Saturday, May 3, 2014

Stacking the Shelves #49



Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s ReviewsIt 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.


This week I added two books to my shelf, both from Amazon.



Learning to Breathe by Joanne McClean

&



Of Silver and Beasts by Trisha Wolfe



 So... what did you add to your shelf this week?
I'd really like to know.
Please leave a comment below.

Friday, May 2, 2014

Feature & Follow # 80 ~ Hobbies outside of reading!

Alison Can Read Feature & Follow


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.



This weeks question:

Share!
Tell us about one of your hobbies that is NOT reading.


Okay, so when I'm not reading, I'm usually writing - currently, I'm working on the last book in my Mystery Falls trilogy.

Hobbies outside both these passions include spending quality time with my family. Cooking and baking with my daughter. Watching movies. Taking long walks in the autumn sunshine.


These  memorial gardens are about a 20 minute drive from my home. They are beautiful all year round, but for me, autumn is the best time to visit.


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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!


Thursday, May 1, 2014

Swoon Thursday #88 ~ Endless by Jessica Shirvington



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 SWOONWhat 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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My Swoon for this week comes from:

Endless
(The Violet Eden Chapters #4)

by
Jessica Shirvington

First - The Blurb:




Love will kill us all.

Angels are real. They aren't always kind. Violet Eden is certain of all this because she is Grigori - part angel, part human. She has felt the influence of both light and dark. 

When Hell unleashes its worst, Violet must embrace every facet of her angel self to save the people she cares about and the world as she knows it. But death is not the worst thing that Violet will face. For her, the endless question 'Can love conquer all?' will finally be answered.


Second - My Swoon:

He carried me upstairs, stopping along the way to back me into the wall, to press against me and kiss me in that way of his that ignited every kind of fire conceivable. Slowly, meaningfully, his lips moved with single-minded purpose, telling me with every deliberate touch that he loved me. It reminded me of the first kiss we'd shared and I knew now, that was the moment my soul discovered his and decided they belonged together.


This book is packed with action, some swoon worthy, some not. Definitely a great continuation to the story, although I should warn, it does leave off on a bit of a cliff hanger.



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Okay, so what do you think?

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


Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Teaser Tuesday #88 ~ Emblaze by Jessica Shirvington



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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My Tease for this week comes from:

Emblaze

(The Violet Eden Chapters #3)

by
Jessica Shirvington


First - The Blurb:




Once again Violet Eden faces an impossible choice ... and the consequences are unimaginable. 

Violet has come to terms with the fact that being part angel, part human, means her life will never be as it was.

Now Violet has something Phoenix - the exiled angel who betrayed her - will do anything for, and she has no intention of letting it fall into his hands. The only problem is that he has something she needs too. 

Not afraid to raise the stakes, Phoenix seemingly holds all the power, always one step ahead. And when he puts the final pieces of the prophecy together, it doesn't take him long to realize exactly who he needs in order to open the gates of Hell.

With the help of surprising new allies, ancient prophecies are deciphered, a destination set and, after a shattering confrontation with her father, Violet leaves for the islands of Greece without knowing if she will have a home to return to...



Second - The Tease:

"You smell of winter dew at the first crack of dawn and when you use your power it feels like being submerged in the most intoxicating vanilla cream that I lose myself in it every time and... And you were beautiful," he blurted out, catching us both by surprise. But he went on, ignoring the fact my hand was still slipping. "So stunning in that dress the other night I could hardly look at you it hurt so much. You are the thing I dread the most in myself, Violet, because... I love you so much that I can't trust myself. I'd die for you, give up all my power for you, I'd give you my soul in an instant, even if it meant I had to spend eternity in torment - just for one moment with you as mine. Wanting you consumes me. I dread you because I know the risk but I'm so selfish I want you anyway. I'd take you even though it could kill you."


I know this may not really be classified as a tease but it is easily my most favorite scene in this book so I just had to share it with you. I probably should point out that Violet is hanging over the edge of a volcano while Lincoln finally confesses his true feelings for her.



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Okay, so what do you think?

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



TBR Tuesday #43 ~ My Sweetest Escape by Chelsea M. Cameron



My good friend Sharrice from Reese's Reviews: My Addiction to Fiction came up with the idea of 'TBR Tuesday'

If you want to join in the fun, then just do the following:
From your book shelf or your e-reader, pick a book that you own that is still on your TBR list. Post it however you want to, then leave a link below so others can see what's waiting to be read.


This week for me its:


My Sweetest Escape

by

Chelsea M. Cameron


The past will always find you.

Jos Archer was the girl with the perfect life; until the night it all came crashing down around her. Now, nine months later, she still hasn't begun to pick up the pieces. Even transferring to a new college and living under the watchful eye of her older sister, Renee, isn't enough to help her feel normal again.

And then she meets Dusty Sharp. For reasons Jos can't begin to fathom, the newly reformed campus bad boy seems determined to draw her out of her shell. And if she's not careful, his knowing green eyes and wicked smile will make her feel things she's no longer sure she deserves.

But even as Dusty coaxes Jos to open up about the past, he's hiding secrets of his own. Secrets about the night her old life fell apart. When the truth is finally revealed, will it bring them closer together;or tear them apart for good?


I bought this one a while back in paperback and totally forgot it was on my shelf. Just bumped it up my list to read next.



SO NOW IT'S YOUR TURN!
Leave a comment and tell me what's waiting on your TBR pile.


Monday, April 28, 2014

Jumble Your Genres Reading Challenge 2014: April ~ Middle Grade



This year Readers Live A Thousand LivesCorrie The Book Crazed Girl, and Lovin' Los Libros have teamed up to host the Jumble Your Genres Reading Challenge! For this challenge, the goal is to mix up the genres/categories we read. We have all had those times when we have gotten stuck in the genre/category we are currently reading and read nothing else for a while. The goal here is to mix that up! Each month a different genre/category will be featured and the goal is to read and review one book or more in that genre/category during that month.


For April the genre / category is ~ Middle Grade

My Choice:

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

by 
Jeff Kinney




Boys don’t keep diaries—or do they?

The launch of an exciting and innovatively illustrated new series narrated by an unforgettable kid every family can relate to

It’s a new school year, and Greg Heffley finds himself thrust into middle school, where undersized weaklings share the hallways with kids who are taller, meaner, and already shaving. The hazards of growing up before you’re ready are uniquely revealed through words and drawings as Greg records them in his diary.

In book one of this debut series, Greg is happy to have Rowley, his sidekick, along for the ride. But when Rowley’s star starts to rise, Greg tries to use his best friend’s newfound popularity to his own advantage, kicking off a chain of events that will test their friendship in hilarious fashion.

Author/illustrator Jeff Kinney recalls the growing pains of school life and introduces a new kind of hero who epitomizes the challenges of being a kid. As Greg says in his diary, “Just don’t expect me to be all ‘Dear Diary’ this and ‘Dear Diary’ that.” Luckily for us, what Greg Heffley says he won’t do and what he actually does are two very different things.

Since its launch in May 2004 on Funbrain.com, the Web version of Diary of a Wimpy Kid has been viewed by 20 million unique online readers. This year, it is averaging 70,000 readers a day.



My Thoughts:

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a middle grade fiction book written by Jeff Kinney for young teenagers. Presented in the form of a journal with illustrations included, it tells the story of a young boy - Greg Heffley - as he enters middle school for the first time. I chose this book for this months reading challenge because it is one of my son's all time favorites. Plus he had to write a review on it for school so I thought it would be fun to write it together.

The very first entry is interesting because it describes how the idea of keeping a journal was not Greg’s idea but his mother’s - Susan Heffley. It also explains how the book got its title. Reluctantly agreeing with his mother’s idea, Greg specifically requested that she purchase a journal. Much to his dismay, she got him a diary instead. Had Susan done as Greg requested and got him a journal, then maybe the title might have been Journal of a Wimpy Kid.

As the entries continue, it becomes clear that Greg is not very highly regarded amongst his peers. Determined to improve his image he tries a number of different things (running for class treasurer, becoming the school paper’s cartoonist, joining the safety patrol, to name but a few). Unfortunately though for Greg, most of these fail and land him right back where he started from.

Many of Greg’s experiences are shared with his best friend - Rowley - who is also struggling to fit in with the rest of the student body. Other characters which feature in the book include, Frank - Greg’s dad, Rodrick - Greg’s older brother who always seems to be picking on  him, and Manny - Greg’s younger brother who is both annoying and a little on the spoilt side.

Written in an easy style, Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a fun read which has many hilarious moments and keeps its readers entertained from start to finish.

My Rating: 5 out of 5


Sunday, April 27, 2014

Stacking the Shelves #48



Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s ReviewsIt 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.

Okay, so this week I only added one book to my shelf. Probably a good thing since I have so many I need to catch up on.



Few are Angels by Inger Iversen


After a fatal hit and run accident, Ella Monroe fears that she’s lost more than her beloved parents. Horrifying visions of a past life and a disturbing voice in her head have psychiatric professionals convinced that she’s lost her sanity as well. But when Kale—a dark and handsome stranger with a mysterious pastreveals the true meaning of her visions and the tremendous power she wields through them, Ella must come to terms with the devastating truths of her own past, while eluding an ancient Dark Prince who seeks to control not only her future, but all of mankind’s, by means of abilities that Ella is only beginning to understand.

Enter the shrouded world of an age old battle between an ancient race known as the Immortals and their bitter enemy Laurent, the so-called Dark Prince, who commands an army of half-breed vampires known as Chorý. Both sides have been desperately searching for the prophesied emergence of the Arc, a clairvoyant with unparalleled power to recall the past and a soothsayer with clear vision into the future. 

The Council of Immortals has sworn to protect the Arc, whom they have identified as young Ella Monroe, a college freshman from Virginia living quietly and unaware of her powers or her past. But a renegade Chorý has other plans for the protection of a girl he has loved through the ages. Can Kale convince Ella of who she is, what she is destined to become, and what he once meant to her? Is he truly the best protector to shield the world from the devastating misuse of her powers that Laurent is bent on controlling? Or will the forbidden love they share and Kale’s cursed condition as a retched and hated Chorý be used against them both?

This paranormal romance told from the heroine’s perspective builds in intensity and intrigue to a finale you won’t see coming. Heart pounding action mixed with heartwarming friendships and heartbreaking romance will leave you breathless and begging for more.



 So... what did you add to your shelf this week?
I'd really like to know.
Please leave a comment below.