Librarian Mouse

Blog Tour Review: Gargoyle by Lorraine Beaumont

2013-05-15T18:02:00.000+02:00

Today I'm participating in a blog tour organized by BB Book Tours run by the amazing Ashley. Please, help me welcome Lorraine Beaumont and her book Gargoyle.

Review

Gargoyle

by Lorraine Beaumont Series: The Gathering #1
Release date: 28th March, 2013
Publisher: Selfpub
Pages: 353 (kindle edition)

Summary from Goodreads:

Briar Cliff Township - New England's best kept secret...turns out is has a few secrets of its own.

For much of the year Briar Cliff is exactly the same as any other small town snugly nestled into the forests of the New England coast. But once a year when the winds change... old stirrings arise from long kept secrets, forgotten misdeeds and a thirst for vengeance.

And so the Gathering begins...Something Wicked this way comes...

Review By Alaiel Kreuz:
Gargoyles is a topic that fascinates me. And it all started with that television series that never had a real end. When my younger version found herself with no ending she took it upon herself to do something about it. And she did. Well, I did.
I devoured every book about gargoyles. The mystery, the possibilities were so many that I couldn't stop. At least for a few years. Then the era of the vampires came for me and I was hooked on Lestat.

But I missed books about this wonderful topic, that's why, when I read about this book tour I jumped up and down... I mean, seriously, have you seen that cover?! It's simply to die for. I could stare at it all day long and never get tired of it because that's how I picture them. Powerful, fearless, strong, enigmatic. And let's face it, attractive and handsome.

The plot will keep you reading until 5am -which is what happened with me- as it keeps the reader engaged and curious about what might happen next.
Evie, the main character, is a shy girl that has a really fun side that will make you laugh and smile a lot. And then there's Adriane. Hot, mesmerizing, hot and handsome Adriane. Did I say he's hot? Well, everyone needs to know how hot he is. So there, now you know^^
Adriane and Evie's relationship was endearing to say the least. After a difficult beginning -who wouldn't freak out after seeing a living gargoyle?!- the author shows us Adriane's world and how Evie reacts to it.
The pace is a little slow at first, but that's okay, trust me. It helps to build up the tension and when we reach the middle of the book everything begins to unfold.
As for the ending... huge cliffhanger, so you've been warned. I can't wait to read the next part, days can't pass fast enough.

There is romance, there are fights, friendship and what I liked the most: stories to be told.

If you are tired of vampires and werewolves -and I'm not saying I am... much- then give this book a try. It deserves all the attention it can get.

Alaiel's Rating:

You can buy it here:

You can find Lorraine Beaumont here:

Twitter // Facebook // Blog

Remember to Follow the Tour

Cover reveal: Addicted To You by Krista Ritchie & Becca Ritchie

2013-05-03T15:30:00.000+02:00

Addicted to You
by Krista Ritchie & Becca Ritchie
Series: Addicted #1
Release Date: 1st July, 2013

Official synopsis:

Two addictions. One lie.

No one would suspect shy, Lily Calloway’s biggest secret. While everyone is dancing at college bars, Lily stays in the bathroom. To get laid. Her compulsion leads her to one-night stands, steamy hookups and events she shamefully regrets. The only person who knows her secret happens to have one of his own.

Loren Hale’s best friend is his bottle of bourbon. Lily comes at a close second. For three years, they’ve pretended to be in a real relationship, hiding their addictions from their families. They’ve mastered the art of concealing flasks and random guys that filter in and out of their apartment.

But when they go on a family boat trip, surrounded by open seas and limited male bodies in sight, Lily’s confronted with a big fear. Only one guy onboard can fill her addiction, and she’s sworn off going there with Loren Hale ever again.

Now the only person who can truly help her, can barely help himself.

**This is a New Adult book recommended for readers 18 and up**

For those of you who are addicted to the blogosphere you may well know who Krista and Becca are, right? No? Well, they are the bloggers behind Nawanda Files and recently shared the news that they are publishing a book which is completely awesome!!! And honestly, I loved that cover :D

I can't wait to read their book because, let's face it, that blurb sounds intriguing to say the least.

And just because they are amazing like that there's a giveaway for you all. Enjoy, ladies!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Spotlight + Playlist + Giveaway: Before You Go by Clare James

2013-04-21T17:00:00.000+02:00

Today I'm participating in a blog tour organized by Book Nerd Tours run by the well known Jean. Please, help me welcome Clare James and her book Before You Go.
And to make things even more interesting there is a giveaway so remember to keep reading ;)

Spotlight

Before You Go

by Clare James
Release date: 31st March, 2013
Publisher: Selfpub
Pages: 202 (paperback dition)

Summary from Goodreads:

Paralyzed by the past and terrified of the future, Tabitha Kelly is broken.

After a public sex scandal at her college, Tabby moves to a new city with a new school, convinced she can start over. But she soon realizes the changes are not enough. Tabby must take action to help her heal and move on from the past.
And though it sounds crazy, she believes a one-night stand is the best way to take back what’s hers. If she can choose where, when, and most importantly, who … maybe she can regain control.
First, she needs a willing participant.

She finds more than that when she meets Noah Adler.

Unfortunately, she can’t go through with it. And when she tries to forget about the plan—and the guy—it becomes impossible.

Noah quickly weaves his way into her new life and her heart. But as he comes dangerously close to discovering her secret, Tabby’s at risk of losing it all.

You can buy it here:

You can find Clare James here:

Twitter // Facebook // Official Web

Remember to Follow the Tour

Playlist

Click on the names to go to Youtube

Music Playlist for Before You Go

by Clare James

“All These Things That I've Done” – The Killers
“Lost in My Mind” – The Head and the Heart
“A Thousand Years” – Christina Perri
“Falling Slowly” – Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
“O’ Children” – Nick Cave
“Maybe” – Ingrid Michaelson
“Be Okay” – Ingrid Michaelson
“Settle Down” – No Doubt
“Countdown” – Beyoncé

Giveaway

- 5 winners will receive a e-copy of Before You Go.
- 2 winners will receive a signed copy of Before You Go.
- 2 winners will receive a $25.00 Amazon Gift Card.
- 1 winner will receive a poster and bookmark of a surprise art by James Vallesteros.
- 10 winners will receive one bookmark of a surprise art by James Vallesteros.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Review + Giveaway: Sacred Bloodlines by Wendy Owens

2013-04-18T16:00:00.000+02:00

Today I'm participating in a blog tour organized by Parajunkee Blog Tours. Please, help me welcome Wendy Owens and her book Sacred Bloodlines.
And to make things even more interesting there is a giveaway so remember to keep reading ;)

Review

Sacred Bloodlines

by Wendy Owens
Series: The Guardians #1
Release date: 21st November, 2011
Publisher: Four Bean Soup Publishing
Pages: 286 (kindle book in exchange of an honest review)

Summary from Goodreads:

Tragedy has defined Gabe's short existence in this world. An ominous darkness lurked on the edge of his existence until one day in a subway, strange things start happening. A series of events lead Gabe into a new and fascinating life filled with angels and demons, but he isn't sure if he wants to be a part of it.

Gabe is thrust into the middle of this exciting world that is full of things he has longed for in his life but it comes with a price. This new life also promises constant terrifying dangers that Gabe fears he may not be able to survive.

Review By Alaiel Kreuz:
If you are a fan of Harry Potter or Percy Jackson and the Olympians then this is certainly a book for you. As the story goes we find a lost piece than needs to fin it's place in this world, and that piece is our main character.
He is a young orphan who only knows that he is alone and that he is different from everybody else... which can only mean one thing: somebody must hate him because those powers of his are a curse.

Or so he thinks.

Gladly for him he is found and brought closer to people who, just like him, have different abilities and accept him just the way he is. Now he only needs to learn to control his abilities and be ready to fight his nemesis: demons. Yup, Gabe is an angel. Sort of. And there are going to be a lot of fights in this new path.

As for the rest of the characters I can't say too much, specially if you are well versed in angelology since a lot of well known angels make an appearance.
Suffice to say the author takes some artistic license to mold the plot and make it her own.

I can't wait to read the next book :D

Alaiel's Rating:

You can order it here:

You can find Wendy Owens here:

Twitter // Facebook // Official Web

Remember to Follow the Tour

Giveaway

2 sets of Books 1-3 

Angel Necklace 

Demon Necklace

$25 gift card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Guest post + Giveaway: Vengeance Bound by Justina Ireland

2013-04-03T16:19:00.000+02:00

Today I'm participating in a blog tour organized by ATOMR Blog Tours. Please, help me welcome Justina Ireland and her book Sacred.
And to make things even more interesting there is a giveaway so remember to keep reading ;)

Spotlight

Vengeance Bound

by Justina Ireland
Release date: 2nd April, 2013Vengeance Bound
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Pages: 320 (hardcover edition)

Summary from Goodreads:

The Goddess Test meets Dexter in an edgy, compelling debut about one teen’s quest for revenge… no matter how far it takes her.

Cory Graff is not alone in her head. Bound to a deal of desperation made when she was a child, Cory’s mind houses the Furies—the hawk and the serpent—lingering always, waiting for her to satisfy their bloodlust. After escaping the asylum where she was trapped for years, Cory knows how to keep the Furies quiet. By day, she lives a normal life, but by night, she tracks down targets the Furies send her way. And she brings down Justice upon them.

Cory’s perfected her system of survival, but when she meets a mysterious boy named Niko at her new school, she can’t figure out how she feels about him. For the first time, the Furies are quiet in her head around a guy. But does this mean that Cory’s finally found someone who she can trust, or are there greater factors at work? As Cory’s mind becomes a battlefield, with the Furies fighting for control, Cory will have to put everything on the line to hold on to what she’s worked so hard to build.

You can order it here:

You can find Justina Ireland here:

Twitter // Facebook // Official Web

Remember to Follow the Tour

Guest Post

The Goddess Test meets Dexter

by Justina Ireland

When I first read my tagline I was like: “What? Does that even make sense?” If you didn’t know, publishers tend to write taglines on their own sometimes, since authors are known to be terrible at marketing. So when I first read it I was kind of thrown for a loop. But that was mostly because I hadn’t read The Goddess Test. Once I looked it up I had a total “A-ha!” moment.
Because it describes my book perfectly.
Vengeance Bound is very much like Dexter, only my main character is motivated by the Furies living in her head and not an innate need to kill. Like Dexter, Amelie lives in two different worlds: the life of a normal teenager by day and a killing machine by night. But unlike Dexter, Amelie isn’t happy with her life. She longs to have her own thoughts and dreams, and not just to continue on as an agent of the Furies.
The Goddess Test reference comes in due to the Greek mythology, although I don’t think my book has as much romance in it. Still, it does have a smidge.
Meh. I think you’ll like it.

Giveaway

- 2 Hardback copies of VENGEANCE BOUND plus a Swag Pack - US/Canada Only
- 5 Vengeance Bound Swag Packs - US/Canada Only
Swag pack includes:
Stickers
Deluxe Bookmarks
Rubber Bracelets
Nail polish
Lip gloss

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

2013-04-02T10:16:00.001+02:00

Shadow and Bone

by Leigh Bardugo
Series: The Grisha #1
Release date: 6th June, 2013
Publisher: Indigo (an Imprint of Orion Children's)
Pages: 320 (ARC in exchange of an honest review)

Summary from Goodreads:

The Shadow Fold, a swathe of impenetrable darkness, crawling with monsters that feast on human flesh, is slowly destroying the once-great nation of Ravka.

Alina, a pale, lonely orphan, discovers a unique power that thrusts her into the lavish world of the kingdom’s magical elite—the Grisha. Could she be the key to unravelling the dark fabric of the Shadow Fold and setting Ravka free?

The Darkling, a creature of seductive charm and terrifying power, leader of the Grisha. If Alina is to fulfil her destiny, she must discover how to unlock her gift and face up to her dangerous attraction to him.

But what of Mal, Alina’s childhood best friend? As Alina contemplates her dazzling new future, why can’t she ever quite forget him?

Glorious. Epic. Irresistible. Romance.

Review By Alaiel Kreuz:
The first thing that caught my attention was the cover because beside the obvious -as you can see it's absolutely beautiful- it has some sort of Russian palace. And that was intriguing.

Well, as a matter of fact Ms. Bardugo used a quasi Russian background to create a better atmosphere; we can see it in some expressions, in some descriptions of the buildings and places where, with the help of our imagination, a new and exciting world will unfold for our eyes to see.
And I know I sound a little bit romantic but I just can't help it, you know? I finished the book a couple of days ago and it still haunts me -in a marvelous way, not a creepy one, I promise-.
As of today I consider Ms. Bardugo one of the best writers out there. To use the Russian setting was a genius idea! Not only does it gives us a background but it also gives the plot some sort of realness and I often found myself wondering "if I go to Russia, will I find some Grisha people?"

I would hate to sound crazy in front of my friends, but I'm sure you get it, guys. This is a world I would love to live in. I would give anything to meet Alina, the main character and see her develop her personality throughout the book. She began as a normal, skinny, kind of forgettable girl only to discover that she is a very special Grisha. So important in fact that her normal and boring live will be swept away by the intrigues of the Palace and the lies of a place where she is now a stranger.
But she is strong even if she doesn't know it and soon she will learn to trust her instinct and learn from her mistakes. By the end of the book she is ready to stand her ground and take destiny in her own hands knowing that no Grisha will be able to stop her.

And what is Grisha you may wonder. I'm glad you asked, you see, Grisha are a group of people that are divided in smaller groups depending on the power they share -fire, amplifiers, etc- that are commanded by a powerful Grisha, The Darkling. Sounds important, yeah? Well, he is. This character is by far one of the most intriguing and complex characters out there to the point where I'm not sure if I love him -in a very weird way 'cause, you see, he is not someone you want to trust entirely- or hate him for being so... well, for a lack of a better word, so Darkling.
You will see what I mean when you read the book, seriously.

Of course, then we have Mal. Oh Mal... I love you, I really do. He is Alina's love interest and she chose a perfect one. They have being friends for a long time, and although they are separated when Alina's power emerges, Mal does not disappear from her life. He is strong and protective but knows where to stop and let her do her thing. He respects her and that's something I appreciate a lot.

The YA fantasy world has gotten better after Leigh Bardugo was found. Shadow and Bone was an amazing treat for my imagination and my senses because, yes, it felt that real. I can barely wait to read Siege and Storm... days can't pass fast enough.

Alaiel's Rating:

If you really liked it, you can buy it here:

You can find Leigh Bardugo here:

Twitter // Facebook // Official Web

Blog Tour Spotlight + Guest Post + Giveaway: Sacred by Elana K. Arnold

2013-03-16T15:00:00.000+01:00

Today I'm participating in a blog tour organized by Jean BookNerd Blog Tours run by the well known Jean. Please, help me welcome Elana K. Arnold and her book Sacred.
And to make things even more interesting there is a giveaway so remember to keep reading ;)

Spotlight

Sacred

by Elana K. Arnold
Release date: 13th November, 2012
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages: 368 (hardcover dition)

Summary from Goodreads:

Growing up on Catalina Island, off the California coast, Scarlett Wenderoth has led a fairly isolated life. After her brother dies, her isolation deepens as she withdraws into herself, shutting out her friends and boyfriend. Her parents, shattered by their own sorrow, fail to notice Scarlett's pain and sudden alarming thinness. Scarlett finds pleasure only on her horse, escaping to the heart of the island on long, solitary rides. One day, as she races around a bend, Scarlett is startled by a boy who raises his hand in warning and says one word: "Stop."

The boy—intense, beautiful—is Will Cohen, a newcomer to the island. For reasons he can't or won't explain, he's drawn to Scarlett and feels compelled to keep her safe. To keep her from wasting away. His meddling irritates Scarlett, though she can't deny her attraction to him. As their relationship blossoms into love, Scarlett's body slowly awakens at Will's touch. But just when her grief begins to ebb, she makes a startling discovery about Will, a discovery he's been grappling with himself. A discovery that threatens to force them apart. And if it does, Scarlett fears she will unravel all over again.

You can order it here:

You can find Elana K. Arnold here:

Twitter // Facebook // Official Web

Remember to Follow the Tour

Guest Post

What’s the best advice you can give writers to help them develop their own unique voice and style?

by Elana K. Arnold

This is the thing about me. I have always wanted other people’s hair. One of my earliest hair-lusts was directed toward Anne of Green Gables. She hated her long, thick, red hair… I coveted it. “Covet” is not too strong a word. I choose it particularly, knowing its implications. To covet is to wish for earnestly, to desire that which belongs to another, inordinately or culpably.

I wanted Anne Shirley’s hair so badly that in seventh grade I poured an entire bottle of red food coloring over my head. My hair is blond, so it soaked up the dye readily. But I ended up pink instead of red, with a blotchy scalp and streaks of color down my neck, in my ears. It lasted for days and days.

In high school there was a girl, Julie Blackmore, who had a mane of thick dark brown hair, slightly wavy, that she wore some days in a high bouncy ponytail, other days like a river of chocolate down her back. Her hair smelled so good. I kind of hated her.

Even now, a grown woman, I suffer from hair envy. I know a writer—a famous writer, whose books have put her on the New York Times bestseller list, whose book is being turned into a movie by a big-time Hollywood star, who is on a first-name basis with Oprah. I am not jealous of these things. I cheer her on. I root for her, sure that if there is room in the universe for that kind of rock star success, surely a slice of it will come my way. I do, however, envy her hair.

It’s blond, like mine, but it grows long without splitting or turning into fluff at the ends. It frames her face the way people write about hair doing to faces. It looks good in all her Facebook pictures.

So what is the point of all this, of Anne’s and Julie’s and Cheryl’s beautiful hair? The point is this: their hair is not my hair. It will never be my hair. I can dye my hair, and curl my hair, and curse my hair, but still, alas, their hair will never become my hair. I can covet it, but I cannot possess it. And if I attempt to imitate it, all I will do is screw up the few things my hair does have going for it—it’s not oily; it’s not going gray; it grows all over my head.

And hair, of course, is not that different from a writer’s voice. You have one, already. As a speaking member of the English language (or any language, actually), you have a voice. As a reader, you know what you like to read. So I say—own your voice. Find what you love about what you have, and focus there. Keep reading—the way I continue to flip through slick-paged magazines, the way I always check my friend Jessica to see how she’s wearing her glossy brown locks. And then put words on the page. If you don’t like them, write more. And be gentle with yourself—there is time.

Watch Out For

Splendor
by Elana K. Arnold
Release Date: 12th November, 2013

Official synopsis:

The passionate romance that began in Sacred concludes in Splendor.

Scarlett loves the touch of her boyfriend, Will. But when he leaves Catalina Island to start college on the East Coast, she wonders whether their passion can survive a long-distance relationship—and whether she can face the home front on her own. Scarlett's senior year should be a breeze, but her parents have recently separated, and her already-wild best friend, Lily, is becoming involved with a dangerous boy named Gunner . . . a boy Scarlett is also attracted to. A boy she doesn't want to be—and shouldn't be—attracted to.

To take her mind off her troubles, Scarlett focuses on caring for her newly pregnant mare and delving deeper into the Kabbalah. Her religious exploration offers a way to stay connected to Will, who is a Kabbalah mystic, and a key to understanding her disturbing dreams about him. But as she gets wrapped up in her mare, her Kabbalah studies, and her conflicting feelings for Will and Gunner, Scarlett misses the warning signs that lead to a heartbreaking loss.

Burning
by Elana K. Arnold
Release Date: 11th June, 2013

Official synopsis:

Ben: Having just graduated from high school, Ben is set to leave Gypsum, Nevada. It's good timing since the gypsum mine that is the lifeblood of the area is closing, shutting the whole town down with it. Ben is lucky: he's headed to San Diego, where he's got a track scholarship at the University of California. But his best friends, Pete and Hog Boy, don't have college to look forward to, so to make them happy, Ben goes with them to check out the hot chick parked on the side of Highway 447.

Lala: She and her Gypsy family earn money by telling fortunes. Some customers choose Tarot cards; others have their palms read. The thousands of people attending the nearby Burning Man festival spend lots of cash--especially as Lala gives uncanny readings. But lately Lala's been questioning whether there might be more to life than her upcoming arranged marriage. And the day she reads Ben's cards is the day that everything changes for her... and for him.

Giveaway

- 3 winners will receive a signed copy of Sacred
- 1 winner will receive a poster, a bookmark, a button and a surprise art by James Vallesteros.
- 10 winners will receive one bookmark of a surprise by James Vallesteros.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Double Review: Sweetest Taboo and Tainted Love by Eva Márquez

2013-03-15T14:29:00.001+01:00

This time I'm participating in a blog tour organized by with AToMR Tours. Help me welcome Eva Márquez and her two books: Sweetest Taboo and Tainted Love!

Review

Sweetest Taboo

by Eva Márquez
Series: Sweetest Taboo #1
Release date: 1st October, 2012
Publisher: Terra-Mía Press
Pages: 295 (eARC received for blog tour in exchange of an honest review)

Summary from Goodreads:

Isabel Cruz was fifteen years old when she met Tom Stevens. She was 15 when they started dating, and 16 when she lost her virginity to him. By the time she turned 18 and went to college, everything had fallen apart.

This hadn’t been an ordinary love, though. Not a love between two dear friends, or even high school sweethearts. This had been the most taboo sort of love there was: a relationship between a student and her teacher. Isabel started her high school career as a normal student, but set her sights on Tom Stevens as soon as she met him, and pursued him with an intense – and sometimes reckless – fascination. When he finally approached her after swim practice and told her that he shared her feelings, it was the start of a forbidden and dangerous relationship.

Join Isabel as she makes her way through this dark love story, hiding from teachers, lying to her parents, and defying the authorities to make a life with the man she loves. Watch as she discovers the wonders of love and romance, and the terrible betrayal of jealous friends. And cry with her when she learns the hard truth about life and the people in her world.

Sweetest Taboo is inspired by the true and tragic stories of students who fall in love with their teachers, and live with the hard truths of forbidden romances. In a world full of after-school specials on sexual predators, this touching book seeks a different path, casting both student and teacher in a gentle light, and showing that true love may lie at the base of even the most illicit romance.

Review By Alaiel Kreuz:
Seems like lately books full of controversy are my thing and Sweetest Taboo is about one of the most controversial situations out there: a relationship between a student and a teacher.
Thruth to be told when I read the summary I imagined something slightly different: a 15 year old girl that falls in love with the youngest teacher and therefore they have to hide their love, bla, bla, bla. As you can see, I imagined the easy situation but what I really found was completely different.

This book is more of a memoir and as so Isabel, the main character, begins her story when she was 15 and as most teenagers do has a crush on the Swim coach, Tom Stevens. Until now everything is pretty normal... except for the fact that he is in his late 30s, is married and has two daughters.
Yes. All that. And when he notices Isabel's attraction towards him he decides to go for it.

As you can imagine, the next pages are about their secret affair, their love towards each other and the lies they have to tell in order to keep their relationship a secret. In this aspect Isabel's behavior is very mature and most of the time she is the one that puts some sense into things.

One thing I enjoyed very much was to see Isabel mature throughout the book because everything begins when she is 15 but by the end of the book she is already 18.
As for Tom, my feelings toward him are mixed. I do believe he loves Isabel but to what extension I'm not sure. He cares for her a lot and as far as sex is concerned he never pushed her and always waited for her to be ready. But then again, he was married and had two daughters. See? I like him -kind of- and at the same time I want to punch him for being so damn irresponsible.

Eva Márquez writing was well structured and elegant, situations were told with respect and there wasn't a single moment for me to think this was an erotic book. She describes perfectly the way a 15 year old thinks and from there evolves flawlessly while rising the normal questions: Is Tom taking advantage of Isabel? Does he truly loves her? Is it possible for this to be real love? I often found myself thinking that not long ago girls like my grandma married men that doubled their age and it was normal. But times change and now society sees these relationships as disgusting.
At the end of the day you will have to be the one to answers all those questions.

Do I recommend the book? Yes, I do. Do I think everybody will like it? No, I don't think so, it depends of how you see things and while some people will think it's interesting other people will think it's horrible.

Alaiel's Rating:

If you really liked it, you can order it here:

Review

Tainted Love

by Eva Márquez
Series: Sweetest Taboo #2
Release date: 5th March, 2013
Publisher: Terra-Mía Press
Pages: 310 (eARC received for blog tour in exchange of an honest review)

Summary from Goodreads:

“My name is Isabel Cruz, and I’m nineteen years old, almost twenty. I go to Lincoln University where I’m majoring in English. I’m a straight-A student, and I know what I’m doing with my life, but things weren’t always that way. Or rather, I’ve always known what I wanted, and it just hasn’t always gone along with society’s views. In high school, I had an affair with my swim coach. I wanted him, and I took what I wanted. We were together until I graduated, but he had a wife and kids, and I left him behind to come here. I left everything behind to come here. At least that’s what I thought.”

Isabel was never like the other girls at her school in the sleepy town of Hillside, California. At sixteen she fell in love with Tom, a married swim coach at Royal Oaks High School; their exhilarating and sultry affair continuing in secret for several years. Finally, Isabel realized that her own future had to come first, but even after relocating to Washington, D.C. to study at Lincoln University, she finds herself still wracked by guilt over jeopardizing the happiness and security of Tom’s young family. Now almost in her twenties and desperate to start a new chapter in her life, free from past controversies, Isabel will once again find that her beauty and precociousness will captivate another older man, this time a professor at her university. Confronted by this burgeoning affair, Isabel realizes just how deeply she still loves Tom and, in spite of the disapproval of her hometown community, her feelings become too strong to deny.

When Isabel returns to Hillside, reunited with Tom, she feels herself falling for him all over again, only this time with the tantalizing promise that things could really work out for them, especially since she is no longer the naive teen she used to be. But all is not as it seems; Isabel begins to hear rumors about Tom’s involvement with other girls at Royal Oaks High. Quickly this salacious gossip leaks to the local media and the authorities begin to investigate the claims. Only then does the true gravity of Isabel’s misguided choices begin to profoundly affect those around her and threaten to derail her life completely.

Tainted Love is the thrilling follow up to Sweetest Taboo by Eva Marquez, and rejoins Isabel Cruz as she tries to put her complex and forbidden romance with Tom behind her. Written from the perspectives of both Isabel and Tom, the irrational and desperate love they share is brought to vivid life by Marquez. Inspired by the conviction of one of her former high school teachers for sexual misconduct with a minor, it addresses a poignant modern taboo, one that is becoming increasingly common in the US, with unnerving insight and precision. Tainted Love is a must read for young adults, their parents and all fans of romantic fiction.

Review By Alaiel Kreuz:
And Eva Márquez does it again. I'm not even sure how but her writing is so captivating that I couldn't put Tainted Love down for a mere second. The plot continues almost were we left it and the whole situation has changed.

I don't want to spoiled things for anybody so I'm going to try to keep things simple. Now Isabel is in her freshman year and is trying to leave her past behind, not because she is ashamed of it but because she wonders if they handled things well.
Isabel is a woman now, almost 20 years old, in a new city and eager to find her place in the big world. The only problem is that she misses Tom.
And Tom misses her a lot. How do I know? Well, Eva Márquez wrote from his PV too and I loved it. Now all those questions I had while reading Sweetest Taboo were answered and I understand Tom so much better now. The way he describes Isabel and his feelings for her were so sincere, so full of love that it's impossible to think he doesn't really love her. On the other side, does Isabel really loves him now?

In this book so many things have changed that right now I'm kind of angry with Isabel and the lack of communication between the two of them. New rumours about Tom and younger girls reach Isabel when she finally goes home and the truth behind those will rock her world. At the same time another relationship with a teacher, now at her college, begins for Isabel and things become very confusing.

I want their love to surpass everything but is real life like that? Will they get a happy ending? I can't wait to read the third book to have all the final answers I so much need.

Alaiel's Rating:

If you really liked it, you can order it here:

You can find Eva Márquez here:

Twitter // Facebook // Official Web

Remember to Follow the Tour

Blog Tour Review + Giveaway: Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally

2013-03-14T14:30:00.000+01:00

Today I'm participating in another blog tour organized by Xpresso Book Tours -run by the awesome Giselle-, please, help me welcome Heather Topham Wood and her book First Visions.
And to make things even more amazing there are two giveaways so remember to keep reading ;)

Review

Things I Can't Forget

by Miranda Kenneally
Series: Hundred Oaks #3
Release date: 1st March, 2013
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pages: 320 (eARC received for blog tour in exchange of an honest review)

Summary from Goodreads:

Companion to Catching Jordan and Stealing Parker.

Kate has always been the good girl. Too good, according to some people at school—although they have no idea the guilty secret she carries. But this summer, everything is different…

This summer she’s a counselor at Cumberland Creek summer camp, and she wants to put the past behind her. This summer Matt is back as a counselor too. He’s the first guy she ever kissed, and he’s gone from a geeky songwriter who loved The Hardy Boys to a buff lifeguard who loves to flirt…with her.

Kate used to think the world was black and white, right and wrong. Turns out, life isn’t that easy…

Review By Alaiel Kreuz:
One of the first things I noticed about this book was that it made me step out of my confort zone and that pleased me a lot. I consider myself a very openminded person that tries to keep the balance between her religious side and her liberal side, and I believe I have found my center and I love it.
But here I am with a book that deals with a lot of taboo subjects like abortion, sex before marriage and teen pregnancy which are very heavy and are, in fact, very important nowadays. Yet as important and real as they are society in general tries to hide them under the carpet and authors in general don's talk about them in YA books.

What I think about the conclusions of the book is not very important. Why? Because the fact that an author as known as Keneally has the courage to write about these things is amazing and it will have an impact on people if they are willing to read about them.
At the same time the reason I understood Kate -and I'm not saying that I liked or cared too much about her- is because during a few years I was surrounded by people like her, very judgmental and nagging at everyone who didn't see things the way they did. I couldn't care less for people like that but I respect them as long as they respect me and I'm used to them; that's why Kate's actions and behavior, although they bothered me A LOT, I focused my attention on the plot and what was going on around her and not in her.

Of course I can't forget about Matt, the love interest of the book and the sweetest guy I've had the pleasure to read about in the last few months. He had so much patience -and I mean, so much patience with Kate!- and respect for Kate's believes that it was impossible not to like him. When a guy doesn't try to change you but rather shows you another way to live that can work with the one you already have and that knowledge makes you evolve, it's amazing.

What I liked the most about Things I Can't Forget was Keneally's writing style. It's so clean, elegant and unique that I found myself completely engaged into the plot and fully captivated by the succession of events that made all the characters, but specially Kate, grow throughout the book.
I haven't read the first two companion books -in this book a few old characters appear but if this is also your first book don't worry about it, their appearances are not confusing at all- but now I'm ready to give them a try.

Alaiel's Rating:

If you really liked it, you can order it here:

You can find Miranda Kenneally here:

Twitter // Facebook // Official Web

Remember to Follow the Tour

Giveaway

- Grabbag of Miranda's Favorite Books (INT!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Review + Giveaway: First Visions by Heather Topham Wood

2013-03-12T17:45:00.000+01:00

Review

First Visions

by Heather Topham Wood
Series: Second Sight #1
Release date: 27th April, 2012
Publisher: CreateSpace
Pages: 230 (eARC received for blog tour in exchange of an honest review)

Summary from Goodreads:

Two years ago, 21-year-old Kate Edwards became deathly ill and slipped into a coma. While unconscious, she crept into the mind of a missing boy and awoke with the knowledge of his location. Friends and family were skeptical and wary of her new ability to see into the minds of others. Their fears prompted Kate to keep her psychic powers a secret. Feeling alienated, she dropped out of college and spent most of her days holed up at her mother’s home.

Now another child has been abducted. Police detective Jared Corbett seeks out Kate for her help in solving the case. Reluctantly, Kate agrees and they must work together to bring 8-year-old Cori Preston home to her family. Although attracted to one another, Jared has a girlfriend with ties to the abduction case and Kate is sarcastic and guarded since her coma. With visions she can’t control and an uncontrollable attraction to the detective, she wonders if she can leave the past behind and finally stop hiding from the world. Otherwise, Cori may be lost forever.

Review By Alaiel Kreuz:
First Visions is one of those books that introduced me to a new topic: waking up after a coma to discover you now have psychic powers. I mean... really? I'm very scared of comas and not ever waking up but if after a coma something like that happens to me that would be pretty awesome.

Still, not everything is flowers and unicorns. With a power like that there has to be a downside, right? And that's what Kate, the main character, discovers after a while.

Despite everything she's been going through Kate has an amazing personality, she is sarcastic -one of the things my favorite characters always have-, her antics were great and funny and her snarky attitude was awesome. Plus, she cares for other people, she is vulnerable and wants to protect herself from others discovering her secret and judging her but still she is willing to put herself in the line to save a little boy.
And then of course we have Jared -can somebody explain to me why is that name so amazingly hot and cute at the same time?!- who is the detective in charge of the case. This gentleman, ladies, is one of those rare specimens we barely get to read about right now.
Don't get me wrong, I love bad boys -they are the spice in life- but to find a good boy who is stubborn for the right reasons, who cares, who is nice and genuine is refreshing, really refreshing.
Of course, their relationship was kind of prohibited because he already has a girlfriend but we can sense something is going on there and I loved the opportunity to see the feelings evolve and their conversations flow.

But beside the main plot and the romance what I enjoyed the most was Kate's relationship with her mother, Darlene. I don't usually find books that have a special place for mothers and I miss it. I mean, if a person rocks it's usually because his/her mom was awesome too, right? And just like any mom Darlene had her ups and downs but she's also learned and evolved throughout the book and I was delighted to share it with her.

The book is short but the pace is fast and something is always going on so I'm pretty sure everybody will finish the book in one seat, just like I did. The mystery around the kidnapping, Jared's girlfriend and the romance made me read the book so fast that when I finished it I immediately wanted to have the second part in my hands... and since it's already out hopefully I won't have to wait too long.

Alaiel's Rating:

If you really liked it, you can order it here:

You can find Heather Topham Wood here:

Twitter // Facebook // Official Web

Giveaway

- 40 $ Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

With All My Soul Mini-Reading Challenge Sign-up

2013-03-11T13:32:00.000+01:00

After participating in all the challenges created by Rachel @ Fiktshun for the Soul Screamers series I just HAD to participate in the last one, of course.

And as much as it saddens me -what am I going to do without Tod, Kaylee and everybody else?!- to see this amazing series end I love these mini-challenges :D

In case you want to participate too click HERE to go to Rachel's post about it.

Blog Tour Review + Giveaway: Death, Doom and Detention by Darynda Jones

2013-03-08T15:00:00.000+01:00

Today I have the pleasure to host one of my favorite authors, Darynda Jones, and give you all an opportunity to enter in an amazing giveaway to celebrate her new YA book "Death, Doom and Detention". To read my review of the first book in the series, Death and the Girl Next Door, click HERE.

Review

Death, Doom and Detention

by Darynda Jones
Series: Darklight #2
Release date: 5th March, 2013
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pages: 320 (eARC received for blog tour in exchange of an honest review)

Summary from Goodreads:

The normal part of Lorelei MacAlister’s life didn’t just slip away quietly the day Jared Kovach came to town. Nope. The normal part of her life shattered. It exploded. It burst into a gazillion shards of fleeting light.

It went out with a bang. Goodbye normal. Hello dark and eerie.

While her best friend, Brooklyn, is focusing all of her energy on helping Lorelei hone her abilities, Lorelei is dealing with the reality that Satan’s second in command has taken up residence inside her body. Oh, and the fact that she has a crush on the Angel of Death. But what a beautiful death it is. If those weren’t bad enough, something sinister has come to town and it wants nothing more than to hear Lorelei’s dying breath as it strangles it out of her. Thank goodness the gang has a supernatural champion. But what happens when the only being who can save them switches sides midstream? How can a group of misfits capture one of the most powerful beings ever created? And will they find out how to bring Jared back to them before it’s too late?

Review By Alaiel Kreuz:
Very often the second book in a series is the weak link, the book that is kind of the filler until the release of the third book were everything unravels and all the questions are answered.
Gladly for us Darynda Jones saves the day and Death, Doom and Detention is the perfect continuation of the story. Full of danger, action, secrets and supernatural mysteries this book will keep you on the edge of your seat right through to the end. And after that you will cry for not having the third book in your hands because yes, there a HUGE clifhanger and I'm dying already.
Good thing though is that Death, and the Girl He Loves comes out in 7 months.

By the end of the first book Lorelei has discover a few unsettling things: She has a demon inside, her loving grandparents have kept a lot of secrets from her during her whole life, the disappearance of her parents 10 years ago was not a tragic accident but was caused by a dark entity and she is the last Prophet.
And now to make thing even worst her love interest, Jared -who turns out to be the Angel of Death- has disappeared and no one seems to find him. The problem is, something bad is going on in the small town of Riley Switch. People are acting weird, there seems to be a lot of bad energy around and for some reason Lorelei is in the middle of it all. Disturbing visions begin to make her fear she won't survive whats coming and without Jared to help protect her things are not looking good.

But Lorelei is tough and she is not alone. Her best friends, Brooklyn and Glitch, are always by her side and would do anything to help her out. And then of course we have Cameron, the best loner nephilim out there. Don't let him fool you, under all the layers and his bad boy vibe there is actually a caring guy who wants to do his job -protect Lorelei- and help the others too.

The pace of the book was amazing, it kept me reading during hours until I finished it and then re-reading the best dialogues and scenes. There's only one thing I didn't like: Jared's absence during most of the book. I wanted to see Jared and Lorelei interact more and their relationship evolve, after all, and Angel of Death like him deserves a lot of attention, right? *drooling*

A lot of funny dialogues, sarcasm and witty remarks are ensure in every book wrote by Darynda Jones and this one is a great example.

Alaiel's Rating:

If you really liked it, you can order it here:

You can find Darynda Jones here:

Twitter // Facebook // Official Web

Giveaway

- One copy of Death, Doom and Detention.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog tour Review + Giveaways: Surrender by Rhiannon Paille

2013-03-05T13:00:00.000+01:00

This week is going to be full of blog tour stops so be ready, ladies (and you gentlemen too)! Today I'm participating in another blog tour organized by Xpresso Book Tours -run by the awesome Giselle- and I'm hosting one of those authors that are so precious they are rare jewels! Help me welcome Rhiannon Paille :]
And to make things even more amazing there are two giveaways so remember to keep reading ;)

Review

Surrender

by Rhiannon Paille
Series: The Ferryman and the Flame #1
Release date: 2nd October, 2012
Publisher: CreateSpace
Pages: 402 (eARC in exchange of an honest review)

Summary from Goodreads:

How far would you go to save everything you ever loved?

Kaliel was warned about her love for the Ferryman. One day he will marry the land and leave Avristar forever. She doesn't listen, and because of what she is-- a Flame-- one of nine apocalyptic weapons, she sparks a war. In a desperate attempt to save her home and her love, Kaliel tries to awaken Avred, not knowing she may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Review By Alaiel Kreuz:
Surrender is one of those books that has a few little flaws but compensates with the amazing plot and loving characters. Kaliel, our sweet elf girl is one of the MC alongside Krishani, who is a part of the merfolk. And their love is impossible.

First I must warn you, this is not going to be a description of what the book is about because, to be honest, Rhiannon just leave us, her dearest readers, in the middle of Avristar and it's up to us to understand who is who and what's going on. Although to be fair she does includes a complete guide at the beginning of the book to give us a hand.
And I'm so grateful! But let me clarify something here: great new worlds like the Middle Earth (Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Toklien) or Krynn (Dragonlance series by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis) are so vast, so full of rich and complex scenarios and creatures that it can be overwhelming if we don't have the necessary back up. Remember guys, this a world within a book -which is just plain awesome.
As you can already imagine by my examples this book is a jewel for all fantasy fans as it holds adventure, twists, romance, magic, fights, drama and an epic cliffhanger end.
A few little advices: It's always good to remember to keep an open mind to absorb every little detail and read the book in a slow pace if needed.

One thing I'm enjoying a lot lately is the change of POV, it's still fresh and unique to see the story through a guy's eyes and Krishani was an excellent companion.

Speaking of Krishani, another great point for this book was the uniqueness of the names. I'm a sucker for new/different/unique/awesome invented names, it's just one of those things that wins my heart in a second and makes me smile like an idiot for a long while. And it's so worthy.
As for the character development it was so well-handed, so real that if at the beginning Kaliel seemed timid and fragile -she is an Elve- by the end of the book her personality has changed for the best and is getting ready to stand up and fight in order to fulfill her destiny.
The small things I didn't like were the almost insta-love that Kaliel and Krishani share but that's because I've seen it a lot lately. And then the whole starcrossed lovers part -for the same reason as before- although, to be honest, the way both characters want to break the rules to make their love work and how committed they are to each other was sweet and touching.

I don't know what the future holds for the two of them but I can't wait to find out, I'm ready to submerge myself in the next book, Justice, and follow them until the very end. I'm ready to spend more hours in the island of Avristar and speak with the trees. I'm ready for every book written by Rhiannon Paille.

Alaiel's Rating:

If you really liked it, you can order it here:

You can find Rhiannon Paille here:

Twitter // Facebook // Official Blog

Giveaway Time

Individual giveaway
- One ebook copy of Surrender.
- Open INTERNATIONALLY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour grand prize
- Signed paperback copy of Surrender
- Signed paperback copy of Justice
- Three 11x17 prints of Surrender
- Three 11x17 prints of Justice
- Two bookmarks
- Open INTERNATIONALLY!
- Remember to read the Terms and Conditions on the Rafflecopter form.
- You can follow the whole tour HERE.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog tour Review + Giveaway: Timespell by Diana Paz

2013-03-04T12:00:00.000+01:00

Review

Today I have the pleasure to participate in a blog tour organized by Xpresso Book Tours -run by the awesome Giselle- and I'm so happy of being part of it because this is one of those books that are just amazing!
Keep reading to find out why and enter an awesome giveaway ;)

Timespell

by Diana Paz
Release date: 1st April, 2013
Publisher: Rhemalda Publishing
Pages: 352 (eARC given for blog tour in exchange of an honest review)

Summary from Goodreads:

In TIMESPELL, the brash and impulsive Julia must team up with her sweet and straight-laced best friend, Angie, and the malicious and power-hungry Kaitlyn in order to keep the witch-like powers of her inheritance. But these powers come at a cost. The girls are bound to serve the Fates, and their first mission sends them back in time to Marie Antoinette’s Paris and eventually, into the chaos and war of the French Revolution.

Review By Alaiel Kreuz:
It's been such a long time since I enjoyed a book about time traveling that I'm very, very pleased.

The summary does an amazing job summarizing -so obvious, right?- what the book is about but at the same time it doesn't do it justice. Diana Paz makes an amazing debut novel with Timespell by using all the necessary points to create an awesome book that is not only compelling but also full of potential.

But enough of that, let me tell you a little bit about the plot. If you like mythology then this is your lucky day: Diana Paz keeps the story simple while she submerges us into Julie, Angie and Kaytlin's destiny as Daughters of the Fate.
Sweet, easy-going and peacemaker Angie is Daughter of the Past. Protective, strong and independent Julie is Daughter of the Present. Twisted, selfish and annoying Kaytlin is Daughter of the Future. Now, don't make any quick judgement here, everyone of them has issues and like any 16 year old girl they can make mistakes every now and then. But they have deepness and, most of the time, they want to do the right thing for the right reasons.

And what are the Daughters of Fate, right? Well, remember mythology class? Fates are these old ladies -in most versions, at least- that control everyone destiny, our future, but they also protect the past and the present because without them both, our future would be different. And this is were our girls make their big entrance: they fight with their magic - that only works when they are together- evil creatures created by Mythos, whose purpose is to change the past so life, as we know it, will be destroyed.

The coolest thing about this is that the three girls have to travel to the past, exactly to Marie Antoniette's time, just before the French Revolution took place. Now, this is no easy task as you can imagine. If one of them dies then the other two will be stuck in the past forever... and to make things even more complicated, well, let's just say there's some history between Angie and Kaytlin. Bad history. And while Angie wants to protect and fight for the future Kaytlin doesn't make things easy for anyone.

And let's not forget the whole mystery surrounding Ethan, a Wanderer chosen to protect the Daughters who has some unfinished business with Julie as he hints plenty of times. Who is he and why is he so attractive? This question kept me reading non-stop.

Personal opinion:
This book just has it all: mythology, France, Marie Antoniette's parties, pretty bowl gowns, romance and drama. And Diana's idea of writing in the three girl's different POV helps the reader to create a bond with them while understanding what moves them deep inside.

I'm not sure there's going to be a second book but if there's is -and I'm pleading here- I would love to buy it and read it. Because Timespell is so rich, so full of twists and potential that it deserves to be has a sequel so we can share another few hours with the characters.

Alaiel's Rating:

If you really liked it, you can order it here:

You can find Diana Paz here:

Twitter // Facebook // Blog// Official Website

Giveaway Time

Ready for the awesomeness?
- One winner gets a signed paperback copy.
- Three winners get an ebook copy, some treats and swag.
- Open to US & CAN only.
- Click here for the complete Tour' schedule.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover reveal: Isla and the Happily Ever After. And new covers for Anna and Lola

2013-03-01T11:47:00.001+01:00

Hello beautiful people!

So... I'm kind of sad. And angry. And disappointed. And here is why:

Isla and the Happily Ever After
by Stephanie Perkins
Release Date: 17th September, 2013

Official synopsis:

From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever.

Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.

Yes, I think the cover is pretty, but that's it, just pretty. It's not as different and significant as Anna or Lola's, you know? Specially Lola's because the girl in the purple hair? She rocked. Hard. And now this cover is just plain compared to the other two... so yeah, I'm upset.

And to make matters worse they redesigned Anna and Lola's cover so they can match this one now. Why would they do that?! I mean... seriously?! Again? I hate when publishers change the covers of the final book -or final companion, in this case- in a series. I care about matching covers, and I want my books to looks as pretty as they should be.

So, once again, I'm upset. And just so you can see what I mean here are the new covers:

I'm going to miss seeing a girl in the cover and although I will buy Isla and the Happily Ever After I won't buy the other new editions. No way.

But what about you, guys? Do you like the new designs? Will you buy the matching books? I know there are a lot of opinions out there and I would love to know yours :]

Leap into Books Giveaway Hop

2013-02-28T09:36:00.000+01:00

Once again here I am participating in one of the giveaways organized by I Am A Reader, Not a Writer and co-hosted by Jinky is Reading . Thank you both for your hard work :D

There are not specific rules for this giveaway so let's keep it simple: You like books, I like to gift books. Sounds good, right?
This time I'm offering $15 to 1 winner to buy one book from BookDepo. As long as they ship to your country you are free to enter ;)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Crazy Stupid Love Giveaway Hop

2013-02-21T12:54:00.000+01:00

Time for another giveaway, lovelies! Yes, I know my posts are lacking and I'm sorry but life is busy and I only have so much sanity... anyway, the good news is that I'm reading like crazy during the night (what better therapy than books, right?) so as soon as I'm back on my feet I'll be able to write review after review ;)

But right now I want you all to know that I love you and that I want to make you happy so here goes: This time I'm participating in a blog hop organized by Talk Supe. Thanks for the hard work! :D

This giveaway is to celebrate that new jewel I discovered a few months ago: New Adult. If you see my Goodreads "currently reading" books most of them are New Adult and I'm loving them! That's why I wanted to participate in this giveaway: New Adult books need our love :]

But, in case you are still not familiar with the genre, let me do some introducing.

New Adult: Is a recent category of fiction for young adults. Books in the New Adult category are marketed to both YA readers and adult readers. Intended to appeal to readers aged 14 through 35, new adult books deal with themes deemed too racy for YA set but with YA's familiar tropes and narrative arcs.

Protagonists in new adult stories usually range from the ages of late teens to early twenties (18-25). This is typically the time young adults have just graduated high school, going off to college, moving away from home for the first time, or going off into the adult world. New adult books tend to be more... Angsty. Intense. Passionate. Sexy. (Definition thanks to Talk Supe).

This time I'm offering $15 to 1 winner to buy one or two books through BookDepo. As long as they ship to your country you are free to enter ;)
The only rule is: the book needs to be New Adult, not YA.

You will need to fill the Rafflecopter form and... yeah, that's it xD Good luck and keep hoping!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines

2013-02-13T20:38:00.000+01:00

The Vincent Boys

by Abbi Glines
Series: The Vincent Boys #1
Release date: 30th October, 2012
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 288 (hardcover copy bought by me)

Summary from Goodreads:

Get seduced by a sizzling account of attraction and betrayal in this previously self-published phenomenon.
There was something wicked about Beau that drew me to him. What was wrong with me? Why did I want to sin so badly?

Ashton is getting tired of being good, of impressing her parents and playing ideal girlfriend to Sawyer Vincent. Sawyer is perfect, a regular Prince Charming, but when he leaves town for the summer, it’s his cousin Beau who catches Ashton’s eye. Beau is the sexiest guy she’s ever seen, and even though he’s dangerous, Ashton is drawn to him.

Beau loves his cousin like a brother, so the last thing he wants to do is make a move on Sawyer’s girl. Ashton is off-limits, absolutely. That’s why he does his best to keep his distance, even though he’s been in love with her forever. When Ashton wants to rekindle their childhood friendship in Sawyer’s absence, Beau knows he should say no.

Ashton and Beau don’t want to hurt Sawyer. But the more they try to stay away from each other, the more intense their urges become. It’s getting way too hard to resist...

Review By Alaiel Kreuz:
I'm loving my share of New Adult books, you know? Because, yes, I believe this is a new adult book, there are a lot of hot and steamy scenes here -for which I'm very grateful- just so you know.

I liked many things about this book but one thing is very specific: I could relate to Ashton a whole lot... and it was kind of sad and fun at the same time. You see, Ashton's dad is the pastor of their small town and so everyone expects her to be Miss Perfect, you know? [I was dating the pastor's son and as so I thought I had to be perfect too]. And in small towns everyone has to stick their noses in other people's business... [why are some people so freaking nosy?! ¬¬ ]
But Ashton is hiding something: she doesn't want to be perfect, she wants to be herself: crazy, sexy, naughty and wild once in a while [oh my god... at first I thought I was doing the right thing but it was so difficult and exhausting!] But she can't be like that, and not only for her dad and the neighbors but also because her boyfriend, Sawyer Vincent, is polite and nice and the most perfect guy in the whole town. And she loves him... right?

Thing is, she does, but not as much as he loves her. And here is where everything changes: when Sawyer leaves town for a few days and Ashton has a chance of being alone for the first time in three years with her ex-bestfriend who also happens to be Sawyer's cousin, Beau Vincent, things go bananas. They begin to remember why they loved to spend time together and how easy was to be with each other. No need to hide, to pretend, to behave in the right way every second.
My first reaction to their relationship was that I wasn't very happy with how things went and how they lied to Sawyer but then, human people make mistakes.
And then Ashton's doubts were driving me crazy because, as I said, I used to thought that I had to be perfect for my ex-boyfriend but then I realize it was a HUGE mistake so I broke up with him. For me, to see her struggle with so many questions and doubts in her head was hard, annoying and revealing at the same time. So please, don't think it will drive you as crazy as it drove me, my personal experience had a lot to do with that.

What I liked the most was to see Ashton and Beau's encounters, you know? So secretive, so romantic and so full of hormones at times... I enjoyed every second of them together. How they laughed, how they talked, how Beau helped Ashton during one of the most heartbreaking moments of her life and how sexy and cute he was without even trying.
But let's not forget Sawyer. He was perfect, that's true, but not as perfect as Ashton thought, and when the time came for him to be a true gentleman he just sucked. Although I didn't like him very much at that time, it gave him more deepness.

As for the ending, I liked it. Not everything revolves around Ashton and Beau's relationship and some major family drama unfolds that gives us a lot of insight in the Vincent boys life. Punches, tears, screams and fights are just some of their reactions and it was believable all the time.

Overall, I recommend the book to every girl out there that likes a truly bad boy 'cause I'm sure you will love Beau Vincent ;)

Alaiel's Rating:

If you really liked it, you can order it here:

You can find Abbi Glines here:

Twitter // Facebook // Official Web

Printed Books Giveaway Hop

2013-02-01T11:19:00.000+01:00

Once again here I am participating in one of the giveaways organized by I Am A Reader, Not a Writer. Thanks a lot for your hard work :D

This giveaway is for the lovers of printed books. I never gift ebooks because I'm one of those lovers so this week I want to make it extra special. Printed books need our love :]

This time I'm offering $20 to 1 winner to buy one or two books through BookDepo. As long as they ship to your country you are free to enter ;)
You will need to fill the Rafflecopter form and... yeah, that's it xD
Oh, and BTW, I have two more giveaways going on right now and I'm pretty sure you don't want to miss them so click HERE and HERE if you are curious ;)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Breaking Point Blog Tour: Spotlight + Excerpt + Giveaway

2013-01-31T15:00:00.000+01:00

Welcome to the Breaking Point Blog Tour! Today I have the pleasure to participate in one of Jean Book Nerd blog tours for the very first time and I couldn't be happier! For my stop I'm going to give you a short -but very intriguing- excerpt, a few ways to follow Kristen Simmons -the amazing author behind the Article 5 series- and an amazing giveaway for all of you to participate :]

Breaking Point

by Kristen Simmons
Series: Article 5 #2
Release date: 12th February, 2013
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pages: 400 (hardcover copy)

Summary from Goodreads:

The second installment in Kristen Simmons's fast-paced, gripping YA dystopian series.

After faking their deaths to escape from prison, Ember Miller and Chase Jennings have only one goal: to lay low until the Federal Bureau of Reformation forgets they ever existed.

Near-celebrities now for the increasingly sensationalized tales of their struggles with the government, Ember and Chase are recognized and taken in by the Resistance—an underground organization working to systematically take down the government. At headquarters, all eyes are on the sniper, an anonymous assassin taking out FBR soldiers one by one. Rumors are flying about the sniper’s true identity, and Ember and Chase welcome the diversion….

Until the government posts its most-wanted list, and their number one suspect is Ember herself.

Orders are shoot to kill, and soldiers are cleared to fire on suspicion alone. Suddenly Ember can’t even step onto the street without fear of being recognized, and “laying low” is a joke. Even members of the Resistance are starting to look at her sideways.

With Chase urging her to run, Ember must decide: Go into hiding…or fight back?

The Excerpt

Before I left the room I looked once more at Chase, now staring out the window alone. I thought he’d try to stop me; I wanted him to try to stop me. But he didn’t.
It probably wouldn’t have changed my decision anyway.
-Breaking Point, Pg. 73

The Author

Kristen Simmons has a master’s degree in social work and is an advocate for mental health. She lives with her husband Jason and their precious greyhound Rudy in Tampa, Florida.

You can find Kristen Simmons here:
Facebook // Twitter // Official website

The Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: Losing It by Cora Carmack

2013-01-29T16:19:00.000+01:00

Losing It

by Cora Carmack
Release date: 26th February, 2013
Publisher: Self Published
Pages: 204 (ebook copy bought by me)

Summary from Goodreads:

Virginity.

Bliss Edwards is about to graduate from college and still has hers. Sick of being the only virgin among her friends, she decides the best way to deal with the problem is to lose it as quickly and simply as possible-- a one-night stand. But her plan turns out to be anything but simple when she freaks out and leaves a gorgeous guy alone and naked in her bed with an excuse that no one with half-a-brain would ever believe. And as if if that weren't embarrassing enough, when she arrives for her first class of her last college semester, she recognizes her new theatre professor. She'd left him naked in her bed about 8 hours earlier.

Review By Alaiel Kreuz:
This last month I decided I wanted to try New Adult books because, honestly, I love steamy scenes and most of the time in YA there's not too much of that.

In this case what hooked me was the cover. I mean, look at it, the guy is so freaking hot/cute/breathtaking! And those lips?! I could stare at them all day long... and then do unspeakable things to- well, you get the picture.
As for the girl... the only thing I'm going to say is WOW. She looks like she is enjoying herself way too much. And that is definitely something good ;)

Then I read the summary -when I finally could stop staring at the cover- and I knew I had to read it. I'm so glad I did! This is a light, fun, easy read which is exactly what I needed.

Everything begins with Bliss wanting to lose her virginity -she is twenty something- and asking her best friend, Kelsey, to help her get the courage she needs. She wanted this but was terrified nonetheless, specially because she liked to be in control always and sex, well, sex is all about no thinking and letting yourself go. And she sucked at that so much!
So off they went, looking for a guy hot enough to ignite her loins. And, oh boy, did she found him... Sitting in a bar, with a Shakespeare's book in hand, the most gorgeous guy Bliss had ever seen. And when she finally spoke to him she almost combusted right there.
You see, Garrick -that's the hot guy's name- was British. And I don't know about you, but for me British accent is insanely hot. And Bliss thought exactly the same thing ;)

Finally she found herself taking Garrick to her place to do... well, to do him actually. But this is where everything goes to heck. Bliss begins to over think everything, like what if she sucks at sex, what if she pukes in front of him, or what if she pukes during sex?! Like I said, she lost her mind in a second and then just went bananas.
With a very, very, awkward and lame excuse she bolts from her place and leaves him in her bed, naked and ready.
But of course, Garrick came back to her life the very next day. As one of her drama teachers. What? Didn't I mention before that Bliss was a theatre student? Yep, she is. And we all know how much they love to overreact and exaggerate.

Some people say there's a love triangle here, but it's not true. Although Cade (one of Bliss best friends) likes her she is 100% committed to Garrick so no worries here.
The thing is, Cade is such a nice guy that you will actually feel bad for him, because we all know how hard it is to love and not be loved by the one we want.
Ultimately, I think he deserves a happy ending too.

As a bottom line all I'm going to say is: if you want a funny, crazy, easy and light read that will make you giggle and laugh this is your book. At times you will even find yourself wanting to punch or smack Bliss because she can't stop overthinking everything! But that is part of her personality so chances are you will accept her or hate her.
I liked her a lot because is difficult not to like someone who is nice and caring.
And Garrick will make you swoon. Over and over again. You will love it.

Alaiel's Rating:

If you really liked it, you can order it here:

**The Amazon link is for the Kindle version and the BookDepo links are for the paperback version which has a different cover**

You can find Cora Carmack here:

Twitter // Facebook // Official Blog

Book Review: The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

2013-01-27T17:45:00.001+01:00

The Sea of Tranquility

by Katja Millay
Release date: 4th June, 2013
Publisher: Atria Books
Pages: 448 (copy bought by me)

Summary from Goodreads:

I live in a world without magic or miracles. A place where there are no clairvoyants or shapeshifters, no angels or superhuman boys to save you. A place where people die and music disintegrates and things suck. I am pressed so hard against the earth by the weight of reality that some days I wonder how I am still able to lift my feet to walk.

Full of rage and without a purpose, former pianist Nastya Kashnikov wants two things: to get through high school without anyone discovering her past and to make the boy who took everything from her pay.

All 17 year-old Josh Bennett wants is to build furniture and be left alone, and everyone allows it because it’s easier to pretend he doesn’t exist. When your name is synonymous with death, everyone tends to give you your space.

Everyone except Nastya, a hot mess of a girl who starts showing up and won’t go away until she’s insinuated herself into every aspect of his life. The more he gets to know her, the more of a mystery she becomes. As their relationship intensifies and the unanswered questions begin to pile up, he starts to wonder if he may ever learn the secrets she’s been hiding or if he even wants to.

The Sea of Tranquility is a slow-building, character-driven romance about a lonely boy, an emotionally fragile girl, and the miracle of second chances.

Review By Alaiel Kreuz:

**This review contains a minor spoiler. You can keep reading, I'll make sure to mark it so you can choose to read it or not**

If I could I would give each and everyone of you a copy of this amazing-heartbreaking-awesome book because it deserves to be treasured, it deserves to be known and because we all need to read a story like this.

Nastya and Josh, the main characters, could be any one of us. It could be you, or me, or our best friend. And what happened to them could happen to the person you love the most. This is a book that will touch your heart because it holds truth.
But ultimately it hold the most important thing too: Hope.

From the very beginning, after reading the summary, I thought I might like this book. Nastya seemed strong but broken while Josh seemed forgotten and sad so I was intrigued. But I do was afraid of something: **spoiler** I've read a few books that portrayed rape as the trigger of the MC's rage and despair. And although I truly believe rape should be something we are not ashamed or afraid to speak of, I also think that people, girls and guys, can be broken in a thousand pieces for other reasons that are as valid as rape is. And I was afraid The Sea of Tranquility main plot would revolve around it too... gladly for me it speaks about it but it's not the main problem here, for which I'm grateful.**end spoiler**

What I loved the most about this book were the characters: From Nastya who at the beginning doesn't speak to anyone and we see everything through her eyes and is just way too broken and desperate, to Drew who is a guy with way too much confidence and is the ultimate manwhore but hides a heart, and finally to Josh who has lost so many people so fast that he just doesn't want to put his heart out there so life can stomp on it again.

But the dialogues are good and clever, and at times so funny that I found myself giggling or laughing so hard my cheeks were hurting.
Another thing I liked was the change between POV that give us the right amount of insight into Nastya and Josh's mind. The transition between them was flawless and it felt right in every step.
Also the romance, which develops perfectly well with no rushing and no insta-love, was so amazingly portrayed that I could feel their emotions all the time.

As a bottom line all I can say is that a book that makes me care for the characters, that makes me want to hug them, help them and ultimately be their friends until the last day of my life is a book worth reading.
And to the author, Ms. Millay: I know this was your debut novel and that you wrote it in pieces, every chapter in a different place and with pens and crayons but please, please, keep writing. I promise I will read everything you write always.

Alaiel's Rating:

If you really liked it, you can pre-order it here:

You can find Katja Millay here:

Twitter // Goodreads

Librarian Mouse has a New Look!

2013-01-23T22:38:00.001+01:00

To My Dear Lovely Mouses,

As you can all see with those beautiful eyes Librarian Mouse has a brand new look and it's gorgeous! From the beautiful header -that actually shows 5 of my six very real shelves- to the colors and font. I just couldn't be any happier.

Truth be told I loved my old design, specially because I made it myself with my husband's help! Here is how it looked like before:

Nice, right? But I like changes, I'm rebel like that xD
That's why, after a lot of research -and I mean like more than a month research- I finally decided to ask Lea from Lc's Adventures in Libraryland to make the new design because I noticed that she draws great animals and girls. And I had to had a super cute mouse here :)

I don't know about you but I seriously love it even more than the old one. It has everything I asked her. And she even kept my old mouse in the sidebar titles which is such a nice touch!

If you are planing to do a makeover please, consider using Lea's services.

She asked my opinion in every step of the design, was always very nice and polite and even had the patience to work with me and my perfectionist side, hahahaha.

So, since I'm a very happy girl right now -and I really didn't make a giveaway during my birthday 'cause Christmas was driving me nuts- I want to share my happiness with you all because, let's face it, I also made the change for you so you can enjoy my blog even more ;)

Giveaway Time!

I'm offering ONE lucky winner $25 to buy as many books as he/she wants from BookDepository which means it's INTERNATIONAL!
The giveaway begins today and will last 20 days.
There's only one mandatory entry: answer a simple question in the comments section.
And if you want to increase your chances then there will be plenty of other entries. For example, you can put my new button in your blog ;)

That's it, good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst

2013-01-20T23:40:00.000+01:00

Vessel

by Sarah Beth Durst
Release date: 11th September, 2012
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Pages: 424 (hardcover copy bought by me)

Summary from Goodreads:

Liyana has trained her entire life to be the vessel of a goddess. She will dance and summon her tribe's deity, who will inhabit Liyana's body and use magic to bring rain to the desert. But when the dance ends, Liyana is still there. Her tribe is furious--and sure that it is Liyana's fault. Abandoned by her tribe, Liyana expects to die in the desert. Until a boy walks out of the dust in search of her.

Korbyn is a god inside his vessel, and a trickster god at that. He tells Liyana that five other gods are missing, and they set off across the desert in search of the other vessels. The desert tribes cannot survive without the magic of their gods. But the journey is dangerous, even with a god’s help. And not everyone is willing to believe the trickster god’s tale.

The closer she grows to Korbyn, the less Liyana wants to disappear to make way for her goddess. But she has no choice--she must die for her tribe to live. Unless a trickster god can help her to trick fate--or a human girl can muster some magic of her own.

Review By Alaiel Kreuz:

It's been a long time since I picked up a book that moved me and captured me as much as this one did. And by the end of it I just felt complete.

But let's begin with the first thing we see here, the cover. I don't know about you but whoever designed the cover for Vessel didn't do a good job, he/she did a marvelous and stunning job. The second I saw it, the second I loved it and promptly added it to my wishlist.
This was just one of those books that I HAD to possess, as simple as that.

Then of course we have the plot. I think what amazes me most is the fact that the author shows us so many aspects like art, religion, clans and environment. The world building is just plain awesome, she covers every aspect with a lot of insight and that helps us understand more the society Liyana, the main character, lives in.
The scenario for this story is the dessert, and maybe it sounds boring, but it isn't. The complexity of the situations the different clans have to go through and the love they profese to the dessert makes it unique and as interesting as a character itself.

The most strong component in the book is the religion, of course. You see, every hundred years each clan welcomes its god/goddess that comes from the Dreaming to nourish the oasis they live in, bring rain and, all in all, help them survive another hundred years.
But the thing is, every time a god fills the body of the vessel (like Liyana) the soul inside that body fades in order to leave space for the god's soul.
And just like that, when the chosen ones are selected they have to consecrate their bodies to be nothing but perfect.
When the day comes Liyana dances for hours, but Bayla (goddess of the Goat's Clan) never comes and Liyana is left in the dessert, by her own people, to die as they assume she is not worthy of the goddess.
When everything turns to the worst and Liyana thinks she is just going to die a silhouette appears in the horizon... Korbyn, the trickster god, has come looking for her in order to save the other gods that have been kidnapped.
And here is where we learn that Liyana is strong, resourceful and ready to do whatever it takes to survive and save the gods. Even speak her mind in front of an Emperor.

Because this book has a love triangle, but it isn't the main thread and it's well developed. By the end of the book I wasn't really happy but it made sense so it didn't ruin the book for me.

And one thing I'm really happy about? The author made me fell in love, care and think about the characters as if they were real people and during the whole book I felt that I was there, with them, living each adventure and misfortune.
The fact that Vessel is a standalone book makes it even more fascinating and perfect, it proves that it's possible to tell a story so deep and rich without falling in the long series that are normal nowadays.
A book that makes you consider things like sacrifice, free will, faith and the importance between the life of one person for the survival of an entire group is a treasure.

As a bottom line all I can say is that I'm a huge fan of Sarah Beth now. Go pick up this book if you haven't already, it deserves all the attention it can get because it's perfect.

Alaiel's Rating:

If you really liked it, you can order it here:

You can find Sarah Beth Durst here:

Facebook Twitter Official website

Cover reveal: "Justice" and "Blood & Gold" by Rhiannon Paille

2013-01-17T11:47:00.000+01:00

Justice
by Rhiannon Paille
Release Date: 22nd January, 2013
Series: The Ferryman and the Flame #2

Official synopsis:

How far would you go to destroy yourself?

Krishani always knew he would have to go to the Lands of Men, but he never thought it would be like this. Enemies everywhere, an ancestor he can't respect, elders he can't trust, a curse he can't stop and friends he can't help but hate. Desperate to end the pain, he sets out on a quest to find the other Flames and face the enemy that took everything from him.

JUSTICE: Art by Marc Wolfe (www.marcwolfeart.com) / Typography by Frankie Rose

Blood & Gold
by Rhiannon Paille
Release Date: June, 2013
Series: The Ferryman and the Flame #2.5

Official synopsis:

This is JUSTICE from the villain's POV.

The Daed are pawns to one of the most powerful members of the Valtanyana. Crestaos is insane, his hunger for the Flames insatiable. The closer the Daed get to achieving his goal, the more expendable they become.

BLOOD & GOLD: Art by Paragraphic Designs / Typography by Rhiannon Paille

You can find Rhiannon Paille here:

Facebook Twitter Official Blog

As a plus you may want to head to Rhiannon's blog (hint: look above this) and participate in an A-WE-SO-ME giveaway. You know, just if you are into that kind of thing... and I know you are ;)

I really, REALLY, want to know what you think about these pretties :]