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Showing posts with label review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label review. Show all posts

{Review} Win an iPad Adventure Pack from @SuzanneWFisher @AJoyfulChaos

| Friday, July 26, 2013
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Suzanne Woods Fisher is celebrating the release of A Big Year for Lilybook three in the beloved Adventures of Lily Lapp series, with a giveaway extravaganza!

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  One winner will receive:
Twelve winners will receive:
  • Special prizes specially picked by Lily (something new each day)! Suzanne will announce the winners on July 29 on her blog!
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on July 27th. All winners will be announced July 29th at Suzanne's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit Suzanne's blog on the 29th to see if you won one of the fun prizes! (Or better yet, subscribe to her blog and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox!)

Lily Lapp's family has settled into their new home in Pennsylvania, but life still holds big changes and big steps for Lily. Good changes, like once again living close to her beloved cousin and best friend, Hannah. Bad changes, like a mean girl who plays tricks on her. And no change at all where Lily would most want one--Aaron Yoder sits near her in school and relentlessly teases her. Surprises are in store for Lily as she learns, with Mama and Papa's help, to manage the ups and downs of growing up Amish. 
The third of four charming novels that chronicle the gentle way of the Amish through the eyes of a young girl, "A Big Year for Lily" gives children ages 8-12 a fascinating glimpse into the life of the Amish--and lots of fun and laughter along the way. It combines Mary Ann Kinsinger's real-life stories of growing up Amish and the bestselling writing of Amish fiction and nonfiction author Suzanne Woods Fisher. With charming line drawings in each book, this series captures the hearts of readers young and old.





Biography

Suzanne Woods FisherIn no particular order, Suzanne Woods Fisher is a wife, mother, writer, lifelong student of the Bible, raiser of puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind, a gardener and a cook...the latter two with sporadic results.

Suzanne has loved to write since she was a young teen. After college, she started to write for magazines and became a contributing editor for Christian Parenting Today magazine. Her family moved to Hong Kong for four years, just as the internet was developing, and she continued to write articles in a 44-story high-rise apartment, sending manuscripts 7,000 miles away with a click of a key.

After returning from Hong Kong, Suzanne decided to give her first novel a try. For four and a half months, she worked on an antediluvian computer in a cramped laundry room. She didn't even tell her husband what she was up to. When the novel was completed, she told her family at dinner one night that she had written a book. "That's why there's no food in this house!" said her slightly insensitive sons.

Undaunted...Suzanne found a small royalty publisher for that book and wrote three more (all earned multiple). With help from an agent, she has five books currently under contract with Revell. On September 1st, Amish Peace: Simple Wisdom for a Complicated World, a non-fiction book of stories and examples about the Old Order Amish, will be released by Revell. The Choice, a novel about the Amish, will follow on January 1st.

Writing, for Suzanne, is a way to express a love of God and His word. With every book or article, she hopes readers get a sense of what faith really looks like in the daily grind. She hopes they realize that life can be hard, but God is good, and never to confuse the two.

Suzanne can be found on-line at: www.suzannewoodsfisher.com

Mary Ann Kinsinger was raised Old Order Amish in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. She met and married her husband, whom she knew from school days, and started a family. After they chose to leave the Amish church, Mary Ann began a blog, A Joyful Chaos, as a way to pass on her warm childhood memories to her own children. From the start, this blog found a ready audience and even captured the attention of key media players, such as the influential blog AmishAmerica and the New York Times. She lives in Pennsylvania.


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These books give children ages 8-12 a wonderful glimpse into the life of the Amish.  With lots of fun and laughter these books are sure to make any little girl happy to read!  A Big Year for Lilly is the continuing story of Lily Lapp and her family.  Now I must say that my duaghter doesnt read as fast as I do.  But when this one came she snagged it and read it in one sitting.  She is such a fan of these books that we had to go out and buy the first two in this series.  She cant wait for the next book! 
"*I received a copy of this book for free to review, this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own."

{Review + Giveaway} Enter to win an iPad Mini from @KristaMcGeeYA

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 Thalli has fifteen minutes and twenty-three seconds left to live. The toxic gas that will complete her annihilation is invading her bloodstream. But she is not afraid.

Thalli is different than others in The State. She feels things. She asks questions. And in the State, this is not tolerated. The Ten scientists who survived the nuclear war that destroyed the world above believe that emotion was at the core of what went wrong—and they have genetically removed it from the citizens they have since created. Thalli has kept her malformation secret from those who have monitored her for most of her life, but when she receives an ancient piece of music to record as her community’s assigned musician, she can no longer keep her emotions secreted away.

Seen as a threat to the harmony of her Pod, Thalli is taken to the Scientists for immediate annihilation. But before that can happen, Berk—her former Pod mate who is being groomed as a Scientist—steps in and persuades the Scientists to keep Thalli alive as a test subject.

The more time she spends in the Scientist’s Pod, the clearer it becomes that things are not as simple as she was programmed to believe. She hears stories of a Designer—stories that fill her mind with more questions: Who can she trust? What is this emotion called love? And what if she isn’t just an anomaly, but part of a greater design?


About the Author
When Krista McGee isn't living in fictional worlds of her own creation, she lives in Tampa and spends her days as a wife, mom, teacher, and coffee snob. She is also the author of AnomalyFirst DateStarring Me, and Right Where I Belong.





In a world rules by silence and no religion of ANY KIND. People live in pods that are underground. This is where we start our story. I really loved this book!  And I think that is saying something since I've been pagan for over 20 years. I never knew that a mix of Teen, Dystopian, and Christian all together could work so well! So if you think you won't like it because its Christian. You are so wrong and should give it a try!  

Thalli is a girl whom is an anomaly. She has already seen one of her friends taken away never to be seen again. So when it happens to her she decides to fight back. But, of course she is over powered and taken for annihilation. But there she meets Berk. The boy whom saves her life by postponing her death. And in the underbelly of the pods she finds something else that will forever change her. 

The one thing I do understand is the scientist eradicating all religion in the pods. I understand their thought process thinking if they get rid of it that they will all be better off. But I also believe that they are wrong. Yes, many wars have been fought and even more have died/been murdered in the name of a god. But, faith/religion also gives you hope for a better future. It brings you something to believe in when there is nothing but darkness. For in darkness there is light! And that light is called Hope!

Ps: I hope that I am lucky enough to get a copy of book two! 

"*I received a copy of this book for free to review, this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own."


Follow The Tour 
Krista McGee is celebrating the release of Anomaly, the first book in her new YA dystopian series, with an iPad Mini Giveaway!


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One winner will receive:
  • An iPad Mini
  • A $25 iTunes gift card (download Anomaly to the iPad!)
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on July 31st. Winner will be announced at Krista's website on August 2nd.

Spread the word about Krista and her giveaway HERE!

{Review} Tracie Peterson’s “The Quarryman’s Bride” True Love $200 Anthropologie Giveaway and 7/9 Facebook Party!

| Wednesday, July 3, 2013
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Welcome to the campaign page for Tracie Peterson's newest book in the Land of the Shining Water series, The Quarryman's Bride. Tracie is celebrating with a "True Love" $200 Anthropologies



Emmalyne Knox and Tavin MacLachlan were destined to be together...until the tragic deaths of Emmalyne's youngest sisters. Family tradition mandates that the youngest daughter should remain single to care for her parents in their old age, and now that daughter is Emmalyne. Her father unyielding, Emmalyne surrenders to her duty, heartbroken. Tavin leaves town, equally devastated.

Years later, Emmalyne's family moves, and she and Tavin meet again. Their feelings for each other are as strong as ever, but their painful past and Emmalyne's father still stand between them. Soon both families are in the midst of the growing conflict rising between the workers at the granite quarry that Tavin's father owns and operates. When a series of near-fatal accidents occur, Tavin must figure out who is behind the attacks before someone gets killed.

Bound by obligation, yet yearning for a future together, can Emmalyne and Tavin dare to dream that God could heal a decade-long wound and change the hearts of those who would stand in the way of true love?



About Tracie

Tracie Peterson is an award-winning, best-selling author of over 95 books. Having given her heart to Jesus at the young age of six, Tracie has always felt called to some form of ministry, and writing fulfills that mission field.
Tracie received her first book contract in November, 1992 and saw A Place To Belong published in February 1993 with Barbour Publishings' Heartsong Presents. She wrote exclusively with Heartsong for the next two years, receiving their readership's vote for Favorite Author of the Year for three years in a row.
In December, 1995 she signed a contract with Bethany House Publishers. Tracie now writes exclusively for Bethany House Publishers. She has co-written with a variety of authors including Judith Pella, Judith Miller, James Scott Bell and her daughter Jennifer.
Throughout her writing career Tracie has found time to speak at writer's conferences where she has a special heart for new authors. She is often joined by her husband Jim, whose background in history offers new authors insight into research. Besides teaching at conferences, Tracie also at one time managed Barbour Publishing's Heartsong Presents book line - overseeing the production of 52 books a year. Tracie teaches at women's conferences around the country and shares her testimony and insight for Christian living through the eyes of an author passionately in love with her Heavenly Father.
Tracie was awarded the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for 2007 Inspirational Fiction and the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award from American Christian Fiction Writers. Her books have won numerous awards for favorite books in a variety of contests, including USA "Best Books 2011" Awards, best Religious Fiction for Embers of Love!.
Making her home in Montana, this Kansas native enjoys spending time with family--especially her three grandchildren--Rainy, Fox and Max..
For information on having Tracie speak at your event - contact Noelle Buss at Bethany Publishers/Baker Books.








This one kind of reminds me of an old movie called Anne of Green Gables.  Where it took three movies for them to finally get together.  I have a special place for Historical Romances and this one doesnt disappoint.  It is a sweet story that starts with a question:  What would you do if honoring your parents meant sacrificing your own heart's desire?  Now I think in this day and age that this is a question that would get slapped in the face!  But back then you pretty much did what your parents wanted. This one had a wonderful twisting plot involving a potential rival for Emmalyne’s affections. I love that the author doesnt fake details!  She is known for her research and historical detail and that certainly plays a huge part in this book! This book will suck you back in time to the 19th century.  
"*I received a copy of this book for free to review, this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own."

QuarrymanBride




Enter the giveaway and join the Facebook Author Chat Party.
One winner will receive:
  • A $200 Anthropologie gift card
  • The Quarryman's Bride and The Icecutter's Daughter by Tracie Peterson
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on July 8th. Winner will be announced at the "The Quarryman's Bride" Facebook Author Chat Party on July 9th. Connect with Tracie for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Tracie will also share an exclusive look at the next book in the Land of Shining Water series and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.
So grab your copy of The Quarryman's Bride and join Tracie on the evening of July 9th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Hope to see you on the 9th!

Review: Born of Fire (A Channeler Novella) by Heather McCorkle

| Sunday, September 9, 2012
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I picked up this little beauty for free and I'm SO glad I did!

Blurb from Goodreads:
The story of the night Aiden was born has never been told, until now. Fleeing the Hunters, Kevan and Shannon O'Reilly find their way to Spruce Knoll Colorado, assuming they'll be safe in America. Their unborn son is special, even for a druid, or a channeler as the American's like to call their kind. But why the Hunters, people who are sworn to keep their kind safe, are after them is a mystery. All they know is that if they don't outrun them they'll be killed. 
Trouble has followed them to Spruce Knoll and just when it seems it may be too late, they discover the true reason why.

I just finished To Ride a Puca last week and loved it. So I thought I would throw myself into this novella last night to get a taste of what the other Channeler novels are like and, WOW, I am so glad I did. I loved this short look into the channelers! It totally made me want to pick up the next one in the series. There was just not enough to this novella and it has me biting at the bit to see what happens next!

The cover to this little beauty is AMAZING! I knew the story of the knot from Puca, so when I picked this up, I completely understood why it would be on the cover. I am still interested to know what exactly the knot signifies. 

The introduction of Adien and his birth was great. Although, I am sure had I not read To Ride A Puca, I would not have understood so well what was happening as far as their powers were concerned. I am in love with the fantasy theme of these books!

Thanks for peaking my interest even more, Ms. McCorkle! Your writing is awesome and I can't wait to find out more about Aiden!!!

5 out of 5 Stars

Review also posted on the following sites:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006...
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/born-...
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...
http://www.librarything.com/work/1228...

Review: Born of Fire (A Channeler Novella) by Heather McCorkle

Posted by : The Cover Contessa
Date :Sunday, September 9, 2012
With 2comments
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Review: To Ride a Puca by Heather McCorkle

| Saturday, September 8, 2012
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To Ride A PucaTo Ride A Puca by Heather McCorkle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I would like to thank author Heather McCorkle for providing me with a digital copy of this book to read and give an honest review. I have heard such great things about Heather's books, I jumped at the chance to read and review this one!

Blurb from Goodreads:
Invaders are coming to take what isn't theirs, again. Neala wants to stand and fight for her homeland, but as one of the last druids, she may be standing alone. Persecuted, hunted down, forced to live in obscurity, the druids have all but given up. Can the determination of a girl who has barely come into her power bring them together? Or, just when she finally finds her place among her kind, will they end up losing a homeland their very magic is tied to?

I will first off be honest and tell you that I did not read the blurb for this book, so I had no idea what it was about when I went into it. I had heard such great things about Heather's writing, I didn't feel the need to find out. Plus, I didn't want my reading experience to be skewed by anything I might have "assumed" through reading the blurb. I also did not read any reviews prior to this book, for the same reason as stated above.

First, I would like to comment on this awesome cover. I just love the face of the horse. At first I did not understand why the horse had to be the main focus for the cover. I thought, as I was reading, that perhaps the main character should have been placed on the cover. But once things were revealed to me, I began to understand why it was important to have this very cover! It really does fit the story perfectly once you have read it.

Second, can I just say that I love the names the author picked for the characters in this book. The book takes place in Ireland, so of course you figure there will be Irish names. However, I was not expecting older names, of course I did not know the time frame of the book, either. Once that was revealed, I was pleased to see that the author must have done her research to make sure the names were appropriate. The historical significance of the names really does give so much credit to the author.

Now, for the characters. What can I say about Neala? She is such a great character. So well developed. her arc is awesome. You really see her grow and come into herself during the book. She is not your typical teenager, filled with angst and annoyance. She is independent and almost always self-assured (which I really loved). She easily recognized right from wrong and didn't put herself into situations she thought would be too hard for her to handle. She shows her love for family. And, despite, not having any friends for most of her life, she is able to easily accept people when they finally show an interest in befriending her. She stands up and fights for what she believes in, even when she knows those around her might be unhappy with that decision. The one thing that bothered me about her was her quickness to fall for a guy. During the course of the book, I could not believe how many romantic interests she had.

What can I say about Bren. He is obviously sexy. He is confident, that is for sure. He knows what he wants and he pursues with such enthusiasm it is surprising he doesn't run right over everyone he thinks might be standing in his way! He does portray a typical teenage boy whose mind is filled with hormonal feelings and wonderings about the opposite sex. But he is also committed to his friends and loved ones, and would put his life right on the line for them when necessary.

Dubh, what a horse! Big and strong. Beautiful and graceful. And completely protective of Neala. I love how he is not afraid to "stick his nose" into situations, literally, when he knows that things might not be right. He is definitely Neala's guardian angel!

And what to say about Tyr, the sexy Dane. Well, just picturing him on his steed at the end made me want to cry for him. He is strong and lovable and makes certain that Neala knows he is unlike the other Danes from which he is descended.

And to all the other characters, which are too many for me to name and describe, well, let's just say Ms. McCorkle really knew what she was doing by introducing them to us. They become Neala's family, if they are not already, and they help take us on a magical and mystical journey through the history of these Druids.
All the characters are really well developed in this book. I could picture each and every one of them in my mind and felt a connection to all of them, good or evil. They lead you on an adventure that is unlike any other you have been on before.

I don't read much fantasy, but I really enjoyed the mythology associated with this book. It was a new and completely unusual world for me. I was drawn into the hills of Ireland and overtaken by it's people and their way of life. The world building was really well thought out and described. I also loved that even tho Heather has written other stories in this series, there is no reason to read them to understand this particular book.

I have to say that the multiple love interests of the main character got a little overwhelming and seemed a bit unrealistic. This was the only downfall I found with this book, and the reason why it did not get 5 stars from me.

The book was engaging and, for me, a page turner. I really got immersed in the reading and didn't want to put it down. If you like books along the line of Percy Jackson, Harry Potter and other mythical type novels, then you will love this novel. It's a dark and sexy historical novel that will keep you enthralled from beginning to end!

Bravo, Heather, for taking me on a journey I never knew existed!

4 out of 5 stars from me!

Review also posted on the following sites:
http://thecovercontessa.blogspot.com
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0985...
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/to-ri...
http://www.librarything.com/work/1276...




View all my reviews

Review: To Ride a Puca by Heather McCorkle

Posted by : The Cover Contessa
Date :Saturday, September 8, 2012
With 4comments
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Review: Stitch (Stitch Trilogy #1) by Samantha Durante

| Wednesday, September 5, 2012
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Stitch (Stitch Trilogy, #1)Stitch by Samantha Durante
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I want to thank the author, Samantha Durante, for providing me with a copy of this book to read and give an honest review. I also want to thank her for allowing me to participate in her blog tour for this book, it's truly an honor.

Blurb from Goodreads:

Her heart races, her muscles coil, and every impulse in Alessa's body screams at her to run... but yet she's powerless to move.
Still struggling to find her footing after the sudden death of her parents, the last thing college freshman Alessa has the strength to deal with is the inexplicable visceral pull drawing her to a handsome ghostly presence. In between grappling with exams and sorority soirees - and disturbing recurring dreams of being captive in a futuristic prison hell - Alessa is determined to unravel the mystery of the apparition who leaves her breathless. But the terrifying secret she uncovers will find her groping desperately through her nightmares for answers.
Because what Alessa hasn't figured out yet is that she's not really a student, the object of her obsession is no ghost, and her sneaking suspicions that something sinister is lurking behind the walls of her university's idyllic campus are only just scratching the surface...
The opening installment in a twist-laden trilogy, Stitch spans the genres of paranormal romance and dystopian sci-fi to explore the challenges of a society in transition, where morality, vision, and pragmatism collide leaving the average citizen to suffer the results

I have to say that this book is NOTHING of what I expected it to be! To say that Samantha has created something totally new and interesting is not doing this book justice in the least. I don't normally read the blurb for a book that I am given to review, as I want to have more of a surprise and go in without any preconceived ideas. However, I did let myself peek at this one a bit and was excited to read a ghost story (as I haven't really read many of them in the YA genre). But, to my surprise, this ghost story turned out to be SO much more!

The first thing that drew me into this book was the cover. Wow, it's just totally amazing what the artist did with it. After having read the story, I can totally see how it relates to what the author is telling us. Before that, I was mostly just curious and loved the colors.

Then there is the main heroine. Alessa. Alessa is a college freshman struggling with the death of her parents. Struggling with making friends and becoming acclimated to her surroundings. She mostly keeps to herself, except for interactions she has with her friend Janie, who turns out to be so much more than you could possibly imagine. To top it all off, Alessa is seeing a ghost, and a handsome ghost at that. She struggles with finding out who he is and why he might be haunting her. She has and extreme pull to him, but she can't explain why. Well, I don't want to spoil why for you, but let's just say that he's not someone she doesn't know!

Then we get some of the story from Issac's POV (he is the ghost after all). He is struggling with seeing the apparition of a young woman he has never met. He wonders why she is appearing to him and what message she has for him that is so important. He also feels out of place in his world, which is 100 years before our modern day. He feels like he is meant for so much more, but cannot imagine why that would be since he spent his life growing up on his family's land.

There were a few things that bothered me about this book. First off the alternating POVs were not traditional at all. One chapter would be Issac, then the next three would be Alessa, then it would jump back to Issac. There was no consistency and this made for quite a choppy read. In addition, the flashbacks jumped around a lot and I often felt like I wasn't sure where I was in the story. And the characters just kept getting older and older in the book until they are finally into their twenties, and I was not sure how it even happened! It might behove the author to label the chapters with the characters name or perhaps even include a date. Another problem I had was not feeling a connection to any of the characters through most of the book. In the last quarter of the book, I was finally able to connect and understand the need for the characters to go where they were going, but before that I just felt like the book jumped around a lot. Another item that concerned me is a ton of description in the book. Now, I usually like description, as it puts me in the scene and makes me feel like I am right there with the character. However, I don't need to know every time the character slides her leg into a pair of pants, pops open a bottle to take a drink of water or eats an apple. It was too much and made me feel like the author was trying to stretch out the chapters. It got to be annoying after a while and made me feel like I wanted to skim the chapter rather than stick with it (tho in the end I did stick with it because I just can't bring myself to skim a book as I know I'll miss something important).

The twists and turns this book takes, from ghost story, to time travel to dystopian are something you would not otherwise see coming. It was a total surprise to me! I do have to say that it wasn't until about 1/2 way through the book that I was really interested in what I was seeing. Before that, it just feel like it was trolling along. However, I was happy that I stuck it out to see the outcome.

I am interested to see where the author takes the next book, as the characters are much older now and I am not sure it will still be considered YA, perhaps more NA. I can foresee this possibly being a problem as to how to classify this trilogy, unless the author chooses to jump back and give us more of a background that leads up to how the characters are placed in their predicament in the first place.

I again want to thank Samantha for providing me with a copy of her novel. 3 out of 5 stars from me.

This review can also be found on the following sites:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0985...
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stitc...
http://www.librarything.com/work/1287...
http://thecovercontessa.blogspot.com



View all my reviews

Review: Stitch (Stitch Trilogy #1) by Samantha Durante

Posted by : The Cover Contessa
Date :Wednesday, September 5, 2012
With 0comments
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Review: Rematch (The Vortex Series #1) by Janine Caldwell

| Monday, September 3, 2012
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I would like to thank Janine Caldwell for providing me with a copy of her book Rematch (The Vortex Series #1) to read and review.
A bit about Janine:

Janine was raised in Northern California and has a B.A. in English from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. After 30 years as a California resident, she and her husband Mike, former wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers, moved to Arizona and are currently raising their two sons in Anthem. Janine has always had a passionate love for literature. After many trips to Sedona, she was inspired to write her first YA series (The Vortex Series) based on the beauty and mystery of the Sedona red rock formations. When she is not writing or hiking around a Sedona vortex, she is practicing yoga, spending time with friends, and taking care of her family.

You can contact Janine at the following links:
www.janinecaldwell.com
www.twitter.com/J9fiction
www.facebook.co...more





And now for my review!

Rematch (The Vortex Series, #1)Rematch by Janine Caldwell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I want to thank the author, Janine Caldwell, for providing me with a copy of this book to read and give an honest review.

Blurb from Goodreads:
In REMATCH, Cassie and Trent’s worlds are about to collide, but not in the way you might normally expect. After a rocky start to their senior year, Trent is determined to hide from Cassie how their lives are supernaturally linked. But when Cassie’s past continues to torment her, she’s soon looking to Trent for answers. Trent must choose between admitting what he is and his role in her past, or running away from her forever.

I actually did not read the blurb before reading this book, so I had no idea what to expect when I went into it. I actually prefer to not read about books that I've been asked to review prior to reviewing them. I especially stayed away from reviews because I wanted to form my own opinion. I am glad I went into this one blind because I was pleasantly surprised with what I found!

The first thing that struck me was the cover of this book. It's so unusual. There is such a variety of elements show, I really wasn't sure what to expect. After having finished the book, I now understand all the elements and how they tie into the story that is told. Very clever of the author to choose a cover that would encompass all these things. You rarely see covers that actually tell the story of the book before you even open it to read it!

Unfortunately, reading the ecopy, I had a hard time grasping the fact that the author was alternating POVs in the first part and then telling the second and third part from each of the main characters POV. I think this was one of the downfalls of having this book on my Kindle. I actually got annoyed and when I was taking notes, noted to myself that I didn't understand what the author was doing. It wasn't until I put up a status update and Janine answered it that I understood what was going on. This wasn't until about 75% through the book, tho! Perhaps labeling the chapters as such may have thwarted some of my confusion.

Despite being annoyed by the alternating POVs, I was really engrossed in this book from the beginning. It starts of mysterious and draws you right in. Janine's writing is really quite good and flows very well. It's natural and doesn't seem like she was searching for words to put on the page as she wrote. The story has a great pace that keeps you riveted. Every time I put the book down, I was anticipating picking it back up so I could see what was going to happen next. The author has a knack for description. I could see the scenes as they were described, which was a great way to fall into the story. I did note that there were some descriptions were a bit repetitive, and this got to be a bit overwhelming. It almost felt like there were times when the story was being filled in to make the chapters longer. This made me feel like the story wasn't moving.

And I am a total lover of time travel books, so this one hit the nail right on the head when I found out that was an underlying theme! It's really the only kind of science fiction that I like to read. I read Julie Cross' Tempest not too long ago and this boo is definitely along those lines, and written just as well. And of course the star crossed lover theme is a huge draw, because you can't possibly have a good YA book without there being some kind of love tension happening!!!

I really liked how the characters were developed in this book. I do have to say that Cassie did annoy me a bit, a typical teen girl with angst that will drive you nuts. She's self depreciating and is constantly doubting herself. She allows herself to be treated poorly by her boyfriend and does not take the advice of her friends when they give it. This type of character drives me nuts. I felt like it was excessive and could have been handled a bit better. But I know they are many times essential to set the pace and current of the book. Without this, we would not have been able to see Cassie grow as a person. And I love how Cassie feels an immediate connection to Jeremy (aka Trent) when she meets him, but has no idea why. Trent was just such a great character. He is warm and caring, you can feel his anger at the things that are happening to Cassie. I was a bit confused as to why we don't have a name for him until about 20% into the book, tho. He's never referred to anywhere before that by name and I was a little annoyed by it. It made it harder to picture him, to be honest.

My favorite character is Trent's sister, Lorelai. I just love her and her reactions. I love the way she is so concerned with Trent and how she doesn't worry about giving up her life to make sure he's safe. I would love to see a novella written from her POV. I think seeing how she views her life with her brother would be a great way to get to know her better.

All in all I truly enjoyed this book. I I see a lot of potential in the author's writing and while there were some flaws noted, the book kept my interest from beginning to end. I loved how Calwell incorporated the elements of fear, humor, and romance and look forward to reading the second book in this series.

3 out of 5 stars.

This review can also be seen at the following sites:
http://thecovercontessa.blogspot.com
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007...
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/remat...
http://www.librarything.com/work/1299...


View all my reviews

Review: Rematch (The Vortex Series #1) by Janine Caldwell

Posted by : The Cover Contessa
Date :Monday, September 3, 2012
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Ella James Review and Blog Tour!!!!!

| Monday, August 27, 2012
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Today I am super excited to bring to you a post all about Ella James and her terrifically wonderful series of books: Stained!





ABOUT ELLA: Ella James lives in Alabama with her amazing husband, energetic baby, and mopey dog. Her books have been nominated best debut novel and best sci-fi/fantasy at utopYA Convention 2012, received a Flamingnet Top Choice Award, and been featured on numerous Amazon bestseller lists. She is the author of the popular Stained Series, the Here Trilogy, and Before You Go—all YA romance—and has four more titles forthcoming in 2012.


STAINED (YA paranormal romance): After a fire destroys seventeen-year-old Julia's home and kills her foster parents, she chases the half-demon responsible across the country and back, determined to avenge her family and discover why a host of celestial baddies want her dead. With Julia is enigmatic hottie Cayne, who has his own score to settle with the half-demon, and who might be just as dangerous as the creature he and Julia hunt. *Nominated best debut novel at UtopYAcon 2012.*


STOLEN (Stained Series Book Two): With Cayne's fate in the hands of his enemies and Julia spirited away to the covert Stained compound, the two are separated by impenetrable walls and a gulf of unanswered questions. Soon Julia learns the truth about the Stained and the plans they have for her, the compound is attacked, and a new group is running from an unwanted destiny, searching the globe in pursuit of the knowledge that just might save them all.


CHOSEN (Stained Series Book Three): Julia has been chosen. While at the Stained compound, she was tapped as The One to win the war against the Nephilim and leashed with an illness that worsens each day she is away from The Three. Determined not to return to the frightening Chosen leaders and desperate to escape her fate, Julia and her friends journey to the Swiss Alps, home of a rogue Chosen clan. In this snowy haven, all hell breaks loose. Someone is traitor. Someone changes sides. Someone is dragged to Hades. A new romance blossoms. An old romance is damned. And The Three will stop at nothing to recover the weapon that will help them regain power. EXALTED (Stained Series Book Four): Ripped apart by the betrayals of two friends and ensnared by their respective celestial captors, Julia and Cayne are poised to fulfill their fatal role in The Three’s return to power. Their Chosen friends will move Hell and Earth to win their freedom, but how will they fight fate when more sinister forces take control? The net will come down. Someone will be sacrificed. A dear friend will die. And a mighty celestial battle will play out on Earth, with everything—and everyone—at stake.


GET IN TOUCH: To find out more about Ella’s projects and get exact dates on her upcoming releases, friend her on Facebook at facebook.com/ellajamesbooks and follow her blog, ellajamesbooks.blogspot.com. Questions or comments? Tweet her at author_ellaj or e-mail her at ella_f_james@ymail.com.


Ella asked me to read and review the first book of her Stained series. This is a MUST READ book. Here's what I think:

Stained (Stained, #1)Stained by Ella James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I would like to thank Ella James for providing me with an ebook copy of Stained to read and provide an honest review of this book.

Blurb from Goodreads:

After a fire destroys seventeen-year-old Julia’s home and kills her foster parents, she chases the half-demon responsible across the country and back, determined to avenge her family and discover why a host of celestial baddies want her dead. With Julia is enigmatic hottie - Cayne, who has his own score to settle with the half-demon, and who might be just as dangerous as the creature he and Julia hunt.

This book is riveting from the very start! There is action, adventure, romance, and intrigue that keeps you wanting to read more from beginning to end. The characters are well thought out and developed. The scenes are described in great detail, I felt like I was right there experiencing what the characters were: their fear, their happiness, their sadness.

Julia is the main female character. She is smart and sassy, funny and wise. She knows what she wants, when she wants it. And she's not afraid to go after it. She is running for her life, but constantly finds the exact danger she is trying to avoid. In order to avenge her family and find out why she is one of the "stained" she searches for answers from a host of celestial beings.

One of those "beings" is Cayne. He is one enigmatic boy! He keeps his distance from Julia, yet you can feel the tension that draws them together throughout the entire book. He warns her to stay away, but she just cannot resist. Their connection is undeniable. But Cayne holds secrets even he cannot know, because his memory has been wiped away. He is mysterious and magnetic.

Together they search for Samyaza, a half-demon out to find them both. Each has their own reason to want Samyaza dead, and together they intend to find him. They travel about the country finding solace in different places through different people.

All culminating in a climatic ending where what you thought you knew is nothing compared to what you find out! It's a total cliff hanger, and completely unexpected at that!

All in all this book is well written and certainly has me wanting more. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a bit of the paranormal mixed with action, adventure and romance. I cannot wait to read the sequel.

4 out of 5 stars from me!

Review also posted at the following sites:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005...
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...
http://www.librarything.com/work/1222...

And, finally, I want to introduce you to Ella's newest addition to her Stained series, Exalted (Stained #4) and it's wonderfully, beautiful cover:

Title: Exalted (Stained #4)
Expected Publication Date: September 2012

Isn't it just GORGEOUS??

And Ella is doing a little giveaway with my review today. So join in the fun to win Julia's Cereal Box Watch (if you read Stained, you'll understand better, so GO READ IT!):


And with that I am going to leave you a list of all the blogs participating in this tour, please go check them out and give them all some love (because you'll be giving Ella love, too!)

Sassy Book Lovers - www.sassybooklovers.blogspot.com - Q&A/author spotlight, giveaway of a Stained bookmark and 24 hours early copy of Exalted
Tuesday, August 28 - Delphina Reads Too Much www.delphinareadstoomuch.com - Interview with Edan, giveaway of a signed copy of Stained + all three ebooks
Wednesday, August 29 - Totally Bookalicious - www.totallybookalicious.blogspot.com - Stained review and Exalted excerpt, giving away $5 Amazon gc + ARC of Azalea & the Makers of Zen
Thursday, August 30 - Young Adult and Teen Readers - www.facebook.com/YATeenReaders - Stained Series party - Swag includes signed copy of Stained, bookmark, and all four Stained Series ebooks
Friday, August 31 - Tsk, Tsk What to Read? - www.tsktskwhattoread2.blogspot.com - Interview with Cayne, silver feather necklace giveaway
Saturday, September 1 - A Diary of a Book Addict - www.adiaryofabookaddict.blogspot.com - Stained review and Q&A, Stained bookmark and Stolen ebook giveaway
Sunday, September 2 - Starry Night Book Reviews - www.starrynightbookreviews.blogspot.com - Stained review, Chosen and Exalted ebook giveaway
Monday, September 3 - SupaGurl Books www.supagurlbooks.blogspot.com - Stained review, pink Converse All-Stars giveaway
Book Monster Reviews - www.bookmonsterreviews.blogspot.com - Burning questions answered Q&A, giving away a signed print version of Stained AND Here.
Tuesday, September 4 - Bend in the Binding www.bendthebind.blogspot.com  - Scene from Exalted, review of Exalted, character interview, giveaway of a bookmark and the entire Stained Series as ebooks.
Wednesday, September 5 - Treasured Tales for Young Adults www.treasuredtalesforyoungadults.wordpress.com, Stolen and Chosen reviews, $5 Amazon gc giveaway
Thursday, September 6 - What's Beyond Forks? - www.whatsbeyondforks.com, Q&A, giving away two Ella James books of winner's choice.
--Official tour end
Friday, September 7 – Ella James Books – www.ellajamesbooks.blogspot.com – Trailer reveal
Saturday, September 8 – Thursday, September 14 – Excerpts and quotes from Exalted
Friday, September 14 – 1 year Stained anniversary and Exalted Release Day
Saturday, September 15 – Release Party at Young Adult and Teen Readers - www.facebook.com/YATeenReaders








Ella James Review and Blog Tour!!!!!

Posted by : The Cover Contessa
Date :Monday, August 27, 2012
With 18comments

Review: Transcend by Christine Fonseca

| Wednesday, August 22, 2012
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I am fortunate enough to have been provided an ARC copy of this amazingly beautiful book. Actual publication date is set for September 18, 2012. Put this one on your TBR, my friends. You will not be disappointed when you get to finally read it.


TranscendTranscend by Christine Fonseca
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I would like to thank the author, Christine Fonseca, for providing me with an ARC copy of this book to read and give an honest review. I am honored that she trusted me to read and review this totally different and new story.

Blurb from Goodreads:

All seventeen-year-old composer Ien Montgomery desires is an escape from his family's rigid expectations for his life; someone to inspire his music. When he meets a beautiful violin-prodigy, Kiera McDougal, his life music takes on new life. With her, he imagines a future outside of his parents’ control. That is, until a horrible accident tears them apart.
Sent to die in a sanatorium, Ien’s obsession for Kiera grows unbearable. Tortured by thoughts he can’t escape and the truth of his monstrous disfigurement, he flees, desperate to exact revenge on the people that ruined his life – his parents. But, vengeance is empty. Betrayed by those closest to him, Ien discovers that the price for his happiness may be his sanity.
Set amidst the landscape of New York's Gilded Age, and inspired by Phantom of the Opera, TRANSCEND exposes the fine line between love and madness.

Wow, I'm not even sure where to start with this book. First, I would like to say that it is haunting, disturbing, beautiful, poetic, lyrical, mysterious, dark, creepy and sad. It produced in me such a range of emotions, I wasn't sure if I was coming or going. I was surprised to find that I did not cry when reading it, as I thought for sure the sadness brought about by the main character's struggle would have surely thrown me over the edge. I have never read anything like this before. It is completely different from books in the YA Genre that are out there today. It is totally set apart from every other psychological thriller you can possibly think of. I could not put this book down and was unhappy when I had to! I just had to know what was going to happen next; where Ien would take us down his twisted road. If you are a fan of Phantom of the Opera, you will absolutely love this book and you must listen to the soundtrack while you read this piece of art. If you like to read Edgar Allen Poe, then this book will take you down his same twisted, curving roads. It is such a powerful and deep story it will leave you completely breathless.

Ien is such a tortured soul. There is no way not to feel sorry for this man. His reality is so totally discombobulated, it's hard to tell where his reality ends and his fantasy begins. Throughout the book I found it hard not to feel sorry for him and was routing for him to have everything he ever wanted: his music, his life with Kiera, the love of his family and friends. And yet, he was so sick, I just wanted him to get the help he needed so he would not think to hurt another soul. His entire life is consumed by his love for a woman with whom he finds a connection through music. You believe every word he says, every thought he has throughout the novel. And yet, things are never truly what they seem with him. He is completely fractured and my heart ached for him the entire story.

James is his best friend, wanting only the best for him, knowing he needs to help him. Kiera is the woman he loves. The woman he connects with through music. Jenna is his loyal friend, who also happens to be a servant for his wealthy family. His mother and father are tethered to their ideas of what it means to be known in high society, and they expect their children to act as such. And his brother Erik is someone with whom Ien has a push and pull relationship. All these characters play crucial roles in shaping Ien and his reality versus fantasy.

One of the most interesting parts of this story was how it was told from differing points of view. But not differing points of view of different characters, which was a total twist for me. Some chapters are written directly from Ien's point of view, delving into his thoughts and emotions so deeply, you wrapped beyond anything you could ever imagine. The other point of view is a third person narration point of view. Bringing the reader outside of any character's mind so that you are literally hovering above everything is is happening in each and every scene.

I love Christine's writing. She is a true artist with her words. As with her other novels, she completely captures you with her written word. And you do not want to be let go. I was entrapped in the writing, drawn into the book as it surrounded me with it's scenes, making me feel like I was right there with the characters.

Thank you, Christine, for trusting me to read and review this fabulously different novel. I don't think anyone who reads this will be disappointed in the least! Christine stepped outside the paranormal world and provided us with insight into the world of someone who has fallen into a crack in their own reality.

5 stars!!!

This review is also posted here:
http://thecovercontessa.blogspot.com

View all my reviews

Review: Transcend by Christine Fonseca

Posted by : The Cover Contessa
Date :Wednesday, August 22, 2012
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Review: Envy by Gregg Olsen and The Secret of Othello: A Fisher Key Adventure by Sam Cameron

| Saturday, August 18, 2012
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EnvyEnvy by Gregg Olsen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

So this book is not what I expected at all. This is the story of cyber-bullying, but not in any way you normally think it will happen.

Blurb from Goodreads:

New York Times bestselling adult true crime author Gregg Olsen makes his YA debut with Empty Coffin, a gripping new fiction series for teens based on ripped-from-the-headlines stories…with a paranormal touch.
Crime lives--and dies--in the deceptively picture-perfect town of Port Gamble (aka “Empty Coffin”), Washington. Evil lurks and strange things happen--and 15-year-olds Hayley and Taylor Ryan secretly use their wits and their telepathic “twin-sense” to uncover the truth about the town's victims and culprits.
Envy, the series debut, involves the mysterious death of the twins' old friend, Katelyn. Was it murder? Suicide? An accident? Hayley and Taylor are determined to find out--and as they investigate, they stumble upon a dark truth that is far more disturbing than they ever could have imagined.
Based on the shocking true crime about cyber-bullying, Envy will take you to the edge--and push you right over.

I have to say that I do not read many books written by male authors. It is not because I don't like male authors, but there just seem to be so many more female ones out there. I was happy to pick this one up. And the premise of this book is something that is near and dear to every parent who has a child in this day and age: cyber bullying. It is something that is real and something of which every parent should have an understanding. I really love that the story is based on true events

There is a large cast of characters in this book, so I will not talk about them all but I will say they are well developed. I was really able to connect with them. I could feel their emotions: their fear, their angst, their connection to one another.

The main characters are Haley and Taylor, twins who reside next door to Katelyn Berkley. When Katelyn mysteriously dies, they know that something is just not right, and they are determined to figure out exactly what it was that lead to her death. But these girlsare not your ordinary teens, though. Their connection to things other-worldly makes them special. Throughout the book you can feel the evil undertone. You can feel that something is lurking that is outside of the world as we know it. Throughout the book, they focus on the "clues" Katelyn left behind, in the hopes of finding the truth and allowing her soul to rest.

Each chapter of this book gives differing view points of the "crime" as experienced by the people who surrounded this young woman. Their relationships with her are painted from all perspectives: anger, fear, sadness. You get the feeling that Katelyn was a lonely girl, who had withdrawn from the few friends she did have. When she gets the popular girl in trouble, she pays for it dearly, or so it seems. I have to say that the differing points of view sometimes felt disjointed to me, and I was sometimes lost. But the story line was intriguing enough to make me want to keep reading.

Olsen certainly has control of writing. His descriptions are real and accurate. You can feel, smell, and even taste the tensions and other emotions emoting from the characters as they process the death of a young lady in their small community. And the events that unfold are not at all what you think they are going to be, so the mystery keeps you wanting more.

I really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to read the ARC copy of Betrayl that I have sitting on my self.

3 out of 5 stars for me.

Review also posted on the following sites:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007...
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/envy-...
http://www.librarything.com/work/1293...
http://thecovercontessa.blogspot.com



View all my reviews The Secret of Othello: A Fisher Key AdventureThe Secret of Othello: A Fisher Key Adventure by Sam Cameron
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I want to thank Net Galley and Bold Stroke Books for providing me with an ebook ARC of this book to read for an honest review.

Blurb from Goodreads:

A shooting star streaks across Fisher Key’s skies. Natural phenomenon or secret military satellite? For Steven Anderson, any mystery is a welcome distraction. He’s vowed to avoid all the island’s pretty girls until the SEALs approve his waiver request. Unfortunately his libido—and the girls—have other ideas. Meanwhile, Denny Anderson is busy wooing the boy of his dreams. If he plans things right, he won’t be the only virgin entering the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Too bad every romantic rendezvous is ruined by misunderstandings, interruptions, and pesky tourists. As the days get hotter, the twins are drawn into an underwater race against time, tide, and treason. Suddenly, true love is the least of their problems. Under the waves, no one can hear you scream…

When I requested this book, I did not realize it was a sequel to a previous book written about these same characters. I did not read the first book in this series and this may explain my reaction to the book. Honestly, I am not sure if there is a lot of background information in Mystery of the Tempest, but if there is it explains why I really could not connect with any of the characters in this book.

I like to think that I can envision characters in my head, figure out what they look like and let that give me an idea into the psyche. I did not feel this at all while reading this book. The characters all seemed very flat to me. I didn't see any development at all, no changes that make the characters more interesting or lead me to want to learn more about them. There was a definite difference in the personalities of the twins. Steven seems more of the go getter type, confident and outgoing, not to be messed with. Denny seems more passive and shy, easily persuaded and not one to really jump at what he wants. Other than these observations, I didn't really get a sense of what these characters looked like, why they wanted to take positions in the military, what drove them towards that goal.

I also felt like nothing really happened until the last 80% of this book. I was just reading along, not really getting a sense of where anything was going. Not getting a sense of the fact that some of the characters were bad guys. The twins didn't seem suspicious of anyone. The introduction of Tristan and her father seemed like a way to expand the story more, rather than a way to move it along and get you curious as to the mystery that was supposed to be unfolding. Then all of a sudden, BOOM, action starts happening.

Cameron does have a clear sense of how to write. There is no doubt about that. The flow of the story was interesting enough. But I didn't want to jump into it and not put it down. I wanted to read a bit here and then a bit there until I finished it.

All in all I found the story lacking in much, tho I can't even put my finger on exactly what that is!

2.5 out of 3 stars for this book.

Review also posted on the following sites:
http://www.librarything.com/work/1293...
http://thecovercontessa.blogspot.com


View all my reviews

Review: Envy by Gregg Olsen and The Secret of Othello: A Fisher Key Adventure by Sam Cameron

Posted by : The Cover Contessa
Date :Saturday, August 18, 2012
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