Wednesday, May 31, 2017

{Review} Wicked Lovely (Wicked Lovely #1) by Melissa Marr

Synopsis
Title: Wicked Lovely
Series: Wicked Lovely #1
Author: Melissa Marr
Genre: Young Adult/Fae/Supernatural/Urban Fantasy
My Rating: 2/5
Add To: Goodreads


Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in the mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty - especially if they learn of her Sight - and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King, who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost — regardless of her plans or desires.
Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.
Faery intrigue, mortal love, and the clash of ancient rules and modern expectations swirl together in Melissa Marr's stunning twenty-first-century faery tale.

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

No Safety in Numbers (No Safety in Numbers #1) by Dayna Lorentz

Synopsis


Title: No Safety in Numbers
Series: No Safety in Numbers #1
Author: Dayna Lorentz
Genre: Young Adult/Science Fiction/Dystopia
My Rating: 1/5
Add To: Goodreads

When a strange device is discovered in the air ducts of a busy suburban mall, the entire complex is suddenly locked down. No one can leave. No one knows what is going on.
At first, there's the novelty of being stuck in a mega mall with free food and a gift certificate. But with each passing day, it becomes harder to ignore the dwindling supplies, inadequate information, and mounting panic.

Then people start getting sick.
Told from the point of view of two guys and two girls, this is a harrowing look at what can happen under the most desperate of circumstances, when regular people are faced with impossible choices. Some rise to the occasion. Some don't.
And for some - it's too late.

Saturday, May 13, 2017

{Review} Windfall by Jennifer E. Smith

Synopsis
Title: Windfall
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Genre: Young Adult/Contemporary
My Rating: 2/5
Add To: Goodreads


Let luck find you. 
Alice doesn’t believe in luck—at least, not the good kind. But she does believe in love, and for some time now, she’s been pining for her best friend, Teddy. On his eighteenth birthday—just when it seems they might be on the brink of something—she buys him a lottery ticket on a lark. To their astonishment, he wins $140 million, and in an instant, everything changes.

At first, it seems like a dream come true, especially since the two of them are no strangers to misfortune. As a kid, Alice won the worst kind of lottery possible when her parents died just over a year apart from each other. And Teddy’s father abandoned his family not long after that, leaving them to grapple with his gambling debts. Through it all, Teddy and Alice have leaned on each other. But now, as they negotiate the ripple effects of Teddy’s newfound wealth, a gulf opens between them. And soon, the money starts to feel like more of a curse than a windfall.

As they try to find their way back to each other, Alice learns more about herself than she ever could have imagined…and about the unexpected ways in which luck and love sometimes intersect.

Sunday, May 7, 2017

Arbiter Blog Tour


Hey everyone! Let's give a warm welcome Jamie Foley author of The Sentinel Trilogy! We are going to start this bad boy off with a few questions as, of course, every tour has and needs. :)


-Why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself.
Howdy! I’m a workaholic marketing specialist/webmaster/graphic artist/indie publisher/author. Apparently that’s a thing…?
I live in central Texas with my Irish cowboy husband, hyperactive toddler, and snuggle-bunny Australian Shepherd. We’re rabid gamers and unashamed nerds.


Whew all that's a mouthful. I don't know how you manage it all. Lol and nothing wrong with being nerdy gamers! How else are people suppose to live? Just kidding!


-What prompted you to start writing?
I knew I loved to create stories since childhood—apparently I won the “storyteller award” in second grade, but not sure if that was for lying. What? I never lie.
But I doubted myself so badly in high school—I was never good at English, and apparently I thought that was a requirement for being a good author. (This is why we have editors, right?) Thus my education and professional path of webmaster.
God had other plans. Even as I was working for a publisher (Thomas Nelson/HarperCollins), He bashed me on the head until I resigned and began full-time writing. It’s been hard work, but His blessings are undeniable, and I couldn’t be happier.



Looks like I could take a lesson or two from you, I was in the same boat. Award and all, but high school hit and it was like "ha! nope." Lol it's really awesome you've had those behind you, helping push you. :)


-So, tell us... Why YA fantasy?
Because that’s what I love to read! And because there was a lack of adventure/action/fantasy when I was growing up. Nowadays the YA section is full of stuff most sheltered kids aren’t allowed to read, and I want to fill that hole. My books are free of sex and cussing, but hopefully just as much fun as the mainstream epics.



Amen to that. We need more books like this!


-What inspired you to write The Sentinel Trilogy?
Oh, lots of things! Each country in the world of Alani is based on some collaboration of Earth cultures or locations I’ve visited and love, or historical time periods, or some awesome fantasy people from another work.
Valinor is loosely based upon the United Kingdom. The people of LaKota are inspired by Scottish clans, Native American tribes, and traditions of early Israel. The island of Malaan is similar in its customs to Imperial Japan. And the deadly forests of Katrosi weren’t fully settled until later in the world’s lifeline, making it similar to America in its melting pot of cultures.
I try to keep my world-building based in historical fact, but ooooh, how much fun it is to scheme! >:3



Sounds like one heck of an adventure without having to go anywhere. I love it! Hahaha


-Which aspects of indie publishing have been the most challenging and most rewarding?
It’s challenging to supply your own funds for crafting a professional work all by yourself, but if you know it’s what you want to do as a career and you save up, you’ll find that most all of the pros out there are happy to work with indie authors. Learning the ropes is tough at first, but boy, is it worth it!
One bonus of indie publishing is that you can be a little more… out there… than some publishers might approve of. Yes, you should definitely hire a professional editor or two, but at the end of the day, you get to make the call when your work is ready for the world to see.
Another reward is when the monetary investment returns and you don’t have to pay any middle-men. But if you can land a contract with one of the Big 5 publishers, signing that baby would definitely be worth it!



That is really amazing to hear. I know a few people who have admitted to being scared to self publish, but maybe after they see this, they'll grab the bull by the horns and dive in. :)



-What is the difference between traditional and self-publishing, and what is a hybrid publisher?
There are a bunch of differences, but really it’s a matter of rights. As an independently published author, you’d maintain all of your rights and would take all of the profits from your book sales for yourself. But you’re a one-man show.
If you’re lucky enough to land a traditional publishing contract, you’d sell your rights to the publisher and make a much lower royalty percentage. But you’d have a team of experts behind you with a vested interest in making your book awesome and selling as many copies as possible.
A hybrid author has one foot in each camp. They have been traditionally published, but also self-publish some of their works.



-What are the advantages of being a hybrid author versus just sticking with indie or traditional?
There are lots of advantages! Hybrid authors have the best of both worlds. They have the full force of a publisher’s resources gunning for their success–large traditional publishers help tremendously with marketing and may even hire a publicity firm for a project or two.
And when traditional authors self-publish on the side, they make a killing on the royalties because they’ve already got a large fan base, thanks to their publisher. Because of this, hybrid authors tend to make more money than both independent and traditional authors (on average).



I have never heard the term hybrid publisher, but that makes a lot of sense. *nods*


-What advice would you share with an aspiring author?
Decide if you want to write for pleasure or for business. It’s OK just to write for pleasure and not publish everything, just like it’s OK to be a hobby artist or musician!
But if you do want to be a career writer, realize that you’re starting a small business—and all small business require a monetary investment and a start-up period of a few years. Be willing to learn, save up, and sacrifice. Surround yourself with professionals—from top editors to bestselling authors to award-winning cover designers to marketing gurus—and I promise your hard work will pay off.


Awesome! Thank you so much for answering these questions for us, and folks, if you have any questions to ask her yourself feel free to ask her at jamie@jamiesfoley.com




Author Bio:
Jamie FoleyYA fantasy author Jamie Foley loves strategy games, home-grown berries, and Texas winters. She’s terrified of plot holes and red wasps.

Her husband is her manly cowboy astronaut muse. They live between Austin, TX and their family cattle ranch, where their hyperactive spawnling and wolfpack can run free.







Show Me The Books:
All about her series The Sentinel Trilogy
Viper: Prequel to The Sentinel TrilogyName: Viper: Prequel to The Sentinel Trilogy $9.99
eBook: $2.99
Author: Jamie Foley
Series: The Sentinel Trilogy, Book 0
Genres: Fantasy, Military, Romantic Suspense, Thriller, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Buy now: Signed Paperback






About: Sorvashti is a captive. Jet is a soldier. Both harness the primal power of aether.
The war is over, but the Revoth want their land back. Kidnapping, ransom, and slavery fund their terrorism, but bombing Jet’s hometown was the final straw.
Viper Unit is dispatched to take the Revoth down. But the special forces have no need for a mind-reading ‘fairy’—unless Jet can prove himself as a sniper.
Sorvashti’s clan demands she take one of the seven oaths, but her father’s political status has already chosen for her—and made her a prime target for ransom.
When Jet and Sorvashti meet behind enemy lines, revenge intertwines with survival… and a spark between them neither can ignore.


Sentinel: The Sentinel Trilogy Book 1
Name: Sentinel  $14.99
eBook: $4.99
Author: Jamie Foley
Series: The Sentinel Trilogy, Book 1
Genres: Dystopian, Fantasy, Young Adult
Buy now: Signed Paperback
About: When a meteor storm knocks out the power grid, the supernaturally gifted become pawns in humanity’s struggle for survival.
The meteor storm wasn’t such a big deal until a comet landed in the middle of the road. Now Darien’s car is wrecked, his sister is bleeding out, and the only medical aid is at the reclusive Serran Academy.
Some say the Serrans have blood-bonds with angels. Some say they have surreal mental abilities. Some say the gods grant them elemental powers.
But when the Academy is targeted for harvesting, its secrets—and the collapse of modern civilization—are the least of Darien’s worries.

Arbiter: The Sentinel Trilogy Book 2Name: Arbiter $14.99
eBook: $4.99
Author: Jamie Foley
Series: The Sentinel Trilogy, Book 2
Genres: Dystopian, Fantasy, Romantic Suspense, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Buy now: Signed Paperback Pre-Order

NOTIFY ME
About: Archangels return to Alani, creating a new generation of Serrans… for a price.
Jet Valinor can’t keep his secrets from Darien any longer. Sorvashti seeks revenge against her husband’s killer—a debt that can only be paid in blood.
The Lynx want their base back. The Serrans will fetch a good price for Zekk Sorrowsong, or make excellent slaves… if he can capture them before they’re betrayed from within.

Exclusive excerpt from Arbiter:

Jet’s knife dove into the wood, slicing an uneven divot into the spear’s tip.

The chunk flopped onto the pile between Jet’s boots, where the waterlogged earth softened the shavings into something that smelled like mildew and rain.

Great. Now do I just leave the divot, or should I carve the entire thing smaller to fix it?

Black hair fell into Jet’s eyes for the dozenth time, and he swatted it away. Can’t focus without food. When was the last time I ate? He was pretty sure the fruit Darien had found was inedible, but at this rate, he just might try it.

Hours had passed since he’d woken, but his head still throbbed—especially the swollen knot on the side that felt like he’d smashed it into a wall. Or a plane, apparently.

Jet glanced across the small campsite at Darien. The teen was cracking yet another coconut on a rock, peeking into the green flesh after every few impacts. He looked like Jet felt, with mosquito-gnawed skin, wild hair plastered to his neck with sweat, and mud splattered on the few pieces of sleek armor that hadn’t been discarded in the heat.

I swear I’ve never seen him before in my life. Jet squinted through the throbbing in his head. How could he possibly know everything he does about me? But he said I’m not in the Royal Guard anymore—obviously that can’t be right.

“What?” Darien paused the coconut torture to tilt his head at Jet. “Did you remember everything yet?”

Jet snapped his gaze back to his spear. “The sun’s setting. We’ll need more firewood to keep it going through the night.” After the hours they’d spent finally getting a flame going, losing it was a worst-case scenario. “Can you find some that isn’t wet this time?”

Darien snorted and dropped the coconut next to its plump brethren, across the camp from the ant-covered discard pile. “Is there anything dry on this swamp island?”

“Good question,” Jet muttered. “Why don’t you fly around with those fancy wings and check?” Apparently waking up in the middle of a jungle wasn’t insane enough, so the teen had sprouted wings like a sunburned pubescent angel to search for resources.

I’m definitely drugged. Creator, let me be drugged.

•••••
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Saturday, May 6, 2017

Tyger, Tyger (The Haunting of Grey Hills #6) by Jennifer Skogen

Synopsis

Title: Tyger, Tyger
Series: The Haunting of Grey Hills #6
Author: Jennifer Skogen
Genre: Mature Young Adult/Young Adult/Paranormal/Horror
My Rating: 5/5
Add To: Goodreads



In the thrilling conclusion of The Haunting of Grey Hills, a final choice must be made that could change the world forever. Each person must answer one final question: what am I willing to do for the people I love? Who will die? Who will survive? What does death even mean, in a world full of ghosts?



My Thoughts
★★★★★ Stars

He closed his eyes, and then the world exploded.


I am so conflicted. I freaking LOVED this book, Don't get me wrong. But I didn't want it to end! Lol.

I don't even know where to start or what to say, but here it goes. 

This book picked up where book 5 left off, gotta admit, that's one thing I love about this series. Always picks up where it left off so there is no guessing where you're at. 
While book 5 didn't have action, I should have known the crap was about to hit the fan. Seriously. Book 5 was the calm before the storm. 

Tyger, Tyger was one heck of a storm too and slam full of action. This book left my heart racing and kept me on the edge if my seat. 

If I said I didn't tear up, I'd be lying. Lol. This was a tear jerker, it was so amazing to see some favorite characters again and great to see *one* character I didn't even realized I was attached too. But I guess if you hear enough about them, when you do see them it's like they've been there all along. 


This who series was so mind-blowing. It was beautifully written that keeps you hooked. The story line was one of a kind in my opinion with a hint of RL Stine. 

I admit I wasn't a fan of the profanity but, I still stand by saying the story line was amazing. 


I guess I'll wrap this up with what we all know was coming. Lol
Fuck: 53
Shit: 12
Ass: 3
Damn: 3
Bitch: 3

Distant Deep (The Haunting of Grey Hills #5) by Jennifer Skogen

Synopsis

Title: Distant Deep
Series: The Haunting of Grey Hills #5
Author: Jennifer Skogen
Genre: Mature Young Adult/Young Adult/Paranormal/Horror
My Rating: 4/5
Add To: Goodreads



A long forgotten mystery may decide the fate of the world. The group is fractured as Sam races against time to find a cure for Jackson before it is too late. Meanwhile, an important figure from Trev's past resurfaces, forcing him to decide once and for all where his loyalties lie.






My Thoughts
★★★★ Stars

Death is not the end. I am still here.



I think I have reached that part of the series where the reader doesn't even want to review because they have to know what happens next. But alas, I must review. 

Not much happened in this book which was a bit if a bummer. But I'm glad they offered more information. Especially about Mabel. I did not see that. I like Mabel. But I have a feeling that's gonna bite me in the butt. Lol. I'm so nervous to start book 6. I really don't want this series to end. 

There really isn't much to say in this review because really not much action happened, it mainly just offered a lot of important information that really leaves you with your eyes bulging asking "are you serious?!" 

I still stand by the fact I can't stand Claire. -_- I want Macy back! *cries*

And if you've read previous reviews, you saw this next bit coming. 
Fuck: 75
Shit: 16
Damn: 5
Bitch: 4
Ass: 3
Hell: 3
Bastard: 2

Thursday, May 4, 2017

April Book Wind-Up

Hey everyone, sorry I am getting this up so late! I have just had a lot going on and this month is a really tough month for me. Especially with my mom's passing date coming up. I tell ya, 2 years and it still feels like yesterday. I miss her so much. Sorry, I know you didn't come here for this. Sometimes I can't help it. It just comes out. Anyway, On with the show. Here are the books I read during April. Got a pretty good bunch this month.




Title: Path to the Key
Series: Destruction of Magic
Author: April Canavan
Genre: Mature/Adult/Erotica/Supernatural
My Rating: 4/5
Add To: Goodreads
Full Review: Click Here


I got to read the baby before my Kindle decided to full crap out on me. Let me just say, I am glad I got to read this book before it did. I actually reall enjoyed this book. It was so addicting, I didn't want to put it down. Sure there were some things that had issues, but in the end. It was still a good book.


Title: Red Queen
Series: Red Queen
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Genre: Young Adult/Dystopia/Supernatural
My Rating: 5/5
Add To: Goodreads
Full Review:


This is the best book I have read this year. I can also throw in, it is in my favorite top 5. Red Queen... oh my gosh. It's going to stick with me until I die! that is how awesome this book was. If you haven't read it, I don't know what the heck you are waiting for because it is one you don't want to miss.

Title: The Burning
Series: The Haunting of Grey Hills
Author: Jennifer Skogen
Genre: Mature Young Adult/Young Adult/Paranormal/Horror
My Rating: 3/5
Add To: Goodreads
Full Review: Click Here


It is hard to do a round up this book now because I love the series so much. Lol It really makes me want to go through and change all my ratings to 4 stars. But I don't think that would be right. Who knows, for all I know, by the end of the series, they all might end up 5 stars because I've gotten use to the cussing.

Okay, sorry I got kinda off topic. I wouldn't call this series a YA. unless you wanted to go with Mature Young Adult. There is just so much cussing and I have no idea why, in all honesty. The book story line is AMAZING. There is no need for all the cussing. Take the cussing out and you have a shining 5 star book, hands down.

Title: Forests of the Night
Series: The Haunting of Grey Hills #2
Author: Jennifer Skogen
Genre: Mature Young Adult/Young Adult/Paranormal/Horror
My Rating: 3/5
Add To: Goodreads
Full Review: Click Here

I devoured this book. As soon as I put book down, I picked this one up. There was no way I could wait to know what happened. The ending of this one left me in a ball crying though.

Title: What Dread Hand
Series: The Haunting of Grey Hills #3
Author: Jennifer Skogen
Genre: Mature Young Adult/Young Adult/Paranormal/Horror
My Rating: 4/5
Add To: Goodreads
Full Review: Click Here



I didn't really enjoy this book as much as the rest. Don't get me wrong, I still loved it. Especially with the cussing cut waaaaaaayyyyyyyy down. and it was awesome to go back in time and see how this started. It just seemed to lack that *something*.


Title: Me & Earl & the Dying Girl
Author: Jesse Andrews
Genre: Mature Young Adult/New Adult/Fiction
My Rating: 1/5
Add To: Goodreads
Full Review: Click Here


The worst book I have read this year. Possibly ever. I fail to see how this is a best seller and I do NOT understand how it is Young Adult. I would never want my child reading this disgusting crap.

Sinews of Thy Heart (The Haunting of Grey Hills #4) by Jennifer Skogen

Synopsis

Title: Sinews of Thy Heart
Series: The Haunting of Grey Hills #4
Author: Jennifer Skogen
Genre: Mature Young Adult/Young Adult/Paranormal/Horror
My Rating: 4/5
Add To: Goodreads


After an unthinkable tragedy on Halloween, Jackson must decide if he should stay in Grey Hills, or pack up everything and leave with Sam and the others. A new start is appealing, but Dominick has made it clear that Jackson is not welcome. When Jackson starts sleepwalking and hearing voices, he isn't sure if he is going crazy, or if he has inherited an unspeakable power. Meanwhile, Claire is determined to find out exactly what happened on Halloween, which brings Jackson into her line of fire.




My Thoughts
★★★★ Stars

There are screams too, and weeping. And laughter. The kind of laughs that you only hear in a madhouse. It is the laughter that keeps me awake at night. Children's laughs, Women.

Books that leave you breathless are truly the BEST kind. There are so many things that happened in the book that made me feel like my heart was going to explode! It continues where book three left off, which is what I love about this series. No guessing where you are. Lol) 

There was the cussing thing again though.
Fuck: 95
Shit: 20
Ass: 5
Bitch: 5
Damn: 4
Pissed: 2
Bastard: 1
Whore: 1

I still stand by saying it is a great story line. The cussing is just overkill and unnecessary. 

In this book, I seriously thought a certain *someone* would make a reappearance... Sadly they did not. BUT someone else does. Actually... I want to say 2 come back even though one was already here, just not a very active ... and it is safe to say, I really can NOT stand this character. She should have been the one to "go missing" lol. I suppose that makes me a horrible person, but oh well. Hahaha for real though. I would like to throw in, I think Jackson is growing on me. Which I kinda hate because of what happened in the earlier books.  Ugh I really am a horrible person. 
Anywho...

It is actually harder to review this book because so much happened in this book that it's hard to say anything without giving a lot away, so this review isn't very long, I apologize. 

That freaking ending! Are you kidding me! How can you end it like that? *spaz* I gotta find out what happens next. 
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