Review: Poison Princess by Kresley Cole

Goodreads Summary:

She could save the world—or destroy it.

Sixteen year old Evangeline “Evie” Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they’re still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.

But she can’t do either alone.

With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can’t totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?

Who can Evie trust?

As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it’s not always clear who is on which side….

Publication Date: October 2, 2012

When I saw the description of this book, I was beyond excited. Give me Kresley Cole and a tarot themed apocalypse story any day of the week! Although I really loved this story, a few of the characters kept this from being a five star read for me.

The story gripped me from the get go. I dare anyone to read the first chapter and not want to read this novel. After the strong introduction, it dragged a little as the novel focused on Evie and her high school melodrama. However, after the first 100 pages, things picked up again as the Flash decimates most of the population (this isn't a spoiler since this is revealed in the first few pages).

The descriptions of Evie's visions were vivid and disturbing. It was chilling as she described the visions of the other Arcana. There was plenty of suspence too since there are several mysteries Evie must figure out as part of her destiny. Evie wasn't the most likable character. However, I think her weaknesses demonstated how much she grew throughout the book.

The main thing I hated about book was the love interest Jackson. I honestly had no idea what Evie saw in him. When he isn't insulting her, he's sipping from a flask and talking about himself as "ole Jack." In one scene, he actually yells at her for not putting out for him. Blech! Usually if I hate the love interest, it's a deal breaker and I end up disliking the book. However, the story was so strong, I still enjoyed it immensely.

The ending was so good! I can't wait to see what happens next. And who knows? Maybe Jackson will grow on me or a new love interest will pop up.

Rating: 4/5 Stars  

Why Book Covers Are So Important

Make sure to pop over to one of my blog tour stops to enter the New Revelations Kindle Giveaway. On Friday, my guest post about book covers appeared on Mom With a Kindle.

Think of your book cover like the initial impression given on a first date. On the date, do you want to appear sloppy and wear a haphazardly thrown together ensemble? Not if you want to see your date ever again. Book covers need to be attractive while also conveying what your novel is about.

 

Have you ever avoided a book because of the cover? Many readers will be turned off by amateurish looking covers. I personally have skipped a few books despite rave reviews because of covers. It’s presumptuous, but I figure the writing and plot will be as unappealing as the front image.

If you’re self-publishing and have no idea about cover creation, consider hiring someone. There are graphic artists who will design gorgeous covers for you from scratch. Give them some conceptual information to work from and be an active part of the process. Also, there are book marketing companies that have pre-made book cover designs for sale. Browse through their catalogs to see if you find any suitable to your novel.

 

If you’re comfortable working with photo editing software and want to do your book cover on a budget, then you can make one yourself. Before you go down this road, make sure that the images you use meet the specifications for book retailers. For instance, paperback covers made through Createspace require a minimum resolution of 300 dpi.

 

Start out with an image. Stock photography images can be purchased online or you can use your own personal photo library as a starting point. Choose an image that represents your book. Girls in pretty dresses are a popular choice, but don’t always relate to the content inside of the novel. Choose a couple of selections before making your final decision. Play around with fonts and colors when adding title and author name. Show a few mock-ups to friends and fellow writers to receive feedback on which one to settle on.

 

Don’t use a cover for your book unless you love it. With an attractive cover, you’ll gain readers who are interested in the novel based solely on the front image. This will build readership and ideally help increase your fanbase.     

 

New Revelations: Second Sight Book Two Soundtrack

Today I'm presenting the soundtrack to New Revelations: Second Sight Book Two. I'll include a couple of notes on a few of the songs that won't give away any spoilers. Readers of the book will definitely know the meaning behind the rest.

Home by Philip Philips-This would be the theme song for New Revelations. Not only do I love the song, but I adore the lyrics. I think they apply to Kate and her journey in the second novel.

Diamonds by Rihanna-This song reminds me of Jared and Kate's relationship at the start of the book.

Got You (Where I Want You) by The Flys-I couldn't pick a better song to represent Declan. Every time, he was in a scene with Kate this song would play in my head.

I Will Wait by Mumford & Sons-A beautiful song by this AMAZING band. Another one that reminds me of Kate and Jared.

Falling Slowly from the Once Soundtrack

Run by Snow Patrol-This song always makes me feel sad after hearing it. It would play during what I consider one of the most heartbreaking scenes in the novel.

Mr. Brightside by The Killers

Enjoy the Silence by Lacuna Coil

Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap

Stacking the Shelves and In My Mailbox #11

Holy moly, I got sent some great books this week! With a hurricane headed to the Northeast, I'm thinking I may end up having a lot of reading time! Don't forget to stop by my giveaway to win a new Kindle.

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and features books you've added to your shelves, both physical and virtual. In My Mailbox from the Story Siren is another meme that highlights the books that bloggers have bought or received for review.

Library:

Hidden by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

For Review:

Easy by Tammara Webber

Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight

On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

Friday Book Blog Hops #11

Happy Friday all! I'm participating in two of my favorite Friday book hops today. Make sure to stop by my New Revelations Book Tour Giveaway for a chance to win a brand new Kindle.

RULES

To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

1. (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
2. (Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say "hi" in your comments and that they are now following you.
5. If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn't have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
6. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
7. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
8. If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Q: What writing device or trick most irritates you when reading a book? For example, if an author employs an omnipotent narrator that is sometimes considered bad form.

That's definitely a toughie. I guess too many points of views in a novel drives me a little up the wall. Switching between two narrators is one thing, but head hopping an entire novel makes it hard for me to connect with the characters.

 

From the Crazy for Books blog:

"The Book Blogger Hop is much more than just a “follow for a follow”. It’s about making friends. There are literally thousands of book bloggers around the world. It can seem like we are blogging in a bubble, constantly checking the same blogs over and over again. The Hop is about taking the time to make a quality visit to another blog, getting to know the person who is writing that blog, and seeing if you really *want* to follow that person!"

Every week is a chance to visit a new blog or more, find connections, and learn about new books to read! The Friday Book Blogger hop was gone for a while, but it's back and better than ever. I missed it and I'm happy to participate as we rotate hosts! I'll be hosting this week and next!

1. How did you find out about book blogging and what made you decide to start one yourself?

 

When I first started my blog, it was mainly to promote my first book. I figured it would be a good way to talk about my writing and upcoming events for my novel. However, I started connecting with some other book blogs and found that I enjoyed talking about books as much as discussing my writing. I now try to do a mix of book reviews, memes, writing tips and promo posts. 

New Revelations Book Tour Interview at the Lovely Reads

Four days in and the book tour is going great! On Monday, I did a Meet and Greet at the Reading Addiction Blog Tours. They are hosting a giveaway for my tour. Enter here to win a $25 Amazon gift card. On Tuesday, the Lovely Reads let me stop by to talk about New Revelations: Second Sight Book Two. I printed a portion of the interview below. Yesterday, the Adventures Within posted a review of New Revelations (Five Stars!). Today, a guest post and promo stop will be appearing on What's On the Bookshelf. Make sure you stop by and comment on the blogs to enter my giveaway for an Amazon Kindle.

How would you say Kate has grown from book one to book two?

 

Kate was sort of a brat at the start of the first book. She’s unhappy about being psychic and feels it makes her an outcast in her town. At the end of the first book, she has an epiphany and realizes being psychic is a gift that allows her to help others. Kate’s growth continues into New Revelations, but her insistence on meddling in cases causes some problems in her personal relationships.

Now what can you tell us about Declan? He is a hot character, but hope he doesn't ruin Kate and Jared's relationship.

Declan is that guy your friends warn you about. He’s hot, arrogant and leaves behind a string of broken hearts. Kate feels there’s more to him than what’s on the surface and becomes friends with the psychic. Kate’s relationship with Jared becomes strained after Declan claims that she’s meant to be with him.

Can you give us readers a peak into New Revelations? Something that will make us want to get the book right away?

Kate meets another psychic and they decide to work together on several missing persons cases. This includes a five-year-old abducted from a shopping mall in Washington and a missing fitness instructor in her early twenties. Throughout the plot, I try to add in elements of suspense, humor and romance.

Are you planning on a third book? I hope so, the ending has a such a good cliff hanger.

Yes, the third book is completely outlined and I’m early on in the writing process. I’m hoping for an early 2013 release date. This may be overly ambitious, so don’t hold me to that.

Review: The Amber House by Kelly Moore, Tucker Reed and Larkin Reed

Goodreads Summary:

"I was sixteen the first time my grandmother died . . ."

Sarah Parsons has never seen Amber House, the grand Maryland estate that's been in her family for three centuries. She's never walked its hedge maze nor found its secret chambers; she's never glimpsed the shades that haunt it, nor hunted for lost diamonds in its walls.

But all of that is about to change. After her grandmother passes away, Sarah and her friend Jackson decide to search for the diamonds--and the house comes alive. She discovers that she can see visions of the house's past, like the eighteenth-century sea captain who hid the jewels, or the glamorous great-grandmother driven mad by grief. She grows closer to both Jackson and a young man named Richard Hathaway, whose family histories are each deeply entwined with her own. But when the visions start to threaten the person she holds most dear, Sarah must do everything she can to get to the bottom of the house's secrets, and stop the course of history before it is cemented forever.

Publication Date: October 1, 2012

What a perfect time of year to read this super creepy book! I haven’t read a good book about a spooky house in a long time and I really enjoyed this novel about the mysteries surrounding the Amber House.

The novel is told from the point of view of Sarah, a teenage girl who has just attended the funeral for her grandmother. While her mother sets out to sell the family home, she decides to throw Sarah a sweet sixteen birthday party. Sarah has other plans since she agrees to help Jackson, a boy who lives on the estate, to search for a set of lost diamonds that are said to be hidden within the house.

This book had something for everyone. There was romance (a hint of a love triangle between Sarah, Jackson and the senator’s son Richard). The mystery and suspense aspects were the strongest as Sarah tries to unravel the secrets of her ancestors. Also, there were paranormal touches as Sarah begins to see echoes (past memories) contained within the house.

 

The characterizations were expertly done. Sarah felt like a real teen girl and it was interesting to witness the growing conflict between her and her mother. Her little brother Sam was endearing and I loved every scene he had with Sarah. The love interests were mysterious, but I liked that quality about them.

When I saw the book had three authors (a mother and two daughters trio), I had some hesitation. Novels with too many hands in it can sometimes feel like the story doesn’t flow well. This is certainly not the case with the Amber House. It’s superbly written and the descriptions were eerily beautiful. One section in particular about a mother spider gave me the chills and I couldn’t get it out of my head.

 

I wasn’t expecting the novel to be part of a trilogy. It felt like a standalone, so I was surprised to find out there are planned sequels. I’m anxious to see what happens next!

Rating 5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book for review!

Tackling NaNoWriMo

With the exception of living under a rock, if you're a writer, you've likely heard of National Novel Writing Month or NaNoWriMo. I was hesitant at first to commit to something like this since the gist involves writing approximately 2,000 words a day for 30 days. The goal is to have 50,000 words to your name by the end of the month. 

My hesitation came from November being a CRAZY month for me. I'll be promoting New Revelations through my blog tour, writing freelance articles and juggling the boys' hectic schedules. However, the more excuses I came up with, I decided to say hell with it and do it anyway. I'll either have to ease up on my blogging schedule or trim back on my article writing.

I'm a little bit on the fence about what to write as part of NaNoWriMo. Do I write the next book in the Second Sight series? Or would this be a good opportunity to start the first book in a new series I've been toying around with in my head?

By the way, my username is woodtop255 if anyone would like to be my writing buddy =)

New Revelations Book Tour and Kindle Giveaway

Hey everyone! My book tour begins today for New Revelations: Second Sight Book Two. Stop by one of the blogs listed below to check out my interviews, guest posts and reviews for the book. To celebrate the tour and release of New Revelations, I'm hosting a giveaway for a Kindle Reader =) If you already have a Kindle, no worries. I'll send you an Amazon gift card instead of equal value. Enter now through November 24.

 

This Virtual Book Tour will be from October 22 - November 19

October 22 - Reading Addiction Blog Tours - Meet and Greet

October 23 - Lovely Reads - Interview/PROMO

October 24 - The Adventures Within - Review/Interview

October 25 - Whats On The Bookshelf? - Guest Post/PROMO

October 26 - Mom With a Kindle - Interview/GuestPost/PROMO

October 29 - Lov Liv Life Reviews - Guest Post/PROMO

October 30 - Kimmie's Bookshelf - Guest Post/PROMO

October 31 - The Other Shelf - Review

November 4 - Book Nerd - Review

November 5 - Words I Write Crazy - Review/Guest Post

November 6 - The Solitary Bookworm - Guest Post/PROMO

November 7 - Books Books, The Magical Fruit - Guest Post/PROMO

November 8 - Book Briefs - Review

November 9 - My Reading Addiction - Review

November 10 - Laurie's Thoughts - Guest Post/PROMO

November 12 - Taking It One Page at a Time - Review/Guest Post

November 13 - Kaisy Daisy's Blog - Review

November 14 - A Soul Unsung - Guest Post/PROMO

November 15 - Fiction Addiction - Interview/PROMO

November 16 - The Bookshelf - Guest Post/PROMO

November 17 - Read Between the Lines - Review/Interview

November 17 - For the Love of Film and Novels - Review/Guest Post

November 18 - Cozie Corner- Review

November 18 - Winged Reviews - Guest Post/PROMO

November 19 - Reader Girls - Review/Guest Post

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stacking the Shelves and In My Mailbox #10

I'm very excited because my son loves to come to the library with me now. Yay! Plus, since he's only five, he isn't yet embarrassed by his mom clearing out the shelves in the Teen Fiction section.

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and features books you've added to your shelves, both physical and virtual. In My Mailbox from the Story Siren is another meme that highlights the books that bloggers have bought or received for review.

Library:

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

For Review:

Uses for Boys by Erica Lorraine Scheidt

Feature and Follow Friday #10

Happy Friday all! Enjoy your weekend =)

RULES

To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

1. (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
2. (Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say "hi" in your comments and that they are now following you.
5. If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn't have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
6. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
7. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
8. If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Q: When you step out of your USUAL genre what do you like to read? Best books in that genre?

I read mostly YA and paranormal romance, but once in awhile I love to dive into a good historical romance. A few favorite authors from that genre include Catherine Coulter and Jude Devereaux. And I recently went through a major Philippa Gregory phase.

Review: Breathe by Sarah Crossan

Goodreads Summary:

Inhale. Exhale.
Breathe.
Breathe.
Breathe . . .
The world is dead.
The survivors live under the protection of Breathe, the corporation that found a way to manufacture oxygen-rich air.

Alina
has been stealing for a long time. She's a little jittery, but not terrified. All she knows is that she's never been caught before. If she's careful, it'll be easy. If she's careful.

Quinn
should be worried about Alina and a bit afraid for himself, too, but even though this is dangerous, it's also the most interesting thing to happen to him in ages. It isn't every day that the girl of your dreams asks you to rescue her.

Bea
wants to tell him that none of this is fair; they'd planned a trip together, the two of them, and she'd hoped he'd discover her out here, not another girl.

And as they walk into the Outlands with two days' worth of oxygen in their tanks, everything they believe will be shattered. Will they be able to make it back? Will they want to?

Publication Date: October 2, 2012

Breathe was literally like a breath of fresh air. I’ve felt like I’ve been in a bit of a reading rut lately and this novel inspired me again. I loved everything about it: the characters, suspense and the romance.

I was intrigued by the concept behind the book. People must now rely on a corporation for their supply of oxygen. The rest of the world is a wasteland and populations now exist inside domes. Although not a huge amount of background was given on what led to this occurrence, the ideas were compelling. I loved the conspiracy angle of the plot too and the book had a few twists I didn’t see coming.

Each chapter is told in alternating point of views—switching between Bea, Quinn and Alina. This can be off-putting in some novels, but it worked in Breathe. I fell in love with these characters. I admired Alina’s strength, Bea’s compassion and Quinn’s resilience. To say I loved the romance is an understatement. It was sweet and slow-building.

The pacing was well done and the book had plenty of gripping scenes. I loved that there was no clear heroes and villains either. Although the Resistance is trying to return the world to its former state, their methods aren’t always savory. The climax was gut-wrenching and a perfect setup for the next book.

I can’t wait for the sequel! The author is definitely one to watch.

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book for review!  

Waiting on Wednesday #1

I'm trying a new meme out this week. Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine and highlights an upcoming release we're eagerly awaiting.

Opal (Lux #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publication Date: December 11, 2012

Goodreads Summary:
No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well... There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different... And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger... and they know it.

If you're a fan of this series, then you're probably like me and can't wait to get your Daemon Black fix. What books are you waiting on?

Review: The Gathering Darkness by Lisa Collicutt

Goodreads Summary:

They say "third time's the charm", and for sixteen-year-old Brooke Day, they had better be right. She’s been here before, twice in fact, and an evil demon-witch wants her dead a third time.

When Brooke is forced to leave Boston for the small town of Deadwich, she thinks her life is over. Before long, her new friends start acting strange—downright evil. But worse than that, nightmares she’s had her whole life become reality.

Enter Marcus Knight; popular, hot, and the only person Brooke can trust. Not to mention, they’ve shared the same nightmares.

With the discovery of an ancient Celtic amulet, Brooke and Marcus unravel the secrets of her past, which reveals the key to her future.

As the equinox approaches:

Darkness and light merge for the first time in a century.

Soul-mates reunite.

Magic awakens.

Publication Date: September 22, 2012

This was a sweet love story with plenty of suspense. I enjoyed the mysteries surrounding the witches of Deadwich and had to leave the lights on while reading some of the scarier scenes.

With Halloween around the corner, I was looking forward to reading a creepy book. This was where The Gathering Darkness really delivered. Brooke's nightmares along with the portions on Skull Island and the Inn were very nerve-wracking. The author has a talent for writing vivid descriptions that force you to keep reading.

As far as characters, I found it hard to root for Brooke. At times, she came across as being whiny and it sort of irked me. That being said, it was nice to see a female lead that's not your typical Mary Sue. Brooke felt like a realistic teenager with all of the awkwardness that comes along with that age.

Marcus was definitely a swoon worthy male hero. He was handsome and introverted which made him mysterious. He was very sweet in the way he cared about Brooke and wanted to protect her. 

The only other small criticism I would make is that some parts would've benefited from more showing instead of telling. It didn't take away from the story though and I was still drawn into the book enough that I finished the novel in a couple of sittings.

A wonderful debut that makes me look forward to future works from the author.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy for review!     

First Rule Publicity Blog Tour Stop: Kingdom by Anderson O'Donnell

Synopsis:

In a secret laboratory hidden under the desert, a covert bioengineering project--codename "Exodus"--has discovered the gene responsible for the human soul.

Somewhere in the neon sprawl outside the nation's collapsing economic core, a group of renegade monks are on the verge of uncovering a secret that has eluded mankind for centuries.

In a glittering tower high above the urban decay, an ascendant U.S. Senator is found dead--an apparent, yet inexplicable, suicide.

And in the streets below, a young man races through an ultra modern metropolis on the verge of a violent revolution....closing in on the terrible truth behind Exodus--and one man's dark vision for the future of mankind.

Welcome to Tiber City.

Paperback link - http://bit.ly/AmazonLinkPB
Kindle link - http://bit.ly/KingdomEB

My Review:

This was an interesting read for me. The plot was thought-provoking and the sad thing was I could easily imagine the future painted in Kingdom’s dystopian setting. Kingdom is a hard book to categorize, but I would recommend the novel to fans of thrillers and science fiction.

 What I liked the most about the book was the writing style. The author’s descriptions were dark and gritty. I actually felt myself inwardly cringing at some of the visuals painted over the course of the story. Sometimes I felt the story got bogged down with the amount of descriptions. It had the effect of slowing down the plot and the book could’ve benefit from some selective trimming at parts.

The alternating points of view made it hard to connect with the characters at first. However, by mid-point I felt myself get invested in the story. I was impressed with how each character had a distinct voice, something authors can find it difficult to do successfully.

The concepts explored in the novel were unique and something I’ve never read about before. The idea of discovering the origin of a person’s soul was of particular interest to me and I was more pulled into fallen geneticist Campbell’s plotline than the story of troubled heir Dylan’s.

Thanks to First Rule Publicity for providing me with a copy of this novel for review!

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for review from First Rule Publicity from the author as part of a virtual book tour. I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

About the Author
Anderson O’Donnell presents a biopunk, dystopian noir-esque thriller in this amazing read, KINGDOM. Most people are familiar with the term “cyberpunk,” but “biopunk” is harder to nail down. In many ways, biopunk is similar to the cyberpunk genre, and shares many of the same themes and archetypes: the dystopian future; the overreliance on technology; mega-corporations; a constant and overwhelming flow of data; the anti-hero—these elements are integral parts of both genres.

Both genres are fueled, to some extent, by the sense of rebellion and desire for individual freedom expressed by the original punk rock revolution. But the main difference—the most important difference—is that while cyberpunk focuses on invasive technological modification of the human body, biopunk explores the dehumanizing consequences of biological modification, of re-arranging our DNA in the pursuit of perfection.

Anderson lives in Connecticut with his wife and 2 sons. Anderson himself deems Kingdom as “a thrill-a-minute, bio-punk myth that manages to wrestle with the most pressing issues of the new millennium. O’Donnell has crafted a kickass novel of tomorrow night, when the big party gets raided by the monsters we’ve been building for the last half-century.”

His debut novel, Kingdom, a dystopian, biopunk thriller, is now available in paperback and ebook format. Kingdom is the first part of the Tiber City Trilogy. Look for part two, Exile, in the summer of 2013.

Stacking the Shelves and In My Mailbox-October 13

A good mix of books for the week! Can't wait to get to them all =)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and features books you've added to your shelves, both physical and virtual. In My Mailbox from the Story Siren is another meme that highlights the books that bloggers have bought or received for review.

Bought:

Promised by Caragh M. O'Briend

Toxic Part One by Addison Moore

For Review:

The Trouble With Fate by Leigh Evans

Friday Book Blog Hops-October 12, 2012

Happy Friday all! Have an awesome weekend!

RULES

To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

1. (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
2. (Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say "hi" in your comments and that they are now following you.
5. If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn't have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
6. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
7. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
8. If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Q: What book do you think would make a great Halloween movie? Please explain in graphic detail of goriness...

 

I actually just read a novel called The Gathering Darkness by Lisa Collicutt. There's some really freaky parts where the main characters spontaneously starts bleeding. Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard with the flesh eating zombies would be another good one.

 

What to Do:
1. Post on your blog answering this question:

With Autumn upon us and Halloween drawing near, what books remind you of fall? What ones do you enjoy reading that are about autumn?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name, Genre you review, and direct link to your post answering this week’s question; failure to do so will result in removal of your link).
3. Visit other blogs in the list, spending quality time getting to know the people you are visiting. Don’t just visit the post with the question, but click around and read some of the blogger’s other content, too! This Hop isn’t about the number of people you can visit, but the quality of each visit. Readers – find a new blog to read by clicking through the links in the list!

Blogger Question:

With Autumn upon us and Halloween drawing near, what books remind you of fall? What ones do you enjoy reading that are about autumn?

Scary books for sure! Stephen King novels always freak me out and remind me of this time of year. Vampire themed books are another favorite for me to read and sometimes I'll re-read Bram Stoker's Dracula.

First Visions 99 Cents Book Sale and Exciting Giveaway Announcement

To celebrate the release of New Revelations: Second Sight Book Two, First Visions will be on sale for only 99 cents on Amazon.com through Friday October 12. Pick up your copy here.

I'm also very excited to announce a special month long giveaway I'll be hosting to coincide with my blog tour for New Revelations. I'll be giving away a brand new Amazon Kindle as part of the event =) Check back on October 22 (the start of my blog tour) to enter.



Thanks to everyone for their support!

Review: Through to You by Emily Hainsworth

Goodreads Summary:

Camden Pike has been grief-stricken since his girlfriend, Viv, died. Viv was the last good thing in his life: helping him rebuild his identity after a career-ending football injury, picking up the pieces when his home life shattered, and healing his pain long after the meds wore off. And now, he’d give anything for one more glimpse of her. But when Cam makes a visit to the site of Viv’s deadly car accident, he sees some kind of apparition. And it isn’t Viv.

The apparition’s name is Nina, and she’s not a ghost. She’s a girl from a parallel world, and in this world, Viv is still alive. Cam can’t believe his wildest dreams have come true. All he can focus on is getting his girlfriend back, no matter the cost. But things are different in this other world: Viv and Cam have both made very different choices, things between them have changed in unexpected ways, and Viv isn’t the same girl he remembers. Nina is keeping some dangerous secrets, too, and the window between the worlds is shrinking every day. As Cam comes to terms with who this Viv has become and the part Nina played in his parallel story, he’s forced to choose—stay with Viv or let her go—before the window closes between them once and for all.

Publication Date: October 2, 2012

Despite a couple of things that bothered me about Through to You, I really liked many of the story concepts in the novel. With a mix of romance, science fiction and mystery, I found myself drawn into this character driven book.

Camden is introduced as a grief-stricken teen that loses his girlfriend in a tragic car accident. The first half of the book is pretty slow moving as the reader is given example after example of how moody and sullen Camden has become in the months following Viv’s death. I felt the book had potential so I’m glad I stuck it out to the middle. This is where things pick up.

The parallel universe was a cool idea and I liked how the author had the characters jump between worlds. It was interesting to see the subtle differences between the worlds and how much they affected the lives of the characters. The book was very light on the science-fiction aspects so the parallel universe angle was never really fully explored.

Camden was hard to like. I found myself screaming at the page at times and wanting him to wake up. Things that were very obvious to the reader took a long time for Camden to realize. However, by the end of the novel, he redeemed himself enough that I hoped for a happy ending for him. He had so many crappy things happen to him—you couldn’t help but sympathize with him.

There were a few tear-jerking parts, but I felt like the book had a hopeful ending. This was a stand alone debut and I’m curious to see future works from the author.   

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this novel for review!

Release Day for New Revelations: Second Sight Book Two!

New Revelations: Second Sight Book Two is now on Amazon.com! The Kindle version is only available right now with the paperbacks hopefully going on sale later this week. Here's the Amazon.com link: New Revelations: Second Sight Book Two.

To celebrate the release, First Visions: Second Sight Book One will be free today! You can pick up a copy here.

I'll be announcing information soon about my upcoming blog tour and planning some super giveaways. Thanks to everyone for their support! Love you all!

Stacking the Shelves and In My Mailbox-October 6

Slower book week (which is definitely a good thing), but I picked up a couple of novels that I'm very excited about.
Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and features books you've added to your shelves, both physical and virtual. In My Mailbox from the Story Siren is another meme that highlights the books that bloggers have bought or received for review.

Bought:

The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson (Fire and Thorns #2)

Poison Princess (The Arcana Chronicles) by Kresley Cole

For Review:

Kingdom by Anderson O'Donnell

Feature and Follow Friday

Enjoy the weekend everyone! Heading to a haunted asylum tomorrow so hopefully this won't be the last you'll be hearing from me lol.

RULES

To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

1. (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
2. (Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say "hi" in your comments and that they are now following you.
5. If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn't have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
6. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
7. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
8. If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Q: What do you hope to accomplish with your blog? Is it to one day become an author yourself, just for fun, maybe get some online attention, or maybe something very different?

I originally started my blog to promote my work as an author. Although I still want to get the word out about my novels, my other goal is to meet other writers and readers. I love talking about books and it's fun to write reviews and gush about my favorite novels.  

Review: The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron

Goodreads Summary:

A spine-tingling tale of steampunk and spies, intrigue and heart-racing romance!

When Katharine Tulman's inheritance is called into question by the rumor that her eccentric uncle is squandering away the family fortune, she is sent to his estate to have him committed to an asylum. But instead of a lunatic, Katharine discovers a genius inventor with his own set of rules, who employs a village of nine hundred people rescued from the workhouses of London.

Katharine is now torn between protecting her own inheritance and preserving the peculiar community she grows to care for deeply. And her choices are made even more complicated by a handsome apprentice, a secretive student, and fears for her own sanity.

As the mysteries of the estate begin to unravel, it is clear that not only is her uncle's world at stake, but also the state of England as Katharine knows it. With twists and turns at every corner, this heart-racing adventure will captivate readers with its intrigue, thrills, and romance.

Publication Date: September 1, 2012

The Dark Unwinding is one of my favorite character driven novels of the year. I loved the world that Katharine’s Uncle Tully created and enjoyed the growth we saw in Katharine during her time amongst the villagers. I loved the gothic feel blended with the steampunk elements.

Katharine is pretty unlikable at the book’s start. It may turn off a few readers. However, I enjoy books that feature protagonists that undergo a change for the better. I felt her flaws made her relatable and made her interactions with the wary villagers cringe-worthy to witness.

Uncle Tully is probably one of the most memorable characters I’ve come across in a long time. I loved the author’s depiction of an autistic man during that time period. It was heart-breaking to think of how he could be sent away for his differences. Each time he interacted with his niece, I felt a little choked up.

Lane is a good romantic lead. He’s protective of Uncle Tully and he had plenty of mystery surrounding him. The romance was secondary in the novel, but there were a couple of very sweet scenes.

One of my complaints was that the mystery element of the plot was fairly predictable. A twist I didn’t see coming would’ve been a pleasant surprise. The ending was open-ended which leads me to believe a sequel is in the works.

This was a quick and intriguing read that kept me up until the wee hours to finish. I’m excited to see what else will be released in the future by this amazing debut author.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book for review!

First Visions Is Free Today and Other Notable Dates

First Visions: Second Sight Book One will be free today! Visit the novel's Amazon.com page to download the book to your Kindle.

The next free day will coincide with the release of New Revelations: Second Sight Book Two. I'll post a reminder on the release day.

I'm also hosting my first ever tour. On October 15, stop by for my review of Anderson O'Donnell's Kingdom. The blog tour is through First Rule Publicity.

Review: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of theShiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.

Publication Date: September 18, 2012

This book was definitely a huge WOW one for me. I absolutely loved it! It was a pleasant surprise in so many ways that I was literally crushed when it ended. The only other book I’ve read by Maggie Stiefvater is the beginning of Lament, which I just couldn’t get into. I’m a huge fan of the author now and I’ll have to check out the Wolves of Mercy Falls while waiting for the sequel to The Raven Boys.

What I liked the most about the book was the characterizations. Although it took me a little longer to fall in love with Blue, I instantly started crushing on the “Raven Boys.” I usually find YA males are usually made up of one of two formulas. Either they’re Prince Charming or the Sexy Bad Boy. It was nice to see how layered the boys were and how complicated their bond was with one another. Adam was my favorite followed by Gansey and Ronan. Blue and her family were interesting and I loved the teen’s unique relationships with the different members of her psychic family.

The plot was magical. I enjoyed learning about the ley line and the mystery surrounding the fallen king Glendower. The novel particularly took off when Blue came together with the boys to uncover the resting place of Glendower. I liked her interactions with Adam and Gansey and I loved how she brought one the softer sides of each boy. The twist I saw coming, but I loved what it added to the story.

SPOILERS

My one complaint is that I’m a little nervous about where the series is heading as far as the love aspect. There wasn’t much romance in the book besides some longing touches between Adam and Blue. I’m buying them as more of a couple although the book hinted at Gansey being her true love. In my opinion Gansey already has a true love: Glendower.

The ending was maddening too. I didn’t like how Gansey reacted to Adam awakening the line and Ronan’s last line had me puzzled for hours.

END OF SPOILERS

The Raven Boys is a five star read for me. I’ll be counting down the days until the sequel. There were so many mysteries left unresolved that it’s going to be torture to wait for the next installment.

Rating: 5/5 Stars 

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of The Raven Boys for review!