Cup of Tea Reviews

Splendor by Anna Godbersen

2012-02-04T21:35:00.000+08:00

Title: Splendor (Luxe #4)

Author: Anna Godbersen

Publisher: HarperCollins

Release Date: 6/29/2010

Pages: 391

Reviewed by: Pat

It’s a new year, and Manhattan’s favorite socialites are stirring up brand-new drama: Elizabeth uncovers a dangerous secret from her past; Diana has an opportunity to follow her heart—and claim her future, Lina discovers money can buy happiness (for a time), and Penelope finds that life without Henry brings unexpected pleasures. In this dramatic conclusion to the bestselling Luxe series, old ties are broken, fresh bonds are formed, and every decision comes at a cost.

My Thoughts

Sorry for not posting for in awhile, I needed to gather my thoughts a bit about the book and I had exams to study. This was supposed to be posted weeks ago, but I had never gotten around to doing it.

I think Splendor has become one of my favorites in the Luxe series besides the third book, Envy. I was mostly excited about reading Diana, Henry, and Elizabeth's plots because their plots were the ones that got me excited to get the book. For me, I felt like not much was happening to Carolina (besides her love for Leland) since a lot of exciting things happened to her in the first three books, so it was kind of a bummer for me. But I found what happened to her towards the end quite exciting. Penelope kind of annoyed me in this one but I felt bad for her at the end. I won't spoil anything, but what happened to her in the ending must have been very humiliating. I would've been embarrassed if something like that happened to me.

I love how Anna Godbersen had written this last book. It was a wonderful conclusion to everything that happened in the series and I love how this whole series made me feel like I was a part of the story. I really did feel like a witness to everything. I was a bit disappointed with the ending to Diana and Henry's storyline but Elizabeth's ending was wonderful. After reading this, the whole series reminded me of a soap opera (and I wish it was). I hope I get to read more of Anna Godbersen's work and I hope that I enjoy her other work.

Switched by Amanda Hocking

2012-01-30T17:26:00.000+08:00

Title: Switched (Trylle Trilogy #1)

Author: Amanda Hocking

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (originally self-published)

Release Date: 1/3/12 (originally 7/12/10)

Pages: 293

Reviewed by: Sabrina

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 discovers her mother might have been right. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - a world both beautiful and frightening, and Wendy's not sure she wants to be a part of it.

My Thoughts

Switched was enchanting and wonderful, with a fun voice from Wendy that kept me captivated... for the first 82 pages. I'm serious. I wish that she never found out where she came from or who she is.

Wendy was a great character in the beginning. She seemed like a pretty strong, straight-forward person. Her entire personality changed when she went along with Finn and it wasn't in a good way. The romance between the two was very confusing for me. I was completely surprised when Finn revealed his feelings because I didn't see any indication before that he liked Wendy back.

Wendy's interactions with Tove and Rhys were interesting to read. Their personalities were clear to me, unlike Finn's. They seemed like the kind of people that anyone would like to hang out or have fun with.

I'm more of an action girl and there wasn't enough of that in the story for me. I think that I would have liked the story better if the plot had a faster pace. The ending, however, was too quick and wrapped up. It was so rushed and I had no idea what had happened when I read it the first time.

On the bright side, the previous, and current, covers of the Trylle Trilogy are beautiful

The Pull by Chelsie Shakespeare

2012-01-01T09:56:00.000+08:00

Title: The Pull

Author: Chelsie Shakespeare

Publisher: Noble Romance Publishing

Release Date: 6/13/11

Pages: 185

Reviewed by Sabrina

Evie Remington had always done what people expected of her. As a result, at twenty-six she finds herself the unhappy owner and manager of a Denver hotel. That is, until deep-rooted memories of a past life and the hidden knowledge of a promise she made in that other lifetime pulls her away from it all. Without knowing where it will lead, Evie sets out on a cross-country journey that will challenge what she believes about life, death, and love.

My Thoughts

Evie has finally had it with her life. Taken by the sudden desire to do something for herself for once, she rides off around the country for some adventure. Along the way, dreams of Bria and Jude, a couple from long ago, come to her. Seeing through the eyes of Bria, she begins to fall in love with Jude. Are these dreams just that-dreams? Could they possibly be a message, or maybe a real memory?

In the beginning, I already made a connection to Jude and Bria. I felt really strong emotions for them by chapter one and desperately hoped they could have a happy life together again. I liked reading about Evie's journey and her decisions on whether to follow the path her past self had intended, or to go on a different road.

As I got to halfway through The Pull, my interest had waned. I started to pull away, but the events of the novel had begun to get really good towards the end. I loved how everything turned out and some part of me wishes The Pull was longer. For those of you who love sweet romances, and maybe are a bit more on the contemporary side, should pick up this book!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T09:17:00.000+08:00

Note: I was actually kinda scared of coloring in the skin so I left it blank.

Waiting on Wednesday (2)

2011-12-28T14:46:00.001+08:00

Release Date: June 19, 2012

The second thrilling installment in Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy spinoff series.

Tough, brainy alchemist Sydney Sage and doe-eyed Moroi princess Jill Dragomir are in hiding at a human boarding school in the sunny, glamorous world of Palm Springs, California. The students—children of the wealthy and powerful—carry on with their lives in blissful ignorance, while Sydney, Jill, Eddie and Adrian must do everything in their power to keep their secret safe. But with forbidden romances, unexpected spirit bonds, and the threat of Strigoi moving ever closer, hiding the truth is harder than anyone thought.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Richelle Mead’s breathtaking Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive. In this second book, the drama is hotter, the romances are steamier, and the stakes are even higher.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Sydney, you better end up with Adrian. That's all I can say to you.

Envy by Anna Godbersen

2011-12-27T13:48:00.004+08:00

Title: Envy (Luxe #3)

Author: Anna Godbersen

Publisher: HarperCollins

Release Date: 1/1/9

Pages: 405

Reviewed by: Pat

Jealous whispers.
Old rivalries.
New betrayals.

Two months after Elizabeth Holland's dramatic homecoming, Manhattan eagerly awaits her return to the pinnacle of society. When Elizabeth refuses to rejoin her sister Diana's side, however, those watching New York's favorite family begin to suspect that all is not as it seems behind the stately doors of No. 17 Gramercy Park South.

Farther uptown, Henry and Penelope Schoonmaker are the city's most celebrated couple. But despite the glittering diamond ring on Penelope's finger, the newlyweds share little more than scorn for each other. And while the newspapers call Penelope's social-climbing best friend, Carolina Broad, an heiress, her fortune—and her fame—are anything but secure, especially now that one of society's darlings is slipping tales to the eager press.

In this next thrilling installment of Anna Godbersen's bestselling Luxe series, Manhattan's most envied residents appear to have everything they desire: Wealth. Beauty. Happiness. But sometimes the most practiced smiles hide the most scandalous secrets...

My Thoughts

I've only started reading the Luxe series this year and I am in love with this series. I've only read Luxe, Rumours, and Envy. And Envy has to be my favorite from the three. It took me a couple of chapters to get into it but I started wanting to read more after that. I also love the change of setting. From the city of Manhattan to the beaches. It felt good to have a change of scenery in the book and I wanted to see how they interacted with each other in a different environment.

One of the things I loved when reading this was how all the characters were brought together. I liked seeing how they acted and behaved around one another. I loved how Anna Godbersen played it all out and I was pretty excited to see what was going on. My favorite characters in the series have to be the Holland sisters, Elizabeth and Diana. I was glad to see some sisterly love in this book because I felt that they didn't get to interact with each other much in the first and second book. Though I didn't like her in Luxe and Rumors, I seem to have grown a soft spot for Carolina Broad. I thought I wasn't going to like her in this book but then I grew to love her. I also found myself going against Penelope Hayes. I liked her in the first two books but reading this made me kind of think 'Don't do that Penelope. Don't ruin this', but all her schemes add a bit more drama to it. I also found myself scolding Henry Schoonmaker in my head. I would always think 'Don't just stand there, so something!' or 'Watching the things happening to Diana won't get you anywhere. Or the girl'.

The last two chapters of the book somehow made me want to cry (Good thing I didn't or my sister would've noticed). I was thinking about what was happening in the final two chapters and I suddenly felt like bursting into tears. This doesn't usually happen to me when reading books but I'm glad I showed a bit of emotion reading this. I think this was the best book from what I've read so far of the Luxe series. It was beautifully written and Anna Godbersen's creativity has wowed me once again. Even though it took me some time to get into it, I'm glad I enjoyed it. I can't wait to read the fourth and final book, Splendor.

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-25T22:01:00.001+08:00

Happy Holidays, everyone! Be on the lookout for new reviews for this month and January, such as Wolfborn, The Future of Us, The Pull, The Scorpio Races, Bloodlines and many more!

Follow Friday (18)

2011-12-23T22:49:00.000+08:00

Just a few more days 'til Christmas and the start of a New Year! I can't wait! Follow Friday is hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee. This week's features are From the Shadow s I review and Ce-Ce's Garden of Reviews. This week's question is...
Q: If you had to spend eternity inside the pages of a book which book would you choose and why?

Errr.... um... maybe.... the Vampire Academy series? That's only if I could be a dhampir or morori, and maybe an alchemist. If not, then I chose Divergent, but it would be so hard to chose between the factions (^^;).

Waiting on Wednesday (1)

2011-12-21T16:07:00.002+08:00

Whooo! It's my birthday! To start it off, I'll be doing a new meme on the blog, which is called Waiting on Wednesday. Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This is where we highlight releases that we are eagerly waiting for!

Release Date: Jan. 24, 2012
Summary: Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.
As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

Everneath looks amazing, judging by the cover and summary alone. What closed the deal for me was that the story was based on the Greek myth. And that is, you guessed it, Hades and Persephone.

The Unchosen Life by Danka V.

2011-12-20T22:15:00.000+08:00

Title: The Unchosen Life

Author: Danka V.

Release Date: 8/30/11

Pages: 238

One soul mate… One true love… And the fact that they are not the same person!

People believe that every soul has its other half somewhere in the world. A soul mate or so I’ve been told, and they spend a lifetime seeking that other half, hoping to find it… I don’t need to hope anymore because mine found me… And tried to take my life! Today, twenty-four years since I was born, I finally do believe that there is a true love in life and that somewhere out there, there is that other one who will, once they show up, complete your own soul. But I learned much too late that they are not the same thing! My name is Elena Wolchek and this is my story.

My Thoughts

The Unchosen Life is a love story with a small touch of supernatural. Elena has always felt that there was something mysterious about her, even the people she's with had noticed from the beginning. A series of strange dreams and an encounter with her other half, help her realize her power. Instead of being satisfied, she's terrified and wishes to have a normal life. She just wants to be happy with her loved one, not get killed by her soul mate.

Elena is your headstrong, tough girl, who can sometimes be too stubborn for her own good. She desperately tries to distance herself from falling in love because she's not only afraid that they'll get hurt, she's also afraid of the pain that comes after it. She's a wonderful character at times and it was nice to see her heart finally opening up.

The pacing was a little slow, along with the plot. There are some info dumps that cause the story falter and be unbalanced at times, but I loved the concept of the story. Bittersweet moments and missed chances filled the pages. The Unchosen Life is a nice read that I would recommend for those of you who love humor and romance. Hopefully, the next book will have more action and focas on the paranormal side!

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

2011-12-01T17:06:00.001+08:00

Title: Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1)

Author: Tahereh Mafi

Publisher: HarperCollins

Release Date: 11/15/11

Pages: 338

Reviewed by Sabrina

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.

My Thoughts

The romance of Shatter Me is the greatest theme that urges the reader on, so for those of you who love romance and the supernatural, I suggest you read it. If you're a dystopian fan, not so much.

The haunting descriptions and thoughts of Juliette were beautiful and unique, but I got really tired of them after a couple of chapters and despite her amazing descriptions, she gives a vague picture of the post-apocalyptic world. Despite this, the book was fairly interesting and in some ways, surprising. There were a lot of run-on sentences and crossed out words in the story that, instead of turning into a huge annoyance, made Juliette a more realistic character in her situation . She believes more in herself throughout the pages. She loses whatever insanity and sadness she has within her. Although she becomes irritating at times, she was a nice, kind character that stands up for what's right.

Adam is Juliette's familiar/mysterious good guy love interest, who always puts Juliette first and foremost. The only things I don't like about him is that scenes with Adam become are way too steamy (I wondered if I was really reading a YA book) and, as much as I like Adam and all, my interest in him sort faded away (Sorry!).

The insane, cold Warner is your ruthless antagonist, who happens to be quite handsome. He was the more interesting, infuriating and complex character to me rather than the relationship of Juliette and Adam as the story went on. He was a unique kind of villain that I don't see very often in novels.

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

2011-11-25T17:02:00.009+08:00

Title: The Goddess Test (Goddess Test #1)

Author: Aimee Carter

Publisher: Harlequin

Pages: 293

Reviewed by: Pat

It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

My Thoughts

'The Goddess Test' was okay. It was something I would enjoy but at the same time not enjoy. While I read this book, my thoughts were mixed. I liked it but I didn't enjoy it. I could go on and on about how I liked the book and didn't enjoy it but I'll try not to keep saying it over and over.

I liked the concept of the Goddess Test and the plot was good. There were chapters that made me want to read the book some more but there were some chapters that I felt were a bit slow (either that was the book or I just read it in times that I was bored) The characters were great but there were some characters that didn't really impress me. My favorite character had to be Calliope. I don't know why but I just felt attached to her and I felt bad for her towards the end of the book. I also liked Kate but there were some parts of her personality that I didn't like. For example, I didn't like the way she treated the character, Sofia. I thought she was being rude to her, especially when Sophia was being nice to her. I also thought she was a bit harsh on two other characters, James and Ava.

I love Greek Mythology so when there were parts about the gods that I didn't think was right, I couldn't help but correct it in my head. I got over it (a little bit) since I thought it was up to the author's imagination if she wanted to change some parts of the myths but then I hoped it stuck to the myths a bit. But I like its take on Greek mythology.

Overall, the book was okay for me though I wish I could have liked it more. I liked it but I wanted to like it a bit more. But I think I'll give this series another chance by reading it's sequel, 'Goddess Interrupted'.

Follow Friday (17)

2011-11-19T02:19:00.001+08:00

Yes, I'm doing Follow Friday again! Which means I'm back on track! Follow Friday is hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee. This week's features are Lauren's Book Blog and Books and Barks and this week's question is...

Q: Letter to Santa: Tell Santa what books you want for Christmas!

Well, Santa, if I gave you the full list, you'd be in debt. So I'll be nice and give my top five this year:

1. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
2. Destined by Jessie Harrell
3. Supernaturally by Kiersten White
4. Exiled by RaShelle Workman
5. A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan

The Dig by Audrey Hart

2011-11-15T16:02:00.000+08:00

Title: The Dig (Zoe & Zeus Trilogy #1)

Author: Audrey Hart

Publisher: Backlit Fiction

Pages: 208

Reviewed by Sabrina and Pat

Zoe Calder has always been an outsider. Stashed away in boarding schools since her parents died, Zoe buries herself in the study of ancient worlds. Her greatest thrill is spending her summers with her archeologist aunt and uncle on digs around the world. And one day, while investigating a newly unearthed temple in Crete, Zoe discovers a luminous artifact that transports her to ancient Greece.

As Zoe quickly learns, the Olympian Gods are real, living people—humans with mysterious powers… Powers that Zoe quickly realizes she has come to possess, as well. However, when the people of ancient Greece mistake Zoe for an Olympian, the Gods must restore the balance of the ancient world… No matter what.

Zoe is forced to play a confusing and dangerous game as Hera rallies the gods against her—all except for Zeus, the beautiful, winged young god who risks everything to save her.

Out of time and out of her element, teenager Zoe Calder finds herself in ancient Greece, battling against the power of the Olympians and the vengeance of a scorned goddess—all for the strange and mysterious boy she has come to love.

Our Thoughts

Pat: Hey there, I'm Pat! I'm a new reviewer here in Cup of Tea Reviews and I hope I get to post a lot of reviews here.

I thought that 'The Dig' was a great book. I enjoyed reading it and I didn't want to stop reading. I love Greek Mythology and when Sabrina told me about it, I thought that it seemed like an interesting read. When Zoe went through her journey through Ancient Greece, I felt like I was in the story. I felt like I was in the period of Ancient Greece. I love how Audrey Hart described what people were doing, how she described the setting, and how she described the creatures.

The cover is beautiful and, well, I can't seem to find other words to describe but beautiful and gorgeous. I loved the characters. They were hilarious and were fun to read, especially Zoe. I think I loved Zoe the most among all of the characters because I find her a pretty brave character and she seemed to get stronger as she progresses through the book. She makes me laugh every time she says something witty, like...

"You do know I mean Greece the place and not Grease the movie, right Cee?"
--Zoe

I found the Greek gods funny too. I felt like they were all human and they have flaws just like humans do. They weren't perfect and all powerful over the world, they had traits that didn't make them really great and it reminded me that even the most perfect beings have flaws.

"She just wants to be loved, and deep down she knows she cannot find that in this room."

--Zoe

Overall, it was an amazing book, I just wanted to keep on reading it and the scenes of the book were well written. I can't wait to read more of Audrey Hart's work.

Sabrina: It's my time to review! The Dig was a very lovable light and fluffy novel. It was a great change from all the darker stuff I've been reading recently. Zoe lifted me up from my melancholy mood with every line she said and every giggle she got from me. She is easy to connect with and is fun to read about.

The Gods and Goddess were, surprisingly, like teenagers. The way they acted made them seem more down to Earth. It's another change from most mythology books I've read and an interesting new view to read.

There was maybe a bit too many "today" references (but I also like them too since it gives a splash of reality to the story) and that Zoe keeps saying she's different from the others and how, which starts to become a tiny annoyance in the beginning because I already get her point.

Elixir by Hilary Duff and Elise Allen

2011-11-13T15:09:00.001+08:00

Title: Elixir (Elixir #1)

Author: Hilary Duff and Elise Allen

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Pages: 330

Reviewed by Sabrina

Clea Raymond has felt the glare of the spotlight her entire life. The daughter of a renowned surgeon and a prominent Washington DC politician, she has grown to be a talented photojournalist who takes refuge in a career that allows her to travel to the most exotic parts of the world. But after Clea’s father disappears while on a humanitarian mission, Clea’s photos begin to feature eerie, shadowy images of a strange and beautiful man—a man she has never seen before.

When fate brings Clea and this man together, she is stunned by the immediate and powerful connection she feels with him. As they grow closer, they are drawn deep into the mystery behind her father’s disappearance, and they discover the centuries old truth behind their intense bond. Torn by a dangerous love triangle and haunted by a powerful secret that holds their fates, together they race against time to unravel their pasts in order to save their lives—and their futures.

My Thoughts

I have to agree that this reminded me a lot of Evermore by Alyson Noel, except that Evermore, in my opinion, is better than Elixir. But I'm not here to review Evermore again so let's get on with this and start the review.

Elixir is greater than what I thought it would be. It starts off with a strong beginning that pulled me in, along with some exciting scenes. The characters were not too bad, but did not impact me in any way. It had the potential, with its interesting storyline, to become better than just an "okay" book. It didn't rock my world, but it's an easy read to past the time.

Complaints? There were way too many ellipses in the story, along with grammatical errors. It's predictable. The whole focus of the story shifts constantly. I don't get Clea's popularity. Also, I didn't like the instant love that Clea had. I did not feel any build up of romance between her and Sage. Her thoughts of him shift from Sage being a stalker/killer to being her soulmate after the span of only a few days, or so. So the verdict for this book is...

My Memories of a Future Life by Roz Morris

2011-11-06T20:38:00.001+08:00

Title: My Memories of a Future Life

Author: Roz Morris

Pages: 336

Reviewed by Sabrina

If you were somebody’s past life…

What echoes would you leave in their soul?

Could they be the answers you need now?

It’s a question Carol never expected to face. She’s a gifted musician who needs nothing more than her piano and certainly doesn’t believe she’s lived before. But forced by injury to stop playing, she fears her life may be over. Enter her soulmate Andreq: healer, liar, fraud and loyal friend. Is he her future incarnation or a psychological figment? And can his story help her discover how to live now?

A novel in the vein of The Time Traveller’s Wife, Vertigo and The Gargoyle, My Memories of a Future Life is much more than a twist on the traditional reincarnation tale. It is a multi-layered story of souls on conjoined journeys – in real time and across the centuries. It’s a provocative study of the shadows we don’t know are driving our lives, from our own pasts and from the people with us right now. Like Peter Shaffer’s plays The Royal Hunt of the Sun and Equus, it asks questions about what we believe, what we create and how we scare and heal each other.

Above all, it’s the story of how one lost soul searches for where she now belongs.

My Memories of a Future Life was originally published in 4 episodes. This is the complete novel.

Roz Morris is a writer, journalist, fiction editor and the author of Nail Your Novel: Why Writers Abandon Books and How You Can Draft, Fix and Finish With Confidence. She has a secret identity as a ghostwriter and is the author of several bestsellers under other names.

My Thoughts

My Memories of a Future Life is about Carol Lear, a woman who spent practically her whole life so far dedicated to playing the piano. To her, everything falls apart when she's forced to stop playing after the years of stress she's put on her hands. After another check-up at the hospital, she meets Gene Winter, a face that she vaguely remembers from her past . She falls under his spell of hypnosis and begins to see through the eyes of Andreq, her future self in the next life, who teaches her about herself and how to move on from a world outside her piano. Is Andreq real-or is he a trick? Who is Gene Winter under all the secrets and deception?

I could really feel Carol's sadness and pain-especially her wish for her life to go back the way it was. Carol is easily a likable and, for most, relateable character. Carol's obsession with Andreq may have scared me a litt-okay, a lot.The story does get darker (and maybe a bit confusing) as it goes on.

My Memories of a Future Life is well-written story, with certainly interesting characters and themes, that hooked me into the end. When I was finished, it definitely gave me something to think about.

Derby Scribes 2011 Anthology

2011-11-02T23:24:00.002+08:00

Title: Derby Scribes 2011 Anthology

Authors: Christopher Barker, David Ball, Peter Borg, Neal James, Stuart Hughes, Richard Farren Barber, Victoria Charvill, Conrad Williams, Simon Clark, and Jennifer Brown

Publisher: Stumar Press

Pages: 107

Reviewed by Sabrina

An exciting mix of the fantastic, the wonderful, and the frightening by the talented members of the Derby Scribes writing group. Overall it's a versatile and multi-faceted anthology, blending corners of reality with aspects of the fantastical in a refreshing way.

Containing eleven short stories from Scribes Alison J. Hill, Christopher Barker, David Ball, Jennifer Brown, Peter Borg, Richard Farren Barber, Stuart Hughes and Victoria Charvill, plus guest authors Conrad Williams, Neal James, and Simon Clark.

Also featuring an introduction by Alex Davis and art work by Samantha Enyon. The short stories in this anthology include horror, supernatural, contemporary fantasy, science fiction and humour.

My Thoughts

Derby Scribes 2011 Anthology's stories were clever, humorous and a fun blend to read. Almost every short story had a surprising twist that was completely unexpected. The authors had been able to make me laugh, gasp, and smile in just a few pages.

I sort of expected this anthology to be mostly horror since the summary had noted the horror genre and because a few horror authors, such as Conrad Williams, wrote a short story for this anthology. It's actually more of the supernatural and contemporary genre (plus humor). So fans of those, go read this anthology!

The short stories that stuck out the most for me would have to be Dave's Dinosaur which is about an insane camping trip, along with Stump, a short story about a lucky Guinea Pig and Leaving Jessica, a story that was confusing at first, but great. Some others would be The Wake-up Call and Brylcreem and Pipe Tobacco.

I should really fix the labels...

You could buy the Derby Scribes Anthology at Stumar Press or Amazon.

Winners of the Decoy Ebook Giveaway!

2011-11-02T22:29:00.002+08:00

The Decoy Giveaway is over and our five lucky winners have been picked. The Winners Are...

Tore, Arianne Cruz, Julie Witt, Courtney Smith and Lan Chan!

Thank you for entering! Expect an email from S.B. Sebrick soon!

Far From the War by Jeffrey David Payne

2011-11-01T11:37:00.001+08:00

Title: Far From the War (Far From the War #1)

Author: Jeffrey David Payne

Publisher: Roche Harbor Books

Pages: 366

Reviewed by Sabrina

Economic ruin and partisan rancor have pushed America to the brink of a new civil war. Esther is caught in the middle, serving as a page in the United States House of Representatives when rogue politicians and military leaders stage a modern day coup d'etat. When the coup turns violent, she abandons Washington, D.C. for home. She must learn to survive on her own as transportation and financial networks fail, as the war disrupts food and water supplies. The result is a cautionary tale about political extremism and the true cost of war.

My Thoughts

Ester acted way younger than seventeen and I pretty much didn't like her. Book smart, not street smart. It is not a bad thing but I hated that she just walked around in the beginning, thinking she already knew how the world works and how she knows a lot, so go away mom and dad, blah blah blah. I loved her witty remarks though and how she changed throughout the story. She may have cried too much but considering what she's been though, I'd cut her some slack.

I'm going to admit that I had no idea about politics and all the technical terms that come with it. That's what threw me off at first. When I read through them in the beginning, I was confused, but I got the general idea of what was happening. Despite my lack of knowledge, I wish that I could have seen more about Ester's life during the time she was going through the Page Program at the United States House of Representatives. The war came too quickly for me, and although the story could accelerate, I thought it was too sudden.

The strongest points of this book would have to be that the reader could easily be attached to the characters (Not Ester, at first, anyway), dialogue, and that everything was put so bluntly. There was no sugar or buttercups when revealing the war. Everything was so raw and real.

Way too much tragedy and death for the first book, even if there is a war. But it shows that Mr. Payne is not afraid to cut off characters. Another complaint would be that I did not get any of the references the characters made at all. I don't really mind much though.

And lastly, I liked how Ester and Mathew's relationship went. All I can say is that it was different.

Winners of Chick Friends and Haven Giveaway!

2011-10-15T22:19:00.001+08:00

Hey everyone! Sabrina has entered the blog. First off, the winners of the The Chick Friends Rules! Giveaway is...

Arianne

The winner for The Willows: Haven Ebook Giveaway is...

Nur'ain

Congratz!!! We'll be emailing you both shortly! Secondly, at least, I think, I will be back to reviewing regularly at the end of the month will loads of new reviews and Follow Fridays! Stay tuned!

Decoy Giveaway

2011-10-08T11:09:00.001+08:00

Hello, everyone! Just wanted to pop in and say that S.B. Sebrick, the author of Decoy, is giving away 5 ebook copies of his book! All you have to do is follow us using Google Connect and then leave your GFC name, your email and the name you want us to announce (unless it's the same as your GFC name) in the comments below! Winners will be chosen using Random.org. Giveaway ends 10/31. Good luck!

Summary: The last few grueling years of training have served Kaltor well. He’s learned to harness the magic within his body, overcome a stronger opponent, avoid capture, and everything else an assassin-in-training needs to survive.

Or so he thought.

But when those they protect at an excavation site release a demon from the Abyss itself, Kaltor realizes just how poorly prepared they all are for what’s coming. Within a single night, their mining camp of one thousand people plummets to a couple hundred terrified survivors, the majority turned against each other by the demon’s potent abilities. Then she turns towards Shaylis, the largest city in the region, for the next stage of her plan.

In a constant battle of both steel and strategy Kaltor and his friends struggle to delay, deceive and defeat their opponent, who’s spent the last thousand years planning out every detail of her assault to perfection. As the number of casualties mounts and her final plan comes to light, Kaltor is left with only one option. He must draw on the secret power within himself, knowing if his true identity is discovered, his life and the fate of the world, will be changed forever.

Blog Tour: The Willows: Haven by Hope Collier

2011-10-01T14:24:00.000+08:00

Title: The Willows: Haven (The Willows #1)

Author: Hope Collier

Publisher: Soul Fire Press

Pages: 233

Reviewed by: Sabrina

When tragedy strikes, seventeen year-old Ashton Blake sets out on a cross-country road trip, leaving the comforts of Malibu for the mountains of Kentucky. Along the way, she encounters Gabe Willoughby—the mysterious drifter with eyes like the sea and a knowing smile. Getting to know Gabe raises questions about her past. But no secret can be buried forever, and Ashton soon finders herself in a world where water is air and myth becomes reality.

Just as Ashton comes to accept her newfound heritage, she’s summoned to fulfill a treaty laid down centuries before — a treaty that will divide her love and test her loyalty. In the end, her future isn’t her biggest concern, her humanity is. To run may mean war, but is she strong enough to stay?

My Thoughts

Ashton: A spoiled girl who undergoes an amazing transformation to something more-physically and emotionally. When she learns that her father has died, this sets off a series of events that changes her life forever.

Gabe: Your handsome, confident man on a motorcycle, veiled in mystery. He cares deeply for Ashton but he knows something very important that Ashton doesn't.

Kyle: The guy who got stuck with being the "best friend" to Ashton. He's the brother of Kevin, Ashton's boyfriend.

As you may not have known, I love mythology and thoroughly love reading it. So you may have guessed that I would be on board with this since The Willows: Haven is one of those books. Well, you were absolutely wron-okay, I was kidding-right! Hope Collier has written a wonderful YA novel that involves romance, surprises, a bit of action, and water nymphs. I loved how the author has built this world of hers. The imagination and creativity of it was breathless.

The development of the characters was what I also really liked. Like I said above, Ashton makes many changes throughout the story, along with Gabe. There may have been some confusing parts in which the characters do something strange or something. That may have brought it down a bit.

Giveaway Time!

We're giving away an ebook copy of The Willows: Haven so, of course, it's international! Just leave your name and email in the comments below, and you'll be automatically entered! We'll be using random.org to chose the winner. Contest will end on 10/12. Good Luck! By the way, there will be a grand prize of a signed print copy with swag and you can enter to win the last day of the tour (10/6 at A Tale of Many Reviews) with a video interview with the author herself!

The Next Stop is...

Charissa Weaks with a review and giveaway!

The Chick Friends Rules! Freshman Year Giveaway

2011-09-30T21:44:00.001+08:00

I am beyond happy to participate in thisgiveaway of my Edgy YA novel “The chick friends rules, Freshman year”, and Iwant to thank the Cup of Tea reviewersfor helping me generate some buzz, I couldn’t do it without them.

Onthe surface this book is simply about a cool kid who falls for the less popularfat girl in school and hides his feelings from his equally popular entourage bymaking bad choices and being plain stupid. But, I would like to share with thereaders of this blog the real life inspiration behind the Chick friends series.

One day, my 13 year old son (now 16 andsuper cute) came home and told me his chick friend confided in him that she wasbeing molested by her stepfather and her mother didn’t believe her. My mouthhung open as he matter-of-factly told the story while eating a bowl of CinnamonToast Crunch. As a mother and a woman I swung into action and wrote ananonymous letter to the school and the district giving crucial information inmy effort to help this child. Happily, she was taken out of the home and theschool and placed with relatives in another state; for three weeks. I washeartbroken to learn the system sent her back home to her abuser. She told myson she was vilified by family members for “breaking up the family and startingtrouble”. So, she went back home and endured molestation as the familyprotected the abuser. At this point I’m mad as heck and plotting a drive-bysmack upside the head to the girl’s mother. Realizing this wasn’t an option, Ibegan to write. This young girl has become my muse and it was my mission togive her and other victims a voice. But, as I read my first draft I realized,an entire novel based on molestation was too heavy. So, I began the rewrite butthis time from the point of view of the platonic male friend and classmate. Andhere we are 2 years and 4 books later.

Now, that the readers have a littlebackground I hope they will be encouraged to see how the characters play out.Happy reading. The progress of this book can be followed at: vicihoward.blogspot.com

Thanks bunches

Vici Howard

So Vici is giving one paperback copy away to one lucky winner in the U.S. (Sorry, international people! Maybe next time?) Giveaway will end Oct. 15!

Here's the summary: Rule #1: Treat her like one of the guys.

Rule #2: Don’t think of your chick friend when you…you know.

Rule #3: Don’t fall in love with her.

Fifteen-year old Grant Lee is a “cool kid” who is popular with the girls and adheres to a strict code of the “chick friends hierarchy.” There are girls a guy thinks about when he’s in his bedroom alone and there are girls a guy farts around. Grant is friends with Marta, the latter in the chick friends hierarchy. She is an intriguing but slightly overweight Latina with a story of her own. Grant is faced with an embarrassing dilemma; he has a secret crush on Marta but is ashamed to tell his friends because she’s the “fat girl.” If his secret gets out it could be social suicide for Grant. So he goes out of his way to conceal his feelings for her by making a series of bad choices and by engaging in risky behavior. When he gets the courage to tell her his true feelings, she mysteriously vanishes.

Official Website | Book Trailer

The Secret Power Beneath by Frank Acland

2011-09-27T17:13:00.002+08:00

Title: The Secret Power Beneath (Free Energy World #1)

Author: Frank Acland

Pages: 140

Reviewed by: Sabrina

Hans Swensen holds a position of great responsibility in a hidden nation built in a subterranean cave system beneath the mountain wilderness of Norway . His people are able to exist in secret because of the discovery of an inexhaustible form of energy that has led to the development of a society more technologically advanced than anywhere on earth. While physically utopian, there is an oppressive side to this society, with a totalitarian form of government in place which is fearful of dissent, disorder and abvove all, discovery by the outside world.

Hans knows something that imperils his people, and he must fight against all odds -- including his cousin, Fredrick, the President of the Nation of Bergsland -- to save his people from destruction.

When two young vacationers stumble upon this strange world accidentally, they are taken captive and find themselves caught up in events that test them to the very core -- and become involved in a drama that will determine their own future, the future of this nation and the secret power that drives it.

My Thoughts

Will and his sister, Natalie, go on vacation, they never expect to find a hidden world. After an avalanche that separated them from the others, they travel on, in search of a way out. Meanwhile, Hans Swensen is on a mission against his cousin, Fredrick, ruler of this lost world.

This is more for those who want action and adventure. The Secret Power Beneath was interesting and a bit exciting. I guess the main problem was that, again, that it was slow at some parts and this book may have not been much of my cup of tea. But do not let that discourage you from getting The Secret Power Beneath because that's just my opinion.

The author was able to make a fantastic concept of how a world remained hidden for all these years, who, like others, wish to remain hidden. The Secret Power Beneath is good for a quick read that will help you enjoy and pass the time.

Watching Grandma Circle the Drain by Allen Smith

2011-09-25T18:10:00.002+08:00

Title: Watching Grandma Circle the Drain

Author: Allen Smith

Publisher: AuthorHouse

Pages: 188

Reviewed by: Sabrina

In his latest tour de force, Allen Smith takes on the challenges of life from his own gritty perspective. Everything from surviving on-line dating to enduring his first sigmoidoscopy and advancing age. Watching Grandma Circle the Drain is a collection of Smith's most entertaining work from his previously published columns. In addition to his own experience with struggling to learn Spanish and annihilating the game of golf, he gives the reader an inside look at some of the things they've never wondered about, like managing persistent telemarketers, what it's like to qualify as a sperm donor and some of the most unusual ways to make a living without a college degree. In part two, Smith takes aim at news stories by attacking issues like home schooling, women competing in the Tour de France, dozing air traffic controllers and the first person to marry (and divorce) himself. Watching Grandma Circle the Drain is a bite-sized, entertaining look at the way we complicate our lives. Once you read it, you'll never look at life the same way again.

My Thoughts

After a week of studying, scheduling interviews/giveaways, making PowerPoints, and writing about 5 million reports, I definitely needed this. These stories had made my day. I could relate to some stories such as Instructions 101. I was smiling and laughing the whole way. Allen Smith writes from experiences to headlines, turning it into something outrageously funny and well-written, offering some lessons along the way. It also offers a hilarious view on life. After reading Watching Grandma Circle the Drain, I was no longer stressed as I was I originally was.

To all the kids out there, I suggest you don't read this since it contains some content not suitable for you. Really.

Defiance by G.C. Naffin

2011-09-23T18:34:00.001+08:00

Title: Defiance (The Successor Series #1)

Author: G.C. Naffin

Pages: 191

Reviewed by Sabrina

With her nation at war and her parents lost on the front lines, 16-year-old Vivian must find the strength to leave home and become a spy among her own people. There is only one problem: her parents are the king and queen, and she their only heir. Vivian must find the strength to leave home and become a spy among her own people—in order to discover the fate of her parents and assume the throne in their stead. On the other hand, if Vivian falls victim to their fate, the throne of Iledora will pass to her detestable aunt, Jaileene. Unexpectedly thrust into a tempest of political and imperial intrigue, Vivian is left with only two options. She must find her parents and bring them home, or stand back and watch as her country falls into the hands of the enemy. Armed only with a new alias, two trusted guards, and her stolid determination, Vivian scours the country for any information leading to her parents. However simple her intentions of returning them to the throne may be, her journey is complicated by challenges she'd not foreseen: encountering love, trusting in the unknown, and being at the mercy of the Bulvan emperor she swore to conquer.

My Thoughts

Review Time!

Vivian isthe kind of girl who doesn’t like to sit still, do nothing and be a good littleprincess that gets to hide inside her little castle. She takes things into herown hands. She makes the action. Shecares a lot about her kingdom, doing what’s best to protect it. She stands up to the rights of women, saying that they're just as equal as men (Booyah!) and takes down anyone who says otherwise.

Declan and Revin are like the north and south poles; completely opposite of each other. They went through the same war, side by side, ending up in different places.

The fate of Iledora is in their hands. Finding Vivian's parents are the only way to restore stability to the throne-or is it?

To be honest, at first, I did not care at all about the characters or what was going to happen to them. When something incredibly amazing or sad or insane happened to them, I would just be like, “Okay..... hmm…… oh well, next page.” I didn’t have a sense of what’s going on at some times. Even though I didn't care, I'm happy that it wasn't a story that concentrated to much on action. Towards the end, I became more interested in the story and the characters.

The book is taken at a slow pace, which I loved so I could get a hold on the world. In some parts, it was too slow. The ending was abrupt and immediately, I searched if there could be a sequel because there is no way a book should be cut off like that and have no sequel. I'm excited to read more!

Blog Tour: Guest Post by Mary Ting

2011-09-21T17:33:00.000+08:00

I started writing Crossroads after my grandmother passed away about 3 years ago. When these characters came to life in my mind, along with the character Gamma, inspired by my grandmother, it was a way for me to heal. I decided to start from a dream I had in high school, chapter one. Chapter two is also based on my dream as well. I didn’t think I would have much to write about, but when I made Claudia to be more like me, it was easy. Her first car, her first job, her first experience at camping and her grandmother having a stroke was all part of me. Too bad Michael wasn’t real…lol!!!

Many people like Davin, which I’m really happy about because his character was inspired by my friend who passed away. He was very likable and was a best friend to all his friends. Patty is my friend from church. She is exactly how I described her, social butterfly who knows everything about her friends and fashion. I named Claudia after a student I once had many years ago. I can still picture her face, just like an angel. When I was much younger, I had a crush on a boy name Michael, but his character is based off my husband, protective, romantic, and silly at times. No… he doesn’t have wings…lol!!!

Though I was busy with work, being a wife, a mother, and PTA president, I would always find time to write, even if that meant typing while I was cooking or brushing my teeth. Crossroads was written for a fast, fun reading with likable characters. Many have emailed me to let me know how Crossroads has helped them escaped from their everyday stress. Also, how they’ve connected to this book because of chapter one, having a loved one passed away. I took on a journey not knowing how rewarding it would be for me. I’ve meet so many wonderful people from all over the world through facebook, goodreads and blog sites. I’ve made everlasting friendship where friendship knows no boundaries. And I have to thank my grandmother who continues to watch over me from Heaven.

Giveaway Time!

Mary Ting is hosting a giveaway that will last for the rest of the tour! She's giving away a signed copy of Crossroads, a Swarovski crystal heart necklace, and a bracelet. Don't you just love it?

ENTER HERE

Don't forget to stop by the other tour stops!

Sept.15 : Books Ahoy (Giveaway) www.books-ahoy.blogspot.com

Sept.16 : Keeping Up with the Rheinlander's (Guest Post)

Sept.17 : StephLikesBooks (Review & Author Interview)

Sept.18 : Books Like Breathing (Review & Guest Post)

Sept.19 : Jen @ A Books and A Latte (Giveaway & Guest Post)

Sept.20 : Le'Grande Codex (Review, Author Interview, & Giveaway)

Sept.21 : Cup of Tea Reviews (Guest Post)

Sept.22 : From the Bookshelf of T.B. (Review, Author Interview, & Giveaway)

Sept.23 : SeeitORreadit (Character Interview & Giveaway)

Sept.24 : After the Book (Author Interview & Giveaway)

Sept.25: A Casual Reader's Blog (Review & Guest Post)

Sept.26: Mom Reads My Books! (Review & Giveaway)

Sept.27: YA Books: Beyond the Cover (Guest Post)

Sept.28: The Magic Attic (Review, Character Interview, & Giveaway)

Legend of Witchtrot Road by E.J. Stevens

2011-09-17T14:51:00.003+08:00

Title: Legend of Witchtrot Road (Spirit Guide #3)

Author: E.J. Stevens

Publisher: Sacred Oaks Press

Pages: 97

Reviewed by: Sabrina

Surviving agitated ghosts, irritated witches, angry werewolves, and the horrors of high school has never been so hard.

The night of Samhain may be behind them, but Yuki and her friends have only begun to face the challenges of their paranormal gifts. Tensions are rising--in the pack, at school, and within their tightly knit group of friends.

The tragic death of Wakefield High student Dylan Jacobs has emotions boiling over. The J-Team, Yuki's arch nemesis, have turned the entire football team against her. They claim that Yuki is a witch and blame her for the death of their fellow teammate. Will Yuki be able to solve the mystery of Dylan's death, and the legend of Witchtrot Road, before tempers flare and things turn violent?

Emma is the friend that Yuki turns to when things get tough, but she's been behaving strangely. Emma has been acting distant and seems to be coming down with a mysterious illness. What will Yuki and her friends do if their healer is truly sick?

Calvin has become Alpha and wants the best for his pack. He is a dedicated and compassionate leader willing to do anything for the good of his people, but will Cal be able to hold the pack together when a fiery, young werewolf comes seeking revenge?

Simon may still be a roguish playboy, but he is taking his role as Calvin's second in command deadly serious. Will Simon be able to focus on his pack duties when he is forced to face his dark, emotional past?

My Thoughts

Note: Spoilers from Previous Books. You may want to read those first before reading this review, which I strongly suggest you do! No, I am not back to reading and reviewing books. I had written this review previously after I read Legend of Witchtrot Road in the beginning of the month and it was scheduled to be posted today.

So Yuki and the gang are back! Right now, I have to claim this one as the best in the series. This one stands out, I think, because of a certain change in the characters. I'm still in this happy haze after reading it a few hours earlier.

Yuki is stronger than never before and still just as funny! She stands up for herself and tries hard not to let anyone take her down. Cal isn't that much in the sidelines. He's still as sweet as sugar, despite his new found taste for thrill and adventure (that may or not be caused by his wolf spirit). There is also some increasing sparks in between Simon and Emma. We also get to learn Simon's true age.

The friendship between the characters was very heartwarming. In novels recently, I see friends betraying and doubting each other, with upsets me most of the time. It's great to see that this was one of the novels that still has true loyalty and friendship.

I expected more action for Simon and Gabriel. Gabriel just seems to be there. It doesn't look like he's all that important to the story. He throws out threats but doesn't act on them.

Lastly, Ms. Stevens had emailed me about a novella coming out which will serve as a prologue to Yuki and Cal's relationship! I also searched Goodreads and found there is going to be a book 4 & 5! I'm so excited!

100 Followers Giveaway Winner

2011-09-09T09:00:00.000+08:00

Lucky: I can't believe over 100 people participated in this giveaway.

Ashi: I kinda wished we used rafflecopter.

Lucky: And as much as we would have liked to have added another winner...

Ashi: ...for gaining over 200 followers...

Sabrina: I'm broke.

Ashi: So without further ado...

Lucky: Here is the winner of the 100 follower giveaway!

Dea S.

Ashi: Congratulations! Thank you to everyone who entered!

Sabrina: How come I only get to talk twice in this post?

Lucky: Because nobody wants to listen to your nonsense.

Sabrina: *glares* Now it's a third time, I guess. An important announcement - I simply do not have time to read and review books right now. My grades are starting to slip, and although Ashi and Lucky only stop by to review once in a blue moon, they are also super busy to even do that. I'll be taking a few weeks off and when I come back, there'll be a new header and I'll be doing Follow Friday again!

The Juliet Spell by Douglas Rees

2011-09-05T06:52:00.003+08:00

Title: The Juliet Spell

Author: Douglas Rees

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Pages: 304

Reviewed by Sabrina

I’m Juliet.

At least, I wanted to be.

So I did something stupid to make it happen.

Well, stupid and wonderful.

I wanted the role of Juliet more than anything. I studied hard. I gave a great reading for it—even with Bobby checking me out the whole time. I deserved the part.

I didn’t get it. So I decided to level the playing field, though I actually might have leveled the whole play. You see, since there aren’t any Success in Getting to Be Juliet in Your High School Play spells, I thought I’d cast the next best—a Fame spell. Good idea, right?

Yeah. Instead of bringing me a little fame, it brought me someone a little famous. Shakespeare. Well, Edmund Shakespeare. William’s younger brother.

Good thing he’s sweet and enthusiastic about helping me with the play...and—ahem—maybe a little bit hot. But he’s from the past. Way past. Cars amaze him—cars! And cell phones? Ugh.

Still, there’s something about him that’s making my eyes go star-crossed....

Will Romeo steal her heart before time steals him away?

My Thoughts

The Juliet Spell was pretty interesting. It was…good. I likedthe idea of the story although some parts didn’t make sense to me. I liked thatthis was one of the books that has a strong relationship between the MC andtheir parent. The Juliet Spell had been entertaining but there was like a glass wall separating me from thestory. It was way better then I expected though. If your looking for a quick, fun read, this may be for you. If you werelooking for something deeper, well...you better go looking elsewhere.

I’m reallydistressed at the fact that none of the characters had been really worriedabout messing up the past and letting characters of the past see a lot of thefuture. I’m also sceptical that everyone had easily believed and took intostride that Edmund had come from the past and was the brother of Shakespeare.

I didn’tsee how Edmund fell in “love” with Miranda and I really hesitate to call whatMiranda was feeling “love.” I didn’t see any romance between them until halfwayinto the book and that seemed too rushed. I was rooting for Drew, her new best friend, who bonded withMiranda much more than Edmund and was a far more loveable character.

Edmundseems to have only tiny flaws according to Miranda. He has a beautiful voice,super handsome, tall, brilliant, strong, great acting/directing skills, cooltalents, awesome accents, and everybody loves him. Bad things about him? He’s abit sexist, missing two of his teeth, and from the past. That's about it.

I didn’tlike Miranda. She’s either moaning about wanting to be Juliet or obsessing oversome guy who doesn’t like her back. Wash,rinse, and repeat.

The ending saved this book from getting a 2. Normally books don't usually end the way it did and I liked it.

*Note: this book has been received through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Chosen by Sheenah Freitas

2011-08-27T18:06:00.006+08:00

Title: The Chosen (The Chosen Chronicles #1)

Author: Sheenah Freitas

Publisher: Red Willow Publishing

Pages: 232

Reviewed by: Sabrina

Kaia’s entire life has erupted in flames after an assassin appears and burns her village down. She’s rescued by a god from another planet who requests her help because she’s the descendant of their last savior. Together with Reeze — the only other survivor from her village and her appointed guardian — they set off on a quest to find the treasures of the gods in hopes of preventing a dire prophesy.

Kaia and Reeze quickly meet the Tueors, a group of people many thought extinct, who are searching specifically for Kaia. Their intention: to protect the truth. As Kaia discovers more about the truth and her family’s past, she also learns of the Tueors’ bloody secret. Will Kaia be the savior the gods have been waiting for? Or will she let the prophesy come true?

My Thoughts

The Chosen is about a girl named Kaia. Her village was destroyed by a fire, along with most of the people in it. She's rescued by a boy named Reeze, another survivor. They find safety within a shrine where they are whisked away by two priestesses. They are sent on a mission to another world, Zinc. They are joined by Catrina and Derek. The story is taken at a slow pace. For the first half of the book, I think it should have been faster. The other half is the one that really gets you going!

I found myself hating and liking Kaia. She doesn't mope around, constantly complain, or take out her frustration/anger/sadness on other people, unlike most heroines (which is a good thing. A very good thing). She's the quiet observer that constantly questions the people around her. I do wish that I could see more emotion in her and for her to act umm...kickass maybe or at least, voice her opinions once in a while?

There are two love interests, I guess, in The Chosen. Introducing Shawn and Reeze! Shawn is your average nice guy... or is he? Despite his warm demeanor, he is actually a dangerous warrior and considers himself to be the worst. Reeze is the mysterious and serious one. He doesn't talk much at first (and I didn't like him all that much). When he does, it's usually short, curt replies. He tries to eliminate any threat to Kaia and severely punishes those who harm her.

I loved the mythology of the book. The details about the Gods, Luminaries, Aeons and circles fascinated me. All the information clicked into place.

Send in the Kids: A Mission Begins by Max Darnell

2011-08-24T17:48:00.001+08:00

Title: Send in the Kids: A Mission Begins

Author: Max Darnell

Pages: 150

Reviewed by: Sabrina

Introducing the New Thriller for Young Adults!

In a time when the world's future is more uncertain than ever, two companies look to space to be mankind's saving grace. One of these companies, led by charismatic engineer Jan Empre, champions pure technology, while the other believes in the necessity of human explorers. The catch is that these human explorers are twelve-year olds. Follow Forrest Winston and the rest of the Horizon crew as they embark on a harrowing journey to Mars, risking not only their normal childhoods, but their lives.

My Thoughts

Robon and Omnicure are two companies competing in a mission to Mars. Robon's spacecraft is manned entirely by machines, while Omnicure has 12-year-old kids manning theirs. The kids that were chosen had previously passed numerous tests and are considered the brightest to make it though the selection process. They could also soon be dead. Robon is out to get them. Will these kids stand a chance?

Another case of no showing, just telling. It was the reason why I was not drawn in the first chapters. I wanted more descriptions. I wanted to know about the other characters’ features. I wanted to see some more of the use of the five senses here. I can't get a grip on Forrest. All I know is that he's really smart and he loves baseball.

Send in the Kids may not be a fun read at first, but when the kids start on the mission to Mars, the story becomes more exciting. It ends with a shocking cliff-hanger that makes you curious enough to read the next book.

All That Matters by Youseph Tanha

2011-08-20T16:22:00.004+08:00

Title: All That Matters

Author: Youseph Tanha

Pages: 96

Reviewed by: Sabrina

Ethan Wright is just like any other high school kid that is one day lucky enough to meet the girl of his dreams. Throughout the course of high school the young couple learn to cope with incredibly difficult odds to discover all that matters.

My Thoughts

This book is about Ethan, who falls in love with Amanda, a girl who has been diagnosed with Leukemia. It tells about their life that, at some points, are filled with happiness while others filled with despair. All That Matters gives you a view on how cancer can affect your body and the people around you.

All That Matters is somewhere between good and okay. What kept me from giving it 3 stars (good) is that All That Matters progresses too fast, the author tells rather than shows (most of the time), and that it didn't catch my interested for the first half of the book.

You could learn a great deal about life and love from this. It has realistic and somewhat memorable characters. All That Matters raises good questions like "Will you be going through this for the person you love, even if they might not feel the same way?"

(Spoiler Alert) I'm surprised Amanda stayed with Ethan as long as she did. I'm surprised that she even broke up with him after all they been through.

*It may contain unsuitable content for children.

The Liebster Blog Award

2011-08-19T10:32:00.003+08:00

Wow, our first blog award! We never thought we would be getting any of these. Thank you so much to Liz from The World of the Spork Master and Ninja Girl from Ninja Girl Reads for the Liebster Blog Award! Happy Belated Birthday to Liz and good luck on your trip! Congratulations for completing your book, Ninja Girl! You both rock!

The goal for this award is to spotlight 5 terrific blogs who have not yet reached 200 followers! So here are our nominations:

1) The Writing Wizard

2) The Book Mermaid

3) The Uncool Carrot

4) The Little Book Blog

5) Fly Away With A Book

The Next Shakespeare by Wanda Ernstberger

2011-08-18T15:23:00.002+08:00

Title: The Next Shakespeare

Author: Wanda Ernstberger

Publisher: Etopia Press

Pages: 20

Reviewed by: Sabrina

Who thought a poem would trigger World War Three?

Tristan Gunner—skateboard fanatic, junk food junkie, award-winning poet. But you’d think he just got detention instead of the school’s grand prize for poetry. And even though Chris won five Math and Science awards, the next Einstein is crying because he’s not the next Shakespeare. Astra wants them both to cut the drama, and caught between a mortified winner and a crybaby loser, she hopes Chris can get over his attitude before World War Three erupts in her kitchen.

My Thoughts

Another short story review! The Next Shakespeare is about three friends who fought all because one of them, Tristan, had won a poetry award. It's a story that gives you a good life lesson that you should know (If you haven't already).

Chris is the character I'm sure most of you would hate. He's vain, selfish, shallow, and whiny. I'm glad he learns his lesson fairly quickly. Tristan would be the exact opposite: sweet and unprivileged.

Knowing more to the character, Astra, and more descriptions would have to be the issue, but it's a short story after all. The Next Shakespeare is something to be checked out.

(Wow, it's been a while since I gave this rating out!)

Harmless Adjustment by Kerry Kinlan

2011-08-17T06:10:00.001+08:00

Title: Harmless Adjustment

Author: Kerry Kinlan

Pages: 22

Reviewed by: Sabrina

John knows he can’t change the past, can’t undo the one thing he now wishes he had dealt with differently. But what if he can change the painful memories of it in his wife’s mind? Would that bring instant healing to her and to their relationship?

My Thoughts

Since this is a short story, I have to make this a somewhat short review or else I’d be giving the whole story away. In fact, I had to keep rewriting this review because I kept giving spoilers.

John is a man who loves his wife but simply cannot take her constant moping, nagging, crying, uncaring demeanour that has been there ever since they had to move in with his resentful brother years ago. Now of course, they moved out and are well away from him but his wife still can’t forget the past. So what happens when he has a chance to make her forget?

I thought that magic should have appeared much more in the story or be explained. John should have put more effort into making his wife happy rather than taking the easy way out. Other than that, Harmless Adjustment was interesting.

Rippler by Cidney Swanson

2011-08-16T19:18:00.002+08:00

Title: Ripple (The Rippler Series #1)

Author: Cidney Swanson

Publisher: Williams Press

Pages: 284

Reviewed by: Sabrina

Samantha Ruiz has a freak gene that makes her turn invisible, or ripple. She can’t control it, and it’s getting worse. Afraid of becoming a lab-rat, Sam keeps her ability secret, until fellow runner Will Baker sees her vanish into thin air. Will promises secrecy and help, and Sam begins to fall in love. Together, the two discover there are worse things than being a scientific curiosity. Someone’s been killing people who possess Sam's gene. A mysterious man from France sends letters that offer hope for safety, but also reveal a sinister connection with Nazi experiments. The more time Sam spends with Will, the less she can imagine life without him. When Sam uncovers secrets from her past, she must choose between keeping Will in her life or keeping Will safe.

My Thoughts

Okay, so maybe there will be one or two more reviews.

Sam: A rippler; a girl born with the ability to turn invisible and walk through objects while she’s at it. She can also move as fast as a race car in rippler mode. The problem is that she has a hard time controlling it.

Will: Another rippler. He’s a sweet, brave, nice guy who stands up for what’s right and that you’ll fall in love with instantly. And hey! He cooks!

Mickie: Will’s funny, smart, responsible older sister. She’s very overprotective of Will and cares a lot for him, although she never wants to admit it. She worked for Dr. Pfeffer, a professor who studied Helmann’s disease and disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

I liked that Will and Sam's relationship develops at a slow pace. Nowadays, YA romances happen in a day or by the end of chapter one (I'm exaggerating on that last part but it's pretty close). They fell in love because the things they had in common brought them together, like their love for running and rippler powers, not because they were soulmates or lifemates or something like that.

Rippler ends with a budding romance, a mystery and a sweet scene that you won’t want to miss! What I loved, loved, LOVED was that the book actually ended with THE END. You should go out and get this book, like now.

100 Followers Giveaway

2011-08-12T20:14:00.011+08:00

Sabrina: We reached 100 followers!

Ashi: *nudge* You didn't say hi.

Sabrina: It's okay. It doesn't matter.

Ashi: Yes, it does.

Sabrina: *sigh* Fine. Hi everyone!

Ashi: Better.

Lucky: We're hosting a giveaway.

Sabrina: Why?

Lucky: *face palm* Weren't you the one who suggested it?

Sabrina: No, I didn't.

Ashi: *glares*

Sabrina: I-I mean, yes, I did. Isn't this giveaway a little late since we reached 100 followers a week ago or something?

Ashi: It doesn't matter. We're hosting it now anyway.

Lucky: Could we please get back to what we were talking about?

Sabrina: What were we talking about?

Lucky: *double face palm* THE GIVEAWAY!

Sabrina: But what is there to get back to since we're talking about the giveaway too?

Lucky: Just forget it.

Sabrina: Um, what exactly are we giving away?

Lucky: Let me explain. We're giving away any book from the Book Depository that's under $15. It's international as long as you're on their free shipping list.

Ashi: The giveaway will end at 11:59pm on September 9th, GMT +8.

Sabrina: Really?! Can I join? I'm a sea away from you and Lucky!

Ashi: No! Followers only. Besides, you're paying for this giveaway.

Sabrina: WHAT!?!?

Lucky: The giveaway is now CLOSED. Thank you to everyone who participated and we hope to see you in future giveaways!

Codename: Dancer by Amanda Brice

2011-08-12T18:55:00.003+08:00

Title: Codename: Dancer (Dani Spevak Mystery #1)

Author: Amanda Brice

Pages: 104

Reviewed by: Sabrina

Aspiring ballerina Dani Spevak is thrilled when hit TV show Teen Celebrity Dance Off comes to the campus of her performing arts boarding school. She trades the barre for the ballroom and gets set to cha-cha-cha to stardom with Hollywood wonderboy Nick Galliano.

At first their partnership is awkward, because Dani is in awe of her longtime teen idol crush. But soon their chemistry is heating up the dance floor and the attraction moves into real life.

Her excitement is short-lived, because someone wants her off the show. Bombs, poisoning, arson… Will Dani’s 15 minutes of fame be over before she reaches age 15? Dani and her friends are suddenly at the center of some serious sabotage. And if she doesn’t find out who is behind it, her next pirouette could be her last.

It’s like Nancy Drew in toe shoes in this light-hearted tween mystery, a finalist for Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart® Award for Best Young Adult Romance.

My Thoughts

Dani cannot believe that she has been accepted into Mountain Shadows Academy of Arts. What’s even more unbelievable is that she’s also been one of the few selected for Teen Celebrity Dance-off, a show that has decided to use the school for their next season. To top it off, she’s going to be dancing with Nick Galliano, the hot new teen actor of Hollywood! The good luck stops there as she learns that someone is trying to sabotage the show and everyone seems to put the blame solely on her. Before Dani can dance her way to stardom, she needs to unmask her culprit.

I love a good mystery and it’s been a long time since my last one. Codename: Dancer was a great start to get back to the genre! Codename: Dancer is a fast-paced novel that you will easily love and be drawn to. It's a wonderful combination of dancing, mystery and reality tv. It's not exactly middle-grade or YA. It's something in between.

I want to see how Dani and Craig’s relationship progresses. He didn’t seem like a good guy at first and didn’t show up that much, but he eventually had me rooting for him a bit in the end.

My favourite part (this is a spoiler, folks) would have to be when Dani kicked Nick to the curb. I was positively grinning when Dani gave him a piece of her mind. I never trusted him from the beginning, you know. Everything seemed like an act.

I have a few questions: (More spoilers. I am so sorry. I cannot break the habit.) One, they should have asked at pp. 49, “Who knew Dani’s phone number?” Second, how did the cops get there so fast at the end?

Follow Friday (16)

2011-08-12T18:29:00.003+08:00

It's Friday~! Well, in my side of the world. I need to at least take down half my tbr by the end of the weekend. I'm on a tight schedule. Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read. Our features are Steph likes Books and Teen Fiction Centre. This week's question is...

How has your reading habits changed since you were a teen? Or if you are still a teen what new genres are you in love with currently?

Anything YA! I don't care if it has horror, fantasy, mystery, dystopian, or whatever! If it's YA, I'll love it. End of Story.
Also, don't forget to check out our 100 Follower's Giveaway!

Catalyst by Marc Johnson

2011-08-11T18:00:00.000+08:00

Title: Catalyst (The Passage of Hellsfire #1)

Author: Marc Johnson

Publisher: Longshot Publishing

Pages: 197

Reviewed by: Sabrina

For centuries, the kingdom of Alexandria has protected Northern Shala from the monstrous creatures lurking in the Wastelands. Now, a dark force threatens that fragile peace.

Far from home, Alexandria's princess is abducted. When a young villager named Hellsfire stumbles upon her and her captors, he rushes in to rescue her, alone and unarmed. His fear and fury unleash an uncontrollable magical force that grants him the power to save the princess-and change the world.

Hellsfire has never craved nor dreamed of power. But such magic as he now possesses has not been seen in Northern Shala for a thousand years, since the devastation of the War of the Wizards and the creation of the Wastelands.

Now Hellsfire must leave all he's ever known, and make a dangerous journey to learn to master this wild, ferocious power-power he knows he is not ready to wield. More difficult still, he needs to master his emotions. If he can't, the power will consume him, Alexandria will fall, and darkness will eclipse the land, destroying everyone he loves.

In the dead of cold, the spark shall burn...

My Thoughts

When Hellsfire stumbles upon a mysterious woman being chased by even more mysterious, suspicious men, he automatically goes into "Hero Mode." He tries to rescue the woman and almost fails. What saved him was his newly discovered ability-the power to use fire.

The woman he saved is no damsel in distress. She's the brave princess of Alexandra, who had been kidnapped until she escaped from her vicious captors. She gives him a reward and befriends him, but leaves as soon as she came. Hellsfire is smitten and thinks constantly about her.

Over the next few days, after telling his mother about his adventure, he prepares for a journey to find this angel that his mother told him to look for, something that she withheld from him until he shown the signs. Hellsfire practices to gain control of his powers and eventually, meets this angel. This "angel" is actually a wizard, that wishes to train Hellsfire because he is "the One."

The pacing was just right for the novel. The plot got started very quickly, which is a good thing since some YA novels take five to eight chapters before the action really starts. The author perfectly blended in the information. I already got a hold on the universe of Catalyst. Catalyst is great for anyone new to the epic fantasy genre. It has much potential and I would love to see how the series will play out. I'll be keeping an eye on this one.

An Interview with Michelle Sawyer

2011-08-10T18:10:00.002+08:00

I love interviews. Don't you too? It's fun to read their answers. You get to learn more about an author and his/her book. You might even get some advice from them. So here is Michelle Sawyer, author of Quest of the Demon! (Read my review here)

In the beginning, Darci ends up in a different world that’s very unlike our own. Could you tell us more about this place?

The Land of Nahaba is full of people that are similar to ours, but with so much more; animals, danger, magic… It’s where I put all my characters. At first it was just a place where I’d put all my characters from my drawings but then as I started writing, it grew into an entire world that at times, I’d escape to, having adventures of the imagination. With technology similar to our middle-ages there are all sorts of creatures, people and cultures.

Was any of your characters based on any people you know in real life?

Taslessian was actually based on one of my best friends Simon who I’ve known since I was five. I tried to capture the lanky, sleepy teenager at first but then he ended up developing into his own person once he received his master’s staff. When I first started writing the story, I was Darci. It wasn’t until the second draft that I realised I had written something real and decided to change it.

Did Quest of the Demon go the way you had originally planned?

Not at all. At first it was just going to be another short story. I was writing a lot at 14. Part one in this story was where I thought it was going to end. Grisham would send Darci home and that would be it… but for some reason, the adventure continued, growing into the 120k novel it is today.

Describe your book in only ten words.

Real girl, new world fantasy adventure with an unexpected end.

What are you working on now?

All at once, book 3 and 5 – I also just submitted book two to my publisher. Tallen – Quest of the Demon Aftermath 1 is due out in December this year. Book 3 is called Elflings and I’m in the process of going through another draft while book 5… I’m hand writing the first draft when I have a spare moment… that’s when I’m not working full time in the Real Estate Industry (what can I say, I haven’t won tats lotto yet nor I have I sold a million copies of my first novel… only Nine hundred and ninety nine thousand and something left to go)

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

It’s a sad fact that not everyone will like what you write, you can’t please everyone so don’t stress about writing what you think others will like. Write for enjoyment or you might end up like so many others – giving up on their dream. It took me 14 years to get out there and there are many others that took even longer! Never give up.

Just for Fun Questions

Why does the Easter bunny carry eggs?

Because the chicken was too busy crossing the road.

Why does a round pizza come in a square box?

So it sits nicely on my passenger car seat? More likely because it’s much easier to fold the box and have it close? Round would be too complicated.

Do you have a pet?

I have a 3 year old Labrador called Roy and a 7 year old blue tongue lizard called Sir Slivinius. (Sliv for short). Roy can’t quite play dead – you shoot him, he rolls over, legs in the air but his tail keeps wagging and Sliv – well his favorite food is a toss-up between pineapple or snails.

Favourite drink?

Lemon Lime and Bitters. I had one just tonight with one of the first lemons from my very own lemon tree.

Favourite book?

That is really too hard to answer. There are so many! I’d have to go with the Lioness series from Tomara Pearce.

Favourite author?

Tomara Pearce, Isobelle Carmondy, David Eddings, Raymond E Feist, Maggie Furry…

Favourite…anything?

Favourite sport would be basketball.

And that's it for today! You can enter this code in Smashwords to get 75% off her book! Doo iittt~

ZF82E

Blog Tour: An Interview With Melissa Douthit

2011-08-09T18:06:00.002+08:00

Hello, I'm Suzanne! My account is up and running so lets get this show on the road. Today, I have with me today Melissa Douthit, the author of The Raie'Chaelia.

How did you get the idea for The Raie’Chaelia?

It just popped in my head like all my ideas do. I have no idea where they come from. Sometimes, I have a dream and I write ideas down. Other times, they just pop in my head, like the word Terravail did. I didn't know what that word meant until I was a quarter way into my novel. For the most part, I knew I wanted to write a story about a heroine but I don't want to give away too much right now about what Raie'Chaelia means. It's real meaning evolves through the novel, not being revealed until the end.

Was there any obstacle you had to overcome when writing Raie'Chaelia?

Yeah, there were some logical issues I had to work out in the story so that there were no contradictions. I'm actually still working on them for book 2. I think it is just part of the writing process. Once you lay down certain rules in your story, you have to follow those rules or your reader will notice.

Do you work with an outline, or just write?

I can't work with an outline. It takes too much of my logical brain to do and then when I go to write, the words are lifeless. I need the full capacity of my right brain which means I just sit and write and the story actually grows in the telling. Whenever the characters are surprised, I am surprised too because I didn't realize beforehand that that particular scene would happen. It's almost as if this world I am writing about exists somewhere on it's own and I am just peeking into it, writing down what I am seeing. It's a great journey!

Describe your book in only ten words.

Fast-paced, lively, captivating, complex, deep, new, romantic, funny and creative.

Can you tell us more about The Raie’Chaelia?

It is the first of a trilogy and part a larger plot that is revealed later on.

Do you have any other projects going on?

A ton - I am adapting a screenplay from my novel and working on book 2 and 3 of this trilogy, The Legend of the Raie'Chaelia. I also have notes already written for three other books I want to write after this project is done.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Write what you love. Don't write to the market. If you write what you love, your readers will be able to tell and they will love it too. Also, do a lot of research into how you want to publish once you have your first novel written. There are pros and cons to both traditional and indie publishing. I chose indie because it satsified my own personal characteristics.

Just For Fun Questions:

Why does the Easter bunny carry eggs?

I actually know the answer to this, at least the answer that most people believe. Rabbits and eggs are the symbols for fertility and new life. Originally, Easter was a pagan holiday named after the Saxon fertilty goddess "Eastre" where people celebrated the spring and new life after a long, dead winter.

Why does a round pizza come in a square box?

I think I know the answer to this one, too. =o) One of my favorite pastimes, besides writing, is cooking. Whenever I cook a pizza, I use a baking peel to remove it from the oven. In order to place a freshly-cooked pizza into a box with a baking peel, the box must be square or else you will never be able to slide the pizza in. It would never work with a round box.

Do you have a pet?

Yes, I have an English Coonhound. His name is Copper. He is quite a character.

Favourite drink

Wine.

Favourite book?

Whichever one I am currently reading. At this time, it happens to be the Hunger Games.

Favourite author?

Robert Jordan

Favourite…anything?

Writing, reading, cooking, and swimming.

Contest - Free e-reader or $100 gift certificate

Enter a drawing and win a free e-reader of your choice or a $100 gift certificate to your favorite store by answering the following question:

What is the name of Melissa's Pet?

To answer the question go to this link and fill in the information (place answer in Message field): http://melissadouthit.com/contact-me-2/ Contest ends September 10, 2011. Winner will be announced September 12th on Melissa Douthit's Blog.

Blog Tour: The Raie'Chaelia by Melissa Douthit

2011-08-08T20:29:00.006+08:00

Title: The Raie'Chaelia (The Legend of the Raie'Chaelia #1)

Author: Melissa Douthit

Publisher: Lucky Bat Books

Pages: 301

Reviewed by: Suzanne/Lucky

When Chalice sets off for Branbury in the middle of the night with her grandfather's instructions, she has no idea of the dangers that await her. The King's men have destroyed her home village of Canton and she is suddenly thrown into a Terravailian world that she does not know. Lost and alone, she is hard pressed to evade the iron grasp of the madman who rules the land. With the help of a friendly Chinuk, an old man, and a book that she discovers along the way, not only does she find true friends and true love, but she also finds her true self and what it means to be the Raie'Chaelia.

My Thoughts

My internet is going haywire so I asked Sabrina to post this review for me. It should be good tomorrow so I'll be able to post the interview on my account.

Chalice is a girl who knows how to kick butt! She can take whatever comes her way. She has been trained to do so. So going on a quest for her grandfather should be a cinch right? Not if it involves leaving your family, having your village destroyed, learning life changing revelations and overthrowing an evil king! At least she'll have Jeremiah, her handsome, honorable childhood friend whose a skilled archer with a brilliant mind, and Buneja, a loyal, smart Chinuk.

The Raie'Chaelia has a brilliant storyline. The beginning was a bit dull but it gained a great momentum as the story went along. I tried to savor each and every word that came off the page. The descriptions weren't too over the top for me. You could practically imagine almost the whole thing. The characters were so easy to love. Chalice quickly earned my respect, with her amazing skill to swiftly take down enemies. My eyes didn't even close to blink. Excuse me as I let them rest for a moment.

Giveaway Time!

One winner will be chosen to win an ebook copy of The Raie'Chaelia! Giveaway ends at midnight on August 15th, GMT +8.

Click HERE to Enter

Thanks for visiting our stop! Remember to visit the others:

8/1: Guest Post & Giveaway @ Bookchilla

8/3: Guest Post & Giveaway @ This Miss Loves to Read

8/5: Giveaway @ My{reads}da

8/8: Interview & Giveaway @ Cup of Tea Reviews

8/10: Guest Post & Giveaway @ Peeking Between the Pages

8/11: Interview & Giveaway @ From The Bookshelf of T.B.

8/12: Giveaway @ oodles of books

8/15: Interview & Giveaway @ Books Ahoy

8/17: Guest Post & Giveaway @ Hywela Lyn

8/19: Giveaway @ Everything to Do With Books

8/22: Guest Post & Giveaway @ ChicaReader

8/24: Interview & Giveaway @ Confessions of a Readaholic

8/29: Interview & Giveaway @ Manga Maniac Cafe

8/30: Giveaway @ The Librarian’s Bookshelf

8/31 Raindrop Reflections

Blog Tour: An Interview With Matt Xell

2011-08-05T17:32:00.008+08:00

Hi! Thank you for visiting our part of the tour! This is Sabrina and today I'm with Matt Xell, the author of Tower of Parlen Min. Please give him a warm welcome! (Read my review here) Caution: Might be a Harry Potter Spoiler Somewhere.

How did you get the idea for the Tower of Parlen Min?

I came up with the idea for Tower of Parlen Min after waking up from a very vivid nightmare that I had back in september of 2006 when was I was 18. Then I merged the concept of the nightmare (which was a bizarre mash-up of the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and House on Haunted Hill movies) with another story I was working on at the time called The Narrow Escapes of Ben Benns which was something like Lemony Sniket's A Series Of Unfortunate Events and the Dennis the Menace comics. Then Ves Asirin seemingly came out of nowhere and proposed to be the main character of the story, he was far more interesting and intriguing with his memory-loss thing going on so I had to let Ben go.

The Narrow Escapes of Ves Asirin was originally meant to be an unending series of paranormal, mystery and suspense graphic novels, but after finishing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in 2007 and not liking the way Voldemort killed himself (yes, of course, he killed himself) instead of Harry beating him to a proper duel, I decided I wanted to write a book where the main protagonist beat the hell out of the main baddie for all the pain and grief they'd caused everyone. So I made a prompt decision to turn Ves' stories into six novels which would end with the greatest badguy dusting ever. After about the fourth chapter, the book started to write itself for the most part ... and for a while it got out of hand. I introduced loads of fantasy elements as well as some sci-fi ones and it got to the point where I couldn't describe what genre the book fit into (I believe the most general one is Young Adult Speculative Fiction right now). After 2 years of rewrites, edits and cutouts (of which there would be many more), I completed the first draft of Tower of Parlen Min on my 21st birthday (which was sad-happy kind of thing) in 2009.

Was there any obstacle you had to overcome when writing Tower of Parlen Min?

Oh, there were loads, but I have to say now that I look back on the last five years of working on this project that, I was hands down, the greatest obstacle. Everytime that I became lazy, depressed, angry or acknowleged my 'non-existant' self-limiting beliefs of what I thought I couln't do, progress on the writing and marketing of the book would stall for months at times.

Which character could you relate to most to in your book?

I'd say Ves, without a doubt, at the time I wrote the book any way. Like Ves, I'm still kind of socially-retarded (that's a technical term by the way, lol) and part of Ves' recklessness and stubborness, I'd say comes from my own childhood. I frown a lot too and abuse the phrases 'or whatever', 'like I said' and 'what's the word'. And for the longest time I had a problem with looking at people straight in the eye, I kind of still do. I guess it's a self-concious trait.

Could you tell us about the main character Ves?

To be honest, after I completed Tower of Parlen Min, I came to find that Ves was pretty much a mystery to me as well. I thought I knew him when I initally created him. At the start of the book he was pretty much an amalgam of various characters that I drew inspiration from: Harry Potter, Uzumaki Naruto, Edward Elrick from Full Metal Alchemist, Lain from Serial Experiments, Link from The Legend of Zelda, Haley Joel Osment in the Sixth Sense and A.I and Feild Cate (whom Ves owes a lot of his initial character designs to) in Placebo's Song to Say Goodbye music video. He was quiet, introverted and disliked most people. And initially, I didn't want the reader to like or even relate with him at all.

But after the seventh chapter, The Sword Challenge, Ves took on a life of his own and began writing himself. He pretty much said and did anything he wanted, some of what surprised, shocked and awed even me. As he spent more and more time with Vikey Trishire's character, he opened up, became more friendly and had lot more to say about everyone and everything around him. He became a lot less humble and timid, and became more and more reckless and daring after the first Sword Challenge task. I had to rewrite some of the earlier chapters to smoothly introduce his endlessy questioning and curiosity driven nature. He also started to show a much softer side to him in the chapter Dairy of Mocto and as he got closer to Tammi Erik's Character.

Of course, the climax to the whole story would ultimately change Ves' life forever much more that anything else, and even I will have to wait to see what he's really like in Eclipse Over Atuwis Wood.

*Describe your book in only ten words.

An adventure beyond your wildest dreams, a nightmare beyond your wildest dreams (oops -- that's 12 words isn't it? My bad)

What can we expect in the next book?

For Ves, the next book, Eclipse Over Atuwis Wood, will be about understanding what it means to be a Kero'ei. He'll be doing loads of training with his master, Eslo, and the secretive Seven. They'll be a lot more action, suspense and twists. Ves' dark teenage girl and the new Shadow Ops will be making an appearance but she (and the Shadow) will not be playing a bigger role in the main story. They'll be some new and interesting supporting characters ( many of whom we'll be introduced in some novellas that I'm working on right now before the book's release) although the cast will be a lot smaller than TPM's. Also, because of the larger scale of the plot and setting, the story will be told from multiple points of views though of course it will focus more on Ves. The Eclipse in the title does not reffer to either a Lunar or Solar Eclipse. It'll have a lot less darker and happier ending.

Why did you call yourself Matt Xell?

Originally, I came up with the name Matt Xell for a character in one of my comic book plots. Later, I gave the character a normal name (Ryan Thompson) and made the name Matt Xell my pen name.

Although most people pronounce the last name, Xell, as 'Zell', in my case the name is pronounced 'EX - EL'. It was originally written 'XL' as in Matt of the eXtreme Legion (what the whole name means) which became the shorter Matt XL or MXL.But when I took on the mantle of 'Author of The Narrow Escapes of Ves Asirin', I thought Matt XL would look weird on the cover of my books so I extended 'XL' into 'Xell'.

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

If you have have the time, money (not much even) and the patience for it, are open-minded, can accept constructive critism and have no qualms about selling the rights to your work, you should pitch your work to a literary agent and get traditionally published. In all honesty, it's the most legitimate, respectable and widely accepted way of doing things as a mainstream author. And if your stories are great you'll make some great cash.

But if you have problems with all the above and think you're a free-spirit, a rebel at heart, a Generation X/Y -- Millenial type thingy, and think that they're are no gate keepers to this industry and all men are equal under God and the Internet and decide to self-publish instead ... and work infinitely much harder than a traditionally published author to get your work out there ( you've been warned) ... then you're looking for a lovely woman named Joanna Penn - that's www.thecreativepenn.com, she'll make it easier, save you some money and time.

Just For Fun Questions

Why does the Easter bunny carry eggs?

The guy that invented Easter originally had a chicken in mind for the Holiday's mascot, but the board and the guys in distribution, branding, sales and marketing thought a bunny would be cuter and appeal more to kids under five than a chicken. They kept the idea of eggs in the basket, though.

Why does a round pizza come in a square box?

Whoever heard of round boxes? That's scientifically and mathematically incorrect and improbable.

Do you have a pet?

No.

Favourite drink?

Coke

Favourite book?

A Very Long Engagement by Sebastien Japrisot

Favourite author?

J.K Rowling

Favourite…anything?

Action RPG Video-games

Giveaway Time!

Thank you again for joining us! As a reward, we're having a giveaway for (another) chance to win an ebook of Tower of Parlen Min! 5 lucky winners will be chosen. Giveaway ends at midnight on August 13th, GMT +8.

Click HERE to Enter!

Blog Tour: Tower of Parlen Min by Matt Xell

2011-08-05T17:30:00.001+08:00

Title: Tower of Parlen Min (The Narrow Escapes of Ves Asirin #1)

Author: Matt Xell

Pages: 345

Reviewed by: Sabrina

Ves Asirin wins a trip to the Tower of Parlen Min. There, with 19 other children, he competes in the Sword Challenge; a series of puzzles and tasks, for $12 million. As fantastic and glorious as the tower seems to be, Ves finds that it keeps a dark and secret history that he has been connected to for over 150 years, a secret that will define his destiny ... if he can escape 'The shadow'.

My Thoughts

I wanted to take a break from the romance and drama of YA so I gave the Tower of Parlen a try. It went way beyond my expectations. I loved that a piece of the mystery came along bit by bit. The story is really deep and complex. Brilliantly thought out.

The first thing I felt for Ves was sympathy.Why? Because he was an orphan, he was often alone and he was bullied frequently. He also has a condition where his memory would reset and he would forget everything (which reminded me much of Forgotten actually). To top it off, he's only 11 years old. Despite his memory loss, he's a smart, brave, adventurous, crazy, talented kid. He uses a scrapbook for a memory. He has an amazing talent for art and fencing. He gets into trouble a lot because of his adventure streak so I'm not too sure about the smart part. I liked that he started to change from the experiences from the tower and became more open.

The second thing I felt for Ves was anger and disgust at his attitude (I didn't like all of the changes). I gritted my teeth together and forced myself to read through the parts where he acted like a major jerk. I seriously wanted to shake and scold him for his rotten attitude.

The last thing I felt for Ves was sympathy again. I shouldn't explain that because I would be spoiling. I will say that I was screaming, "NOOO! WHY?!? IT'S NOT FAIR!" and that earned a few stares from my family.

The main thing I didn't like was that the story got off track a bit at the middle and that I was given the names of ALL the children at the tower at the same time. I had to repeatedly go back to see who was who. Some characters weren't even that much important.

Follow Friday (15)

2011-08-05T17:00:00.000+08:00

Yay, it's Follow Friday! Just wanted to let you know that we will have two posts for the Tower of Parlen Min blog tour later today! Follow Friday is hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee's View. Anyway this week's features are Me, My Shelf and I and Hands and Home. This week's question is...
Q. Talk about the book that most changed or influenced your life (was it a book that turned you from an average to avid reader, did it help you deal with a particularly difficult situation, does it bring you comfort every time you read it?).

Evermore by Alison Noel. I hated the rest of the books, but this is the one I love...and that got me into YA. I was walking through the bookstore near our small theater with my friends. We were waiting for our movie, you see. After grabbing a few mangas from the bookshelf, I walked back to my seat. That's when I saw Evermore. I was drawn in by the beautiful cover and the rest is history.

What book changed/influenced your life?

Coffee at Little Angels by Nadine Rose Larter

2011-08-03T07:08:00.001+08:00

Title: Coffee at Little Angels

Author: Nadine Rose Larter

Publisher: Katalina Playroom

Pages: 188

Reviewed by: Sabrina

Phillip, Sarah, Kaitlyn, Caleb, Maxine, Grant, Melanie and Josh grew up in a small town where they spent their high school years together as an inseparable clique. But high school has ended, and they are all living their own “grown up” lives, each under the impression that their group has basically come to an end. When Phillip dies in a hit and run accident, Kaitlyn summons the others to all come back home, forcing a reunion that no one is particularly interested in partaking in.

Coffee at Little Angels follows how each character deals with the death of a childhood friend while at the same time dealing with their own ignored demons after years of separation. Events unfold as the group tries to rekindle the friendship they once shared to honour the memory of a friend they will never see again.

My Thoughts

Coffee at Little Angels are one of those books that make me lie down on my bed, stare at the ceiling, and quietly absorb what I just read. I myself had come from a closely knitted group. It was sad to see that when I met with all of them again, we were almost strangers.

I was curious on reading how each character reacted to Phillip's death. I sobbed during the interactions between Sarah and Phillip. It was so heartbreaking to read them. My favorite character would have to be Grant. Or Maxine. Grant is like the funny, nice guy that's always there for Maxine. Maxine is a girl trying to hide behind her emotional barrier. Every other character has done something that made me dislike them.

It took a few pages to remember all their names. Things got briefly confusing at pg. 132. In the end, there are some loose ends that I wish were tied and confusing personalities I didn't get. I'm starting to think Kaitlyn is an evil psycho who keeps it all in. Ahem. This book officially gets five cups of tea...or in this case, coffee.

Quest of the Demon by M.L. Sawyer

2011-08-01T18:45:00.005+08:00

Title: Quest of the Demon

Author: M.L. Sawyer

Publisher: Equilibrium Books

Pages: 277

Reviewed by: Sabrina

Darci is your average every day sixteen year old girl who plays basketball and lives in an ordinary country town. Her life changes forever as she is 'accidentally zapped' to the land of Nahaba by the apprentice wizard Taslessian.

Within hours of her unexpected arrival, both teens are thrust into a dangerous journey to the cave of Grisham the Great, who will hopefully be able to send her home. When they get there however Darci soon finds out that there is no such things as accidents and that their journey is only just beginning.

My Thoughts

The Quest of the Demon starts right away and doesn't stray. Darci is magically transported to another world by a young wizard apprentice named Taslessian. Taslessian had somehow brought her here and doesn't know how to put her back. Domati, an evil wizard, senses her arrival and comes after them. Taslessian's master tries to buy them time, losing his own life in the process. They escape and are brought to one of the last great
dragons, Grisham. He sends them on a quest, along with a warrior, an elf and a knight. They are sent to stop a war that is coming between the North and the South of Nahaba. Darci is important to this mission and is their only hope to stop the war. The thing is that she doesn't know how.

I'm not quite used to third-person omniscient point of view, or is it just third person? I was confused at some parts and I had to read back to figure out what was going on. Other than that, it was very well-written. Quest of the Demon is rich with vivid descriptions. The creatures in the world are interesting. I liked reading about the life there. Quest of the Demon had just enough action and a grand adventure.

I liked that Darci didn't freak out that much when she was transported to another world. She sort of accepted the responsibility on her shoulders. Her relationship with Taslessian was great at first but I need more sparks! Lief did much more than him!

Forgotten by Cat Patrick

2011-07-31T17:21:00.001+08:00

Title: Forgotten

Author: Cat Patrick

Publisher: Little, Brown Books For Young Readers

Pages: 288

Reviewed by: Sabrina

Each night when 16 year-old London Lane goes to sleep, her whole world disappears. In the morning, all that's left is a note telling her about a day she can't remember. The whole scenario doesn't exactly make high school or dating that hot guy whose name she can't seem to recall any easier. But when London starts experiencing disturbing visions she can't make sense of, she realizes it's time to learn a little more about the past she keeps forgetting-before it destroys her future.

Part psychological drama, part romance, and part mystery, this thought-provoking novel will inspire readers to consider the what-if's in their own lives and recognize the power they have to control their destinies.

My Thoughts

I must look like an owl right now. My eyes are still huge from the experience. Forgotten took me on a sweet & somewhat sad journey.

4:33am is the time London Lane's memory resets. Everything from her past is forgotten and only the future remains. She rights down notes so she can read about the day before, plus important reminders. One day she meets Luke Henry, a boy who she can't remember in her future. Despite this, she starts going out with him.

Meanwhile her best friend, Jamie, has gotten herself into a terrible situation. Things start to get a rough turn from there. She discovers her mom has been lying to her. London also gets reoccurring dreams of a funeral.

Forgotten reminded me a lot of the movie, 50 First Dates. I loved seeing London keep falling in love with Luke. It wasn't tiresome or anything like that. I fell for Luke too. He's a nice, gentle, considerate guy. Luke doesn't care about her condition. He doesn't try to take advantage of her like some boys his age. He's the dream guy.

Forgotten made me stop and think. It made me wonder what's worth remembering each day. We're lucky to remember at all. Some people in this world lose a huge chunks of their memory.

I can't believe this book won't be a sequel. I was happy about the ending and all but it left a lot of room open for a next book.

Follow Friday (14)

2011-07-29T12:27:00.005+08:00

Hi, everyone! Today's Follow Friday! Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read. Today's Features are The Little Book Blog and The Book Addicted Girl. And the question is:

Q. Let's step away from books for a second and get personal. What T-Shirt slogan best describes you?

Most people who know me will know the answer to that one...

Spirit Storm by E.J. Stevens

2011-07-27T11:05:00.007+08:00

Title: Spirit Storm (Spirit Guide #2)

Author: E.J. Stevens

Publisher: Sacred Oaks Press

Pages: 210

Reviewed by: Sabrina

"Let the spirits guide you, but never let them take you."

Spirits of the Dead are coming...

Yuki is about to face an army of lost souls on Samhain, the night of Halloween, when the spirits of the dead roam free. Yuki will need all the help she can get from her friends, but will Calvin be there for her when she needs him the most?

My Thoughts

The spirits are coming. Are you prepared?

Samhain is looming menacingly ahead and Yuki might end up crazy by the end of it. Add a psycho werewolf killer on the loose, and you've got a recipe for disaster. While Cal is off searching for the killer, she's researching all she can about warding off spirits. Suddenly, another disaster strikes! Cal's in trouble and Yuki is the only one who can save him. She might get a visit from a certain dung beet-I mean scarab for help-and she needs all the help she can get.

Spirit Storm is a bit less exciting then She Smells the Dead. It picks up in the middle but it slowly descends down again. I liked how the beginning started out. Immediately, a bunch of questions form in your head. Why was she trying to break into a store? Why was she trying to steal something? Why did she seem to be alone? Where is she exactly? What's happening?!?

Yuki is still the awesome, sassy, funny character as she was before. She cares so much for Calvin (of course! Why wouldn't she?). Calvin seemed to hang in the sidelines during some parts. He doesn't seem to do any major action/decision (yet?)

The bickering between Yuki's best friend, Emma, and Calvin's right hand man, Simon, was definitely something worth reading. A small part of me suspected that they might end up together, but then again, maybe not. Simon is too old for her after all.

She Smells the Dead by E.J. Stevens

2011-07-25T10:27:00.007+08:00

Title: She Smells the Dead (Spirit Guide #1)

Author: E.J. Stevens

Publisher: Sacred Oaks Press

Pages: 165

Reviewed by: Sabrina

It's the beginning of senior year and Yuki's psychic awareness of ghostly spirits is threatening to ruin her life. Her ability to sense spirits of the dead isn't glamorous like on TV. SHE SMELLS THE DEAD. Yuki is being visited in her dreams and suspects that her friend Calvin is involved in something strange. Will Yuki be able to save the spirits and herself?

My Thoughts

Note: May have tiny spoilers. Eventually, you figure out Cal's secret once you read the first few chapters so I don't know.

Yuki does not have time for this. With prom coming up and she still doesn't have a date to the dance, she has no time to deal with some vineger smelling ghost. Especially now when Calvin starts to act strangely and she starts to have really creepy dreams.

Introducing She Smells the Dead, a novel that made me laugh, smile and gasp in delight.

She Smells the Dead is really different than any other books I've read. Rather than hearing or seeing the dead, Yuki smells them. It's pretty weird and pretty cool at the same time.There's a whole air of mystery surrounding the plot. More questions pop up at every turn. I wasn't entirely wowed but I was wowed enough.

Yuki is the awesomest (is that even a word?) character I've ever read. I loved reading her thoughts. Calvin is so... adorable, sweet and cute. Calvin is it for Yuki. You can't help but love the guy. You also can't help but wonder why Yuki didn't have a crush on Cal in the first place. That was my only problem. We all know Yuki has secret feelings for Cal, but did she have them just recently or for a long time? If it was recently, they should have slowed down in their relationship in the beginning. It was like BAM! "Wow, I'm noticing Cal as a guy and I don't know why! Hey, did that rhyme?" Maybe it was teenage hormones or the awakening of Calvin's wolf spirit? It's not really a problem but I would just like to know. Their romance was perfect once it blossomed though.

Too Short! Time to read the next one!

Follow Friday (13)

2011-07-22T20:02:00.007+08:00

Hellooo~ Welcome to Cup of Tea Reviews! Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee.com & Allison can read! This week's feature is We Fancy Books and A Novella's Tale! This week's question is... *drum roll*

Q. Name 3 authors that you would love to sit down and spend an hour or a meal with just talking about either their books or get advice on writing from?

Meg Cabot, Cassandra Clare and J.K. Rowling.

Meg Cabot because it was, after all, her novels got me involved in reading YA. The Mediator was the best and I LOVED the Princess Diaries.

Cassandra Clare because SHE WROTE THE INFERNAL DEVICES!!!
I'm A D D I C T E D to it!

J.K. Rowling, I don't know where to start.

Blog Tour: In My Dreams Guest Post - Spirits

2011-07-20T19:09:00.006+08:00

A special thanks to Sabrina, Suzanne, and Ashi at Cup of Tea Reviews for having me!

My post today is on Spirits.

Do I personally believe in them? Yes.

Have I had any experiences? Hell, yes.

Spirit Encounters:

I live in Hawaii, a place many call paradise, but paradise also has its dark side.
There are countless tales and legends of spirits. Here are a few.

Let’s start with the night marchers. A group of spirit warriors who march just after dark, or just before the sun rises. It is said that anyone who looks upon the marchers, or is seen by one… will die, unless you have kin that is marching. They do give warning s before they march… it is said that you’ll hear drums, conch shells blowing, and even see torches. If you lie on the ground, face down, they won’t see you. Some say that this only helps if you’re naked. (I wonder who came up with that one!)

Then we have the myths of the little people called Menehunes, who live in the forests and hidden valleys of the islands. They are island dwarfs. They are master craftsmen, and love bananas, and fish.

And lastly… Madame Pele, the volcano goddess. Witnesses have seen her near the volcano, walking on the forest roads, sometimes hitchhiking. She is beautiful, has long black hair, and is seen wearing a crimson dress. It is said that if she is seen with a white dog, this is a warning that an eruption is soon to follow.

Now… my personal experiences.

I vividly remember a house we lived in when I was about five years old. Lightly putting it… it was haunted. Everyone that visited had some type of experience, whether big or small. But the experiences I had there were terrifying, to say the least.

My younger brother and I shared a bedroom at the back of the old house. The back yard had a hill that sloped downward towards our room. It was filled with many different types of fruit trees, and dead, dried leaves which covered the dirt ground. To get to the back yard, you’d have to unlatch a metal gate on the side of the house, and swing it open (which made a loud noise).

One night, after our mom finished reading us a story, turned off the lights, and went to bed, my brother and I heard the metal gate unlatch, swing open, and then re-latch. What was even more horrifying is when we heard footsteps crunching in the dried leaves outside our bedroom windows.

The first few times, we ran out of the room screaming. My mom and dad would turn on all the lights, and scour the backyard only to find - nothing… (Of course) As time went on, we just learned to deal with it. But then… things started happening to me.

One frightful night, I woke up on my stomach, with my head pressed down into my pillow. I couldn’t turn my head for air, because my body was frozen, paralyzed. I remember how hard it was to breathe, and how hot the air was in my pillow from my panting. My parents were Christians, so I started praying, and not too long after that, my body released from the pressure, and I turned, gasping precious air. Like I said… I was only five, and this became almost a nightly thing. I never wanted to go to sleep, and was literally terrorized by whatever it was. It was a happy day when we moved out of that house.

Another experience I had was when my husband and I moved into a small cottage, after getting married. The landlady lived in the main house at the front of the property.

Everything was alright for the first month, UNTIL… one night, after going to bed, I got the “press”. That’s when you feel like something is sitting on your chest, putting pressure on you, and you cannot move, or speak. I remember glancing at my husband, sound asleep, and tried to yell to him for help, but not a sound escaped my lips… This was my first experience, of many nights to follow.

My husband had no experiences, which sucked, because I felt like a loony… UNTIL… one night we were lying in bed, when all of a sudden we heard music blaring from our empty bedroom. My husband got out of bed, and went into the room to find that our tape player had been turned on. Now, this was a cassette player. Remember those plastic, square things that were replaced by CD’s? The only way to turn it on is to press down the play button, and… it was pressed down, with no one around. (?)

Another night, in that same cottage, I actually saw a spirit. At least I thought that’s what it was. My son was a newborn, and for some reason he wouldn’t stop crying. I couldn’t figure out why, so I took him into the living-room so my husband could sleep. After a few hours, my son finally fell asleep, so I turned off the TV, and tried to get some sleep. I instantly had this eerie feeling, like something was watching me. I happened to glance down the hallway and witnessed a white mist, just randomly floating there. Suddenly it shot toward me, and I felt a heavy pressure on my chest. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t scream, and all I could remember doing was praying. It finally released me, and dissipated into the kitchen. I ran and woke my husband. That scared the bejesus outta me!

We moved several times after that, and since then… life has been normal. I haven’t had any more experiences.

Are there really spirits that linger here on earth? Do you believe in them? Just something to chew on…

Thanks again!

You can check out Cameo Renae's blog here or you can go to her official website here.

Blog Tour: In My Dreams by Cameo Renae

2011-07-20T18:59:00.008+08:00

Title: In My Dreams

Author: Cameo Renae

Pages: 248

Reviewed by: Sabrina

It was happening again. The dreams. The nightmares. It was something seventeen year-old Elizabeth "Lizzy" Hayes thought she'd outgrown; dreams that would come true; detailed premonitions of how people would die. This time she dreams about her boyfriend, Michael Young, and soon discovers that he's been found... dead.

Michael hasn't crossed over because he was murdered, and now his murderer is coming for Lizzy. His spirit won't rest until she is safe, and as a newbie spirit, the easiest way for him to make contact is through Lizzy's dreams. When she dreams, it's as if he hasn't died.

Lizzy must learn to pull on her inner strength to survive horrifying events. Meanwhile, in the spirit world, Michael learns everything he can about his supernatural gifts to help. But will it be enough to save her?

My Thoughts

I cried. I cried from the beginning to the end. I couldn’t help it. In My Dreams tugged at my heart. It’s one of the most memorable books I’ve read all week. The action jumps in right away and it keeps you going. I loved how Cameo Renae sets the right mood for each scene. The pacing was just hands down well done.

Lizzy wakes up, haunted by an ominous, frightening dream. Her boyfriend, Michael is late on the 4th anniversary of their relationship. She becomes worried but shrugs it off. Later that day, she discovers that he has been in a terrible accident and that he didn’t make it. To say that she’s devastated is an understatement.

Over the next few days, Michael comes to visits her in her dreams and warns her that he has been murdered, and that his killer is coming after her. She is also visited by Lucy, who can see Michael and gives her another warning (at his insistent nagging).

Lizzy is a strong, likeable and relatable character. She loves Michael with all her heart. She always tries to be brave and courageous, never showing much of her fear. She does what’s right despite the dangers. You can feel Lizzy's emotions right along with her

I wanted so much for Michael and Lizzy to have a happy life together. I don't want to give anything away but it's soooo hard!!! You need to read the book! I think I developed a emotional connection to it.

Thanks for visiting the 4th stop! Stay tuned for the next post. Be sure to check out the other stops:

July 17: Review @ Books Ahoy

July 18: Author Interview @ The Fable Faerie

July 19: Author Interview & Giveaway @ The Subtle Chronicler

July 20: Guest Post & Review @ Cup of Tea Reviews

July 21: Author Interview & Giveaway @ Bookish

July 22: Guest Post, Review, & Giveaway @ A Casual Reader's Blog

July 23: Review @ Keeping Up With the Rheinlander's

July 24: Review & Giveaway @ Enchantedbooks

July 25: Guest Post @ Letters Inside Out

July 26 :Author Interview & Giveaway @ Darlene’s Book Nook

July 27: Review @ Books for the Insomniac

July 28: Guest Post, Review, & Giveaway @ I'm A Book Shark

July 29: Author Interview, Review, & Giveaway @ StephLikesBooks

July 30: Guest Post, Review, & Giveaway @ Much Loved Books

Follow Friday (12)

2011-07-15T16:13:00.003+08:00

I FORGOT!! I FORGOT!!! Sorry, things are getting crazy over here. I haven't been reviewing lately because of a lot of things going on. I only have a moment for this so....

It's Follow Friday! Hosted by Parajunkee.com. This week's feature is Angela from Angela's Anxious Life and this week's question is:

Q. What do I do when I are not reading?

When I'm not reading, I'm writing. At least whenever I feel like it, which is almost never, despite the fact that I love to write. Other than that I email, call and visit my friends.

Airhead by Meg Cabot

2011-07-14T07:29:00.000+08:00

Title: Airhead (Airhead #1)

Author: Meg Cabot

Publisher: Point

Pages: 352

Reviewed by: Ashi

EM WATTS IS GONE.

Emerson Watts didn’t even want to go to the new SoHo Stark Megastore grand opening. But someone needed to look out for her sister Frida, whose crush, British heartthrob Gabriel Luna, would be singing and signing autographs there—along with the newly appointed Face of Stark, teen supermodel sensation Nikki Howard.

How was Em to know that disaster would strike, changing her—and life as she’d known it—forever? One devastating accident later, and Em Watts, always the tomboy, never the party princess, is no longer herself. Literally.

Now getting her best friend Christopher to notice that she’s actually a girl is the least of Em’s problems.

But what Em’s pretty sure she’ll never be able to accept might just turn out to be the one thing that’s going to make her dream come true….

NIKKI HOWARD IS HERE TO STAY

My Thoughts

This book is a mix of sci-fi, romance, and some action. Em Watts is a very tomboyish girl who is in love with her best friend Christopher. She is not sure of her feelings till he is out of her reach. I found this book amazing and couldn't put it down. It is fun and very addictive. It is a 3 book series that I devoured. One of the best books I have ever read! It has romance and a perfect guy who is totally romantic and brave. Luv Christoper!!! Meg Cabot and her teen book selection is my favorite.(So are her adult books!) I love them all and can't wait for the rest. Meg you are my favorite author along with Stepanie Meyer. Thanx!

This Girl Is Different by JJ Johnson

2011-07-06T20:33:00.005+08:00

Title: This Girl Is Different

Author: JJ Johnson

Publisher: Peachtree Publisher

Pages: 320

Reviewed by: Sabrina

Evie is different. Not just her upbringing-though that's certainly been unusual-but also her mindset. She's smart, independent, confident, opinionated, and ready to take on a new challenge: The Institution of School.

It doesn't take this homeschooled kid long to discover that high school is a whole new world, and not in the way she expected. It's also a social minefield, and Evie finds herself confronting new problems at every turn, failing to follow or even understand the rules, and proposing solutions that aren't welcome or accepted.

Not one to sit idly by, Evie sets out to make changes. Big changes. The movement she starts takes off, but before she realizes what's happening, her plan spirals out of control, forcing her to come to terms with a world she is only just beginning to comprehend.

JJ Johnson's powerful debut novel will enthrall readers as it challenges assumptions about friendship, rules, boundaries, and power.

My Thoughts

This Girl is Different really is a powerful novel. It questions society and the world today. It talks about the injustice of some of our school systems. It talks about the social labels we put on people. This Girl is Different changes your view of everything and the world. After reading it, This Girl is Different made me sit down and think for a moment.

Evie is very different from the characters you're probably used to. Although she irritated the crap out of me, you can't help but admire her and sometimes love her.

While I don't have much to say about this book, I still recommend you should go out and read it some time.

I forgot to mention that this book contains some *cough*maturesituations*cough*. Just wanted to warn you.

*Note: this book has been received through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Darwin's Children by Natasha Larry

2011-07-05T17:55:00.002+08:00

Title: Darwin's Children (Volume #1)

Author: Natasha Larry

Publisher: Penumbra Publishing

Pages: 260

Reviewed by: Sabrina

Life can get pretty complicated for any seventeen-year-old girl, but for a home-schooled telepathic black girl trying to survive in a prestigious private school in small-town Jonesborough, Tennessee, it can be maddening - especially when her telepathic father keeps eavesdropping on her thoughts!

Jaycie Lerner's family isn't the usual mom-dad-kid setup. Jaycie's mom's MIA, but Allison, her personal live-in 'trainer,' is more than a mom, with her own special abilities, like being able to lift cars and run incredibly fast. And Jaycie's godfather John is more than persuasive - he can literally convince anyone to do anything.

As far as the rest of the world's concerned, Jaycie's on the outside looking in. The townsfolk love Jaycie's pediatrician father, but she doesn't fit in with 'normal' kids, and she doesn't really want to. Most of her free time is spent training to keep her telekinetic and telepathic powers under control. But there's one thing she can't control - and that's her feelings, especially when her best friend Matt is nearby. If only he knew what she was truly capable of...

Everything seems to be status quo for Jaycie until she receives a cryptic message from a stranger and meets a very unusual girl new to Jonesborough. Then all hell breaks loose!

My Thoughts

So this is the second superhero novel I've read. I took a while to get into Darwin's Children. It kept on pulling me in and pushing me out. It was slow at the beginning but eventually it gives away to an amazing story. Darwin's Children has a unique interesting plot that just can't compare to other novels similar to it's kind.

What I really liked about this book was the characters. The characters kept me hooked in. The characters seem so real and you can't help but like them. You can practically feel the love and bond between them fly off the page. By the end, you feel you know the characters personally.

After reading this, I felt satisfied and happy. I really liked Darwin's Children and hope to see the next one soon!

Fins Are Forever by Tera Lynn Childs

2011-07-04T13:34:00.002+08:00

Title: Fins Are Forever (Fins #2)

Author: Tera Lynn Childs

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Pages: 272

Reviewed by: Sabrina

On Lily Sanderson’s eighteenth birthday she’ll become just a girl—still a mergirl, true, but signing the renunciation will ink Princess Waterlily of Thalassinia out of existence. That leaves plain old Lily living on land, dating the boy she loves, and trying to master this being-human thing once and for all.

Now that Lily and Quince are together, mer bond or not, she’s almost content to give up her place in the royal succession of Thalassinia. But just when she thinks she has everything figured out, the waves start to get rough. Lily’s father sends a certain whirlpool-stirring cousin to stay with her on land. What did Doe do to get herself exiled from Thalassinia and stuck in terraped form when everyone knows how much she hates humans? And why why why is she batting her eyelashes at Lily’s former crush, Brody?

The seafoam on the raging surf comes when a merboy from Lily’s past shows up—Tellin asks Lily for something that clouds her view of the horizon. There’s a future with Quince on land, her loyalty to the kingdom in the sea, and Lily tossing on the waves in the middle. Will she find a way to reconcile her love, her duty, and her own dreams?

Tera Lynn Childs’s sequel to Forgive My Fins offers another tail-flicking romance with plenty of fun, sun, and underwater adventure.

My Thoughts

Fins Are Forever is a quick, fun read. It was interesting to see Lily try to decide once more where she belongs-as an ordinary girl on land with the boy she loves or a princess with a responsibility for her beloved kingdom. In other words, duty or her heart?

With her eighteenth birthday (and college) coming up fast, she has to choose before the decision is made for her.

Thrown into the mix is Doe, Lily’s annoying cousin, who seems to be having backstage romance with Brody, and Tellin, Lily’s childhood friend, who seems intent on bonding with Lily. Can this mermaid get a flippin’ break?

Lily seems to become more responsible in this book and takes more consideration to her decision that was at the end of Forgive My Fins.

I didn’t like that everything seemed to be solved with a quick, easy answer. There was not much conflict. Fins Are Forever seems to be more of a quiet epilogue.

Follow Friday (11)

2011-07-01T12:23:00.002+08:00

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee.com. This week's feature is Erika from Let's talk about books! This week's question is:

Q. ACK! Your favorite book/movie character (example Hermione Granger played by the Emma chick) just walked into the room! Who is it and what would be your first reaction? You get extra points if you include visual stimulation.

There's a lot of characters I would pick but I think I would chose Alex from Delirium. I would probably just gawk at him for a few moments before saying something stupid. Then I would just stare at him. Yup, I'm that awkward around guys.

Tris and Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison

2011-07-01T01:46:00.005+08:00

Title: Tris and Izzie

Author: Mette Ivie Harrison

Publisher: Egmont USA

Pages: 272

Reviewed by: Sabrina

A modern retelling of the German fairytale "Tristan and Isolde", Tris and Izzie is about a young witch named Izzie who is dating Mark King, the captain of the basketball team and thinks her life is going swimmingly well. Until -- she makes a love potion for her best friend Brangane and then ends up taking it herself accidentally, and falling in love with Tristan, the new guy at school.

My Thoughts

I found Izzie to be really annoying at first because she's one of those characters who decides to play matchmaker and wants to see everyone paired off whether they want to or not. She also thinks love potions are okay even if the person loves you only because of the potion. Because hey, who needs choice when you can have happiness, right?

She gets a taste of her own medicine when her plan backfires and she takes the love potion instead. I was actually a bit (okay, scratch that. I meant a whole lot) happy that Izzie drank it so that she gets a lesson on meddling with people's lives and making unwanted decisions for them.

Izzie and Tris fall in love. A whole new set of problems erupted from this meeting. Although there is the issue of them falling in love too fast (even by a "love potion"), I didn't think about it once since I read the book. The relationship between them reminded me of Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs. Izzie would blame her attraction on the love potion like when Lily blamed it because of a mermaid bond.

I liked that Mark was written as a nice guy who truly loves Izzie and treats her well, instead of in other stories where the boyfriend is abusive and doesn't care one bit about his girlfriend. Brianna is a ~~good friend~~ not at first. I pretty much hated her.

Izzie discovers the truth about her dad's death, her friends' real feelings and about herself. She grows up and becomes more responsible which made me feel proud of her instead of my initial feelings. I even cried a bit at the end.

The only problem I had was with Tris. Tris is sweet, lovable and absolutely drool worthy. He'd do anything for Izzie. I didn't have a problem with that. It's just that I wish his character was more explored. I wish I knew more about him.

Just a side note that is not related to this review: I kept on thinking of the song Falling Slowly towards the end.

*Note: this book has been received through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Gypsy Knights by Two Brothers Metz

2011-06-29T07:53:00.002+08:00

Title: Gypsy Knights (The Gypsy Knights Saga #1)

Author: Two Brothers Metz

Publisher: LoudCloud Publishing

Pages: 213

Reviewed by: Sabrina

Fourteen-year-old Durriken Brishen has lost his parents, his grandfather, and though he doesn't know it, his Gypsy culture's dangerous gift.

Taken in and raised on the rails by the first woman to pilot a freight train, Durriken has one remaining connection to his Romani roots: a small wooden box that hangs from the hammer loop of his overalls.

The last gift he received from his grandfather, the box contains the world's first chess set. But a piece is missing: the Red Queen. According to Durriken’s family lore, the complete set awakens the power of Tărie, a mercurial gift that confers unique abilities on each new Master.

When a suspicious fire erupts in the Chicago rail yard, Durriken's escape produces an uneasy alliance, though not without its silver lining. Dilia is a few inches taller, several degrees cleverer, and oh yes – very pretty. While Durriken is uneasy allying with a girl whose parents were convicted of sedition, there's no doubt she is a powerful partner. And while it's not immediately clear to either, her own Guatemalan culture and family history are deeply entwined with the ancient Romani mystery.

Jumping box cars, escaping riverboats, deciphering clues, crossing swords with the brilliant madman Radu Pinch – with great American cities as its backdrop – Gypsy Knights is the page-turning saga of Durriken Brishen and his quest to rediscover his past.

My Thoughts

Durriken lost his parents and barely escaped the accident that claimed their lives. He carries an ancient chess set, one of the only things left of his family, with the Red Queen missing. He finds Casey, a female engineer, who adopts him (but not legally) and gives him a home on her train.

Dilia lost her parents after they were arrested and charged for sending Anti-US broadcasts. She carries the Red Queen, given to her by her father.

Five years later, Durriken has become a master at chess along with Dilia. They meet for the first time at a chess tournament where Dilia receives strange visions from the Red Queen. Durriken wins and then finds a mysterious letter from his late mother. Dilia follows him and they team up.

Together they begin a journey and travel all over the United States to find Durriken's grandma, his mother's last request. Along the way, they are followed by Radu Pinch, his grandpa's old enemy who is intent to have the pieces.

I wasn't disappointed by Gypsy Knights. It captured my attention by the first word. Gypsy Knights gets more interesting by the minute and it's something you can never put down. This fast-paced novel is full of action, adventure, family and chess. I can't wait for the next one!

Teaser Tuesday (2)

2011-06-28T16:28:00.000+08:00

Hello and welcome back to our second ever Teaser Tuesday! Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. You know the rest of the drill! This week, there are four books--just like last week!

Current Read One:
Museum of Thieves, by Lian Tanner
Teaser is taken from pages 124-125
"Was she brave? She didn't think so. Could she bear to stay in such a dangerous place?
In the back of her mind, the little voice echoed Olga Ciavolga's words, We protect the museum, and we protect the city as well...."

Interesting, no? Read to find out more!

Current Read Two:
Eragon, by Christopher Paolini
Teaser is taken from pages 172-173
"Brom thought about it. 'We won't be able to deceive Jeod. He already knows my name, and I think I trust him with yours. But to everyone else, I will be Neal and you will be my nephew Evan. If our tongues slip and give us away, it probably won't make a difference, but I don't want our names in anyone's heads. People have an annoying habit of remembering things they shouldn't.'"

Brom, you make us all laugh. Read to find out about Brom and Eragon's (the titular character) adventures under the names of Neal and Evan...

Current Read Three:
Bones of Faerie, by Janni Lee Simmer
Teaser is taken from pages 28-29
"Didn't he know better than to gather firewood alone at night? Didn't he know better than to risk his life for a magic-cursed girl?"

Well... interesting. That teaser would make way more sense if you read a summary or synopsis of the book, however.

Current Read Four:
The Ruby Key, by Holly Lisle
Teaser is taken from pages 220-221
"Danrith's expression changed, though. The ghost disappeared, and Danrith whined, 'I was sleeping, Genna. Why did you wake me?'
'Hush. Keep your voice down or we may be eaten.'"

Well, um, that was a rather blunt teaser. What would eat them? Read and find out!

That concludes this week's Teaser Tuesday! See you again next week!

DupliKate by Cherry Cheva

2011-06-27T08:47:00.005+08:00

Title: DupliKate

Author: Cherry Cheva

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pages: 256

Reviewed by: Sabrina

Getting into Yale has been Kate Larson’s dream for years—and being overworked and under-rested is the price of admission. But when she opens her eyes after falling asleep on her keyboard one night, she comes face-to-face with, well, herself.

Meet Kate’s computer-generated twin. Kate doesn’t know why she’s here or how to put her back where she belongs, but she’s real. And she’s the last thing Kate has time to deal with right now. Unless. . .could having a double be the answer to Kate’s prayers?

My Thoughts

Kate is seriously stressed out. With an important essay to write and college coming up, she gets little sleep at night. One day, while on her computer, she revisits on an old game called Simulife, a game she played years ago. When nothing happens and her computer freezes, she shrugs it off and goes to sleep. The next day, Kate wakes up and comes face-to-face with...Kate?

Rina is the Simulife version of Kate. After years of being neglected in an empty old virtual house, she's suddenly sucked out of the game and into real life. She's ecstatic and tries to make the most out her visit, despite the fact she doesn't know how to act in this world.

Kate, although reluctant to let Rina out, sees her as the answer to her problems. With Rina's help, she checks off items of her huge to-do-list one by one. But as Rina spends more time in the real world, she slowly takes over Kate's life. Her old friend, Jake, is the only one who realizes something is up.

Now Kate has to stop Rina and put her back before it's too late. During her mission, she must discover what she really wants and who she really loves.

This is one of those books that I found because I was bored and expected almost nothing out of it. It's also one of those books where I am completely wrong about my assumptions.

DupliKate is a book that keeps you laughing and eye rolling 'til the end (Cherry Cheva is one of the writers of Family Guy after all). I wish that there was more of a romance between Kate and Jake and more of a reason why Kate likes Jake. This book is more comedy than romance. I also wish that I could have better known the other characters better.

(This might be a bit of a spoiler) I was kind of shocked that Rina has an evil side to her. I pictured her as someone who was nice and ignorant of the ways of the world; a person who couldn't hurt a fly.

Follow Friday (10)

2011-06-24T13:49:00.000+08:00

Happy Friday! Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee.com. This week's feature is Mickey from I'm a Book Shark and this week's question is:

Q: In light of the Summer Solstice. Also known as Midsummer...let's talk about fairies. What is your favorite fairy tale or story that revolves around the fae?

I would say Thumbelina. I remember I used to read it all the time when I was young.

Reborn by Ley Mesina

2011-06-23T07:15:00.007+08:00

Title: Reborn (A Goddess of Night Novella: Book One)

Author: Ley Mesina

Publisher: Ley Mesina

Pages: 85

Reviewed by: Sabrina

Lily Westbrook discovers that being half witch and half vampire is more of a challenge than she thought. When her powers mature on her eighteenth birthday, she unlocks a mystery that many witches thought was a legend.

After moving back to her birthplace in Cedar Creek, MA to attend Kensington University, Lily is instantly pulled deeper into the world she was kept from—the world of witches and vampires—uncovering the truth about her past and discovering who she is meant to be.

My Thoughts

Reborn is an interesting read. Lily, a half vampire and half witch, is the daughter of Claire, a witch, and Nathaniel, who is the same as Lily. Claire and Nathaniel had a forbidden love since vampires and witches are supposedly mortal enemies.

The story starts off when Lily is about to have her 18th birthday, giving her her full powers. She moves back to her birthplace (leaving her aunt's care for the past 18 years) and begins to discover secrets like what really happened on the night her parents died. Along the way, she befriends Roxy, a witch, and also Drew and Xander, two vampires. She also starts to develop feelings for Xander while Roxy and Drew also grow closer.

I like that the book switches to different viewpoints every chapter and that some chapters start with a diary entry. I get to know what every character is feeling and thinking, and I am filled on some back story that only a certain character knows. It's way too short. I wish it was longer. I'm looking forward to the next one in the series!

Teaser Tuesday (1)

2011-06-21T19:22:00.000+08:00

Happy Teaser Tuesday everyone! This is book reviewer Suzanne~

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. It's where you take a current read (or reads, in my case), let the the book fall open to a random page and take a teaser from that spread of pages. Some of my teasers are long; others are short. The suggested teaser length is two to three lines, but...

The first current read (I'm re-reading them all, since they're all VERY good books):
City of Bones, by Cassandra Clare
Teaser is taken from pages 168-169
"Slowly the library came back into focus--the book-lined walls, the anxious faces of Hodge and Jace. Brother Jeremiah stood unmoving, a carved idol of ivory and red ink. Clary became aware of the sharp pains in her hands, and glanced down to see red lines scored across her skin where her nails had dug in."

Ooh, what happens next? What happened? That's for me to know and you to find out!

The second current read:
Fell, by David Clement-Davies
NOTE: This is the SECOND book in a series; read The Sight first!
Teaser is taken from pages 206-207
"'So one day, when we had argued, Jalgan singled my brother out before the whole Vengerid. He called him Sikla and traitor and took out his throat.'"

Wow. That was stated by wolf Fell, the titular character of this book.

Read to find out what happens next!

The third current read:
Darkwing, by Kenneth Oppel
NOTE: This is a prequel to the Silverwing trilogy; I recommend reading them first!
Teaser is taken from pages 28-29
"'You know, little brother,' Sylph commented, 'you look particularly odd from this angle.'
'You know, big sister,' said Dusk, glancing down at her, 'from this angle it would be particularly unfortunate if I had to pee.'"

Wow; child prehistoric bats act like children. This line always makes me laugh, no matter how many times I read it.

The fourth and final current read:
The Search for WondLa, by Tony DiTerlizzi
Teaser is taken from pages 30-31
"The robot had put an arm around her, 'Well, Eva, there are trees. But they cannot grow here, where we live. They grow... above us.'
'Can we go and see them?' Eva had been excited at the idea of exploring a big forest towering right above them. 'We could play hide-and-seek and have a picnic.'
'All in due time,' Muthr had replied, setting a bowl of oatmeal-flavored mush in front of her. All in due time....

That's all for this week! See you next Tuesday for Teaser Tuesday!

Follow Friday (9)

2011-06-17T20:49:00.006+08:00

Happy Follow Friday! I'm sorry I'm not posting a lot of book reviews this week. Where have I been? In Singapore! Now I'm back and I'll get started on reviewing!
Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee.com! Just click on the link to check it out! This week's feature is Rhiannon Paille and this week's question is:

Q. Genre Wars! What's your favorite genre and which book in that genre made it your favorite?

Um, I would say historical romance in YA? I guess Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare sealed the deal for me.

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

2011-06-11T21:21:00.005+08:00

Title: The Iron King (The Iron Fey #1)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Pages: 363

Reviewed by: Sabrina

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined.

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

My Thoughts

Wow, this book was awesome! The Iron King is complete with a wonderful cover and a especially wonderful story. It's vaguely similar to Alice in Wonderland/Peter Pan. The Iron King is beautifully written and the writing flew off the page. Instead of attacking you with a barrage of information all at once, Julie Kagawa perfectly weaves it in the right moment.

I didn't read A Midsummer Night's Dream so half the time I was thinking "Who the hell are these people?"

I sorta hated Megan. I thought she was sorta dumb, a hypocrite and a bit boring. I couldn't believe Megan fell for what happened in pg. 33-38. You could have saw that coming from a mile away.

I thought maybe the romance between Megan and Ash was a little rushed. I can't decide between Puck and Ash, although I'm leaning towards Ash right now. There wasn't really a love triangle since Megan seems mostly oblivious to Puck's affection and the fact that she considers him a friend only. I kinda wish there was a better story to Puck and Ash's animosity.

I love Grimalkin. Do I really need to explain?

Follow Friday (8)

2011-06-10T12:58:00.004+08:00

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee's View. Click on the pic to check out the website. This week's question is:
Q. The magic book fairy pops out of your cereal box and says "you and your favorite character (from a book of course) can switch places!" Who are you going to switch with?

I would switch with Tessa from the Infernal Devices. I always wanted to know what it felt like to live in London. Also, at the same time, I could kick Nate's and Jessamine's butt!

And I'll just answer last week's question for fun:

Q. What are you doing to prepare for an upcoming zombie apocalypse and/or the return of Mel Gibson to the silver screen? (Both of which could be terrifying.)

For the first one, that's easy: Shotgun. I've watched tons of zombie movies (including my favorite, Zombieland) and played millions of zombie video games (e.x. Resident Evil) since I was a kid. I'm sure I could hold my own against a zombie apocalypse. Or I could just skip the whole combat and just dress up like a zombie so they'll won't eat me.

For the second, I... don't know...

Hereafter by Tara Hudson

2011-06-08T22:05:00.005+08:00

Title: Hereafter (Hereafter #1)

Author: Tara Hudson

Publisher: HarperCollins

Pages: 416

Reviewed by: Sabrina

Can there truly be love after death?

Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.

Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.

Thrilling and evocative, with moments of pure pleasure, Hereafter is a sensation you won't want to miss.

My Thoughts

Amelia is a ghost, wandering around the river she drowned in. She doesn't know exactly how or why she died, but she keeps having recurring memories of her death.

One day, a boy, Joshua, starts drowning in the river and somehow, while trying to save him, they form a connection. Suddenly, memories from her old life pop up. She can feel and smell for short periods of time. She could touch Joshua and vise-versa.

Unfortunately, outside forces come and try to tear them apart.

Hereafter is definitely one of the best debut novels I've read. The writing style was beautiful and breathtaking. I loved how Tara Hudson wrote the emotions of the characters and descriptions of the scenery. Her take on the afterlife is fresh and creative. Both characters, Amelia and Joshua, had changed and matured a lot from start to finish. I love the relationship between the two. Hereafter is a novel you should read. In an instant. In a heartbeat.

High School Heroes by James Mascia

2011-06-06T19:15:00.002+08:00

Title: High School Heroes

Author: James Mascia

Publisher: L & L Dreamspell

Pages: 298

Reviewed by: Sabrina

What if...you discovered you had the ability to read minds? What would you do with that power? On Christine Carpenter's first day of her sophomore year at Thomas Jefferson High School she makes a startling discovery. She can hear peoples' thoughts. After convincing herself she's not going crazy, Chris must learn to control her amazing mind-reading ability. Using her power she quickly realizes her crush, the captain of the football team, is also blessed with a special ability. She is soon sucked into a world she never thought possible when two more of her classmates, and a teacher, turn out to have powers as well. What are they meant to do with their special gifts that can either help, or harm others? Christine soon finds out when a monster, lurking in the depths of her school, threatens to murder the student population. When it becomes apparent that the creature is someone she knows, she must decide whether to try and save him, or destroy the beast. If she chooses destruction, can she live with the consequences?

My Thoughts

I'm just going to say something that is not relative to this book: I've read this book right after watching X-Men Origins: First Class so I couldn't help but make some comparisons.

Now that's outta the way, onward with the review!

It took a while to get into the book but I enjoyed reading High School Heroes. Once I got in, I couldn't take my eyes off the page. I loved the action and drama that built up as the plot went along. High School Heroes had me laughing at the bits of humor and rooting for its unique characters.

I liked the heroine, Christine (well, except when she kinda went a little power hungry). I would have had the same reaction to the idea of even considering being a superhero. I think I can sorta relate with Christine on some things. Ethan was just so cute! Like how he innocently thinks he can be a cool superhero and always strive to do the right thing.

Overall, High School Heroes is a fun, well-written, superhero, action-packed book I would read any day.

What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones

2011-05-30T16:53:00.002+08:00

Title: What My Mother Doesn't Know

Author: Sonya Sones

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Pages: 259

Reviewed by: Suzanne/Lucky

My name is Sophie.
This book is about me.
It tells
the heart-stoppingly riveting story
of my first love.
And also of my second.
And, okay, my third love too.

It's not that I'm boy crazy.
It's just that even though
I'm almost fifteen
it's like
my mind
and my body
and my heart
just don't seem to be able to agree
on anything.

My Thoughts

Truth be told, I picked up this book for a reading assignment in my English class, merely hoping for a short, somewhat-interesting read.

Boy, was I wrong.

In these two-hundred and fifty-nine pages, there was romance, drama, humor, confusion--all in a poem format! It was interesting and funny, with the whole--wait, I don't want to ruin the entire book for you! Haha!

But, as with every good book, there's something bad with it. In this case, I found it was the lack of character descriptions. Only Murphy and Dylan got any description whatsoever, and that was hair and eye color only for one. Murphy got some description, but what about Rachel? Grace? Sophie's mother? Sophie herself?

Follow Friday (7)

2011-05-27T14:28:00.001+08:00

Hello! Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee's View. Click on the pic to check out the website. It's time for Follow Friday so you know what that means. This week's question is:

Q. How many books do you read in a week? And in what format do you read them, or listen to them?

Probably 3 books a week. I read them in paperback or hardback.

Dark of the Moon by Rachel Hawthorne

2011-05-27T13:36:00.004+08:00

Title: Dark of the Moon (Dark Guardian #3)

Author: Rachel Hawthorne

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pages: 261

Reviewed by: Sabrina

I've loved him forever, but he can never be mine.

BRITTANY is determined to prove herself to the Dark Guardians. And yet she's been keeping a devastating secret: She hasn't experienced any of the intense, early signs of change that mark a Dark Guardian's transformation. The only intense feelings she has are for Connor—and she's kept that a secret, too. But she knows she'll never truly have Connor's love if she's not a Shifter like him.

At the first full moon after her birthday, her greatest fear is realized: She doesn't transform. Brittany is so desperate to become a wolf that she'll go to extremes she never thought possible . . . and put all the Dark Guardians in incredible danger.

My Thoughts

Definitely the best out of the Dark guardian novels. In the other books, you couldn't know Brittany's character because she seems to stand at the end of the scene and didn't open up to any of the other characters. In here, Brittany seemed more real.

Brittany is a static. You could really feel her disappointment and longing to be a shifter, something she always dreamed she'd be. She struggles with her feelings for Conner and her inability to shift. But even though she discovers she's not a shifter, she still tries to do her best for the Dark Guardians. She's a straight-forward, tough-as-nails type of girl whose still admired by all. Probably my favorite character in the series.

Now that this review is over, time to read it again!

Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale by Ramona Wray

2011-05-21T22:04:00.004+08:00

Title: Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale

Author: Ramona Wray

Publisher: CreateSpace

Pages: 254

Reviewed by: Sabrina

Like most girls at Rosemound High School, seventeen-year-old Lily Crane is acutely aware of Ryder Kingscott. Hands down the cutest guy in school, Ryder is cool, mysterious, and utterly untouchable…especially for Lily. For when she touches someone, Lily instantly learns all about their lives. And while such a skill might seem nifty, in truth it is wrecking Lily’s life.

So she is shocked when Ryder asks her out — and even more shocked to discover he has a rival. Lucian Bell is the gorgeous new kid who can’t take his eyes off of Lily. Being pursued by two hotties should make a girl happy, but Lily is skeptical. The boys act as if they’ve met before, hating each other with a passion that could only be rooted in a dark, dangerous past. A past full of terrible secrets. The kind of secrets that could get a girl killed.

My Thoughts

...the cover...is so...cute...couldn't resist...reading it.

Lily is asked out by the cutest guy in school, Ryder. To say she was surprised is an understatement. She also gets asked out by the hot new student, Lucian. This is no ordinary love triangle. They're all connected by hex that spans centuries and Lily has to figure it out.

To sum the whole book all up, it was... interesting. Sure, the romance was too fast, I didn't like the heroine that much and it was a bit confusing, but it was interesting.

Sort of a spoiler: (It's in white) It kind of reminded me of Evermore by Alyson Noel. From the beginning, you can tell that reincarnation is involved in the story. Numerous hints are dropped in the book, such as Ryder's favorite book, the beginning, as well as other things.

Lily has a special ability. With a single touch, she can learn a person's secrets, past and bits of their future. Everything. There's a catch. If she touches them longer than a few seconds, she passes out. Thus earning her the status of school freak.

Ryder is mysterious, charming and oh-so-irresistible. He's also complete with confusing behavior and mood swings. Lucian completes this little love triangle. I don't want to give anything away so I'll stop there.

By the first chapter, I was hooked. I was tempted to flip to the end to see who is the good guy. Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale is a good read and you should definitely consider reading it!

Follow Friday (6)

2011-05-20T12:06:00.005+08:00

Hello! It's time for Follow Friday! Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee's View. Just click on the picture to check it out. This week's question is:

Q. It's circle time. Time for us to open up and share. Can you tell us FIVE quirky habits or things about you? We all have them...

I'm addicted to manga.
I can't swim without goggles.
I can't sleep unless I hear a song on my ipod.
Yes, I do believe in ghosts, psychics and the supernatural.
When I watch one of The Simpsons episodes, I watch it so many times that I memorize the whole thing by heart.

Old Magic by Marianne Curley

2011-05-17T13:08:00.006+08:00

Title: Old Magic

Author: Marianne Curley

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Pages: 317

Reviewed by: Sabrina

Jarrod Thornton is mesmerizing, but Kate Warren doesn't know why.

The moment the new guy walks into the room, Kate senses something strange and intense about him. Something supernatural. Her instincts are proven correct a few minutes later when, bullied by his classmates, Jarrod unknowingly conjures up a freak thunderstorm inside their classroom.

Jarrod doesn't believe in the paranormal. When Kate tries to convince him that he has extraordinary powers that need to be harnessed, he only puts up with her "hocus pocus" notions because he finds her captivating. However, the dangerous, uncontrolled strengthening of his gift finally convinces Jarrod that he must take Kate's theories seriously. Together, they embark on a remarkable journey—one which will unravel the mystery that has haunted Jarrod's family for generations and pit the teens against immense forces in a battle to undo the past and reshape the future.

My Thoughts

Kate Warren lives in a small village with her grandmother. When Jarrod, the new kid, conjures a storm inside the classroom, she immediately realizes he has a gift–especially after Jarred somehow blocked her from reading his mind. The thing is, Kate's a witch. Only her friend knows about it. She can probe minds, sense people's emotions and do minor spells.

Despite Kate's efforts to convince him he caused that storm, he thinks she's crazy, along with her grandmother. I would too, if a woman was suddenly screaming and saying she had a vision of snakes on me.

Eventually, certain events cause Jarrod to doubt and become unsure on whether he has powers. He joins Kate on a magical time-travel adventure to unravel the mystery of a curse that runs in Jarrod's family.The book switches from Kate's POV to Jarred's for every chapter.

I liked Old Magic. It was a little better than okay. I wish Kate hadn't told him about his gift so nonchalantly. Jarrod was a bit too wimpy. Some events in the book were confusing and hard to believe. I would talk about more problems I had with Old Magic, but that would be spoiling.

Abandon by Meg Cabot

2011-05-14T04:36:00.008+08:00

Title: Abandon (Abandon Trilogy #1)

Author: Meg Cabot

Publisher: Point

Pages: 320

Reviewed by: Sabrina

She didn't fall into his world. She was taken.

Seventeen-year-old Pierce knows what happens to us when we die.

That's how she met John Hayden, the mysterious stranger who's made returning to normal life—or at least life as Pierce knew it before the accident—next to impossible.

Though she thought she escaped him—starting a new school in a whole new place—it turns out she was wrong. He finds her.

What does John want from her? Pierce thinks she knows... just like she knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven. But she can't stay away from him, either, especially since he's always there when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she might find herself back in the place she fears the most.

And when Pierce discovers the shocking truth, that’s exactly where John sweeps her:

The Underworld.

My Thoughts

I've been waiting forever for this book! I've been reading reviews of Abandon from other sites and they all say it's good. The anticipation has been killing me! Finally I was able to read this book! I'm so relieved that Abandon was as great as I expected. Definitely worth the wait.

It took a few pages to get into the story, but I think Abandon was amazing! The greek mythology added was a bonus. I was always fascinated with myths, especially greek. I remember when I even had this obsession with it. I would dress up as a greek goddess, Athena, on halloween and find any book in the library even remotely related to greek myths.

Abandon has unique twists and turns. Most of the story is full of constant flashbacks that tell what exactly happened to Pierce in the Underworld and her experience in school after. Some readers may be bothered or confused since some of the flashbacks are all over the place.

I thought I could relate to Pierce a bit. No, I did not have a near death experience and meet a hot guy in the Underworld who wanted me to stay there forever with him (I kinda wish the latter would happen though).

John. John, John, John. His name sounds so... mediocre for someone whose a ruler of the Underworld. He's a very fascinating, interesting, secretive, confusing, emotional character. He kinda reminds me of a better version of Paul Slater from her Mediator Series.

Would you take a look at the cover? It looks fantastic! The hardback copy was lovely.

Follow Friday (5)

2011-05-13T23:00:00.001+08:00

It's really late where I am right now so I'll make this post quick. Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee's View. Click on the pic to see it. This week's question is:

Q. The Blogger Apocalypse made me a little emotional. What is the most emotional scene in a book that you have read lately?

I don't know. I'm guessing the ending of Delirium. It really broke my heart.

Stolen by Lucy Christopher

2011-05-10T23:00:00.007+08:00

Title: Stolen

Author: Lucy Christopher

Publisher: Chicken House

Pages: 320

Reviewed by: Sabrina

Sixteen year old Gemma is kidnapped from Bangkok airport and taken to the Australian Outback. This wild and desolate landscape becomes almost a character in the book, so vividly is it described. Ty, her captor, is no stereotype. He is young, fit and completely gorgeous. This new life in the wilderness has been years in the planning. He loves only her, wants only her. Under the hot glare of the Australian sun, cut off from the world outside, can the force of his love make Gemma love him back? The story takes the form of a letter, written by Gemma to Ty, reflecting on those strange and disturbing months in the outback. Months when the lines between love and obsession, and love and dependency, blur until they don't exist - almost.

My Thoughts

I had conflicting feelings for this book. At first I was really interested on what will happen to Gemma, but about halfway through the book it got boring and I skimmed a few pages. Too much of the word "you" also.

Gemma really made some bad choices in her life. After being kidnapped, I think she became a little bit better.

I found myself sympathizing with Tyler. He had terrible parents and had a horrible upbringing. He acted like a fairly nice guy. He always looked after and cared for Gemma. He never forced himself on her. In the end, after what he did instead of running back to the desert, he redeemed himself a bit in my eyes. Tyler though is crazy and delusional and a bit of a psycho. I mean, he's been stalking her for a long time and kidnapped her! You've got to admit that is creepy, weird and disturbing.

I didn't like the ending, but it was the only way it could end I guess. I wished Tyler had just asked her out when she was older, like in her twenties maybe, instead of kidnapping her. They would have had a better ending.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

2011-05-07T15:17:00.010+08:00

Title: Divergent, (Divergent #1)

Author: Veronica Roth

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Pages: 487

Reviewed by: Sabrina

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

My Thoughts

Wow. I don't really know what to say about this book. I'll start with this: (spoiler so it's in white)

I knew it! I knew it! Four is Tobias! I suspected it right from the start!

It's one of the thousands of new dystopian YA novels that really stands out. Dystopia is becoming one of my favorite genres, but I really think this might be starting to get a little bit too much. We're not here to talk about that. We're here to talk about Divergent.

I loved, loved, loved it. Divergent was full of unexpected twist and turns. It's fresh and interesting. I'd love to see what happens next in the series. This book really took my breath away (and my sleep too) with all the action, romance and the internal struggle of Tris. Like (mostly) everyone else, I did like the relationship between Tris and Four.

All the fractions were sort of confusing though. I forgot which did this and which character is from who. What else I didn't like: Tris. I didn't like her for some reason. I don't know why. I just don't like her. Actually I love her too, but hate her at the same time. Is that possible?

Now go out and read this book if you haven't yet! You can't go on without reading it!