessary to the story, and seemed really out of place.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: A refreshingly orignal story. I truly enjoyed the story and I really look forward to the next in the series.

Add to your Goodreads shelf.

The Lost Prince Review - ARC

Book: The Lost Prince
Author: Julie Kagawa
Book One in The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten Series
Expected Publication: October 23rd 2012
Edition Read: eGalley

Blurb:

Don't look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them. That is Ethan Chase's unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs-including his reputation-begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he'd dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister's world-the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

My Review:

**4.5 Stars**

I received an ARC of this book for an honest review from the publisher via NetGalley. 

MY OVERVIEW: Julie Kagawa does it again! She has created another fantastic series that will suck you in. I was hooked from the first page.

PROS: OMG! I want Razor! He is sooooo great. There are so many pros to this book that I just can't name them all. But I really did like how she integrated The Iron Fey series into this book. I have my suspicions as to who the new "big bad" is - IF - the character was introduced in the last series. All of the characters are written beautifully, but then who could argue when she brings back Grim and Puck!

CONS: I really didn't have too many cons for this book. I would have liked to have seen a little more of the Iron Realm and Ethan and Megan's relationship. Ethan was also a little annoying at some points with his "tough guy" attitude.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: I can't wait for the next book! This is going to be another great series!

Add to your Goodreads shelf.

Author Interview with Krystle Jones

Please welcome Krystle Jones. Krystle currently has two books out Veiled Innocence (The Soul Cycle Book 1) and The Scarlet Dagger (The Red Sector Chronicles Book 1) and will be releasing A White So Red and Dark Horizons (The Red Sector Chronicles Book 2) very soon.

I have included information about Krystle's great books after the interview. Please be sure to check them out!

Now for the interview...

1. Have you always wanted to be an author?
No, actually, although I've always written stories and have loved to read since I was little. It didn't really hit me until about 2 years ago that I would like to do this for a living.

2. Are there any authors who have influenced your writing?
I love anything by Richelle Mead. I have all her books. I'm also a big fan of Robin McKinley (a childhood favorite).

3. Who was your favorite character to write in Veiled Innocence and why?
Honestly, my favorite character in VI is Erebus, though he doesn't take on a larger role until Book 2. He's just kind of fun and sexy, and I find that really enticing about him, as a creator. Out of my viewpoint characters - Lian, Vishka, and Rowan - I would say Lian was the most fun for me to write because of her spunk and also her mental instability when she begins to think the visions are a sign she's going crazy.

4. Do you prefer to write with pen and paper or on a laptop/computer?
I prefer to do my notetaking/outlining with pen and paper, but I like to write my stories on my laptop.

5. What do you think makes a good story?
For me, it's anything that distracts me from real life. I don't necessarily read to be enlightened; I read for an escape. If it manages to take my mind off work/life for a few blissful hours, then it's done its job.

6. Is there a specific food or drink that you like to have handy while you are writing?
Dr. Pepper!

7. What can we expect to see in your new book A White So Red?
Action and adventure, definitely. Ghosts (sort of). Zombies. A handsome, flirtatious prince. Lots of twists and turns. An exiled princess who comes into her own to take out the wicked queen. Snow/Natalia is definitely a strong, kickass female.

8. Can you describe A White So Red in five words or less?
Exciting, dark, romantic, bittersweet, magical.

9. Coffee, tea, or neither?
Not a coffee drinker, but I love sweet tea. (The sweeter, the better. I am from the South. ;) )

10. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors out there?
Practice every day and read a lot. You can learn a great deal from reading people who are where you want to be. Use them not only for entertainment, but as study guides. If you really like the book, why? If not, why? Also pay attention to scene structure and the way other authors shape their plots. Why do some work and others don't.


Krystle Jones' Books:

      

Links:

The Scarlet Dagger:
Goodreads
Amazon

Dark Horizons:
Goodreads
**Coming Soon**

Veiled Innocence: 
Goodreads
Amazon

A White So Red:
Goodreads
**Coming Soon**

Girl of Nightmares Review

Book: Girl of Nightmares
Author: Kendare Blake
Book Two in the Anna Series
Published: August 7th 2012
Edition Read: Hardcover

Blurb:

It's been months since the ghost of Anna Korlov opened a door to Hell in her basement and disappeared into it, but ghost-hunter Cas Lowood can't move on.

His friends remind him that Anna sacrificed herself so that Cas could live - not walk around half dead. He knows they're right, but in Cas's eyes, no living girl he meets can compare to the dead girl he fell in love with.

Now he's seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he's asleep and sometimes in waking nightmares. But sometime is very wrong...these aren't just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.

Cas doesn't know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn't deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it's time for him to return the favor.

My Review:

**3.5 Stars**

MY OVERVIEW: Wow, this review is hard. I don't know where to even start. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the book, but I'm just not sure how I am going to review it. First, let me say that it is just as creepy as the first one.

PROS: I am so glad we got to meet Gideon. All I could picture when I read about him was Giles from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I lov Thomas and Carmel together. The only problem with their relationship is that if it was real life, with how petty high school is, Carmel would no longer be one of the most popular girls in school. It is unfortunate, but in most high schools, pettiness rules.

CONS: I don't remember there being so much language in the last book. There was quite a bit in this one, and even though it was put in the appropriate parts, it seemed out of place. Cas got annoying sometimes. He kept wondering why Gideon and his mom wouldn't believe him and kept telling him to "leave it alone", but he wouldn't give them all the information. He wasn't telling them everything that kept happening to him.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Good book, but not as good as the first in the series. One that you shouldn't read before bed because of the creep factor. (Of course, I didn't pay attention to my own advice and finished the book late at night.) : )

Add to your Goodreads shelf.

Reaping Me Softly Cover Reveal

Ok, so I am so excited to be apart of the cover reveal for Reaping Me Softly by Kate Evangelista and I want to thank AToMR Tours for setting this reveal up.

So... now for the cover...

Ta-da! Isn't it soooo pretty!?!?!?!

About Reaping Me Softly: 

Ever since a near-death-experience on the operating table, seventeen-year-old Arianne Wilson can see dead people. Just as she's learned to accept her new-found talents, she discovers that the boy she's had a crush on since freshman year, Niko Clark, is a Reaper. 

At last they have sometime in common, but that doesn't mean life is getting any easier. All while facing merciless bullying from the most powerful girl in school, Arianne's world is turned upside down after Niko accidentally reaps the soul of someone she loves. This sends them both into a spiral that threatens to end Arianne's life. But will Niko break his own Reaper's code to save her? And what would the consequences be if he did?

Expected Publication: October 30th 2012

Publisher: Omnific Publishing

Add to your Goodreads shelf.

Prowl Trilogy Blog Tour ~ Prowl Review

Hi Everyone! Welcome to my stop on the Prowl Trilogy Blog Tour. Today, I am featuring my review for Prowl along with more information on this fantastic book. Please be sure to check out the other blogs on this tour for interviews, giveaways, and more.  (Tour Schedule)

Seventeen-year-old Mackenzie Smith is sent away to spend a boring summer at her grandma's. But then she meets Wesley. He tells her exactly what she wants to hear and has information about her past that no one else knows. It's almost like he can read her mind. 

Only Wesley isn't who he seems. 

By the time Mackenzie discovers his true identity it may be too late. She's in too deep and he won't let her go. Now Mackenzie must call on the strongest power of all in order to save her life. 

My Review: 

**4 Stars**

MY OVERVIEW: Wow. This is a book I wish I had when I was going through a rough spot in Jr. High. The books brings spiritual warfare to life. I have only ever heard it/read it in the metaphorical sense, but reading it in the physical sense makes it really hit home. 

PROS: Kenzie was an amazing character. I felt her pain and happiness right along with her. She was written in a way that would make a lot of people associate with her very well. The struggles she goes through are struggles that a lot of teens go through. 

CONS: Um, I'm not sure how I feel about Isaac. Don't get me wrong, he is a great character. I'm just not sure he was as believable as he could have been. I don't see a real-life Isaac actually dating Kenzie. I do see him falling for her, but keeping his distance in a way, while he tries to bring her to God.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: A really great read and one that really makes you sit back and think. I will be reading the rest in the series. 

Add Prowl to your Goodreads shelf.

Purchase on Amazon.com.

Paranormalcy Review

Book: Paranormalcy
Author: Kiersten White
Book One in the Paranormalcy Trilogy
Publication Date: August 31st 2010
Edition Read: Hardcover

Blurb:

Evie's always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through paranormal's glamours.

But Evie's about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

My Review: 

SPOILER ALERT

**3.5 Stars**

MY OVERVIEW: It was hard to decide on a rating for this book. It kept bouncing around through the whole thing. At some points I would think "Oh, this is going to be a 4 star for sure", then something would happen to drop it down again.

PROS: The whole premise to the story was great. It was perfectly set up, and I can't wait to see more of it in the next book. I really liked how the author gave all the paranormals glamours. And I also really liked how she did the vampires. Because, yeah... they are dead and would be rotting corpses like how we see zombies.

All the characters were great too. Of course, I really liked Lish. [SPOILER - I cried when she died. I had really hoped that Evie was going to be able to return the souls to their bodies at the end. - END SPOILER]

CONS: The bleeps got really annoying. I know why they were in there and I liked the constant nod to Lis, but they really did get annoying. Even though I liked all the characters Evie got on my nerves sometimes. She had all this information that she really should have passed along to David at least. If she had, it probably would have ended differently for everyone. Which, may or may not have been a good thing.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Overall good book. I will be reading the rest in the series, even though I think it could be a good stand-alone book.

Add to your Goodreads shelf.

Veiled Innocence Review

Book: Veiled Innocence

Author: Krystle Jones

Book One in The Soul Cycle Series

Publication Date: 2nd Edition ~ August 19th 2012

Edition Read: Kindle

Goodreads Blurb:

Sometimes your greatest battles are fought from within. 

Lianora has never placed much stock in the gods or in the lore of the land. She especially never believed the legends that spoke of a lost ancient magic, a magic woven from the fabric of people's souls. So when she discovers the teardrop necklace, she thinks it to be nothing special - until the visions begin, horrific glimpses of an approaching evil, mingled with fragments of a legendary empress' shattered past. 

Try as she might, Lianora cannot ignore the omens. As the visions worsen, she finds herself internally battling a shadowy voice that seems bent on consuming her whole. When tragedy strikes her home, she is forced to flee and team up with Vishka, a beautiful, fierce warrior shrouded in mystery, and Rowan, a brooding young knight. Together, the reluctant allies must find a way to conquer the darkness threatening to overtake the land of Eresea, and Lianora will have to come to terms with the destiny she never asked for. 

With gripping action, forbidden romance, and magical intrigue at every page, Veiled Innocence is the first installment in a epic fantasy saga that will leave readers on the edges of their seats begging for more. 

My Review: 

**4 Stars**

MY OVERVIEW: First, I would like to thank Krystle for providing a copy for me to review. Ok, now onto the review… It is actually kind-of hard for me to wrap my head around a review for this book. There was so much in it!

PROS: Ok, team Rowan! I really like his character. He has been through a lot and it has made him a better person. He doesn’t just take someone’s word, but is skeptical until he figures it out himself. All of the characters were written perfectly. The setting was also great. I love all the names created for everything. 

CONS: The book was a little slow in some parts, but honestly that may be just me. I have a harder time reading long books on the Kindle. It takes me a while to get through them. I think one of the things I wish was that we (as the reader) knew more of what was going on. I know that we are supposed to learn everything with Lian, but I wish we just knew a little bit more than her, that way we could yell at her when she is being stupid and blind. : ) (Yes, I love to yell at the characters in books). 

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: A good read. It really sucked me in from the first chapter. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. 

Add to your Goodreads shelf.

My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century Review (ARC)

Book: My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century
Author: Rachel Harris
Book One in the My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century Series
Publication Date: September 11th 2012
Edition Read: eGalley 

Goodreads Blurb:

On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family's trip to Florence, Italy is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all its offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze. 

Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore.

Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?

My Review: 

**3.5 Stars**

I received a copy of this book for an honest review from the publisher via NetGalley.

MY OVERVIEW: An interesting time travel book. There was a lot about this book that I liked, and some things that I didn’t. I really wish the main character had been more likeable. You didn’t sympathize with her as much as you should have.

PROS: I really liked Alessandra. Her character was fantastic. I also loved the setting. The author really made some of the differences between what we think of when we hear sixteenth century Florence vs what it was probably like. We don’t think of arranged marriages and women needing chaperones everywhere they went. The setting was perfect!

CONS: Unfortunately, my biggest con was Cat. I just didn’t connect with her. Part of me was thinking “oh get over yourself – you are rich, so what do you care” but then the other part of me was seeing another side of “rich and famous”. It was just frustrating when you have a character who can afford all this stuff and saying “no, I don’t want that.” When there are plenty of people out there who can’t afford it and would love to live even one day in her shoes. 

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Overall, very interesting story. Not the best I have read, but not the worst either. The author ended the book where I will be reading the next one to see what happens. 

Add to your Goodreads shelf.

Taste Review

Book: Taste
Author: Kate Evangelista
Publication Date: April 29th 2012
Edition Read: Kindle

Goodreads Blurb: 

At Barinkoff Academy, there's only one rule: no students on campus after curfew. Phoenix McKay soon finds out why when she is left behind at sunset. A group calling themselves night students threaten to taste her flesh until she is saved by a mysterious, alluring boy. With his pale skin, dark eyes, and mesmerizing voice, Demitri is both irresistible and impenetrable. He warns her to stay away from his dangerous world of flesh eaters. Unfortunately, the gorgeous and playful Luka has other plans. 

When Phoenix is caught between her physical and her emotional attraction, she becomes the keeper of a deadly secret that will rock the foundations of an ancient civilization living beneath Barinkoff Academy. Phoenix doesn't realize until it is too late that the closer she gets to both Demitir and Luka the more she is plunging them all into a centuries old feud. 

My Review: 

**4 Stars**

I received this book from the author, through a read-to-recap program on Goodreads.com, for an honest review.

MY OVERVIEW: Zombies!!!!! Well, kind-of. I really enjoyed this twist on zombies. At first I was nervous that this would be another Twilight where the author takes a monster and spits in the face of what that monster is supposed to be like…. BUT this author did not do that. There was a lot of “history” and back up as to why the zombies were different than normal. I really enjoyed that. 

PROS: Ok, I do have to say that while Phoenix did get on my nerves a lot, mainly because she had no regard for her own life, she does grow on you. I the personal journey she took throughout the book. Especially how her intentions may have been selfish at the beginning of her journey – they truly turned into selfless by trying to help the Zhamvy people (and some selfish in there when it came to Demitri). Oh, and I love, love, loved Yana! She was fantastic. I just wish there was more of her in the book.

CONS: While Phoenix is one of my Pros, she is also my biggest con. She is very much a spoiled entitled brat who has no regard for anyone but herself at the beginning of the book. Actually, she doesn’t even care about herself. I also didn’t like Preya, or Phoenix’s friendship with her. 

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Wait… what? That is the ending? What about the Zhamvy people? Are they all ok, or going to be? Is Yana ok – what is she doing? The author does leave some things unanswered, but then, I almost prefer it that way. It lets you fill in the small blanks how you want. Overall – good read. One I would recommend.

Add to your Goodreads shelf.

Waiting on Wednesdays - Ironskin

Waiting on Wednesdays is a weekly book meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. Here I get to share with you some of the books that I am anxiously awaiting to be published. 

This week's WoW is Ironskin by Tina Connolly.

Jane Eliot wears an iron mask. 

It's the only way to contain the fey curse that scars her cheek. The Great War is five years gone, but its scattered victims remain-the ironskin. 

When a carefully worded listing appears for a governess to assist with a "delicate situation"-a child born during the Great War- Jane is certain the child is fey-cursed, and that she can help. 

Teaching the unruly Dorie to suppress her curse is hard enough; she certainly didn't expect to fall for the girl's father, the enigmatic artist Edward Rochart. But her blossoming crush is stifled by her own scars, and by his parade of women. Ugly women, who enter his closed studio...and come out as beautiful as the fey. 

Jane knows Rochart cannot love her, just as she knows that she must wear iron for the rest of her life. But what if neither of these things is true? Step by step Jane unlocks the secrets of her new life-and discovers just how far she will go to become whole again. 

Expected Publication: October 2nd 2012

Book One (1) in the Ironskin Series

Add to your Goodreads shelf.

Teaser Tuesdays - Veiled Innocence

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do the following: 

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• Be careful not to include spoilers! (Make sure what you share doesn't give away too much! You don't want to ruin the book for others.)
• Share the title & author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser.

This week's teaser comes from Veiled Innocence  by Krystle Jones.

"The pressure of her emotions built up, but they never erupted into tears. Her eyes were frozen wide, staring at the blood staining the parts of her dress that were pressed in the growing puddle."

Add Veiled Innocence to your Goodreads shelf.

About Crewel

Crewel
Gennifer Albin
Expected Publication Date: October 16, 2012
Book One in the Crewel World Series

Incapable. Awkward. Artless.

That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail.

Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested.

Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight.

Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.

Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back.

Check it out on Goodreads.

Preorder your copy on Amazon today!