Review: ALL OUR YESTERDAYS by Cristin Terril

All Our Yesterdays

Author: Cristin Terril

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Published: September 3, 2013

Summary | Add to TBR

"You have to kill him." Imprisoned in the heart of a secret military base, Em has nothing except the voice of the boy in the cell next door and the list of instructions she finds taped inside the drain.

Only Em can complete the final instruction. She’s tried everything to prevent the creation of a time machine that will tear the world apart. She holds the proof: a list she has never seen before, written in her own hand. Each failed attempt in the past has led her to the same terrible present—imprisoned and tortured by a sadistic man called the doctor while war rages outside. 

Marina has loved her best friend James since the day he moved next door when they were children. A gorgeous, introverted science prodigy from one of America’s most famous families, James finally seems to be seeing Marina in a new way, too. But on one disastrous night, James’s life crumbles apart, and with it, Marina’s hopes for their future. Now someone is trying to kill him. Marina will protect James, no matter what. Even if it means opening her eyes to a truth so terrible that she may not survive it. At least not as the girl she once was. 

All Our Yesterdays is a wrenching, brilliantly plotted story of fierce love, unthinkable sacrifice, and the infinite implications of our every choice.

My Thoughts:

"I start to shake. In this time and place, a letter I don't remember writing means something very specific. But it's the last line that made me scramble for the toilet in the corner of my cell.

You have to kill him."

There are plenty of time travel books out there and you probably think it's the same old thing. But I tell you, this book lived up to my expectation. The concept and the theories revolving around this subject are not easy to grasp, but it always fascinates me. Could we really have a different present if we made things differently in the past? Or can we really go back in the past and change the things we've done to have a different future? 

I want  the readers to enjoy this book as much as I did and it won't be possible if there are spoilers. One wrong word and it will break the story. One wrong word and I might ruin the book for you. So I will try my best to give my honest to heart review without giving anything away.

All Our Yesterdays is a story of friendship, love and sacrifice-- how friendship play its vital role just when you needed it, and how true love can get you what you want and lose what you already have.

The story started four years from now, with Em locked inside her own cell. We didn't know how she got there, only why she was kept inside-- somebody wants something from her and she's not willing to give it up. She won't give them up. With every torture and pain she had suffered, she takes comfort in the voice of the boy behind her prison's wall. The boy she knew but the face she couldn't remember. She knew that she holds his life in his hands and there is no way she would let him die. Both of them were trying to protect each other from the man they only refer to as the "doctor". And they need to escape again and save the world from the hands of this man. 

It's true that there are books to be tasted and books to be devoured. This book is the kind to be devoured. It was addicting. The first chapter got me hooked and I knew right away that I want this book. It was hard to put down especially when almost every chapter has revelations to tell. Figuring some of them doesn't make them less surprising either. It actually made me want to read more and it felt like I was the one chasing time. I was caught up in a whirl of emotions--fear, sadness, disappointment, surprise, and anticipation. Another best thing is the plot. It was fast-paced and very well executed. It amazed me how it was written so flawlessly. And though I think that the story was lacking a bit on world-building, I easily overlooked it. A better description of the world where Em and Finn came from could have enriched the backstory more but then again, it wasn't a big deal for me this time. Other than that, the rest was pretty neat and the story was really good. I appreciate the storytelling--the alternating POV of Marina and Em. The personalities of both girls are total opposites and I'd say I loved Em more. Marina was a bit selfish and immature. She was annoying most of the time but it was obvious (for the good reason) that the story needed it for the other characters to be more effective and real. Finn and James are well developed as well, and I liked Finn specifically. Finn, James, Marina and Em-- it was great to see these characters grow and become those persons they couldn't have possibly imagined. 

Gripping and emotional, with meticulously executed, fast-pacing plot, great twists and underlying secrets, with interesting characters that will hold your heart, this book makes an awesome read. I shouldn't have been surprised because I expected it to be good, and yet I still was. If you find time traveling a fascinating story, you'll surely enjoy this one. I hope there's a sequel, because stories like this doesn't need to end just yet. It's one of the best I've ever read in a while and if there's one time travel book I will recommend, it's this one. All Our Yesterdays lived up to my expectation, I hope it will also live up to yours.

My Rating:

You can read the first chapter of All Our Yesterdays and 

watch the web series at Cristin Terril Homepage.

Book Review: REBEL HEART by Moira Young

Rebel Heart (Dust Lands #2)

Author: Moira Young

Published: October 30th 2012

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Genre: YA, Dystopian

Summary | Add to TBR

It seemed so simple: Defeat the Tonton, rescue her kidnapped brother, Lugh, and then order would be restored to Saba’s world. Simplicity, however, has proved to be elusive. Now, Saba and her family travel west, headed for a better life and a longed-for reunion with Jack. But the fight for Lugh’s freedom has unleashed a new power in the dust lands, and a formidable new enemy is on the rise.

What is the truth about Jack? And how far will Saba go to get what she wants? In this much-anticipated follow-up to the riveting Blood Red Road, a fierce heroine finds herself at the crossroads of danger and destiny, betrayal and passion.

My Thoughts:

You couldn't find nobody more pig-headed if you tried. An she's always thinkin she knows best, even when she don't, especially when she don't. She's prickly an stubborn an everythin you'd put at the bottom of a list if you was makin a ... a list of that kind. Which I ain't. I didn't. but ohmigawd... she shines so bright. The fire of life burns strong in her. I never realized till I met her... I bin cold my whole life... - Jack

I couldn't even say any other word that would fit Saba's personality other than Jack's description of her. She's fierce, she's intense, she burns, she's Saba. I liked her more in this book than in Blood Red Road. I appreciate how Saba grow as a woman from being the immature Saba I met in the first book. She didn't irritate me like in Blood Red Road, and I loved how determined she was in proving that Jack  didn't betrayed them. She believed in him and even if it means hurting his brother and and her friends feelings, she knows what she needs to do and she's doing it no matter what.

Keys ain't her style. She kicked the door down. - Jack

I have mixed emotions about this book. I loved Blood Red Road so much that it became one of my most favorite books. Rebel Heart is good but I don't think it's as good as the first book. BRR is more action-packed, more thrilling, more exciting, more touching and romantic than RH. I only had Jack at the beginning and at the end, that's it. I wanted more of him, more of him and Saba together and I wanted romance too. So much had happened in this sequel but it felt like something is missing. And once again I was heartbroken and torn apart because one of my favorite characters just died. I got annoyed with Lugh more than anybody else in this book but I'm glad that Saba isn't as irritating as she was in BRR. Many characters died, but there are new ones that will touch your heart. I wanted to see the Free Hawks soar high again, I wanted them alive not dead. I don't want to give away anything but believe me, this book knows how to tear up a heart. It's not a light read and definitely not a happy one. It's for those who wants adventure in Dust Lands, a journey to fight for peace and for what is left of the world. It's a story full of losses, deaths, pains and harshness. But more than that, there's the story of friendship, family, companionship, love and survival.

There are some people... not many, who have within them the power to change things. The courage to act in the service of somethin greater than themselves. - Auriel

Emmi. When everybody seems down, she's the one left standing... for Saba.

Maev. What more can you ask for in a friend? You need her, she's there.

Lugh. The one I want to strangle from the very beginning. Tie him and throw him into the lake! Reeeeaaaaally!

Jack. I don't need a heartstone to find him. Loved this guy.

De Malo. Oh. My. Shocking. Goodness. I smell a love triangle brewing. (Or as my friend Jenny calls it, A LOVE SQUARE brewing.)

Molly, Tommo, Slim, Bram, Ash, Creed, Nero and Tracker. These amazing characters deserve more than a pat in the back. 

I still loved this book even though I didn't get exactly what I really hoped and wanted. It's worth reading and I will certainly read the next book or books to come no matter what.

What happens to you changes you. Fer good or ill, yer changed forever. There ain't no goin back. No matter how many tears you cry. - Saba

Blog Tour | Review & Giveaway: Reaping Me Softly by Kate Evangelista

Welcome to Reaping Me Softly Official Blog Tour hosted by AToMR Tours. Special thanks to the lovely author Kate Evangelista for letting me participate in this tour. Once again, I got the awesome opportunity to join. Thanks to ATOMR Tours for including me in the stop even in the last minute. Thanks to everyone of you for being here today and joining me in this tour stop. If you are all looking for a good read this Halloween Season, Reaping Me Softly, published by Omnific Publishing will be a perfect choice! It's available now, October 30th! 

About the Book:

REAPING ME SOFTLY by Kate Evangelista

Publisher: Omnific Publishing

Published Date: October 30, 2012

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Add to TBR

Ever since a near-death-experience on the operating table, seventeen-year-old Arianne Wilson can see dead people. Just as she’s learned to accept her new-found talents, she discovers that the boy she’s had a crush on since freshman year, Niko Clark, is a Reaper.At last they have something in common, but that doesn’t mean life is getting any easier. All while facing merciless bullying from the most powerful girl in school, Arianne’s world is turned upside down after Niko accidentally reaps the soul of someone she loves. This sends them both into a spiral that threatens to end Arianne’s life. But will Niko break his own Reaper’s code to save her? And what would the consequences be if he did?

About the Author:

When Kate Evangelista was told she had a knack for writing stories, she did the next best thing: entered medical school. After realizing she wasn't going to be the next Doogie Howser, M.D., Kate wandered into the Literature department of her university and never looked back. Today, she is in possession of a piece of paper that says to the world she owns a Literature degree. To make matters worse, she took Master's courses in creative writing. In the end, she realized to be a writer, none of what she had mattered. What really mattered? Writing. Plain and simple, honest to God, sitting in front of her computer, writing. Today, she has four completed Young Adult novels. (Find her in the following sites: Website | Goodreads | Twitter)

MY REVIEW:

The first word that came to my mind when I first heard about this book was "reaper". I was intrigued and I was hoping that I'd be able to get a copy as soon as possible. This book did not disappoint. From the time I started to read it, I was hooked. It wasn't something I'd expected either and I appreciate a bit of surprise. I enjoyed it and I'm happy that I got the chance to be one of the first people to read this book.

Arianne can hear and see the ghosts of the dead eversince her traumatic experience inside the operating room. This wasn't fun at all and seeing them naked doesn't help either. Crushing on the gorgeous boy in school, Arianne doesn't know that Nikolas is a reaper of Georgia. Actually one of the best reapers Death has in his care and command. Learning about Nico and his world doesn't help things about her ill sister either. Not when Nico is the reaper assigned to reap her sister's soul when she die. 

Reaping Me Softly is a fast read that is exciting and gripping. A good start for an interesting paranormal romance series. The pacing is good, not boring and it doesn't drag. The characters, though I can't say that I loved then just the same as I loved Phoenix and the gang in Taste, Arianne and Nikolas are both likable enough. Plus, the story has some unexpected twists that made me appreciate it more. I can't say that it's particularly a unique story but this book is actually good, and I know that those of you who likes to read paranormal romance will likely enjoy this one too. I also liked the ending of this book because it didn't feel like I was left hanging. But there was a sudden turn of event that makes me anxious to see what will happen to the characters. I loved how the author pulled everything together to create such memorable ending. It was touching, heartbreaking yet beautiful. The next book will surely be something to look forward to.

THE GIVEAWAY (International):

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here's the list of the other blogs who are participating in the tour or you can also visit AToMR Tours.

Book Review: EMBERS & ECHOES by Karsten Knight

Embers & Echoes (Wildefire #2)

Author: Karsten Knight

Published: August 28th 2012

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Summary | Add to TBR

Fan the flames: A teen goddess fires up her search for love and family in this sequel to Wildefire.

Ashline Wilde may have needed school to learn that she is actually a reincarnated goddess, but she’s ready to move beyond books. She leaves her California boarding school behind and makes for Miami, where she meets a new group of deities and desperately seeks her sister Rose, the goddess of war. But she’s also looking for love—because even though her romance with Cole had to be snuffed, Ash is a volcano goddess—and she doesn’t get burned.

My Thoughts:

You can't run someplace new and not fill up the new space with the old stuff. The things you want to leave behind are the very things you can't. - Ash 

I'm indestructible, Ash. That doesn't mean I'm incapable of feeling. I still experience love, and I can still experience pain. - Colt 

When we reached the ending of Wildefire, the first book in the series, we learned that Colt isn't someone we thought he was. He isn't human. He isn't the same Colt. With this horrible realization, Ash ran away from him and decided to find her sisters--Rose, the youngest of the Wilde sisters who is known to be very dangerous and whom she never met, and Eve whom she learned isn't dead but in Nether, held captured by the Cloak. In the process of finding her sisters, she met Wes, the hot and gorgeous Aztec God of Night, and Aurora, the Roman Goddess of Dawn. 

Embers & Echoes started exactly where the first book ended, and with that huge cliffhanger ending in Wildefire, expect another thrill ride, lots of suspense, actions, mysteries and of course romance. 

This was the second time recently she'd saved a boy from being chained and tortured. 

"Let's hope I don't regret saving this one," she whispered to no one at all. 

The looks that you and Wes have been exchanging the last forty-eight hours are so hot that I'm surprised you don't need sunglasses to keep from getting pregnant. - Aurora 

What I loved about Karsten Knight's books is the humor and wit. This book doesn't lack of those. It balances the story especially when the book is full of suspense and heart-throbbing actions. There are old enemies, old foes, new friends--all these characters are amazing and very well-developed. You just can't help but love and care for them. So when a character died, well… of course it wasn't pretty, and it was absolutely not fun at all. I have to say that this book is even more heartbreaking for me than Wildefire 'cos once again I lost my favorite characters. The author isn't afraid to kill his characters--characters that I loved ever since Wildefire and I think it was a brave move. I just hope Karsten will continue to create beautiful Gods and Goddesses in the next books--characters that I will love as much as I love the others (may they rest in peace *wink). And please… oh dear Author, please, can you at least spare me some pain and heartache by not killing any more of my favorite characters?

Not as much as I loved Wildefire, but this one is really good. More suspenseful than the first. The mysteries and twists are even more intriguing. I am not fully satisfied with the ending because for me it's tragic. But overall, this book is amazing. The secrets and the revelations aren't what I expected either. There are more secrets from the past that are yet to unfold and I'm excited to see them revealed on the next book. Yes, sometimes I got frustrated because I didn't know who to trust anymore--the characters are unpredictable! So expect betrayal, revenge, and murders. I enjoyed it and I am eagerly anticipating the third. Full of actions, mysteries, suspense, wit and even drama, this book will put you at the edge of your seat. 

You make a decision whether you want to spend your life staring at the dark horizons…Or whether you want to spend it catching every sunrise that you can. - Wes

My Rating:

Book Review: SHATTERED SOULS by Mary Lindsey

Shattered Souls (Souls #1)

Author: Mary Lindsey

Published: December 8th 2011

Publisher: Philomel/Penguin

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance

Summary | Add to TBR

A thrilling debut story of death, love, destiny and danger

Lenzi hears voices and has visions - gravestones, floods, a boy with steel gray eyes. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't help, and everything keeps getting louder and more intense. Then Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, who reveals that she's a reincarnated Speaker - someone who can talk to and help lost souls - and that he has been her Protector for centuries.

Now Lenzi must choose between her life with Zak and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. But time is running out: a malevolent spirit is out to destroy Lenzi, and he will kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon.

My Thoughts:

Lenzi can hear and feel the ghosts. She's trying to avoid them to the point of taking medicines to stop the hissing. Her boyfriend has been supportive to her eversince but even him couldn't understand and help her. It seems that only Alden, the mysterious boy he first saw at the cemetery is the only one that can truly help her. This created complications and ended up in a not so pretty situation with her boyfriend.

This book had been on my shelf for quite a while now and I'm glad that I finally knocked it off my shelf. It wasn't a super enjoyable read for me but over all it's still good. I just had too much expectations from the book so I was a bit disappointed when I ended up not loving it much. But as I said, this book is enjoyable and still good. The only thing that was off for me is the heroine--Lenzi Rose. From the beginning Lenzi didn't feel like a strong character for me. It was a little disappointing that I can't get myself to like her as much as I want to. For a reader like me, it is a great deal to be able to find myself connecting with the main characters and in this book sadly, it wasn't the case. When I finally meet Alden, it wasn't the super thrilling, extra-exciting kind of moment either. He is hot. Gorgeous. I get that. But the moment when they first meet didn't do it for me. It was ok, but not the memorable kind of thing for me. While I read the book I was hoping that Lenzi will come out of her shell and be the tough heroine I'm waiting to see. Alden is hot enough so I just need the female protagonist to compliment Alden's strong points. It didn't happen in this book and that disappoint me a little. I guess that's my only problem about this book. Nevertheless, the plot is intriguing, the pacing is ok, the setting is good. I still enjoyed it and I still liked it. Not a favorite book of mine but good enough.

My Rating:

Book Review: GRAFFITI MOON by Cath Crowley

Graffiti Moon
Author: Cat Crowley
Published: August 1st 2010
Publisher: Pan McMillan Australia
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Romance

Summary | Add to TBR

"Let me make it in time. Let me meet Shadow. The guy who paints in the dark. Paints birds trapped on brick walls and people lost in ghost forests. Paints guys with grass growing from their hearts and girls with buzzing lawn mowers."

It’s the end of Year 12. Lucy’s looking for Shadow, the graffiti artist everyone talks about.

His work is all over the city, but he is nowhere.

Ed, the last guy she wants to see at the moment, says he knows where to find him. He takes Lucy on an all-night search to places where Shadow’s thoughts about heartbreak and escape echo around the city walls.

But the one thing Lucy can’t see is the one thing that’s right before her eyes.

My Thoughts:

Mum says when wanting collides with getting, that's the moment of truth. I want to collide. I want to run right into Shadow and let the force spill our thoughts so we can pick each other up and pass each other back like piles of shiny stones.

There are books that are easy to read and love but very hard to rate. This book is one of those. It's the kind of book that I like to read again but not wanting to review. Not because it wasn't good, actually it's the opposite and I really enjoyed it. It's just hard to write your feelings about a book that is so full of emotions. Graffiti Moon isn't a perfect book. It doesn't have a perfect love story. It doesn't have a happily-ever-after just like in fairy tales but it doesn't have a sad ending either. This book made me hope for something good to happen, it made me look at the good things behind the bad, and the happy things behind the sad ones. So why is it hard to rate this book? Because even though it's a beautiful story, there are times that I wanted to skip some lines because I just wanted to know the next scene. The pacing isn't slow but maybe I was just too excited to see the what will happen next, I don't know. But why did I give it a 5? Simply because for me, this book doesn't deserve any less. I love the characters, I enjoyed the one-night setting of the story, I like how the complications gave thrill in the love story of Ed and Lucy. The supporting characters and the variation of their personalities even made this book a lot of fun to read. And though I find the place and the setting a little sad, it gives hope and dreams to the characters. This book isn't perfect, but it made me feel.

I guess love's kind of like a marshmallow in a microwave on high. After it explodes it's still a marshmallow. But, you know, now it's a complicated marshmallow.

Characters. I can't love a book if I hate the characters and I think that's one of the reason why I love Graffiti Moon. Meet Shadow and Poet. Think about these two boys--one painting graffiti arts around the city walls and the other writing poems about them. Their arts are one of the best in the city but no one knows their real names. Then there's Lucy who once broke a guy's nose because he grabbed her arse on their first date, a girl who doesn't date ever since, a girl who thinks she can only fall for a guy like Shadow--a guy who thinks art is cool. And then they meet and he's there right in front of her face. And sometimes you can't see what's in front of you when you're busy looking for something else. 

In the story, I also see true friendship. I see true friendships. I see real relationships. I think that made this book so appealing to me. There is no annoying character, and I really appreciate that. There are two lovers who can't seem to get rid of each other though one of them throw eggs to his girl's head, and the girl constantly calling him an idiot. There's Jazz, Lucy's psychic bestfriend who loves lollipops and fall for a guy who writes and recites poems and who can eat sausage rolls in 30 seconds. They are funny, smart, talented. They're so entertaining to read about.

If you treat glass right, it doesn't crack. If you know the properties, you can make things; the color of dusk and night and love. But you can't control people like that and I really, really wish you could. I want the world to be glass.

There is something in the story and the characters altogether that made this book whole. It's a remarkable story, a bittersweet romance, a compelling journey of two people (and some) towards something that is unknown yet hopeful at the same time. Graffiti Moon will be hard to forget and it will stay in my memory for a very long time. I love this book and I think art is cool.

“For a while, for as long as you're looking at it, that painting is the world and you get to be in it.”

My Rating:

Blog Tour | Book Review & Giveaway: BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS by P.T. Michelle

Welcome to the next stop in the Brightest Kind of Darkness Official Blog Tour! I welcome you to my site today as much as I am honored to be part of the awesome lineup of bloggers for this amazing tour. I want to thank my Starbooks friend Dani and RLR Tours for letting me become part of this tour. And thanks to the very talented author of Brightest Kind of Darkness and Lucid--Ms. P.T. Michelle.

As part of the tour, I did a book review of the first book in the series, plus there is a giveaway somewhere in this post. Be sure to enter. Good luck and enjoy!

Brightest Kind of Darkness (Brightest Kind of Darkness #1)

Author: P.T. Michelle

Published: June 27th 2011

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance

Summary:

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

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

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

 Add to TBR 

Read an excerpt

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

My Thoughts:

To every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

I didn't know what to expect when I started this book. All I know was that it is said to be good. Well... this book isn't just good. It's really good! The concept reminds me a bit about Final Destination since it deals with cheating death or fate. Have you seen the movies yet? Yeah? Well, I think this book is a bit similar to that, minus the gross and the super horrible deaths, and then add a big dose of romance. I know that lots of us are suckers for good love stories and this book has it! More than anything, Brightest Kind of Darkness deals with Fate with a capital F. It is a story about a girl named Inara who has this extraordinary gift of seeing her future through her dreams. But she sees only what will happen to her the next day after she dreamed of it. This actually gives advantage to her during exams and soccer games until she challenged fate and tried to change the outcome of one of her dreams. When she saw what would happen to her school when she dreamed about a bomb planted in one of the student's locker, she didn't hesitated to call 911 and report the attempted bombing. She knew that she has to do something about it to save the school and the students. But then, one attempt and everything changes. Still, Nara believes that she has this gift for a reason and so she tried to save everyone from those horrible things that were supposed to happen. Then she met Ethan and later she realized that her dreams began to disappear, and she suspects that maybe this mysterious loner has something to do with it.

Ethan. The swoon-worthy Ethan who--rumor says--was expelled from his last school by beating up a guy. But Nara strongly feels that Ethan is a good guy despite the bad rumors she heard at school. There is something about him and his past that he isn't telling anyone, and though Nara have doubts, she still feels that he's the only one she can trust. He's the only person who remained solid to her when her bestfriend couldn't even stand up for her. With their growing attraction to each other, their journey in defeating Fate begins and no one knows how things will end for both of them and for those people they mostly care about...

This book takes the reader to a journey that is both dark and thrilling. It kept me guessing the whole time! Sometimes it was frustrating when I cannot tell what's "really" happening, but then it's the reason why I was rooted in the first place. It made me even more excited to see what comes next and I found myself flipping the pages until I reached the end of the book. The mystery that surrounds Ethan is very suspenseful, and most of the times I just wanted to jump into the book and investigate it myself. The flow of the story is very well executed, and though I got irritated with Nara a lot, I'd say that the characters remained strong and effective thus making them likable. 

With it's gripping storyline, beautiful plot, and interesting characters, this is surely a great start for a remarkable series. It was an exciting read, something you shouldn't want to miss. 

My Rating:

And now for the GIVEAWAY, just enter in the Rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

P.T. Michelle’s Brightest Kind of Darkness

Tour Schedule

September 24th

Confessions of a Bookaholic – Review (Lucid)

Nothing Better Than a Book – Review (BKoD)

Jelly Loves Books – Review (BKoD)

Deea’s Journal – Review (Lucid)

Some Like it Paranormal – Featured Post (Random Trivia about the BKoD series)

Beauty & the Bookshelf – Excerpt

The Bookish Babe – Guest Post + Review (Lucid)

Better Read Than Dead – Review (BKoD)

Hope, Faith & Books – Review (BKoD)

I’m a Book Shark – Featured Post (All about Parkour)

September 25th

The Bookish Brunette – Featured Post (Ethan & Nara character interview)

A Buckeye Girl Reads – Review (BKoD)

I Read Indie – Review (Lucid)

Readers Live A Thousand Lives – Review (BKoD)

Vendea’s Dream World of Books – Review (BKoD)

Seeing Night Reviews – Review (Lucid)

Fictional Distraction – Review (Lucid)

Creative Reads – Review (BKoD)

K-Books – Review (Lucid)

A Book Vacation – Featured Post (Ravens)

Stories of My Life – Excerpt

Winter Haven Books - Review (Lucid)

September 26th

Mundie Moms – Review (BKoD)

I Heart YA Books – Review (Lucid)

Serenity’s Lovely Reads – Review (Lucid)

Book Nerd – Review (BKoD)

Simply Infatuated – Review (BKoD) + Excerpt

Books Over Boys – Featured Post (Playlist)

Step Into Fiction – Review (Lucid)

Nomalicious Reads – Review (Lucid)

Reader’s Antidote – Review (BKoD)

Primrose Musings – Featured Post (BKoD: The Movie)

Panda Reads – Review (BKoD)

September 27th

Kindle Fever – Review (Lucid)

Always YA at Heart – Review (Lucid)

A Dream Within A Dream – Review (BKoD & Lucid)

Rampant Readers – Review (BKoD)

Book Briefs – Featured Post (Top 10: Little known facts about Nara)

Michelle Chew Writes – Review (BKoD)

Into the Hall of Books – Review (Lucid)

Book Passion for Life – Excerpt

Rhi Reading – Featured Post (Building a World)

Shortie Says – Featured Post (How Dreams Can Inspire…)

Jean BookNerd – Review (Lucid)

September 28th

Refracted Light Book Reviews – Featured Post (The RL girls discuss Ethan & Drystan)

Once Upon a Twilight – Review (BKoD)

Vamps and Stuff – Review (BKoD)

Young Adult BookReviews – Review (Lucid)

Sparkles and Lightning – Review (Lucid)

Books With Bite – Featured Post (Top 10: Little known facts about Ethan)

Little Hyuts – Review (Lucid)

Books 4 Juliet – Review (BKoD)

Rants ‘N Scribbles – Review (BKoD)

The YA Sisterhood – Excerpt

Random Acts of Books – Review (BKoD)

Book Review: IMMORTAL BELOVED by Cate Tiernan

Immortal Beloved (Immortal Beloved #1)
Author: Cate Tiernan
Published: September 7th 2010
Publisher: Little, Brown Books
Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy

Summary | Add to TBR

Nastasya has spent the last century living as a spoiled, drugged-out party girl. She feels nothing and cares for no one. But when she witnesses her best friend, a Dark Immortal, torture a human, she realizes something's got to change. She seeks refuge at a rehab for wayward immortals, where she meets the gorgeous, undeniably sexy Reyn, who seems inexplicably linked to her past.

Nastasya finally begins to deal with life, and even feels safe--until the night she learns that someone wants her dead.

Cate Tiernan, author of the popular Sweep series, returns with an engaging story of a timeless struggle and inescapable romance, the first book in a stunning new fantasy trilogy.

My Thoughts:

...time itself was like a river, moving steadily forward, and you got to be in a new river every day, every hour. All my life I'd felt like--a lake. A lake where everything was contained, forever.

This book surprised me in many ways. I didn't know exactly what the story is about until past half-way through the book. It was nothing I've expected before I started this book but I'm glad that after what seems to be months or so, I finally abled to read it. The first half of the book was a bit slow for me and I've been waiting for something exciting to happen. I didn't get that until I reached the second half where it became hard for me to put down the book. Honestly, I don't like Nastasya at all, since she's so immature and selfish and spoiled-brat. She always rants about things around her and she seemed to see all the bad things and not the good things. It was irritating to hear her thoughts especially during the early part of the story. Thank goodness, her character developed (a little and slowly) as the story continue to unfold. There's also too little romance in this book, but I can see that there will be more in the next installments. I didn't get to see more of Reyn as much as I wanted but somehow their love-hate relationship is something that kept me rooted. I was so anxious to see the two let their emotions out and it was driving me crazy in a good, exciting way. I want to see them together but I think I still need to read the rest of the series to find out.

The very memories and experiences I'd tried to block out of my mind for the last four hundred years were sixteen feet away from me, in living color. It was like confronting the monster under my bed, only amped up a thousand times. There he was: the monster. My worst nightmare was wearing a dark green plaid flannel shirt and jeans and smelled like laundry detergent and fresh autumn air. 

The characters are good, though not all of them are very likable. Each of these characters has their own secrets and stories that are interesting enough. I love the teachers and the other wayward immortals that adds flavor to the story, except Nell who irritated me the whole time and who I want to send flying off across the Atlantic Ocean! 

Even though the plot was a little slow for me in the beginning, I appreciate how the second half was done. I liked how the story was written, including the flashbacks which made me shuddered most of the times. The story is really good and there is no doubt that it was written with depth. I enjoyed it and I recommend it to readers who love paranormal/fantasy stories.

My Rating:

Book Review: EVERY DAY by David Levithan

Every Day
Author: David Levithan
Published: August 28th 2012
Publisher: Knopf Books
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

Summary | Add to TBR

Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl. 

Every morning, A wakes in a different person’s body, a different person’s life. There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.

It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.

With his new novel, David Levithan has pushed himself to new creative heights. He has written a captivating story that will fascinate readers as they begin to comprehend the complexities of life and love in A’s world, as A and Rhiannon seek to discover if you can truly love someone who is destined to change every day.

My Thoughts:

Every relationship has a hard part in the beginning... It's not like a puzzle piece where there's an instant fit. With relationships, you have to shape the pieces on each end before they go perfectly together.

Every Day is an interesting book. The story is about A, who wakes up everyday in a different body of a sixteen year old, regardless of the gender. Sometimes he's a boy, sometimes she's a girl. A deals with the person's memories, family, and life for one day. And just when midnight strikes, A leaves the body and wakes up to a different one. 

Honestly, I find this book very intriguing. I haven't read anything like this before and it was truly a unique story that David Levithan created. No doubt that he's a talented writer. At first I didn't know where the story was heading and there are parts of the book that I find a little slow. Nevertheless, I can't deny the fact that the whole story is something that will stay in your mind for a very long time. It was remarkable. All the while I thought it was a 3 star book for me, but something in the last part made this book surprising and I've decided to give it a 4 star rating. I know from the beginning that this is a kind of book where I shouldn't expect a happy ending and I was right. The ending is sad and bittersweet,  and a little heartbreaking... I didn't expect to end it like that but for me it's really good. This may not appeal to everyone but I think it's a book worth reading. It's not a story that is full of rainbows and sunshines, but it's nice to read a book that makes you think and contemplate and feel something like sorrow and hope for the characters.

I wanted love to conquer all. But love can't conquer anything. It can't do anything on it's own. It relies on us to do the conquering on its behalf.

A isn't the typical fictional character we love and cheer for... I can't say I love him because I can't imagine what he really looks like and his personality isn't very well clear to me. There was no description whatsoever (as far as I remember) but I like him as a protagonist. On the other hand, I find it a little hard to connect with Rhiannon. She's the girl who captured A's heart, but I can't see what A sees in her. I see her as a girl who can't figure out what she wants and what she needs. Maybe it's just me, but I'm really not fond of characters who are not sure of themselves and her relationship with others. Though I felt that something is missing in the story, I really enjoyed it. David Levithan crafted a story that is unique, sad, heartbreaking, and remarkable. It will stay in your mind ( and in your heart) for a very long time just like what it did to mine.

When first love ends, most people eventually know there will be more to come. They are not through with love. Love is not through with them. It will never be the same as the first, but it will be better in different ways.

My Rating:

Book Review: LOCK AND KEY by Sarah Dessen

Lock and Key
Author: Sarah Dessen
Published: May 14th 2009 (1st published April 22, 2008)
Publisher: Speak
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Summary | Add to TBR

"Ruby, where is your mother?" Ruby knows that the game is up. For the past few months, she's been on her own in the yellow house, managing somehow, knowing that her mother will probably never return.That's how she comes to live with Cora, the sister she hasn't seen in ten years, and Cora's husband Jamie, whose down-to-earth demeanor makes it hard for Ruby to believe he founded the most popular networking Web site around. A luxurious house, fancy private school, a new wardrobe, the promise of college and a future—it's a dream come true. So why is Ruby such a reluctant Cinderella, wary and defensive? And why is Nate, the genial boy next door with some secrets of his own, unable to accept the help that Ruby is just learning to give?

My Thoughts:

It's never something huge that changes everything, but instead the tiniest of details, irrevocably tweaking the balance of the universe while you're busy focusing at the picture.

Not even once did Sarah Dessen disappoint me with her stories. Her books aren't always the happily-ever-after kind of thing, but there's always hope and they are open to possibilities. I love how she made me feel when I read her books and mostly it's a mixture of emotions. She always made me cry, if not, teary-eyed. She doesn't fail to touch my heart with her beautiful writing. She writes with depth and delicacy, and her characters are very relatable, her stories are very realistic. This may not be my most favorite of all her novels but I still won't hesitate to recommend it. If you love Sarah Dessen, I'm sure this book will somehow make its way into your heart too.

The best gifts come from the heart, not a store. 

Ruby lives with her mom in a small yellow apartment until her mom abandoned her and left her to fend for herself alone. Her sister who left and whom she hadn't seen for ten years came and took her under her wings. Ruby should have been grateful in the fact that she will now study in an exclusive school, wear branded clothes, has her own beautiful room in a huge, gorgeous house in an expensive neighborhood. But she doesn't feel like she belong, and she kept looking back and coming back to her old apartment, her old friends, her old life. 

You get what you give, but also what you're willing to take.

The best thing I liked about this book is the relationship of Ruby to her older sister Cora. It's the closest thing in my heart with regards to the story. It's very emotional to see how she and Cora struggles to catch up with the lost times. It's a good thing but also a sad one. I liked Ruby because she is so easy to relate with. I understand her wants to run away from her sister and from the new life she's offering her. I understand Cora, for all the things she and Ruby had went through all their lives. And I adore her for all the things that she's trying to do for Ruby and to save her relationship with her sister. It's so fun to read about Cora's husband Jamie, too. I think he's perfect as a husband, as a man. He is so kind and forgiving, loving and very supportive. He's the life in the story and so is Nate. I liked Nate for being a really good friend, what can you asked for? He will always be there for you if you need him, though he has his own secrets and problems to deal with. 

"'You swim' is a philosophy?" 

He shrugged. "Better than 'you sink,' right?"

I think that when it comes to Sarah Dessen's book, you don't need a lot of encouragement or endorsement to make. They're just that good. This book is another reminder why I love Sarah Dessen. But if there is one thing that I wish I can get more from this book, it's Nate. I'm not really satisfied with the ending because I don't get my perfect love story or something close to that. And since I don't want to spoil anything, I'd just rather say this: I wish there was more of Nate and Ruby in the end of the story. And I wish I could see a life of Ruby and Cora with their mom. It was an issue that I don't think was addressed perfectly in the book. Other than that, everything is good. From the characters, setting and plot... really good.

I guess there is nothing more for me to say other than this: if you love other Sarah Dessen's books, go get Lock and Key! If you haven't read any of them yet, I hope you'll try to check her books out. Maybe it's about time to read her stories. I'm sure that at least one of them will deeply touch your heart. I read different kinds of book genre depending on my mood, but whenever I finish a dystopian book or a paranormal/fantasy book, I always seek for a contemporary read afterwards. And most of the time I  come back to Sarah Dessen's books. It's like coming home and it's nice to feel something like that.

...we can't expect everybody to be there for us, all at once. So it's a lucky thing that really, all you need is someone.

My Rating:

Blog Tour | Review and Giveaway: DUST by Devon Ashley

I welcome you to the Official Book Blog Tour of DUST by Author Devon Ashley. This tour will last until September 21 with exciting giveaways along different tour stops. Be sure to visit the rest of the participating blogs. I also want to take this opportunity to thank the lovely author of DUST for making me a part of this wonderful tour. THANK YOU SO MUCH Miss Devon!

As part of the tour, I did a book review of Dust, and somewhere in this post is a giveaway, too! Be sure to enter! Good luck and enjoy the tour!

DUST (Of Dust and Darkness #1)
Author: Devon Ashley
Publication Date: September 18th 2012
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Summary | Add to TBR

4. The number of times my delicate wings have been broken and clamped behind my back. 

68. The number inked upon my skin, marking me the sixty-eighth pixie to be stolen.

87. The number of days I’ve been wrongfully imprisoned.

88. The first day the faeries will regret stealing me.

Healthy. Cheery. Vivacious. All traits Rosalie has before becoming enslaved by the faeries to make an endless supply of pixie dust. Now that Rosalie has been traumatized by slave labor, extreme desolate conditions and multiple deaths, this hardened pixie is anything but. When this rebellious teenager attempts an escape, she’s isolated in cramped quarters until she learns her place. Just as she begins to let go of all that hope, she finds an unlikely friend in Jack, the faerie assigned to guard her. Interspecies dating is forbidden in the fae world, so their growing attraction is unacceptable. And even if Jack can find a way to free her, they know the prison is the only place they can truly be together.

My Thoughts:

My name is Rosalie. I may be smaller, I may be weaker, but I was born free, should die free. You will not take this from me.

I don't normally judge a book by its cover, but the gorgeous look of DUST made me want to read it. I'm not a fan of faeries or pixies whatsoever, but the summary of this book was so enticing that at the moment I wanted to grab a copy and devour it.

DUST reminds me Tinkerbell and the Pixie Hallow. It reminds me of those cute and adorable Disney fairies which I loved and enjoyed watching. Though this book isn't entirely about fairy tales and happy endings, I think it's beautiful and inspiring.

Before the Spriggans captured Rosalie, she was living with her roommate Poppy in their Hollow. She was an adventurous, free-spirited little pixie who finds happiness and comfort in her humble little tree-house. Now, she's living in a pit away from home with fellow slaves who have broken wings and deteriorating bodies. They are forced to work long hours making magic dusts--deprived of food and most of all, freedom. This isn't that Rosalie wish for and she will do her best to get her freedom back and save the other pixies from forced labor and near death. But in her attempt to escape, she was caught and put back into prison for torture and breaking of her wings. She prepared herself for the worst, but what she didn't expect was to become friends with the suddenly nice, gorgeous faerie who is assigned to guard her. 

The story is interesting and might as well unique since I haven't read any stories like this one before. I'd say though, that the first half of the book was a little slow for me and I was fighting the urge to skip a few lines just to get to the part where the action and romance will happen. During the first part of the story, I felt mixture of emotions, most of them sadness and pity for those poor pixies that were deprived of their freedom and soon die without hope. It was a bit emotional for me too, especially when it comes to the characters I began to care for. I just think that it could have been more exciting if we could see more than just glimpses of the other characters in the story. I can see big potentials for some of those minor characters  and I'm looking forward to seeing them again in the next installments. 

Even though the first half was a little slow for me, I'd say that my favorite part happened in the second half of the book. When I pictured Jack descending from the top of the prison down to the hole where Rosalie was, I finally see myself smiling and dreaming for that love story that I was waiting for since the beginning of the book. It wasn't love at first sight but their chemistry has been obvious to me ever since. I know that some may find their romantic relationship a bit rushed but I still enjoy it and the fact that these two characters finally found each other made me giddy and excited. I know there are more to anticipate in their relationship and I want to see how everything will work out for the two of them. 

Some books know how to make their readers hanging by the end of the story, and this book did it BIG time! I wasn't expecting something like that. And I wasn't prepared for such a cliffhanger ending. This book surprised me! After the ending I was left open-mouthed. I didn't know how to react at first. It wasn't something I expected but I believe it's good that the readers have something more to anticipate in the coming sequel.

If you're looking for a fast and enjoyable read that will touch your imagination as well as your heart, read this book. It has a promising plot, interesting storyline, and likable characters. I enjoyed it and I'm looking forward for the next book.

My Rating:

About the Author

Devon Ashley has always had an active imagination, and found herself daydreaming her childhood away. She became interested in creative writing as a teenager and used writing as a stress-reliever - and a way to escape the real world for a few hours. It wasn't until a judge in a screenwriting competition suggested she turn her world into a fiction series that she actually began writing novels.

Find her at The Crazy Dream Blog | Dark Horse Books | Facebook | Goodreads

And now for the giveaway, below is the picture of what you can WIN. Isn't it awesome? Just enter in the Rafflecopter to join!

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Book Review: THE FOREVER GIRL by Rebecca Hamilton

The Forever Girl: Sophia's Journey (Forever Girl #1)
Author: Rebecca Hamilton
Published: January 26th 2012
Format: Kindle Edition

Summary | Add to TBR

Sophia's family has skeletons, but they aren't in their graves.

At twenty-two, practicing Wiccan Sophia Parsons is scratching out a living waiting tables in her Rocky Mountain hometown, a pariah after a string of unsolved murders with only one thing in common: her.

Sophia can imagine lots of ways to improve her life, but she'd settle for just getting rid of the buzzing noise in her head. When the spell she casts goes wrong, the static turns into voices. Her personal demons get company, and the newcomers are dangerous.

One of them is a man named Charles, who Sophia falls for despite her better judgment. He has connections that might help her unveil the mystery surrounding her ancestor's hanging, but she gets more than she bargains for when she finally decides to trust him. 

Survival in his world, she learns, means not asking questions and staying out of the immortal council's way. It's a line she crossed long ago. If Sophia wants to survive the council and save the people she loves, she must accept who she is, perform dark magic, and fight to the death for her freedom.

The Forever Girl is a full-length Paranormal Fantasy novel that will appeal to lovers of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, witches, vampires, ghosts, paranormal mystery, and paranormal horror.

My Thoughts:

"Faith, Sophia. Life isn't always going to give you the answers to the questions you're asking. Sometimes you have to make do with the answers you get."

Witches, vampires... you'll find them here in Rebecca Hamilton's novel "The Forever Girl: Sophia's Journey". When I started this book, I didn't know exactly what to expect. I didn't read any reviews prior to my reading and I was incredibly surprised by what it has to offer. Rebecca Hamilton is a talented writer. She knows how to draw her readers to her book, and she knows how to craft a story with depth.

If I was scared of anything, it was for him, not of him--scared of the pain he had to endure with every shift. And if I cared about that, I had to admit I cared about him. Somehow, some way, he was working his way into my heart.

The book tells a story about a girl who is being treated differently just because she practice Wiccan. Trying to live a normal life isn't even an option when she's hearing voices and seeing things she couldn't understand. Not until she cast a spell that seemed to have gone wrong and met a mysterious, gorgeous man she can't help falling in love with. Complications, risks and consequences... Sophia has no choice but to deal with them now, for real.

Amidst all the things that happened to Sophia, she remained strong. I think that's why I've grown to like her. She's witty, independent, and strong-willed. I easily connected with her and it felt like I've known her. Sophia has the qualities of a good protagonist and that made me appreciate this book even more. And I know, too, that everyone loves a gorgeous, hot male leading character. What can I say? Charles is definitely one type of a guy. He's funny and snarky and interesting to read about. It's been a while also since I've heard a vampire who can actually transform into animals. It used to fascinate me when I was little but as I grow up and read different versions of vampires and other-wordly creatures, this one ability of vampires were slowly forgotten or let's just say that vampires in books were created differently by different authors--they evolved. I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I find it fascinating to read something like that again. 

"You're not so interesting that I came to watch you sleep, darlin'."

Seriously, this book surprised me in many ways. The plot, the setting, the characters, the writing itself.  It was eerie and dark, touching and romantic at the same time. The mysteries surrounding Sophia will keep you engrossed in the book. The twist and the revelation are something to look forward to. The time it was revealed, the way the story suddenly took a spin... It was beautiful. It was really good.

It's a fast-paced book with an interesting plot and intriguing set of characters, beautifully written and surprisingly good. It will definitely appeal to those who love mysteries and paranormal story that has a bit of scare factor. Don't miss Sophia's Journey... it's worth the read.

"I'm not going to turn away from the only person I've ever trusted to accept me. Not for anything. You belong to me. If for a moment, then for eternity."

My Rating: