Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday! (#18)

~ Waiting on Wednesday (WoW) is a weekly meme post hosted by: Jill from Breaking the Spine that showcases not-yet-released books that I'm eagerly awaiting to read! ~

I'm waiting for:

 
Release Date: March 4th, 2014
Genre(s): YA Dystopia

Synopsis:

Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.

Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.

Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.

For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.
 


Why am I waiting? 

I am terribly intrigued by Panic I really want to know what the competition is all about. In a boring town (sounds like where I live) seniors play a game that everyone has a stake in. The story sounds slightly familiar with teenage competitors—but there are secrets and motivations as to why seniors are playing in "Panic". I am always compelled by mysterious plots, driven characters, and surprises so I'm going to check this one out once it releases. Since Lauren Oliver also wrote the hugely popular YA science fiction trilogy Delirium I'm looking forward to this new novel that has me already asking so many questions!

LINKS: GOODREADS | AMAZON | AUTHOR | B&N | SHELFARI !   


What are YOU waiting for?

 

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Catching Fire (Review)

(The Hunger Games, #2)

Release Date: September 1st, 2009
Published by: Scholastic
Genre(s): YA Fantasy/Dystopia

My Review: (5/5 stars*)

Catching Fire...where to even begin. This sequel is my favorite book of the entire Hunger Games trilogy. It has got every single thing I love from romance, action, suspense, to drama. After reading the Hunger Games I didn't think Collins could surpass reader's expectations but she did. Catching Fire is outstanding in all ways. It's yet again phenomenally written, with multiple layers of character complexities, interweaving stories, and many unpredictable twists. Katniss and Peeta's relationships gets infinitely more complicated, and they have a lot at stake. You'd think that them winning the games would make their lives easier but it actually threatens to destroy all that they've accomplished.

Before reading Catching Fire I was thinking to myself how could Suzanne Collins go any further with story, what could possibly happen next? Once the direction is revealed what the story builds up to is insanely impressive. I didn't see it coming and most likely nor will other readers. Katniss is pushed up against a wall, and comes back fighting harder than ever before. She has so many important choices to make, and if she doesn't make the right ones her family, friends, and the other districts may be put in jeopardy. There's a downpour of emotions and plenty of turmoil to keep your heart pumping. There is a whole new set of characters introduced, and one specifically who took me by surprise. Finnick Odair who is new to the story is insanely awesome. I didn't expect to become a fan of anyone else in the series but he made me fall for him. He's attractive, sharp, clever, charming, and his weapon of choice is a trident. Say what? Yes he impales his enemies with a trident. I was instantly reminded of Aquaman and that comparison mostly rings true. He's a vital character in Catching Fire and he plays a significant role in Katniss and Peeta's lives. The twists and turns in this novel are an unstoppable force. You won't be able to stop reading until you've met the last page, it's that addicting!

Despite the odds against Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark they won the 74th Hunger Games, but their lives are still on display. Now more than ever they have to convince the Capitol that they are as madly in love as they claimed to be. A new type of games is afoot and Peeta and Katniss are given no other option but to be a part of it. With everyone watching their every move Katniss can't afford to slip up or enduring the games will seem like piece of cake compared to what she could now lose. Uprisings are occurring, society rules are getting stricter, and no one is safe from the government. It's up to Katniss to do something about it before things get out of hand and circumstances get even grimmer.

It's an astonishing sequel that will captivate readers in a whole new way. It's intense, has copious action sequences, and digs deeper into the history of the Hunger Games. Uprisings are happening in the outlying districts of Panem, and it's inciting rebellions all over. Katniss is one of the fiercest character's I've ever read about, she does what she has to, and makes selfless decisions. Although I love her character because of her actions I just as easily dislike her for not seeing the obviousthat Peeta and Gale are both in love with her. All the signs are there but she's totally clueless to their feelings, and confused about her own. Peeta is still Peeta, and I just adore his charisma, and his undying loyalty to her. Their relationship is really tested to the limits and how they deal with each other is very amusing.

Catching Fire is riveting from the get-go, and will lure you right into its imaginary, and dangerous world. The violence continues to grow, and the government shows the extent of their power by hitting the districts hard. Katniss and Peeta face life-altering decisions, and not one district is left unaffected. The story is poignant and raw bringing tears to your eyes like nothing you've read before. The characters will move you, and the story will tear at your heart. It's remarkably well-written and stunningly put-together. It's not hard to see the Hunger Games novels sticking around for many decades to come, Catching Fire is a must-read for mature young-adults & older!


LINKS: AMAZON | GOODREADS | AUTHOR | B&N | SHELFARI !





Thursday, July 25, 2013

Chasing Morgan (Cover Reveal)

(The Hunted, #4)

By: Jennifer Ryan


By: Jennifer Ryan
Expected Publication: October 8th, 2013
Publisher: Avon Impulse
Genre(s): Adult Romance/Suspense 


Excerpt:


CHASING MORGAN
Chapter One

One year ago…
Morgan’s fingers flew across the laptop keyboard propped on her knees. She took a deep breath, cleared her mind, and looked out past her pink-painted toes propped on the railing and across her yard to the densely wooded area at the edge of her property. Her mind’s eye found her guest winding his way through the trees. She still had time before Jack stepped out of the woods separating her land from his. She couldn’t wait to meet him.
Images, knowings, they just came to her. She’d accepted that part of herself a long time ago. As she got older, she’d learned to use her gift to seek out answers.
She finished her buy and sell orders and switched from her day trading page to check her psychic website and read the questions submitted by customers. She answered several quickly, letting the others settle in her mind until the answers came to her.
One stood out. The innocuous question about getting a job held an eerie vibe.
The familiar strange pulsation came over her. The world disappeared like a door slamming on reality. The images came to her like hammer blows, one right after the other, and she took the onslaught, knowing something important needed to be seen and understood.
An older woman lying in a bed, hooked up to a machine feeding her medication. Frail and ill, she had translucent skin and dark circles marring her pain-filled eyes. Her pain washed over Morgan like a tsunami. 
The woman yelled at someone, her face contorted into something mean and hateful. An unhappy woman – one who’d spent her whole life blaming others and trying to make them as miserable as her.
A pristine white pillow floating down, inciting panic, amplified to terror when it covered the woman’s face, her frail body swallowed by the sheets.
Morgan had an overwhelming feeling of suffocating.
The woman tried desperately to suck in a breath, but couldn’t. Unable to move her lethargic limbs, she lay terrified and helpless under his unyielding hands. Lights flashed on her closed eyelids.
Death came calling.
A man stood next to the bed holding the pillow like a shield. His mouth opened on a contorted, evil, hysterical laugh that rang in her ears and made her skin crawl. She squeezed her eyes closed to blot out his malevolent image and thoughts.
Murderer!
The word rang in her head as the terrifying emotions overtook her.
Morgan threw up a wall in her mind, blocking the onslaught of disturbing pictures and feelings. She took several deep breaths and concentrated on the white roses growing in profusion just below the porch railing. Their sweet fragrance filled the air. With every breath, she centered herself and found her inner calm, pushing out the anger and rage left over from the vision. Her body felt like a lead weight, and lightened as her energy came back. The drowsiness faded with each new breath. She’d be fine in a few minutes.
The man on horseback emerged from the trees, coming toward her home. Her guest had arrived.
Focused on the computer screen, she slowly and meticulously typed her answer to the man who had asked about a job and inadvertently opened himself up to telling her who he really was at the heart.
She replied simply.
You’ll get the job, but you can’t hide from what you did.
You need help. Turn yourself in to the police.
None of her personal information appeared on the website, and she’d put a lot of time and effort into keeping her identity and location a secret for reasons of her own. He’d never find her.
A chill ran over her, despite the warm sun on her skin.
She put through the charge and tried to erase the vision from her mind. She’d told him to go to the police. Nothing more she could do. She didn’t have any proof a crime had been committed. You couldn’t make accusations against people based on a vision. Even if she went to the police with what she knew, they wouldn’t take her seriously. She’d learned that the hard way.
The help she provided Tyler and the FBI was different. Her unique link with Tyler allowed her to assist him with some of his cases. Tyler had nothing to do with this man. She could ask him to investigate, but why would he? He had a hard enough time believing what she told him about the cases he was working on. She didn’t want to have to convince him all over again that what she saw was real and true. It hurt to have to convince him every time, despite the ample proof she’d given him on multiple cases. After all this time, he should believe her - believe in her.
She didn’t want to think about Tyler right now. He’d be in Colorado today. Close. Their connection that much stronger, and the harder he’d ignore it and push her away. Maybe she should give in and go see him.
Why couldn’t he stay in San Francisco?
It wasn’t time for them to meet again. She sighed and tried to put him out of her mind. Not possible. They were connected on an elemental level, and had been for a long time.
Why did things between them have to be so complicated and difficult?
Dealing with her customers was simple. They went to her website and clicked on the link to ask a question. She charged fifteen dollars for requests she answered. If she couldn’t answer the question, or wouldn’t answer, she didn’t charge and sent a standard reply, telling the person she couldn’t help.
Either the person believed in her enough to pay the fifteen dollars, or they didn’t.
Sure, they had to accept her Terms and Conditions. After all, what she “saw“ was open to interpretation and the result may not be what the customer expected. In short, if they didn’t like the answer, they couldn’t shoot the messenger.
She specifically informed customers to beware what they ask, and how they ask it. You may get the answer to a question you hadn’t intended.
If you suspected your spouse of cheating on you, don’t be surprised if she confirmed it, and that the other person is your best friend. She wouldn’t lie, or tell you only what you wanted to hear. 
In a few cases, she simply refused to answer. People often wanted to know when they were going to die and how. Her opinion, this kind of information did more harm than good. It usually altered the course of a person’s life, and she didn’t want to be responsible for changing one’s fate and destiny.
One thing she knew for certain, life had a pattern. Mistakes are repeated until the lesson is learned. Knowing something ahead of time didn’t necessarily mean you could change the outcome. Some things were meant to be and nothing could stop them from ending the same way she saw them, even if the path that led to that end took a detour first. That wasn’t to say the course of the future couldn’t be altered. It could. She’d done it several times. For Tyler’s family, she’d do it again.


Friday, July 19, 2013

Anything But Sweet (Giveaway)


Hi awesome readers I have 3 paperback copies of the newly released contemporary romance novel Anything But Sweet by: Candis Terry! I'm going to be giving them away below so enter for your chance to win one! You have 3 chances!!!

YOU CAN READ MY REVIEW OF ANYTHING BUT SWEET HERE

Anything But Sweet Synopsis:

 HE’S STUBBORN AND THOROUGHLY MALE . . .

If Charlotte Brooks thinks she and her TV makeover show can turn Reno Wilder’s hometown upside down, he’ll be happy to prove her wrong. The x-Marine has seen too much turmoil and he likes Sweet, Texas, just the way it is. Traditional. Familiar. A little dull. Everything Charli isn’t. But instead of backing off from his scowls like everyone else, Charli digs in her skyscraper heels.

SHE’S TENACIOUS AND WICKEDLY TEMPTING . . .

Reno Wilder is a one-man unwelcoming committee, but Charli isn’t budging. It’s clear the gorgeous cowboy needs an overhaul just as much as Sweet. Someone needs to break him out of that gruff shell and show him how fun and rewarding a little change can be.

THEY’RE ABOUT TO FIND THAT LOVE IS ANYTHING BUT PREDICTABLE.
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Giveaway Rules: 

1. You must be 16 years or older to participate.
2. This giveaway is only open to U.S. residents (I apologize but I can't afford shipping costs!!)
3. Cheaters will be found out - I check all entries!
4. I'm not responsible for any lost or damaged prizes (If this happens I'm truly sorry!)
5. Winners will be contacted immediately, if you do not respond within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen in your place!

 

GOOD LUCK!!!



Thursday, July 18, 2013

Feature & Follow Friday! (#26)


*Fun blog hop feature hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read*

Book Vacay: Where is the best destination reading spot for you? (Where do you like to go to read other then your home)

When I'm not reading at my house I like to go to a park nearby to read. It's a beautiful reading spot especially around Summertime. Exact location is featured below. I also enjoy reading in the car, at the local library, and in restaurants or cafes! I bring a book with me everywhere I go.


Preferred Follow Method:

Follow on Bloglovin

You can follow me here! Leave a comment letting me know and I'll follow you back! ;)

Aside from reading at home where do you like to read? Let me know below!

 

Creatura (Cover Reveal)



Cover Design: PhatPuppy Art
Expected Publication: August 6th, 2013
Re-release with new cover & brand new content!!
Genre(s):  YA Paranormal/Mythology

*Cover Reveal hosted by: The Bookish Brunette!*

Synopsis:

Isis can control her dreams. Or she could-until recently. The creature in her nightmares has been haunting her for months. As if being dumped wasn’t bad enough, now she dreads going to sleep. She decides to confront the creature and win back some of her peace; only, she finds that he’s not a monster and he’s not a dream. 
A sacrifice for love, a shocking discovery and a jealous ex-boyfriend blur the lines between reality and dreams, making it hard to tell who the real monsters are. 

Who would’ve known…that sometimes love is lethal?


LINKS: GOODREADS | AUTHOR | SHELFARI !
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~Author Bio~ 
Nely Cab was born on December 9, 1974, in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. She has lived and resided in South Texas most of her life. In 2001, the author relocated to Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, where she dedicated time to the study of culinary arts and the art of oil painting.

After her return to the U.S., she resumed her employment in banking and in the following year transitioned to the field of Social Work. Later, Nely took up writing as a hobby and produced her first novel entitled "Creatura".

The rights to "Creatura" were sold to a leading Young Adult publisher in a foreign country, where it is scheduled to appear within the next year. 


AUTHOR LINKS: GOODREADS | WEBSITE | BLOG | TWITTER | FACEBOOK !
 





A Taylor-Made Life (Blitz) (Giveaway)



*A Taylor-Made Life Book Blitz!*



Release Date: July 18th, 2013
Genre(s): New Adult Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

They lived the life they were given; they loved the life they made.

Cheerleader Taylor Smith doesn’t want to die a virgin. Unfortunately, if the terminally-ill leukemia patient doesn't find a lover or a stem-cell match within months, her fear will become reality. When her cancer mentor is revealed to be a hottie entrepreneur from California, it seems fate might finally be on her side.

Tech-geek Gavin Taylor has everything he ever wanted, except someone to grieve for him when he's gone. With his melanoma cancer beyond the help of his riches, he agrees to participate in a cancer patient mentoring program where he's matched with a dying teen from Texas. Despite his immediate attraction, the Silicon Valley whiz intends only to provide friendship and happy memories to the beautiful, young woman who is determined to win his love.

When it's discovered that his frozen sperm and her harvested eggs could lead to a cure, Taylor's mother offers to be a surrogate. And Gavin must decide if he can risk the heart he has never given and a child he'll never know to a girl he just met.

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Excerpt: 

My blood rushed hot through my veins like a West Texas brush fire as Gavin pulled into the driveway and parked.

We were perfect together. Couldn’t he see that? When I’d asked about the matchmaker, I thought for sure he would sweep me off my feet and carry me away. He hadn’t.

He turned off the ignition and twisted in his seat to face me. “I had a great time the last three days.”

“Me, too.” I lifted my gaze to look at him, to really look at him. God, he was gorgeous, smart, fun, but also sweet and kind. Panic made me want to latch on to him and not let go. I’d rather get an IV in my eyeball than let him leave. I loved him. I always would.

He stared at back at me, his eyes misting with some emotion I couldn’t name. He was breathing heavily, too heavily. I didn’t move. I knew this game—the first one to blink loses.

Kiss me. Please kiss me.

His hand twitched. My lips parted, and I quietly gasped.

Finally, he closed his eyes, whistled out a long breath, and got out of the car.

Crud!

I wasn’t about to give up yet.

He walked around and opened my door, offering his hand. I clasped it and yanked myself from the seat so quickly that I collided with his chest. He dropped my hand and jumped back like I’d burnt him.

I slapped my palm against my thigh. “What is your problem? Am I so repulsive you can’t stand to accidentally touch me?”

His face paled, and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. “No. Of course not. It’s late. I’m sorry.”

It’s late? What kind of lame excuse was that? My shoulders sagged as he swiftly ushered me to the door. I tried to smile hopefully. “You wanna come in?”

He eyed me up and down then shook his head like he was trying to remove a bug clinging to his ear. “I better go. I have an early flight tomorrow.”

“So that’s it, then? You’re just gonna leave?” Everything inside me fell to my toes.

He smiled sympathetically. My hands fisted. Slapping the pacifying expression off his face crossed my mind.

“Hey. It won’t be that bad.” He reached out to brush my arm but let his fingers fall short. “We’ll talk on the phone, and maybe you and your Mom can come for a visit in a few weeks.”

He leaned to kiss my cheek, but I stuck my fingers over his lips. His mouth was soft and warm. Heat spread from my fingers into my arm and through my body. I pulled my hand away so I could concentrate. I was not about to let this end here. “I don’t want a kiss on the cheek, Gavin.”

“I understand.” He held out his hand for me to shake. Captain Oblivious.

I crinkled my nose and frowned. “No. You don’t understand. I want a kiss, but not on the cheek.”

He rubbed a palm across his forehead. “Taylor, we’ve gone over this.”

“No, we haven’t. You’re leaving and—let’s face it—I’ll never see you again. You know it, and I know it.” My voice broke. I stood tall and continued, “You came here to mentor me, take me on a few outings, and give me happy memories. You’ve done that. But I’m asking for one last thing.” I twirled my hair and met his gaze. “I want a real kiss.”

He started shaking his head before I’d even finished. “No.”

Crud-ola! “Why not?”

“Taylor, you know the answer. I told you from the beginning. It’s not appropriate.”

He hadn’t said he didn’t want to. I glared at him and decided to pull out the big guns. “It’s one harmless kiss, Gavin, and it’s a dying girl’s wish.”

His jaw twitched. “That’s not fair, and you know it.”

“Fair? Are we talking about fair now? What’s not fair is that I’ll never get married or have children or even be in love. You’re all I get.” I waved my hand between us. “This is all I get.”

He set his jaw stubbornly, but his eyes betrayed him. “I’ve offered you what I’m willing to give.”

Tears stung my eyes. Damn it. I hated crying, but I couldn’t help it. He’d hit the nail. “You’re no better than those doctors offering me another round of chemo, knowing it won’t do any good and would only make me weaker, sicker.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “Well, I won’t settle for less. I’m settling for too little as it is.” I swiped at my stupid tears. My pulse pounded. I was fighting with everything I had. “How many women have you been with?”

He squinted in apparent disbelief. “What kind of question is that?”

I stamped my foot. “How many?”

He almost yelled it at me. “A few.”

“Do you remember how it felt to be with them? To love them? Would you trade those memories because a few people said it wasn’t okay?”

He darted his gaze around the front yard, shifting his weight from side to side. Even in the dim light of the porch I could see his mind working through possibilities, making him uncomfortable.

“There’s no one out there in the dark to tell you it’s okay. You have to decide.” I pressed on. “What memory do you want to leave me with? What memory do you want to take? Is it really such a sickening thought? Just one kiss.”

He stared back at me with a wildness that scared me. My heart drummed a xylophone chord across my ribs.

Taylor.…

I locked in on his gaze and stepped toward him. “Tonight you get to decide what you can live with—or without. I’m asking for one moment.”

Stopping inches from him, I absorbed the tension like a thirsty towel. Electric sparks flew between us. The only sounds were our shallow breaths.

Softly, I went in for the kill. “A kiss goodnight. Is it really too much, Gavin?”


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 ~Author Bio~

 
Kary Rader is a part-time Twitter sage, stay-at-home mother of three, and slave to the characters and worlds inside her head. Always creative, she's drawn to stories with fantastical worlds and creatures. With a little bit of magic and divine guidance, there isn't anything that can't be accomplished with words. It's the power of words that creates and destroys. Vanquishing evil and injustice while finding eternal love in the process is all in a day's work. With the help of her critique partners and master cartographer imaginary places come to life.
 
AUTHOR LINKS: GOODREADS | WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK
 
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 ~Giveaway!~ 
 
Giveaway Rules:

  • Giveaway begins July 18th and will end July 23rd 11:59 EST. The winner will be announced on June 24th on Kary Rader's Facebook page.
  • Open to U.S. residents only
  • We are not responsible for items lost in the mail & have the right to disqualify anyone, at any time.
  • Personal information given by the applicant in the giveaway will never be shared. All information is deleted once the giveaway ends. 

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday! (#17)

~ Waiting on Wednesday (WoW) is a weekly meme post hosted by: Jill from Breaking the Spine that showcases not-yet-released books that I'm eagerly awaiting to read! ~
 
 
I'm waiting for:
 
 
 
 
 Release Date: January 21st, 2014
Genre(s): YA Science Fiction/Fantasy
 
Synopsis:
 
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.
 
Why am I waiting?  
 
Recently I've been very interested in Science Fiction mainly because of all the books involving space and spaceships. I'm looking for a book that's totally outside of the normal and is imaginatively awesome. I think Avalon may well be what I've been searching for. My attention was drawn in from the very first sentence - teenage mercenaries that stumble upon a conspiracy? Sounds really cool to me. Space crime bosses, action & adventure, a main character with the name Jeth Seagrave? I love it. I can't wait for this one! Also how about that cover—stunning.
 
 
LINKS: GOODREADS | AMAZON | AUTHOR | B&N | SHELFARI !
 
 
 
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