Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday: Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.
Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly
Series: Waterfire Sage #1
Publication Date: May 6th 2014
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Mermaids
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ B&N

Synopsis: The first in a series of four epic tales set in the depths of the ocean, where six mermaids seek to protect and save their hidden world.

Deep in the ocean, in a world not so different from our own, live the merpeople. Their communities are spread throughout the oceans, seas, and freshwaters all over the globe.

When Serafina, a mermaid of the Mediterranean Sea, awakens on the morning of her betrothal, her biggest worry should be winning the love of handsome Prince Mahdi. And yet Sera finds herself haunted by strange dreams that foretell the return of an ancient evil. Her dark premonitions are confirmed when an assassin's arrow poisons Sera's mother. Now, Serafina must embark on a quest to find the assassin's master and prevent a war between the Mer nations. Led only by her shadowy dreams, Sera searches for five other mermaid heroines who are scattered across the six seas. Together, they will form an unbreakable bond of sisterhood and uncover a conspiracy that threatens their world's very existence.

Why I'm Waiting for this?
I was instantly drawn in by the cover! It is absolutely beautiful. And when I read the synopsis I was hooked, I've been really enjoying mermaid tales recently and this sounds like the perfect story. I think theres a good chance I will love the main character since she doesn't get married and does her own thing, so shes definitely a person who follows her heart. I can't wait to read this book. I'm sure it will be absolutely fantastic.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Unite by Jamie Campbell

Series: Project Integrate #1
Publication Date: December 3rd 2013
Genre: YA, Romance, Aliens
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ B&N

Synopsis: United They Stand.

Seventeen years ago an entire generation of aliens were sent to Earth in order to save their home planet and integrate into the human population. Now, those aliens are being hunted.

Amery Jones is your typical teenager, except for the fact she is an alien and a member of the government’s secret Project Integrate.

When Amery’s best friend Lola is kidnapped in order to get to her, there is only one person that can help – the exceedingly annoying and charming Lochie Mercury.

Together, Amery and Lochie must put aside their differences and attraction in order to rescue Lola before it’s too late.

My Rating: 4/5 stars

My Review: Amery Jones is an Alien. She looks just like you and me, the only difference is a small triangle mark on her arm. 
When strange men in black suits find Amery, she knows that they mean her harm and she has to do everything in her power to save herself and the future of her people, as well as those she loves, which is never easy.

This is definitely one of my favorite alien books out there. It has a very noble and smart character, its full of action and it has a fantastic romance.

I loved Amery as a character, most of the time she doesn't seem like an alien but just another human being because shes so extremely likable and acts just like the rest of us. I love how caring she is for her family and friends, she would do absolutely anything for them, even risking her own life. You can't not love a selfless character like that. Amery is nothing close to a boring character, her bickering with Lochie is absolutely hilarious and it makes the most serious situations a little more enjoyable. 

The romance between the two characters was amazing! I absolutely love romances where the reader can definitely see that the characters love each other deep down but they're constantly bickering and believe that they hate each other. It was amazing to see their love grow for one another and seeing Amery slowly realize that she truly does love him.

The only thing that I didn't like about this book was the beginning. It was very slow and I didn't like the fact that they didn't come out and just say that Amery is an alien right from the beginning. Also the part about Amery wearing an Ankle Brace to track her moves was completely pointless since we find out later in the story that she has a tracking chip in her shoulder.

Other than these two small things, this book was absolutely wonderful! I definitely recommend this book to all alien fans and fans of romance books where the characters don't know they love each other.

Happy Reading
-Aneta

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Book Blitz + Excerpt & Giveaway: Resistance by Jena Leigh

Resistance
by Jena Leigh
Series: The Variant Series #2
Publication Date: February 11th 2014
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ B&N

Synopsis: Alexandra Parker might be the most powerful Variant the world has ever seen—but even that won’t get her out of finishing her junior year of high school.

The challenge of keeping her abilities under wraps during class is daunting enough, but throw one surly, sandy-haired Jumper into the mix, and things can get downright complicated.

Declan’s new job? Watch over Alex while she’s at school and do everything in his power to keep her from losing control. But as sparks of every kind begin flying between Alex and her new bodyguard, she's left feeling more unstable than ever.

When avoiding her abilities results in a surprise visit from her parents’ killer, Alex’s worlds collide with a bang that nearly levels Bay View High.

With her freedom now squarely in the Agency’s crosshairs, Alex will be faced with the fight of her life... and a decision that could forever alter the course of her destiny.

Excerpt

Kenzie drummed her fingers idly on the top of her desk. Slouched in her seat, she stared unblinking at the black hands of the clock mounted to the wall above the whiteboard. All around the room, students waited in small groups for the bell to release them and their weekend to begin.
Three minutes until the final bell.
Three minutes, and she’d be free.
Three minutes, thought Kenzie, and I’ll be on my way toward my next coffee fix.
That bell really needed to hurry itself up.
She had places to be.
Kenzie sighed. The longer she went without a fix, the harder it was to silence the thoughts emanating from the sea of humanity around her.
Caffeine meant focus.
Focus meant an easier time of keeping the walls up and the voices out.
She wondered, briefly, what telepaths did before the discovery of caffeinated beverages. The thought made her shudder. Control without stimulants in the bloodstream was possible, of course. But it was far from a pleasant way to go. Especially in populated areas.
Wham!
Kenzie jolted upright, the sudden movement causing her desk to bang into the back of the seat in front of her.
Something had just slammed into her mental walls with enough force to send a stab of pain through her temple.
What the crap was that?
Around the room, the steady flow of conversation dried up.
It wasn’t just Kenzie. That pulse had hit everyone.
Even the norms.
Kenzie got slowly to her feet.
A funny thing happens when norms experience Variant abilities firsthand. Instead of seeing the supernatural for what it is, nine times out of ten, they will translate their experience into something that better fits the rules of their reality.
The brilliant light of a jumper’s teleport becomes a camera flash, the telekinetic movement of objects through the air gets blamed on a strong gust of wind, and mental assaults are automatically translated into something external.
“Did you hear that?” asked a freckle-faced blonde from across the aisle. “Sounded like a sonic boom, or something.”
“Yeah! I heard it, too!” said another. “Wonder what it was?”
She supposed the better question was not what was it, but who was it?
The wave came again, this time with twice the strength behind it. Kenzie grabbed for the back of her seat to keep from losing her balance.
Fear.
The wave wasn’t a thought, it was a distilled emotion. Someone, somewhere, was absolutely terrified.
Judging from the nervous expressions on the faces of the students around her, that fear was not only being broadcast to the rest of the school, it was also creeping its way into their subconscious.
Kenzie sifted through the residue of the psychic onslaught in an attempt to identify the source.
The second she caught a glimpse of that all too familiar thought signature, she cursed—loudly, to the surprise of the students standing stock-still beside her—before sprinting toward the door.
Halfway down the locker-lined hall the ground began to shudder, the floor practically roiling beneath her feet.
Earthquake? she wondered.
But this was Florida. Florida didn’t have earthquakes.
Declan appeared at the other end of the hall, running in her direction.
“Where is she?” called Kenzie.
Her brother ducked through a swinging door just ahead of her.
The girl’s bathroom?
Kenzie followed him in.
“Oh my god.”
Alex was on her knees in a shallow sea of water, dripping wet, her hands clutching the sides of her head.
Water flooded the room. The porcelain sinks lining the wall lay shattered and in pieces on the ground. A large, spherical indentation was blasted into the wall behind Alex and what could only be burn marks scorched onto the ceiling above.
As Kenzie watched in amazement, strands of water began swirling around her friend, encasing her in a glittering sphere of liquid before losing form and crashing back down around her.
A shimmer of light rippled across Alex’s body, distorting her appearance like a mirage on desert sand.
“I can’t…” Alex was sobbing. “There are too many, Declan. I can’t make them stop!”
Declan edged as close to Alex as he dared, his expression grim.
Alex finally lifted her head to look at them.
Kenzie took an involuntary step backward. She had seen the way a jumper’s eyes changed color, the brilliant violet light causing their eyes to glow brightly in the moments before and after they teleported, but Alex’s normally gray eyes were now shifting colors with every beat of her heart.
Jade.
Violet.
Ruby.
Azure.
Black.
Alex collapsed.
The rumbling in the floor intensified, sending Declan into action. He sloshed through the water, reaching down to grip Alex under her arms.
“Get the door,” he called over his shoulder.
Kenzie held the door for Declan as he dragged Alex into the deserted hallway.
“Take my arm,” he ordered, maintaining his hold on Alex. “Let’s go, Kenzie.”
Terrified of being this close to Alex during a meltdown, but knowing her brother would leave her behind if she didn’t act fast, Kenzie lurched forward and grabbed Declan’s upper arm.
They jumped with the sound of the final bell ringing in their ears.


About the Author

Jena Leigh is the author of the Variant Series novels REVIVAL and RESISTANCE. Born and raised in Tampa, Florida, she spent ten years in the mountains of North Carolina before returning home to the lightning capital of North America. A shameless geek, she loves coffee, loud music, bad sci-fi movies, Skittles, and shenanigan-filled road trips to faraway concerts. 









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Saturday, February 22, 2014

Stacking the Shelves + Weekly Update

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. With this amazing meme, you can check out which books I've gotten this past week.

Weekly Update
So as some of you may have noticed, I've been barely on this week. I am so sorry for leaving the blogging world for so long. I've recently recovered from being sick and I've been trying to catch up on a mountain of homework (My physics teacher decides to give 30 questions for homework each day). So I've been pretty busy, not to mention there's new boy drama in my life which you probably don't want to hear about, as well as getting ready for my trip to Europe!

But I have some pretty exciting news... I GOT ACCEPTED TO UNIVERSITY! This has been the university that I've wanted to go to for the longest time, and not only did I get accepted into the Science Faculty like I've always wanted, but I've also done early admission, and the university is planning on giving me a $2000 scholarship if I keep my grades up. Sorry that had nothing to do with books, but I really just wanted to share my good news with you all.

Now about books..
Sadly my only post for the week has been.
Review: Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Don't worry, now that I'm all caught up on my homework, I will be back to blogging every day, especially since this week me and Angel from Spare Reads are finally starting World After by Susan Ee together :) I'm so excited.

Stacking the Shelves
Books bought
Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers

Synopsis: When Sybella arrived at the doorstep of St Mortain half mad with grief and despair the convent were only too happy to offer her refuge - but at a price. The sisters of this convent serve Death, and with Sybella naturally skilled in both the arts of death and seduction, she could become one of their most dangerous weapons.
But her assassin's skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to the life that nearly drove her mad. Her father's rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother's love is equally monstrous. But when Sybella discovers an unexpected ally she discovers that a daughter of Death may find something other than vengeance to live for...


Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Synopsis: 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.

Received for Review
To all the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Synopsis: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.







Have a good week everyone! Thanks for reading :)

Monday, February 17, 2014

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Series: His Fair Assassin #1
Publication Date: April 3rd 2012
Genre: YA, Adventure, Romance
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ B&N

Synopsis: Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

My Rating: 5/5 stars

My Review: Ismae is one of Death's daughters. She has a large red scar on her back to prove it. When Ismae's father gladly gets rid of her to an arranged marriage with a nasty old man, Ismae escapes to St. Mortain's convent where Death is their god and all are trained to be assassins to carry out deaths wish. 
When Ismae is sent on a new assignment, not only does she have to protect the Duchess of Brittany at all costs, but she also has to pretend to be the mistress of the king's bastard son.

Grave Mercy is one of my new favorite books. I instantly fell in love with the wonderful world the author has created. Everything about this book is perfect.

I love Ismae so much as a character. She goes from being a little girl who everyone hates and is afraid of, to one of the most skilled assassins that's incredibly intelligent and brave. She is so relatable to everyone I'm sure you will all fall in love with her right from the start.
Duval is another fantastic character, he is so smart and so passionate. I love how much he cares for his sisters and that he always does the right thing in the end. Even though I felt like I couldn't trust him throughout the book, I never stopped loving him, and hoping that he was one of the good guys.

The world building in this story is absolutely fantastic. The author provides a map for you before the story begins. You get to see that they land they are talking about is in between France and Great Britain, and all the cities that the characters talk about are labeled. Not only that, but the description words of when the characters traveled and the castle and houses are just wonderful, they definitely help you picture the scene. 

I recommend this book to everyone! Especially if you're a fan of Game of Thrones and Throne of Glass! Even if you're not a big fan of Fantasy, you will still love it. This story appeals to most genres.

I was so excited to read the next book, until I realized that the next one is about Ismae's friend Sybella. I was really hoping that the next book would be a continuation of Ismae's adventures, but knowing how good this book was, I can already tell that the next one about Sybella will be just as good or better. Hopefully there is some little parts about what happens to Ismae in the story.

Thanks so much for reading.

-Aneta

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Blog Tour: Undying by Valerie Grosjean


Hi everyone. Welcome to my stop on the Undying Blog Tour hosted by Xpresso Book Tours. I am so happy to share this fantastic book with all of you. Check out my review of this book down below and an awesome giveaway by the author. Check out the rest of the schedule here.

Undying
by Valerie Grosjean
Series: Undying #1
Publication Date: September 29th 2013
Genre: YA, Romance, Zombies
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ B&N

Synopsis: This is a story of love . . . and zombies. 

When eighteen-year-old college freshman Christian discovers his dormitory is crawling with the living dead, he knows he has a problem. But once he learns the whole country is overrun by the flesh-eating horde, he must race to protect what matters to him most. 

Sixteen-year-old Iris, the girl he loves, is stranded eighty miles away, alone and completely unaware of the gruesome threat surrounding her.

Christian’s plan is to evade the zombies, drive the distance to rescue Iris, and get them both to his family farm—where there are guns, fuel, and everything else they’ll need to survive. His mission seems simple: Get the girl, get to the farm, and stay alive.

Things get complicated when Christian is forced to make an unthinkable choice between Iris and his family. Someone he loves must die, and he must decide.

My Rating: 4/5 stars

My Review: Undying is a fantastic first book to a perfect new series. If you're a fan of The Walking Dead then you will absolutely love this book and you need to read it right now.

When Christian wakes up a discovers that there is a crazy girl running down his dorm room biting people he and his roommate decide to investigate. Finding a dead body in one of the rooms and seeing it come back to life, they know that this is the beginning of a zombie apocalypse. It becomes Christians mission to find and help his best friend Iris whom hes just happened to love since they met. Can he get there in time, before its too late.

This story is absolutely fantastic. I love The Walking Dead so this was a definite read for me. And I must say that I was not dissapointed with the amount of zombies. This book was perfect in the sense where it had romance, adventure and zombies. There was a perfect balance to everything.
We defintiely see a lot of world-building. We go from seeing Christian in his dorm room, to him racing back home and breaking into houses. I feel like the amount of detail the author put into the descriptions and details on the world were just the right amount for the length of the book.

Christian was definitely a great character, I loved seeing the world from his point of view. I love how hes so caring, you can definitely tell just how much he cares about Iris and his family, and you do get a feel of how much he has suffered due to his mother's passing. I loved reading about him just talking about how he met Iris and how he decided to be friends. Even though I admired him for his love and passion, he definitely seemed a little strange, there were times where he would say things that didn't really belong to the context, they were just kind of random, most of the time it was when he said I love you. This made him seem a little less realistic.

The beginning of this book was absolutely perfect, but closer to the end I felt like the book was being rushed a little too fast. I would have loved to get more detail with what happens with certain characters which I feel like we didn't get enough time with.

Either way, I really enjoyed this book, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series to find out what happens to Christian next. 

About the Author


Valerie Grosjean is the author of the young adult novel UNDYING. She grew up on a Nebraska farm. After college, she married and moved to Northern California, where she lives with her husband and their two young children. Her obsession with zombie movies inspired UNDYING, her first novel and the beginning of the Undying series.





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Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Cover Reveal + Giveaway: Anomaly by Tonya Kuper

Anomaly 
by Tonya Kuper
Series: Schrodinger's Consortium #1
Publishing Date: November 4th 2014
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Amazon ~ Goodreads

Synopsis: What if the world isn't what we think? What if reality is really only an illusion? What if you were one of the few who could control it?

Yeah, Josie Harper didn't believe it, either, until strange things started happening. When this hot guy tried to kidnap her, shouting about ultimate observers and pushing and consortiums hell-bent on controlling the world… Well, that's when things got real. Now Josie's got it bad for a boy who weakens her every time he's near and a world of enemies on her tail who want to control her gift, so yeah, she's going to need more than just her wits if she hopes to survive much longer.

Einstein never saw this coming...

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Book Blitz + Excerpt & Giveaway: The Star Catcher by Stephanie Keyes

The Star Catcher
by Stephanie Keyes
Series: The Star Child #3
Publishing Date: November 10th 2013
Genre: YA, Paranormal, Romance
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ B&N

Synopsis: Magick and destiny intertwine as he fights to save his kingdom and the goddess he loves.

Her kiss…the feel of her skin…the beat of her heart…For seventeen-year-old Kellen St. James, each memory is marred by a single sentence on a lone strip of paper.
Cali has been taken…

Armed with an amulet that channels the ultimate power of Faerie, Kellen searches for his love. However, control of the amulet’s energy comes with a price, and Kellen soon learns that Cali’s captor has plans for the stone. With the threat of the Star Catcher’s evil looming above Kellen and his kingdom, he’ll have to free the Heart of Faerie and break the curse the binds the Children of Danu to the darkness. But before that, he has to find his real father, the king. No pressure, right?

Kellen and Cali will battle bewitched armies and unknown foes as they fight to stay together. Will Kellen embrace his immortal destiny? Or will his world, and the man he is fated to become, be destroyed by The Star Catcher?

Excerpt

“Right.” Automatically, I turned to go right, my usual default.
Don’t use your brain, K. Cast out your senses and search for your father that way. Logic won’t find him.
“You have a point.” Mortal folklore and beliefs had gotten us this far, but from here on out, I’d need to use my gut. Closing my eyes, I focused on the hallway where I stood, reaching out. My mind crept like a thief, snaking into each open space. Yet no one was there. Otherwise, I would have sensed something. Changing tactics, I shifted my attention to the corridor on my left. Immediately, I received an emotion back—complete and utter happiness—a sensation of fulfillment that went   far beyond what most people experience. Soundlessly, I moved down the hallway, drawn toward the sensation of contentment.
What is it?
Someone’s happy, I answered with my mind, not wanting to speak the words out loud and give myself away. I could sense the close proximity of the feelings I’d picked up on.
Be careful. It could be a trap.
But as I wandered forward, I got the feeling it wasn’t. I needed to walk this corridor. I’d been waiting my entire life for it. The closer I came to the happiness, filling up the place like a cloud, the more I considered never leaving, staying in this place forever. What could the outside world possibly have to offer? What? Wait a minute. What was that I’d been thinking? Cali was waiting for me. I had to get back to Cali. I pushed forward.
“Willock, is that you?”
I froze. That voice. It was my father’s voice,   not the evil tone I’d become used to over the years with the fake Stephen. Instead, this voice sounded pleasant, welcoming. I had just reached the doorframe when I paused. I had two more steps to take, and I would see my father.

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Thursday, February 6, 2014

Feature & Follow Friday

Feature & Follow is a weekly meme hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee where we get to answer a weekly question and find new friends and followers!

If you'd like to join, please click on the links highlighted in pink to go to the hosts website for a full set of rules.

Question of the Week:
If you could read a book for the "first time" again, which book would it be? Why?

My Answer: 
Harry Potter. I'm guessing this is going to be pretty much everyone's choice and as much as I want to be different, this is the honest truth. Harry Potter is one of two series that pretty much got me into reading and I wouldn't change that for the world, but I would do anything to be able to forget what happens and to read it again for the first time so that I don't know whats coming.

Thanks for reading my post, feel free to leave your link in the comments and I'll check out your blog too :)

Cover Reveal + Excerpt & Giveaway: Knight Assassin

Knight Assassin
by Rima Jean
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication Date: March 4th 2014
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ B&N

Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Zayn has special powers she cannot control—powers that others fear and covet. Powers that cause the Templar Knights to burn Zayn’s mother at the stake for witchcraft. When a mysterious stranger tempts Zayn to become the first female member of the heretical Assassins, the chance to seek her revenge lures her in. She trains to harness her supernatural strength and agility, and then enters the King of Jerusalem's court in disguise with the assignment to assassinate Guy de Molay, her mother’s condemner. But once there, she discovers Earic Goodwin, the childhood friend who still holds her heart, among the knights—and his ocean-blue eyes don’t miss a thing. Will vengeance be worth the life of the one love she has left?

Excerpt
Earic emerged from behind a rosebush, his eyes glistening at her. He looked misplaced, this broad-shouldered monk-warrior, wandering amid the blooms of an Eastern garden. Even at night, the reds and golds and pinks were vivid and breathtaking. “Is Marguerite well?” he asked immediately, his brow creased with concern.
Zayn frowned as he sat beside her on the bench. “She has been better.”
“Her injury—”
“It is healing well. It’s not her leg that ails her so much.” Zayn looked down into her lap. How would she tell him what Marguerite should be telling him herself? This whole situation was terribly uncomfortable. “Lady Melisende has forbidden her from keeping your company.”
He exhaled, looked down as well. “I thought she might.” Zayn tilted her head to look at his profile. His hair was freshly washed and still damp, dark at the roots and shorter than before. Gone was the baby-faced Fair Boy she remembered; the man beside her had a network of scars on his sun-baked face and neck. His palms were like cracked leather, and the scent of sandalwood mingled with the musk of a man. She was surprised to find that it did not repulse her. In fact, it did quite the opposite. She glanced away.
“She never did approve of our friendship,” he said with a sad smile. “I was not good enough for her daughter. And I don’t disagree—I am not good enough for Marguerite.”
“Oh, stop,” Zayn said impatiently. “Just because you were not born into the right family doesn’t mean you cannot be friends.”
Earic looked at Zayn. “I suppose. But Marguerite is something special.”
Her expression softened. “Yes. I agree.” She hesitated for a moment. “She wanted me to tell you that no matter what, your friendship will endure.”
His smile was like a bolt of lightning in the dark. “Of course it will. Just like ours has.”
Zayn focused straight ahead, her blood beginning to hum. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Zayn.” His voice was hoarse with emotion, his hand gently brushing against hers. “I know it’s you. I knew it was you the moment I saw you.”
“Your enemy,” she heard herself say, turning to look at him.
His voice was barely a whisper. “God’s bones! What have you become?”
Emotion clogged her throat, made her voice rasp. “Forget you ever met me, Earic. You must forget. I must kill you otherwise.”
“You can try. You won’t succeed.” He moved his hand up her arm, sending sparks throughout her body. “I had intended to visit Monteferrand soon. I wanted…to find you.”
She shook her head, her breath coming quickly now. “Find me? Why? You are a Templar, have you forgotten? And I…I’m not the girl you remember, not even a shadow of her.”
“I follow no one’s law but my own.” His face was illuminated from within. “As for the girl from Rafaniya… She’s here, I can still see her.” He raised his hand to her mouth and touched her lips with his forefinger.
Her every nerve tingled in response, her brain woozy with realization. Was it possible that he had feelings for her? In the blink of an eye, her hand flashed out, seeking his throat. Before she could grasp him, he’d snagged her wrist in his powerful fist. Her other hand lashed out; he stopped it as well. Her body rose in fury, but he rose with her, twisting her forcefully against him. Locking her within his arms, he lowered his head. “I won’t touch you, Zayn, I swear it. Please, control your strength. I don’t want to hurt you.”
The roar abated; her strength retreated like a falling tide. She gasped and slumped against him. How was he so strong? She was surprised how far up she had to look to meet his gaze. “I don’t understand. How…?”
His lips were inches from hers. “Haven’t you realized it yet, Zayn? You and I…”
His breath mingled with hers, intoxicating her. “What?” she managed to whisper.
Rather than answer, he dipped his head just a fraction and touched her mouth with his. The spark his lips ignited was so very different from the one created by her power. A warmth spread throughout her body, turning her muscles to jelly. She felt completely, utterly human in Fair Boy’s arms, and it was too good to be true…
She pulled away abruptly, horrified. “I have to go. I can’t… You must forget about me, Earic. Or else you put your life in danger.” Before he could reply, she turned and hurried away, breathless with fear.

About the Author

Rima Jean received a degree in archaeology from the University of Pennsylvania. After a dismal law school experience, she floundered a bit before accepting her calling: storytelling. She resides in Houston with her wonderful husband and two beautiful daughters, where she writes, edits, and dabbles in digital art.






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Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday: Of Neptune by Anna Banks

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.
Of Neptune
by Anna Banks
Series: The Syrena Legacy #3
Publication Date: May 13th 2014
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Mythology
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ B&N

Synopsis: Emma and Galen s kingdom and their love is threatened by long-lost Syrena in the brilliant conclusion to Anna Banks bestselling trilogy.

Emma, half human and half Syrena, and her Syrena love, Galen, need time together alone. Away from the kingdoms of Poseidon and Triton. Emma s grandfather, the Poseidon king, suggests the two visit a small town called Neptune.

Neptune is home to both Syrena and Half-Breeds alike. But Emma and Galen didn t sign up to be peacemakers between the ocean and the land-dwelling, freshwater Syrena. They didn t bargain for meeting a charming Half-Breed named Reed, who can barely disguise his feelings for Emma. And they especially didn t expect to find themselves in the middle of a power struggle that threatens not only their love but their ocean kingdoms.

In this stunning conclusion to her bestselling Syrena Legacy, Anna Banks thrills fans with more action and romance than ever.

Why I'm Waiting For This?
So far I've only read the first book, and I'm planning on reading the second book soon. I already love this series and I'm hoping that it continues to get better. 

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Blog Tour: Such Sweet Sorrow by Jenny Trout

Hi everyone. Welcome to my stop on the Such Sweet  Sorrow Book Tour, hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. I am so excited to share this book with you, especially since today is the day it comes out. You can check out my review of this wonderful book down below, and don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of the post.

Such Sweet Sorrow
by Jenny Trout
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication Date: February 4th 2014
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ B&N

Synopsis: Never was there a tale of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo…But true love never dies. Though they’re parted by the veil between the world of mortals and the land of the dead, Romeo believes he can restore Juliet to life, but he’ll have to travel to the underworld with a thoroughly infuriating guide.

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, may not have inherited his father’s crown, but the murdered king left his son a much more important responsibility—a portal to the Afterjord, where the souls of the dead reside. When the determined Romeo asks for help traversing the treacherous Afterjord, Hamlet sees an opportunity for adventure, and the chance to avenge his father’s death.

In an underworld filled with leviathan monsters, ghoulish shades, fire giants and fierce Valkyrie warriors, Hamlet and Romeo must battle their way through jealousy, despair, and their darkest fears to rescue the fair damsel. Yet finding Juliet is only the beginning, and the Afterjord doesn’t surrender souls without a price…

My Rating: 5/5 stars

My Review: Such Sweet Sorrow is such a wonderful book, not only does it bring two wonderful Shakespearean tales together, but it takes you on a brand new adventure filled with amazing creatures. I cannot tell you enough how much I loved this book.

When Romeo took the poison to kill himself, the poison backfired, not only was he still alive but the poison made him weak. Seeking the help of a witch to find Juliet, Romeo sets off to get help from Hamlet, the prince of Denmark. Hoping that together they can get his lovely wife back from the dead.

I was head over heels in love with this book ever since I read the synopsis. This book was such a wonderful read, I loved every part of it. It is absolutely perfect for all the Romeo and Juliet, and Hamlet fans out there who want more to the story. But the author was so amazing, that she wrote it so that even if you haven't read the original story by Shakespeare, you can still enjoy this story as equally as anyone. 

I have never truly liked Romeo, I'm not sure if its because he is usually portrayed as a bad guy in other books who spin off on the original story, but even then I wasn't a big fan. This book definitely changed my opinion. In the beginning, I was like "Oh great, another story where Romeo is a selfish guy and all he can think about is love." My statement was true in the beginning, but by the end of the book, we see a new side to Romeo where he learns what he's been doing wrong and he truly becomes a greater character. I wasn't expecting this to happen, it definitely surprised me and I loved it.

I was really impressed with Juliet in this book. I don't want to talk about it too much because I don't want to spoil it, but trust me when I say that you will definitely love her. She is not the same fragile girl you know of.

Hamlet, where to begin. He was absolutely perfect in this whole story. If only he wasn't like 500 years old (or however long ago Shakespeare wrote the story) I would totally marry him. He is probably the smartest and bravest prince I have ever known in the history of all the books I read. He may not be the best at fighting, but when he does fight he uses his brain which definitely helps him in the end. He is witty and awesome and I loved everything about him.

The wold-building in this story is absolutely fantastic as well as all the characters. This re-telling of Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet is better than the original in my opinion. I am so thankful that I received this book and was able to be on this tour with Rockstar Tours.  This book was absolutely amazing and I highly recommend this to everyone, I guarantee you 99.9% that you will love it.


About the Author


Jenny Trout is a writer, blogger, and funny person.

Writing as Jennifer Armintrout, she made the USA Today Bestseller list with Blood Ties Book One: The Turning. Her novel American Vampire was named one of the top ten horror novels of 2011 by Booklist Magazine Online.
Jenny also writes award-winning erotic romance as Abigail Barnette.
When she’s not writing, she’s sleeping or otherwise incapacitated.
She is a proud Michigander, mother of two, and wife to the only person alive capable of spending extended periods of time with her without wanting to murder her.


Giveaway

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Tour Schedule

Week 1:
2/3/2014- In Love With Handmade- Review
2/3/2014- Black Words-White Pages Teen/Young Adult- Review
2/3/2014- The Reader's Antidote- Excerpt
2/4/2014- Angelic Book Reviews- Review
2/4/2014- Fantasy Book Addict- Interview
2/4/2014- Working for the Mandroid- Excerpt
2/5/2014- Taking It One Book at a Time- Review
2/5/2014- Forget About TV, Grab a Book- Review
2/5/2014- Dark Novella- Guest Post
2/6/2014- Sabrina's Paranormal Palace- Review
2/6/2014- Chapter by Chapter- Interview
2/6/2014- I'll Tumble For YA- Excerpt
2/7/2014- Such a Novel Idea- Review
2/7/2014- Refracted Light Reviews- Guest Post
2/7/2014- Literary Meanderings - Excerpt

Week 2:

2/10/2014- Janae's Book Obsession- Review
2/10/2014- Imaginary Reads- Guest Post
2/10/2014- Falling For YA- Excerpt
2/11/2014- Darkest Addictions Reviews- Review
2/11/2014- TSK TSK What to Read- Review
2/11/2014- Paranormal Book Club- Interview
2/12/2014- RhiReading- Review
2/12/2014- Book Angel Booktopia- Review
2/12/2014- Curling Up With A Good Book- Guest Post
2/13/2014- Moonlight Gleam Reviews- Review
2/13/2014- Addicted Readers- Interview
2/13/2014- A Dream Within A Dream- Guest Post
2/14/2014- Lovely Reads- Review
2/14/2014- In Vogue with Books- Review
2/14/2014- Fade Into Fantasy- Interview
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