Saturday, March 31, 2012

Indie Book of the Week; Waiting For You by Abigail Storm

I absolutely love this weeks book of the week, Waiting For You by Abigail Storm!

 Synopsis:
  For Jake Landry, Erin Shaw was always off-limits—too young, too innocent, and his kid sister’s best friend. Home now after a decade of military service, Jake finds Erin all grown up…but she’s still off-limits. War has left him with scars invisible to anyone but him, and a relationship is the last thing he’s looking for.

As a teenager, Erin had a hopeless crush on her friend’s big brother. Now that she’s an adult, she thinks she’s put all that behind her. But when she sees Jake again, she discovers her old feelings are alive and well...and blossoming into something new.

Jake doesn’t believe in happily-ever-after. And since he can’t give Erin what she deserves, he tries to stay away from her. But when the attraction between them turns explosive, his resistance starts to crumble. Will Erin find a way past Jake’s
armor all the way to his heart?




My Review:
 
When I started Waiting For You I didn't realize it was actually the third book in a series, thankfully I didn't need to read the first two to have this one make sense. All three books center around the Landry family but each one can read as a stand alone book.

This is (obviously) my first book by Storm and I absolutely loved it.

I hate to say it but sometimes you just never know what you will be getting when you pick up an indie book and thankfully this one was fabulous.

It was very well written, in fact I had to go back and check the publisher to make sure this was indeed a self published book, I love it when that happens!

In this book we get the story of Erin and Jake. Erin has been in love with Jake since she was thirteen years old and after sharing a brief but very passionate kiss with him at the age of 16 it is more than 10 years later before she sees him again.

Jake has been off to war serving his country and like most returning soldiers, he is sadly not without wounds only his aren't of the physical kind, his are emotional, so much so that he has completely shut down from the real world and is sure that love is something that should never be felt and is in fact an emotion that he isn't even capable of anymore.

Then Erin comes back into his life. A strong capable, independent woman that has just enough fire and passion to help him and to help him become whole again.

I really loved this book. It felt so real from the storyline to the characters to the ending. It was just something believable and completely endearing.

And while we do get glimpses of the other family members it will not stop me from going ahead and getting Storm's other two book and reading about them as well.

In fact I will be looking into all of her books.

I give this one a very solid 5 out of 5 Stars!


Friday, March 30, 2012

Review: The Wicked and the Just by J. Anderson Coats

Title: The Wicked and the Just
Author: J. Anderson Coats
Series: Stand Alone
Published By: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (April 17, 2012)
Source: ARC Copy From Publisher
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
My Rating: 4 Stars


Goodreads Description:
 Cecily’s father has ruined her life. He’s moving them to occupied Wales, where the king needs good strong Englishmen to keep down the vicious Welshmen. At least Cecily will finally be the lady of the house.

Gwenhwyfar knows all about that house. Once she dreamed of being the lady there herself, until the English destroyed the lives of everyone she knows. Now she must wait hand and foot on this bratty English girl.

While Cecily struggles to find her place amongst the snobby English landowners, Gwenhwyfar struggles just to survive. And outside the city walls, tensions are rising ever higher—until finally they must reach the breaking point.

My Review:
  This book was different.

Vague I know but really, I don't know a better adjective to use than that.

The writing style (language) is very old English so a little hard to get use to at first. The two main characters couldn't be more different in personality and situations.

Both are somewhat hard to like at first, especially Cecily, to be honest, I didn't like her at all. She is selfish, immature and spoiled, yet, she is fascinating and does have some redeeming qualities..........maybe, sort of.

Gwenhwyfar is hardened and not really all that likeable either but there is an air of mystery surrounding her and her family that makes you want to discover it so of course you have to read on. You have to know all her secrets. I mean, what in the world happened to her? Why is she where she is?

Some how though, hard writing style to get use to, crazy unlikeable characters and a somewhat differet plot, all of that just makes you want to read this story more. I can't even describe it. But there is just something about the story that draws you in and makes you want to read more even though you really kind of don't want to.

I won't lie, I had a hard time getting through this one and I love historical fiction, I really do, I am a nerd that way.

And then about half way through, something happened. I found myself immersed in the story. I actually started to like Gwinny, Griffith and yes, even Cecily.

Well maybe liked is too strong of a word for how I felt for them but I did start to feel compasison for them and their situation.

Really it was a horrible time to be a Welshman in the 1290's and truly with the rebels, it wasn't all that great to be an Englishman living among the Welsh either.

I think this was a good piece to read regarding what life was like for them during this time period. It was well done and truly did keep me turning the pages towards the end.


Thursday, March 29, 2012

Review: Radiate by Marley Gibson

Title: Radiate
Author: Marley Gibson
Series: Stand Alone
Published By: Graphia (April 3, 2012)
Source: ARC Copy From Publisher
Genre: YA Realistic Fiction
My Rating: 5 Stars

Goodreads Description:
 Hayley Matthews is determined to be the best cheerleader she can. She works hard
and pushes herself 110% all the time.
Then Hayley finds a lump on her leg. The diagnosis is cancer. The prognosis is
unclear. She could lose her leg. Or maybe her life.
At first Haley is scared, terrified. In an instant, everything she’s worked for seems
out of reach. But Haley is strong. She’s going to fight this disease. She will not let it
take her life or her dreams.


My Review:
  I knew going into this book that I was going to cry. I mean how could I not with a synopsis like that one? I just knew it was going to be an emotional ride and I wasn't wrong, not at all.

This story is amazing. It is one of those stories that can make you a better person and want to live life to the fullest. To not take anything for granted and to just...love and live like we are meant to do. To be happy, with life and with ourselves.

I absolutely adored Hayley. So strong and brave and just good. One my goodness. She is everything any mother would want their daughter to be. She never gave up or felt sorry for herself. She was a fighter and she knew she was going to fight with all her might or die trying.

Gabriel was just amazing and truly someone I would want in my corner. I loved him.

Lora, Ross, her friends and all her family were just amazing people.

This is one of those books that will bring tears to your eyes. Ones of sorrow and ones of happiness too.

You have to read the Mother's Word at the end, I think I cried just as much through that and the Acknowledgments as I did through the story.

To know this is based on a true story...well that is just inspiring.

This was beautifully written. Raw, gritty and real. Just...yeah. Well done Ms. Gibson. 




Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Review: Between by Cambria Hebert

Title: Between
Author: Cambria Hebert
Series: Book (novella) 1.5 in the Heven and Hell Series
Published By: Self Published (April 20, 2012)
Source: ARC Copy from Author
Genre: YA Paranormal
My Rating: 5 Stars

Goodreads Description:
 I grew up in a comfortable house with two parents and a white-picket fence. My brother, Sam, and I used to play with sticks in the backyard and pretend they were swords. There were always cookies on the table and milk in the fridge. Then, one day, things changed.

Sam changed.

Life was never the same again. Sam left. My parents abandoned him when he needed them most, and I was left to survive in a house that was merely a shell of what it used to be. Mom cried all the time and Dad expected me to fill the void my brother left behind. But mostly, all we did was pretend. We pretended that things weren’t messed up. We pretended that Sam never existed.

Until I changed, too.

Now, everything’s a mess and I’m so confused. It’s like there are two different people trapped inside one body—my body—and one of them wants out. I do things. Bad things and I don’t know how to stop. I’m not sure I want to. The only way I can be normal again is if I find Sam. He’ll know what to do.

He has too.

My Review: 
  When Cambria approached me about reviewing the latest book in her Heven and Hell series I was super excited, not only do I absolutely love this series but her new novella Between was going to be all about Logan, Sam's younger brother.

Ever since learning about him in Masquerade I have been super curious about him and his story and I couldn't wait to dive in and learn all about him.

I knew the story was going to be good because he just had this weird mystery surrounding him in Masquerade. I hate to say it but I was afraid that maybe he might have even been a little corrupt, like maybe there was more to him showing back up in Sam's life than what he mentioned. It seemed so convenient that he showed up at the time that he did, with Sam and Heven's mission under way.

Not to mention the fact that I was also hoping to get a glimpse into Sam and Logan's parents, especially their dad. I mean, who wouldn't be curious about how a parent could treat their sons the way he did and not want to see if there was any guilt or remorse there?

I should have known Cambria would do this brilliantly, tell us Logan's story without giving away it all. Making us want more and be even more curious than when we started. Eliciting even more questions and worries and anxiety over what will happen next. . That she would make the wait even more unbearable with want over when the next book will be out.

In short, she is a tease.

Teasing us with the greatness that is her writing but kind enough to give us this little glimpse into what is sure to be a pretty darn amazing next book.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Tell Me Something Tuesday!

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Cambria Hebert .

   
This is a fun weekly question she asks other bloggers in the hopes that we will all get to know one another a little better.

This question this week is:
 Who is your favorite sidekick in a book? (You know the BFF of the main character)
 
 
Is it terrible that when I first looked at this question I drew a blank? Not because I don't know of any secondary characters that blew me away but because I couldn't remember any of them! How bad is that?
 
But when one finally did come to mind this person was first and I am guessing others will also pick him as well.
 
My choice?
 
Puck from Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series.
 
 
So I wasn't exactly Team Puck but I will say this, the series would not have been the same without his sarcastic humor and witty one liners. 
 
I did fall in love with him but I didn't ever want him for Meghan. Why?
I just thought Ash was the one for her. They were just destined to be together and not even good 'ole Puck could change that.

He was always there for Meghan though and always had her back. Heck, he even helped Ash and he really didn't have to but he did for Meghan because he was just that wonderful. 
What more could anyone ask for in a sidekick and best friend?




Monday, March 26, 2012

Review: The Prophet by Amanda Stevens

Title: The Prophet
Author: Amanda Stevens
Series: Book Three in the Graveyard Queen Series
Published By: Mira (April 24th, 2012)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by NetGalley
Genre: Urban Fantasy
My Rating: 4 Stars

Goodreads Description:
 My name is Amelia Gray.I am the Graveyard Queen, a cemetery restorer who sees ghosts. My father passed down four rules to keep me safe and I've broken every last one. A door has opened and evil wants me back.In order to protect myself, I've vowed to return to those rules. But the ghost of a murdered cop needs my help to find his killer. The clues lead me to the dark side of Charleston—where witchcraft, root doctors and black magic still flourish—and back to John Devlin, a haunted police detective I should only love from afar.Now I'm faced with a terrible choice: follow the rules or follow my heart.

My Review:
  In the third book in the Graveyard Queen Amelia has returned back home to Charleston and once again, she isn't alone.

She is being haunted.

And not just by one ghost but by two, both connected to Devlin and both dangerous in their own way.

Amelia decides this time, she will have to break the rules if she ever wants to find peace again.

Once again this series is just awesome. So dark and creepy and mysterious. This time it is even better.

It is creepiness at its best.

This one started off right away with giving me chills and once again thankful that I had started it during the day, with the bright sunshine outside to keep away any lurking shadows in the dark.

The spirits are getting restless and there is an evil lurking in the shadows, only this time, the evil isn't only in the dead but also the living.

Gah! Can I just say for the record that I think Amanda Stevens is a genius? I absolutely love her writing style. Everything just flows so nicely together and the storyline never has a lull or is ever too predictable. I am constantly on the edge of my seat frantically turning the pages wanting to know what is going to happen next.

I am so glad that we finally got some Devlin time in this one! Yay! I love his broody dark self, he is such a strong character and yet vulnerable too. I admire his love for his daughter and devotion to the people he cares about.

Devlin has so many secrets and finally they too are starting to unravel one by one. In fact, many people's secrets are uncovered in this story.

This truly was a thrilling read!

I want more! I can't help but wonder though with the way the book ended if there will in fact be another one, I really truly hope there will be.



Saturday, March 24, 2012

Review: Angel In the Shadows by Lisa Grace

Title: Angel In The Shadows
Author: Lisa Grace
Series: Book One in The Angel Series
Published By: Eloquent Books (Nov. 11, 2011)
Genre: YA Fantasy
My Rating: 2.5 Stars

Goodreads Description:
Fifteen-year-old Megan Laughlin has a gift--or what seems like a curse at times. Megan sees angels and demons.

Megan knows her destiny is to protect her friends against dark angels who try to sway them into situations that can destroy their lives, their souls, and their eternity.

At school, she recognizes Judas, an über popular boy, as an evil angel hell-bent on destroying her and everyone she loves. As Judas spreads horrible rumors and overdoses two of her classmates at a rave, Megan realizes the enormity of his power. While classmates die, Megan, with the help of an angel, Johnny, and a team of friends will face the fight of their lives as they battle Judas.

Megan thinks God hasn't given her any "special" powers, but discovers she has what she needs as she confronts Judas and his seemingly unconquerable power.

My Review:

I had heard so many good things about this book that I was pretty excited to read it.

So you can understand my disappointment when I started it and it just wasn't what I thought it would be.

Don't get my wrong, the storyline is a nice one but what ended up happening, at least for me, is that I felt like I was being preached to throughout the whole book.

Sometimes this works and sometimes it just doesn't. In this case it just didn't work. It was a little over the top for me and I am so sad about that.

I really truly wanted to love this book but I just couldn't.

It always saddens me when that happens and I do realize that this is a first novel for the author and the first book in a series but I still wouldn't be honest with myself if I rated this higher than 3 stars.

I think with a little less preaching and more actual action and storyline this could really have been a much better book, first in a series or not.

I think maybe I am the wrong age group too, I can see this appealing more to the tween market.

I would like to say that I would be willing to give the second book a try but I think this is just a series I will have to pass on. It just wasn't for me.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Indie Book of the Week; Revamped by Ada Adams

Once again this week I am super excited to bring you my choice of indie book of the week, Revamped (book one in the Angel Creek series) by Ada Adams.


Synopsis:
A simple mission turned deadly.

Nineteen-year-old vampire Dawn has led a sheltered life within the confines of her father’s presidential headquarters. Upon being sent on a mission to revamp four goofy misfits into guardians of a peaceful little town of Angel Creek, Dawn believes that all her dreams have finally come true. What starts off as a simple task, turns into something unexpected, changing Dawn’s life forever and leading the action-loving, thrill-seeking vampire teen on a path of mystery, danger and intrigue.

When a human girl is kidnapped by a group of rogue vamps, Dawn discovers that there is more going on in Angel Creek than meets the eye. And it all connects to Ethan, the cute newcomer who seems too perfect to be true, Sebastian, the mysterious vampire with a turbulent past, and even Dawn herself. Dawn must not only succeed in revamping the troubled recruits, but must also prevent the vampire race from being overtaken by a malevolent villain who has a strange and obsessive fascination with her. As threat escalates, romance blooms, and ghosts from her past begin to surface, Dawn is sure of only one thing: her life will never be the same.


 
After reading the synopsis on this book I was pretty excited to start it. It sounded right up my alley. Vampires, action, romance, conspiracies.

Yep, that has me written all over it. If I had any doubt after reading the synopsis that this was going to be the book for me, the cover alone would have lured me right in. It is gorgeous and begs for you to pick it up and give it a try.

This is not your typical YA vampire book. Not at all. This is something different and fresh and new. Completely original. No copycatting here going on.

Adam's has managed to create a fresh new look into the world of vampires with a heroine that knows how to kick butt and still have fun while doing it. All the while making the world she created feel very believable and real.

There were a great cast of characters in this story, all very loveable and different and quirky in their own way. The underlying mystery was excellent and kept me guessing and the slight romance to it kept me turning the pages wanting more.

Over all this promises to be a very fun series and I truly am looking forward to the next book and can't wait for more.

Adam's is a talented author and I know I will be watching to see what she comes up with next. She has a new fan in me and I can't wait to read more from her. I look forward to watching her work progress and grow and just keep getting better and better. 

I give this one 4.5 Stars. 


Thursday, March 22, 2012

Review: Blood Oath by T.L. Clarke

Title: Blood Oath
Author: T.L. Clarke
Series: Book Two in the Gabby Girls Adventure Series
Published By: One Wish Publishing (March 6, 2012)
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
My Rating: 3.5 Stars

Goodreads Description:
 Welcome to the dark and powerful world of the Eternals.

Gabrielle Martin discovers that she was born into a secret society called the Eternals—Warriors sworn through blood to annihilate dark and evil creatures that walk the shadows of the earth. Everything she has known to be true is a lie…just smoke and mirrors to disguise a deadly world filled with half-human, half-vampire Underworld Warriors with one goal—to kill all Eternal Warriors.

The battle against pure evil begins. Friendships are betrayed. Rivals bond…and powers collide.

My Review:
  When I first started this book I was actually pretty excited about it. I knew it was going to be something that I could really get into. I think the first few chapters made me have high hopes for it, the characters seemed like they would be a lot of fun to get to know and for whatever reason, I love books set in schools, you know, the whole Harry Potter feel?

In fact as I got past the first few chapters I noticed that it almost had the same feel to it as the Vampire Academy series by Rachel Mead (not a copy or anything, just a slight feel to it that was a little similar).

I started this book without having read the first in the series, The Secret of Scarlet Stone, which, I will be honest, sometimes makes me nervous, but I was assured that it stood on its own and I wouldn't need to read the first one to know what was happening in this one and thankfully that was true. I never felt lost or confused or like I had missed something important.

Right away the characters drew me into the story. The plot line was really interesting and moved pretty quickly.

There were times where it was a bit confusing and the story did jump from first person to third person randomly so it was a little distracting but overall if you looked past that and a few editing errors the story was a fun one and kept me interested.

It did end on a slight cliffhanger, nothing drastic but I do look forward to reading the next book to see how the story progresses. I think this could turn out to be a really good clean YA urban fantasy series with a little bit of everything in it to please everyone.
 

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Review: Legacy Of The Highlands by Harriet Schultz

Title: Legacy Of The Highlands
Author: Harriet Schultz
Published By: Self Published (Jan. 25, 2012)
Series: Stand Alone
Genre: Romantic Suspense
My Rating: 4.5 Stars

Amazon Description:
 Legacy of the Highlands is a captivating tale that links a murder in 21st century Boston to a vow made in 1320 by the victim's Scottish ancestor. When Will Cameron’s body is discovered in a Boston alley, the only clue to the thirty-four-year-old’s murder is a pristine Scottish sgian dubh dagger left beside it. His devastated widow, Alexandra, flees Boston to find refuge in the Miami villa of Will’s best friend, Diego Navarro, who has the means, power and temperament to solve the puzzle and to avenge the senseless killing. Diego, a handsome and wealthy Argentine, is equally determined to win the grieving widow’s heart. They find it increasingly difficult to resist a growing attraction to each other as they follow leads that take them from Miami to Buenos Aires and Scotland unraveling the Cameron family’s secrets and the Legacy of the Highlands.

My Review:
It has been a while since I have read a romantic suspense and I was ready to read something a little more adult after all the YA's I have been reading lately, don't get me wrong, I love the YA genre but sometimes you just need something that doesn't involve teenage angst and all that comes with it.

Which could be why when Harriet approached me with reviewing her new book I jumped at the chance to read it.

After reading the synopsis I knew it would be something I could really enjoy and I really truly did.

The writing was so well done and the plot was fantastic. It kept me turning the pages, in fact I almost read it all in one sitting.

The characters were all fabulous and while I didn't feel a connection to any of them, it just wasn't necessary in this book. The storyline was so captivating that I found myself more wrapped up in it than anything else.

I love that this one had an open ended ending so that it left it wide open for a sequel (which I would love to see happen!). I wouldn't mind a little more Diego time!

This truly was very well done and I really hope that Harriet comes out with another book soon because I think she is truly talented.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Transfer Student Blog Tour and Release Day!!


TRANSFER STUDENT EBOOK RELEASE DAY!
Two Worlds • Two Teens • One Wish
Rhoe and Ashley would never be friends.
Even if they lived on the same planet.
But, they’ll become so much more.
They’ll transfer.

Earthling Ashley’s world revolves around winning daily popularity contests at Beverly Hills High School and surfing competitions with sweet scholarship prizes that will finally help her break free of her control-freak mother. Ashley never loses. Ashley never wishes on stars. But that changes when her senior class takes a field trip to the Griffith Observatory where conflicting feelings about her predatory best frenemy Tiffany causes Ashley to throw away her own carefully-crafted Queen of B.H.H.S. title under the bus.
Meanwhile on planet Retha, Rhoe misses his dad, loves his mom’s home-cooked Glechy crag with a side of ory sauce, is desperate to heal his sick brother and wants more than anything to win The Retha New Invention Competition. He and his best friend Yuke have worked for the past two years constructing the teleporting telescope Rhoe started building with his dad before he died in an airboarding accident. Rhoe’s never kissed a girl. Rhoe’s hero is the eccentric physicist, Ramay. But that changes when the telescope teleports Rhoe across the universe with an unintended side effect, Ashley and Rhoe transfer. They swap lives when they make the same wish at the same time.
Popular-surfer-turned-boy-geek alien Ashley must handle life on Retha as Rhoe complete with webbed feet, low-gravity, and an obsession with Yuke, all the while being hunted by Rethan spies and resenting her hairy, flat chest. Boy-geek-turned-popular-surfer Rhoe must fit in at Beverly Hills High School as Ashley, compete in The Laguna Beach Invitational without becoming shark food, dodge boys’ affections, cool his preoccupation with Tiffany and his new body, on his quest to find the healing rocks he believes will save his brother’s life.
If only it were that simple. Some wishes can’t come true. Some have to.
EXCERPT:
Yuke catches up to me. We walk side-by-side in silence through the Golden Meadow. The airboard launch, a sort of gigantic upside-down slide, peeks over a row of Truffula Trees.
“Listen, there are three things you have to remember about soaring. You’ll never soar if your mind is on the ground. Put it up on The Ridge,” Yuke says, pointing to a purple-blue mountain ahead of us. “Rhoe taught me that.”
The way he says Rhoe I know it’s happened. He knows. He really knows I’m not Rhoe, I’m…Ashley. It’s sunk in. Finally. I stop walking and can hardly breathe. It’s the first time he’s ever seen the real me, and his gaze warms me down to my frog feet. Yuke spots the question in my eyes.
“The Ridge of No Return,” he says with a small smile, “It’s the prime place to catch air. But beware The Devil’s Grip. Soar too high and you’ll be caught in The Grip and lost to The Other Side. Forever.”
He misreads the question in my eyes. Again. I shiver thinking about The Grip and dying in the mythic ice and snow of The Other Side. I stare at my hideous frog feet, my peds. I don’t care about The Ridge. There’s only one person I care about. One boy I’ll never have. Yuke.
“What else?” I ask, peering deeper into Yuke’s alien eyes.
“You’ve got to feel the beat of the wind in your peds. Surrender to the air. And know, deep in your hearts, no one is its master.”
I hear and don’t hear every word Yuke says. For the first time in my life I can’t speak. I can’t take my eyes off Yuke, now that he knows I’m not Rhoe. He wouldn’t be telling his best friend, an Astral, how to airboard unless he knows I’m Ashley, someone who doesn’t know much about soaring.
“Your catchers will always stop you if you fall,” Yuke says, filling the silence between us. He raises his arms above his head. Delicate wings expand out from under his arms. Thin pinkish-purple skin stretches over delicate, long bones. No feathers at all. Just smooth, glimmering skin. And it’s crazy. A week ago I wouldn’t even look twice at a guy with a big nose, but now, I’m hot for an alien. With wings.
I have to touch him. It’s beyond wanting to. The way Yuke spreads his wings makes his pecs flare and his biceps seize. He’s beyond gorgeous. The way his sheer wings take to the breeze makes Yuke more unreal than he already is to me. He’s everything I never wanted and everything I can’t live without. It feels like we’re the only souls in the universe. The look in his golden exotic eyes melts my ability to stay away from him.
“You can’t be real,” I say taking a few steps closer to him, holding my hand out to touch his wing. Waiting for him to let me. To know it’s OK. He flexes and lets his head fall back a little inviting my touch. I lay my alien fingers on his smooth taught skin, and run them over his wing’s thin hollow bones. My eyes fill with tears. His wings flutter in a breeze. He’s beautiful.
Yuke sticks his chest out and when he drops his arms his catchers vanish back into his biceps. “I can’t let you soar. Not now,” he says, the crowd cheers just beyond the trees.
Only then do I remember where we are. What we’re here to do. A band begins to play a set of songs. The crowd beyond the row of trees cheers again and again.
“I have to. I’m doing this for Rhoe,” I say.
Yuke puts his hand on my shoulder. I shudder.
“And for me,” I say.
Yuke’s golden eyes focus only on mine, on the Earthling inside of this alien body.
“And for you,” I say, feeling the beat of my hearts in my throat. “We’re going to win this damn thing.”

GIVEAWAY: Here’s how to enter to win a TRANSFER STUDENT BEACH BAG filled with a signed paperback copy of WINNEMUCCA & 13 ON HALLOWEEN, and signed TRANSFER STUDENT bookmarks:

  1. follow @Laurawriting and
  2. tweet:
Two Worlds-Two Teens-One Wish #TRANSFERSTUDENT #ebook bday get ur copy 2day! #ya #scifi #romance [include amazon link]
8 winners, open Internationally until 3/24!
To find out more about Laura & her books visit Laurasmagicday



I had the pleasure of being able to read an ARC copy of this book and thankfully got my internet working in time (woohoo!) to be able to post a little review of Laura's book here along with the release day info today. 
 
My take on this? It was kind of like Freaky Friday meets another world.

What do I mean by that exactly?

Instead of a mother and daughter switching places we have a boy from one planet (Retha) and a girl from our planet who both long for the same things. Both are wanting to be better. They want to change their lives, they just want more.

They both happen to be attracted to the stars and in a freak twist of fate, their souls travel through time and space into each others bodies and then the chaos begins.

This was a very interesting read. I wasn't sure at first if I was going to like it or be able to stick with it but I really wanted to see what would happen so I pushed through and kept reading and I really am glad that I did.

This wasn't just another Freaky Friday copy cat, not at all. It had a lot more twists and turns to it than that and really it was about two people finding their way in life and becoming who they were meant to be.

I think the author made something unique and while it wasn't perfect, the plot and characters could have used a little more depth to them, it all just seemed to work.

I am not sure if there will be a sequel to this or not but if there is, I think it would be fun to see where Laura takes it from here. I would love to see the characters develop more and of course I would love for them to be able to find a way back to one another and have another adventure as themselves this time.

Overall this was a really fun read that I think will appeal to anyone who loves YA sci fi.

 


Tell Me Something Tuesday!

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Cambria Hebert .

   
This is a fun weekly question she asks other bloggers in the hopes that we will all get to know one another a little better.

This question this week is:
Who is your favorite heroine?
 
 
Gah! I couldn't imagine a harder question and I really really had to sit and ponder over this one for awhile. Not because I couldn't think of a favorite but because I had too many favorites.
Good thing Cambria said we can choose more than one!

As most of you know, I love a character that is strong and can take care of themselves while still knowing that once in a while you still have to have some back up and that it is okay to ask for help when you need it.

So I think that makes my first choice so easy to list. 


Rose Hathaway. Now here is a true kick butt woman that has her head on straight and knows how to get a job done, all the while still letting love in and never losing sight of what is most important to her, no matter the consequences.
I love her witty and sarcastic sense of humor. She truly had some of the best one liners in a series I have ever read.
She never had it easy either but she always did what needed to be done regardless.
 
I was so sad to see this series end. I truly loved every book and character.
 
 
Next on my list is actually a character and series that I bet a lot of you aren't familiar with
 
 Yuki from the Spirit Guide series by E.J. Stevens.

Now here is a girl that doesn't care what anyone thinks of her. She is strong and loving and once again has some of the best one liners in a series. She knows who she is and isn't willing to change for anyone. She has some amazing friends too in this series who are all equally as great.
This is just one of those amazing series that is just super fun to read. I always have a smile on my face while reading one of E.J.'s books. I love that they are without all the harsh language and situations that some YA books have and still, this manages to be a wonderful series.

If you haven't tried this series yet, do it. You won't be sorry.


Next on my list is 

Cat Crawfield from the Night Huntress series (if you didn't know who she was by the picture, shame on you!).
 
Once again I have a theme going here. She is sarcastic and fierce and still manages to be loving. And the fact that she gets to come home to Bones every night, well that doesn't hurt either.


So there you have it, my top three choices. 
I seriously could have been here all day thinking of others and I know after posting this someone else will come to mind and I will be kicking myself for not listing them too but for now, I am happy with these three choices.

So, who are some of your favorite heroines and why?
I would love to hear them!


Saturday, March 17, 2012

Internet Woes and Happy St. Patty's Day!

First off Happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone who celebrates. Even though I am not Irish I still will have my green and red on today.

Secondly we had an unfortunate mishap this week and our modem was, well it was fried and sadly that leaves me without internet acess except through my beloved phone' while fantastic is not so great for blog posts as you can see.

Thankfully a new one is on the way but it won't be here until Tuesday afternoon.

Think I can last that long? It will be a challenge!

So until then I would love to hear about anything special any of uou may do for the holiday.

Do you eat cabbage rolls, wear green? Go out with friends? Leave presents for the leprechauns?

Whatever you do I would love to read about it while I am waiting for my new modem.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Review: Revived by Cat Patrick

Title: Revived
Author: Cat Patrick
Series: Stand Alone
Published By: Little Brown Books for Young Readers (May 8, 2012)
Source: ARC copy courtesy Mindy's Blog Tours
Genre: YA Fantasy
My Rating: 4 Stars

Goodreads Description:
 As a little girl, Daisy Appleby was killed in a school bus crash. Moments after the accident, she was brought back to life.

A secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a new name, a new city, and a new life. When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she discovers the agency’s true goals, she realizes she’s at the center of something much larger — and more sinister — than she ever imagined.

My Review:
I fell in love with Cat Patrick's work last year after reading her novel Forgotten.  In fact it was one of my favorite reads from last year so I knew that after finishing that book I would read just about anything else that she choose to write in the future.
Which is why I was so excited when I saw this release.

Once again Patrick wows us with something completely unique and different in the YA genre and she manages to make it unbelievable and believable all in one go.

She once again creates characters that are completely relateable and loveable and gives us a plot that will keep you guessing until the very end.

While this one lacked a little bit of the action that I was hoping for and could be a little slow at times, this was still a great read that I devoured in one sitting. 

My only complaint is that the ending could of had just a little more to it. I think this very easily could have turned into a sequel and still have been a fabulous read.

And while I didn't love this one as much as I did Forgotten, it still proves that Patrick knows what she is doing and has some serious talent and will always be on my list of authors that are must reads.