Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Shon's August Reading Wrap Up & Book Haul

Hello Bookworms!  Another month has come to an end and that means it's time for my monthly wrap up!  I read one physical book and four ebooks this month.


August Wrap Up


Broken Prince (The Royals #2) by Erin Watt 


These Royals will ruin you…

From wharf fights and school brawls to crumbling lives inside glittery mansions, one guy tries to save himself.

Reed Royal has it all—looks, status, money. The girls at his elite prep school line up to date him, the guys want to be him, but Reed never gave a damn about anyone but his family until Ella Harper walked into his life.

What started off as burning resentment and the need to make his father’s new ward suffer turned into something else entirely—keep Ella close. Keep Ella safe. But when one foolish mistake drives her out of Reed’s arms and brings chaos to the Royal household, Reed’s entire world begins to fall apart around him.

Ella doesn’t want him anymore. She says they’ll only destroy each other.

She might be right.

Secrets. Betrayal. Enemies. It’s like nothing Reed has ever dealt with before, and if he’s going to win back his princess, he’ll need to prove himself Royally worthy. 


I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars.  See our review here


Black Diamond (Stark Springs Academy #1) by Ali Dean

It’s not a place for the weak.
No one here tolerates wimps.
If you can’t handle it, leave.
Welcome to Stark Springs, Colorado, home to the most talented young athletes in the world.
When Roxie Slade snaps into a pair of skis, there’s no one on Sugarville Mountain in Vermont who can keep up with her. Not even the boys. Still, Roxie was shocked when she received a scholarship to Stark Springs Academy, a boarding school that churns out Olympians in each graduating class. Entering as a high school junior, Roxie can’t wait to learn from renowned coaches and train with the fastest ski racers from all over the globe. But upon arrival, Roxie discovers that Stark Springs lives under its own set of rules, and it appears one boy plays dictator.
Ryker Black is not friendly and Roxie cannot fathom why everyone wants to be his friend. Sure, he’s gorgeous and rides a snowboard like it’s his fifth limb, but he’s cold, ruthless, and holds way too much power over the Stark Springs population. Roxie won’t put up with it. She’s here to train, and she doesn’t care about impressing anyone off the slopes. The only problem? Ryker Black doesn’t permit defiance. Not without consequences.


I gave this book 2 out of 5 stars.  Review coming soon.

Double Black (Stark Springs Academy #2) by Ali Dean

* This is the second book in the Stark Springs Academy series, which should be read in order. You should read Black Diamond before reading the description below.*
If you don’t like the rules, make new ones.
If you want to be the best, show no fear.
And if Ryker Black is your boyfriend, you better be ready to fight. On and off the slopes.
Overnight, Roxie Slade went from an outsider at Stark Springs Academy, to a ruler at the prestigious boarding school for elite winter athletes. But Roxie didn’t know if she wanted that power, and she definitely wasn’t sure about sharing it with Ryker Black, who came from a different world and lived by a different set of morals. Ryker may have decided to trust her, but could she trust him?
Roxie only cared about her rising position in the ski rankings, but now her status at Stark and within the winter sports community is skyrocketing, whether she asked for it or not. Can she handle both while attempting a real relationship with Ryker Black? Roxie once believed that her sole purpose was proving herself on the slopes, but she’s done that once, and she’s far from satisfied. She has so much more to prove. 


I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars.  Review coming soon.

Raw (RAW Family #1) by Belle Aurora


***Author Note: This is not a love story. This is a story of love gone wrong.***

Growing up the way I did, you’d think I’d be more screwed up than what I actually am.

Soon as I turned sixteen, I left that bump in the road I called home and took my chances on the street.

Best decision I ever made.

Now, at the age of twenty six, I’m educated, employed and damn good at my job.

My friends have become my family. Like me, they know what it’s like to grow up unloved.

But the saying is true.

The world makes way for those who know where they are going.

That’s me.

I know where I’m going and I’ll get there eventually. On my own terms and at my own pace.

But then there’s him.

I feel his eyes on me. I see him hiding in plain sight. He watches me.

He makes me feel.

It’s unconventional.

But it’s real.

I’m sure you’re wondering how a person falls in love with their stalker.

So am I.

This isn’t a story.

This is my life.


I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars.  See full review here.  



Flicker (Flicker #1) by Melanie Hooyenga 

Biz is a perfectly normal teenager except for one minor detail: she uses sunlight to jump back to yesterday. She takes advantage of flickering by retaking Trig tests, fixing fights with her boyfriend (or reliving the making up), and repeating pretty much anything that could be done better. Trouble is, flickering makes her head explode from the inside. Or feel like it anyway.

No one knows about her freakish ability and she’s content to keep it that way. Guys don’t stick around because she refuses to let them in, but all that changes when Cameron, her best friend, starts looking oh-so-yummy. Suddenly she’s noticing his biceps, his smile, and the cute way his eyes crinkle when he—gah! This is her friend!

But the butterflies come to a screeching halt when little girls start disappearing, then take a nosedive when the police link the kidnappings to Cameron’s sister, who vanished years earlier. As the police grasp for clues, Biz photographs a strange man lurking in the shadows and realizes that her flickering can help more than just herself. 


I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.  See full review here.



August Book Haul


The Impostor Queen (The Impostor Queen #1) by Sarah Fine

Sixteen-year-old Elli was only a child when the Elders of Kupari chose her to succeed the Valtia, the queen who wields infinitely powerful ice and fire magic in service of her people. The only life Elli has known has been in the temple, surrounded by luxury, tutored by magic-wielding priests, preparing for the day when the queen perishes—and the ice and fire find a new home in Elli, who is prophesied to be the most powerful Valtia to ever rule.

But when the queen dies defending the kingdom from invading warriors, the magic doesn’t enter Elli. It’s nowhere to be found.

Disgraced, Elli flees to the outlands, home of banished criminals—some who would love to see the temple burn with all its priests inside. As she finds her footing in this new world, Elli uncovers devastating new information about the Kupari magic, those who wield it, and the prophecy that foretold her destiny. Torn between her love for her people and her growing loyalty to the banished, Elli struggles to understand the true role she was meant to play. But as war looms, she must choose the right side before the kingdom and its magic are completely destroyed.


Snow Like Ashes (Snow Like Ashes #1) by Sara Raasch

A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making.

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.


Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts One and Two (Harry Potter #8) by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, Jack Thorne

Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, a new play by Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The play will receive its world premiere in London’s West End on July 30, 2016.

It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.


While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Blog Tour: Awaken by G.R. Thomas + Giveaway





Awaken by G.R. Thomas
Published November 11th 2015 by Amazon Create Space
Pages: 364
ISBN: 0994506902
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal
Source: Review Copy

Add to Goodreads

Available for Purchase: Amazon // Barnes & Noble



SOME PEOPLE AREN'T DESTINED TO BE ORDINARY.
With a special gift held close to her heart, it was always going to be hard for Sophia Woodville to live an ordinary life.
As a 20 year old nursing grad, she thought she had her future all sorted.
However, destiny was about to intervene.
Her secret was not so secret. The gift she possessed was just a hint of something far beyond her wildest imagination.
Sophia will be pulled, kicking and screaming, into an unseen, ancient world that challenges all that she thought to be true of herself, her family and the origins of humanity.
Original sin, forbidden love and her life in constant danger.
Will Sophia survive this dark twist of fate?
Will the devil be her saviour?
Will an Angel be her downfall?




I always knew I was different. Not weird or quirky, just different. I look just like everyone else my age, mostly. But on a deeper level, I knew that what made me human was more ethereal than I was comfortable admitting, even to myself. Snippets of my abilities had been shining through all my life. What I thought was and the truth of its meaning were about to bring me crashing down into a level of chaos that I did not know could ever exist.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Growing up in the burbs of Melbourne, Australia, in the 1970's, I had little in the way of technology to entertain me. I loved horses and books. When not riding my pinto pony I devoured fantasy books. I loved Enid Blyton with all the fairies and make believe. Over time, those fairies became darker as I delved into richer, more adult and scary fantasy and paranormal literature. These books mirrored a vivid dreamscape that comes almost nightly to me. Stories swirl about whilst I sleep, both delighting and frightening me. After a wonderful career as an I.C.U nurse and having an amazing family, I finally put pen to paper and began pulling out some of these stories. History and fantasy are what I love to read now, and especially when intertwined together. Anything that takes my mind away from the daily grind is fair game. I am a great fan of diverse and immensely talented authors, some of these being, Ken Follett, Phillipa Gregory, Tolkien, Julie Kagawa, Cassandra Clare, Amy Plum, Rochelle Maya Callen and the very talented Aussie author Matthew Riley. The list could really just go on forever.

Awaken is my debut novel, the first in a three book series.
Follow me on Instagram at grthomas2014 for regular updates on my current writing.

AUTHOR LINKS:






Giveaway: 


TOUR SCHEDULE

August 29th

August 30th

August 31st

September 1st
Wilmarilys & Melissa (https://bookalmighty.wordpress.com/)

September 2nd

September 3rd

September 4th


Blog Tour Organized by:

*Hosts were provided with a copy of the book for review purposes in exchange for their honest reviews and opinions.*

Top Ten Tuesday #36: Back To School Freebie


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic is Back To School Freebie -- anything "back to school" related like 10 favorite books I read in school, books I think should be required reading, Required Reading For All Fantasy Fans, required reading for every college freshman, Books to Pair With Classics or Books To Complement A History Lesson, books that would be on my classroom shelf if I were a teacher.




Tina's Picks

Top Favorite Reads in Grade School








Top Favorite Reads in High School




















Thursday, August 25, 2016

Book Blog Tour: Tina Reviews Fair to Hope





Title/Author: Fair to Hope by Sam Reed
Published June 27th 2016 by North Loop Books
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Page: 199
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Review by: Tina


Synopsis - Book Tour

Thanks to happylilbooknook for inviting us to join their happylilbooktours for this month's reading of Fair to Hope by Sam Reed
.
 
 

Review

Fair to Hope is a fantasy novel about a girl Velma finding acceptance in a community known as the Taram. During her naming, she is surprised to find she and her best friend Josh, are selected to be on opposing teams, Taram vs Eirum.

This story reminds me a bit of Divergent. How so? Two factions fighting against each other for the fate of mankind. They train like hell and battle like no tomorrow. What's fun about this story is Vella is not your typical badass girl. She tries to run from her fate and lead a normal life. She befriends the townspeople and learns to live again. But she can't run away far enough to hide. They will always find her. The gradual leading up to the final battle is epic. The action scenes are intense and unpredictable. I'm thoroughly impressed with the story!











~spoilers~




Some parts I felt could be worked on...
I propose describing the history of Taram vs Eirum and becoming a Kachina. I'm still unclear of their importance. And what are they saving mankind from? Velma was inside her head a lot. Trapped in her feelings and I couldn't get a sense of the importance of her role in Taram.


Likes...
The "Dauntless-like" workouts are fun to read. This "feeding" and "rioting" are new terms for me. And the psychic powers are super badass! Velma and Sue are an incredible pair! At first, I was skeptical of Sue's friendship but she turned out to be the real deal. I'm glad Velma has a friend she could lean on. And Nita as Velma's mentor was great. She was a much needed nurturing character.


Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday #35: Ten Books That Have Been On Your Shelf (Or TBR) From Before You Started Blogging That You STILL Haven't Read Yet


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic is Ten Books That Have Been On Your Shelf (Or TBR) From Before You Started Blogging That You STILL Haven't Read Yet (this is going to be sad considering how many of those I have unread six years later...).



Shon

Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone #1) by Laini Taylor 


Nightshade (Nightshade #1) by Andrea Cremer

Fallen (Fallen #1) by Lauren Kate

The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #4) by Rick Riordan



Tina
All the lovely leather bound Barnes & Nobles exclusive editions I know I will never read (only admire) *_*


 

Monday, August 22, 2016

Blog Tour: Fair to Hope by Sam Reed




Fair to Hope by Sam Reed 
Expected Publication: August 30th 2016 by North Loop Books
Pages: 222
ISBN: 1635051940
Genre: Fantasy
Source: Review Copy

Add to Goodreads 

Available for Purchase:
Amazon // Barnes & Noble // iTunes // The Book Depository

Velma had lived two lives: her first as a former foster kid, and her second as an unlikely recruit into a secret order that satisfied her need for retribution. Her fifteen-year-old self had given up on hope, but after three years with the Taram, she'd found her life's purpose.

That is, until she is surprisingly named Kachina, the fabled chosen empowered to fight the last battle for the fate of the world. Having to kill someone she loves was never part of the bargain, even if it means saving everyone else from damnation.

Building a normal life free from the pull of the Taram--seems like the only answer to her prayers. Except her best friend, the other Kachina, is coming. The legend is clear that one of them must die.

Velma will have to weigh the cost of her life against a world that's constantly betrayed her and quite literally decide if she'll be damned in dying, taking the whole world with her.


We sat in silence. The blushing waitress cleared our plates while searching Enoch’s face for flirty glances, but his navy blue eyes focused steadily on me. I waited until she walked away before breaking the silence, surprised at the steadiness of my voice. “You know that I’m the Kachina. You know that I’ll ask to be cleansed.”

He nodded. “I do.”

“I don’t know a lot about Cleaners; in fact, as time goes on, I realize I don’t know a lot about anything, but I do know that in choosing to help me, because of who I am, who I’m supposed to be, things could be bad. For you.”

He laughed. “No, pretty one, things will be bad for you. You’re the one running from your destiny. I suspect without warning it will come back and smack you upside your head.”

He was the second man to call me pretty, and I could think of no more profound hint of premonition. The first man to call me beautiful had left me with pieces to mend. It seemed this might end in much the same way. I also knew, regardless of any rational arguments to be made on either of our parts, we were already resigned to our fate.

BOOK RELEASE: AUGUST 30, 2016

About the Author: 

Sam Reed is a born and bred southern girl who grew up reading Toni Morrison, Archie Comics, Christopher Pike, Octavia Butler, Dean Koontz and Stephen King. When she’s not thinking of what to write she is napping or eating, going to church, wishing she could sing, dreaming of owning a tiny house, watching A Different World reruns, trying to perfect her grandma’s biscuit recipe, or reading a book.

AUTHOR LINKS:





GIVEAWAY:



TOUR SCHEDULE: 

August 22nd:
Tangled ’N’ Books (http://tanglednbooks.blogspot.com/)

August 23rd:

August 24th:

August 25th:

August 26th:

August 27th:

August 28th:

September 5th:

September 8th:

Blog Tour Organized by:


*Hosts were provided with a copy of the book for review purposes in exchange for their honest reviews and opinions.*



Thursday, August 18, 2016

Tina Reviews: Onyx and Opal (Lux #2 & 3)



By Jennifer L. Armentrout
Genres: Science Fiction, Aliens, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Review by: Tina


 


Review  

The lovely Gennifer Eccles convinced me to continue with the series. And I have to admit I was a bit curious how the story will proceed.

Onyx continues to remind me of the tv show Roswell. In Obsidian, Daemon heals Katy and now she's showing similar alien abilities (how similar is that to one of the storylines in Roswell?). A new love interest is introduced. He explains to Katy about her new abilities and helps her develop her "hybrid mutated" powers. While Katy is busy training every day with Blake, sparing no time for her friends or mother, Dee is growing closer in her relationship with Adam, and Daemon finds out Beth and Dawson are still alive. 8 months time go by and we're seeing Katy stronger in her Lux abilities. Alas, all good things come to an end. The discovery of implants and hidden motives end the book on a big cliffhanger.

Opal -
So the last book left us with Daemon trying to rescue Dawson and this book Dawson rescues his girlfriend Bethany. The plan behind the rescue is not bad. It just took them a long prep time; another 8 months time. With Blake back in the picture, you sense some kind of betrayal will happen. I'm liking the strong romantic side of Daemon which makes reading this book worthwhile. The big shocker is realizing none of Katy's classmates are safe. One by one, they disappear or fall ill. And I think we will slowly find out what happens to them later in the story.

Blog Tour: Flicker by Melanie Hooyenga + Giveaway



Flicker by Melanie Hooyenga
Series: Flicker 
Published November 13th 2012 by Left-Handed Mitten Publications
Pages: 390
ISBN: 1480200845

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Paranormal | Romance | Science Fiction
Source: Review Copy
 


Add to Goodreads

Available for Purchase:

Biz is a perfectly normal teenager except for one minor detail: she uses sunlight to jump back to yesterday. She takes advantage of flickering by retaking Trig tests, fixing fights with her boyfriend (or reliving the making up), and repeating pretty much anything that could be done better. Trouble is, flickering makes her head explode from the inside. Or feel like it anyway.

No one knows about her freakish ability and she’s content to keep it that way. Guys don’t stick around because she refuses to let them in, but all that changes when Cameron, her best friend, starts looking oh-so-yummy. Suddenly she’s noticing his biceps, his smile, and the cute way his eyes crinkle when he—gah! This is her friend!

But the butterflies come to a screeching halt when little girls start disappearing, then take a nosedive when the police link the kidnappings to Cameron’s sister, who vanished years earlier. As the police grasp for clues, Biz photographs a strange man lurking in the shadows and realizes that her flickering can help more than just herself. 



EXCERPT:

Prologue
Sunlight pulses across the dashboard—light, dark, light, dark—and catches the dust dancing on the imitation leather.

My eyes stutter, but I blink it away. My heart jumps around in my chest. I stroke the grainy piece of cement stuck between my back teeth with my tongue.

The orthodontist swore he got it all, but that was as true as his promise that it wouldn’t be uncomfortable.

Uncomfortable. Right.

A tingling sensation pricks the tips of my fingers. I press them together, watching the blood shift beneath my skin. The tingling turns to those sharp needles that remind me of anything but sleep.
I press harder and my toes start tingling too. What the hell?
The dancing on the dashboard gets faster. The trees here are taller, straighter, and the sunlight strobes through the branches. My breath catches and a sudden heaviness pushes me deep into the seat.

I glance at Mom but she’s concentrating on the road, humming along with golden oldies or whatever the hell it is she listens to, oblivious to the fact that something very weird is happening to her daughter.

To me.

I close my eyes. The heaviness lifts. Too much. Now I’m floating and—

“But Mom, I’m fine.”

Mom crosses the kitchen and leans against the counter. “Biz, you’re going. The dentist said your face will change if you don’t get braces. Your entire face could look different…”

A sense of déjà vu slams me over the head. I’ve had this argument. Next Mom is gonna grab the stack of mail that Dad left on the counter and toss it in the basket.

She does.

“Biz?”

The words tumble out of me. “Mom…” The déjà vu doesn’t lift. This isn’t a memory. I’m not in the car anymore.

I’ve gone back to yesterday.


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My Thoughts...

This book had a very slow start but, once you get into the story thing start to pick up. This was a interesting read, it had a little bit of everything. It had drama, romance, science fiction, time travel and murder. With all those different elements somehow it all work together nicely.

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About the Author:

Melanie Hooyenga is the author of the YA trilogy, the Flicker Effect, about a teen who uses sunlight to travel back to yesterday. The first book, FLICKER, won first place for Middle Grade/Young Adult in the Writer’s Digest 2015 Self-Published eBook awards. When not at her day job as Communications Director at a local nonprofit, you can find her wrangling her 7-year old Miniature Schnauzer Owen and playing every sport imaginable with her husband Jeremy. 

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GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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TOUR SCHEDULE

August 15th
                  (http://www.facebook.com/katiesbookblog)

August 16th

August 17th

August 18th

August 19th

August 20th

August 21st


Blog Tour Organized by:

*Hosts were provided with a copy of the book for review purposes in exchange for their honest reviews and opinions.*

Monday, August 15, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday #34: Top Ten Books With X Setting





Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic is  Top Ten Books With X Setting (top ten books set near the beach, top ten book set in boarding school, top ten books set in England, etc).



Tina's Pick 

Top Books With Angel vs Demon Scenario








Shon's Pick

Hockey / Romance / Contemporary Setting 




 The Score (Off-Campus #3) by Elle Kennedy


Him & Us by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy



 Power Play & Save of the Game by Avon Gale