ARC Review: Chosen (Slayer #2) by Kiersten White

Book info:

Title: Chosen
Author:  Kiersten White
Series:  Slayer #2
Genre: YA paranormal
Release Date:  January 7th, 2020
Publisher:  Simon Pulse
Source:  ARC traded for from Twitter's Books for Trade hashtag
My rating:  5 stars


Synopsis: 
“Will get Buffy fans up in their feels.” —Entertainment Weekly on Slayer

Nina continues to learn how to use her slayer powers against enemies old and new in this second novel in the New York Times bestselling series from Kiersten White, set in the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Now that Nina has turned the Watcher’s Castle into a utopia for hurt and lonely demons, she’s still waiting for the utopia part to kick in. With her sister Artemis gone and only a few people remaining at the castle—including her still-distant mother—Nina has her hands full. Plus, though she gained back her Slayer powers from Leo, they’re not feeling quite right after being held by the seriously evil succubus Eve, a.k.a. fake Watcher’s Council member and Leo’s mom.

And while Nina is dealing with the darkness inside, there’s also a new threat on the outside, portended by an odd triangle symbol that seems to be popping up everywhere, in connection with Sean’s demon drug ring as well as someone a bit closer to home. Because one near-apocalypse just isn’t enough, right? 

The darkness always finds you. And once again, it’s coming for the Slayer.


My Review:
 It was so easy to jump right back into this series with page one of the book.  I also adored all the little cameos of characters from the original BTVS tv series, Clem, Oz, Harmony, just to name a few.   The author does a great job with hitting just the right sense of humor and snark with the characters in a way that reminds me of the original tv series.  For instance, when they misheard a name, and called him Ian Von Assface.  But I also loved the newer pop culture additions, like Harry Potter references, fist pump for all my fellow Hufflepuffs, like Nina.  Then there were twists and turns, where I just knew something was going to happen, but what did happen in the end was totally not what I'd been expecting.  There were the betrayals of those I thought you could trust, as well as ones I suspected throughout.   I loved that the author even brought in the Tales of the Slayer stories in a way, when she referenced the history of slayers, and of course loved Buffy always being referred back to.  Because even though this is a new series with new characters, Buffy will always be "THAT" slayer.  Probably more well known than even the First Slayer, to all current slayers.  I loved it so much.  I just hope that the author can continue to write more in this world and that I will have a third book to look forward to next year!

Review: Slayer by Kiersten White

Book info:

Title:  Slayer
Author:  Kiersten White
Series:  Slayer #1
Genre:  YA Supernatural
Release Date:  January 8th, 2019
Publisher:  Simon Pulse
Source:  ARC traded for on Twitter. 
My rating:  5 stars

Synopsis:
Into every generation a Slayer is born…

Nina and her twin sister, Artemis, are far from normal. It’s hard to be when you grow up at the Watcher’s Academy, which is a bit different from your average boarding school. Here teens are trained as guides for Slayers—girls gifted with supernatural strength to fight the forces of darkness. But while Nina’s mother is a prominent member of the Watcher’s Council, Nina has never embraced the violent Watcher lifestyle. Instead she follows her instincts to heal, carving out a place for herself as the school medic.

Until the day Nina’s life changes forever.

Thanks to Buffy, the famous (and infamous) Slayer that Nina’s father died protecting, Nina is not only the newest Chosen One—she’s the last Slayer, ever. Period.

As Nina hones her skills with her Watcher-in-training, Leo, there’s plenty to keep her occupied: a monster fighting ring, a demon who eats happiness, a shadowy figure that keeps popping up in Nina’s dreams…

But it’s not until bodies start turning up that Nina’s new powers will truly be tested—because someone she loves might be next.

One thing is clear: Being Chosen is easy. Making choices is hard.

My Review:
Honestly, I don't even know exactly where to begin this review.  If you know me, you know that I have loved Buffy the Vampire Slayer ever since the show was actually on tv.  I fell in love with it, starting with the movie starring Kristy Swanson and Luke Perry - my crush from Beverly Hills 90210, the original.  Not to mention that it had the actor Paul Reubens, better known as Pee-wee Herman, whose Saturday morning tv show I used to love.  

via GIPHY

I wasn't sure if I would like the TV show when I heard about it, because Sarah Michelle Gellar is not at all like Kristy Swanson.  Swanson was normal, curvy girl, and Gellar was skinny girl.  So I didn't start it right way. But then, on Halloween of 1997, my 2nd year of teaching, when I lived in a small town, and didn't have any kids to hand candy out to, I remember watching the very first Halloween episode of the show. 





Well, I was hooked from that episode on.  My very first email address that I remember making myself was buffywnabe@aol.com.   I've carried that spelling of "Buffy wannabe" through with me all these years.  Including on my Twitter and Instagram names.  I also had to buy every season's DVD as soon as it was available.  They still hold a place of importance on my shelves.

Now, not only did I love the show, I also read every one of the books I could get my hands on.  If I couldn't find them in a store, I ordered them into the bookstore where I worked.  Here is a picture of my Buffy bookshelf, and yes, I've read every one of the books on the shelf.

When the show was over, I thought I'd be able to follow into the new season with the comics that came out.  But no, I soon realized I'm not a fan of graphic novels or comics.  I tried, but they couldn't quite relay the same quirky humor and emotion that the show, and even the regular novels, could convey, that I loved so much.  And so, I quit reading them about the time that I remember something about Dawn getting really big or something like that?   Now, I fear that maybe I there is something I missed at where this story picks up, but the author did a great job of basically filling in what had happened up to the point where this book begins.

What's great about this book is that it pulls on all the Buffy-verse, from the movie, to the tv show, to the comics.  I loved that we got the connection to Buffy's original Watcher, Merrick.

via GIPHY

This world is when all the magic disappears thanks to Buffy destroying something called the Seed of Wonder. All, or almost all of the Watchers have been killed, and those left have hidden themselves in a castle and are working to figure out how to continue to "watch" over the world and keep it safe.  Of course things aren't always as they seem.  While this isn't Buffy's story, she's there.  Instead we follow two girls, Nina, her real name is Athena, and her twin sister Artemis.  Artemis has always been the favorite daughter, the one that their mother saved first from a fire that almost killed them.  The one that was chosen to take the test to be a Watcher, even if she did fail the test, surprising since she was really perfect for it.  Nine has always been the one that Artemis has had to protect, the one her mother has kept out of the Watchers life, helped her to learn first aid.

Nina soon learns that it is possible there is a prophecy about her and her twin sister.  Not only that, but when hellhounds and demons show up near the castle, Nina learns that the strange feelings she's had since right before all the magic disappeared are from the fact that she was the very last Slayer to EVER be chosen.  Nina is a slayer.  And she hates slayers, Buffy especially.  You see, her father was Merrick, Buffy's first Watcher, and so she blames Buffy for his death because he sacrificed his life to save Buffy.  And then Buffy is the one who caused all the potential Slayers to become full-blown Slayers, and also caused all the Watchers to be blown up and have to go into hiding. And of course, there is the whole Seed of Wonder thing, taking away all the magic.

It's not just those reasons that Nina is not happy becoming a Slayer, though.  It is also because she has spent her whole life learning to heal, to help people.  The thought of just killing something because that is her job, it repulses her.  She knows the werewolves are humans during the day, and don't always have a choice what they do when they turn. And then there is the demon that shows up at their friend Cillian's house, he's wearing a Coldplay t-shirt.  Not killing him gives Nina the chance to interview him and find out more about what is going on. Also to learn that maybe she isn't wrong about not just killing all demons or supernatural creatures right away.   It's something that Buffy dealt with.  On the Buffy spinoff, Angel, we especially get that some demons aren't so bad.

I loved all of this story.   Even at first, when Nina hated Buffy, I liked her a lot.  I got her reasons for hating Buffy and the slayers.  This book had the humor and the emotion that I loved about the series.  It had the teen angst with Nina's past crush on the boy Leo.  We also get the family aspect between Nina and her sister.  Cillian, can I just say how much I adored him?  He is totally the Xander of the group, well, smart-alec comment-wise.

via GIPHY


This was one I could have stayed up all night to finish reading.  It was so good.  Like watching several episodes of Buffy.   It has an ending, but it's also left open for a sequel, and let me tell you that I cannot wait for book 2!  I'll be spending the next year figuring out how to get on a list to get an ARC of book 2.  I'm so happy that my favorite world is back, and that it's being done in a way that I love, if not on tv, then as a novel, and not a comic.  This author was the perfect choice for this in my opinion.  I've loved her last four books, all retellings themselves.
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Blog Tour Review with Giveaway: When Life Gives You Demons by Jennifer Honeybourn

Book Info:
Title:  When Life Gives You Demons
Author:  Jennifer Honeybourn
Published by: Swoon Reads
Publication date: July 17th, 2018
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Some people have school spirit.

Shelby Black has real ones.

Shelby Black has spent the past six months training to be an exorcist. Her great-uncle Roy―a Catholic priest―has put her through exorcist boot camp hell, hoping to develop her talent, but ohmygod, he still doesn’t trust her to do an exorcism on her own.

High school is hard enough without having to explain that you fight demons for a living, so Shelby keeps her extracurricular activity to herself. The last thing she wants is for her crush, Spencer, to find out what she does in her off time.

But Shelby knows how to keep a secret―even a big one. Like the fact that her mom left under mysterious circumstances and it’s all her fault. Shelby is hellbent on finding her mom, no matter what it costs her―even if what it ends up costing her is her soul AND a relationship with Spencer.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

My Review:
My rating:  4 stars

This book is really exactly what it sounds like.  A humorous story about exorcisms.  LOL.  No, really.  In a good way!  It reminded me quite a bit of one of my all time favorite TV shows, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  I really think this would be kind of a fun series if that was ever a possibility.  I would enjoy getting to follow Shelby as she works on her exorcism skills.  And then there is her crush Spencer, and what his family does, they would be interesting to get to know more about as well.  I feel like there is even a lot more history of Shelby's mother and Uncle Roy that would be fun to throw in to another story.

Besides the fact that I could see it as a series, I will tell you it was a very quick and easy read.  I was just turning pages to get to see what was going to happen. Where was Shelby's mom?  What was Spencer up to, because there was obviously something going on with him and his family?  Then, when we got about 80% in, the story really took off, and it just dove right into the heart of the action and trying to save the town and those they loved.  There were definitely your normal exorcism details:  heads turning around, crawling on the ceiling, and super-human strength. But then there were some funny bits to go along with them, including a possessed dog, and a teenage boy who really was just being a teenage boy even if his mom thought he was possessed.

A quick, fun, read, check it out! 

Author Bio:

Jennifer Honeybourn works in corporate communications in Vancouver, British Columbia. She’s a fan of British accents, Broadway musicals, and epic, happily-ever-after love stories. If she could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, she’d have high tea with Walt Disney, JK Rowling, and her nana. She lives with her husband, daughter and cat in a house filled with books. Wesley James Ruined My Life is her first novel.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

GIVEAWAY!

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Discussion Post: I Just Can't Seem to Get Enough - Books - Or When Should I Quit Entering Giveaways for Books?

As I mentioned in my discussion post earlier this week, about how you write your reviews, I am behind on my discussion posts.  So I got this second one done during my Mini-Blog Ahead that I participated in at the end of June.  I'm actually on my way to Orlando for my family vacation, probably while you're reading this.  So, I will definitely reply to all comments, but maybe not until I get back home on Tuesday. 

A reminder that the 2017 Discussion Challenge is hosted by Feed Your Fiction Addiction and It Starts at Midnight.

The title of this discussion posts comes from a Depeche Mode song, Just Can't Get Enough.  If you're not familiar with it, enjoy the video:

I'm guessing that a lot of you are pretty much similar to me, self-proclaimed book addicts.  I have a TBR list on Goodreads that has almost 3,000 titles on it.  I have another TBR shelf on goodreads that is made up of the books I physically own or have free e-book copies of that is almost 1000 titles long.  Yet, whenever I hear about new books coming out by my favorite authors, or even debut authors that sound just like books I already love, I seem to HAVE to have them.  I have a physical book shelf at home, a five shelf tall bookshelf, packed full of books.  I now have three shelves on a smaller bookshelf in my bedroom packed full of books as well.  I will never get through all of these books.  And yet, I want more.  I can't seem to get enough!

 

While I've discovered in the past year the awesome $1 finds at the Dollar Tree stores, that keep me stopping into them every couple of weeks, all of the ones around where I live, I have realized it is a bit of an addiction just that.  I tell myself that since so many of the books I get are ones that I donate to the high school library where I work, it is okay.

 

I used to enter every single giveaway I could.  But then I started winning.  I quit doing that on Goodreads unless I knew I was going to read it. But I still like to enter giveaways on blogs.  Often it will be for a book that I want to read, but also know my students will want to read, and even though I know I might not be able to get to it right away, I go ahead and enter, and then I can put it in my school library for my students to enjoy, and when I get time, it will be there ready for me.  And whenever I win, this is me below!

 

But I wonder sometimes if maybe a blogger as well-established as I am, one who holds their own giveaways, should stop entering other blogs' giveaways?

What do you think?  Do you still enter giveaways for books?  Do you think there is a time when people should stop entering and just accept what they have, or just buy instead of hoping to win a book?

Waiting on Wednesday: Lady Renegades (Rebel Belle #3) by Rachel Hawkins (Promo and Giveaway!)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases that we're eagerly awaiting.  The book I've picked this week is the final book in a trilogy I just started this past fall.  I actually listened to the first two as audio books.  At the time I made this post, during the Blog Ahead Challenge back in October, this book had appeared on Edelweiss, but had no button to request or download it.  As of the time I finished putting the final touches on this post, it was available for request on Edelweiss, and I am waiting to hear if I am approved.  

This is a fun series, the first one reminded me so much of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie, and you can read my review of it HERE.  The 2nd one really was great as well, and you can read my review of that HERE.  

Now I am also excited to do some promotion for this last book with permission from the publisher, and so at the bottom of my post, make sure to enter the giveaway for the books in the series.

And of course, here is the blurb from Goodreads about this book:

Just as Harper Price starts coming to terms with her role as David Stark's battle-ready Paladin, protector, and girlfriend—her world goes crazy all over again. 

Overwhelmed by his Oracle powers, David flees Pine Grove and starts turning teenaged girls into Paladins—and these young ladies seem to think that Harper is the enemy David needs protecting from.  Ordinarily, Harper would be able to fight off any Paladin who comes her way, but her powers have been dwindling since David left town, which means her life is on the line yet again.

Now, it’s a desperate race for Harper to find and rescue David before she backslides from superhero to your garden-variety type-A belle.

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins brings the fun once again in the finale of this pitch-perfect romantic paranormal comedy series.

Lady Renegades by Rachel Hawkins – on sale April 5th 2016

Have you started this series yet?  If so, are you looking forward tot he final book?  What book are you eagerly awaiting this week? 

Rachel Hawkins is the author of Rebel Belle and the New York Times bestselling series Hex Hall. Born in Virginia and raised in Alabama, Rachel taught high school English for three years before becoming a full-time writer.

The Rebel Belle series page: http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/129/rebel-belle
Goodreads (series page): https://www.goodreads.com/series/106669
Pre-order Lady Renegades: http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/309416/lady-renegades-by-rachel-hawkins/
Sampler of Rebel Belle and Miss Mayhem: http://issuu.com/penguinteen/docs/romance_sampler__1_/109

Giveaway:
 
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I, of course, fell in love with David, and I need to know where he is, and when he'll be back!  He must get back to Harper!  

Audiobook Review: Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

I decided to download this as an audiobook from the library because some of the other books I'd wanted I had to be on a waiting list. And then I remembered I'd wanted to read this one.  It was definitely a good choice on my part!  I really enjoyed it!  As someone who is a huge Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan, the book really reminded me so much of the original BTVS movie.  Obviously it wasn't the exact same story, no vampires for one thing.  But a girl gets powers, has to protect someone, she has to hide her powers and new life from her boyfriend, and the big fight is going to go down at a formal dress event.  Those are the main similarities.  And what was even funny was that the book even referenced the BTVS tv show!  When the main character got her powers, she was wondering where her "Giles" was. 

The main character is Harper, such a perfect southern belle name.  And Harper is the perfect southern belle.  She is a proper lady, has the best guy in school for her boyfriend, she's popular - but not mean girl popular, her family history in the town is well-set, and she runs so many things at school - and works hard to make her school the best it can be.  She has a boy, David, who has been her arch-nemesis since grade school.  They're both at the top of the class, and he's on the school newspaper, always seeming to write articles that show her in a bad light to the rest of the school.  The story begins the night of Homecoming.  Harper shows up kind of late with her boyfriend Ryan, and her best friend Bee and her boyfriend, Brandon.  When she realizes she forgot to put on any lip gloss, she hurries to the girls' restroom to put some on.  Unfortunately while she's in there, the janitor comes stumbling in, and shuts and locks the door.  Harper notices he's bleeding, and before she can get away, he holds onto her and blows something into her mouth.  Then he dies.  There is some pounding on the door, and her history teacher breaks in brandishing a scimitar.  All of a sudden Harper has this strange power and knows how to fight, and she ends up having to fight and kill the history teacher.  She finally is able to escape, without getting any blood on herself somehow.  And out in the hallway she runs into David.  She's worried she'll be arrested for killing her teacher.  But when she goes back to the bathroom later, everything that was in there is gone. 

She soon finds out that she's unable to hurt David, but whenever he is in danger, she gets this horrible feeling inside, a noise in her head, and she has to go to protect him wherever and however.  Together they begin to try to figure out what is going on. The janitor has called her a "Paladin"and they look up what that is.  They go to ask David's aunt about it, and find out that David is an Oracle, and his aunt, isn't really his aunt, but a Mage.  Someone who can do magic that has been raising him, protecting him from the other Mages who want to kill him, because a male Oracle isn't as powerful as a female one, and so that's why they are rarely allowed to live very long.  The big vision that David has seen includes blood and mayhem at the winter cotillion that Harper is supposed to be attending, and that his aunt is in charge of.  Of course all this secretive behavior and meetings sets up rumors and gossip.  Harper's boyfriend and best friend wonder what she is up to, and it leads to problems with their relationships.  So Harper wants her life to not change, but she must protect David.  And she must survive the night of the cotillion. 

As I wrote this review, again I wanted to keep comparing to the BTVS movie.  And it's not in a bad way at all, because I loved the movie, and the tv show, and I loved this book.  Probably the only reason I gave the book a 4 instead of a 5 is because of how much it seems like the same story in a way.  What I loved about this story though, is that even though Harper has problems with her boyfriend, unlike in the BTVS movie, this boyfriend is a wonderful southern gentleman, and really just a nice guy.  I like the way he is realistically written as a teen boy, but still able to be a nice guy, and not a jerk.  And the best friend isn't a jerk like in the movie, Bee actually is able to stay friends and be loyal. Now the other girls in the crowd, that's another story, but that is normal for a group of popular girls as well.  I like that while Harper notices her feelings to Ryan changing, and notices that maybe he's starting to feel something for Mary Beth, she is adult enough to realize that he isn't cheating on her, but still a teenager in that she doesn't quite want to give him away so easily. 

Really the only problem I kind of had was picturing David.  Does anyone have a picture of what the author maybe was thinking?  I just can't quite seem to picture anything that would be even remotely attractive from the way he was described, but I know he has to be one of those guys that is nerdy on the surface, but under the glasses and horrible clothing, still cute. 

I really loved this book, will have to listen to the audiobook of the 2nd one now and then review it as well.  I was also very excited to see on someone's Waiting on Wednesday post yesterday that there is going to be a third book in the series.  So that is cool, hopefully I love the 2nd one as much as the 1st, and then will be very anxious for that 3rd one.

Review: Wicked by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Once again I'm pretty sure I can't express just how much I have fallen in love with this author's books.  While this one had a few issues that probably needed maybe a closer editor for little slips, it still had great characters, and really hot, sexy scenes.  I would definitely say this is New Adult and not YA though. 

The main character is Ivy.  And Ivy is part of an organization that is tasked with killing the fae, and any other Otherworldly creatures that might be around.  She was raised to be part of the organization until her parents were killed, at the same time her boyfriend was killed.  And now she is living on her own in New Orleans.  Well, not completely alone.  She has a brownie that lives with her.  And no one can know about Tink, as she calls him, because she really should have killed him when she first saw him.  She's also going to college.  Trying to somewhat have a normal life outside of the Order.  But she doesn't want to get close to anyone, not after what happened with her parents.  So she lives vicariously through her best friend Val, who is a bit of a wild child.  And then a new guy comes to town, Ren Owens.  He is also part of the Order, come from a Colorado group.  He has piercing green eyes, dark hair, and a very sexy grin, that goes along with a pretty sarcastic and sexy sense of humor. And Ivy is drawn to him, even against her rules about getting close to someone.  Especially frustrating is just how annoying he can be.  But it's annoying in a fun way, as she is always having to hide a smile at the things he does to annoy her.  And he seems to be interested in her as well. 

Something is going on, there have been two Order members who have been killed in the line of duty.  And Ivy runs into a Fae that barely looks different from humans, isn't hurt by the iron she stakes him with, and pulls a gun out of thin air that he shoots her with.  She finds out this is an ancient.  And it is very rare to see them.  But while her leader dismisses her story, Ren believes, and tells her more about ancients, and about why he's really come to New Orleans.  Ivy learns more about the fae, as well as ancients, and even more about the Order.  She learns of halflings, half fae, half human creatures, that are part of a prophecy that could spell disaster for Earth in opening one of the gates to the Otherworld.  In all of this she gets thrown together with Ren, and the attraction proves unresistable.  All the while there is a traitor in the Order, and possibly a halfling they must find and destroy.

I thought this was going to be a single story, but no, it ended with a big cliffhanger, and I need to know what happens next! Supposedly book 2 was supposed to be this summer according to a blurb in the back of the book, but according to Goodreads it's not expected till 2016.  This is definitely another must read from Jennifer L. Armentrout.  I love all the different pop culture references in the story.  There are Buffy the Vampire Slayer references, Harry Potter references, too many to even list them all.  Some that aren't even stated exactly what they are, you just know if you are a fan of that specific topic. 

Book Blitz: Ghosts of July by Megan Applegate (Giveaway)

Ghosts of July by Megan Applegate
 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24264766-ghosts-of-july  
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-July-Shamans-Divide-Book-ebook/dp/B00NRY3076  
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ghosts-of-july-megan-applegate/1120419947?ean=2940046197563

For fans of the Supernatural and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a new series about ancient evils that go bump in the night and a girl who isn’t afraid to put them in their place. July’s a recent transplant to the sleepy, creepy little town of Shades, Wyoming and finds herself on a crash course to the paranormal when the newly dead begin wandering the streets in search of answers…and only she can see them. Only Renn Hollingsworth, half-Shoshone and all trouble, believes her and holds what may be the key to saving not only themselves, but Shades as well. It’s an ancient society that guards the length of the Continental Divide, the source of all creation in the myths of many Native American tribes. An old-boys’ club that doesn’t welcome outsiders, July’s about to show them what a little girl from Denver can do when it comes to protecting the ones she loves.    
 

About the Author: Megan Applegate is the Amazon Bestselling Author of the Shamans of the Divides series—a young adult paranormal series steeped in high-stakes danger and Native American mythology with a healthy dose of romance. She’s a collector of cheap wine, cheap thrills and art supplies she’ll probably never have time to use. A purple belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu, Megan was also a professional MMA fighter a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. Other jobs have included overnight DJ and soccer mom for one entire season. These days, Megan writes full time and gives writing workshops around the country, hoping to spread the word to girls of all ages that writing holds the key to a bolder, brighter future. She’s married to her own daring Prince Charming and they have a legion of adorable minions and one derpy rescue dog who’s biggest fear in the world is the vacuum cleaner.
To sign up for her newsletter, visit her website at www.meganapplegatebooks.com
Links:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/shamansofthedivide
Twitter: https://twitter.com/meapplegate
Web site: http://meganapplegatebooks.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8591572.Megan_Applegate?from_search=true

 Giveaway:

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A to Z April: X Reviews - The Xander Years by Keith R.A. DeCandido/The X-Files: Book of the Unexplained by Jane Goldman

As you might have guessed, finding books for the X reviews was one of the hardest for the whole challenge.  I had about 6 to choose from and 3 were ones I had already posted reviews here on the blog, so I didn't want to do them again.  So the ones I've chosen are the other ones I hadn't reviewed for the blog.  And they are actually companion books to two of my favorite TV series.

First is The Xander Years Vol. 1 by Keith R.A. Candido.  If they did a volume 2 to this, I didn't ever get ahold of it, not from lack of trying I'm sure.  As when I started working at a bookstore, I began trying to order every last Buffy  book I could.  Unfortunately many were out of print, and I didn't want to order from used at the time and pay ahead of time.  I became a huge fan of the name Xander because of this show, and if I'd ever had a son, I would have wanted to name him that.  Here is the somwhat long blurb for this book from Goodreads:
TONIGHT, PART 1The argument started when Cordelia saw what Xander was wearing.

He had only just walked into the Bronze when Cordy started in on him. "My "God, " what is that outfit?"

"It's called 'clothes.'"

"No, "I'm" wearing clothes. "You" are wearing rags. Xander, do you even know what it means to accessorize?"

Shaking his head and rolling his eyes at the same time, Xander replied, "Yeah. "To accessorize." A verb deriving from the noun "accessory." Loosely defined as, 'Caring way more about what you're wearing than necessary for simple human interpersonal contact.'"

Gesturing as if she were pleading with Xander to not jump off a high ledge, Cordelia said, "Xander, clothes are what define who you are to the world. They put out a message that says, 'I'm cool' or 'I'm a jock' or 'I'm a computer geek" or in your case, 'I'm a loser with no redeeming social value.'"

It went downhill from there, at least up to the part where they made up by necking near the restrooms.

Xander returned home and fell more than sat on his bed, not even bothering to clear a space for himself -- he just collapsed onto the dirty laundry festooned on the sheets and stared at the ceiling. All in all, it had been a typical date: arguing for an hour, necking for an hour. "Not exactly how I pictured dating, he thought. Certainly not how all those fantasy dates with Buffy went in my head."

He turned toward the bedside table to stare at the photograph next to his clock radio. Willow's mom had taken that picture of Buffy, Willow, and Xander sophomore year. Buffy's hair was longer then -- so, if it came to that, was Xander's.

"Things were simpler then, hionship had been set.

Except, of course,for the necking part. That took another twelve years to develop.

The funny thing was, while Willow and Xander had gleefully formed the We Hate Cordelia Chase Fan Club -- they even held semiregular meetings -- Jesse had always had the hots for her, right up until the moment he died. And now Xander was dating her.

"Well, it could be worse, he thought. At least dating Cordelia isn't an immediate threat to my life. My sanity maybe, but not my life."

Shivering with a chill that had nothing to do with the typically warm Sunnydale night, he remembered a certain substitute biology teacher....

The 2nd book is from a TV series that I watched with  my mom, one that we loved and are excited to hear that there may be a reboot!  I was a huge X-Files fan.  Especially what they called the "monster of the week" episodes more than the mythology episodes.  These books, and I had two of them, were more about the true stories behind the UFO sightings and other wild stories that made up the TV series.  Here is a blurb from Goodreads:
At the beginning of its fourth incredibly popular season. The X-Files Fall 1996 season premiere had the highest rating Fox Television has ever achieved for a dramatic series. The show won five 1996 Emmy awards for special effects, outstanding writing, and best guest spots, and continues to garner new fans with each episode. HarperPrism is the only official publisher of The X-Files, and this season, we present three brand-new additions to satisfy the voracious appetite of the millions of fans.The facts behind the fiction are even more disturbing than the menace and mystery depicted in The X-Files episodes. Here are the actual accounts of UFO sightings, alien encounters, government cover-ups, psychic crime solving, faith healing, spontaneous combustion, reincarnation, and hauntings from which the show's writers draw their material for story lines. This in-depth, photo-tilled guide--complete with interviews from the show's cast, crew, and writers, as well as astonishing revelations from the world's leading investigations, scientists and officials--tells the terrifying stories behind our real life encounters with The X-Files.

Were you a fan of either of these shows?  If so, did you ever read any of the books that went with them?  Or did you even know they had books to go with them?  And while you're here, make sure you enter my giveaway below!

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A to Z April: T Reviews - Total Constant Order by Crissa-Jean Chappell/Tales of the Slayers/ Through Violet Eyes by Stephen Woodworth

Again the letter T has a lot of titles, so I narrowed it down to 3.  One of them is from the Buffyverse but each one in the series is by different authors, so I can't list that for sure in the title of this post.  And the other is the first book I read by an author that I think deserves more attention for her amazing teen novels.

First is Total Constant Order by Crissa-Jean Chappell.  Ms. Chappell is an author that I feel deserves so much more attention.  Her books all have a great theme to them.  Some kind of hard hitting subject that you may not often see in stories, or at least they are not done as well as this author does.  This book I think was one of my first e-galleys, and I loved it.  I also got to meet the author the first year I went to BEA.

Here's the blurb for the book I'm spotlighting today from Goodreads:

Fin can't stop counting. She's always heard a voice inside her head, ordering her to listen, but ever since she's moved to the Sunshine State and her parents split up, numbers thump like a metronome, rhythmically keeping things in control. When a new doctor introduces terms such as "clinical depression" and "OCD" and offers a prescription for medication, the chemical effects make Fin feel even more messed up. Until she meets Thayer, a doodling, rule-bending skater who buzzes to his own beat—and who might just understand Fin's hunger to belong, and her struggle for total constant order.

Crissa-Jean Chappell's candid and vividly told debut novel shares the story of a young teen's experience with obsessive compulsive disorder and her remarkable resolve to find her own inner strength.

The second book is kind of a series.  If you watched the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series you know that there have been slayers all throughout history.  And we also know that there are those in training up until the current chosen one dies, and then one of them is called into service. This fascinating side series goes into the stories about the other slayers.  There are some great authors that wrote the different books in this series, included Nancy Holder, Christopher Golden, Yvonne Navarro, Mel Odom, just to name a few.  Here is the blurb for the first one from Goodreads:
A collection of original short stories based on the hit TV series created by Joss Whedon

Into every generation, a Slayer is born. One girl in all the world, to find the vampires where they gather, and to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their numbers. In our time, that girl is Buffy Summers. But Buffy is merely one Slayer in an eternal continuum of warriors for the Powers That Be.

We've known of others; The Primal Slayer, who stalked the earth and the forces of darkness in fierce solitude... Nikki, the funky hipster whose demise at Spike's hands lent an urban edge to his wardrobe and a bigger bounce to his swagger. Slayers by nature have a limited life expectancy; for each one who falls, another rises to take her place.

Tales of the Slayer, Vol. 1, chronicles Slayers past who have influenced -- and are influenced by -- the traditions and mythologies of yore. From ancient Greece, to aristocratic Slayers holding court in revolution-era France, to the legend of the Bloody Countess Elizabeth Bathory, to 1920's Munich, each girl has a personal history, a shared moral code, and a commitment to conquer evil, regardless of the cost...

The last book I want to talk about today is the first in another series, it is called Through Violet Eyes by Stephen Woodworth.  One that I don't feel got the attention it should have either.  It was a science fiction type of story, about people who can communicate with the dead.  People born with violet colored eyes.  But their lives are not as easy, even though they have jobs just lined up for them.  Because now they have a serial killer after them.  Here is the blurb from Goodreads:
In a world where the dead can testify against the living, someone is getting away with murder. Because to every generation are born a select few souls with violet-colored eyes, and the ability to channel the dead. Both rare and precious—and rigidly controlled by a society that craves their services—these Violets perform a number of different duties. The most fortunate increase the world's cultural heritage by channeling the still-creative spirits of famous dead artists and musicians. The least fortunate aid the police and the law courts, catching criminals by interviewing the deceased victims of violent crime.

But now the Violets themselves have become the target of a brutal serial murderer—a murderer who had learned how to mask his or her identity even from the victims. Can the FBI, aided by a Violet so scared of death that she is afraid to live, uncover the criminal in time? Or must more of her race be dispatched to the realm that has haunted them all since childhood?

Have you heard of either of my authors I've talked about here that I feel need more attention?  Have you read their books?  How about the extra stories for the Buffyverse?  Do you think those sound like fun?

While you're here, make sure you enter my giveaway below!

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A to Z April: Q Reviews - Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot/Queen of the Slayers by Nancy Holder

You would think book titles starting with the letter Q would be few and far between. And really, that is true for the most part. But I had two that started with the word queen, so that worked perfectly for the first post this week.  One is a chick lit book, another by that popular author Meg Cabot.  The other is a story from the last season of one of my most favorite tv series ever, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.


So, as I said, the first is by Meg Cabot, it is the first in the Queen of Babble series, and that is its title.  It's kind of an American girl in Europe story.  The main character Lizzie just cannot keep her mouth shut.  And she is always opening up and letting the wrong things slip in front of the wrong people.  Here's the synopsis from Goodreads:

What's an American girl with a big mouth, but an equally big heart, to do?

Lizzie Nichols has a problem, and it isn't that she doesn't have the slightest idea what she's going to do with her life, or that she's blowing what should be her down payment on a cute little Manhattan apartment on a trip to London to visit her long-distance boyfriend, Andrew. But what's the point of planning for the future when she's done it again? See, Lizzie can't keep her mouth shut. And it's not just that she can't keep her own secrets, she can't keep anything to herself.

This time when she opens her big mouth, her good intentions get Andrew in major hot water. So now Lizzie's stuck in London with no boyfriend and no place to stay until the departure date written on her non-refundable airline ticket.

Fortunately, there's Shari, Lizzie's best friend and college roommate, who's spending her summer in southern France, catering weddings with her boyfriend, Chaz, in a sixteenth-century château. One call and Lizzie's on a train to Souillac. Who cares if she's never traveled alone in her life and only speaks rudimentary French? One glimpse of gorgeous Château Mirac - not to mention gorgeous Luke, the son of Château Mirac's owner - and she's smitten.

But while most caterers can be trusted to keep a secret, Lizzie's the exception. And no sooner has the first cork been popped than Luke hates her, the bride is in tears, and it looks like Château Mirac is in danger of becoming a lipo-recovery spa. As if things aren't bad enough, her ex-boyfriend Andrew shows up looking for "closure" (or at least a loan), threatening to ruin everything, especially Lizzie's chance at ever finding real love...

Unless she can figure out a way to use that big mouth of hers to save the day.

The 2nd one is from the last season when the only way for the Scooby gang to win was to get all the slayers in training up to full slayer power.  Of course it takes magic, and Willow is there to do that. Even with the misgivings of the last time she did big magic and what it turned her into.  After they've saved the world, what does it man to have all of those slayers now, instead of just the Chosen ONE.  Here is the blurb from Goodreads.com:

No vacation. No benefits. And the only retirement is an early death. 

With the closing of the Hellmouth and the awakening of hundreds of potential slayers, Buffy Summers thought she had overturned the Slayer's self-sacrifice and earned herself a much-deserved break. But the thrill of victory is short-lived. The Forces of Darkness are not ones to graciously accept defeat, and the collective rage unites disparate and powerful parties more eager than ever to reclaim dominance.
Willow's magickal distribution of the slayer essence left girls across the world discovering their latent power. Giles races to reorganize the now much-needed Watchers Council, and the Scoobies relocate to Europe. And there in Rome, Buffy is drawn to the Immortal -- a charismatic, if inscrutable, figure. But then comes word that a number of the fresh slayers are being coerced to join an army of slayers -- governed by the mysterious "Queen of the Slayers," an awesome evil determined to claim the intoxicating slayer essence for herself.
Xander is sent to Africa to learn more about the origin of the slayer essence. Instead, he returns to report that, alarmingly, there's not enough good in the world to counteract the overabundance of evil, and that the deciding apocalypse is drawing much too near. Alliances are formed and loyalties betrayed as it comes down to slayer versus slayer, leading to an ultimate battle of champions -- from Buffy's past and present. And then an unimaginable gift arrives...

If you are a Meg Cabot fan, have you read this book, or this series?  I believe I need to finish the series.  Are you a Buffy fan?  If so, have you read any of the books or graphic novels based after the tv series ended?

While you're here, don't forget to enter my giveaway below!

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Review: Stone Cold Touch (The Dark Elements #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Okay, once again prepare for a love fest.  I am hooked now on Jennifer L. Armentrout's books.  Being able to read the first one, White Hot Kiss, and then this 2nd one right after it, is going to make it very hard to wait until the third one, Every Last Breath, comes out this July.  In fact, I kinda wonder if they'll be giving copies of it away, ARCs, at BEA this summer.  If only I could: A. afford to go again this year, and B. not already  have plans for the weekend it is happening this year.  Of course, the first two I picked up as strip cover copies at my bookstore, and since I'll have to buy the 3rd one, guess I'd better start planning to buy the first two so I can have a matching set.  :-)  And of course I'm also even more sad that I was unable to meet her last summer at BEA.  :-(    Enough of my fangirling and moaning, let's get on with the review.  Which if you haven't read the first one, I can't promise no spoilers at all from that story.

Layla is back.  But she's devastated after Roth sacrificed himself to make sure the demon they were trying to send to hell didn't get away, also saving Zayne in the process.  But it meas that Roth was now stuck in hell.  There is one thing Roth left her though, that keeps him close to her at all times.  His familiar, Bambi. The snake is now a tattoo on her body.  And while she and Zayne seem to be getting closer now, Bambi likes to show up as a reminder to him about Roth.  And while things seem to be maybe becoming a possibility that she never dreamed of for her and Zayne, other parts of her life are changing.  For one thing, all of a sudden one day she can no longer see the auras of people with souls.  But she seems to be feeling or sensing other people's feelings when they touch her or get close to her.  That's not all that's going on, it seems there are more upper level demons around town.  And when a surprise shows up, Roth, (you had to know he couldn't be gone!) they learn that a Lilin was created somehow even after all they did to try to prevent that from happening. 

Meanwhile Abbott, Zayne's father, and Layla's adopted father, seems to have been keeping even more secrets from Layla. And he no longer seems to have much trust in her.  To the point where he even thinks she is behind the bad things happening.

Of course it all blows up at the end, when Layla begins to think that just maybe she is at fault for the Lilan, and she hurts someone she never dreamed or wanted to hurt.  She will have to turn to Roth and her friends Stacey and Sam to try to solve all of this and save the world. 

Definitely another bit of a cliffhanger with the end of this one. Although the person who ends up being the Lilan, well I suspected something about them early on that led me to believe there was something else going on with that person.  And while I'm glad that she got to be with Zayne, there is just something about her with Roth that I kinda like better.  And I want to address the whole love triangle thing. With all the talk and hatred about love triangles, I feel I have to point out some things. First, many, many books have them, even older classic ones.  Think about Gone with the Wind, there's Ashley and Rhett.  For movies, how about the original Karate Kid, Daniel and Aly and Johnny.  And again, as fiction, it feels good to have two guys you want, both wanting you.  At least I would think it would be, well in a fictional world.  So I'm okay with it when it's done right. And this book definitely is. 

Okay, I have to hop back on the love train here, I LOVE the Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Supernatural tv show references.  How did I never realize that the reason Dean's car is what it is on the show is partly because the trunk is big enough to hold not one, but TWO dead bodies?  I love it!  I think I could totally hang out and watch these shows with the author and have a great time.  Anyways, enough about that again.  If you haven't read this series, and you enjoy a good paranormal YA story, with great characters and dialogue, then what are you waiting for? Get out and get your copies today!