Friday, January 30, 2015

Mini-Review Friday

Summary: Remy O’Malley heals people with touch—but every injury she cures becomes her own. Living in a household with an abusive stepfather, she has healed untold numbers of broken bones, burns,and bruises. And then one night her stepfather goes too far.

Being sent to live with her estranged father offers a clean start and she is eager to take it. Enter Asher Blackwell. Once a Protector of Healers, Asher sacrificed his senses to become immortal. Only by killing a Healer can a Protector recover their human senses. Falling in love is against the rules between these two enemies. Because Remy has the power to make Protectors human again, and when they find out, they’ll be coming for her—if Asher doesn’t kill her first.


Review: I really loved the premise of this story and of course the characters. I thought Remy and Asher had really cute, wonderful, and I dare say, perfect chemistry and relationship development. The sad thing is I read reviews of the next books and found out that *spoiler start* [ Remy switches love interest to Gabe, Asher's brother. Ummm, say what?!?! Asher and Remy go together so well and there is no indication that she would ever change her mind. I find a character to be weak if they have a really strong relationship with someone, but then change their mind? I don't buy it. *I'm looking at you author for leading your characters astray.* ] *spoiler finish* So because of what I found out, I'm never going to read the next books EVER, and have made up a happily ever after for Remy and Asher. [5 stars]

Summary: Sam McKenna’s never turned down a dare. And she's not going to start with the last one her brother gave her before he died.

So Sam joins the first-ever class of girls at the prestigious Denmark Military Academy. She’s expecting push-ups and long runs, rope climbing and mud-crawling. As a military brat, she can handle an obstacle course just as well as the boys. She's even expecting the hostility she gets from some of the cadets who don’t think girls belong there. What she’s not expecting is her fiery attraction to her drill sergeant. But dating is strictly forbidden and Sam won't risk her future, or the dare, on something so petty...no matter how much she wants him.

As Sam struggles to prove herself, she discovers that some of the boys don’t just want her gone—they will stop at nothing to drive her out. When their petty threats turn to brutal hazing, bleeding into every corner of her life, she realizes they are not acting alone. A decades-old secret society is alive and active… and determined to force her out.
At any cost.

Now time's running short. Sam must decide who she can trust...and choosing the wrong person could have deadly consequences.


Review: Wow, I really didn't have much knowledge about the book or any expectations, but dang, this book was great. Sam is such a strong person and I loved all the characteristics about her. There was a *hint* of romance, Drill/Dean, sigh I love you so much, you are so cute. But other than the hint there isn't romance and I really loved that about the story. It was so great without it and it's such a standout book. I wish I had read it sooner. I seriously recommend this to everyone!! [5 stars]

Summary: When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy finds out her mother might've been telling the truth. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - and it's one she's not sure if she wants to be a part of.

Review: I enjoyed the beginning but the rest of the story I just felt like there wasn't that much action. I mean seriously the whole time I like "pleeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaase get kidnapped, cause I need something exciting to happen." Also I wasn't feeling too hot about Finn. I mean I think he would be great as a love interest but I needed more development between him and Wendy. Overall it was enjoyable and I'll probably read the rest of the books but I see there is a love triangle coming up…sigh…hopefully some torture scenes will be thrown in? [3 stars]

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Cover Reveal: Nowhere But Here by Katie McGarry

And here is a piece to the cover for Nowhere But Here!!


Summary: An unforgettable new series from acclaimed author Katie McGarry about taking risks, opening your heart and ending up in a place you never imagined possible 


Seventeen-year-old Emily likes her life the way it is: doting parents, good friends, good school in a safe neighborhood. Sure, she's curious about her biological father—the one who chose life in a motorcycle club, the Reign of Terror, over being a parent—but that doesn't mean she wants to be a part of his world. But when a reluctant visit turns to an extended summer vacation among relatives she never knew she had, one thing becomes clear: nothing is what it seems. Not the club, not her secret-keeping father and not Oz, a guy with suck-me-in blue eyes who can help her understand them both. 

Oz wants one thing: to join the Reign of Terror. They're the good guys. They protect people. They're…family. And while Emily—the gorgeous and sheltered daughter of the club's most respected member—is in town, he's gonna prove it to her. So when her father asks him to keep her safe from a rival club with a score to settle, Oz knows it's his shot at his dream. What he doesn't count on is that Emily just might turn that dream upside down. 

No one wants them to be together. But sometimes the right person is the one you least expect, and the road you fear the most is the one that leads you home. 

Add it to your Goodreads Now!


Katie McGarry Bio:

Katie McGarry was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.

Katie is the author of full length YA novels, PUSHING THE LIMITS, DARE YOU TO, CRASH INTO YOU, TAKE ME ON,  BREAKING THE RULES, and NOWHERE BUT HERE and the e-novellas, CROSSING THE LINE and RED AT NIGHT. Her debut YA novel, PUSHING THE LIMITS was a 2012 Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction, a RT Magazine's 2012 Reviewer's Choice Awards Nominee for Young Adult Contemporary Novel, a double Rita Finalist, and a 2013 YALSA Top Ten Teen Pick. DARE YOU TO was also a Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction and won RT Magazine’s Reviewer’s Choice Best Book Award for Young Adult Contemporary fiction in 2013.

NOWHERE BUT HERE Pre-Order Links:

Links:
Twitter: @katiemcgarry

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Waiting On Wednesday - 1/28/14

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Hey y'all. Okay so I have a solution for Tuesdays that I only thought of this morning: I will alternate between Teaser Tuesday and Top Ten Tuesday to see if I like one more than the other or something. Also I'm hoping to get some formal reviews out soon and I have small reviews lined up already for this week. Although, if you follow me on Goodreads you would already be able to see those as I tend to write small reviews for every book I read, I just don't post them here because what's the point of posting a couple sentence review???

Anyways, the book I'm waiting for this week is The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ochler. I've only read one book by Ochler, #scandle, and liked it but this book looks more promising and up my alley. I'm really excited for it and hope it turns out great. What are you waiting for this week? Happy Reading.

Publication: June 2nd, 2015
Summary: Sometimes, there are no words… 

The youngest of six talented sisters, Elyse d’Abreau was destined for stardom—until a boating accident took everything from her. Now, the most beautiful singer in Tobago can’t sing. She can’t even speak.

Seeking quiet solitude, Elyse accepts a friend’s invitation to Atargatis Cove. Named for the mythical first mermaid, the Oregon seaside town is everything Elyse’s home in the Caribbean isn’t: An ocean too cold for swimming, parties too tame for singing, and people too polite to pry—except for one.

Christian Kane is a notorious playboy—insolent, arrogant, and completely charming. He’s also the only person in Atargatis Cove who doesn’t treat Elyse like a glass statue. He challenges her to express herself, and he admires the way she treats his younger brother Sebastian, who believes Elyse is the legendary mermaid come to life. 

When Christian needs a first mate for the Cove’s high-stakes Pirate Regatta, Elyse reluctantly stows her fear of the sea and climbs aboard. The ocean isn’t the only thing making waves, though—swept up in Christian’s seductive tide and entranced by the Cove’s charms, Elyse begins to wonder if a life of solitude isn’t what she needs. But changing course again means facing her past. It means finding her inner voice. And scariest of all, it means opening her heart to a boy who’s best known for breaking them . . .

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Updates!

Okay so in an effort to become more productive since I've had such a slow blog going lately because of school, grrr, I'm giving myself a schedule for posts that way I can you all happy and me happy cause I'm not happy when I can't write posts. This schedule is just a goal for myself but I'm hoping it will work. My new goals/things I need help in are...

1. Every Wednesday will be a (formal) review day. I can post more during the week but I want to at least have a day set aside just for that.

2. I'm dropping/have dropped Monday Recs. because they aren't really fun for me to do anymore and I don't know how helpful they've been to you guys so that will create more time for me.

3. Should I keep Teaser Tuesday? I don't know if you enjoy them or not and I want to know about that. Would you like me to keep it, do a Top Ten Tuesday post instead, both, what? Help me out here.

4. Saturdays will be when I do Book Lovers' Topics or BLT discussion posts starting this Saturday about Expectation vs Reality.

5. Sunday post will change to Stalking the Shelves because they are a lot less time consuming to not have to link all my posts from the previous week. Plus it's not hard to look up the posts from the week so it's all a bunch of extra work on my part that doesn't seem to be helping you guys.

6. I was thinking of doing a Friday mini-review post, like a single post with a few small reviews just so that you can see more genres of books and just get a quick opinion on them.

As you can see, some things I changing but some things I need your opinion on so...help me out here and let me know what you think!

Happy Reading!

Waiting On Wednesday - 1/21/15

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm waiting for The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey because 1. I was completely sold by the line "an ancient race of people with feathers for hair". Sign me up! and 2. I really like the cover, the purple is very pleasing to look at. Hopefully it still ends up being unique and original! What are you waiting for this week? Happy reading.

Publication: April 28th, 2015
Summary: For readers of Cassandra Clare's City of Bones and Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone, The Girl at Midnight is the story of a modern girl caught in an ancient war.

Beneath the streets of New York City live the Avicen, an ancient race of people with feathers for hair and magic running through their veins. Age-old enchantments keep them hidden from humans. All but one. Echo is a runaway pickpocket who survives by selling stolen treasures on the black market, and the Avicen are the only family she's ever known.

Echo is clever and daring, and at times she can be brash, but above all else she's fiercely loyal. So when a centuries-old war crests on the borders of her home, she decides it's time to act.

Legend has it that there is a way to end the conflict once and for all: find the Firebird, a mythical entity believed to possess power the likes of which the world has never seen. It will be no easy task, but if life as a thief has taught Echo anything, it's how to hunt down what she wants . . . and how to take it.

But some jobs aren't as straightforward as they seem. And this one might just set the world on fire.

Monday, January 19, 2015

Release Day Launch: Bridges Burned by Chris Cannon


Bridges Burned (Going Down in Flames #2)
Release Date: 01/19/15
Entangled Teen

Summary from Goodreads:
Don't just fight the system…burn it.

Since discovering she is a shape-shifting, fire-breathing dragon on her sixteenth birthday (surprise!), Bryn McKenna’s world has been thrown into chaos. Being a “crossbreed”—part Red dragon and part Blue—means Bryn will never fit in. Not with dragon society. Not with the archaic and controlling Directorate. And definitely not when she has striped hair and a not-so-popular affection for rule-breaking…

But sneaking around with her secret boyfriend, Zavien, gets a whole lot harder when he’s betrothed to someone else. Someone who isn't a mixed breed and totally forbidden. And for an added complication, it turns out Bryn’s former archnemesis Jaxon Westgate isn’t quite the evil asshat she thought. Now she’s caught between her desire to fit in and a need to set things on fire. Literally.

Because if Bryn can’t adapt to the status quo…well, then maybe it’s time for her to change it.



Books One:
Going Down in Flames
Release Date: 06/30/14
Entangled Teen

Summary from Goodreads:
If her love life is going down in flames, she might as well spark a revolution.

Finding out on your sixteenth birthday you’re a shape-shifting dragon is tough to swallow. Being hauled off to an elite boarding school is enough to choke on.

Since Bryn is the only crossbreed at the Institute for Excellence, all eyes are on her, but it’s a particular black dragon, Zavien, who catches her attention.

Zavien is tired of the Council’s rules. Segregated clans, being told who to love, and close-minded leaders make freedom of choice almost impossible. The new girl with the striped hair is a breath of fresh air, and with Bryn’s help, they may be able to change the rules.

At the Institute, old grudges, new crushes, and death threats are all part of a normal day for Bryn. She’ll need to learn to control her dragon powers if she wants to make it through her first year at school. But even focusing on staying alive is difficult when you’re falling for someone you can't have.


Buy Links:

Excerpt:

Jaxon’s eyes went to the display of baby clothes in the window. His brow furrowed and then his face colored. “Dear God, Bryn, how could you be so stupid?”
“What?” The moron thought she was pregnant? Bryn couldn’t wait to see Jaxon’s expression when he realized the truth. She put her hand on his chest and pushed him back a step. “While I appreciate your concern for my well-being, I’m not the one shopping for baby clothes.”
She bit her lip to keep from laughing as confusion wrinkled his brow. Then his gaze darted to his mother, and his face paled.“Mother?”
“Are you going to call her stupid?” Bryn asked.
“Of course not,” Jaxon snapped. He squared his shoulders. “Congratulations, Mother. I presume this is a happy occurrence?”
“Yes.” Lillith reached for his hand. “How would you feel about a baby brother?”
He looked at his shoes while he spoke. “I suppose it’s too late to suggest you adopt another kitten, instead?” His tone was dry, but there was truth in his words.
Lillith laughed. “Too late, but don’t worry. You’ll always be the firstborn male and your father’s heir.”
“Until the baby plots to overthrow you,” Bryn muttered.


About the Author
I love reading and writing snarky, kick-butt characters who take on the world and win.
My truths: You can never have too many books, shoes, or purses.
Coffee is the Elixir of Life.
There should be a National Nerf Bat Day where you are allowed to whack annoying people upside the head.

Author Links:

GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Waiting On Wednesday - 1/14/15

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm waiting for Bridges Burned by Chris Cannon. It is the second book in the Going Down in Flames series and I'm so excited for it. The first book was amazing so I can't wait for this to download to my kindle!! I have it pre-ordered and I don't even have to wait that long for it to come out! If you want a good dragon book, this series is one I would check out. Happy Reading.
P.S. I have other posts I will put up this weekend that I planned to have up last weekend, but the keyboard fully broke and I haven't been able to post anything until we got a new keyboard. Tomorrow is also my last day of finals of the semester so that will help too with time and I can't wait to get my posts out!!

Publication: January 19th, 2015
Summary: Don't just fight the system…burn it.

Since discovering she is a shape-shifting, fire-breathing dragon on her sixteenth birthday (surprise!), Bryn McKenna’s world has been thrown into chaos. Being a “crossbreed”—part Red dragon and part Blue—means Bryn will never fit in. Not with dragon society. Not with the archaic and controlling Directorate. And definitely not when she has striped hair and a not-so-popular affection for rule-breaking…

But sneaking around with her secret boyfriend, Zavien, gets a whole lot harder when he’s betrothed to someone else. Someone who isn't a mixed breed and totally forbidden. And for an added complication, it turns out Bryn’s former archnemesis Jaxon Westgate isn’t quite the evil asshat she thought. Now she’s caught between her desire to fit in and a need to set things on fire. Literally.

Because if Bryn can’t adapt to the status quo…well, then maybe it’s time for her to change it.