Geek Girl Obsess

Book Tour (Review & Favorite Quotes) + Giveaway: Losing the Ice (Ice #2) by Jennifer Comeaux

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 17:55:00 +0000

Series: Ice #2
Release date: February 23rd 2015
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:
Courtney and Josh are in love and excited to finally compete as skating partners. When they take the ice for their first competition, they want to show everyone, especially Josh's family, they are the perfect pair.
But ice is slippery, and one misstep puts all their dreams in jeopardy. Now they must show each other both their love and their partnership are strong enough to survive.

I'm so lucky to have received Losing the Ice. The thing is, I absolutely adored Crossing the Ice and those six months were way to long to wait for th sequel. So getting it early was not only a pleasure but also a relief.

First off, Josh and Courtney were adorable as ever. It's hard to tell any more than that without spoilers, but I can disclose this much; their relationship changed. A lot. And it's not necessarily in an easy or positive way. However, in the end I was more than satisfied with how the difficulties morphed their romance into something more and, of course, the fluffiness just made. Me. Swooon.

The story was also exciting. Many bumps along the way and Ms Comeaux always sets the pacing so well. Both Crossing the Ice and Losing the Ice were unputdownable. Although, I did have one issue with Losing the Ice. While it was a great story, it felt more like a prequel. It was rather short and more or less revolving around the one main thread.

All in all, Losing the Ice didn't disappoint me. While I wish it had been a tad longer, I can't wait for the third book to come out. (Do we even have a title yet??)

Favorite Quotes:

"They made me want to run screaming into the hills." - Courtney

""If she starts giving you a hard time, we're out the door." "Then we should probably keep our coats on." - Josh and Courtney

"And you told me, 'You're not going to fall because I'll always protect you." - Stephanie

"What a gorgeous night." I tilted my head back to gaze at the sky full of twinkling light. "There must be a million stars out." - Courtney

About the Author
Jennifer Comeaux is a tax accountant by day, writer by night. There aren’t any ice rinks near her home in south Louisiana, but she’s a die-hard figure skating fan and loves to write stories of romance set in the world of competitive skating.
One of her favorite pastimes is traveling to competitions, where she can experience all the glitz and drama that inspire her writing. Jennifer loves to hear from readers!
jennifercomeaux.blogspot.com | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

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Blog Tour: Shadow of Loss by Josefina Gutierrez

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 16 Dec 2014 21:15:00 +0000

The Shadow of Loss
by Josefina Gutierrez
Release Date: 09/31/14

Summary from Goodreads:

Evelyn Gonzalez keeps losing people, which is always hard, but has she lost something much more? Has she lost her soul? Evelyn has a nervous breakdown and is institutionalized, after months of sorrow and pain she is thrust back into the world. The world of teenage angst and Calculus.

Can she trust people again? Especially after hurtful assumptions and judgments made her miss her junior year of high school. Evelyn is just trying to heal what she lost and graduate from high school.

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Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo Books│Book Shop

About the Author

Josefina Gutierrez is a Young Adult eBook author and a forever student currently working towards a Masters in Bicultural-Bilingual Studies at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Josefina writes Young Adult Multicultural, Sci-fi, and Fantasy literature in her free time when she’s not embarking on adventures with her son and gnomes Fitzgerald and Bartholomew.

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Facebook

EXCERPT:

Ever heard the expression it all went down in a pile of flames? Well shit, I didn’t think life was going to get all literal about it. Now I am quietly tucked away between four white walls and a twin bed, where I can touch opposing walls with my index fingers. I have been stuck with my thoughts in this box for months. I have been cut off from the outside world, because I went crazy. My own sister, locked me up, but I don’t blame her—I really don’t. Olive was trying to help me when everyone else abandoned me. She writes me letters every week. I guess it is another way to anchor me to the living. It’s not like I don’t see her on visiting days, but like she says, “Letters are better for communicating, they force you to realize what is important.”

“Miss Gonzalez, your sister has arrived. Please gather your personals and follow me,” the orderly tells me. She was nice, but firm. I’ve heard the opposite is usually true in these cases—so I was lucky. She introduced me to Stigmata.

“Yes ma’am,” I say and walk over to the desk. I was only allowed the basics. I was stripped of all the vital things that would keep me informed or busy. I grab my small travel bag and my copy of Stigmata, which is on loan. Stigmata did for me what others could not. Some might have chosen an entirely different genre or novel, but it was never a matter of deciding, I knew. Institutionalization was a no brainer.

I hand my personals to her and follow her to the front. I see her waiting for me. She was always the attractive one. She is pacing back and forth near the front desk. She doesn’t see me yet, but I wave anyway, hoping she can sense it. Her face looks swollen, she must have been crying. She also looks skinnier than our last visit. How is that possible? I saw her a few days ago. Tsk tsk, frozen dinners most likely.

GIVEAWAY:

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Book Tour Organized by:

YA Bound Book Tours

Book Tour (Review + Giveaway): The Book of Ivy (The Book of Ivy #1) by Amy Engel

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 20:44:00 +0000

The Book of Ivy (The Book of Ivy #1) by Amy Engel
Release Date: 11/04/14 by Entangled Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

After a brutal nuclear war, the United States was left decimated. A small group of survivors eventually banded together, but only after more conflict over which family would govern the new nation. The Westfalls lost. Fifty years later, peace and control are maintained by marrying the daughters of the losing side to the sons of the winning group in a yearly ritual.

This year, it is my turn.

My name is Ivy Westfall, and my mission is simple: to kill the president’s son—my soon-to-be husband—and restore the Westfall family to power.

But Bishop Lattimer is either a very skilled actor or he’s not the cruel, heartless boy my family warned me to expect. He might even be the one person in this world who truly understands me. But there is no escape from my fate. I am the only one who can restore the Westfall legacy.

Because Bishop must die. And I must be the one to kill him…

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Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo Books│iTunes│Google Books

Book Trailer:

REVIEW:

Over the past few months, I've had way too many awkward situations participating in book tours with reviews. Way. Too. Many. I didn't want to to the kind of blogger who only tosses up a promo post every single time they take part in a book tour (I have no qualms against promo posts, but you must see how convenient it looks to use them all the time), but ending up informing the organizer about the unfortunate affair of a three or lower stared book tour copy turned awkward quickly. I couldn't help, but commence considering whether book tours even worth it. Not this time, though. The Book of Ivy was so much more than I'd imagined!

It provides exactly what it claims to in the synopsis, but more. The dystopian world's building is rather intricate, setting up the perfect atmosphere to suck in the reader. It does make the book a tad slow, but I assure you, there're no wasted or excess parts here!

Ivy was a character I could seamlessly relate to. She was string and willful, however, that vulnerable side that can be found in everybody made her whole. Her struggles with who she was and what side she was supposed to be on, what would have been the right thing to do rendered her story even more realistic - and certainly more dramatic.

Bishop was ahhh ever so swoon-worthy. Typically my kind of book boyfriend - perceptive, smart, loyal, caring, but I'm sure almost anybody would find her at least attractive. I couldn't have adored their relationship more! The only con I can list is that the pages were dwindling way too fast and now there's a whole year of excruciating waiting ahead of us. It has a cliffhanger ending, - but even if it didn't - I NEED THE INSTALLMENT! At this very moment. (Please?) Still, it would have been a shame to miss it. It is a shame to miss it! ;)

About the Author

Amy Engel was born in Kansas and after a childhood spent bouncing between countries (Iran, Taiwan) and states (Kansas; California; Missouri; Washington, D.C.), she settled in Kansas City, Missouri, where she lives with her husband and two kids. Before devoting herself full-time to motherhood and writing, she was a criminal defense attorney, which is not quite as exciting as it looks on TV. When she has a free moment, she can usually be found reading, running, or shoe shopping. The Book of Ivy is her debut YA novel. Find her online at http://amyengel.net/ or @aengelwrites.

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter

GIVEAWAY:

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Blog Tour Organized by:

YA Bound Book Tours

Book Tour & Giveaway: Raven (Chronicles of Steele #1) by Pauline Creeden

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 20:56:00 +0000

Series: Chronicles of Steele #1
Release date: October 2014
Publisher: AltWit Press
Purchase: Amazon | B&N

Synopsis via Goodreads:
This is the complete Steampunk Fantasy novel - all four parts of the serial in one volume! Also includes bonus features found in the episodes.

Human life has value.
The poor living in the gutter is as valuable as the rich living in a manor.
The scoundrel is no less valuable than the saint.
Because of this, every life a reaper takes must be redeemed.

Raven has lived by this first tenet since she was trained by her father to become a reaper. But since his death, she’s been spending years redeeming the lives she’s taken. By her count, she’s even and it’s time for that life to end. If she settles down and becomes a wife, she might just feel human again. But on the way to the life she thinks she wants, the baron of New Haven asks her to complete a task which she cannot ignore… Just when Raven decides to give up on her life as an assassin, she’s pulled right back in.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

In simple language, Pauline Creeden creates worlds that are both familiar and strange, often pulling the veil between dimensions. She becomes the main character in each of her stories, and because she has ADD, she will get bored if she pretends to be one person for too long. Pauline is a horse trainer from Virginia, but writing is her therapy.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | MAILING LIST

Giveaway

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Who View (5) : S8 E11 & S8 12 - Dark Water & Death In Heaven

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 21:34:00 +0000

Title: Dark Water

Written by: Steven Moffat

Directed by: Rachel Talalay

Air Date (UK): 11/01/14

In the mysterious world of the Nethersphere, plans have been drawn. Missy is about to come face to face with the Doctor, and an impossible choice is looming... 'Death is not an end', promises the sinister organisation known only as 3W - but, as the Doctor and Clara discover, you might wish it was.

Title: Death in Heaven

Written by: Steven Moffat

Directed by: Rachel Talalay

Air Date (UK): 10/25/14

With Cybermen on the streets of London, old friends unite against old enemies and the Doctor takes to the air in a startling new role. Can the mighty UNIT contain Missy?

As the Doctor faces his greatest challenge, sacrifices must be made before the day is won.

BEWARE! THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS AS TO DARK WATER (S8 E11) AND DEATH IN HEAVEN (S8 E12). DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE YET TO SEE THE EPISODE!

SERIOUSLY. IT'D BE MAJOR SPOILING.

I didn't review Dark Water last week not only because I kind of disappeared (more about it later), but because I've always meant to review the two of them together. Dark Water and Death in Heaven are basically one episode so I'll handle them as such.

Without further ado, I'll just go ahead and say it; this was, in my opinion, the best episode of the season. Best of the characters, best pacing, utmost action... However, it was far from being the best episode, or even the best finale out of all. Which, again in MY opinion, goes to whole season 8. It's not that I don't like Capaldi, heaven forbid. I do have some issues to hold against the script writing though. But more about it later.

I'll tell you how this will look like since I understand that this is getting a tad confusing.

I do a short review about the finale part 1 and 2 melded.
I place it on a top list of all season finales.
I do a quick rehash of season 8.
I rank the episodes of season 8.

Let's get started!

Dark Water & Death in Heaven review

In many aspects I adored both Dark Water and Death in Heaven. In some I didn't. I believe it's normal. It's very rare when every last detail of a TV show, movie or even a book suits. However, in this case, that tiny thing which I wasn't fond of not only took some enjoyment away, but also riled me up quite a bit.

For once, to get off with the good, I appreciated the characters the best in these two. I think, Clara was great. Finally, she resembled to her Impossible Girl self, ballsy and even in the middle of such a great deal of grief, living. In whole season 8, she seemed off and different. I'd go as far as saying helpless and irrelevant. Which being a Clara-fan pains me much. I never wanted to accept it when others have stated it, but I can't overlook the evidence; Danny appeared in this season and Clara changed in a bad way. Danny gets gone and Clara is likable again. I understand that people sometimes becomes different under the influence of other. Nevertheless, it shouldn't mean becoming an utterly different person. Losing our confidence, moxy and the capability of fending for ourselves. It's not his fault, though, nor is it Samuel's. No, he wasn't a bad Danny. If I had to, I'd blame it on the writing. That's all.

The Doctor was, too, in his brightest. Finally, he discovered who he really is and I like who he turned out to be. I just wish it had happened half a season ago. I would have lead to some great ClaraX12 moments.

Secondly, I was, for the first time in season 8, totally and fully pleased with the pacing. Not slow, not uneven, not rushed; perfect. Action all along, or at least something relevant happening. Thank you.

On the other hand, I feel like it's not even about drama or feeling anymore, but only crashing our emotions. Killing off people we dote on in succession is NOT drama. It is an exaggerated soap opera phenomenon and the best possible way to alienate the audience. Want to make us cry? Do something sad, but SENSIBLE. Murdering people like flies in NOT on that friggin' category, okay?Rose's departure was harrowing, but beautiful and contenting. Ever since Moffat all I feel is hurling our emotions and fandom love back and forth. Thank you for hearing out my hurt rant.

Now, let's see the top list

1. Doomsday
2. The Name of the Doctor
3. The Parting of the Ways
4. Journey's End
5. Death in Heaven
6. Last of the Time Lords
7. The Bing Bang
8. The Wedding of River Song

Season 8 Rehash

All together, this was one of the worst seasons in terms of script writing if not the worst. Virtually every episode feel flat for me apart from the finale and Clara was just out of it. I regret that Peter Capaldi's first season happened to be like this as I'm deeply impressed with his acting skills. Furthermore, I don't mind the older Doctor with the darkest era. If only it was indeed dark and not merely a carrion pool. Sorry, for the expression, but I'm still galled and probably will remain that way for a while. All in all, get it together, Moffat, I want to see Capaldi participate in something otherworldly. But something awesome will suffice. Just kidding. Kind of.

1. Death in Heaven
2. Dark Water
3. Listen
4. Deep Breath
5. Into the Dalek
6. The Caretaker
7. The Mummy on the Orient Express
8. Flatline
9. In the Forest of the Night
10. Time Heist
11. Robot of Sherwood
12. Kill the Moon

How would you rate season 8?

Catch Me When I Fall by Vicki Leigh: Blog Tour and Blog Hop (+ Guest Post)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 21:22:00 +0000

Catch Me When I Fall, by Vicki Leigh

Genre: young-adult, urban-fantasy, paranormal-romance

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press

Date of Release: October 23, 2014

Cover Artist: Conzpiracy Digital Arts

About Catch Me When I Fall:

Recruited at his death to be a Protector of the Night, seventeen-year-old Daniel Graham has spent two-hundred years fighting Nightmares and guarding humans from the clawed, red-eyed creatures that feed off people’s fears. Each night, he risks his eternal life, having given up his chance at an afterlife when he chose to become a Protector. That doesn’t stop a burnt-out Daniel from risking daring maneuvers during each battle. He’s become one of the best, but he wants nothing more than to stop.

Then he’s given an assignment to watch over sixteen-year-old Kayla Bartlett, a clinically depressed patient in a psychiatric ward. Nightmares love a human with a tortured past. Yet, when they take a deep interest in her, appearing in unprecedented numbers, the job becomes more dangerous than any Daniel’s ever experienced. He fights ruthlessly to keep the Nightmares from overwhelming his team and Kayla. Soon, Daniel finds himself watching over Kayla during the day, drawn to why she’s different, and what it is about her that attracts the Nightmares. And him.

A vicious attack on Kayla forces Daniel to break the first Law and reveal his identity. Driven by his growing feelings for her, he whisks her away to Rome where others like him can keep her safe. Under their roof, the Protectors discover what Kayla is and why someone who can manipulate Nightmares has her in his sights. But before they can make a move, the Protectors are betrayed and Kayla is kidnapped. Daniel will stop at nothing to save her. Even if it means giving up his immortality.

Find Catch Me When I Fall Online:

Goodreads | Amazon US | Amazon UK

About The Author:

Adopted at three-days-old by a construction worker and a stay-at-home mom, Vicki Leigh grew up in a small suburb of Akron, Ohio where she learned to read by the age of four and considered being sent to her room for punishment as an opportunity to dive into another book. By the sixth grade, Vicki penned her first, full-length screenplay. If she couldn’t be a writer, Vicki would be a Hunter (think Dean and Sam Winchester) or a Jedi. Her favorite place on earth is Hogwarts (she refuses to believe it doesn’t exist), and her favorite dreams include solving cases alongside Sherlock Holmes.

Vicki is an editor for Month9Books and Curiosity Quills Press, an intern at TriadaUS Literary agency, and is represented by Sarah Negovetich of Corvisiero Literary Agency.

Find Vicki Leigh Online:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Guest Post by Vicki Leigh: On Writing from the Male POV

When I first sat down to write Catch Me When I Fall and had to decide on point-of-view, I only knew one thing: I didn’t want to follow the trend of girl-discovers-paranormal-world-gets-involved-over-her-head. Now, don’t get me wrong: Those stories are great. I’ve read—and loved—many of them!

But I knew I wanted to write something different yet stay within my favorite genre. My solution: Write from the POV of someone already in the supernatural world, and make it a guy.

And that’s when I realized I had my work cut out for me.

First: I’m a girl, and, in case you didn’t already know, girls and boys are completely different species. Second: Most (not all) paranormal is written from a girl’s POV, which made it really hard to read the genre through male eyes. I knew I needed to research—and, thankfully, most of my friends are guys.

Here’s three things I learned from my guy friends. (Note: There are always exceptions. No guy is created equal!)

1) Boys don’t cry. Okay, they do, but it’s really, really rare. When they’re frustrated to the point when girls often cry, they beat things up. When someone hurts them to the point where girls often cry, they beat that person up. When they break a bone, they swear profusely and whine but somehow find a way to keep the tears in place. You get my point.

a) But there is a time a boy might cry: When someone they love dies. And this needs to be someone they really love. Not just a buddy on their baseball team, but a best friend, a parent, a sibling. The loss of someone that close to them will make them tear up.

b) How this effected my writing: Daniel rarely cries. In fact, I don’t think he does in my book, period. Do I have him beating his knuckles to a bloody pulp? Yes. Do I have him punching people? Yes. Do I have him getting emotional? YES. But you have to reign in the actual tears when it comes to boys.

2. Boy humor is a different breed of comedy. I mostly hang out with guys, so this wasn’t too hard for me. But boy humor really is different. It’s not just witty and comical but often gross, morbid, and sexual. If you want to make your bromances read realistically, you need to let yourself tap into boy humor.

3. Boys can have bromances with girls. I really had fun writing the friendship between Daniel and Tabbi, not just because she’s the total opposite of him, but because they have that friendship that’s almost a bromance. It’s familial. They’re “brothers.” And it really is possible for guys to think of girls this way—and not romantically—even if the girl is as gorgeous as a model.

Though writing from a male POV was challenging, it was exciting and eye-opening, and I’m so glad I chose to write Catch Me When I Fall through Daniel’s eyes. Not only did it fit the story, but I think the task of writing as a boy forced me to develop his voice more deeply and strengthened my writing. I couldn’t just have him cry in every scene; I had to show his emotions in different ways. And that definitely made my book stronger.

All in all, I love writing from the male POV, and I will definitely do so again. And if you have a chance to give it a try, I suggest you do so! You might be surprised how much fun it is—and how it can improve your writing.

My Worst Nighmare

I have always been prone to having either bad/stupid dreams or no dreams at all. It has been a rare occasion when I dream about flowers or pretty horses, I will rather dream about wars, ghosts, rabid animals, suffocating underwater, or some messed-up version of a cartoon. I don't know why, it's not like I lead a dangerous life or I'm terrorized, though I was bullied and it still haunts me daily. Either way, I'm seldom frightened by my nightmares anymore. However, there was one, just a few months ago that had me sleepless for the remaining of the night, praying for the sun to finally rise.

I've been afraid of ghosts since I was 11. One of my friends showed me this site, full of horrible and even more horrible ghost stories. I used to get scared very easily at the time, but as all children, I wanted to seem big and bold and I read all of them with her. I wish I could go back and tell myself to get my wits together. There are better ways to display maturity. To be accurate; there are ways to display maturity and this was not one of them. But it happened and I can't help now, but live with the consequences. The phobia has faded a lot over the past few years, but deep down I'm far from being over it. It hops in to say hello at the best times. Like, when I sleep at my friend's place, at their aged flat that tends to treat us with the oddest clicks and thumps. My friend topped it by saying how much she hated it and she was sometimes afraid alone. Now, this friend of mine is not the chicken type. She sits through the heaviest psycho thriller without so much as batting an eye. So I don't think I need to tell you how I felt at the comment. I even dreamed with it. I dreamed about a fuzzy, black spirit possessing me and coercing me to do things I didn't want to. To hurt other people, people I loved. He also terrorized me, talked to me about nasty stuff and threatened me. The whole nightmare is rather vague though, mostly I remember how terrified I was.

I woke up drenched with sweat and lay with open eyes for three hours - the longest three hours of my life -, until dawn, then fell back asleep for another half an hour.

I broke two records that day:

1) I endured my worst nightmare ever
2) and drank my grandest cup of coffee.

Haven't slept there ever since.

Geek Week Mixoleed (7) - Good bye October

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 20:36:00 +0000

October is over and so is the school break. Sad face on the last day of it. Tomorrow I'll be returning to school, but not without

having scored 1277 pages
466 at one sitting
slept two nights by a lamp on because of Mara Dyer
freaked out over the first part of the season 8 finale of Doctor Who
participed in my first Twitter Party
danced around my room
and played through Dreamfall Chapters
wrote tons of Doctor Who fan-fiction
delved into animes & mangas
discovered new music

Maybe it's not what most people consider an eventful week. Maybe it's not socializing by a couple of shots of tequila or vodka. But maybe I enjoy this kind of racket more.

This week on the blog:

Who View (5) : S8 E10 - In the Forest of the Night + Missy Dominance

Coffee & Books

Mini Review for the Prequel: Tell Me My Name (Fated Stars 0.5) by Mary Fan

Read this week:

Book Haul:

Do you have any favorite animes? I'm in serious need of recs, here! :D

Mini Review for the Prequel: Tell Me My Name (Fated Stars 0.5) by Mary Fan

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 13:05:00 +0000

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Publisher: Glass House Press

Publication: October 14th, 2014
Formats: eBook

Pages: 52

Rating: 4/5

Add to Goodreads
Get your copy: Amazon Kindle I Barnes&Noble I Kobo I iTunes

In Mary Fan's second novella, a girl wakes up in an icy cell, alone and frightened. She has no memory of who she is or how she came to be there.

She does know that she must get out, at all costs. And that escape must start with remembering the simple things – her own name. Her place of origin. Her possible powers.
When a group of dark magicians reveal themselves to be her captors, she finds herself in the clutches of those who will stop at nothing to uncover the secrets locked within her lost memories. With her life fading under their merciless spells, the need to escape becomes dire.

But can she get out when she doesn’t even know who she is? Can she count on one unlikely ally for help? Or is it already too late for her, a girl without a name?

Tell Me My Name introduces the main characters in Mary’s new fantasy series, Fated Stars, with the first book, Windborn, due in 2015.

I received a free copy from the author/publisher through Mark My Word Publicity in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Can we just talk about the cover for a tad, please? It's severely gorgeous. However, as gorgeous as it is, it's pretty deceiving. Tell Me My Name is not kidding around. It's dark and it's full of pain and hurt and precariousness. After all, what can you be sure of if you don't even know who you are? I liked the way the protagonist's feelings were portrayed as she journeyed from utter ignorance to discovering who she is. It felt very real and plausible. It was interesting to find out about this fantasy world - which even in this 52 pages seemed very layered - alongside with her as she was trying to regain her lost memories of it. What I was not fond of was her voice. She sounded conceited whatsoever and even when she realized how old she was she talked about her peer in age as if he was below her. All in all, I will pick up the first book, Windborn when it releases because the fantasy word gripped my attention and I hope I'll warm up to the protag eventually.

Coffee & Books

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 19:12:00 +0000

I might have mentioned once or twice that I'm a total and absolute coffee fanatic. I don't go without coffee for more than a week and even that is just because we don't own a coffee machine at home. (I'm negotiating for one for over a year. I won't be a lawyer I suppose.) Being on a budget, one, max. two coffee a week it is.

I especially love drinking coffee during the fall and winter when curling up with a book and having coffee meanwhile, it has a certain - rather pleasant - atmosphere to it. So the idea was born; Coffee & Books. (Very creative, I know.)

Let's see.

Espresso - A book that has a dark atmosphere

Opposition by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Out of the Lux series, but even out of the YA book out there in general, this book has a very frightening atmosphere to it. Perhaps, it's just that I'm a wimp, but the beginning in particular freak the heck out of me.

Coffee Mocha - A book with layered world-building

I'm admittedly not the biggest fan ever of this book, but it does showcase a rather rich variety of witchcraft and science combined.

Cappuccino - I book that made me all warm and fuzzy

I'll have to go with this one. Crossing the Ice had such an adorable romance in it! Josh is the perfect combination of shy and masculine. Plus relationships - any kind - was very relevant all along and each of them was so very real.

Americano - A book that made me cry

None. Absolutely none ever in my life. Though the one that brought me the closest to it was the end of this one to the right. ->

Chai Latte - An LGBT Book

This is the most perfect book in every aspect. Though she attempted suicide and claims she is not a good judge of character, Paige's views on life and people are exquisite, and - as harsh as they might seem sometimes - are oh-so very real and neat. Oh, and she and her girlfriend just happen to make a most cute couple.

Espresso con Panna - A book that started out well but went downhills

I couldn't put it down for about 300 pages - which I think is a pretty impressive achievement at the age of nine. However, the last 96 pages were just a mess, in my opinion.

Flat White - A quick, light read

The Selection brought me out from a dreadful reading slump at one time. I killed it in a couple of hours. It has an easy language and quite short as it is.

It isn't a TAG now, but it could be don't you think? I do. However, since I'm not one with a big blog, I'm not sure if anyone would notice or care. That's okay, but still, if you did, it would great so feel free to feel tagged and take it. And if so, you may leave your link to the post below in the comments because as always, I'm curious. :)

Who View (5) : S8 E10 - In the Forest of the Night + Missy Dominance

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 20:48:00 +0000

Title: In the Forest of the Night

Written by: Frank Cottrell Boyce

Directed by: Sheree Folkson

Air Date (UK): 10/25/14

One morning in every city and town in the world, the human race wakes up to face the most surprising invasion yet. Everywhere, in every land, a forest has grown overnight and taken back the Earth. It doesn't take the Doctor long to discover that the final days of humanity have arrived.

BEWARE! THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS AS TO IN THE FOREST OF THE NIGHT (S8 E10). DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE YET TO SEE THE EPISODE!

No hate, please because I'm intending to be honest, sharing my candid opinion. I do not mean to be degrading, however, I do think the script writing's getting weaker and weaker. It started with the first episode which was, the way I see it, one of the meh-est openings of New Who. (I've never seen Classic Doctor Who therefore I can't talk about that.) Afterwards, it seemed to be clambering upwards a bit, only to head in the opposite direction again. I'm not saying I hate these episodes and into the dumpsters with all of them, but they don't get me as thrilled as the previous seasons. I don't feel this overwhelming urge to watch the episodes over and over again. It's not even the new Doctor. It's true his not my favorite - or at least not yet -, however, it's just my taste and at the same time, I do respect him and enjoy seeing him as the Doctor. He is a great actor and his quirkiness is brilliant.

On the other hand, besides the numerous deaths and a tad more "violence" in certain episodes, season 8 is shredding some controversial, yet rather relevant topics of real life. And it's doing it well! Trust - one of the main issues of the season - is important to people and Clara and the Doctor get a sample from every side of it - even betrayal. I've seen not one pretty wise views of theirs.

In this last episode, we had Maebh, a little girl whose sister had gone missing the year before and it inflicted a type of post-traumatic stress disorder on her; she had heard voices until she was given medication and the voices stopped. She appeared to be seeing things as well. I loved how the Doctor paid closer attention to her than anybody had the past year. That the tempered Doctor, who doesn't believe in fairy tales and such sillinesses is the single person who actually listens to Maebh. I also found the idea of the trees protecting us from the Sun Flares entertaining. It was a great one!

It was exciting to see Clara and Danny work together. We hadn't seen much of them over the past few weeks before In the Forest of the Night and I was curious where they stood. I'm beginning to agree with the people who say they are cute together. They really are. Moreover, Danny is not as crude or stupid and not even as weak as I used to think first. With Clara, I'm also starting to get him and his motives, but I'm still waiting for the big bum when we find out what action precisely made him quit the army and later cry. (Okay, crying is a bit of an exaggeration. Rather let a tear slip.)

Moffat also entertained the idea of Clara leaving the Doctor. I very much hope it's not an innuendo!

Overall, it was an okay episode for me. I enjoyed it, but nothing special.

And now, let's move on to Missy and the shocking next time trailer.

Missy graced the episode and to my astonishment, she seemed surprised! She always seems to be in control as if she's arranged everything ages ago. Maybe she has. And maybe this is what induces her advancement after so much time? That things have gone astray for her?

But here's an even bigger question: who the hell is Missy? Who? Who is she?

I've seen numerous theories since she first appeared on the show. Too many to type out all of them now, or even to search them back. However, fundamentally, there are people that think she's a female Master, there are people that believe she's the Valeyard (my personal opinion until Flatline), there are people that say she's a Time Lady or the Rani, and there are people that say Missy is Clara in some form. It varies whether it's a one of her "clones" when she became torn apart in the Eleventh Doctor's time vortex or Clara in the future. The only undivided opinion is that she gave Clara the Doctor's number back in the Bells of St. John. Personally, out of these hypothesis, I'm inclining towards her being a Time Lady. Who else would call the Doctor her boyfriend? Surely not the Valeyard a.k.a himself and it's unlikely that the Master thinks of him as such. Clara could do so if it one of her other selves or if it's her future self who has broken up with Danny at some point, but for some reason that doesn't seem very probable to me. In fact, I would say none of these. Or at least not entirely.

As for Clara's sudden change of heart, it's a common presumption that - again - it's one of her selves. Or that she's always been just a puppet for Missy. Here, my theory deviates completely. In the next time trailer, Clara mentions that time can be rewritten. What if Missy rewritten time and with it, she caused something in the past that affected Clara in this way? We know that Missy is quite out of ordinary, many think she has special powers hence it could be possible. The problem (with my own theory, what's that? o.O) is that it has nothing to do with the whole season's Missy-related actions.

Anyway, maybe I'm simply reading too much into nothing, but don't the flames and the color of the whole place look so similar to the ones in the Eleventh Doctor's time vortex? Even the smoke...

I would love to hear about YOUR Missy & Clara theories so let me know about them in the comments! ;)

Geek Week Mixoleed (6) - Thrilling Thrillments

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 21:35:00 +0000

So many exciting event this week! School break started, Stone Cold Touch and Dreamfall Chapters released, Doctor Who next time trailer shocked us to the next galaxy and I participated in my first Twitter Party! Ahhh, Beauty on second square.

I also found this awesome, inspiring YouTube channel, called Pandora Journey. (Particularly recommended to fantasy writers.)

As for reading, it was a lousy week for me. I spent a whole day with reading Kindle Samples only and get done very little of actual books.

This week on the blog:

Release Day Blitz: Stone Cold Touch (The Dark Elements #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Top Ten Tuesday: Top New(ish) Series I Want To Start

Geek Girl Witter: What's Up with More Series Set in the Same World?

Review: Tortures Souls (The Orion Circle #1) by Kimber Leigh Wheaton

Review: Prophecy (Calypso #1) by Julie Anne Lindsey

Book Blitz (Excerpt + Giveaway): Gateway Trilogy by Christina Garner

Read this week:

Book Haul:

A Halloween treat for my Kindle. (And me of course.)

What scary reads did you read this week?

Book Blitz (Excerpt + Giveaway): Gateway Trilogy by Christina Garner

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 20:50:00 +0000

Gateway (The Gateway Trilogy #1) by Christina Garner

Release Date: 06/2014

Ember has always known she doesn’t belong in this world. But when she tries to correct the mistake, she wakes to find herself in a mental institution.

She’s soon drawn to Taren, the mysterious boy with hazel eyes. He’s not what he seems, but what is he?

When chaos erupts, they are forced to flee the institution together, and the secret that Taren has been keeping brings Ember closer to understanding her own. And leads her to… the Gateway.

Add to Goodreads

Buy Links: Amazon (on sale for $.99)

Chasm (The Gateway Trilogy #2) by Christina Garner

Release Date: August 2014

**Description Contains Book 1 Spoilers**

Two months have passed since Ember Lyons nearly died killing the powerful Root Demon threatening the Los Angeles Gateway. Physically healed, images of the day still haunt her and she can no longer access the power she once wielded. She can't talk about it with anyone at The Institute--not even her handsome, demon-hunting boyfriend, Taren. Besides there are bigger things to worry about: Gateways around the world are weakening, Keepers' Marks are fading, escaped lesser demons are populating Los Angeles, and it looks like the Root Demon wasn't alone.

When the Institute sends Ember and a team to Europe, she hopes to find answers and security on the journey, but another attempt on her life reminds her she's never really safe.

Then she's thrust together with the mysterious Alexander. Ember can't be sure if this charismatic man is her most formidable enemy or greatest ally. Either way, she needs him, because he's the only one who can bring her to... the Chasm.

Add to Goodreads

Buy Links: Amazon (on sale for $2.99)

Tether (The Gateway Trilogy Book 3) by Christina Garner

Release Date: 09/23/14

**Description Contains Book 2 Spoilers**

Ember was only trying to keep a promise when she jumped into the demon world. But instead of saving Cole and his people, she found herself just as trapped as they are. She lives and learns with the Daemon survivors while the demon threat grows every day.

Meanwhile Taren struggles with his guilt for not stopping Ember. He’s desperate to know she’s alive, but there's been no sign of her except in his own vivid dreams.

As they struggle to reconnect, the Gateways around the world weaken, and the demons begin to amass for war. The end is near and Ember must face her fears if she has any hope of saving the world – or herself.

With everything falling apart, her only hope is to find...her Tether.

Add to Goodreads

Buy Links: Amazon

From Book One:

“Did she hurt you?" Taren asked. "Your head hit the tile pretty hard.” That explained the spinning, and the pain that was starting to seep through the cracks of my shock.

I reached up to touch the back of my head.

“Ow! Yeah, I guess she got me pretty good. What was that about, anyway? What's her problem with me?”

Before he could answer, one of the nurses approached. “We'll get you checked out now, dear.”

“I was just going to get her some ice,” Taren said, his hand on the small of my back, steering me away from the nurse.

“Don't be silly,” the nurse said. “She could have a concussion. We need to take her to the E.R.”

While she went to confer with an orderly, I stifled a laugh. I had been wanting to get out of there. Maybe if my mother knew I was just as likely to lose my life inside the mental hospital as out, she'd spring me that much sooner.

“Wait.” Taren leaned close, his breath in my ear. My pulse went back to racing. “Do you have any…birthmarks?”

His question was so bizarre that I was heedless of the pain and snapped my head to face him.

“What?”

His eyes were only inches away, boring into mine. He grabbed my wrist and pushed up the sleeve of my hoodie, searching. I tried to pull away, but his grip was too strong.

“Do you?” he asked again, checking the other arm.

“N-no,” I stammered.

Intensity didn't usually unnerve me, but at that moment, his definitely did.

“Taren, enough!” the nurse said, hurrying back to us. “What on earth are you doing?”

She pried his hands from my arm, causing Taren to come back to himself.

“Nothing, sorry.” He dropped his gaze. “Sorry, I hope you feel better.”

He turned abruptly and strode away.

Christina Garner began writing stories at the age of six. Her first–about a young girl who busted up a nefarious ring of furniture thieves–was a huge hit with her mother. At eighteen, her aspirations as an actor had her loading up her Buick and setting off for Hollywood. Since then, she has written and directed 10 short films, including Rewind and Reminder, both of which received acclaim on the festival circuit. In 2006, she began writing screenplays. A year later, she even got paid for one. In May of 2011, her debut novel, Gateway, became an Amazon Bestseller. Chasm, Book 2 in The Gateway Trilogy, did the same.

When she’s not writing novels, Christina spends her time working in the movie business, traveling, watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer reruns, and playing with her dog, Griffin.

Author Links: Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

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Book Blitz Organized by:

YA Bound Book Tours

Review: Prophecy (Calypso #1) by Julie Anne Lindsey

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 14:44:00 +0000

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Publisher: Lyrical Press

Publication: October 6th, 2014
Formats: eBook, Kindle Edition

Pages: 280

Rating: 3

Add to Goodreads
Get your copy: Amazon

On the other side of death, is destiny.

Callie Ingram is spending her senior year focused on one thing: swimming. Her skill as a competitive swimmer is going to secure a scholarship and her future, or so she hopes. She has big plans, and Liam Hale, her gorgeous new neighbor, isn’t going to affect them. But when Callie sees Liam beheading someone, she learns his family has a secret that will change everything. The Hales are Vikings, demi-gods who’ve been charged by The Fates to find their new destined leader.

Callie’s caught in the middle of a budding Norse apocalypse, in love with Liam Hale and desperate to protect her best friend…who the Hales believe is marked for transformation. Putting the clues together as fast as she can, can discovers she has the power to rewrite destiny, for herself and all humankind.

I was provided with a free copy from the author via YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

This was sloooooooow. Veeeeeeryyyyy, verrryyyy slooooow. Soooo increeeddiibblyy sloooowww.

Khm. Excuse me. I've had a long day.

My primary issue with Prophecy was the tardigradousness of it. For about the last fifty pages nothing relevant happened apart from Callie's everyday life, her ex-boyfriend's constant molestation and hanging out with her new (insta-loved) boyfriend. As cool and feisty she was, I wished we would just get down to business finally. Also, I didn't really get what happened in the first twenty pages. It was a straight-up different writing style - one full of very fancy words - and a lot shier protag. Then out of nowhere it all changed and remained that way until the end of the book. Please, explain.

Anyway, I should have highlighted all the YA tropes I found. Silly me, it only came to my mind when I was about to finish the book. The one that annoyed me the most though, was the way too rushed romance. I swear to you I'll be the first person to have been driven mad by insta-love. With the amount I've gotten of it lately... They were a cute couple nonetheless, but it definitely could have been a lot more idle, but deeper.

On the bright side, I vastly enjoyed the mythology. It was a bit confusing at first - who was who and with what purpose -, but as it unraveled, it turned out to be a pretty dandy Norse/Greek world.

Review: Tortures Souls (The Orion Circle #1) by Kimber Leigh Wheaton

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 20:46:00 +0000

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Publisher: Sea Dragon Press

Publication: June 29th, 2014
Formats: eBook, Paperback, Kindle Edition

Pages: 229 (eBook, Kindle Edition), 366 (Peperback)

Rating: 2.5

Add to Goodreads
Get your copy: Amazon

YA Paranormal Romance by Amazon Bestselling Author Kimber Leigh Wheaton
Sometimes Rest in Peace isn't an option
Kacie Ramsey sees ghosts—and it's ruining her life. Her mother left, her father blames her, and no matter how hard she tries, she can't keep the ghosts away. Now a new power has emerged. Nightly visions of grisly murders and a relentless predator draw her to the brink of insanity.

When the phantom appears at a party, Kacie's longtime crush, Logan, saves her. He invites her to join the Orion Circle, a group of supernatural hunters with chapters in schools all over the country. Through the Circle, Kacie learns to embrace her spiritual powers, and for the first time in her life she feels in control rather than a victim.

But the Foxblood Demon will not give up so easily. A demented serial killer in life who trapped the souls of the thirteen children he murdered, imprisoning them within the walls of his mansion. Now in death, he plots his return while drawing power from the pure souls of the children. He recognizes something in Kacie he's never seen before—a medium powerful enough to provide a vessel for his tainted soul.

Kacie can't ignore the tortured souls of the children crying out to her every night. With Logan at her side, she will fight the Foxblood Demon. But can they banish this powerful phantom, or will Kacie lose not only her body, but her eternal soul to the monster.

A free copy was provided by the publisher via YA Bound Book Tours. Thank you!

I expected so much more from Torture Souls! The concept seemed so awesome and dark, I never would have guessed how much of a typical YA paranormal romance it would turn out to be. I hate generalizing, but I discovered the same joy-drainers in at least the last six YA paranormals I read.

I'll sum up my problems in a list:

1. Cheesy-meesy, mushy insta-love.

Did she really need to end up in her loved-to-death boyfriend's arms?

2. Respected and loved by everybody without earning it protagonist

Kacie was a very, very weak character. Why, that's okay, she was quite a bit annoying, but not everybody must be an all-defeating, dauntless hero(ine). However, she should be treated as she is. And even if she deserved respect, it would be very unlikely that all of a sudden everybody would love her and be overly protective of her.

3. Other inconsequentialities

Admittedly, Kacie knew Logan long before the book's beginning. Theoretically, they were friends. But how come they knew nothing of each other and abruptly Logan owns up to his deep, deep love towards her?

4. Uneven pacing

In the first half of the book nearly nothing happened apart from the constant bawling and overdramatizing and I was bored out of my mind. In the second half of the book, always everybody was in danger and/or hurt.

I considered just putting the book down several times for the aforementioned reasons, but the story was sufficient and the mystery was kind of interesting. That's why I give it two and a half stars. I doubt I'll continue with the series nevertheless.

Geek Girl Witter: What's Up with More Series Set in the Same World?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 19:44:00 +0000

This post idea came to me just now as I saw the new synopsis-slash-cover-slash-book trailer reveal of The Hair by Kiera Cass. If you haven't met the series yet, it's the story of America Singer, who is chosen to be one of the thirty-five candidates to be the prince's new wife a.k.a the princess. The girls have to go through a ton of tests and beauty hassle while being filmed and put out as a reality TV show. There are three books, all of which following America through the Selection. Now, in August, we got the news there would be one more book coming on May 5, 2014. It's about the winner (I won't tell who in case you have yet to read the One) and Maxon's child holding her own Selection twenty years later.

When I first read the article, I wasn't sure if that was such a good idea. Despite the hasty end The One got, it was still a kind of closure, the end of the series. It took some time to come to terms with it, but I eventually did. And then bum! To be continued.

Apart from my emotional outburst, my real problem is that I have serious doubts regarding the plot. The Elite and The One, but mainly The Elite was a tid bit lacking of it, but the unknown - or at least not very well known - world and down-going of the Selection kept me reading. However, those two ados became ruled out during the first three books and now we'll have to rely on the plot solely. Since we already know everything else, it has to be one heck of a story and characters, otherwise it will be unlikely to hold my attention for long. And based on my experiences so far, I wouldn't hold my breath over the prior (as rude as it sounds).

But of course, I am going to pick it up. My curiosity always gets the better of me and also, I love Kiare Cass's writing style to no end. *sigh*

On the bright side, I have a positive example too. Lady Midnight, the first book of The Dark Artifices by Cassandra Clare. I'm a huge fan of her writing and the Shadowhunter world, it's so complex and layered, exciting, and while there are certain returning schemes, her stories are always intricate and action-packed. What's more, I adored The Infernal Devices (her second series in the same world) even more than The Mortal Instruments; her writing is improving book by book.

Overall, what I need in order to enjoy more series set in the same world are 1. great story, 2. complex world-building and it won't hurt if it has relatable characters.

So what do you need to return to the same world with a different series? Are you anticipating any of the aforementioned books?

Top Ten Tuesday: Top New(ish) Series I Want To Start

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 19:20:00 +0000

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the gals at The Broke and the Bookish where you share your top ten choices within a given topic. It's super-fun!

There are just so many books I want to read and sometimes it feels like I'm never going to get around even the ones I want to read the most. I'm not the kind of person who gives up though, so as hard as it is, I prioritize. My lists's changing constantly in unison with new books releasing, but right now, these are my top ten first-in-series.

Snow Like Ashes - The more I read about it, the more excited I get. Right now, I'm at the point where I shriek and squeal even at the mention of it.

Seraphina - Dragons rule!

Throne of Glass - I wasn't particularly interested in Throne of Glass at first, but after the hype it got, I became so a bit. I've had a copy since May; it would be time to delve into it.

Between the Devil and The Deep Blue Sea - I discovered BTDATDBS (Man, even the abbreviation is looong) at a writing contest and I'm just curious what it was all about. Okay, maybe demons have something to do with it, too.

Talon - Dragons still rule!

Lark Rising - This is one of my most anticipated books of fall and since I read a rave review... I just need it, okay?

The Jewel - I didn't really notice it before all the mixed reviews, but as strange as it sounds, that made me indeed curious about The Jewel. The story seems interesting as well, so...

Cinder - Over the past few months (basically when I realized they existed), I've grown to love retellings. And, well, frankly, this is one of the most hyped - of not the most hyped - retelling.

Alice in Zombieland - Alice and zombies in one single book? Do I even have to explain?

The Darkest Minds - I'm not gonna lie; it's all about the hype. And that several bloggers said they hadn't expected it to be anything big and then bum! They adored it.

Which new(ish) series have YOU been meaning to start?

Release Day Blitz: Stone Cold Touch (The Dark Elements #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 16:14:00 +0000

I'm thrilled to bring you the Release Day Launch for Jennifer L. Armentrout's STONE COLD TOUCH! STONE COLD TOUCH is the second full-length novel in Jennifer's The Dark Elements Series, a young adult paranormal romance being published by Harlequin Teen!!

Amazon Barnes and Noble Kobo ** iTunes

STONE COLD TOUCH Synopsis: Every touch has its price Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could. But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers begin to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay...

I’d remained in bed after that, trying to sort through the odd tingling in my chest. There was a slight smile on my lips, because Zayne…well, he’d made my day, but then I’d remember what Roth had said to me the night before and the smile would wash away as if it had never been there. I probably needed to get used to the whiplash mood swings.

It wasn’t until after dinner that I decided to scrub a day’s worth of gunk off myself. Gingerly, I peeled the bandage off, happy to find that the cut in my arm was healing as expected. I didn’t need to cover it anymore. The arm was still tender, but the Warden blood in me was quickly undoing the damage from the iron.

After changing into fresh pj’s, like a total hermit, I padded over to my desk, where I’d left my cell phone. It had been on silent all day and when I tapped the screen, I wasn’t surprised to see a slew of texts from Stacey.

Where r u? R u skipping, u ho?

A minute later: Your locker misses u. Guess u sick with the herp?

Oh my God. I laughed out loud, grinning as I thumbed through her texts.

Our bio sub is still hot. U r missing this.

Bio is lonely. My boobs miss u. How weird is that?

That was notably weird and yet not surprising.

If I get my cell taken from me, it’s ur fault. Holy shit, Layla, where r u?!?

Air punched out of my lungs as I read the next text and the several following them.

U have no idea who just walked into bio!!! Roth is here! Holy Canola oil, why aren’t u here to witness this?

Ok. He says he had mono. Srlsy? Do people still get mono?

And who in the duck was he kissing?

A second later—Duck? I didn’t mean duck. That’s SO not what I meant, autocorrect.

Another text had come in about fifteen minutes after the last one.

He asked where u were. I told him u joined a cult. I laughed. He didn’t.

Finally, the last text was to call her if I wasn’t dead. “What in the Hell?” I tossed my cell onto the bed, mouth hanging open.

And don't forget! The choice is yours...

Beginning today you’ll have 3 weeks to visit the series website, www.thedarkelementsseries.com, to take a poll and decide which guy Layla should ultimately choose in the final book in the trilogy, Every Last Breath. At the end of 3 weeks, we will tally all the votes, and that’s when Jennifer L. Armentrout will start writing Every Last Breath. The guy who gets the most votes is the one Layla will pick. To prevent early spoilers, we're not going to reveal who won the poll in advance…you’ll have to wait until Every Last Breath goes on sale on July 28th, 2015 to find out whether Zayne or Roth wins Layla in the end. We promise the book will be epic and definitely worth the wait! Who do you want Layla to end up with? Go to www.thedarkelementsseries.com and vote for your choice

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Series Website | Website | Twitter | Facebook | Jennifer L. Armentrout Goodreads | STONE COLD TOUCH Goodreads

Geek Week Mixoleed (5) - Mission Accomplished + New Books

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 18:35:00 +0000

My week fully comprised studying intermittent with reading. And coffee of course. Gallons of coffee. Like, seriously. Who's got time for sleeping or such marginalities besides a four pages long History test and a Geography one right after the former? Duh?

Joking aside, I'm very proud of my reading progress this week. I finished FOUR books that weren't even that short. This has never happened before. I accomplished something else, too. I finally picked up my poor, abandoned violin and after one and a half year hiatus I played again. I'd like to learn to mix it with dub-step, like Lindsey Stirling. Right now, I'm practicing Radioactive by Imagine Dragons.

I love this rendition:

This week on the blog:

Who View (4) : S8 E8 - Mummy on the Orient Express

Blog Tour: Prophecy by Julie Anne Lindsey

Release Day Blitz: Tell Me My Name by Mary Fan and Slam by Tah McAdam

Review: Dream On by M. Kircher

Top 5 Questions We Want Answers To In Dreamfall Chapters

Geek Girl Witter: Is Every Longer Book Longer Than Shorter Books?

DNF ARC Review: The Elementalists by C. Sharp

Those Dang Cliffhanger Endings!

Read this week:

Book Haul:

Early this week I received my copy of Trial by Fire as well as found a new bookstore and snatched a copy of The Young Elites by Marie Lu. Yay!

I also received a novella to review:

What books did you get this week?

Those Dang Cliffhanger Endings!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 11:08:00 +0000

One would think after so much experience she's manned up enough. That she's steeled now and capable of not letting it get to her. But then something like this comes and bang! You're done. You can't stop it.

I'm talking about cliffhanger endings, one of the most controversial aspect of books. Is it good? Is it bad? Is it annoying or a tool of suspense? Should authors forgo using it altogether? Basically, there are two sides; yes and no. (Obviously.) However, it may be a bit more complicated then that. For instance, it's already different if you read the given book before/right after publication or when more of the series have been released. Today, I won't be discussing this issue though. Nah, I'm too biased after The Book of Ivy. Today, I'll be just ~~expressing my despair~~ list the 5 stages of getting over a major cliffhanger ending via GIFs.

1. Confusion

2. Shock

3. Realization

4. Rage

5. Resignation

DNF ARC Review: The Elementalists by C. Sharp

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 19:10:00 +0000

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Dystopian, Romance

Publisher: Diversion Books

Publication: October 28th, 2014
Formats: Paperback

Pages: 374

Rating: DNF

Add to Goodreads
Pre-order: Amazon I iTunes

Rising sea levels, droughts, earthquakes, tornadoes. Far below the earth’s crust, imprisoned in ancient slumber, the elemental powers of the land grow restless…

Meanwhile, in small town Virginia, Chloe McClellan’s first day of sophomore year was an epic fail. After she becomes the target of the fiery queen of the It-Girls in gym, she gains instant notoriety when she’s struck by lightning. That’s when things start to get weird.

There are disconcerting gaps in her memory, and freaky weather seems to follow her everywhere. She comes to believe that either she’s going insane, or her accident has awoken a terrifying creature from mythology, triggering the final countdown to the extinction of humankind.

Chloe finds unlikely help from a trio of male classmates: the grounded captain of the football team, the flighty stoner with a secret, and the enigmatic transfer student who longs for the sea. All the while, she struggles with the growing realization that dragons exist, and she, and her friends, may be the only ones who can stop them.

In the first book in the epic new Tipping Point Prophecy series, global dragon mythology is reimagined against a backdrop of ecological disaster, high school angst, and the power of the human spirit when working in accord with the elements.

A free copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. Thank you!

I hate to DNF ARCs, especially Galleys. It feels like cheating. I get a copy, what's more I request a copy from the book and then I sort of get back on my end of the bargain; refuse to read all of it. But if it was just so damn unenjoyable to me!

I think - in fact, I'm pretty positive - the main problem was that Chloe had accident after accident, almost winding her up dead several times, but I could not relate to her enough. She was a weird and even a bit scary combination of aloof and a big box of seething anger. In one moment, she was humble and afraid to talk, in the next, she answered back to her mother's boyfriend with an impressive amount of sarcasm and hate and wished her bully a rather ugly death.

The mix of fantasy and dystopia didn't win me over either. There was this dying world, where natural disasters were daily. It was interesting and sufficient for the story. But a dragon intruded on the plot at about halfway and it was just too much.

The slow pacing provided the finisher. Already not favoring the main character and disliking the world-building, it made me put the book down and never look back. I'd had a promising premise and I'm honestly sorry it didn't work out, but I couldn't struggle through this one.

Geek Girl Witter: Is Every Longer Book Longer Than Shorter Books?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 20:11:00 +0000

Okay, I admit the title might be a tad bit boggling. But that's just my state of mind after two big tests (History and Geography, right after one another lest we could regain our sanity). What I mean is that to me, some shorter books take longer to read and feel longer than certain longer books. Somewhat better but still not pefect, huh?

Last month, I read We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. It's a relatively short book, tiny on the outside, 228 pages on the inside. Yet, it took three days for me to read it even though I spent a respectable amount of time reading in those three days, I wasn't alone, other reviewers agreed that it felt longer than it actually was.

Then there is The Book of Ivy, a brilliant dytopian I just finished. Now, this one is - while not giant - a thicker piece of my collection. It has a total of 304 pages - 400 in Kindle Edition -, yet I plowed through it in one and a half day. Despite barely having time to read.

I, personally, put it down to the pacing whatsoever. If the pacing is fast, I'll read faster. It's like, instead of me taking up the words, the story drags me on. Then again, The Book of Ivy can't really be labeled fast paced. Not for the majority of the book. Here comes in the size and type of the font. I know, it might sound strange first, silly even, but there are some fonts my eyes process easier than other. And of course, with bigger fonts, I don't have to strain to be able to make out the letters.

There are other, more marginal aspects that have an impact on my reading pace, such as, my mood, how tired and/or sleepy I am, the nature of my surroundings, etc., but I find these two above the most influental. Anyway, I used regard it as a sort of "race". I felt I was less if I read slower than other bloggers. Dumb me. Now, I know it's about fun. It's not a competition. Same with the numbers. And since I realized this, I enjoy both blogging and reading so much more.

What influences your reading pace?

Review: Dream On by M. Kircher

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 17:31:00 +0000

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Publisher: Astraea Press

Publication: April 22nd, 2014
Formats: eBook

Pages: 213

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old dreamwalker, Em, might have to choose—leave her mother forever in the dreamworld or save the life of hot, rebel Gabe.

Emily Dal Monte and her mother, Lily, are special. They’re humans with a glitch in their genetic code that allows them to explore the fantastic, and often terrifying, world of their dreams for as long as they choose to remain asleep. But when Em’s father is killed in a tragic accident and her distraught mother loses herself more and more in the dreams of her crumbling mind, Em is forced to support the two of them the only way she knows how, by writing down her mother’s amazing dreams and selling them as books. Enter Gabriel Sobel, the punk newcomer at Em’s high school who realizes Em is the daughter of his favorite, reclusive author. Gabe can’t figure out why Em keeps brushing him off and makes it his mission to find out what’s really going on at the Dal Monte household. He stumbles upon their shocking family secret just as Lily takes a turn for the worse. It’s up to Em, Gabe, and one very nosy book editor to hop from one extraordinary dream to the next, to find Lily and convince her to wake up before she loses her mind…and before Em loses her first chance at love.

A free copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Emily and her mother are dreamwalkers, people who can sleep for days without problem, wandering in their dreams. It can be exciting, beautiful, terrifying and a great escape from reality - which her mother, Lily, exploits totes after her beloved husband's death. Ever since then, Emily has been taking care of everything. However, when her mom fails to return from her dreams and commence to display never seen acts during her ansence, Emily has no choice but to involve acquaintances in the perilous quest of saving the last person who left for her in the family.

Dream On is a true hidden gem of the fantasy genre. I seriously loved it! Although the plot is not ever so intricate, the "dream-world" is well thought-out and captivating, a little high-fantasy-like. As for

the "real world", it is hinted here and there that it operates differently from our current 2014, somewhat dystopian with the government greatly influencing everything. I would have been happy to find out a tad more about it, but at the same time, I understand it's not the point of this book and is more fantasy than dystopia.

The cast was positively likable, despite not being of immense depths. We don't get to know them that well, as the story after all, wasn't revolving around them, but the adventure. They still won me over more than a few characters in more character centered books (ahem wallflower of that certain YA paranormal) and Gabe, he just made punkness a hundred times more sexy, even made me swoon a little quite a few times.

I can't help but mention the writing style. If you've read my blog before, you know how much writing style matters to me and though I found it okay in Dream On, I got the jitters after the umpteenth "actual". I got the no actual, rather, quite, etc. rule planted in my head pretty deeply and it irked me quite a bit here. (See what I did?)

Overall, I was more than satisfied with Dream On. I recommend it to everybody who seeks something different in fantasy.

Characters: 4/5

Writing style: 3.5/5

Romance: 4/5

Plot: 4.5/5

Originality: 5/5

Predictability: 5/5

Release Day Blitz: Tell Me My Name by Mary Fan and Slam by Tah McAdam

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 05:00:00 +0000

StoryTime is a tri-annual event created by Glass House Press. All proceeds from the StoryTime events will be donated to SDDAS Spirit Fund, a
nonprofit society dedicated to giving homeless animals the medical care they need. For more information, visit their website at sddac.com/donations.asp.

In Mary Fan’s second novella from Glass House Press, a teen girl wakes up in an icy cell, alone and frightened. She has no memory of who she is or how she came to be there.

She does know that she must get out, at all costs. And that escape must start with remembering the simple things – her own name. Her place of origin. Her possible powers.

When a group of dark magicians reveal themselves to be her captors, she finds herself in the clutches of those who will stop at nothing to uncover the secrets locked within her lost memories. With her life fading under their merciless spells, the need to escape becomes dire.

But can she get out when she doesn’t even know who she is? Can she count on one unlikely ally for help? Or is it already too late for her, a girl without a name?

Tell Me My Name introduces the main characters in Mary’s new fantasy series, Fated Stars, with the first book, Windborn, due in late 2015.

Purchase on Amazon: http://amzn.to/Zjgx5F

About Mary Fan

Mary Fan is a hopeless dreamer, whose mind insists on spinning tales of “what if.” As a music major in college, she told those stories through compositions. Now she tells them through books—a habit she began as soon as she could pick up a pencil. Flynn Nightsider and the Edge of Evil follows a well-received debut novel, a space opera titled Artificial Absolutes (2013), and is the first in the Flynn Nightsider series. Mary would like to think that there are many other novels in her bag, and hopes to prove that to the world as well.

Mary lives in New Jersey and has a B.A. from Princeton University. When she’s not scheming to create new worlds, she enjoys kickboxing, opera singing, and blogging about everything having to do with books.

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Telepaths, torture, mindwipes ... the Institute has it all, and they use each of their brainwashed children as weapons, the way they see fit. To control society, repress its people. To make certain that they stay in power, no matter the cost. Serena’s baby brother Damon is one of those children, and these days he’s so altered that he doesn’t even recognize her.

When it comes to getting Damon away from those who kidnapped him, there's nothing Serena won't do. Even if she has to kill him to save him. First, though, she must prove to her father that she has what it takes to be a soldier against the insidious threat of the Institute. Her first mission has to be perfect.

But with inaccurate intelligence, unexpected storms, and Gav Belias, people’s hero of the Watch, on the prowl, will she even survive? If she doesn't succeed, they'll never let her go after her brother.

And that would be unthinkable, when it was her fault that he was taken in the first place.

Slam is Tash McAdam’s first work with Glass House Press, and serves as a prequel to her series The Psionics, with the first book, Maelstrom, due in 2015.

Purchase on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1z1XHk1

About Tash McAdam

Tash McAdam’s first writing experience (a collaborative effort) came at the age of eight, and included passing floppy discs back and forth with a best friend at swimming lessons. Since then, Tash has spent time falling in streams, out of trees, learning to juggle, dreaming about zombies, dancing, painting, learning Karate, becoming a punk rock pianist, and of course, writing.

Tash is a teacher in real life, but dreams of being a full-time writer, and living a life of never-ending travel. Though born in the hilly sheepland of Wales, Tash has lived in South Korea and Chile and now calls Vancouver, Canada home.

Maelstrom, the first book in The Psionics, is Tash’s first published work. Visit the website or facebook for news, gossip, and random tidbits about Tash’s adventures.

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Blog Tour: Prophecy by Julie Anne Lindsey

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 18:53:00 +0000

Who’s Hotter? Vikings or Cowboys?

My heroine has a problem. She’s been best friends with a cowboy since grade school and their relationship is getting those warm, fuzzy grown-up feels. The only problem? They’ve been friends since grade school.

Callie’s got another problem, too. A family moved into the haunted house next door and the oldest son, Liam, is … something. She’s irrationally, stupidly drawn to him, as if she’s known him forever, but they’ve barely met.

Don’t worry, she’ll figure all that out, but the handsome men in her life started me wondering….Who’s hotter? Cowboys or Vikings?

So, I did what any girl would do. I made lists! Let’s see if I can figure it out.

Cowboys:

1. Lean, sculpted bodies – hey, farm work isn’t easy, but it surely does pay

2. Tans – that much time in the sun caramels up the skin real pretty

3. Southern drawls – those slow, sexy southern drawls can give a girl the vapors.

4. Respect – Any cowboy worth his rope treats his woman like a precious stone, easily lost and in high demand. He’s no stranger to hard work and he’ll earn your keep.

5. Charm, bone-deep – and they know how to use it. They’ll make friends with your mama.

Vikings:

1. Fierce – these guys are born warriors, fearless fighters and unrelenting defenders

2. Honor – honor is everything to a Viking. They’d die (literally!) to maintain it

3. Warriors are nice to look at. Have you seen Thor?

4. Alpha male? Yes, please. –I think girl-swooning pheromones and testosterone seep directly from their pores.

5. Mystery – The Vikings in Prophecy are demigods, offspring of Bia, Kratos and Zelus, gods of force, strength and zeal. Who doesn’t love a demigod?

I know I left out a ton of reasons to love both - Vikings AND Cowboys. I wrote an entire novel about them and then wrote a sequel! LOL. One book wouldn’t contain their awesome. So, what do you think? Who do you choose? The Viking or the cowboy? What did I leave out that definitely belongs on the list?

Prophecy, book 1, Calypso series, book #1

On the other side of death, is destiny.

Callie Ingram is spending her senior year focused on one thing: swimming. Her skill as a competitive swimmer is going to secure a scholarship and her future, or so she hopes. She has big plans, and Liam Hale, her gorgeous new neighbor, isn’t going to affect them. But when Callie sees Liam beheading someone, she learns his family has a secret that will change everything. The Hales are Vikings, demi-gods who’ve been charged by The Fates to find their new destined leader.

Callie’s caught in the middle of a budding Norse apocalypse, in love with Liam Hale and desperate to protect her best friend—who the Hales believe is marked for transformation. Putting the clues together as fast as she can, Callie discovers she has the power to rewrite destiny, for herself and all humankind.

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About Julie:

Julie Anne Lindsey is a multi-genre author who writes the stories that keep her up at night. She’s a self-proclaimed nerd with a penchant for words and proclivity for fun. Julie lives in rural Ohio with her husband and three small children. Today, she hopes to make someone smile. One day she plans to change the world.

Julieannelindsey.com

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Geek Girl Obsess

Book Tour (Review & Favorite Quotes) + Giveaway: Losing the Ice (Ice #2) by Jennifer Comeaux

Blog Tour: Shadow of Loss by Josefina Gutierrez

Book Tour (Review + Giveaway): The Book of Ivy (The Book of Ivy #1) by Amy Engel

REVIEW:

About the Author

GIVEAWAY:

Book Tour & Giveaway: Raven (Chronicles of Steele #1) by Pauline Creeden

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Giveaway

Who View (5) : S8 E11 & S8 12 - Dark Water & Death In Heaven

Dark Water & Death in Heaven review

Now, let's see the top list

Season 8 Rehash

Catch Me When I Fall by Vicki Leigh: Blog Tour and Blog Hop (+ Guest Post)

Vicki is an editor for Month9Books and Curiosity Quills Press, an intern at TriadaUS Literary agency, and is represented by Sarah Negovetich of Corvisiero Literary Agency.

Find Vicki Leigh Online:

Guest Post by Vicki Leigh: On Writing from the Male POV

My Worst Nighmare

Geek Week Mixoleed (7) - Good bye October

This week on the blog:

Read this week:

Book Haul:

Mini Review for the Prequel: Tell Me My Name (Fated Stars 0.5) by Mary Fan

Coffee & Books

Espresso - A book that has a dark atmosphere

Coffee Mocha - A book with layered world-building

Cappuccino - I book that made me all warm and fuzzy

Americano - A book that made me cry

Chai Latte - An LGBT Book

Espresso con Panna - A book that started out well but went downhills

Flat White - A quick, light read

Who View (5) : S8 E10 - In the Forest of the Night + Missy Dominance

Geek Week Mixoleed (6) - Thrilling Thrillments

This week on the blog:

Read this week:

Book Haul:

Book Blitz (Excerpt + Giveaway): Gateway Trilogy by Christina Garner

Review: Prophecy (Calypso #1) by Julie Anne Lindsey

Review: Tortures Souls (The Orion Circle #1) by Kimber Leigh Wheaton

Geek Girl Witter: What's Up with More Series Set in the Same World?

Top Ten Tuesday: Top New(ish) Series I Want To Start

Release Day Blitz: Stone Cold Touch (The Dark Elements #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** Kobo ** iTunes

Series Website | Website | Twitter | Facebook | Jennifer L. Armentrout Goodreads | STONE COLD TOUCH Goodreads

Geek Week Mixoleed (5) - Mission Accomplished + New Books

This week on the blog:

Read this week:

Book Haul:

Those Dang Cliffhanger Endings!

DNF ARC Review: The Elementalists by C. Sharp

Geek Girl Witter: Is Every Longer Book Longer Than Shorter Books?

Top 5 Questions We Want Answers To In Dreamfall Chapters

NO. 1.

NO. 2

NO. 3

NO. 4

NO. 5

+1

Review: Dream On by M. Kircher

Release Day Blitz: Tell Me My Name by Mary Fan and Slam by Tah McAdam

About Mary Fan

About Tash McAdam

Blog Tour: Prophecy by Julie Anne Lindsey

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