Creative Reads

Blog Tour - Deity by Jennifer Armentrout

2012-10-30T21:32:00.000-05:00

Hi guys! Today is my stop on the tour for Deity. I cannot express how much I love this series. I am also super stoked that I will get to meet Jennifer when she comes to MA for a signing. Not only do I get to meet her but I get to meet several other people that I've met through the blogging world that are my close friends now...YAY!!! And without further ado, here is my review of this mind-blowing novel!

Author - Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher - Spencer Hill Press
Release Date - November 6th, 2012, 360 Pages

"History is on repeat, and things didn't go so well the last time. "

Alexandria isn't sure she's going to make it to her eighteenth birthday--to her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she's a goner... and so is Aiden.

If that's not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time "training"--which really is just Seth's code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time--she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome.

But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she's caught between love and Fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed... and destroyed.

Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate...

Oh my good gods!!! I didn’t think that it could have gotten any better but Jen has done it again. It’s going to be hard for me to not ramble out any of the details or give something away. I love Jennifer’s writing, the twists and turns are just the perfect amount to keep you hanging on the edge and flippping those pages quicker and quicker.

We are thrown right back into place with Alex, Aiden and Seth. Alex is back training and thinking a lot about what may happen if someone was to find out the truth with what happened with the Pure guard and the Furries. She’s worried of course about Aiden and not herself. Alex is the most self sacrificing person. She has been so worried about becoming the next Apollyon, how things would change for her, for her world, for Aiden, and what…if anything…Seth would do once she awakens.

Aiden stands up a little more for what he feels is right, even if that could get him into some serious trouble. I was Team Seth in Half-Blood and Pure but Deity has steered my mind away from our hot-headed Seth and more to Aiden. (And on the note of Aiden, I can’t wait to read his Novella!!!) He is right there for Alex when she needs him the most, never leaving her side.

Seth…well…yeah…he’s um definitely changed. Sometimes all I can think of when seeing what all he’s doing and done is…poor child. He has went through a lot and things that we thought would never affect him (like how others view and treat him) actually goes pretty deep with him. Makes me wonder if things would have been differently if he wasn’t treated the way that he was just simply because he was the only Apollyon.

We get to see a whole new side to some of the characters that will leave you stunned and breatheless. We see relationships get pushed to the limits and see who’s really on who’s side. To say that I was shocked speachless would be an understatement. And the way that Deity ended!!! Oh the way it ended…still has me speechless when I think about it. I absolutely cannot wait until Apollyon…I have to have more, I need to know what happens with Alex, Aiden and Seth. If you haven’t read any of her work, you’re seriously missing out. Pick up Half-Blood…I guarantee that you’ll get hooked and next thing you know you’ll have already gotten through Pure and Deity.

-Shellie

Definitely a 5 Star Read!!!

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Blog Tour - Interview with Jus Accardo

2012-10-04T00:01:00.000-05:00

Hi guys *waves*!!! Today I have the wonderful Jus Accardo with me =) If you haven't read Touch...you are missing some hotness named Kale. If you want to read my review on Touch, just click here. So, without further ado...I give you...Jus Accardo...

What is a normal day like for you?

Generally I sit down to work between 4 and six and pretty much stay there until early afternoon. I’ll run out for a few hours to run errands (I have a horrible habit of letting my fridge starve) then it’s back to the computer till about midnight. Sometimes I even make dinner in between!

Which do you prefer - Twitter or Facebook?

They both have their good points—and bad. I usually work with them both open.

How was Kale invented?

Totally by accident! I was on line waiting for coffee and got this picture in my head. Touch bloomed from that. I started writing the next day with no expectations or plot other than a vague scene. In the original version, Kale was actually Cross’ son, and Dez was the Denazen escapee.

How about Dez?

Exactly the same as Kale. They came as a package deal, actually. :D

How did the story for Denazen Corporation come about?

Denazen was actually created a little over five years ago. I wrote a trilogy (that will never see the light of day) that kind of revolved around Denazen. It wasn’t exactly the Denazen I have today, but the same general concept was present. Big corporation. Evil plans. The main difference was that they were after things, not people.

What inspired you to write this novel?

A really long line waiting for coffee and a random imagination ;)

If you could have any special power, what would it be and why?

I’d really like to be able to talk to animals!

How long did it take you to write Touch, Toxic and Kale's novella, Untouched?

Touch, the first draft, took about 3 weeks. It was crazy fast, but it was just something I couldn’t put down until I’d finished. I was that obsessed. Toxic took longer. I was working on it between edits and the first draft of another book. Same with Untouched. Probably threeish months maybe?

Thanks for letting me hang out! I had fun :P

Thanks for stopping by Jus, I had a great time hosting you. Here is the blurb for Toxic -

When a Six saved Kale’s life the night of Sumrun, she warned there would be consequences. A trade-off. Something taken for the life they gained. But Dez never imagined she’d lose the one thing she’d give anything to keep… And as if it’s not enough Dez finds her immunity to Kale fading, the Six brought in to help Kale learn to control his killer touch starts drooling on him the moment they meet. Worse than that? Jade can touch Kale. But bimbo Barbie is the least of Dez’s problems.
After Dez and Kale got away at Sumrun, her father lost not only his most powerful weapon but an important piece of the Supremacy project. Forced by Denazen to remedy the situation, he poisons Dez and offers her a choice—surrender to Denazen for the cure…or die. Determined to find a solution that doesn’t involve being bagged and tagged—or losing someone she loves—Dez keeps the poison a secret. But when a rash of Denazen attacks hit a little too close to home, Dez is convinced there’s a traitor among them. Jade.
Sacrifices, broken promises, and secrets. Dez will have to lay it all on the line if there’s any hope of proving Jade’s guilt before they all end up Residents of Denazen. Or worse, dead…

And here is some info on Jus -

JUS ACCARDO spent her childhood reading and learning to cook. Determined to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps as a chef, she applied and was accepted to the Culinary Institute of America. At the last minute, she realized her path lay with fiction, not food, and passed on the spot to pursue writing. Jus is the author of YA paranormal romance and urban fantasy fiction. A native New Yorker, she lives in the middle of nowhere with her husband, three dogs, and sometimes guard bear, Oswald. Her first book, Touch was released in November 2011 from Entangled Publishing. She is currently working on the next book in the Denazen series.

Give Jus a yell on Twitter, or visit her on Facebook, and her website.

-Shellie

Review - Cursed by Jennifer L. Armentrout

2012-10-03T00:01:00.000-05:00

Author - Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher - Spencer Hill Press
Release Date - September 18th, 2012, 288 Pages

Dying sucks-- and high school senior Ember McWilliams knows firsthand. After a fatal car accident, her gifted little sister brought her back. Now anything Ember touches dies. And that, well, really blows.

Ember operates on a no-touch policy with all living things--including boys. When Hayden Cromwell shows up, quoting Oscar Wilde and claiming her curse is a gift, she thinks he's a crazed cutie. But when he tells her he can help control it, she's more than interested. There's just one catch: Ember has to trust Hayden's adopted father, a man she's sure has sinister reasons for collecting children whose abilities even weird her out.

However, she's willing to do anything to hold her sister's hand again. And hell, she'd also like to be able to kiss Hayden. Who wouldn't? But when Ember learns the accident that turned her into a freak may not have been an accident at all, she's not sure who to trust. Someone wanted her dead, and the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she is to losing not only her heart, but her life. For real this time.

*A copy was provided by Spencer Hill Press for an honest review*

Jennifer has done it again with Cursed. I had been waiting on this book for ages and it, like all her other books, didn't disappoint. I loved Ember's character. She is such a fierce and strong-willed character. She faces things in life that some of us may relate to but on top of all that her touch can kill. Can you imagine going any amount of time trying to keep all your flesh covered in fear of killing someone? I mean the only time I'd see this as beneficial is if we are in zombie apocalypse time and then hells yes cause they fry the second they touched you...well maybe not the second but you get my point, right?

If you've read any of Jennifer's work, you know there is a uber hot guy that's always thrown in and they're always swoon-worthy (and if you haven't read her work I highly highly suggest it, you won't be disappointed). Hayden is everything that Ember is looking for, even if she doesn't know it. He pushes her to better herself and see past what she sees as a curse. He's there for her along the way and has been there long before she even knew it.

I loved the twist and the turns that we get throughout the book. I kept wondering who was involved and how certain things worked. I've said it before, Jennifer is a genius! She put her own spin on things that we've read before and I love that. The side characters were almost just as much a part in this as Ember and Hayden.

The romance in this is off the charts. Even though things couldn't get too heated they still had their hot and heavy moments. I couldn't put this one down and devoured it in mere hours. The plot line had my heart racing and pages being turned even faster as everything was unfolding. I've never been able to guess what was going to happen next, even though sometimes it seems as if I am about to, but, Jennifer up and does a twist throwing you off and back into the wondering game about what's to happen next.

-Shellie

Cover Reveal - Release by M.R. Merrick

2012-09-28T00:01:00.000-05:00

After uniting the shifters and calling in reinforcements, Chase has to face his toughest challenge yet: learning to control his emotions. But as tensions rise and his powers grow, controlling his emotions becomes the least of his problems.

Terrorized by a multi-shifter who is hell-bent on turning him, Chase questions just how far he’s willing to go to stop his father. Meanwhile, Tiki’s virtuous nature has placed him in the middle of Vincent’s past, leaving Chase to oppose a senate of vampires and defend a demon he hates.

Trying to balance his friends, his enemies, and his inner demons, Chase is left searching for answers about the Mark, his destiny, and where he can find the next soul piece. Stopping Riley is his top priority, but as more obstacles arise, he finds himself doubting all the decisions he’s made - especially regarding Rayna.

One thing is for certain: Chase has finally realized that he doesn’t know anything. The light doesn’t always quell the darkness, the monsters don’t always stay in the shadows, and the past doesn’t always stay in the past - sometimes, the demons inside are the hardest to fight.

What do you guys think? I think it's pretty amazing and it goes well with the other two books in this series. I've read Exiled and loved it! You can read my review by clicking here. To add this to your TBR list you can click on the cover or you can go here to Matt's GoodReads page to add all his work =) Here's a list of other links that you should check out -

Matt's website
Matt's twitter
Exiled
Shift

Blog Tour - Brightest Kind of Darkness by P.T Michelle

2012-09-25T00:01:00.000-05:00

First, thank you to Refracted Light for letting me be part of this tour, click here for the complete tour schedule. I'll be hosting a review on the blog and a giveaway so make sure you enter! I loved this book - and both the covers are amazing! Now, on to the good stuff...

Author - P.T Michelle
Release Date - June 27th, 2011
Publisher - Self-pub

Nara Collins is an average sixteen-year-old, with one exception: every night she dreams the events of the following day. Due to an incident in her past, Nara avoids using her special gift to change fate…until she dreams a future she can’t ignore.

After Nara prevents a bombing at Blue Ridge High, her ability to see the future starts to fade, while people at school are suddenly being injured at an unusually high rate.

Grappling with her diminishing powers and the need to prevent another disaster, Nara meets Ethan Harris, a mysterious loner who seems to understand her better than anyone. Ethan and Nara forge an irresistible connection, but as their relationship heats up, so do her questions about his dark past.

What would you do if you were able to see what was going to happen the next day? Would you prevent bad things from happening or would you ignore it and let fate have its way? This is what Nara goes through every night. It’s a great gift and a curse all at the same time. Although she can see the future, it’s limited; she only sees what will happen when she wakes up the next day.

Nara is a strong character and is doing only what she thinks is the right thing to do. When she dreams that there will be a bombing at the school she has to step in and stop it from happening. This changes everything for her. She is tried and tested throughout her friendships and from that a new friendship and romance starts with the one and only Ethan that is a mystery himself.

I loved the plot to this story. It reminded me of Final Destination in a way, minus the gore. Seeing Nara go from relying on her gift to see the next day to actually living it without knowledge of what was going to happen was an amazing - yet nerve-wracking - experience. Nara doesn’t back down from a fight, and she’s definitely giving fate a battle. She’s been through so much in her life with the knowledge that she’s had from her dreams, but what if someone - a boy - could change all that?

The romance that is in Brightest Kind of Darkness is truly beautiful. Ethan is the sweet, tender guy that no one has really had the chance to get to know because of his own special gift. He takes the pain away from others. He’s always there for Nara, supporting her in any way that he can. I was so glad to see the outcome with the two of them and cannot wait to start Lucid, the second novel in the series, to see where they go from here.

If you’re looking for a great read that sucks you in from the beginning, with twists and turns that you won’t see coming, then this is definitely one that you’ll want to get your hands on. I’m so glad that I finally had time to read this one and can’t wait to start Lucid.

-Shellie

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour - Nerve by Jeanne Ryan

2012-09-20T08:45:00.000-05:00

Hi guys, today is my stop for the blog tour for the oh-so-wonderful Nerve by Jeanne Ryan. Let me tell you guys, this book is just WOW!!! I was first drawn to this book by someone's W.o.W. post and then I go the chance to be on the blog tour. So yeah, I squee'd and all that good stuff.

Author - Jeanne Ryan
Publisher - Dial Books
Release Date - September 13th, 2012, 304 Pages

A high-stakes online game of dares turns deadly

When Vee is picked to be a player in NERVE, an anonymous game of dares broadcast live online, she discovers that the game knows her. They tempt her with prizes taken from her ThisIsMe page and team her up with the perfect boy, sizzling-hot Ian. At first it's exhilarating--Vee and Ian's fans cheer them on to riskier dares with higher stakes. But the game takes a twisted turn when they're directed to a secret location with five other players for the Grand Prize round. Suddenly they're playing all or nothing, with their lives on the line. Just how far will Vee go before she loses NERVE?

Vee is not the most popular one, her best friend is the star of attention whether it be in the school plays or just the life of the party. All of that changes when she accepts to do a dare for the show Nerve. What seems like harmless pranks turn into something so much more. Vee is paired with the super hot swoon worthy Ian.

While they both have things to do to make it to the next dare or level they give each other the encouragement to do it. In this game you have to question everyone. With Vee and Ian just meeting of course she has to question some of his motives but he's a great guy and is always there when she needs him.

I loved the plot of this. It really makes you think. Would you go in a public place and randomly start singing for money or other gifts? Tempting isn't it? That's what not only Vee and Ian have to go through but every one of the contestants. I really thought that Vee wouldn't do some of the pranks that they were wanting her too but Jeanne made some twists and I was left gasping with the outcome of the situation.

If you are looking for something that will get your adrenaline pumping and a uber hot guy then this is the book for you. Jeanne will throw so many things at you that you'll never be able to guess what will be happening next and when you find out it's a shocker for sure.

-Shellie

Cursed Blitz

2012-09-18T00:01:00.000-05:00

Today marks the day for another one of my favorite authors' books to be released. That's right people, I'm talking about Cursed by Jennifer L Armentrout. I have been waiting for this book for the longest time. Everything about it draws me in...the cover, the synopsis...sigh, I'm in love.
Haven't heard of this book? Well, I'll have to change that real quick. Here is the beautimous cover and the synopsis.

Dying sucks-- and high school senior Ember McWilliams knows firsthand. After a fatal car accident, her gifted little sister brought her back. Now anything Ember touches dies. And that, well, really blows.

Ember operates on a no-touch policy with all living things--including boys. When Hayden Cromwell shows up, quoting Oscar Wilde and claiming her curse is a gift, she thinks he's a crazed cutie. But when he tells her he can help control it, she's more than interested. There's just one catch: Ember has to trust Hayden's adopted father, a man she's sure has sinister reasons for collecting children whose abilities even weird her out.

However, she's willing to do anything to hold her sister's hand again. And hell, she'd also like to be able to kiss Hayden. Who wouldn't? But when Ember learns the accident that turned her into a freak may not have been an accident at all, she's not sure who to trust. Someone wanted her dead, and the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she is to losing not only her heart, but her life. For real this time.

Catching isn't it?!? Yeah, I thought so. Since Jennifer is one of my favorite authors I thought that today would be a good day to write her a little somethin'-somethin'.

Dear Jennifer,
As you know, I absolutely love all your work. In fact, I've lost who knows how many hours of sleep getting caught up in the worlds that you create and have spent God knows how much making sure I own every book that you come out with - in paper back and on my nook, seriously I always have your books with me! I love that you put so much into everything that you write. You talk to us readers and get to know us, even with your crazy hectic life. You have spawned a whole world of Daemon lovers and I'm sure that Pepe will forever be haunted by us...in a good way. I often wonder if you ever get any sleep due to all the writing that you manage to get done, however I am very thankful for everything that you've written. I don't think I could handle too long of a period without my favorite characters coming back out. I don't think I've wanted to slap a character so much as I have some of the ones that you've written (cough...Seth & Daemon) but that's all out of love and if they were real, well, I'd have to hunt them down...kidnap them and keep them in my closet. (Note...I'm not going to come kidnap you Pepe...I need a passport for that and at this time I don't have one. hehe.) I want to thank you for all the hard work that you've done, all the hours that you've invested in all the books that you've written, and just for being the awesome person that you are. Keep up the good work and know that your fan base is growing every day. I can't wait for the books that are coming out in the future and wish nothing but the best for you! =)

Love,
Shellie

Yep, I had to put Love because nothing else seemed more appropriate than that. I want to thank everyone for stopping by today and if you haven't checked out any of Jennifer's work, you're missing out. I promise you won't regret it. I'll have my review of Cursed up on Thursday so make sure you check back then to see what my thoughts are. In the meantime you can check out the trailer here - http://youtu.be/JlU4U1msXjk - and make sure to enter the giveaway that Spencer Hill Press has so graciously put together.
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MTBiNjRkMDYwN2U2MWZjNzBmNmM4YWEwNTEyODI0OjE=/

Blog Tour - Send by Patty Blount

2012-09-13T00:01:00.000-05:00

Hi guys. Today I have Patty on the blog as part of the blog tour. The post that she has written touched my heart. This is a subject that everyone can learn something from whether you be a teen, or adult. Technology can be both good and evil. Here is what Patty has shared with us today -

The Consequences of Technology

In 2004, my son had a growth spurt. He hit five foot nine, started shaving, endured some vicious acne and all the other curses of puberty and so, became the favorite target of a group of little boys who thought it was great fun to tear down the giant. This torment had gone on for months before I ever learned about it.

I didn’t learn about it until my son told me he no longer wanted to live.

He was in sixth grade. Today, he’s in college and doing well, but I will tell you he bears deep scars from his ordeal.

Let’s skip to 2009: a new executive at my day job directed us to start incorporating social media into our work. I knew nothing about networks like Facebook and Twitter and had a lot of homework to do before I could figure out how to meet his directive. The more work I did, the more grateful I became that none of these networks were around back in 2004.

If they had been, I’m sure I would have lost my son.

Social networks are great tools. They give a voice to anyone with an internet connection, they allow us to remain connected to folks we’d otherwise have lost touch with, and they expose us to news before the networks can report it. Here’s the irony: the things that make social networks so great are also the very things that make them so dangerous. The problem with everyone having a voice is that we can’t readily determine which voices are qualified to support the opinions being stated and which are just hot air. Remaining connected can easily become stalking. And, ‘news’ may be nothing more than rumor. (Bon Jovi did not die in December of 2011.)

I have two more bullet points for the Danger list: First, many of us are more likely to say something snarky online than directly to someone’s face. Psychologist John Suler calls this the Online Disinhibition Effect and what’s really scary is most of us aren’t even aware we’re caught up in it. According to Suler, the internet makes us all anonymous and invisible and because there’s no online authority, exaggerates our own sense of self.

In other words – it’s a power trip and power is pretty much the bully’s objective, isn’t it?

Second, there is the immediacy of it and I want to stress that this is NOT a trap limited only to teens. Adults are just as likely to lose their tempers and take inappropriate action based on anger as teens. This is actually why I chose SEND as the title of my book – because the Send key is RIGHT THERE at the top of the screen, just itching to be clicked before you’ve carefully crafted the message you want to express.

I think it’s important for all of us to remember two things: first, technology is not a toy and second, children are not short adults, which means that is exactly how they’ll treat technology. Social sites, smart phones and the internet have the potential for positive and negative results. I don’t know how children can distinguish the good from the bad without guidance from adults.

How old were your children when you bought them a cell phone? Are they on Facebook or Twitter? Do you know who they’re talking to? Better question – do you know who’s talking to them?

Thanks for stopping by Patty!

-Shellie

Randomness of life...

2012-09-06T20:56:00.002-05:00

So yeah...it's already September!!! I've been away from my blog for way to long and that has to change. I feel terrible. As you guys know from my older post I was working as a teller and uber long story short I ended up getting the job that I was originally pinning for when I moved here. I started my current job August 13th and things are settling down to where I have some free brain time =) I've got some reviews that need to go up, some that I have to write, and I'm glad that I booked my blog tours so far in advance otherwise I'd have been uber screwed (however my phone updated to a new operating system and I lost everything in my calendar so yeah...not cool). But, anywho, thanks for hanging in there with me guys. I'll be back to regular posting in no time. =)

On a side note...I just finished Pushing the Limits and Curse. I heart them both and can't wait to share my thoughts with you.

-Shellie

Blog Tour - For Ever by C.J. Valles

2012-08-29T00:01:00.000-05:00

Author - C.J. Valles
Release Date - February 12th, 2012, 452 Pages

Sixteen-year-old Wren Sullivan can read minds, but when she moves from Southern California to Portland, Oregon, she meets Ever Casey—the one person whose mind is off-limits. Wren does know one thing about her mysterious classmate: he has a dark secret to hide. And the closer she gets to learning the truth, the more dangerous it is for her and everyone around her.

*A review copy was provided for honest review*

I wasn't to sure what to think when I first went into this one and then some things dawned on me. I found that a lot of traits Wren had, Bella (Twilight) had, and some other things going on. It reminded me a lot of the first Twilight movie. Now, this isn't a bad thing really because I love that movie and I'm glad that it didn't continue in that direction. For Ever took on a whole twist of it's own and I'm glad I didn't give up on it.

After a good bit into the book things start to take more of a feel of there own and I liked Ever's story and how everything came to be. I loved that there was just a bit of mysterious leading us to want to keep reading until we found out the meat and potatoes were behind the story.

Ever will be there to protect Wren and with him being the hot zombie like boy in school she is drawn to him from day one. There was some tense scenes between them and some steamy kiss scenes that'll leave you breathless. I liked that when she found out some things she didn't handle them well and wanted her space.

I enjoyed reading this one and it was a quick read. It would definitely be something that I would recommend.

-Shellie

Blog Tour - Sykosa by Justin Ordonez - Guest Post

2012-08-15T00:01:00.000-05:00

Best Vacation Ever.

A few years ago, my buddy Jeff and I decided on a road trip from Seattle to his hometown, the silicon palace itself, Los Angeles. The first thing you have to know about Jeff and I is that we’re great friends, but ideologically different. When Jeff was young, his father sat him down and said, “Jeff, in this family, we’re Democrats and we’re atheists.” Conversely, I was raised attending Catholic services every Sunday, attending CCD (Community of Catholic Doctrine) classes, and my parents were about as big a fans of Ronald Reagan as a person can be before crossing over into the completely irrational. In life, I’ve distanced myself from the church, and ended up being politically moderate, but Jeff remained an unapologetic progressive, and he is an atheist.

Knowing this, perhaps you can understand how, shortly after setting off in a too-packed Mazda 3, a harmless five minute conversation about Guns n’ Roses long-awaited release Chinese Democracy morphed into a three-hour intellectual battle-royale over the ethical development and application of stem-cell research. There was shouting, insults, extremely liberal and lengthy use of profanity, which ended in a border city in Oregon, where Jeff had recruited some family members to put us up for the night. As we drove through this pitch black neighborhood, neither of us smart phone owners so we couldn’t GPS our way there, we found our destination, 615 Charlie St. Jeff’s family had promised to stay up until we arrived, so it was a bit odd that all the lights were off, but we hauled our way to the door, knocking loudly three of four times. We then proceeded to argue and joke with each other, then knock some more, and maybe we even shouted, “Open the door! Open the door!” Totally unaware, inside this house was not Jeff’s family, but a frightened old women who had been peeking through her curtains, terrified that these two huge men, one of whom only dresses in black, were about to break down her doors and murder her.

“Don’t you worry about me, dears. IMMA STAND MY GROUND!”

Turns out, there’s two 615 Charlie St addresses in this neighborhood.

Having put the fear of God in an old lady, and in several of the drivers who had to dodge our car when our arguing made our driving erratic, we were tired and happy to find the correct 615 Charlie St. Our next day is spent traveling through northern California, which is a mixture of anti-evolution signs saying, “Is someone trying to make a monkey out of you?” and cow farms that leave a methane stench so thick you’d swear lighting a cigarette would result in nuclear detonation. Reaching the Los Angeles city limits, I joke to Jeff, “You know, I’ve never experienced an earthquake before.” He joked back, “Well, they happen here all the time. You’ll get one, for sure.” Fifteen minutes later, we had lived through four earthquakes. (I kid you not). Slightly freaked, but excited, we turned in for the night, and over the next week, we did the whole of Los Angeles.

We visited the Santa Monica peer and saw its famous Ferris wheel. We stopped off in Studio City, Hollywood, and Brentwood to see the OJ Simpson/Nicole Brown Simpson murder condo. Beverly Hills was when the celebrity sightings started. Sandra Bullock was in a shop wearing big bug glasses, avoiding my gaze with tense shoulders like, “Oh my God, he thinks if he introduces himself I’ll fall in love with him…” and, at lunch, Sarah Jessica Parker walked right by us. We didn’t pay her much mind. She was clearly agitated by it, as she made a point to walk by us again for no good reason. She seemed quite satisfied when our heads turned. One of the most beautiful stop-offs was visiting Jeff’s father in Malibu. He lives at the top of a very large hill overlooking the ocean, (side note: they live above Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, so we drove by the place where Hamill wrecked his Ferrari and his face in the 1977.)

Beneath this backyard, sometime on January 11th, 1977, the force was not with Mark Hamill.

Jeff’s stepmother, Judith, also lives at this Malibu house. She found out that I’m a big Lakers fan. It so happened that the Lakers were about to start the Western Conference Finals, where they would attempt to reach the NBA Finals for the second straight year. Like some kind of dream, Judith, who spent her life doing something in the music industry so a bunch of seedy millionaires owe her favors to stave off the tell-all to end all tell-alls, had comped us tickets to 100 level seats for Game 1.

It was the best surprise a guy like me could get.

We set off for the Staples Center, where the Lakers play. It’s a modern arena surrounded by an ESPN Zone bar, some restaurants and a few shops. It’s also located in downtown Los Angeles, which being a major center city with tons of sky scrapers, my initial conception was that it’s a bit like the New York of the west coast—affluent, multi-cultural, unique. Turns out, it’s the exact opposite. During the day, this busy metropolis houses some of the biggest companies in the world, but at the first sign of dusk, its occupants flee like refugees do a crazed dictator. Downtown Los Angeles after sundown is so crime filled, so violent, and so ludicrously so that Artie Lange, a comedian from Howard Stern fame, once noted in his autobiography, Too Fat Too Fish, “[Downtown Los Angeles] is the kind of place where you can fire a bazooka and the cops wouldn’t know about it for three days.” I was a bit worried, as I wasn’t so confident I could survive a drive-by shooting like I could an earthquake, but the police presence for the game was dense enough to provide that safe, internment camp feel.

The stadium atmosphere was surreal, and informative as to the culture and drive of the area. Los Angeles’s big industry is show business—music, movies, tv, theater. If it involves a stage and an audience, this city has it in spades. It so happens the Lakers are also known as Showtime, so believe me, a Lakers game is more a three ring circus than a sporting event. At any given moment, thirty non-basketball related activities are going on. As well, the place is stuffed with A-list movie stars. When you find your seat, you’re feet away from Justin Timberlake. Denzel Washington gives you the “prepare to die, motherf***er,” look after you cut him off at the urinal. And when you sneeze, Dustin Hoffman says, “God bless you.” Jeff and I didn’t fully understand this, so imagine our surprise to find, when entering the 100 level in our Laker shirts and hats, we totally didn’t fit in. What was before us wasn’t a basketball audience, it was a club. A sea of mega-rich men, in sleek suits with tanned faces, who were trying to forget their wives, and that wasn’t difficult being surrounded by wannabe starlets who were all in five-inch heels with skirts so short it made the Laker Girls dance squad look like prudes. None of these people watched the game, they just mingled and socialized and moved about, and should they incidentally see a big play, they wouldn’t cheer unless it involved Kobe Bryant.

Imagine this, only the guys are scheezier and the women never stop checking their phones.

Speaking of Kobe, he ended the night with 40 points, 4 assists, and 6 rebounds. I left the stadium totally charged up, shouting, “Layyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy-

KERS!” at the top of my lungs, tens of people around me chanting back. That said, Jeff and I didn’t linger. We made sure to be far away before the police packed up and we found ourselves kidnapped and enslaved to one of the city’s sweat shops (a real problem for Los Angeles).

On our final day, Jeff and I made our way to Six Flags Magic Mountain. (Don’t know what Magic Mountain is? Yes, you do! It’s Wally World from Chevy Chase’s Vacation. This is an interesting element to Los Angeles. Literally so many tv shows and movies are shot there that, if we air dropped you into the city with no clue as to where you were, it’d take three blocks before you’d say, “I recognize that from CSI! Am I in Los Angeles?”) Magic Mountain is the Cedar Point of the west coast. It’s got 10 or 12 roller coasters that’ll put the fear of God in you. It’s also way out there in Valencia, and because it was late May, which meant school was still in session, and it was a Wednesday, which meant kids should be there, Jeff and I figured we’d be able to do the rides quick and easy. It turned out to be Senior Day and the place is packed with maybe 40 school buses full of seventeen year old boys and girls. In the case of the girls, based on how underdressed their bodies were in correlation to how much make-up their faces wore, you’d swear they were at least nineteen or twenty year old coeds if they didn’t have braces and walk in that bow-legged way girls do before they finish puberty. If you want to feel like a pervert, try being a guy over twenty-five even standing coincidently near a pack of these girls.

Trust me, they’re not whispering about how cute you are.

We did the park, anyway. Standing in lines, pretending the kiddies weren’t there, and making Viper our first coaster. Like a pro, Jeff kept his video camera on for the whole ride. It had been a while since he’d last been on a coaster, and should you feel like some comedy (warning: if you are offended by the f-bomb, don’t watch the video. We’re not trying to be jerks, we’re terrified), you can watch Jeff and I losing it during the ride (http://youtu.be/R2dbi0seiag). The day turned out awesome. We got most of the major coasters done, and we were debating heading home when I noticed a huge wall fashioned like a giant rock. I’ve seen it two or three times as we’ve crisscrossed the park, but it wasn’t until we stepped away from it that I saw the massive writing chiseled into it, spelling Goliath. It wasn’t only a big decorative wall, it was a ride, and as I read this, a pack of those teenage girls appeared from behind it. They were clearly shaken, as if their souls had been hollowed out, their perfect hair frazzled, and their pointer fingers frantically wiping under their eyelids, trying desperately not to run their make-up.
Five minutes later, another pack of girls exited like this.

Five after that, another pack.

We had to know what this ride was about. Come to find out, it’s got a fake wall because it was hiding its super-long line. In fact, it needed several fake walls, each making you think when you pass it, you’ll find yourself close to the ride itself. What felt like four hours later, we were loaded up onto a rather pedestrian appearing ride. I couldn’t understand why all these girls were acting so dramatic. The cart itself was kinda retro, really smoothed out, and the support bar holding you in place didn’t have shoulder restraints. There wasn’t even a place to grip your hands, how scary could it be? Two minutes and 235 feet in the air later, I discovered what terrified these girls. I was about to straight vertically drop, the angle so close to ninety that I couldn’t see any of the carts in front of me, and one-fourth of the way down, I discovered why they didn’t bother with hand grips. The centripetal force was so incredible, my hands were immobilized into my chest, which was probably for the best, as who knows what limbs I might’ve lost trying to stop my face from being ripped off.

It’s okay. The doctors fixed it.

I’d recall the rest of the ride for you, but I either blacked out or totally repressed it.

The next day, we took our satisfied selves back to Seattle, where we went back to work and back to normal life, in general. For the next week, I wrote several drafts of emails resigning my job, then got close to almost sending one while I sat around day-dreaming of running off to LA where I would become a big movie star, or failing that, a scheezy old guy dating gorgeous college drop-outs with no concept of reality. The desire was so intense it took several months for me to stop seriously considering it. It was one hell of a fine vacation, though, and I’d do it again in a heart beat.

In fact, I did.

Jeff and I did repeated whole thing the next year.

Blog Tour - Never Say Never by Kailin Gow

2012-08-13T00:01:00.000-05:00

Hi guys! Today is my stop for the Never Say Never Blog Tour. A big thanks to Heather @ SupaGurl Books and of course to Kailin Gow for letting me be part of this tour. So on to my review and some author deets afterwards.

Author - Kailin Gow
Publisher - theEDGEbooks.com
Release Date - August 13th, 2012, 227 Pages

What girl wouldn't want to be surrounded by the sexy guys from the hottest teen rock sensation in the country? 18-year-old Never "Neve" Knight, not only is surrounded by the hottest boys to hit the music charts, but she is the band's lead singer. As the band's lead singer and manager, Never formed and shaped the band to where it is today, a band on the rise and on the brink of being signed by a label. As one of the guys, she knew each of the band members since they were all snot-nose ten-year-olds. While her boys were the cutest guys and they would protect her like knights, she couldn't date any one of them and ruin the chance at being signed with the record label of her dreams.

That changes when one of the band members suddenly drops out of the band, and in walks Danny Blue, with his dreamy blue eyes, hot body, and British accent. Suddenly, Never's solid world has turned to mush, and her rule for not dating one of her band members is seriously challenged. Can she keep her head straight and get her band signed with a label without losing her heart?

*A copy was provided by Kailin Gow as part of the blog tour for an honest review*

Never 'Neve' Knight is trying to get her band The Never Knights signed with a big record company without the help of her former rock star dad and/or her model mother. She's grown up with the boys in the band; they've all watched each other go from weird little kids to beginning their college life's.

Neve has always had a rule when it comes to dating between band mates - never, ever do it if you want to keep the band together. As the band gets more attention and publicity the guys start to show and tell Neve how they feel for her and she has to remind them of that rule - no dating in the band. All that seems to change when Geoff gets hurt and Neve's hot teacher assistant Danny fills his spot.

I liked that Neve wanted to make it big on her own terms without the help of her rich and famous parents. She wanted to stay hidden amongst others so she wouldn't get promoted just because of her name. She's the type that once her mind is made there's no changing it.

Although I could see some things coming I did enjoy it and want to see where things go in the next installment. The one thing I didn't like was it seemed all the boys were after Neve. I understand that when the new person is brought in sometimes there has to be a choice or decision but for almost all the guys plus one was just a bit too much. I did love the raw emotions that came into play with several of the characters, including Never.

I'll be keeping my eye out for book two, Never Land to see where the story will take the characters and how they'll handle everything thrown at them. It was a quick and entertaining read for me. Beware there are some steamy scene's in this one that will leave your face red by some of the actions...and because of those is why it's getting the 4 heart rating.

-Shellie

More about the author -
Kailin Gow is the author of over 100 books, with the majority of them for young adults. Her most
popular series are: The Frost Series, PULSE Series, Desire Series, Wicked Woods, Steampunk Scarlett
Novels, and more. A full-time author, she is also a producer, having worked in radio, television, and
film. She grew up in Southern California, lived in Texas and England, and had traveled extensively
around the world.

You can find her at these places -
Website: www.KailinGowBooks.com
Blog: http://KailinGow.Wordpress.com
Twitter: http://Twitter.com/KailinGow
Facebook: http://Facebook.com/KailinGowBooks
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/KailinGow

Review - The Raft by S.A. Bodeen

2012-08-07T00:01:00.000-05:00

Author - S.A. Bodeen
Publisher - Feiwel & Friends
Release Date - August 21st, 2012, 231 Pages

Robie is an experienced traveler. She’s taken the flight from Honolulu to the Midway Atoll, a group of Pacific islands where her parents live, many times. When she has to get to Midway in a hurry after a visit with her aunt in Hawaii, she gets on the next cargo flight at the last minute. She knows the pilot, but on this flight, there’s a new co-pilot named Max. All systems are go until a storm hits during the flight. The only passenger, Robie doesn’t panic until the engine suddenly cuts out and Max shouts at her to put on a life jacket. They are over miles of Pacific Ocean. She sees Max struggle with a raft.

And then . . . she’s in the water. Fighting for her life. Max pulls her onto the raft, and that’s when the real terror begins. They have no water. Their only food is a bag of Skittles. There are sharks. There is an island. But there’s no sign of help on the way.

*A review copy was provided through Netgalley from Feiwel & Friends for review purposes*

The Raft starts off giving us some history of our main character Robie and why she lives on Midway Atoll, a group of Pacific islands. Her parents are researchers so to get away from being on that small island all the time she will escape to Honolulu to stay with her aunt. I really liked the beginning part on how everything went down. She was staying with her aunt, aunt had to leave for business and only agreed to Robie staying there if a friend checked in on her, friend fell through, Robie never told anyone and thought she was going to have a blast by herself only to get a shocking dose of reality by a creepy dude. This sets her in motion to go back home to her parents thus the true story begins.

I was gripped with adrenaline while reading what was going on during the accident and shortly after; you couldn’t have ripped my Nook out of my hands if you tried. But sadly things didn’t hold so well for me throughout the rest. I always give my best when reading so I continued hoping that Robie would smarten up a bit but unfortunately she didn’t. I myself have never been stranded or went days without food or water but I do know this; IF I ever did and food presented itself to me and it had been like 4-6 days since I had eaten…well sorry my sea friend…I’m going to nom nom on you just sayin.

I just wasn’t able to really relate with Robie or connect with her during the survival part (I think I actually yelled at my Nook a time or two). Some things were very predictable while others did leave me a little shocked I must say. I’ve seen mixed things on this one so maybe it’s just me, I’m not sure. I did like it enough to finish it and glad that I did but again it just wasn’t that WOW for me. The ending did give Robie some closure on some things that had happened and she was still trying to figure out what really happened during those days, what conversations may or may not have taken place, so for her to start getting a grip on things again was nice to see. Overall it was a quick read and one that you could read in either one sitting or put down and pick back up without feeling lost.

-Shellie

Review - One Moment by Kristina McBride

2012-08-06T00:01:00.000-05:00

Author - Kristina McBride
Publisher - EgmontUSA
Release Date - June 26th, 2012, 272 Pages

This was supposed to be the best summer of Maggie's life. Now it's the one she'd do anything to forget.

Maggie remembers hanging out at the gorge with her closest friends after a blowout party. She remembers climbing the trail with her perfect boyfriend, Joey. She remembers that last kiss, soft, lingering, and meant to reassure her. So why can't she remember what happened in the moment before they were supposed to dive? Why was she left cowering at the top of the cliff, while Joey floated in the water below-dead?
As Maggie's memories return in snatches, nothing seems to make sense. Why was Joey acting so strangely at the party? Where did he go after taking her home? And if Joey was keeping these secrets, what else was he hiding?

*A review copy was provided through NetGalley for an honest review*

- One moment can change everything in your life. -

What would you do if you found out that everything you've been living has been a lie? That the ones you love and trust so much have so easily betrayed you?

Maggie is living the perfect life with all her friends and boyfriend Joey until that one moment changed it all. With Joey's death little secrets start to come out which left me turning the pages even faster. Even though I saw some things coming I still enjoyed this book a lot.

You get to see Maggie find out bits and pieces of Joey's life she never thought would be possible; seeing her take in all that information that is both killing her and helping her at the same time. There is a wonderful bond between the six friends so i think that's what makes the betrayal that much more shocking. Maggie was a character that was easy to understand and like. She isn't the mean type, even when everything had been laid out in the open. She has such a good heart and goes through so much that my heart aches for her.

The pacing was wonderful, i loved how everything came at just the right time. Like I said, I could see some things coming but it didn't bother me, just made my heart ache for Maggie and the others.

One Moment is full of love, friendships, loss, and betrayal. It shows us that there is something more than just what meets the eye, that people can have two different sides and you not know one of them at all. Most of all it shows of grievance, acceptance, and forgiveness.

-Shellie

Review - A Want so Wicked by Suzanne Young

2012-07-31T00:01:00.000-05:00

Author- Suzanne Young
Publisher - Balzer + Bray
Release Date - June 26th, 2012, 288 Pages

Elise is a normal seventeen-year-old girl until the day she wakes up in a desert park, with no idea who she is.

After that episode, her life takes a bizarre turn. She’s experiencing unexpected flashes of insight into people’s lives—people she’s never met before. Strangers frighten her with warnings about the approaching Shadows. And although Elise has never had a boyfriend, she suddenly finds herself torn between two handsome but very different young men: Abe, the charming bad boy whose effect on her both seduces and frightens her, and the mysterious Harlin, who’s new to town but with whom Elise feels an urgent, elemental connection—almost as if they are soul mates.

Now Elise begins to question everything about her life. Why do these guys both want her so desperately? What are the Shadows? Why does the name Charlotte inspire a terrifying familiarity? And who is Elise, really?

*A copy was provided by publisher for honest review*

Oh how I've been waiting for this one. If you haven't read A Need So Beautiful go grab it real quick like and get to it...at least you won't have to wait a billion days for the sequel to come out like I did.

A Want So Wicked picks up where Charlotte ended in A Need So Beautiful. Elise wakes up and in her reflection she swears she sees someone else. She starts having weird feelings, seeing things, and gets attacked by an old crazy woman. It has been forever, it seems, since I read A Need So Beautiful so I was glad that Suzanne threw in some things from it to kick start the memories and get the "oh yeah...." going again.

I love the plot line more in A Want so Wicked than I did in the first book, this is one hell of a sequel! The characters bring so much raw emotion that you even feel for the bad guys. When we are introduced to Abe I thought there might be an insta-something to happen but it didnt go in that direction, and for that, Suzanne I thank you!

The suspense kept me turning the pages to see what was going to happen, how things would turn out this time around. I loved that the questions I had about how this could even be possible were answered without me being left in the dark or left with questions about certain things.

I loved seeing the relationship between Elise and Harlin form and grow. The love that they have for one another is something else altogether, something that everyone wants to have. Even though it sometimes brings them pain they both know what lies ahead. I really hope that they announce that there will be a third book because I would love to have more.

If you are looking on a new take on things from the angel aspect of reading definitely pick these two up, you won't be disappointed.

-Shellie

Blog Tour - Knee Deep by Jolene Perry

2012-07-13T00:01:00.001-05:00

Hi guys! Today is my stop for this wonderful tour. I hadn't read anything by Jolene Perry but after this, that will all change. I'm so glad that I was able to be part of this tour. (Don't you like the cover? I heart it <3) Now back to our regularly scheduled program...er...review.

Author - Jolene Perry
Publisher - Tribute Books
Release Date - May 1st, 2012, 176 Pages

Shawn is the guy Ronnie Bird promised her life to at the age of fourteen. He's her soul mate. He's more uptight every day, but it's not his fault. His family life is stressful, and she's adding to it. She just needs to be more understanding, and he'll start to be the boy she fell in love with. She won’t give up on someone she’s loved for so long.

Luke is her best friend, and the guy she hangs with to watch girlie movies in her large blanketopias. He's the guy she can confide in before she even goes to her girlfriends, and the guy who she's playing opposite in Romeo and Juliet. Now her chest flutters every time he gets too close. This is new. Is Ronnie falling for him? Or is Juliet? The lines are getting blurry, but leaving one guy for another is not something that a girl like Ronnie does.

Shawn’s outbursts are starting to give her bruises, and Luke’s heart breaks as Ronnie remains torn. While her thoughts and feelings swirl around the lines between friendship and forever, she’s about to lose them both.

*A review copy was provided to be part of the blog tour for honest review*

Wow. Just wow. Jolene knows how to deliver a powerful message in Knee Deep. With so many people - teens and adults alike - being in abusive relationships, this touched my heart in more than one way. For me it was really easy to relate with Ronnie because I myself was in an abusive relationship when I was the same age. I know what Ronnie means, how she feels, why she defends him and how she blames herself.

Ronnie and Shawn have been together forever, she doesn't ever see herself with anyone else...ever. But things are changing in Shawn and not only does she notice it but so does their best friend Luke and Ronnie's other best friend Mindy. She thinks its just stress of everything that's going on at home, whatever that is since he's not talking about it.

With the way the story is told you want to tell Ronnie to run but you see the struggle she has within herself; thinking she could change him or do things differently to make his life easier which would result in a happy Shawn. As always in abusive relationships it doesn't start out full blown abuse its something that's "an accident" that an "I'm-so-sorry" should explain and take care of and the next thing you know you're in the hospital wondering exactly why you stayed and how to now fix your own life.

Ronnie has kept everything a secret, even from her two best friends but Luke can read her better than anyone, maybe even better than Shawn and after that first bruise shows up he knows whats really going on and is there in the background to protect her even though she says she "has it under control".

I loved the relationship that formed out of this mess of Ronnie's life. Not only does she have amazing friends who are there for her at any time she has an amazing family as well. This isn't something that everyone has. If you haven't been in a situation like this before you'll question Ronnie and want to slap the stupid out of her, but if you've been there then you know all too well what happens inside that messed up thing you call a relationship.

Knee Deep touches a subject that more people need to be aware of and what signs can look like in the beginning. Guess its easier to spot when your reading then it is in real life. I loved every part of this book, even the sad parts because I knew that ultimately Ronnie was growing and would eventually be okay. I devoured this in hours. I haven't been so consumed by a compemporary in so long so thank you Joleen writing your wonderful writing and bringing a wonderful message across without being too harsh or judgemental! So, what are you guys waiting for...go pick up a copy you won't regret it.

-Shellie

Am I missing?!?

2012-07-12T00:23:00.000-05:00

I sure do feel like it right about now, but no I'm not missing. I mentioned a couple weeks ago that I would be started my new job and I swear I will die a death by powerpoint! There is so much to do and learn...and this is just the online courses that I have to do. From the 23rd-27th I'll be doing my in-class training. Rambling much? Well, yes I believe I am. But...I wanted you guys to know what I've been doing, why I haven't been around that often and that I'll be back into all my regular postings soon because I get to read on the train to and from work everyday. Hope all is well with everyone. Miss and hearts you all <3<3<3

-Shellie

Blog Tour - Wings of Arian by Devri Walls

2012-07-10T00:01:00.000-05:00

Hi guys! Today is my date during this tour for Devri's debut novel Wings of Arian. I want to give another thanks to Devri for allowing me the opportunity to be part of this tour and reviewing the book =) So without further ado, here is my review of Wings of Arian.

Author - Devri Walls
Publisher - Stonehouse Ink.
Release Date - April 24th, 2012, 462 Pages

Kiora thought she had never heard a lie until she was sixteen. But she was wrong. Her entire existence was based on nothing but. She thought that evil did not exist. Lie. That magic was not real. Lie. And that the land of Meros was all there was. One more lie.

With Aleric telling her that evil is knocking on the door and that she is the only one who can stop them she has a choice to make. Refuse, or start the wildest most painful ride of her life.
She reluctantly dips her toe into her new existence of magic and threads, dragons and shapeshifters, and the person who wants to take control of it all: the evil Dralazar.

However, this journey was never meant to be hers alone. She will be accompanied by a Protector. To her disbelief, and utter irritation they name the hotheaded, stubborn, non -magical, (albeit gorgeous) Prince Emane. They will have to trust each other with their lives, but right now Kiora would settle for a non hostile conversation.

And now it comes down to this, If you had never heard a lie, would you know when you heard one? Is knowing good from evil innate? Kiora finds herself having to decide who lives and who dies on those very questions.

*A review copy was provided by the author for an honest review*

In a world where magic and evil doesnt exist, Kiora's life -and those around her - is going to change dramatically. I'm not too much into sci-fi however I did enjoy this one once I got use to the world setting so for those that really enjoy a good sci-fi you'll want to pick this one up.

For a thousand years the land has not known that evil has been lurking right around the corner and knows nothing of the magic nor the magical beings that are there amoungst them. Kiora has been chosen as the Solus to protect the people. This is something that she finds disbelieving because she doesnt see herself as being one to stand up to evil and concur it. With every Solus there is a Protector and in this case it would be the King's son, Prince Emane. I could see where the whole love/relationship was going to end up but I did like seeing the relationship blossom and grow into what it came to be.

In a world created to start second guessing people's every intention with magic and a love that is so strong Wings of Arian is beautifully woven together and even though I'm not a sci-fi person I will be picking up book 2 when released to see what is coming next.

-Shellie

Waiting on Wednesday (35)

2012-07-04T00:35:00.002-05:00

This is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.
This week I am waiting for -
Author - Maggie Stiefvater
Release Date - September 18th, 2012

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

A) The cover and B) The synopsis. Those two combined makes it something that I want in my hands like yesterday. Of course, click on the link to add it to your Goodreads TBR pile...mine will eventually kill me just a fyi. What are you waiting for this week? Leave me a link so I can come check it out. Oh and HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!! Hope everyone has a safe and full filled day <3

-Shellie

Review - Exiled by M.R. Merrick

2012-07-02T00:01:00.000-05:00

Author - M.R. Merrick
Publisher - M.R. Merrick via Smashwords
Release Date - June 28th, 2011, 264 Pages

Chase Williams is a demon hunter in the Circle, or at least he was supposed to be. On his fifteenth birthday, Chase stepped up to the altar to claim his elemental power, but it never came. Elemental magic is passed down to a hunter through the bloodline, but on Chase's birthday, the bloodline stopped.

Exiled without the Circle's protection, Chase has spent two years trying to survive a world riddled with half-demons and magic. When he has a run in with a frightened and seemingly innocent demon, he learns the Circle's agenda has changed: the Circle plans to unlock a portal and unleash pure-blood demons into the world. Vowing to stop them, and knowing he can't do it alone, Chase forms a reluctant alliance with Rayna — a sexy witch with an attitude and a secret.

In their attempt to stop them, Chase and Rayna find themselves in the middle of the Circle's plan, leaving one of them to decide what their friendship is worth, and the other's life depending on it.

Matt gives us one hell of a story in Exiled, one that I didn’t want to put down and super glad I already had Shift - the second novel in the series - when I was finished. We are thrown into a world of demon hunters, demons, half-breeds, trolls, goblins - and on that note, never piss one of those off, things can get a bit scary - witches, and other dimensions. I was instantly hooked and couldn’t flip the page - or in my case tap the screen - quick enough to find out what was happening next.

Chase Williams has lived, studied, and trained in the Circle his whole life awaiting the day he could claim his elemental powers; that day would come on his fifteenth birthday however no powers would. This resulted in himself and his mother being exiled from the Circle; a society of hunters sworn to protect the innocent from demons that they are faced with almost every day. His own father, Riley, was one that went with the decision to cast them out.

After being exiled Chase still had his fair share of fights with demons because everyone in the Underworld wants to be the one to kill him, just because he is the son of Riley. One night he senses a demon - Rayna - and things in his life change drastically after that. He learns that things aren’t the same as they use to be and something is going on inside the Circle that goes against all their rules and beliefs.

I loved the characters and watching Chase realize what was going on, adapt to the change, stand up for what he thought was right, dealing with dark family issues, and of course there’s the girl. I absolutely loved Raynas smirky character; she was full of that sarcastic charm I adore. There wasn’t any romance or insta-love but a friendship growing from an I’d-never-associate-with-someone-like-you to possibly being something more in the future…guess I’ll find out soon enough. If you want something with action, well then my friends, this is the one. There are threats, tons of fights, magic, all the goodies all thrown together into this action packed wonderfully paced book. With all this said you may not believe me when I say that I had some tears, so Matt you are one sneaky sneak for doing that just want you to know.

Exiled takes us to another world where the demons we’ve all read about are told from a different angle; to which I loved. It’s one that you’ll be rooting for the characters while they are going through their journey while your emotions are running all over the place…not to mention your adrenaline pumping until the very end. This is one that I’d highly recommend to anyone; especially those that haven’t read a good book in a while because this will get that I-wanna-read leave-me-the-hell-alone gear back in place.

-Shellie

Holy hell...

2012-07-01T16:59:00.001-05:00

So yeah...it's JULY 1st!!! Where the hell has time gone? This year is moving way to quickly for my liking! I did get some books this last week but with me starting my new job tomorrow and all that good jazz I managed to not take pictures of them before stacking them in my pile-o-books that will eventually fall and kill me at some point in my life. I'm uber excited and nervous all at the same time for starting my new job...I can't wait...not having a job since I left Florida has been a really big stress-er for me so I'm extremely thankful that I got this position and it's not in a call center, woot woot. Now, working in a call center isn't bad at all however I've been in that field with different companies since I was 17...I just turned 28...I don't want to be in a call center the rest of my life! So with all my ramblings said...I hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend and for those that had horrible weather with tornadoes and whatnot that you're safe and sound and there was no damage. This is what my weather looks like...I am now 100% certain that Weatherbug is lying to me...I have proof now as you'll see below.

Forecast - Very Hot (Sun w/Cactus to prove said point)

What it really looks like! (Yeah, I'm that little person)

Hope you all have a wonderful week...now off to write reviews and get them ready to post this week =) If you have a Stacking The Shelves or other post you'd like me to come check out leave me a link!

-Shellie

Feature & Follow Blog Hop (30)

2012-06-29T00:01:00.000-05:00

This is a weekly event hosted by Parajunkee & Alison Can Read to help us bloggers venture out & find other blogs that we might not have come across. Each week there are 2 feature bloggers, you can find their information on either of the sites listed above. There is a new question up each week and this weeks question is -

Q: Birthday Wishes -- Blow out the candles and imagine what character could pop out of your cake...who is it and what book are they from?

Hrm...can I have two? If so then it's so an easy answer Patch from Hush, Hush and Seth from Half-Blood. If I can't have two well then...we have a problem cause I don't think my heart could choose between the two! What about you? Leave me a link so I can come check out yours! Let me know if you're an old or new follower so I can come follow back <3

-Shellie

Waiting on Wednesday (34)

2012-06-27T00:01:00.000-05:00

This is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.
This week I am waiting for -
Author - Jeanne Ryan
Release Date - September 13th, 2012

A high-stakes online game of dares turns deadly
When Vee is picked to be a player in NERVE, an anonymous game of dares broadcast live online, she discovers that the game "knows" her. They tempt her with prizes taken from her ThisIsMe page and team her up with the perfect boy, sizzling-hot Ian. At first it's exhilarating--Vee and Ian's fans cheer them on to riskier dares with higher stakes. But the game takes a twisted turn when they're directed to a secret location with five other players for the Grand Prize round. Suddenly they're playing all or nothing, with their lives on the line. Just how far will Vee go before she loses NERVE?

Does this not sound suspenseful or what? I can't wait to see what this one is going to be like and the cover is something else altogether as well. The synopsis reminds me of the movie Gamer in a kinda-sorta-in-a-way type feeling but I'm sure this will be completely different.

What are you guys waiting for this week? Leave me a link so I can come check it out!

-Shellie

Review - Never Enough by Denise Jaden

2012-06-26T00:01:00.000-05:00

Author - Denise Jaden
Publisher - Simon Pulse
Release Date - July 10th, 2012, 400 Pages

Loann’s always wanted to be popular and pretty like her sister, Claire. So when Claire’s ex-boyfriend starts flirting with her, Loann is willing to do whatever it takes to feel special… even if that means betraying her sister.

But as Loann slips inside Claire’s world, she discovers that everything is not as it seems. Claire’s quest for perfection is all-consuming, and comes at a dangerous price. As Claire increasingly withdraws from friends and family, Loann struggles to understand her and make amends. Can she heal their relationship —and her sister—before it’s too late?

*A review copy was provided by Simon Pulse for review purposes*

Never Enough delves into the lives of sisters that are both facing their own personal demons. We are introduced to Loann and her sister, Claire. Loann is use to being basically the shadow of Claire, even her parents make the remarks of “Why don’t you be more like Claire?” or “Look at what Claire has done, or is doing in her life” this of course is bound to make anyone start to doubt themselves and that is exactly what Loann is doing. She doesn’t see herself as pretty, she thinks that Claire is absolutely beautiful and something that she’ll never be. She’s never been the popular one and dies to get the smallest chance to hang out with Claire and her group of friends. And it doesn’t help that Claire’s boyfriend is the one and only Josh that Loann has crushed on since the sixth grade so any chance to be near him is just a bittersweet bonus for her.

At the beginning I was on the fence on how I felt about this because it seemed that Loann was always thinking that everything was about her. The people that were gossiping or snickering always had to be making fun of her, even though that wasn’t even the case. However, each time I would think about that and how irritating it was I would put myself in her shoes and with her insecurities I’d probably be thinking the same thing. Loann has never had many friends and things quickly go south with the two people she could call friends so now she’s even more alone than she has been. This is when we are introduced to Marcus, the boy with his own problems that has his locker right next to hers.

What I loved the most about Never Enough is watching the characters grow and feel off of each other. They are there to give each other strength and space equally. Sometimes I wanted to smack Loann for the reactions that she had but after she cooled off she notices her mistakes and that redeemed her, in my opinion anyway. The way that Denise has weaved everything together was beautiful, however I must warn you, you may need tissues towards the end. I didn’t forsee the waterworks when I started this or hell half way through it, but sure enough; I was so into what was going on the next thing I know there is a tear going down my cheek. The love that is in here isn’t something that happens right away but when it does it makes it that much better. There is a light at the end of the tunnel for Loann with everything that she has been through.

I was so wrapped into the story with Loann that I didn’t see what was happening to Claire until it was there, and there was no turning back for any of them. You get to see the small changes but aren’t thinking too much about the situation because of the way that Claire is acting and the next thing you know it’s something that is out of control.

If you like a book that will suck you in from the beginning, drive you a little bit crazy but in a good way, and leave you with tears at the end then this is definitely one that you will want to get your hands on. You get to feel so many emotions while reading this…we have love, hate, rage, revenge, sorrow, forgiveness, and loyalty. Ms. Jaden knows how to deliver a knock-out when it comes to her writing style. I haven’t read Losing Faith but after this it’s on my list now.

-Shellie

Review - Until I Die by Amy Plum

2012-06-25T00:01:00.000-05:00

Author - Amy Plum
Publisher - HarperCollins
Release Date - May 8th, 2012, 357 Pages

Kate and Vincent have overcome the odds and at last they are together in Paris, the city of lights and love.

As their romance deepens there’s one question they can’t ignore: How are they supposed to be together if Vincent can’t resist sacrificing himself to save others? Although Vincent promises that he’ll do whatever it takes to lead a normal life with Kate, will that mean letting innocent people die? When a new and surprising enemy reveals itself, Kate realizes that even more may be at stake—and that Vincent’s immortality is in jeopardy.

Amy has done it again with Until I Die. It picks right back up where Die For Me ended and we are thrown right back into the lives of Kate and Vincent in our lovely Paris setting. We learned a bit of what being a Revenant was like in Die For Me but Amy delves more into their background in Until I Die. All the questions that I had when Die For Me ended was answered in this sequel and I loved every bit of it.

We have the same characters and we’re introduced into some older Revenants which gave the story a wonderful twist. I will have to say that I still love me some Jules and Ambrose, if anything happens to them my heart my just shatter and they aren’t the main ones in the story! The love that Kate and Vincent have it something that is defying what Vincent is; as he is trying so hard to fight his instincts to save people to stay with Kate. Kate is a strong character and once she has her mind made up she is going to do what she set out to do with no one stopping her.

I thought the pacing was perfect as we are given background information, some history, new characters and a bit of their history all while seeing Kate and Vincent’s relationship go through a bump shall we call it. We got to see plenty of action and the consequences to some choices that were made in Die For Me.

Now the ending…well let’s just say that Amy knows how to keep us interested and anxiously awaiting the third and final novel to the series, If I Should Die. This is definitely a great middle book between the series, it fills the reader in with so much information and the leaves you breathless at the end begging to get your hands on the last installment. If you haven’t read this series yet, it’s a must. The plot line is great and the twist throughout both books so far has been amazing. I can’t wait to see what Amy has in store for us in If I Should Die.

-Shellie