Saturday, September 29, 2012

Stacking the Shelves #12


Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews, that features books I've received/purchased/borrowed during the current week. 

Received for review:



































Bought:





































Free on Amazon:

































I got lots of great goodies this week! *claps* My review books look awesome this week and I even got quite a few freebies that were in my wishlist.  It's amazing when that happens:)  I finally finished Dirty Blood and had to get the rest of the series that is out!  *swoons* I'm a little in love with a werewolf named Wes.... Check the series out, it's great.  What did you all stack your shelves with this week?  It's time for show and tell!

Friday, September 28, 2012

Review of Shift by Elle Beauregard




















Description:

When Leah’s inability to control her new-found skill nearly sends her into a full blown shifter-tantrum in front of the entire high school, even she has to admit that the last week of school is no place for a new shape-shifter.
Keeping her new, unpredictable shape-shifting skills a secret is paramount, so Leah agrees to spend her summer vacation with her eccentric Aunt Cecelia, a fellow shifter who lives in the deserts outside Tubac, Arizona. Begrudgingly at first, Leah learns what it means to be a shifter, discovering that, in nature, her kind is not as rare as she first thought. While coming to terms with her new identity and learning to control her skills, she meets the son of her Aunt Cecelia’s life-long friends. But Drake King is different from other boys, and not just because he is a shifter. When cornered by a pack of wild dogs one night in the unfamiliar desert, Drake reveals an additional, extraordinary gift that saves Leah’s life.
Amidst rumors of rogue shifters who have broken their oath and revealed themselves to the public—threatening the tenuous new life Leah has just begun to love—she and Drake embark upon a journey that will redefine them as individuals and forever solidify them as a pair.


Review:

Hmm...this was a very creative read.  The shifter concept was unique and different from anything else I have read.  This story gets an A for creativity.

I really enjoyed the characters and it was obvious the author took a lot of time developing them.  I loved the relationship between Leah and Drake.  The attraction they faced was realistic for teenagers and I liked that the author didn't gloss over it.

I did find the story a little slow at times.  It lagged after her trip began and I was a little bored before the pace picked back up.  It happens in most stories, so I wasn't too disappointed.

There are two more books in the series, Recast and Drift.  I am interested to see what is in store for them.  I recommend this read for young adults and new adults as well.  I give this book three glittery stars!








Buy it here on Amazon

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Thursday, September 27, 2012

Review of The Dirty Blood Series by Heather Hildenbrand

I loved all three novels in this series so I thought I would do a combined review!  Enjoy:)

Description:
I killed a girl last night. I did it with my bare hands and an old piece of pipe I found lying next to the dumpster. But that’s not the part that got me. The part that scared me, the part I can’t seem to wrap my head around and still has me reeling, was that when she charged me, her body shifted – and then she was a wolf. All snapping teeth and extended claws. But by the time I stood over her lifeless body, she was a girl again. That’s about the time I went into shock… And that was the moment he showed up.

Now, all I can do is accept the truths that are staring me in the face. One, Werewolves do exist. And Two, I was born to kill them.







Review:
I wasn't so sure about this novel.  I love werewolves and the idea of killing them didn't appeal to me.  Against my better judgement and good reviews, I got it.  I am so glad that I did.

I loved Tara as a character.  She is thrown into a life she didn't know of, let alone want.  I admired her ability to persevere and not back down or walk away.  She scores cool points for that.

Wes....oh how sexy you are.  Yummy.  He is way too overprotective and moody with Tara.  While that may be, he has his moments and when he does...did I mention he is a werewolf?  Double yum.

The storyline was interesting and well structured.  I was glued to the pages, hoping and cheering them on.  I give this awesome werewolf read four stars for a great start to this series! 


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 Description:

Wood Point Academy is not at all what I expected. For one thing, it looks like a cross between military school and Buckingham Palace. Everyone stares, the floors shine so bright you can see your reflection in them from a mile away, and no one smiles. Unless they're kicking your butt in the process.

At least I've got plenty to take my mind off the fact that my psycho cousin, Miles De'Luca, keeps calling and declaring his love and promising to come for me just as soon as he's destroyed anyone standing in our way. Wes isn't going to like that idea. So between Miles, Wood Point's evil welcoming committee, and the drill sergeant hottie trainer from hell, I just keep asking myself, how did I end up here?

Cold Blood is Book 2 in the Dirty Blood series.



Review: 
I was disappointed when Tara leaves Wes and they decide they can't see each other for a semester.  Bummer and no fair.  I needed my Tara and Wes fix.
Then Tara arrives at a school for hunters and we are thrust into a whole other life for Tara.  She enters here on a journey of self discovery and learns she is the one unlikable person in school just because she's a dirty blood.
Not only do we have some Wes in our story, *sigh* but then we also have Alex competing for her attention.  Did I mention that I am fascinated with love triangles?  Oh it's good.
The plot to this one was just as good as the first.  I really felt and understood Tara in this book.  She was coming into her own and discovering a lot about herself.
I am thrilled that this book was even better than the first one.  I give this addition to the series five glittery stars for being awesome sauce!

Buy it here on Amazon 

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Description:              Hybrids.
If I had to choose one word to sum up all of my problems, this would be it.
Without hybrids, I wouldn’t have to watch my best friend slowly becoming a monster. Without hybrids, I could let go of the mentality “hunt or be hunted.” CHAS wouldn’t be scouring the Earth, intent on slaughtering and using Alex to do it. Without hybrids, I wouldn’t have to be on guard that losing my temper meant losing my shape. There would be no monster inside me, struggling to get out.

Then again, without hybrids, I wouldn’t have Wesley St. John.


Review:
I am speechless.  I have just finished this book and it was the ultimate cliffhanger!  How could you do that to me Heather?  LOL, but no joke this book was fascinating.

I love the fact that Wes is back in the picture as he is my favorite sexy werewolf.  He and Tara seem stronger and happier than before which I am really happy about.

Then there's George, oh and Alex.  It is no longer a triangle.  Why does Tara get all the guys?  Because she is awesome that's why.  Who wouldn't want a kick ass half were in their corner?

The plot to this book was great.  It was a gripping read all the way down to that very last page.  I loved how all the characters finally mesh together in this book.  The hybrid idea was a great plot based on what the original story started off about.  

At last, I am already ready for book four.  Heather, hurry up and write an amazing follow up!  I will be counting the days to find out what happened.  I give this creative book five glittery stars!  If you haven't yet, check out this series, it rocks:)

Buy it here on Amazon

Buy it here on Barnes and Noble




Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Wishlist Wednesday #13



Wishlist Wednesday is a book blog hop where we will post about one book per week that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added (it's entirely up to you), that we can't wait to get off the wishlist and onto our wonderful shelves.  This meme is hosted by Pen to Paper.


Book: Coveted

Author: Stephanie Nelson

Release:  November 2012


  


Ugh!  I can't wait for this book!  The cover looks pretty huh?  I wish there was a blurb, but since there isn't, I'll feed you the ones for books 1 and 2.   This is a fabulous adult paranormal romance series.  Stephanie Nelson is definitely one of my faves:)  

 

 

Gwen Sparks #1: Craved

WITCH FOUND DRAINED

Gwen Sparks just wants to live a peaceful life in the supernatural town of Flora, but from the moment she read about the first murdered witch, all hope of peace was abandoned. Possessing the rare ability to read the memories of dead, she volunteers to help catch the culprit behind the string of drained witches. Gwen has to team up with the one man who broke her heart, deal with a ghost who pulls her into the deathly realm at will, and a fight off the advances of sexy but frustrating vampire who not only craves what runs through her veins—he wants her heart.


Gwen Sparks #2: Deceived

The vampire drug, brew, nearly ruined Gwen Sparks’ life. Just when things started to get back to normal between her and Aiden, she is summoned by the North American Witches Council to their central city of Moon. A war is imminent between vampires and witches, and Gwen’s experiences with brew are being used to fuel the fire. She is about to discover just how powerful she is with the help of the ruggedly handsome Angel of Death and just how far some people will go to get what they want. Gwen is going to learn exactly what it means to be Deceived.

I know right?  Awesomesauce!  What did you wish for this Wednesday? 

 

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Review of Feathermore by Lucy Swing





















Description:

When the one thing you live for is taken from you, do you let it go or do you fall?
Jade, like any other student at Brushwood High, awaits the start of the school year with a certain measure of dread. Worse, she is being threatened by a voice that only she can hear—a voice that lurks at the edges of her awareness, haunting her and warning her of something unknown. She has always been able to count on her two best friends, Claire and Nate, but can she confide in them now? About this? Would they even believe her?
Life takes a turn for the better when she meets Avan, a darkly handsome new student who, somehow, seems to drown out the voice and make her feel at ease.
But Jade soon comes to realize that good things don’t last forever. When everything spirals out of control, she is shattered by something she never saw coming. Dazed and despairing, she must now overcome tragedy and embrace her true existence and a new but dangerous love. Will she be able to save herself and those she loves, before it’s too late? Or will she let the surrounding darkness consume her?

 
Review:

Holy hot sauce, this was a great book!  I read it from start to finish in one evening.  I couldn't put it down:)  The story was original and intriguing.
I really enjoyed the characters, Jade, Claire, Nate, Avan, even the mysterious Blake.  Lilith made a great antagonist in this story.  I wish I got to know more about Blake!  I am so curious!!!
The book unfolded as the story progressed and it felt like a natural transition.  Lucy Swing has a knack for weaving a great storyline.
The only thing I disliked in this book was all the angel talk at the end.  I got a little lost, but otherwise it was a great book.  I highly recommend this book to the YA/paranormal romance audience!  I give it five glittery stars. *yeah*



Monday, September 24, 2012

Review of Insider by Micalea Smeltzer




















Description:

Nothing will be the same for Sophie Beaumont. Now that she’s an Alpha she has to learn to be a leader. But unlike with Caeden, it doesn’t come naturally for her. Sophie doesn’t want to tell her friends how high to jump. She just wants to be normal.
Caeden and Sophie travel to Germany to meet with Sophie’s parents in the hopes of learning more about being mates and “why them?” But Sophie’s parents prove not to know much. Everything is just speculation. Then, the news of Peter Grimm’s murder sends the Williams’ pack into a tailspin. With Travis as Alpha what is he capable of? 

 

Review:

Have I mentioned how much I just love Micalea Smeltzer?  Her books are all great and Insider was too.  This series is fabulous.  

I was a little sad that there wasn't a lot of action in this book.  It was slower paced.  Never the less, the author's writing makes up for it.  The flow was still easy and the story made sense.

The romance between Sophie and Caden is so special.  I am amazed at their bond and how strong it is.  Caden= *swoon* I loved the romance aspect of this book and how their relationship progressed.

So I am still not sure what it is about that last chapter, but I am never a huge fan of switched P.O.V's.  Just beware, it is there in the end. 

I loved this sequel to Outsider and am already itching to get my hands on the third book.  I hope she writes fast..lol.  But seriously, I highly recommend this YA paranormal romance to all paranormal romance lovers.  The author pens a great book.  I give Insider five glittery stars for being amazing:) 


Buy it here on Amazon

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Sunday, September 23, 2012

Books in the news!!!

For your Information:


Embrace, Jessica Shirvington’s recently published opening novel in a young-adult book series hailed as a potential successor to Twilight, is headed to television. The CW has teamed with Steven Spielberg‘s Amblin Television to adapt the book as a drama series eyed for next season.

Source







Synopsis

A supernatural love story set in the South, "Beautiful Creatures" tells the tale of two star-crossed lovers: Ethan (Alden Ehrenreich), a young man longing to escape his small town, and Lena (Alice Englert), a mysterious new girl. Together, they uncover dark secrets about their respective families, their history and their town. Oscar(R) nominee Richard LaGravenese ("The Fisher King,""P.S. I Love You") directs from his adaptation of the first novel in the best-selling series by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. The film stars Alden Ehrenreich ("Tetro"), newcomer Alice Englert, Academy Award(R) winner Jeremy Irons ("Reversal of Fortune") Oscar(R) nominee Viola Davis ("The Help," "Doubt"), Emmy Rossum (TV's "Shameless") and Academy Award(R) winner Emma Thompson ("Howard's End," "Sense and Sensibility").



DreamWorks has picked up the movie rights to Leigh Bardugo’s bestseller Shadow and Bone, about an orphan girl whose ability to harness a rare magic makes her one of her nation’s most coveted warriors.
Holly Bario, DreamWorks’ president of production, will announce the acquisition later today, and although every studio would like to grab a fresh YA book series in the hope that it can be turned into the next Harry Potter-style film franchise, not every film has the actual producer of the Potter movies overseeing it.
Shadow and Bone would be the exception.

David Heyman, who in the late ’90s had the wise instinct to secure the film rights to J.K. Rowling’s wizard-verse, will produce Shadow and Bone, along with Jeffrey Clifford (Up in the Air), who is president of his Heymaker Films.
The book, which debuted in June, is set in a fantasy version of Russia called Ravka, which is bisected by a territory called the Shadow Fold, brimming with a breed of flying fiends who feast on human flesh. The leadership of Ravka studies children to find those who can wield the power of the elements — fire, wind, water — or can mystically heal, then recruits these powerful young ones into the elite monster-fighting squad known as The Grisha, while all others are conscripted into brutal life in the regular army.
Alina Starkov is one of the latter — a seeming nobody who serves as a mere cartographer until her best friend, Mal, is wounded in an attack, triggering her latent ability to harness the power of light. Not many others in Ravka can do that, and Alina becomes both a prize and a target due to her rare abilities.
It’s not clear yet who would direct the project, or adapt the screenplay, and since the deal just closed there’s not yet a firm timeline for getting the film into production and out into theaters.
Shadow and Bone is the first installment in Bardugo’s planned “Grisha Trilogy,” so DreamWorks could have a whole series on its hands if the film finds an audience.
Bardugo’s next book in the series will be called Siege and Storm, with a planned release date of June 2013, while an as-yet-untitled third installment is due out in summer 2014.

Source



The 75th annual Hunger Games are on!
Lionsgate announced Monday that The Hunger Games: Catching Fire has officially started production in and around Atlanta, Ga., with director Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend) at the helm, before moving to shoot in Hawaii. Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are, of course, reprising their respective roles as winning tributes Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark; Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Stanley Tucci, and Donald Sutherland are all also returning, with Philip Seymour Hoffman, Sam Claflin, Jeffrey Wright, Jena Malone, and Amanda Plummer joining the franchise. Shooting is set to conclude in December.
Intriguingly, the announcement was notable for what it didn’t mention as much as what it did. Several minor roles in the film have yet to be filled, including 11 of the tributes who make up the Quarter Quell, a.k.a the 75th annual Hunger Games. Lionsgate’s official synopsis for the film is also keeping the unique nature of the Quarter Quell close to the vest, although fans of the Suzanne Collins book already know it will be rather difficult for the studio to keep that plot point under wraps for much longer. And Lionsgate has yet to announce the final screenwriting credits for the film, although Slumdog Millionaire scribe Simon Beaufoy reportedly handed in a draft earlier this year.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire will hit theaters Nov. 22, 2013.

Source


 Stephanie Meyer's the Host hits theaters!


THE HOST is a riveting story about the survival of love and the human spirit in a time of war. Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy. Humans become hosts for these invaders, their minds taken over while their bodies remain intact. Most of humanity has succumbed. When Melanie (Saoirse Ronan), one of the few remaining "wild" humans, is captured, she is certain it is her end. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, was warned about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the glut of senses, the too-vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind. When outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off on a dangerous and uncertain search for the man they both love.
Release Date: Mar 29, 2013
Genre: Sci-Fi
Distributor: Open Road Films 

IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW:)


Sony is now ready to compete with Lionsgate's hold on young adults. The studio's genre arm has scheduled a release date for its adaptation of The Mortal Instruments — a little over a month after it had reportedly decided not to pursue the movie at all.
Back in 2010, we pegged The Mortal Instruments as the franchise that could ascend to the Twilight throne of 'tween movie franchises. But this February, Sony's Screen Gems pulled out of the production, leaving German production company (and Mortal Instruments rights holder) Constantin Film to find a new partner to produce the movie with. Turns out that "new" partner is the old partner, as Screen Gems and Constantin finalized a deal last week to adapt the first of Cassandra Clare's prolific young adult fantasy series, City of Bones.
Lily Collins is already set to play teenager Clary Fray, who learns that she is a descendent of the Shadowhunters, a clandestine order of half-angel warriors who protect humanity from demons, vampires, werewolves, and whatever else gets in the way. Harald Zwart (The Karate Kid) is set to direct, taking over from Scott Stewart (Priest), who left the project in February.
Box Office Mojo reports that The Mortal Instruments will arrive on August 23, 2013. Production will reportedly start in August, leaving Zwart a few months to cast the movie. With only Collins confirmed for the movie, that leaves plenty of roles available, so try casting the movie with our Mortal Instruments Cast-o-Rama.

Source

I'm sure I missed a ton, but this should tide you over on all the book gossip:)  Tell me, what did I miss?

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Stacking the Shelves #11


Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews, that features books I've received/purchased/borrowed during the current week. 

Received for review:















































Bought:






























































Free on Amazon: