Feature & Follow # 27

 

Feature & Follow is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. The purpose is to meet new people and gain more followers in the book blogging community. If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers. But you have to know, the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

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Here’s this week’s question:


We always talk about books that WE want. Let's turn it on its head. What books have you given other people lately?

I have to be honest, I haven't bought anyone a book in a long time. Oh, wait a minute. Yes I have. I buy my children books regularly, but I'm not sure if that counts.
Anyway, here is a list of some of the books I have bought them recently:

Holes by Louis Sachar

Boy Overboard by Moris Glitzmann

Guinness World Records 2013 Gamer's Edition
(My son is currently obsessed by video games)

Pony Pals by Jeanne Betancourt

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So what's your FF?

 

 

To play along visit Parajunkee & Alison Can Read

 

 

Follow them, follow their Featured Blogs and then visit as many blogs as you can, posting your answers.

 

And don't forget to leave your link in the comments section below!

Swoon Thursday # 27 - City of Fallen Angels

 

The fabulous girls over at YA Bound created this super HOT meme. Here's how it works.

 

From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering.

Shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag #YABound, post it here in the comments, or grab the adorable button above and share it on your blog!

 

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Those of you who have been following my blog for the past week, will know that I am currently reading The Mortal Instruments. So having said that, I'm sure it's not too hard to guess from where this weeks swoon has originated.

Yes - Book 4

City of Fallen Angels

 

First - The Blurb:

 

The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And - most importantly of all - she can finally call Jace her boyfriend.

But nothing comes without a price.

Someone is murdering Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine's Circle, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second bloody war. Clary's best friend, Simon, can't help her. His mother just found out that he's a vampire and now he's homeless. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side - along with the power of the curse that's wrecking his life. And they're willing to do anything to get what they want. At the same time he's dating two beautiful, dangerous girls - neither of whom knows about the other one.

When Jace begins to pull away from Clary without explaining why, she is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: She herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace.

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. The stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.

Second - My Thoughts:

 

I need to be honest here and say that I have not finished the book yet. I'm only halfway through, therefore, my current view is based on only what I have read so far.

 

Unfortuntaley, at this stage, I am not connecting with this book as well as I did with the first three. I had hoped that once Clary and Jace discovered that they were NOT related, the romance would kick up a notch or two.

 

Yeah, there have been a few passionate kisses, but there seems to be something going on with Jace which is preventing the two of them from being together the way in which I had hoped.

 

As I am one not to give up on a series once I have commited, I will keep reading and hope that Jace resolves whatever is going on with him.

 

My Rating - To be determined.

 

 

Third - My Swoon:

 

"Jace," she said, a little bewildered by the bitterness in his voice, "are you all right?"

 

Instead of answering he kissed her, pulling her hard against him. His body pressed hers against the wall, the metal of the mirror cold against her back, his hands sliding around her waist, up under her sweater. She always loved the way he held her. Careful, but not too gentle, not so gentle that she ever felt he was more in control than she was. Neither of them could control how they felt about each other, and she liked that, liked the way his heart hammered against hers, liked the way he murmured against her mouth when she kissed him back.

 

The elevator came to a rattling stop, and the gate opened. Beyond it, she could see the empty nave of the cathedral, light shimmering in a line of candelabras down the center aisle. She clung to Jace, glad there was very little light in the elevator so she couldn't see her own burning face in the mirror.

 

"Maybe I can stay,' she whispered. "Just a little while longer."

 

 

 

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Okay, so what do you think?

If you liked my Swoon, please leave a comment below!

 

 

Teaser Tuesday # 26 City of Glass

Just before I post this weeks Tease, I thought I would share an exciting moment with you.

Yesterday, I received a small package in the mail which I had been expecting.

Want to guess what it was?

 

Yes, my author copies of

 

MYSTERY FALLS

 

As any Indie author may tell you, it is exciting to see your written words in eBook form, but to see them in Paperback, is surreal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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As I am still caught up in reading The Mortal Instruments, my teaser for this week comes from Book 3 - City of Glass
 
First - The Blurb:

To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters - never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.

As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City - whatever the cost?

Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the final installment of the New York Times bestselling trilogy The Mortal Instruments.

 

 

Second - My Thoughts:

 

It is stated above that this is the final in the series, (Blurb obtained from Goodreads). However, as many of you know, that is not the case. There are three more to follow - thank goodness. I'm really enjoying this series and would have hated for it to end here.

 

Once again, Cassandra Clare does not disappoint. There is loads of action and many of the questions which are raised in the first two are finally answered. Of course, that doesn't mean that this is the end to the story. Far from it. There are so many different directions things can go from here and I can't wait to read on.

 

Not meaning to spoil things for anyone who hasn't yet immersed themselves  in this series, but I have to say how happy I was to discover that Clary and Jace are not actually brother and sister, something I suspected throughout the second book. Now the real romance can begin.

 

My Rating for this one: again, 5 out of 5

 

Third - My Tease:

 

Sorry, but I had difficulty choosing so I decided to give you three instead of one. Hope you enjoy them.

 

“There is no pretending," Jace said with absolute clarity. "I love you, and I will love you until I die, and if there is life after that, I'll love you then.” 

 

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“You could have had anything else in the world, and you asked for me."
She smiled up at him. Filthy as he was, covered in blood and dirt, he was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen.
"But I don't want anything else in the world.”

 

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“And now I’m looking at you,” he said, “and you’re asking me if I still want you, as if I could stop loving you. As if I would want to give up the thing that makes me stronger than anything else ever has. I never dared give much of myself to anyone before – bits of myself to the Lightwoods, to Isabelle and Alec, but it took years to do it – but, Clary, since the first time I saw you, I have belonged to you completely. I still do. If you want me.” 

 

 

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Did you enjoy??



 

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or if you don't have a blog, then please leave your ‘teasers’ in the comment section below!

Happy Teasing!

 

 

Stacking the Shelves # 22

 

 

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews. It is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks.

Earlier this week my daughter had a day off school due to a Teacher's Strike. After asking her what she would like to do with her day at home, she responded by requesting that I take her to the local library. Like me, she loves to read. I hadn't visited there since before Christmas - shame on me - so I was more than happy to take her.

 

And look what I found while I was perusing the shelves:

 

 

Bloodlines

 

 by Richelle Mead

 

&

 

The Golden Lily

 

also by Richelle Mead

 

 

 

I've heard so many good things about this series, especially from my good friend Naomi - Nomi's Paranormal Place - that I just had to grab the opportunity and borrow them. Hopefully I will find to time to read them before they are due back. I'm currently reading The Mortal Instruments and would like to finish that series as far as I can before stating a new one.

 

Okay! So what did you add to your shelf this week?

I'd really like to know.

Please leave a comment below.