Swords for Fighting

Review: Rescue Ink with Denise Flaim

noreply@blogger.com (elizabeth) — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Synopsis:

1,700 pounds of muscle, 80-plus tattoos, one unlikely mission...

Abusers are losers! That's the rallying cry of Rescue Ink, the unique group of tattooed, muscle-bound motorcyclists who've banded together to rescue helpless, abandoned, and abused animals. Led by Joe Panz, Johnny O, and Big Ant, the guys act on tips from concerned citizens to find endangered animals and persuade the abuser (within the bounds of the law) to either change his hard-hearted ways or surrender the animal to them.

The inspirational story of these guys and their commitment to better animal care, Rescue Ink's combination of heartwarming stories and practical advice will charm everyone who loves animals.
Quick Review:

This is an excellent book full of short stories about how these tough guys from Rescue Ink in New York rescue and find homes home so many animals! I love what these guys stand for and what they do. They are truly an inspiration. I enjoyed the bits of humor thrown into the stories. This book had me laughing and crying. I loved it! Great read. I recommend it to anyone who has a passion for animals.

Rating: 4/5

Swords are for fighting!

Review: Austenland by Shannon Hale

noreply@blogger.com (elizabeth) — Mon, 06 May 2013 23:38:00 +0000

Synopsis:

Jane Hayes is a seemingly normal young New Yorker, but she has a secret. Her obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, is ruining her love life: no real man can compare. But when a wealthy relative bequeaths her a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-crazed women, Jane's fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become realer than she ever could have imagined.

Decked out in empire-waist gowns, Jane struggles to master Regency etiquette and flirts with gardeners and gentlemen;or maybe even, she suspects, with the actors who are playing them. It's all a game, Jane knows. And yet the longer she stays, the more her insecurities seem to fall away, and the more she wonders: Is she about to kick the Austen obsession for good, or could all her dreams actually culminate in a Mr. Darcy of her own?

Quick Review:

What can I say about this book? I did enjoy it, but I had a hard time getting into it. I had to put it down quite a few times and pick up another book. That being said, once I got about a third of the way through it, I began to enjoy the story. Jane was a fun character to be with. I enjoyed her personality. This was an overall fun book. Just a little slow in the beginning.

Rating: 2.5/5

Swords are for fighting!

My Long Awaited Return

noreply@blogger.com (elizabeth) — Mon, 06 May 2013 23:31:00 +0000

WOW!!! It has been a VERY long time since I have posted anything. I have been extremely busy with life, but I am back! I do not know how often I will be able to post, but I am going to try to post at least once a week. Sorry for being gone for so long.

Swords are for fighting!

Review: Night Star (Immortals #5) by Alyson Noel

noreply@blogger.com (elizabeth) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Synopsis:
Haven still blames Ever for the death of her boyfriend Roman, no matter how hard Ever’s tried to convince her it was an accident. Now she’s determined to take Ever down…and destroy Damen and Jude along the way. Her first step is to tear Ever and Damen apart—and she has just the ammunition to do it.

Hidden in one of Ever’s past lives is a terrible secret about Damen—a secret that illuminates new facts about her relationship with Jude, but that’s so dark and brutal it might be enough to drive her and Damen apart once and for all. As Ever faces her greatest fears about the guy she wants to spend eternity with, she’s thrust into a deadly clash with Haven that could destroy them all.

Now it’ll take everything she’s got—and bring out powers she never knew she had—to face down her most formidable enemy. But in order to win, she must first ask herself: is her own survival worth dooming Haven to an eternity of darkness in the Shadowland? And will learning the truth about Damen’s past hold the key to their future?

Review (Spoilers galore):
Night Star is the fifth book in the Immortals series, and as much as wanted to like it I really did not. I found the book to be slow. I even put it down for months after I started to read it! For me, it was difficult to finish even after I took some time away from it and picked it up again. I am definitely ready for this series to end.

In this book, Ever encounters many problems. Her aunt, Sabine, does not trust her or believe her. Her former best friend has become Ever's evil enemy who is trying to kill her. She has changed so much from the beginning of the series. I definitely do not like her at all. Ever skips school...a lot. She also cannot decide if she wants to be with Damen or Jude.

Damen and Ever definitely have huge issues. Damen kept a "secret" from her about her past life, so Ever feels like she cannot trust him. I thought this whole fight was lame. It is not like she knew every detail from her past lives before, so I do not think Ever should be so upset with Damen. She needs time to remember all of her past lives and should not expect Damen to tell her everything about her past right away.

One good thing I can say about this book is that Ever rose above her weaknesses, and she changed for the better and grew up a little bit more. I found the one sentence paragraphs to be overdone. There were way too many of them that it became annoying.

It seems like too many new plot twists were added in this book that I do not know how all of the loose ends can be tied together in the final book. All I hope is that Ever and Damen find the antidote because that story line has been dragged out way too long for my liking.

Rating: 2.5/5

Swords are for fighting!

Eat Slay Love (Living with the Dead #3) by Jesse Petersen

noreply@blogger.com (elizabeth) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 20:11:00 +0000

Synopsis:
Sarah and David have survived the zombie apocalypse. They stood side by side and fought the undead, mad scientists, and even bionic monsters until the unthinkable happened. A zombie bite. But not even that could stop them. Now, with a possible cure in hand, they're headed east, looking for a safe zone behind the rumored "Wall." They're feeling pretty optimistic.

That is until Dave stops sleeping and starts lifting huge objects.

Eat. Slay. Love.Because they haven't got a prayer.'

Quick Review:
Eat Slay Love is a perfect addition to the Living with the Dead series. It picks up right where Flip This Zombie left off: Sarah and David making their way to the "Wall" that is rumored to be zombie free. There, they plan on somehow getting the cure into the right hands. Unfortunately, the "Wall" is more trouble than expected because the government may be behind the zombie apocalypse. (not a huge shocker) This little dystopian twist was definitely welcomed.

As always, Sarah and David are great characters. I love their witty banter and references. If you read this book (and series), you will definitely laugh a lot. David and Sarah have the kind of chemistry that I hope to find one day. If you like zombies, romance, and comedy, then you will definitely love this book!

Rating: 5/5

Swords are for fighting!

Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

noreply@blogger.com (elizabeth) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Synopsis:
In the blink of an eye everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall what happened afterwards, watching her own damaged body being taken from the wreck. Little by little she struggles to put together the pieces - to figure out what she has lost, what she has left, and the very difficult choice she must make. Heart-wrenchingly beautiful, Mia's story will stay with you for a long, long time.

Review:
If I Stay is one of the most beautiful books I have read in such a long time. The story was absolutely amazing. I do not want to give much away. If you have not read this book, you must! I am so excited to read the sequel, Where She Went, when I can get my hands on it. This book is definitely powerful and will stay with me for a long time. I would describe it as an emotional story because it will have you laughing and crying.

As you can probably tell, I absolutely loved this book! The story switches back and forth from Mia being in a sort of limbo in the present to events that have happened in her past. This is how she decides if she should stay or go. Forman's writing is a page turner. She has such a way with words that is so gorgeous. I read this book in one sitting because I could not put it down and did not want it to end!

Rating: 5/5

Swords are for fighting!

Review: Dark Parties by Sara Grant

noreply@blogger.com (elizabeth) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 18:37:00 +0000

Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old Neva has been trapped since birth. She was born and raised under the Protectosphere, in an isolated nation ruled by fear, lies, and xenophobia. A shield "protects" them from the outside world, but also locks the citizens inside. But there's nothing left on the outside, ever since the world collapsed from violent warfare. Or so the government says...

Neva and her best friend Sanna believe the government is lying and stage a "dark party" to recruit members for their underground rebellion. But as Neva begins to uncover the truth, she realizes she must question everything she's ever known, including the people she loves the most.

Review:
Dark Parties was such a great read. I definitely enjoyed this dystopian book. The main character, Neva, was a breath of fresh air. I liked that she never gave up her individualism and beliefs. She did not like the way the government controlled people's lives, and she tried to do something about it. I loved her quiet, rebellious attitude. I enjoyed following her story.

The government was horrible (obviously). Controlling the lives of its citizens to the point where many people would just disappear like they never existed. In this world, a sixteen year old is considered an adult, and adults are expected to start their lives by being good citizens. Meaning they are expected to have sex to have babies. Neva notices that mostly girls are the ones to disappear. She keeps track of everyone she notices that goes missing in her secret journal. It was kind of shocking to discover what the government has done to them.

The romance in this book was definitely hot! Unfortunately, Neva's boyfriend, Ethan, has been pretty much brainwashed by the government. Before he was a carefree, rebellious teen, but he becomes a boy that only wants to start a family with Neva. I found it sad how crushed his spirit became.

Unfortunately for Neva, she discovers she has strong feelings for newcomer Braydon, her best friend, Sanna's, boyfriend. She cannot help the way she feels and neither can Braydon. I definitely liked Braydon, but I never completely trusted him. I still do not know what to think of him.

If you like dystopian books, I would definitely recommend reading Dark Parties. It is a quick read, and I enjoyed it. It has an interesting plot with many unexpected twists. I did not think it was predictable at all. There is plenty of action, and the ending was perfect in my opinion.

Rating: 4/5

Swords are for fighting!

Review: Flip This Zombie (Living With the Dead #2) by Jesse Petersen

noreply@blogger.com (elizabeth) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Synopsis:

The Zombie Apocalypse has been good to Sarah and David. Their marriage is better than ever. They communicate well, share responsibilities, and now, they're starting a business. ZombieBusters-for all your zombie extermination needs.

There are lots of zombies and that means lots of customers...Except one of them doesn't want the zombies dead, he wants them alive and ready for experimentation. Mad scientists make for difficult clients and this time, Sarah and David might have bitten off more than they can chew.

Review:
Flip This Zombie takes place a few months after the zombie plague has started. Sarah and David have adapted to the Zombie Apocalypse life by starting their own zombie hunting business. They meet a scientist who is developing a cure. They also meet a boy who is definitely bratty and annoying for a good part of the book. I did not really like him until the end.

Sarah and David's relationship is just amazing. I love that the Zombie Apocalypse has made their love stronger than ever. The things that they said sometimes had me laughing! If a Zombie Apocalypse ever happened, I hope I would have as much fun as they have (if I didn't become one of the living dead).

This book was so much fun to read! I love the humor that it is filled with. One of the most entertaining series I have read in a long time. If you like zombies, then you will definitely like this book. It was interesting, exciting, thrilling, and a quick read. I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Eat Slay Love.

Rating: 4/5

Swords are for fighting,

Review: Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison

noreply@blogger.com (elizabeth) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:07:00 +0000

Synopsis:
Bridget Duke is the uncontested ruler of her school. The meanest girl with the biggest secret insecurities. And when new girl Anna Judge arrives, things start to fall apart for Bridget: friends don't worship as attentively, teachers don't fall for her wide-eyed "who me?" look, expulsion looms ahead and the one boy she's always loved—Liam Ward—can barely even look at her anymore.

When a desperate Bridget drives too fast and crashes her car, she ends up in limbo, facing everyone she's wronged and walking a few uncomfortable miles in their shoes. Now she has only one chance to make a last impression. Though she might end up dead, she has one last shot at redemption and the chance to right the wrongs she's inflicted on the people who mean the most to her.

And Bridget's about to learn that, sometimes, saying you're sorry just isn't enough….

Review:
When I first started reading Here Lies Bridget, I had a hunch that I would not like this book because the main character is not at all likable at first. Bridget Duke is a stereotypical popular girl. She is a horrible person who is conceited, rude, jealous, and overall annoying. She rules the school because people are afraid of what she can do to them. Bridget only thinks of herself and what is best for her, so she does not care about those around her. She loves to lie if it will keep her out of trouble. I honestly did not like her at all in the first half of the book because of her mean and hurtful demeanor.

After the car crash, Bridget starts to realize how horrible she is and how many people she has hurt. As soon as she started to see how bratty she had been acting, I surprisingly started to like her. I did not think it was possible to like a character like her, but Harbison made it possible. She knows how to make an unlikable character likable.

Here Lies Bridget is a fun and easy read. The ending was my favorite part because it was so adorable!Perfect beach read in my opinion. The story is definitely interesting, so I would recommend reading it if you get a chance.

Rating: 3.5/5

Swords are for fighting,

Review: Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves

noreply@blogger.com (elizabeth) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Synopsis:

Kit and Fancy Cordelle are sisters of the best kind: best friends, best confidantes, and best accomplices. The daughters of the infamous Bonesaw Killer, Kit and Fancy are used to feeling like outsiders, and that’s just the way they like it. But in Portero, where the weird and wild run rampant, the Cordelle sisters are hardly the oddest or most dangerous creatures around.

It’s no surprise when Kit and Fancy start to give in to their deepest desire—the desire to kill. What starts as a fascination with slicing open and stitching up quickly spirals into a gratifying murder spree. Of course, the sisters aren’t killing just anyone, only the people who truly deserve it. But the girls have learned from the mistakes of their father, and know that a shred of evidence could get them caught. So when Fancy stumbles upon a mysterious and invisible doorway to another world, she opens a door to endless possibilities….

Review:

Slice of Cherry is one twisted novel, and I sure did love it! Dia Reeves has created a fascinating, dark world set in Portero, Texas that is a bit disturbing and strange, but Reeves made it work. Her writing is incredible. I could not put down this book for very long.

This book is on the violent side with passages of beating up people, torture, and murder, so I do not think Slice of Cherry is for everyone. I would recommend it to older teens and adults. The plot was very interesting. I never thought I would end up liking the Cordelle sisters who have killer tendencies. I not only liked them, but I ended up caring for them. It did help that they only kill people that deserve it.

Kit and Fancy Cordelle are extremely close sisters. They are best friends that do everything together. They both have the urge to hurt people. Kit is the older sister at seventeen. She is extremely opinionated and talks for her shy sister, Fancy. Like her father, she gets a satisfied feeling when she kills.

Fancy is fifteen and seems to just follow Kit around at first. She is a bit more hesitant to killing at first, but she enjoys it like her sister. She does not dress her age as one of the Turner brothers, Ilan, points out often. She wears clothes that are too small for her as though she is trying to stay young. I found Fancy to be a bit bratty at times and jealous of Kit. She acts out when she does not get her way. She does have a sort of magical ability to open a door to another dimension that she calls her Happy Place. Fancy also keeps a Dream Diary, and an excerpt from her Dream Diary is before each chapter. Her dreams are definitely creepy!

The Turner brothers, Gabe and Ilan, are perfect matches for the Cordelle sisters. Ilan is sweet, cute, charming, and blunt. He is not afraid to say what he is thinking especially to Fancy. Gabe gives off a weird vibe that screams problem child, but everyone in Portero has problems.

Slice of Cherry is a wonderful read. The book may be a bit intimidating at 505 pages, but it was such a quick read that I did not even notice the length. I hope everyone gives this book a chance if they can!

Rating: 4.5/5

Swords are for fighting!

Character Interview: Rocky

noreply@blogger.com (elizabeth) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Character interview: Roxanne “Rocky” Miccuci

1. What is it like being Kate's best friend?

It’s funny, because people think we’re like, total opposites. We’re not. I’m into music the way Kate’s into science. We both get really obsessive about things, and it’s nice to have somebody who understands that kind of commitment. So she doesn’t flip out if I say I can’t do something because I’ve got voice lessons, but she’ll force me to get out and have fun if I start getting too obsessive, and I do the same thing for her.

I think the one thing we don’t agree on is parties. I love them, but they make her hyperventilate. I don’t suppose the zombie thing really helped with that either, darn it.

2. How did you and Kate become friends?

We were in the same third grade class, and we both really sucked at sports. And when I say sucked, I really mean it. I tried to learn to do headers in soccer and ended up taking a ball to the face. So we always got stuck way in the outfield during kickball and stuff, and we bonded over it. We might have sucked, but we sucked TOGETHER. And we’ve been friends ever since.

3. What was it like being in the middle of a zombie outbreak?

Honestly? I didn’t really believe in the whole zombie thing until I saw them with my own eyes, and by then, it was pretty much all over. I thought Kate was playing one of her jokes. She has a really twisted sense of humor. One time, she convinced her younger brother that he’d contracted elephantiasis and was going to need a wheelbarrow to carry around his…uh…boy bits. I’m still laughing about that one.

But anyway, back to the question. I was really just humoring her until the zombie attack in the gym. And then I was in shock. I totally flipped out afterwards, and it wasn’t pretty.

4. What is your favorite holiday and why?

This might sound kind of weird, but I like the Fourth of July. My family always goes to the beach, and we have a big cookout on the beach and blow things up. I have some secret pyromaniacal tendencies. I like to blow things up.

I guess they’re not all that secret any more, are they?

5. If you could be any person living or dead for a day, who would it be and why?

I’d be Britney Spears. Please don’t hate me.

Here’s the thing—if I was Britney, then I could be as cracked out crazy as I wanted, and no one would bat an eye. I could go run around a fountain in my underwear and start belting out show tunes, and people would be all, “Oh, it’s just Britney in the fountain again.” Don’t you think that would be fun? And after I was done, I’d get to go lay down a track with some of the best producers in the business. I’d probably have to change out of the wet clothes first, though.

Thanks for interviewing me! XOXO - Rocky

Review: Awakened (House of Night #8) by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

noreply@blogger.com (elizabeth) — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Synopsis:
“My love, speak to me. Tell me everything.” Neferet went to Kalona, kneeling before him, stroking the soft, dark wings that unfurled loosely around the immortal.

“What would you have me say?” He didn’t meet her eyes.

“Zoey lives.” Neferet’s voice was flat, cold, lifeless.

“She does.”

“Then you owe me the subservience of your immortal soul.” She started to walk away from him.

“Where are you going? What will happen next?”

“It is quite simple. I will ensure Zoey is drawn back to Oklahoma. There, on my own terms, I will complete the task you failed.”

Exonerated by the Vampyre High Council and returned to her position of High Priestess at Tulsa’s House of Night, Neferet has sworn vengeance on Zoey. Dominion over Kalona is only one of the weapons she plans to use against Z. But Zoey has found sanctuary on the Isle of Skye and is being groomed by Queen Sgiach to take over for her there. Being Queen would be cool, wouldn’t it? Why should she return to Tulsa? After losing her human consort, Heath, she will never be the same – and her relationship with her super-hot-warrior, Stark, may never be the same either…

And what about Stevie Rae and Rephaim? The Raven Mocker refuses to be used against Stevie Rae, but what choice does he have when no one in the entire world, including Zoey, would be okay with their relationship? Does he betray his father or his heart?

In the pulse-pounding 8th book in the bestselling House of Night series, how far will the bonds of friendship stretch and how strong are the ties that bind one girl’s heart?

Review: (WARNING: Spoilers)
Awakened is the eighth book in the House of Night series. I definitely liked it more than Burned, the seventh book in the series. The plot seemed to move forward a little bit, but not much. There are not one, but two deaths in this book. One of the deaths was extremely sad. I did not see it coming at all.

Zoey is starting to bore me. She did grow up a bit since the last book, but I found myself not looking forward to chapters that were in her point of view. My favorite story line in this book was Stevie Rae and Rephaim's. Their relationship grew so much in this book. Rephaim has definitely changed for the better, and it is all thanks to Stevie Rae.

Neferet is my least favorite character in this whole series. She is just so annoying! I want Zoey to defeat her already because I cannot stand her. She is pure evil and just gets more annoying as the series progresses.

I am glad Kalona is not working for Neferet anymore. Unfortunately for Zoey, he has found a new way to mess with Zoey. I think what he does is going to ruin Zoey's relationship with Stark, which is unfortunate (I really like Stark). Nevertheless, I feel like Kalona may help Zoey in future books since he is no longer on Neferet's side.

There was one thing that I did not like about this book. I did not like all of the pop culture references. It felt like there were way too many. There is a cliffhanger at the end, which I expected. I am looking forward to reading the next book to see what happens.

Rating: 3.5/5

Swords are for fighting!

Review: Hater by David Moody

noreply@blogger.com (elizabeth) — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Synopsis:
The country is rocked by a sudden, inexplicable increase in violent assaults on individuals. Seeming to be without any reason or motive these attacks are brutal and extreme. There are no apparent links between the aggressors and their victims. Christened 'Haters' by the media, their attacks come without warning or explanation. Everyone - irrespective of age, gender, race, sexuality, culture or any other imaginable difference - has the potential to be a Hater. You can no longer trust anyone, no matter how close they are to you. You can no longer trust yourself.

Danny McCoyne lives with his partner Lizzie and their three children in a rundown council flat. By day he works for the council, processing parking fines. By night he watches TV and complains about how little money he's got and how empty his life is. He knows what he has to do to make things better and he has the intelligence and capability to do it. A bigger home, a better job… it's all within reach. But Danny can't be bothered. His kids don't respect him and his partner despairs.

Danny can't handle pressure. He's no good in a crisis. At the first sign of trouble he shoves his head in the sand and waits for it all to blow over. But this isn't going to go away. The situation is deteriorating by the day, almost by the hour. The danger is getting closer. It won't be long before it reaches them and there's nothing anyone can do to stop it. Their only defence is to lock themselves down, to cut themselves off from everyone else and wait for help. It's what they think they should do. It's what the authorities tell them to do. But Danny and his partner know that as well as locking the trouble out, they may also be locking it in…

Review:
Hater was not at all what I thought it was going to be. I thought it was going to be a zombie book, but it definitely was not. It was more of a post-apocalyptic novel. The book follows Danny, an ordinary guy that is trying to support his family. I found Danny to be just an average guy that was nothing special and kind of lazy.

What I found the most interesting about this book was what made a person a 'Hater.' It is not explained too much, but I think that is because this is a series (I am excited to read the second book, Dog Blood, as soon as I get my hands on it!). I found the whole idea of being a 'Hater' very intriguing because there is no warning when someone becomes a 'Hater.' It just happens. One minute a person is normal, and the next minute they feel threatened and attack without reason.

I love post-apocalyptic type novels, so 'Hater' was definitely a book I liked. I found the whole plot interesting and intriguing. There is definitely a good amount of violence, so I would not recommend to kids. It is definitely an adult book.

Rating: 4/5

Swords are for fighting!

Book Blogger Hop (25)

noreply@blogger.com (elizabeth) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 16:23:00 +0000

The Book Blogger Hop is here! It is hosted by Crazy For Books, and here is how it works for those that do not know:

ABOUT THE HOP: This is a weekly event, hosted here, where book bloggers and readers can connect to find new blogs to read. It's a great way to network with other bloggers and make new friends! In the spirit of the Friday Follow, I thought it would be cool to do a Book Blogger Hop to give us all bookies a chance to connect and find new blogs that we may be missing out on! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed! So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start Hopping!! Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews. If you start following someone through the Hop, leave a comment on their blog to let them know! Stop back during the week to see other blogs that are added! And, most importantly, the idea is to HAVE FUN!!

This week’s question isn’t a question at all! I thought I would do things a little differently this week and give all of you a chance to promote a giveaway (or two!) from the blogosphere.

The catch?

IT CAN’T BE YOUR OWN GIVEAWAY!

Gotcha!

You have to find another blogger who is having a giveaway and promote their giveaway for them! If possible, promote a giveaway from a blogger doing the Hop (hey, you are visiting other blogs anyway, right?). Have fun with this one! It’s not an easy task this week!

The giveaway I would like to share with my lovely readers is over at vvb32 Reads where you can win a copy of Sea Witch by Helen Hollick. I definitely find the synopsis interesting. A book about pirates? Count me in!

If you are participating or you found me through the Hop, please leave me a comment. Have a fun Book Blogger Hop Friday!

Swords are for fighting,

Review: Hex: A Witch and Angel Tale by Ramona Wray

noreply@blogger.com (elizabeth) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Synopsis:
Like most girls at Rosemound High School, seventeen-year-old Lily Crane is acutely aware of Ryder Kingscott. Hands down the cutest guy in school, Ryder is cool, mysterious, and utterly untouchable…especially for Lily. For when she touches someone, Lily instantly learns all about their lives. And while such a skill might seem nifty, in truth it is wrecking Lily’s life.

So she is shocked when Ryder asks her out — and even more shocked to discover he has a rival. Lucian Bell is the gorgeous new kid who can’t take his eyes off of Lily. Being pursued by two hotties should make a girl happy, but Lily is skeptical. The boys act as if they’ve met before, hating each other with a passion that could only be rooted in a dark, dangerous past. A past full of terrible secrets. The kind of secrets that could get a girl killed.

Review:
Hex: A Witch and Angel Tale was not at all what I expected it to be. I thought it would be a book full of fluff and cuteness like the cover makes it out to be, but it was so much more. I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. Sure, it was a little slow for me at first, but the story ended up being heartwarming. Ramona Wray is such an enticing writer that after the first thirty pages or so, I was absorbed in the story.

The book follows Lily, a girl with an unique ability: She can see the past and present of anyone she touches. Then, she meets Ryder, a very good looking boy, and everything she knew changes as he starts to pay attention to her. Ryder is such a sweet guy that it is very easy to love him. The best part is that when Lily touches Ryder, nothing happens. Throw in another good looking boy named Lucian, and we have a love triangle.

If you like books with romance, suspense, and mystery, then this is the book for you. There is plenty of action, and the mystery of the book will keep you guessing. Hex: A Witch and Angel Tale is an enjoyable paranormal fantasy. I definitely recommend picking it up.

Rating: 4/5

Swords are for fighting!

Waiting on Wednesday... (50)

noreply@blogger.com (elizabeth) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that I am eagerly anticipating.

This week's Waiting on Wednesday pick is: Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

Publication Date: July 12, 2011

Synopsis:
The thrilling conclusion to #1 bestselling Shiver trilogy from Maggie Stiefvater

then.

When Sam met Grace, he was a wolf and she was a girl. Eventually he found a way to become a boy, and their love moved from a curious distance to the intense closeness of shared lives.

now.

That should have been the end of their story. But Grace was not meant to stay human. Now she is the wolf. And the wolves of Mercy Falls are about to be killed in one final, spectacular hunt.

forever.

Sam would do anything for Grace. But can one boy and one love really change a hostile, predatory world? The past, the present, and the future are about to collide in one pure moment - a moment of death or life, farewell or forever.

I am so excited to read Forever!!! I have already pre-ordered it, and I am impatiently waiting for my copy to arrive on the 12th :)

Swords are for fighting,

Review: Bad Taste In Boys by Carrie Harris

noreply@blogger.com (elizabeth) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Synopsis:
Someone's been a very bad zombie.

Kate Grable is horrified to find out that the football coach has given the team steroids. Worse yet, the steroids are having an unexpected effect, turning hot gridiron hunks into mindless flesh-eating zombies. No one is safe--not her cute crush Aaron, not her dorky brother, Jonah . . . not even Kate!

She's got to find an antidote--before her entire high school ends up eating each other. So Kate, her best girlfriend, Rocky, and Aaron stage a frantic battle to save their town. . . and stay hormonally human.

Review:
Bad Taste in Boys is a book that I have been wanting to read for many long months. I jumped at the first opportunity to be a part of the tour, and I am so glad that I did! If I could sum this book up in one word, that word would have to be awesome.

Bad Taste in Boys is a cute story about a girl (Kate) who puts it upon herself to find the antidote for the zombie virus that seems to be spreading across the football team. Kate was such an amazing main character. She was smart and funny. Some of the things she said/ thought had me laughing out loud. I love that she was a geek and knew it. I also liked how honest her voice was. Her honesty made her more likable and more realistic.

If you have never read a zombie book before, I would recommend Bad Taste in Boys to be your first. It was a quick read, funny, entertaining, and sometimes it was a bit creepy, but in a good way. There is even a bit of romance thrown in! Yes, there is some gore (it's a zombie book, what did you expect?), but I thought it had just the right amount. Definitely an enjoyable book that I would recommend to anyone.

Rating: 4/5

Swords are for fighting!

Teaser Tuesday (51): Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves

noreply@blogger.com (elizabeth) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 19:48:00 +0000

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
Anyone can play along, do the following:
•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from page 62 of Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves:

" Claudine Street looked as though is had been unzipped, bricks scattered everywhere. Cars and trucks were flipped over or teetering at weird angles; hard, white water from a burst hydrant swept past the sisters' tires in a flood."

This book has been a wild ride so far. I have no idea how it is going to turn out.

Feel free to share your teaser in the comments.

Swords are for fighting!

Hailey Kendrick from The Education of Hailey Kendrick: This or That

noreply@blogger.com (elizabeth) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 19:33:00 +0000

Hi everyone! I would like to welcome Hailey Kendrick from The Education of Hailey Kendrick. Today, she is going to answer a few this or that questions. Enjoy!

Soup or Salad: Soup. My boarding school is in Vermont and it’s freezing here most of the year so soup is great. Plus, the freshman often sneeze on the items on the salad bar which is totally disgusting and the downside of living with a huge group of people.

Cats or Dogs: Either! I would love a pet, but I live in a dorm so I’m not allowed to have one.

Rain or Sunshine: Sunshine! Last time there was a huge rain storm I got into trouble. Big trouble. The kind of trouble where you sort of accidently might kiss someone that you didn’t mean to. Can we not talk about this?

Cake or Ice Cream: Cupcakes.

Dancing or Singing: I really wish I could sing, but I’m not great at it. Come to think of it I’m not a great dancer either. Does it count that I’m on student council?

Night or Day: Day so I can hang out with my friends.

Vanilla or Chocolate: Chocolate. My best friend’s dad works for a candy company. I have a serious Twix addiction.

Coffee or Tea: Latte with tons of milk and sugar.

Run or Walk: Walk. It’s not that I’m obsessed with safety, but I do tend to think about it a lot. It’s a lot easier to get hurt running. I tend to be a bit risk adverse, unless you count the time I climbed out of the second story of our headmaster’s office, but I didn’t really have a choice.

Hot or Cold: I recently went sledding with this guy on old cookie trays that we took from a Denny’s restaurant. It sounds weird, but we had the most amazing time. I’m going with sledding.

Thanks, Hailey! If you want to know more about Hailey, make sure you check out The Education of Hailey Kendrick.

If you want to know more about Eileen Cook and her books, you can start by reading my review of her fun story, Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood.

Swords are for fighting!

Review: Don't Stop Now by Julie Halpern

noreply@blogger.com (elizabeth) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:11:00 +0000

Synopsis:

On the first day of Lillian’s summer-before-college, she gets a message on her cell from her sort-of friend, Penny. Not only has Penny faked her own kidnapping, but Lil is the only one who figures it out. She knows that Penny’s home life has been rough, and that her boyfriend may be abusive. Soon, Penny’s family, the local police, and even the FBI are grilling Lil, and she decides to head out to Oregon, where Penny has mentioned an acquaintance. And who better to road-trip across the country with than Lil’s BFF, Josh. But here’s the thing: Lil loves Josh. And Josh doesn’t want to “ruin” their amazing friendship.

Josh has a car and his dad’s credit card. Lil has her cellphone and a hunch about where Penny is hiding. There’s something else she needs to find: Are she and Josh meant to be together?

Review:
Don't Stop Now is a fun story that had me hooked from page one. I loved the randomness of this book. Lil and Josh go on a road trip across the country stopping at some of the quirkiest places along the way. The road trip also gives Lil the chance to see if her and Josh will be anything more than best friends. Lil and Josh are some awesome people that I would love to be friends with. I loved both of their personalities.The whole book just made me smile and even laugh out loud at times.

As I finished reading Don't Stop Now, I had the urge to go on a road trip of my own. I have even been to many of the places that Josh and Lil go to on their road trip, but I did not have as much fun as they did.

Julie Halpern definitely has a way with words. Her characters were absolutely amazing. I loved their humor and quirkiness. If you want to read a fun book that will give you a good laugh, then this is it! Don't Stop Now is a perfect summer read.

Rating: 4/5

Swords are for fighting,

Two Moon Princess Tour Post and Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (elizabeth) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 15:03:00 +0000

Hi everyone! Today I have Andrea from Two Moon Princess by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban! She is here today to answer some this or that questions. Enjoy!

1. Blue or Pink
Blue

2. Dresses/ Skirts or Pants/ Shorts
Pants

3. Dogs or Cats
Dogs

4. Up or Down
Up

5. Summer or Winter
Summer

6. Light or Dark
Light

7. Chocolate or Candy
Chocolate

8. Socks or Slippers
Socks

9. Milk or Juice
Juice

10. Sunshine or Rain
Sunshine

If you comment on this post (with your email address), you can win your very own copy of Two Moon Princess by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban! Don't pass up the opportunity to read this book! Contest will end April 27th.

Swords are for fighting,

Overprotected: Into the Past

noreply@blogger.com (elizabeth) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:40:00 +0000

Hi readers! Today I have author Jennifer Laurens here to promote her book, Overprotected by telling us about her favorite books as a child.

Favorite Past Books:

Since I was an only child, my mom started collections for me: dolls, dollhouses, miniatures, tea cups, books, were among the few. Dolls were a favorite. Naturally, Dare Wright’s series The Lonely Doll became an obsession for me. A lonely doll living in a fantastic penthouse in New York City? Candy for this child. I loved the black and white photos, the setting of New York even at that age, and have been to NYC and written about it in two of my novels. I’d live there if I could.

At 12 I had pretty much devoured every Nancy Drew mystery and had the whole set. Mysteries were a favorite of mine at the time, but no book rated on my shelf like Time at the Top by Edward Ormandryod. Again, about a girl living in the city who sees a crazy lady on the street ( dressed in old fashioned clothes) who tells her, “I’ll give you three.” The girl has no idea what “three” the old lady is talking about, but when she presses the elevator button to go to the top floor of her building and finds herself back in time, she quickly realizes she has three trips back. It’s a fascinating story and I still have my original hardback.

Girls my age hid romances in lunch bag wrapping paper when we were in high school. My friend introduced me to my first in class one day: Shanna by Kathleen Woodiwiss. As a sheltered, only child, the lusty romance was an eye opener for me and I devoured a bunch of those during my high school years, along with classics I read in school that I loved: The Good Earth, Lord of the Flies and selected SciFi. It wasn’t until much later that I fell in love with romances again via Nora Roberts’ work. I also read Endless Love by Scott Spencer for the first time. I never forgot the book, but, at 16 hardly appreciated his literary genius. It was only when I picked up the book again and re-read it 10 years ago that I was, once again, BLOWN away by his text. His book is one of the few on my NOOK now. A Keeper. I was working hard in the film industry at age 21 – no time to read. I wrote screenplays. I didn’t pick up reading heavily again until I’d been married and had a few children and found the escape an inexpensive, wonderful time for me to “get away” from it all – even if only temporarily. My favs: Nora Roberts’ Quinn Brothers series, selected Lisa Kleypas novels and the occasional suspense thriller by Sandra Brown and Penn Williamson.

I don’t think I would have appreciated the books I love now, if I’d had them back then. Like I said with Endless Love, it was the book everyone was reading, so I read it –but I didn’t see the beauty in his story, the structure of his sentences, etc, that I see now as a writer. So, there aren’t any books that I can say I would have LOVED to have had in my hands. I don’t spend much time looking back, I never have. I look forward.

Jennifer

Thanks, Jennifer! Make sure to check out her book, Overprotected. You can read my review of it here.

Waiting On Wednesday (49)...

noreply@blogger.com (elizabeth) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 13:08:00 +0000

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that I am eagerly anticipating.

This week's Waiting on Wednesday pick is: Memento Nora by Angie Smibert

Publication Date: April 1, 2011 (Yes, it already came out, but I still don't have it!)

Synopsis:
Nora, the popular girl and happy consumer, witnesses a horrific bombing on a shopping trip with her mother. In Nora’s near-future world, terrorism is so commonplace that she can pop one little white pill to forget and go on like nothing ever happened. However, when Nora makes her first trip to a Therapeutic Forgetting Clinic, she learns what her mother, a frequent forgetter, has been frequently forgetting. Nora secretly spits out the pill and holds on to her memories. The memory of the bombing as well as her mother’s secret and her budding awareness of the world outside her little clique make it increasingly difficult for Nora to cope. She turns to two new friends, each with their own reasons to remember, and together they share their experiences with their classmates through an underground comic. They soon learn, though, they can’t get away with remembering.

This book sounds awesome, right?

Swords are for fighting,

Teaser Tuesday (50)

noreply@blogger.com (elizabeth) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 13:25:00 +0000

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along, do the following:

•Grab your current read

•Open to a random page

•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from page 77 of Two Moon Princess by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban:

"With long strides, John came toward us, talking with another boy. His eyes were pale brown, as I remembered them, the color of the honey I used to steal from honeycombs back in my world to please my mother."

I just started this book, so I have no idea what is going on in this teaser!

Make sure to come back to Swords for Fighting on April 20th for an interview with the main character of Two Moon Princess, Andrea.

Feel free to share your teasers with me!

Swords are for fighting,

Celebrate the lives of those who have battled or have cancer, remember loved ones lost to cancer, and fight back against cancer!

noreply@blogger.com (elizabeth) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:31:00 +0000

Hi everyone!

Relay for Life is fast approaching (it is this Saturday!), so I wanted to see one more time if anyone would like to donate to a great cause.

We all know at least one person who has or has had cancer. The goal of Relay for Life is to fight back against cancer by raising money that will go towards research. I am calling on all of you to donate any money that you can towards fighting against cancer. Whether it is $5 or more, any amount of money will help! You can even donate in honor, in memory, or in support of a loved one who has battled or is battling cancer.
If you can, please help by donating. You can just click here. Any amount of money can help towards finding a cure. Thanks for reading!

Please, spread the word if you can!