The Forgotten Ones Book Blitz + Excerpt + Giveaway


Guys.You need to read the excerpt. It's. too. cute. I can't- *faints*  

The Forgotten Ones (The Danaan Trilogy #1)
by Laura Howard
Kindle Edition, 197 pages
Published April 28th 2013 by Amazon Digital Services
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Allison O'Malley's plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she's been in love with for as long as she can remember.

What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison's mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn't trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother's sanity.

Excerpt

Ethan paused just inside his bedroom door and turned to look at me. His face was scrunched in concern. “What is it, Al?”

“Nothing. I was just thinking about something Rachel said to my cousin the other day.”

He waited for a moment. “Are you going to tell me what it was?” he asked.

“Um, no. I don’t think I will,” I whispered. I tried to keep my voice from cracking as he moved closer to me.

“Well,” he said, his gaze moving down to my lips. “How am I supposed to make you feel better if you don’t tell me what upset you?”

I inhaled sharply as he kept moving forward. I took two steps backward before I bumped into the wall.

“She might have said something about you only being interested in me because I’m no-man’s land,” I managed to squeak out.

Ethan chuckled, and I could feel it vibrate through me. “No-man’s land, huh?”

“That’s right. And she said I’m probably a lesbian, anyway.”

His face was inches from mine now.

“You’re not a lesbian, are you, Al?” he teased, trying to meet my eyes.

“I don’t really have much to base my opinion on,” I said, the words just barely audible above the beating of my heart. “I’ll have to get back to you on that.”

“For the sake of your own peace of mind,” he whispered, leaning in so that I could feel his breath on my lips. “I’d be willing to help you figure it out.”

My pulse spiked, and I willed it to slow down so that I could form a witty reply. But, he didn’t give me a chance. His lips just brushed against mine, soft as a feather. He brought his hands up and cradled the back of my head. So gentle. His lips moved against mine—not taking, only asking.

His fingertips trailed down my arm and made me shiver. I pulled back, needing to breath. He didn’t let go of me though.

“We should go back outside, before we ruin this by fighting.” His smile was genuine, if the slightest bit wistful.

I blushed. Yeah, he was probably right.

About the Author

Laura Howard lives in New Hampshire with her husband and four children. Her obsession with books began at the age of 6 when she got her first library card. Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High and other gi
rly novels were routinely devoured in single sittings. Books took a backseat to diapers when she had her first child. It wasn’t until the release of a little novel called Twilight, 8 years later, that she rediscovered her love of fiction. Soon after, her own characters began to make themselves known. The Forgotten Ones is her first published novel.


Giveaway:

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Book Review: Finding Cinderella

Finding Cinderella (Hopeless #2.5)
by Colleen Hoover
ebook, 105 pages
Published October 14th 2013 by Atria Books
Source: Amazon (freebie)
This novella is a companion novel to the Hopeless series, but can be read as a standalone.

A chance encounter in the dark leads eighteen-year-old Daniel and the girl who stumbles across him to profess their love for each other. But this love comes with conditions: they agree it will only last one hour and it will only be make-believe.

When their hour is up and the girl rushes off like Cinderella, Daniel tries to convince himself that what happened between them only seemed perfect because they were pretending it was perfect. Moments like that with girls like her don’t happen outside of fairytales.

One year and one bad relationship later, his disbelief in insta-love is stripped away the day he meets Six: a girl with a strange name and an even stranger personality. Daniel soon realizes the way he pretended to feel about Cinderella and the way he really feels about Six may not be so different after all. Especially when the two loves of his life end up being one in the same.

Unfortunately for Daniel, finding Cinderella doesn’t guarantee their happily ever after…it only further threatens it.

Finding Cinderella is a companion novella to the Hopeless duology that focuses on the story of Holder's and Sky's bestfriends, Daniel and Six. I haven't read the books yet so I have no knowledge about these characters' backgrounds. But what encouraged me to read this, apart from it being free, is that it comes so highly recommended by peers and even has an average rating of 4.6 with over 7,000 ratings in Goodreads. It's probably one of the most highly-rated books I've seen in GR, which means that I was also all the more wary about it since me and popular, well-loved books don't always go well together.

I didn't fall head over heels in love with Finding Cinderella but I had lots of fun reading it. Daniel and Six are both funny characters. They are so much alike in their personalities and I loved that they are also bestfriends as much as they are a couple. They are like the opposite gender of the other. Both are overly flirty, smooth talkers and they're so solid together that Six doesn't get mad when Daniel calls her a slut. She calls him douchebag or asshole in return. This was enough to scandalize me at first really, but that's how their playful banters are always like.

Daniel also has a very supportive family that likes to humiliate him. I almost laughed out loud when they made masturbation jokes in front of Six when he first brought her to his house. They are also infamous for playing reverse psychology on him. Additionally, I enjoyed reading about Daniel and Holder's relationship as best friends. I love it when boys display pretty bromance so I'm glad that Colleen incorporated one in the book. I just wish there were more (platonic) "I love you's" between them in the story.

However, much as I had fun reading Finding Cinderella, there were quite a few issues about this that I found difficult to get over with - the main one being, wait for it... insta-romance! *Cue deflated groans* When Daniel was first introduced to Six, he already wanted to put her spoon in his mouth - that's literal, by the way - and he couldn't stop narrating how spectacular she is. Six's name was also a bit distracting for me, like a phantom itch I can't scratch. I have nothing against all the Six in the world and this is the first time a fictional character's name bothered me so much. I don't know why, but it does, so please spare me. Another issue of mine is that moment when Six first stumbled into Daniel in the room and she was crying. I really don't know what she was crying about and Colleen didn't explain it any further. I thought I was going to get a proper one as the story progressed because I was really intrigued, but sadly, I didn't get any.

With only a little over a hundred pages, Colleen did a fantastic job interweaving Six and Daniel's story together. The romance might have developed a little too fast for my taste but compared to other full-length novels with speedy romantic progress, I say that Colleen did it better. This is focused more on the romance, but I'm glad that Colleen didn't forget to incorporate a plot, covering almost all the aspects a normal-length book has. It is well-paced as far as novellas go with a jaw-dropping shocker near the end.

I enjoyed Colleen's Slammed and Finding Cinderella reminded me so much of it. The tone used in this novella is reminiscent of Slammed's. And while it's probably one of the reasons why I enjoyed this, I'm afraid that this also made Finding Cinderella a forgettable read for me.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Waiting on Wednesday (39): Proxy

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine.

My WoW:

Proxy (Avalon #0.5)
by Mindee Arnett
ebook, 90 pages
Expected publication: December 3rd 2013 by Balzer + Bray
Proxy is an action-packed introduction to a world like nothing readers have seen before, and it sets a spark to the powder keg that will explode in Mindee Arnett's sci-fi thriller Avalon.

If you need something stolen from any star system in the Confederation, you need look no further than the Shades. Jeth Seagrave and his band of teenage mercenaries have been making a name for themselves for being able to steal anything—and for disappearing before anyone is the wiser. Their latest job, a jewel heist on Grakkus, should be no different. But when Jeth's boss replaces a key member of his crew just before takeoff, and Jeth discovers a betrayal within his own ranks, he begins to suspect that not everyone is going to be coming back from his job alive.

I featured Avalon, the first book in the series, on my WoW last week. I still haven't read it yet despite acquiring an ARC weeks ago, but nonetheless I am already going gaga over this series! I just want Proxy to be released so I can finally devour Avalon!

[Blog Tour] Review: Snowed Over + Giveaway



Snowed Over
by Angie Stanton
Kindle Edition, 126 pages
Published October 12th 2012 by Vanguard Management, Inc.
Source: AToMR (Blog Tour host)
Purchase here: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
To college student, Katie Brandt, ‘Home for the Holidays’ sounds like hell. When her parents separated, their holiday traditions shattered like a dropped ornament. What could be worse than celebrating Christmas with her suddenly single mom and mom’s new boyfriend?

Alex Walker, an engaged 20-year-old, dreads going home for his own reasons. He has a daunting task ahead of him and wishes he could skip the holidays altogether. So when a friend of a friend needs a ride north, Alex finds that having beautiful Katie seated by his side proves to be just the distraction he needs.

A simple ride home for Christmas turns into a nightmare when light snow rages into a full-scale blizzard. Katie and Alex find themselves stranded, and a vacant cabin becomes a haven from the storm. Under different circumstances, time alone with Alex would be the ultimate Christmas gift, but Katie knows Alex is engaged and she must hide her growing attraction.

However, Alex harbors a secret that just might change this holiday from the worst Christmas ever, to the best.

Snowed Over is the sort of short story that everyone would enjoy more if read in a more appropriate environment. Like for example on a cold Christmas night while sitting near the hearth, wrapped in a comfortable blanket with a hot chocolate on hand. Honestly, I was almost guilty for reading this without the aforementioned non-requirements! But that aside, Snowed Over is a feel-good short story and no type of surrounding could have stopped all the grins that kept creeping up to my face on the entire course of my reading this.

Snowed Over, though leans more on the romantic aspect, also tackles familial relationships albeit underdeveloped. I like that Angie incorporated backdrops of Alex and Katie's families. Katie's parents are facing divorce and she has been having a hard time accepting that fact as well as the fact that her mother is currently dating Not a Boyfriend. Alex has things easier with his family with a fun and supportive younger brother, and parents who both seemed caring. His relationship with his family is tight. The only downside in his life is his current fiance, Trina, whom he has been trying to break up with but to no avail.

Katie is a very rational character and I love that about her. I notice in most books that characters tend to abandon logic when faced with possible hot makeout session so I admire Katie because despite being attracted to Alex, she didn't set aside the fact that he is engaged to another girl and actually calls him out for kissing her. She doesn't only know, but she also acknowledges that no one deserves to be cheated on, even if that person is the ultimate bitch fiancee. I only wish she was consistent on this train of thought.

Alex, on the other hand, despite kissing another girl even when he's about to be married, is not entirely an asshole. He's actually an incredibly nice guy who was forced to be committed into a difficult relationship with a manipulative girl. And I was ultimately pleased by how he handled things with Trina toward the end. It was harsh, but even I couldn't see a better way to do things the way he did.

As a short story, I feel like there are a couple of points that Angie did not cover. Moreover, some parts also lacked in depth descriptions that could have given the important scenes more impact. But ironically, I'm also grateful for that because I have only ever pegged this to be a soul-soothing novella and I don't think it could have managed that had Angie included way too much drama.

If you're into cute and romantic reads, Snowed Over is the perfect novella for you. It has chocolates, wine, mice droppings, and, dude, SNOW! 

Rating: 4/5 stars!

Disclosure: A copy was provided by AToMR as part of the Snowed Over Blog Tour for review purposes only. No compensation of any kind was received for this review and my opinions are all honest and mine.

Giveaway

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About the Author


Angie Stanton never planned on writing books, she wanted to be a Rockette. However, growing up in a rural setting with her brothers' 4-H pigs as pets, dance didn't work out. Instead she became an avid daydreamer. After years of perfecting stories in her head she began to write them down and the rest is history.

She loves dipping french fries in chocolate shakes, natural disaster movies and Broadway Musicals. When not writing, Angie is concocting ways to make more dreams come true, whether it be tickets to a Broadway show or convincing her family they should rent an RV and travel the country. She's still working on that one.

Angie is a proud double finalist of the 2011 National Readers Choice Awards for Love 'em or Leave 'em, as well as a finalist for the Golden Quill Awards.



To see other stops on the tour for reviews, guest posts, and excerpts click here or the tour button below.


Stacking the Shelves (17)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly bookish meme hosted at Tynga's Reviews.

So. National Book Store's warehouse sale. Can you believe that these books cost 630PHP (15 USD)?


Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater
Teeth (Anthology) by various authors
Supernaturally by Kiersten White
Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma
The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg
Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan

There were tons of good titles available but most are sequels without the series starters on sight. I refrained from buying more because my budget was oh-so limited - just 1000PHP (24 USD) - due to the recent events here in the Philippines and I only bought the titles I'm sure I'm going to read. But I had $9 more to spend so I asked a friend to buy me some since I went there on Sunday and I couldn't go back on Monday or Tuesday because of school. Will post the other books once I get them from her.

Waiting on Wednesday (38): Avalon

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine.


Avalon (Avalon #1)
by Mindee Arnett
Hardcover, 432 pages
Expected publication: January 21st 2014 by Balzer & Bray
A ragtag group of teenage mercenaries who crew the spaceship Avalon stumble upon a conspiracy that could threaten the entire galaxy in this fascinating and fast-paced sci-fi adventure from author Mindee Arnett.

Of the various star systems that make up the Confederation, most lie thousands of light-years from First Earth-and out here, no one is free. The agencies that govern the Confederation are as corrupt as the crime bosses who patrol it, and power is held by anyone with enough greed and ruthlessness to claim it. That power is derived from one thing: metatech, the devices that allow people to travel great distances faster than the speed of light.

Jeth Seagrave and his crew of teenage mercenaries have survived in this world by stealing unsecured metatech, and they're damn good at it. Jeth doesn't care about the politics or the law; all he cares about is earning enough money to buy back his parents' ship, Avalon, from his crime-boss employer and getting himself and his sister, Lizzie, the heck out of Dodge. But when Jeth finds himself in possession of information that both the crime bosses and the government are willing to kill for, he is going to have to ask himself how far he'll go to get the freedom he's wanted for so long.

Avalon is the perfect fit for teens new to sci-fi as well as seasoned sci-fi readers looking for more books in the YA space-and a great match for fans of Joss Whedon's cult hit show Firefly.

A friend is gushing about Avalon and I can't help but be excited for it too! I already have an ARC of this (much thanks to Harper and Edelweiss) but I need to read a few more books first before I get around to this.

Book Review: The Indigo Spell (Re-read)


by Richelle Mead
Hardcover, 401 pages
Published February 12th 2013 by Razorbill
Source: Purchased

Summary:
In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, the Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive—this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone’s out for blood.

I first read The Indigo Spell a day after its release but I re-read it in preparation for the upcoming release of The Fiery Heart.

Review:

You have no idea just how much I’m in love with this series. I have always been little biased with its little imperfections. It was always so easy to overlook the flaws in the books because I was doe-eyed for the Sydney and Adrian tandem. Sydrian is like my ultimate couple crush. They are the total opposite of one another but they are so cute and so perfect and their banters are always to die for!

Since the first book, I had always been Sydrian-centered and didn’t care too much about the plot. In The Indigo Spell, it was really hard for me to keep a blind eye on the flaws no matter how much I tried not to dwell on them. I tried to focus on my favorite couple like I always do. However, I found it difficult to do just that because the problem does not only lie on the plot, but Sydrian itself. It pains me to admit that I am disappointed with how things went in The Indigo Spell. Maybe I daydreamed too much about TIS. Since after reading The Golden Lily, I would daydream about what might happen on TIS that I’ve developed a fantasy plot that, well, suited my fantasy more than TIS did. Maybe it’s also because I read too much fanfictions and gushed too much with other Bloodlines-obsessed fans, but nevertheless, The Indigo Spell didn’t quite reach my level of expectation.

My primary issue about The Indigo Spell is how fast Sydney and Adrian’s relationship developed. I know it’s ironic that my most anticipated event in Bloodlines is now my biggest issue. Moreover, it has taken two books before “it” happened so it shouldn’t be considered a speedy development at all. However the events leading up to it in this book could have been executed much better. I was also a little disappointed with Marcus. I expected him to have a huge role but he came and went too fast. Plot-wise though, The Indigo Spell is very well-paced for the most part. I think the last few chapters were a little abrupt but I’m okay with what happened there, especially the ending! Oh, I am more than okay with the ending. I think the plot is also an improvement from the previous books though some parts are still messy. It was predictable and unpredictable both at the same time. Richelle will lead you to think of the answer to the mystery which you’re probably going to be right about at first because the answer will be staring right at your face, but then she’d pull some tricks that are so unpredictable it will ultimately make you speechless.

As far as sequels go, TIS is still a delightful read with lots of kisses and if anything, rereading this only made me more obsessed about the series. I’m as excited as ever to read The Fiery Heart and see what Richelle has in store for her readers.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Stacking the Shelves (16) + Authors for the Philippines

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly bookish memes hosted at Tynga's Reviews.

So very excited for these two titles. They both sound right up my alley and I just love those covers! But why are they both facing that way?


Witch Finder by Ruth Warburton (Expected Pub: Jan 2nd 2014 by Hodder Children's Books)
My Name is Rapunzel by K.C. Hilton (Expected Pub: Dec 1st 2013)

Thanks to NetGalley, K.C. Hilton and Chyna over at Lite-Rate-Ture for hosting the My Name is Rapunzel blog tour.


National Book Store's warehouse sale is still ongoing with up to 80% discount on books. I've seen some titles on sale and I can't even begin to tell you how super excited I am for tomorrow. A friend of mine hauled 7 books (4 hardcovers and 3 paperbacks) for $16! I got 4 hardcovers for under $8 last year and I was really hoping to go all out on shopping this year. 

However, in the light of the current situation here in the Philippines with thousands of families affected because of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), my sister and I decided to donate part of our savings to Red Cross Philippines instead. We just left some so we can still buy a few books. We're going to the House of Representatives tomorrow also to lend our hand in the repacking of relief goods. There are thousands of boxes of canned goods, noodles and other goods stashed in the HoR but they cannot be sent to the typhoon victims yet because they lack manpower for repacking. To the people in the Philippines, I hope those of you who live near relief warehouses would also lend their hands to make the operations much faster. Even if you've already donated, please consider volunteering as well. No matter how many goods or how much money you donate, those will not reach the victims if we lack people to do the job.

On another note, these awesome bookish people are auctioning their books, swag, critiques, etc., and all proceeds will go to Red Cross for the victims of the typhoon. You can bid for your favorite items here.

As well, I would like to thank everyone of you who helped my people. Even if my area was spared from the typhoon, the amount of love we receive from you is still so overwhelming. You are the best foreigners in the world!

Gratitude Giveaway Hop


It's that time of the year again! This is the 4th year of the Gratitude Giveaway Hop. I think I joined this two years ago. Anyhow, it has been so long since I joined a giveaway hop so I decided to finally join this one as a form of gratitude to all of you who contributed/will contribute to my blog.

What's up for grabs?


A book for your choice from The Book Depository or Amazon up to $15

Giveaway

Details
- Giveaway is open to EVERYONE as long as Book Depository or Amazon ships to you.
- Contest ends on November 30, 2013
- Winner will be contacted via email and will be given 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen.
- I will be purchasing the book for the winner, however I will not be responsible for items lost in the mail.

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Over 200 blogs are participating in this giveaway hop. You can check them all out here.

FOR REAL Release Day Blitz + Review + Teasers + Giveaway


Hey all! Today is the release day of For Real! It's available for 0.99c for a LIMITED TIME ONLY so go download your copy while it's hot! ;)

by Chelsea Cameron
Published November 14th 2013
Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Two people. One fake relationship. What could go wrong?

When virgin Shannon Travers gets fed up with her friends demanding that she find a boyfriend, she enlists the help of tattooed, mohawk-rocking graphic design student Jett. He’s more than happy to play along with their Fake Relationship, including the Ten Rules of Fake Dating that control-freak Shannon comes up with. Even if he likes to violate them. Repeatedly.

But what happens when Fake Dating starts to feel… not fake anymore? Will Shannon be willing to let go and embrace the first thing in her life that’s ever felt REAL?

Review:

Shannon is the type of character who's not just uncomfortable being intimate with guys, she is disgusted by them. Remember when we were kids and we were dead scared of cooties? Shannon is twenty-one and she's still acts like that. But then she meets Jett. Jett who looks like your classic bad boy with tattoo-covered body. Jett who's not really a bad boy but an all-too nice guy and a very respectful one at that.

I don't think I have met a character like Shannon, ever. She has nothing against the male species and she has flirted with guys before. It's just that when she becomes intimate with guys, the "disgusting" stuff about being with them becomes magnified. Like having another tongue exploring your mouth? Imagine the germs! Yuck. Hairy man-legs? Double yuck. I found her odd at first but she gradually grew on me as the story progressed and I can see now how this really happens in real life. She is a fun character who's a control freak and one that is relatable at times. I enjoyed her relationship with Jett very much. He is very supportive of her and he can "sexify" everything Shannon thought disgusting about being intimate with guys. 

Even though For Real is under the New Adult category and the themes are more mature than I'm used to, I'm glad that this doesn't have steamy scenes in every page. It has just the right amount of sexual tension and I love that Jett's hotness is not always the topic of Shannon's POV. For Real is not without flaws, though. It contains a few plot devices that the book can do without and I found some scenes theatrical. I also think the characters had it way too easy, but still, I truly had fun reading this.

If you're looking for heavy drama, this is not the book for you. Cameron's For Real is a very light read that you can breeze through in just one seat. The concept of a virgin girl hiring a tattoo-covered hot guy to pretend to be her boyfriend is not something we're all unfamiliar about. But in For Real, I really enjoyed Cameron's alterations to the classic concept. I don't know how many pages this has as my copy has no pages and it's not indicated in the goodreads page, but if I were to estimate it, I say it's around 200 pages. I don't normally end up liking books as short as that but this book really worked out for me. 

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Disclosure: This ARC was received from InkSlinger PR as part of blog tour for free in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was  received for this review.

Teasers



About the Author



Chelsea M. Cameron is a YA/NA New York Times/USA Today Best Selling author from Maine. Lover of things random and ridiculous, Jane Austen/Charlotte and Emily Bronte Fangirl, red velvet cake enthusiast, obsessive tea drinker, vegetarian, former cheerleader and world's worst video gamer. When not writing, she enjoys watching infomercials, singing in the car and tweeting (this one time, she was t

weeted by Neil Gaiman). She has a degree in journalism from the University of Maine, Orono that she promptly abandoned to write about the people in her own head. More often than not, these people turn out to be just as weird as she is.

Her New Adult Contemporary Romance titles include My Favorite Mistake, which has been bought by Harlequin along with a sequel, My Sweetest Escape (January 28, 2014), Deeper We Fall and Faster We Burn and For Real (November 14, 2013) and the novella, Christmas Catch (November 1, 2014).

Her Young Adult books include Nocturnal, Nightmare, Neither, and Neverend, the first three books in The Noctalis Chronicles and Whisper, the first in The Whisper Trilogy. The second and third books in the series, Silence and Listen, will be out in 2014.

Her Adult Contemporary Romance titles include Sweet Surrendering, and coming soon, Dark Surrendering.

Goodreads | Website | Twitter

Giveaway

For US only!

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Waiting on Wednesday (37): These Broken Stars

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine

My WoW:

These Broken Stars (Starbound #1)
by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
Hardcover, 384 pages
Expected publication: December 10th 2013 by Disney Hyperion

It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone.

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help.

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.

--

A timeless love story, THESE BROKEN STARS sets into motion a sweeping science fiction series of companion novels. The Starbound Trilogy: Three worlds. Three love stories. One enemy.
Ah, sci-fi's and their series of companion novels. I can definitely get used to them. I enjoyed Diana Peterfreund's For Darkness Shows the Stars series which is also sci-fi and contains companion novels. These Broken Stars is giving off the FDStS vibes. It doesn't help that I only hear rave reviews about this so I absolutely cannot wait for it!

Book Review: The Naturals

The Naturals
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Hardcover, 304 pages
Published November 5th 2013 by Disney-Hyperion
Source: ARC from Disney-Hyperion via NetGalley
Seventeen-year-old Cassie is a natural at reading people. Piecing together the tiniest details, she can tell you who you are and what you want. But it’s not a skill that she’s ever taken seriously. That is, until the FBI come knocking: they’ve begun a classified program that uses exceptional teenagers to crack infamous cold cases, and they need Cassie.

What Cassie doesn’t realize is that there’s more at risk than a few unsolved homicides— especially when she’s sent to live with a group of teens whose gifts are as unusual as her own.

Sarcastic, privileged Michael has a knack for reading emotions, which he uses to get inside Cassie’s head—and under her skin. Brooding Dean shares Cassie’s gift for profiling, but keeps her at arm’s length.

Soon, it becomes clear that no one in the Naturals program is what they seem. And when a new killer strikes, danger looms closer than Cassie could ever have imagined. Caught in a lethal game of cat and mouse with a killer, the Naturals are going to have to use all of their gifts just to survive.

The Naturals is one of the rare cases where I felt detached from the protagonist but still ended up enjoying the story as a whole. Cassie isn’t the most impressive character out there. She didn’t leave much impression on me, and it doesn’t help that her voice tends to lean more on the monotonous side for the most part of the story. Even when she’s reliving the murder of her mother and in all the other scenes where she’s supposed to appear sympathetic, I still couldn’t feel her. I didn’t see anything remarkable about her character either, except that she is a character profiler. If there is one thing I enjoyed greatly about her, it is her ability to read people’s emotions based on the simplest of gestures and to be able to put herself in the shoes of a serial killer, follow their train of thoughts and guess what their next action will be.

Unlike the main character, the side characters in The Naturals are distinctive and it was entertaining to see how each personality handles the same situation. Lia and Sloane are fun characters and it sucks that I felt more for them than I did with Cassie. Lia is the bitchy type with the knack for lying and identifying if a person is lying. Sloane is the mild-mannered one who knows way too much about statistics. She often sprouts random statistical facts when she’s nervous and gets hyper when she ingests caffeine. Sloane appears to be the most innocent one of the bunch, but enough time with her will tell you otherwise. She has several tricks up her sleeve that she continues to pull all throughout the story. Dean and Michael are quite entertaining too in their distracting way that’s always full of manly-tension. They are the opposite of the other. Michael is the flirty type who is exceedingly confident while Dean is the quiet type who tends to isolate himself.

One of the things that caught me off guard about The Naturals is the love triangle. The summary already suggests it, but I don’t remember. I probably didn’t read it as thoroughly as I thought. I have a great dislike for love triangles and despite my unfeeling toward Cassie, I can’t help but be distracted by it. It also makes my brain ache thinking who Cassie might end up with because I'm a romance junkie regardless of my feelings for a character and I stress myself over things like that. It doesn't help that the boys are neither ahead of the other when it comes to Cassie's affection. Needless to say, this is my least favorite part of the book.

But despite the shortcomings, what ultimately redeemed this story for me is the gifts the characters have. I have not read a book with the likes of it, so I was pleased with Barnes’s The Naturals. Knowing how a serial killer’s mind works is both horrifying and spellbinding. The mystery of the killer is something I can’t comment on though, because I peeked at the last few pages before actually reading this and accidentally saw who the killer is however, in spite of that, Barnes still managed to surprise me.

The Naturals is a promising start to a (supernatural?) series and I would love to read more about character profiling as well as the other gifts the characters have, but hopefully we can get rid of the love triangle in the next book.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Disclosure: This e-galley was received from the publisher (Disney-Hyperion via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest opinion. No compensation was received for making this review.

Stacking the Shelves (15)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly bookish meme hosted at Tynga's Reviews.

Phoenix Island by John Dixon (Pub: January 21st 2014 by Gallery Books)
The Taking by Kimberly Derting (Pub: April 29th 2014 by HarperTeen)

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley and Edelweiss!

On another news, National Book Store is going to have their annual warehouse sale at Quezon City, yay! I didn't get to haul that many books last year, just 4 hardcovers (for less than $8!!) but I'm planning to go all out this year. See you there!


[Blog Tour: My Date from Hell] Review: My Ex from Hell + Giveaway


Hey there! Today is the final day in My Date from Hell blog tour, and I'll be reviewing the first book, My Ex from Hell. Also, keep scrolling for a chance to win copies of My Ex from Hell and My Date from Hell. You can check out all the tour stops here.

My Ex from Hell (The Blooming Goddess Trilogy #1)
by Tellulah Darling
Paperback, 272 pages
Published April 1st 2013 by Te Da Media
Source: AToMR Blog Tours

Sixteen-year-old Sophie Bloom wishes she’d been taught the following:
a) Bad boy’s presence (TrOuBlE) + teen girl’s brain (DraMa) = TrAuMa (Highly unstable and very volatile.)
b) The Genus Greekulum Godissimus is notable for three traits: 1) awesome abilities, 2) grudges, and 3) hook-ups, break-ups, and in-fighting that puts cable to shame.

Prior to the Halloween dance, Sophie figures her worst problems involve adolescent theatrics, bitchy teen yoga girls, and being on probation at her boarding school for mouthy behaviour. Then she meets bad boy Kai and gets the kiss that rocks her world.

Literally.

This breath stealing lip lock reawakens Sophie’s true identity: Persephone, Goddess of Spring. She’s key to saving humanity in the war between the Underworld and Olympus, target numero uno of Hades and Zeus, and totally screwed.

Plus there’s also the little issue that Sophie’s last memory as Persephone was just before someone tried to murder her.

Big picture: master her powers, get her memories back, defeat Persephone’s would be assassin, and save the world. Also, sneak into the Underworld to retrieve stolen property, battle the minions of Hades and Zeus, outwit psycho nymphs, slay a dragon, rescue a classmate, keep from getting her butt expelled from the one place designed to keep her safe …

… and stop kissing Kai, Prince of the Underworld.

My Ex From Hell is a YA romantic comedy/Greek mythology smackdown. Love meets comedy with a whole lot of sass in book one of this teen fantasy romance series. Compared to Kai and Sophie, Romeo and Juliet had it easy

The story begins with Sophie Bloom planning to take revenge on the yoga-goddess, Bethany, to try to slip her with a laxative on the night of the Halloween dance so Bethany can end up answering the call of nature all night while Sophie pretends to be Bethany and hook up with the super hot guy Bethany was supposed to meet. But this super hot guy, Kai, isn't just an ordinary super hot guy for he is the son of Hades and his kiss triggers memories from Sophie's past, and reveals her true identity.

Seriously, I can't remember the last time I read a book based on Greek Mythology that had me laughing my butt off like this My Ex From Hell did. Sophie Bloom is probably one of the quirkiest characters I have ever met with two best friends, Hannah and Theo, who are about as crazy as her. Hannah and Sophie were the first to be bestfriends when they were kids and Theo joined the band later on. This gives both girls the right to bully Theo from time to time. From the beginning of the story until the end, Sophie doesn't stop making me laugh. Bethany is the ultimate mean girl but Sophie, too, has a mean girl side to her but this rarely surfaces and only when she's had enough of yoga-godesses making her life a living hell. Did I also mention this super hot guy named Kai? Even though Sophie still has doubts about Kai's true feelings for her, I loved their interactions together and I love that they compliment each others' characters.

Inaccuracies aside, Tellulah's take on the Greek Mythology aspects here in My Ex from Hell is fun-filled and very entertaining. The gods and goddesses here are not how we usually picture them out to be but nevertheless, they made the story all the more exciting. In fact, these alterations are what made me enjoy this book so much more. Also, the dialogues. I can't even begin to tell you how epic the interactions of the characters here are. Tellulah is brilliant for coming up with the characters's witty banters. They range from hilarious-normal to hilarious-crazy and I love all of them!

Quirky characters with crazy minds and hilarious dialogues. Add to that, the Underworld fight scenes, adventures and highschool drama, this book practically left me exhausted, with an ending that makes me eager to read the next book! My Ex From Hell is a short and light read that you can laughingly breeze through in just one seat.

Rating: 4/5 stars!

Disclaimer: Copy is provided by the author, Tellulah Darling, and the blog tour host, AToMR. My opinions about this book are my honest opinions and are not influenced by a third party. No compensation was received for making this review.



About the Author


Tellulah Darling
noun

1. YA romantic comedy author because her first kiss sucked and she's compensating.
2. Alter ego of former screenwriter.
3. Sassy minx.

Geeks out over: cool tech.
Squees for: great storytelling.
Delights in: fabulous conversation.
Writes about: where love meets comedy. Awkwardness ensues.

Sassy girls. Swoony boys. What could go wrong?


Giveaway


Tellulah is also hosting a contest on her site to give Sophie’s power (her vines of light) a cool name because everything she’s come up with sucks. The winner will get a signed copy of My Date From Hell, a t-shirt featuring a design of one of Kai’s tattoos and will have their power name featured in the final book of the trilogy. Contest runs Oct 21-Nov 7. Details and entry (as of Oct 21) here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Waiting on Wednesday (36): Biggest Flirts

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine

My WoW:

Biggest Flirts (Superlatives #1)
by Jennifer Echols
Paperback, 336 pages
Expected publication: May 20th 2014 by Simon Pulse

The yearbook votes have been cast. Senior year is about to get interesting.

Tia just wants to have fun. She’s worked hard to earn her reputation as the life of the party, and she’s ready for a carefree senior year of hanging out with friends and hooking up with cute boys. And her first order of business? New guy Will. She can’t get enough of his Midwestern accent and laid-back swagger.

As the sparks start to fly, Will wants to get serious. Tia’s seen how caring too much has left her sisters heartbroken, and she isn’t interested in commitment. But pushing away Will drives him into the arms of another girl. Tia tells herself it’s no big deal…until the yearbook elections are announced. Getting voted Biggest Flirt along with Will is, well, awkward. They may just be friends, but their chemistry is beginning to jeopardize Will's new relationship—and causing Tia to reconsider her true feelings. What started out as a lighthearted fling is about to get very complicated…

I love Jennifer Echols. I've read quite a few books by her and though I didn't up loving all of them, I still enjoy reading her works. They all fly by like a breeze to me. Also, I'm a big sucker of plots where the girl dumps a guy but later starts falling for him. Can't wait!

Top Ten Sequels I Can't Wait To Get My Hands On

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted at The Broke and the Bookish.

1. The Fiery Heart (Bloodlines #4) by Richelle Mead
Expected publication: November 19th 2013
There are no words to describe how obsessed I am with this series. Though the last book didn't quite meet my expectations like the rest did, I'm still so very eager to read the upcoming books in the series.



Expected publication: November 19th 2013
I think I'm one of the first 300 people who got into this fandom about two years ago. I couldn't recommend this enough to my peers, but I'm just so happy now that it finally got the attention it deserves. And even happier that this will be released this month!



3. Champion (Legend #3) by Marie Lu
Expected publication: November 5th 2013
I know this releases today *happy dance* but I probably won't be able to read this until next week. I also hope the ending works out well for everyone, unlike some other dystopian books there. *coughcough*



4. Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer
Expected publication: February 4th 2014
This series is my newest found obsession and it's what got me into reading more fairy tale retellings. I literally love EVERYTHING about books 1 and 2. The plot, the characters... it's perfect!


5. Split Second (Pivot Point #2) by Kasie West
Expected publication: February 11th 2014
Now this is one of the most surprising reads of the year for me. I've never really read other stories with parallel universes so this was very new to me. 



6. Ruin and Rising (The Grisha #3) by Leigh Bardugo
Expected publication: June 3rd 2014
I'm excited to read this but I'm also very nervous about it. I already have an OTP and I'm worried that they might not get together in the end. I'll probably get depressed the rest of my life if it happens. :(




7. Into the Still Blue (Under the Never Sky #3) by Veronica Rossi
Expected publication: January 28th 2014
I already have an ARC of this (thanks to Harper and Edelweiss!) and though I'm very much excited to read it, I'm also scared and I hate that Perry and Aria's story is finally going to end. :(




8. Untitled (The Raven Cycle #3) by Maggie Stiefvater
Expected publication: 2014
It's sad that this doesn't have a cover nor a title yet. It reminds me that it's still so far out of my reach. I haven't actually read The Dream Thieves yet. I ordered a copy from Book Depository a week before TDT's release but PhilPost sucks so it never arrived. But I finally bought a kindle copy so yay! 



9. Untitled (The Queen's Thief #5) by Megan Whalen Turner 
Expected publication: N/A

Looking at the goodreads page of The Raven Cycle #3 makes me sad but looking at this book's page depresses me. The Queen's Thief is an all-time favorite series of mine and it sucks that the books get released 4-6 years after the other and judging by the pattern of the books's release dates, this won't probably hit the shelves until 2016.

10. Untitled (Rithmatist #2) by Brandon Sanderson
Expected publication: 2015
Here's another Sanderson series that I fell in love with. This is not as popular among the Sanderson fans but I really like his YA's. What I can't get into is his more mature fantasy novels.
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