Saturday, February 28, 2015

Review and Giveaway: Bones and All by Camille DeAngelis

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for sending me an ARC of this title and letting me sign up for the Street Team!  This was a very unique read.  I actually went through several thoughts about this story as  I read it.  I started out very excited, followed by wondering if I was going to really get into it, then I figured out what was kind of going on, then I felt the love, then I was sad about the love, and at the end I was pleased with the story over all.

The main character is Maren.  Maren has a deep, dark secret.  Basically you'd call her a cannibal.  But not one that cooks and eats the meat of a human like you'd think.  No, once she starts, it is only mere  minutes before there is no trace of the person left, other than any blood that might get on her clothes or the person's clothes.  Bones and all are gone.  It happened first when her mother left her with a babysitter as an infant.  Of course she has no memory of that.  The next time was a boy at summer camp.  Every time it happens her mother has to move them. While there really isn't any evidence left to prove that Maren did what she did, it is just safer.  When the story really begins, Maren is 16, and she has woken up to find a note from her  mother, who has left her on her own.  The note also includes a copy of her birth certificate.  Maren knows her mother has gone to her parents, grandparents she's never met.  But she also wants to meet her dad.  Her mom  has left her money, and she used the money to buy a bus ticket to where she knows her grandparents are.  She finds her way to the house and looks in the window. She sees her mother crying, and knows that she is the reason.  At the grocery store a little old lady sees Maren and wants to help her out.  Asks Maren to help her home with her groceries and she'll fix her a nice lunch.  On the bus trip to the woman's house, Maren first sees the creepy old man she will come to know as Sully.

Sully will soon meet up with Maren, and she will find out she is not the only one of her kind.  Only Sully eats dead people.  He offers for her to come and stay with him.  But next she just wants to find her dad.  So she heads that way.  Only now she's kind of short on money.  So she tries hitchhiking, which only works so far.  She gets to a Walmart where she meets another of her kind, Lee.  Lee is a 19 year old boy.  And the people he eats are all "bad people".  And he helps Maren out even when she can't help herself and eats another boy that is trying to help her.  For some reason she attracts boys who just want to help her, and then she can't help herself.  She and Lee are able to get along and he promises to help her get to see her father.  They run into Sully along the way.  And while Maren still feels like he is trying to mentor her and be her friend, Lee doesn't trust Sully.

Maren will find her father, and of course her daydreams of getting to live with him are only that, dreams.  She and Lee will have a disagreement about what she should do, about Sully, about her dad, with her life.  She will fall in love, she will meet her father, and that will be a touching moment, even if it's not all she dreamed of.  There will be young love, and there will be heartbreak.  And in the end, it of course can't really be happily ever after, not for someone who eats people.

A very unique story as I said.  We don't really get much of a glimpse into the actual eating of people.  We don't know for sure just why they do it.  We only know that it isn't just Maren, that there are other people in the world, maybe more than ever would be imagined.  And in the end, we will root for Maren, knowing she can't help what she does, and that for the most part she is trying to stop herself.  You'll root for young love, and hate when the heartache comes.  At least I did.

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Friday, February 27, 2015

Cover Characteristic - February 27th, 2015 - Science

Cover Characteristic is hosted at  Sugar and Snark.  Here are the guidelines for how it works if you want to join in:
Each week we will post a characteristic and choose 5 of our favorite covers with that characteristic. If you want to join in and share your 5 favorite covers with the weeks particular characteristic, then just make a post, grab the meme picture (or make your own) and leave your URL in Linky (so we can visit).
You don’t even need to participate, just stopping by and saying hi would be great! Don’t forget to stop by the other participants!


I do try to pick books I've read, and for some, I liked both of the covers in a series, so I will include them together for one number.  

5.

4.

3.

2.

 1. 
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And a bonus cover that I had to also use:

At first I wasn't sure if I'd come up with 5 that I liked, and then I had more than five, but I kept myself to just six.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Book Trailer Reveal: I Heart Robot by Suzanne van Rooyen


BOOK and AUTHOR INFO:
I Heart Robot by Suzanne van Rooyen
Published by: Month9Books
Publication date: March 31st 2015
Genres: Romance, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Tyri wants to be a musician and wants to be with someone who won’t belittle her musical aspirations.

Q-I-99 aka ‘Quinn’ lives in a scrap metal sanctuary with other rogue droids. While some use violence to make their voices heard, demanding equal rights for AI enhanced robots, Quinn just wants a moment on stage with his violin to show the humans that androids like him have more to offer than their processing power.

Tyri and Quinn’s worlds collide when they’re accepted by the Baldur Junior Philharmonic Orchestra. As the rift between robots and humans deepens, Tyri and Quinn’s love of music brings them closer together, making Tyri question where her loyalties lie and Quinn question his place in the world. With the city on the brink of civil war, Tyri and Quinn make a shocking discovery that turns their world inside out. Will their passion for music be enough to hold them together while everything else crumbles down around them, or will the truth of who they are tear them apart?

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22674531-i-heart-robot

Pre-order:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Robot-Suzanne-Van-Rooyan-ebook/dp/B00SQLF0PA/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1424807870
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-heart-robot-suzanne-van-rooyan/1121128310?ean=9781942664109


AUTHOR BIO:

I'm a YA author with a penchant for the dark and strange. I primarily write speculative fiction but enjoy literary writing as well. I occasionally delve into adult genres too.

I'm a musician and have a Master's degree in music, but I prefer writing strange stories, baking peanut butter cupcakes and playing with my shiba inu.

I'm repped by Jordy Albert of the Booker Albert Agency.

Publicity manager for Anaiah Press.


Author links:
https://twitter.com/Suzanne_Writer
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Suzanne-van-Rooyen/304965232847874
http://suzannevanrooyen.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5306442.Suzanne_van_Rooyen


And without further ado, here is the book trailer video!






Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday: Ice Kissed (Kanin Chronicles #2) by Amanda Hocking

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases that we're eagerly awaiting.  I've picked a book that is a sequel to a book I just read back in December and loved!  I am such a huge fan of Amanda Hocking, and I love that the next book in the Kanin Chronicles comes out in May, with the 3rd book in August.  So happy to not have to wait a year in between each one.  I loved the first book, Frostfire, and here is the blurb from Goodreads about book 2:


Bryn Aven has always longed to be a part of the Kanin world.

Though she has no social status because she’s a half-breed, she refuses to give up on her dream of serving the kingdom she loves. It’s a dream that brings her to a whole new realm . . . the glittering palace of the Skojare.

The Skojare people need protection from the same brutal rival who’s been threatening the Kanin, and, being half Skojare herself, it’s a chance for Bryn to learn more about her heritage. Her boss Ridley Dresden is overseeing her mission and wants to help. He’s always been her most trusted friend—but as their undeniable attraction heats up, he becomes a distraction she can’t afford.

Brynn is about to discover that the Skojare world is full of secrets, and as she’s drawn in deeper and deeper, she doesn’t know who to trust. As she gets closer to Ridley, she realizes she may not even be able to trust her own heart.


If you haven't read the first one yet, you definitely should. As well as picking up the Trylle trilogy as well.  So tell me, what book are you eagerly awaiting this week?

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Book Blast and Review: The Third Twin by CJ Omololu ($50 Amazon or Paypal Giveaway) COYER Challenge #11

third TwinThe Third Twin by C.J. Omololu When they were little, Lexi and her identical twin, Ava, made up a third sister, Alicia. If something broke? Alicia did it. Cookies got eaten? Alicia’s guilty. Alicia was always to blame for everything. The game is all grown up now that the girls are seniors. They use Alicia as their cover to go out with boys who are hot but not exactly dating material. Boys they’d never, ever be with in real life. Now one of the guys Alicia went out with has turned up dead, and Lexi wants to stop the game for good. As coincidences start piling up, Ava insists that if they follow the rules for being Alicia, everything will be fine. But when another boy is killed, the DNA evidence and surveillance photos point to only one suspect—Alicia. The girl who doesn’t exist. As she runs from the cops, Lexi has to find the truth before another boy is murdered. Because either Ava is a killer . . . or Alicia is real.
add to goodreads
Praise:
  •  "[An] original, riveting thriller." -- Melissa Marr, New York Times bestselling author of Made for You.
  •  "Delicious and deceptive, The Third Twin is a twisty-turny thrill ride! I couldn't flip the pages fast enough!" --Kimberly Derting, author of the Body Finder series and The Taking.
  •   "A classic whodunit."--Kirkus Reviews

Author:
CJ CJ OMOLOLU is the author of the ALA-YALSA Quick Pick Dirty Little Secrets and several other YA novels. She loved to read but never thought to write until she discovered that the voices in her head often have interesting things to say. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and their two sons.

My Review:

First I'd like to thank Delacorte Press and Edelweiss for allowing me to read an e-galley of this title.  I have been a huge fan of this author since I read an e-galley of her book Transcendence  back in May of 2012.  It was one of the first e-galleys I think I ever got. But I just loved the book.   Ever since then I've been a huge fan and supporter of her and her books.  I have to definitely say that I have yet to be disappointed, and this book definitely kept up my support!

I won't give a summary this time, since I've got the official one above.  But a few details not given are that Lexi is more of the nerdy sister.  Once in awhile she enjoys being Alicia, and acting totally the opposite of how she normally is.  Her sister Ava is more like Alicia, in that she is all about the boys and dressing to impress.  Lexi's goal has always been to get into Stanford like their adopted father.  Now, they have always lived with their adoptive father, in fact they have no idea who their real parents are.  They were just left on his doorstep.  But now there is someone out there pretending to be their imaginary sister.  And she looks very similar to them, at least from the photos that have shown up at the different sites of the murders.  Lexi wonders if it is her sister Ava and she is just not telling her.  We get the story from Lexi's viewpoint.  Lexi often ends up being Alicia to go out with guys that Ava is done with.  Now both of them have promised they are going to stop. But it seems to keep going one more time, and one more time.  Lexi meets a cute boy in a band that Ava had gone out with, and she finds even as Alicia, she likes him, But how will she ever tell him the truth?

The story was very suspenseful.  While there were lots of clues that kind of gave me either glimpses into what was really happening, or else the little misleading things to keep me guessing, I kind of had an idea what was going on from one of them that happened early on.  That's not a bad thing!  I just want to say that it turned out even though I'd kind of guessed part of the mystery, even that took a twist I in no way saw coming to solve it!  My only complaint, and this is one I have with a LOT of mystery books, tv shows, and movies, is the not telling people things.  Like she doesn't want to tell the guy in the band about the danger to him in front of any witnesses.  If it was me?  I'd be all about making sure everyone knew what was going on so that they would be more aware of what is going on and would notice that when something happened I wasn't there or whatever.  But that's me.  I guess it makes for more suspense in the stories.  

It's nice to have a standalone story as well.  Definitely a great mystery, and one that I'll be purchasing for the high school library I work in, and promoting at the bookstore where I work part time.





  $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 3/19/15 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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Monday, February 23, 2015

Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Tag

I saw this over on YA Midnight Reads, and while they claimed to be the last people on Earth to get tagged for this, I have to say I haven't been tagged yet.  And since they left it open for anyone to tag themselves, I thought this was a neat one to do.  So I'm jumping in and picking 10 of the questions they answered.  Here are the rules as listed on their post:

  • Thank the blogger who nominated you, linking back to their site.
  • Put the award logo on your blog.
  • Answer the ten questions they’ve sent you.
  • Make up ten new questions for your nominees to answer.
  • Nominate ten people.
 So, since I wasn't tagged/nominated, I will just thank YA Midnight Reads for leaving it open for anyone.  Here are the ten questions I chose to answer!

1. What books would you like to become movies?

Hmm, that is hard, because really I would love to see almost every book I love become a movie. But let me narrow it down to a few.
The first one because I just love the characters and would love to see one of Maggie's books put up on the big screen. The 2nd one could even be a tv show I think, but I love the idea of a future where chocolate is what is illegal like alcohol was in the past. And Splintered, well, I just love the story, and I think if maybe you got the person who did the visuals from the movie Avatar, you could get the images and settings from the story to come alive on the screen.

2. Your favorite dessert?
 Well that is not a hard one at all. There is one thing I would have for dessert every single day if it wasn't so fattening and expensive.




I LOVE wedding cake.  The white cake with the sweet, rich, decadent butter cream frosting.  It's one reason that I don't get depressed going to lots of weddings even though I'm still single.  The fact that there will be cake makes me more sad when I don't get invited to weddings.  My family even gets me wedding cake for my birthday cakes.

3. Which books do you think deserve more hype?
I know one author that I think needs so much more hype, I love her books so much, and right now it is up in the air when the sequel to her last book, The Dark World, will come out.  
   

 
Victoria Scott is another author that I feel might be finally getting the hype she deserves with her Fire and Flood series, but I LOVED her series with Dante Walker as well.

One last book that I loved and never saw much about it was The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller.  I loved the whole reincarnation theme.
 


4. Who is your most read author?
Hmm, we'll probably have to go to Goodreads to find out for sure.


Now it looks as if books I read long ago still make up this list.  Nancy Drew books, Sweet Valley High books.  And of course Stephen King and Dean Koontz were favorite authors as well. 


5. What book would you sell your soul for in 2015?
There are quite a few I'm excited about this upcoming year, but here are the top 3:



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22918050-the-heir?from_search=truehttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17378527-the-raven-king?from_search=true

6. A book series that you are dying to finish?

I don't have a copy, but I need to finish it soon!

7. What is your number one blogging tip?
Hmm, I think what I find most important is to just make sure you are enjoying it.  While I do request a lot of books on Netgalley and Edelweiss, I don't necessarily accept unsolicited books for review.  And if I do, then I won't get to them unless I am in the mood.  I got into blogging because I love reading and talking about books.  So to me, I will always choose to read what I want to read, and I've since learned, if I am not getting into a book, I don't have to finish it.  There are too many books out there that I want to read anymore to waste time on those that aren't that good.  

8. Do you have a specific genre that you love to read?
As you can see from my most read authors, I used to love anything like Stephen King or Dean Koontz.  Lately though I'm all about YA.  And even more specific, dystopian stories really seem to grab me.

9. Summer, Autumn, Winter, or Spring, and Why?
Well, this one has several answers/reasons.  First, fall seems to always be my favorite, the one I look forward to the most.  The weather is still warm, but it gets cooler, not so hot that I'm sweating just by walking outside.  Plus, as a teacher/school librarian, I've always looked forward to the beginning of the school year.  My birthday is also in October.

But, again, as a teacher, spring and summer are great too.  Spring because it means the end of the school year is coming.  And Summer because it means I will have a lot more time to read!
     
10. Is commenting on blogs an easy thing for you to do?
At first it wasn't.  I wasn't sure what I could say, or I felt kind of dumb, plus I'm pretty shy. But over the last year I've realized that it's not so bad, and I like when people comment on my blog, so they probably feel the same way when I comment on theirs.  So I'm getting better at it, and make myself sit down and just have time to go read other blogs and comment on them.

I'm not going to tag anyone, I think if you want to do it, go ahead and join in!  You can choose to do the same 10 questions I picked, or here are the other ones that were on the YA Midnight Readers post you could pick from as well:
  • If you were to meet your favorite fictional character, what would you say?
  • Which new author did you discover in 2014 that you think people should keep an eye on?
  • What classic that you've read is your favorite?
  • If you could read one book for the rest of your life, which one would you pick?
  • Most recent holiday?  Any planned?
  • Any TV shows in particular that you're addicted to right now?
  • Think back to your very first weeks as a book blogger.  What were your goals?  What were your fears?  How do you feel looking back?
  • What was the last book you read that was out of your comfort zone but enjoyable?
  • RIDDLE TIME:  What room has no windows, no ceilings, and no doors?
 If you decide to join in, please come back and leave a link here so that I can see your answers!

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Stacking the Shelves - February 22nd, 2015

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.  It is a way for us to share the new books we have collected.  I'm very proud of myself that this will be a small post this week.  It might seem a bit large in the free e-books, but that's because I forgot to share those last week.

Physical books purchased:

I won a $15 gift card to Amazon, and since that is the only place I can get a physical copy of this book, that's what I immediately spent it on! Can't wait to read it!

Free e-books:




 





I know it looks like I got a lot, but all but one of these I think was from last week and didn't get put on my STS for some reason.

Netgalley:

I did very good in only getting one e-galley. Although I may have requested one on Edelweiss that I'm waiting on to be approved.

And that's it!  I did win a $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble, but I spent it on a book for a gift for my brother, so I'm not going to share that here.

That's what I added this week, and some last week.  What did you add to your shelves this week?

Saturday, February 21, 2015

A Fun New Tag: I Mustache You Some Questions

 

Thanks to Mary at Bookhounds YA for tagging me to do this fun post. 

Four jobs I've had:
  1. Cashier at Chuck E. Cheese
  2. Bookseller at Barnes and Noble
  3. Middle School Science Teacher
  4. High School Librarian
Four movies I have watched more than once:
I watch movies over and over if I like them, so there are so many more than four.  Here are some of my very favorites.

1.  What's Your Number?

The movie where I first really fell in love with Chris Evans.

2.  Twilight

I saw this movie a ton of times in the theater, almost made it a point to see it once a week until it was no longer in the theaters.

3.  The Karate Kid

When I was younger, we watched this at my dad's house over and over.  Have it memorized.

4.  The Lost Boys

Another movie I loved and watched over and over when I was a teenager.  Part of my love of Corey Haim.  And of course Kiefer Sutherland wasn't bad either!  (other than the mullet that is)

Four books I would recommend:

1.  How Full is Your Bucket? by Tom Rath

I think everyone should have to read this. Either your senior year of high school, or sometime in college.  It really helps when something small that someone else does, like not saying hello when they walk past you, bugs you.  It's a short, easy read.

2.  Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

As someone who suffers depression, I feel that reading this book is so good for people who have never felt this.  Who think that suicide is selfish, and don't understand how anyone could commit it.  And it really goes along with the book above.  Just a small thing can make such a difference to someone else, you don't know what else they are dealing with, and what you say or do, or don't say or do, can be the straw that breaks the camel's back, or the silver lining that makes them ready for another day.

3.Swan Song by Robert McCammon

Anyone who is a fan of post-apocalyptic books, especially like Stephen King's The Stand, this is a great book.  I used to read it over and over, and it is a long one!

4.  A Summer to Die by Lois Lowry

Anyone who enjoyed The Fault in our Stars might enjoy this.  It is not really a romance book exactly, but there is a teen and her sister, one dying of cancer.  The story was one that really grabbed me when I was younger, and it is another book I used to read over and over.

Four places I have visited:
  1. Tulum and Cancun, Mexico - the only time I've ever been out of the country
  2. New York City - my sister moved there around 3 or 4 years ago, and I love going to visit!
  3. Seattle, Washington - I got to go there when my mom and stepdad stopped there before they went on an Alaskan cruise. I also have an aunt and uncle that live there.  Unfortunately this was before Twilight, so I didn't even know I'd want to visit Forks.  But I did get to see Mount St. Helens which was smoking a bit at the time.
  4. Bozemon, Montana - Where the paleontologist that Dr. Grant in Jurassic Park was based on had a dig.  I actually got to work on the dig for about a week, but unfortunately did not get to meet that paleontologist while I was there.
Four places I would rather be right now:
  1. Visiting my sister in NYC
  2. In Orlando at the Harry Potter park
  3. In a better house with out loud neighbors and a fenced yard for my dog
  4. I can't think of any other place, I'm at home with my puppies right now, pretty happy with that.
Four things I don't eat:
  1. Most vegetables
  2. Most fruits, although I do like juices or smoothies with fruit in them
  3. Sushi - I've tried it once, of course that was cooked, and I might try it again, but it was actually the cucumber in it that I didn't like
  4. Mint - I don't like mint, or mint flavored anything
Four of my favorite foods:
  1. Cheese - cubes, queso dip, shredded, cheese sticks, you name it, I love it
  2. Dark chocolate
  3. Chicken tenders - fried of course
  4. Ranch dressing.  Just about everything tastes good dipped in it
Four TV shows that I watch:
  1. The Big Bang Theory
  2. The Walking Dead
  3. Downton Abbey
  4. Supernatural
Four things I am looking forward to this year:
  1. Even though it means I don't get to go to BEA this year, I'm looking forward to Memorial Day weekend in Branson with my mom's side of the family.  It's a yearly tradition where we stay in cabins and go shopping at the outlet malls and just hang out by the river.  Very relaxing, and lots of good family memories.  And bargains as well, I usually get a great deal on a purse at the Coach outlet.
  2. Getting a new look for my blog.  I've got a friend working on a new image for me that will have not only my dog Sydney that is on here now, but since I lost her a few years ago, it will also have the two dogs I have now.
  3. Working on getting back to eating more healthy, as well as walking 20 miles a week again.
  4. Continuing being a school librarian, a job that I love!
Four things that I'm always saying:
This is a hard one, I don't know that I say the same things a lot.  I do say a lot of quotes from movies or TV shows.  So maybe I'll pick some of those?  I don't know, let's see what I think of.
  1. How did I get so lucky to get the two cutest dogs in the world?
  2. I don't wanna get up!
  3. Great review!
  4. Bad dog Argyle!
Four people I tag:
  1. Pili at In Love With Handmade
  2. Michelle at Michelle's Minions
  3. Ellen at Random Smiles
  4. And YOU!  If you want to participate, join in and come back and leave me a link to your post so I can check it out!

Friday, February 20, 2015

Review: White Space by Ilsa J. Bick (TBR Challenge #2)

Originally I had received an egalley of this from Egmont USA Publishing and Edelweiss, but was unable to finish reading it.  I left a short review of how far I got HERE.  I got an ARC of it, I believe through trading on YA Book Exchange, and I picked it back up just recently so I could be prepared to read the egalley of the sequel, The Dickens Mirror.  And now that Egmont will be closing their USA publishing, I am also participating in a tour to promote the authors that are being left off, one of them being this sequel.

At first it took me a bit to get back into it. What I remembered was a bunch of teens who had been stuck in a blizzard.  But then it wasn't just a blizzard, a strange fog showed up, and really crazy monsters, as I said in my original semi-review, Lovecraftian monsters.  And it seems all of it kind of stems back to a certain author, and how he used something called the Dickens Mirror in order to create his characters, but it also pulled through these monsters that are now coming through.  It turns out that all of the characters may just be written in books.  Even one, Emma, who it seems has been writing books herself.  There are all kinds of dimensions, and twists and turns, and there are some really major science terms and theories talked about, including Schrodinger's Cat, and another one I had to look up, and even after looking up I'm still not sure I understand it completely.  But then physics has always been my least favorite science area, I prefer Biology and Geology.  But I did really like the science stuff thrown in.

It's really hard to explain this book.  I feel like you have to read it for yourself.  It's definitely not anything that would ever be termed an "easy" read.  It is a good one, like I said, the monsters are very scary and the scenes are very exciting and action packed at times.  Definitely could make a very intellectual horror movie from it.  I did get back into it when I was about 100 pages after where I left off, and by the end I was really liking all the twists and turns.  Until the very end.  Once again I was kind of confused, although I understand there was an "infection" that was supposedly causing the changes that confused me, I still am not quite sure if what I finally thought I'd figured out is true or not.  So I'll be eager to pick up the sequel in a week or so, I'll be posting a review of it as part of the blog tour on Monday, March 2nd.

Not sure if this is a very good review.  Like I said, I'm really unsure how to explain it.  It's characters from different stories brought together to try to help the author's daughter get rid of the bad things/fog that is starting to leak into the real world, maybe.  Lots of good characters, with back stories that are almost all really well developed, and you learn eve more about them at the end.

If you like the author, you will probably want to give it a try, just be prepared to have to actually take the time to read and think as you read, so that you don't get too confused. 

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Cover Reveal: Numbers Game by Rebecca Rode






Numbers Game by Rebecca Rode
Publication date: March 2015
Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult

Synopsis:
Treena can’t wait for Rating Day. Her high score will mean a life of luxury, showing the world that she’s a valuable member of society, not a pathetic waste of space. It won’t hurt her chances with her top-Rated boyfriend, either. But when the big day arrives, her true number shocks everyone.

To get her life—and boyfriend—back, she must go undercover and expose a military spy. Doesn’t sound too hard, except that someone seems to want her dead. And then there’s the mysterious soldier with a haunted past and beautiful brown eyes. Together, they discover a dark numbers conspiracy, one that shatters the nation’s future. They must band together if they are to survive the dangerous game of numbers—and the terrible war that rages within Treena’s heart.


Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24893016-numbers-game

AUTHOR BIO:
By day, I'm a busy mom of four who struggles with housecleaning and cooking. By night...well, I'm still a busy mom of four. But scattered into those rare quiet moments is my life's passion--writing. My first book, HOW TO HAVE PEACE WHEN YOU'RE FALLING TO PIECES, was released in March 2013. It's a nonfiction quick-fix book for moms whose lives feel as crazy and out of control as mine does--and from what readers are saying, it's fun and entertaining to read. I also write for Deseret News and KSL.com on occasion, and some of my articles have also appeared in Schooled Magazine. For a sneak peek at the first two chapters of my book, HOW TO HAVE PEACE WHEN YOU'RE FALLING TO PIECES, check it out on Amazon.com. Bye now!


Author links:
https://www.facebook.com/authorrebeccarode
https://twitter.com/@RebeccaRode
http://www.authorrebeccarode.com/









Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Review - Daimon: The Prequel to Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

After quickly getting through the first two books in the The Dark Elements series by Jennifer L. Armentrout, I got onto the database search at the bookstore where I work, and started looking at which of her titles we had in stock.  I was disappointed to not find any others than the ones I already had.  I saw this one was only $3.99, so I ordered it right away on my currently limited budget.  I finished the book I was reading Sunday morning before work, and then after work that day I wanted to eat lunch before I headed home to stay in for the night before the snow hit.  I had just picked it up at the bookstore, and so started reading it.  And of course as it is a novella basically, I finished it in two sittings, would have been one, except I didn't want to stay in the restaurant for a long time after I was done. 

Now, I haven't started this series other than this, and maybe if I had read the others I would have enjoyed this a lot more.  As it was I did learn a bit about what will be happening in this series, and I am eager to read on.  The main character in this prequel is Alexandria.  She is a descendant of a god and a mortal, a half-blood, as the title of the first book would tell you.  In this story we get to meet her when she first goes before the council to determine her future.  But the main part of the story is her living with her mother in the mortal world. They've been here for 3 years, since her mom pulled her out of the Covenant, hiding from someone or something.  They've had to move from time to time when Alexandria has done something that could give them away, such as showing her unusual strength.  In this most recent place, once again she messes up, but when she arrives  home it seems she is too late, her mother has been found by the daimons, and killed.  And now she is on the run, and must figure out if she can go back to the Covenant or how she will save herself.

A good quick read.  And now to wait until I have the money to purchase and the time to read this series!  :-)

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Cover Characteristic - February 17th, 2015 - Houses

Cover Characteristics is hosted at  Sugar and Snark.  Here are the guidelines for how it works if you want to join in:

Each week we will post a characteristic and choose 5 of our favorite covers with that characteristic. If you want to join in and share your 5 favorite covers with the weeks particular characteristic, then just make a post, grab the meme picture (or make your own) and leave your URL in Linky (so we can visit).
You don’t even need to participate, just stopping by and saying hi would be great! Don’t forget to stop by the other participants!


Since it is Tuesday, I'm going to do 10 instead of just 5.  Here they are in no particular order.  And for the most part they are books that I've already read.

1.
  
2.
  
3.
  
4.
  
5.
  
6.
  
7.
  
8.
  
9.
  
10.
  
Those are 10 books with houses that I've read.  It was harder to find ones that I'd read before.  

Now I haven't read these books yet, but I just love the covers so they get a mention.  Have you read either of them?