RELEASE DAY BLITZ: Enchanted Frost

                                                   Enchanted Frost

Blurb: 

The wedding is off, and the groom-to-be is no longer. Prince Kian has left Feyland, trying to forget Breena and all memories of her. Failing to fight off the human affliction known as love by himself, he seeks the magic of the Ancient Realms, to forget his love for Breena, to become truly fey, strong, stoic, and cold...just as the son his mother the Winter Queen had always wanted.  

While Kian has disappeared, Breena is left ruling Feyland and still in the beginning of rebuilding. Her heart aches for Kian, but now because of the Wolfstone, Logan and all the wolf fey's magic has been restored.  

And a werewolf let loose with full fey magic is an enchanted Feyland to behold.  But could Logan's newfound magic and role in Breena's life be enough for Breena to forget Kian?

About the author:

Kailin Gow is the author of over 100 books, with the majority of them for young adults. Her most popular series are:  The Frost Series, PULSE Series, Desire Series, Wicked Woods, Steampunk Scarlett Novels, and more.  A full-time author, she is also a producer, having worked in radio, television, and film.  She grew up in Southern California, lived in Texas and England, and had traveled extensively around the world. 

Links:

Website: www.KailinGowBooks.com
Blog: http://KailinGow.Wordpress.com
Twitter: http://Twitter.com/KailinGow
Facebook: http://Facebook.com/KailinGowBooks
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/KailinGow
Amazon : http://www.amazon.com/Enchanted-Series-Romantic-Fantasy-Adventure/dp/1597480525/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353907283&sr=8-1&keywords=Enchanted+Frost

Review: Rise of Seven By Melissa Wright

Memories and magic recovered, Frey is restored to the throne. But as she works to regain control of the North, a small silver dagger nearly brings her end. She raises The Seven of her guard and proves her abilities in order to secure her position. But another attempt on her life, from what appears to be fey, reveals not all are pleased with her return. If she could only figure out the force behind the attacks, she might be able to relax enough to decide what to do about her other problem... Chevelle.






MY OPINION:


*A copy of the book was provided to me by the Author for review*

Lovely cover...!! (Ah..!! I know they say - don't judge a book by its cover...but...well...first impressions are important...aren't they..??)

Its a fast paced and well written book. There is constant action that keeps the reader engrossed. I haven't read the last two books of the series but I still found the book interesting.The story isn't dragged and there is no period of stagnancy. The characters are well written and well woven into the story.

The story was full of unpredictable twists and turns which made it all the more interesting. The ending was perfect too. It wasn't predictable...but...it was just right ! 
On the whole a nice and enjoyable read.

My Rating:

Blog Tour: Deadly Pleasures By Mary Firmin

Mary's Story on Writing


        My darling husband, Bill, bought me the publishing package for Deadly Pleasures as a Christmas present in 2010. He went crazy and ordered all kinds of services, and he loved doing it. What he, or I, did not know is that he would pass away in his sleep six months later. The editing, choosing a cover, and all the things that go into a new book actually saved me from spiraling down into a deep depression. I had to keep moving. I had to do the work whether I felt like it or not. Now, the book is out and doing quite well. I have done TV interviews, radio interviews, newspaper and blog interviews. My only wish is that he could be here to be a part of all this.
My plan is to write a Trilogy of Deadly books, using some of the same characters. Right now I am trying very hard to get back to my second book, Deadly Secrets which is about half finished. The synopsis is complete, and I am ready to continue writing, but with all the promotion and interviews on Deadly Pleasures, it is hard to find the time. I have to again revert back to the Harold Robbins theory, which is “Put some Ass Glue on your chair and do not get up until you have written 5-10 pages.” When I do this, I produce.
Early on, in my writing, I had to drag myself away from the computer because I had so much to say. I researched Voodoun Fire, my first writing attempt, to death. I spent every waking hour obsessed with writing. In order to keep my marriage and family intact, I had to come up with a better system. Since I am a night person, I chose to work at night. I promised myself to get up and go to bed after three hours, and sometimes I did. Since most of writing is re-writing I am fortunate that I like to re-write. Getting that new idea out onto a blank page is very hard for me, it is like giving birth. It was only when I convinced myself that everything did not have to be perfect the first time I wrote it down that I eased up on myself. I don’t know if I expected Ernest Hemingway to imbue my spirit and guide me down the path of the perfect sentence, but it definitely did not happen.
I have consciously chosen to make my writing as invisible as possible so that my readers may glide over the words and see only the picture I am trying to paint, or feel the feeling I am trying to evoke. If I can do that I think I will be a good writer. I love to read the writings of the great Masters but I know I will never be a writer like those people. First of all the cadence and manner of speech was different from the way ours is today. I mean, how well would those guys do on Twitter? I rest my case.
I hope I have reassured at least one person out there that you do not have to be perfect in your writing, but you must START. After you have written
your words down on paper it will all come together like a giant jigsaw puzzle with words instead of pieces. I wish you all the best of luck with your writing –but above all have fun.

 Mary Firmin



                                     
    Book Description: Megan Riley has bigger things to worry about than the fact that her neighbor has just been found dead. Her engagement has just ended, and she is once again on a quest to find Mr. Right-or at least Mr. Right Now. Tired of emotional ties and ready for a new adventure, Megan and her three best friends make a fateful decision. They hire hunky stripper Michael Harrington as their timeshare boytoy-unaware he is the prime suspect in a series of gruesome murders. Suddenly, they find themselves involved in a complicated murder investigation led by a handsome detective who is focused only on finding the twisted serial killer before he strikes again. But who will be the next to die? Megan, the hardworking real estate agent; newly divorced Kathleen; Alex, married to a wealthy businessman; or Rachel, the spurned wife of a hot Hollywood screenwriter? Following her own investigation, Megan takes a wild ride through L.A.’s bondage parlors, hidden sex clubs, and the extravagant lifestyles of the rich and famous; soon she discovers that her quest for adventure has abruptly transformed into a dangerous game of life and death. 

Purchase on Amazon



About the Author


 Mary Firmin was born in the North of England, emigrated to Canada, then traveled to Florida where she owned and operated an Arthur Murray Dance Studio. She moved on to Santa Monica, California where she worked in Real Estate Sales and eventually became Vice President of a large firm on the West Side. She began her writing career by attending many classes at local colleges, including UCLA, and then moved on to private writer’s groups. As active members of a Southern California Yacht Club, Mary and her husband traveled up and down the California Coastline for years, and spent many days on Catalina Island. Upon moving to the Desert, Mary wrote a society column for a Palm Springs newspaper. It is from these experiences she forged her characters and the story of Deadly Pleasures. This book is a fun, casual read with a little romance, some deviant sex, and a sick serial killer. It is sure to keep your attention to the very end. Mary’s loving husband, Bill, passed away this year. She has three children, one gorgeous grandchild and lives in Rancho Mirage, California. Mary is now working on her second book in this series, Deadly Secrets.

Guest Post: Writing Mythically By J.S.Watts

  Writing Mythically
  By J.S.Watts
                                                                                                               

Myths, legends and fairy tales have always enchanted me. As a very small child I loved the stories my mother made up. They were a mix of genuine history (at a young age, I was already inappropriately fascinated by the bloody deeds of the past) and lighter tales of the fairy Mustard Seed and her chums. When my father sang to me I always wanted more of “The Mermaid With The Rusty Tail” – a song he made up to entertain me and then regretted because, having wanted more, I always wanted more again.




Once I was old enough to read stories for myself, I methodically worked my way through the “Myths and Legends of the World” series in the children’s section of our local public library. Then I discovered Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” and C.S. Lewis’s “The Chronicles of Narnia” and there was no looking back.

Given all of this, I guess it is hardly surprising that myths and fairy stories, and all the enticingly mysterious things that flutter in-between, feature with some regularity in my writing.

Many of my poems carry shadows of myths and legends at their core; likewise, my short stories. My tale of “The Last Dragon” is traditional, but original, myth and fairy story combined. When the time came to put together the manuscript for my first poetry book, it seemed a very natural thing to base it around my fascination with legend and fantasy and thus “Cats and Other Myths” was born - a collection that finds contemporary relevance in the echoes of myth and legend and the mythic in the day to day world around us.

In a similar vein, when I first put pen to paper (I always write original drafts longhand, it helps me to think) to begin the process of writing my first novel, it was hardly surprising that my contemporary tale of a man’s obsession with the unknown mother who abandoned him as an infant took on dark mythic tones. The psychological narrative at the heart of the story melded with legends from the Judaic Apocrypha and “A Darker Moon” began to emerge from their union, but of that, more later.

Over the years I have attempted to analyse my fascination with the mythic and have come to this conclusion: the act of creating fantasy, producing something out of nothing, beginning with a totally blank page, screen or canvas and putting absolutely whatever we want on it, can allow us to project ourselves, the core of our humanity if you like, onto our brand new creation. In other words, what we make-up reflects an element of ourselves back at us. Let me give you two examples to illustrate the point.

Example one: American SF B movies of the 50s and 60s – total fantasy and yet psychologists now tell us that at these films’ heart lies not the fear of “ little green aliens”, but fear of a more imminent other, The USSR of the Cold War period.

Example two: my own poem, “Way Lin and the Dragon” (from “Cats and Other Myths”) where each speaker describes the mythical dragon in his own image, mirroring his own preoccupations. Here are the first two verses to give you a flavour:

“What colour are the eyes of the dragon?
Asked Way Lin of the old man under the tree.
They are as cold and white as death:
White as a shroud, as the flesh of a corpse,
White as the bones of the dead that he feeds on,
White as ash.
Now ask me no more.

What colour are the eyes of the dragon?
Asked Way Lin of the young warrior.
They are as hot and red as blood:
Red as battle and the torn flesh of men,
Red as the claws of the hunter and his bloodied prey,
Red as fear.
Now ask me no more.”

And so back to my novel, “A Darker Moon”, which weaves echoes of myth and legend with literary fiction and psychological mystery to create “a dark, psychological fantasy”.

The main story focuses on the anti-hero Abe Finchley, who is struggling to come to terms with his own existential darkness, a strangely ragged memory and a revealed dark and violent family history that spans generations into humanity’s deepest past. I also like to think that it touches upon, however indirectly, the nature of humanity, because human memory, per se, is a thing of patchy darkness. Sometimes the blackness lies in what we remember, sometimes in what we cannot help but forget. Hopefully, no one has issues as dark or as complex as Abe’s, but few of us is totally without shadow. The old myths and legends that “A Darker Moon” draws on, as well as its newly created fantasy, illuminate Abe’s story, but maybe reflect a little bit of light back on ourselves. I probably ought to point out by way of gentle warning, though, that the promotional tag line to the book is: “A mythical tale of light and shadow and the unlit places where it is best not to shine even the dimmest light.”



About the Author




J.S.Watts is a British writer. She was born in London, England and now lives and writes near Cambridge in East Anglia. In between, she read English at Somerville College, Oxford and spent many years working in the British education sector. She remains committed to the ideals of further and higher education despite governments of assorted political persuasions trying to demolish them.

Her poetry, short stories and book reviews appear in a variety of publications in Britain, Canada, Australia and the States including Acumen, Envoi, Mslexia and Fantastique Unfettered and have been broadcast on BBC and independent Radio. She has been Poetry Reviews Editor for Open Wide Literary Magazine and, until its demise, Poetry Editor for Ethereal Tales. Her debut poetry collection, Cats and Other Myths and a subsequent poetry pamphlet, Songs of Steelyard Sue are published by Lapwing Publications. Her novel, A Darker Moon, is published by Vagabondage Press Further details of her books can be found on her website: www.jswatts.co.uk . You can also find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/J.S.Watts.page

Review: Hidden (House of Night #10) by P.C. Cast , Kristin Cast

At last, Zoey has what she wanted: the truth is out. Neferet's evil has been exposed, and the High Council is no longer on her side -- but she's far from done wreaking havoc in the vampyre world. First, a mysterious fire ravages the stables. Then, Neferet makes a devastating move that will test them all.

With the seeds of distrust sown and Darkness breeding chaos at the House of Night, everyone must band together -- but that's proving to be more difficult than ever before. The twins are barely speaking and the House of Night's former enemy, Kalona, has now become their warrior, pushing their trust to the limit. To top it off, Zoey is pretty darn sure she might be losing her mind. She saw something when she looked at Aurox through the Seer Stone that she can hardly explain to herself, let alone her friends. Is it possible that Heath has come back in a different form? Is that why Zoey's so intrigued by Aurox, when it's so obvious that he's dangerous? And who would believe her if she told them? Zoey knows that following her instinct about Aurox might be just what they need to defeat evil . . . but if she's wrong, it could cause the destruction of those closest to her.

With the tension at a breaking point and friendships on the line, can the nerd herd come together to stop the spread of Darkness before it's too late?

My Opinion:

This is the tenth book in the series..!! yep..! TENTH BOOK..!

This series is turning out to be a real drag..!

I guess the only reason I am still reading it is because I want to know the conclusion..! Not that it isn't predictable...but still..! Call it my guilty pleasure..*shrugs*

So...since the authors couldn't come up with any new twists and turns (Not that I blame them...10 books..!!)...they have started transferring the people from one group to another (the groups being : good people group and bad people group..!)..all in the name of  'people change' ! Apparently, Nicole is turning into a new leaf...while Erin is turning into a dark wild child.

The story hasn't progressed much. I feel rather sorry for Erik whose character has suffered soo..much at the hands of the authors...from a cute, strong, understanding guy...to a weak guy who has always taken the easier route. (Well,if it really were so...why would he ever take Zoe's side even when he knew it was fraught with danger?? Why opt to support Zoe even after they broke up..?? Doesn't sound like taking the easy path to me ! )

Kalona has finally chosen the path of the goddess...and well...since the authors work on the logic 'eye for a eye' , Erebus is turning into a nasty, jealous character.

The only progress in the story other than those mentioned above (if you can call them...progress!!) ...is that Zoe finally figures out that Health's soul resides in Aurox.

In conclusion, this book isn't much of a read..!

So, well...that will be all from my rant counter today.  :P

My Rating:

Cover Reveal : The Last Witch By Debbie Dee

      Cover Reveal : The Last Witch By Debbie Dee 

For generations the Incenaga Witches have been forced to use their power to fulfill the wishes of others until they are drained of their magic and left to die. Desperate to protect his infant daughter - the last surviving witch - Emmeline’s father escapes with her to the forests where he vows to keep her hidden from the world and from the truth.

Sixteen years later, Emmeline is discovered and finds herself in the grip of a traitor who will stop at nothing to get what he wants, even if it means abusing her power until she dies. She is taken to a distant country and told she must marry the Crown Prince or her own country will be overtaken, its people slaughtered. But what sort of prince would marry a witch? And why would she be the difference between war and peace?

As she fights to regain her freedom, she is faced with a choice between a prince who offers a lifetime of security and a common gamekeeper who has no idea of her power, but offers his heart.

But who do you trust when your power can be used against you?

Cover Reveal: Forbidden Forest By Tenaya Jayne

         Cover Reveal: Forbidden Forest By Tenaya Jayne

Born in shame. Cast from society. Shape Shifter/Elf hybrid, Forest must fight for any respect she can get. Targeted in her youth by a vampire noble who placed an illegal slave mark on her, she is forced to obey him, no matter what.
Slipping the grip of her master and abandoning the prejudice of Regia, her native world, Forest takes a job on Earth, guarding the portal, using her skills as a warrior to enforce Regia's laws. Now, called home for a black ops mission, Forest must put aside her own prejudice to transport the vampire prince, Syrus, through enemy territory in a time of war.
Prince Syrus, mage and master of the Blood Kata, wants Forest more than he's ever wanted anything. In spite of their mutual mistrust, their attraction cannot be denied. Through the danger of their mission, and the secrets they both keep, it doesn't matter what they feel. Forest is forbidden.

 Excerpt :



  Forest pressed her back against the cool concrete wall, wanting to remain aloof from the entity of the crowd. She chose her position in the shadows, out of the paths of the roving, multi-colored spotlights. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of the undulating human pheromones flying around on the air. At the beginning of every shift, she allowed herself a few minutes of this alien/human experience, though she didn't fully comprehend the combination of dancing, drinking, and ear-breaking sound waves. They loved it, however, and never seemed to deviate from the recipe.
These were the people she was sworn to protect. She had developed a light affection for the human race and considered them a benign, if not slightly silly, bunch of creatures. Her religious passion for her job was rooted in hatred of that which harmed the humans, not a superhero tendency to protect the weak.
Forest opened her eyes and focused all her senses to sniff out the illegal suckers that tried to sneak through the portal. She was in the zone tonight, and not for the first time did she feel that hers was the best job in existence. It was a shame she couldn’t legally kill suckers in her native world.
Over the next two hours, Forest didn’t move from the wall. She monitored the light traffic through the portal: two shifters and one elf, each of which nodded to her respectfully as they passed. Yawn. The shifters left the club to enjoy the delights of Austin’s nightlife elsewhere.
The elf would have been breaking Regia’s law had he left the club, but he dutifully seated himself at the bar and ordered a fuzzy navel. He wore a plaid, porkpie hat, pulled down over the tops of his pointed ears. Forest didn’t know him personally, but she had seen him in here before. The bartender surveyed him with narrowed eyes as the elf nervously tugged his hat down further and ordered a few more girly cocktails.
Intent on making sure that not one sucker was able to sneak past her, Forest was blindsided by the drunk bubba who had been trying to catch her eye for the last twenty minutes. He had finally decided to stagger over to hit on her.
“Hey babe, you’re too beautiful to look so lonely. How’s ‘bout I buy you a drink?”
“How’s ‘bout I call you a cab instead?” Forest mimicked his drawl.
“Only if you share it with me, Darlin.” He leaned in closer, and Forest’s throat began to sting from the noxious fume of booze mixed with his natural musk.
“While I appreciate the offer, Jethro, It seems only right to inform you that I’m not actually attractive at all. If you leaned in a little closer, you’d see that you’ve fallen victim to the effect of beer goggles. A hag like me can’t take advantage of a stud like you.”
As he leaned in, Forest instantly enlarged her nose, pockmarked her skin, evaporated her front teeth, and added a large black mole with a long hair sprouting from it for good measure.
“You’re no hag, baby! You’re the sexiest little thing in…I…uh… ” He stumbled backward. “Good grief! Sorry, sorry…” he stammered, retreating. “I’ve gotta quit drinking,” he mumbled as he turned away. Forest chuckled to herself once he absorbed back into the crowd. Being a shape shifter sometimes had unusual perks.

Review: A Modern Witch (A Modern Witch #1) by Debora Geary

Can you live 28 years without discovering you're a witch? — Lauren is downtown Chicago's youngest elite realtor. She's also a witch. She must be - the fetching spell for Witches' Chat isn't supposed to make mistakes. So says the woman who coded the spell, at least. — The tall, dark, and handsome guy sent to assess her is a witch too (and no, that doesn't end the way you might think). What he finds in Lauren will change lives, mess with a perfectly good career, and require lots of ice cream therapy.

My Opinion:


It's a refreshing and fun read.

There is nothing logical about the book...its just a fun fantasy. 

My general idea when I read the book blurb was:
Female protagonist finds out she's a witch...falls in love with that tall,dark and handsome guy sent to assess her..and finally ..they both win over some evil force...!!
But that wasn't how it all turned out..and..it turned out really well..!

It you stick to the logic several things might bug you:

Witches (You might say:really?...BUT..yes! Witches :) )
Male Witches? Again yes!
Female Protagonist a powerful witch..?? yes!
An extremely powerful 4-year old Witch...?? Yes..! (This really makes you question my sanity..doesn't it..?? Most of you are already thinking..How can she like THIS kind of a book..??...Well,believe me..I can..and so can you..if you read it..!!)
Visions of future..?? Yes..!!
Earth Burping..?? Umm..yess..!

So..I have kinda listed all kinds of things that might make you NOT want to read it..but..if you want to go for a fun ride..well what are you waiting for..??

The book is written really well. Quite a part of the book is written like a chat transcript...but it was well written too. I have read some books where the writers have written in a similar fashion..and in most cases..the end result was confusing and boring...HOWEVER..that's not the case here.

So..I guess I will leave you all to decide for yourself weather you want to read it or not !

My Rating:

Blog Stop: Getting Roosevelt By Yvonne Mikell

Roosevelt, an old Victorian nestled on the border of upscale Chestnut Hill and middle-class
Mt. Airy, is the obsession of two people, Elizabeth Samms and Gordon Roosevelt. Gordon is a
realtor who likes to flip properties. Handy man Donovan Smith helps his employer eliminate
prospective buyers who do not live up to his standards. Protagonist Elizabeth Samms and her
autistic son love the house and are willing to fight for it. But a stranger appears with claims to
the house, will Gordon relinquish control?

 Excerpt:


“Hold it, you can pull over alongside of that house,” she said, pointing at the house on the
corner.
He did as requested and shut the meter off, “That’ll be $55.”
She handed him a hundred dollar bill.
“I don’t have any change,” he said.
“Well you can keep it, you get a $45 tip for being so courteous,” she said.
“Thank you,” he said.
He got out and walked around the car. He opened the door and helped her get out.
“I’ll walk you to the door,” he said.
“That’s quite alright I can make it by myself. Wait a minute, this is not my house!” she
snapped.
The cab driver sucked his teeth, “Of course it isn’t! I’ve been trying to tell you this is not
the 7400 block of Germantown Avenue. You belong in Cathedral Village don’t you?”
“No I don’t!” she snapped, “Who told you I belonged there?”
“Why else would an 80 year old lady be out this time of the night? I don’t blame you.
When I get your age and my family stick me in one of those places, I’d probably run
away too. If this is not your home where do you want me to take you?”
“No where! Be gone!” she snapped.
“I can’t, I can’t leave you here all by yourself,” he said.
“If you don’t leave, I’ll scream Simon Lucas, and when the cops get here I’ll tell them
you robbed me,” she said.
“Of all the…good riddance!”

Review: Always a Witch (Witch #2) by Carolyn MacCullough

The adventures of Tam and Gabriel continue with more time travel, Talents, spy work, and of course, the evil Knights.

Since the gripping conclusion of Once A Witch, Tamsin Greene has been haunted by her grandmother's prophecy that she will soon be forced to make a crucial decision—one so terrible that it could harm her family forever. When she discovers that her enemy, Alistair Knight, went back in time to Victorian-era New York in order to destroy her family, Tamsin is forced to follow him into the past. Stranded all alone in the nineteenth century, Tamsin soon finds herself disguised as a lady's maid in the terrifying mansion of the evil Knight family, avoiding the watchful eye of the vicious matron, La Spider, and fending off the advances of Liam Knight. As time runs out, both families square off in a thrilling display of magic. And to her horror, Tamsin finally understands the nature of her fateful choice.




MY OPINION:



This is the  second book  in the series and it doesn't match up to the first one. Time travel and role play seemed a little boring somewhere in the middle...

Just when the choice made by Tasmin and the her feelings after making the choice- very easy to relate to (very real), brought a high, the book ended rather abruptly.
Tasmin never truly realised her own self worth and the family does little to help her there or show their appreciation for her choice..like I said earlier, the book ended rather abruptly for my liking.

Frankly, I didn't care much about this book. I had 'better' expectations from it..but it ended up being a dud !

My Rating:

Review: Enchanted by Judith Leger

She knows how to unravel secrets, but getting to the bottom of this one might just kill her. Magic is for fools, television news reporter Caitlyn believes. And she's no fool. She's determined to prove master illusionist Shay a fake. Somehow though, with Shay the lines between magic and reality blur. Perhaps it's his charisma, or being in Ireland with him, but now she's dreaming of a magical place. One that seems oddly familiar... Shay hides a terrible secret. He's to blame for Caitlyn's separation from her family and the world she doesn't remember. She must go home to the Sidhe, and to recover his honor, he must be the one to bring her. He'll willingly lose everything he is to help her break the curse binding her. But time is of the essence--the old evil has surfaced. He must make Caitlyn believe in magic, and his love, before she becomes its prey.

MY OPINION :


Why did I initially picked up this book? 
The answer would be - pretty cover and interesting blurb. (Yeah..yeah..I have finally learnt the lesson...Do NOT judge a book by its cover or blurb..!)

What I felt about the book after having read it?

Its a very predictable and superficial book.
There were several instances when I felt that there was a lack of adequate information, like:

There is no information about how she really did end up with the alcoholics whom she considers her real/biological  parents. Gwyneth abducted her and poof ! She's in human world with alcoholic parents..??
There is no real mention of Caitlyn's childhood ...random information about Caitlyn's childhood are found here and there scattered all over in the book..making it very confusing.

How did her friendship with Marcy come about?

What was all that about making her believe and not getting her anxious..?? No reason stated. Its often mentioned that she won't survive otherwise..but why won't she? . Actually, it was kind of irritating, ridiculous and hilarious, all at the same time that everyone kept on making her go to sleep the moment she got anxious, even in the least !


The plot seemed to be entirely too predictable at times. Marcy role was predictable. The solution to the riddle was entirely too predictable !

The writing was pretty bland...no emotional descriptions...nothing!  

When Rhys(Caitlyn's father) meets Caitlyn for the first time after her abduction, he displayed no emotion in that regard whatsoever towards her...no watching her tenderly..no heaviness in voice...etc...actually, there is no emotion mentioned at all..!!

also,

How do mothers react when they hear that their long lost daughters have been found..??
They don't even try and visit...even by making an excuse??

So, my friends, here goes my another failed attempt at grabbing a decent book..!

My Rating:

Cover Reveal:REAPING ME SOFTLY by Kate Evangelista

                 

                            This cover was sent to me by http://atomrbookblogtours.com/

                                                

Ever since a near-death-experience on the operating table, seventeen-year-old Arianne Wilson can see dead people. Just as she’s learned to accept her new-found talents, she discovers that the boy she’s had a crush on since freshman year, Niko Clark, is a Reaper.

At last they have something in common, but that doesn’t mean life is getting any easier. All while facing merciless bullying from the most powerful girl in school, Arianne’s world is turned upside down after Niko accidentally reaps the soul of someone she loves. This sends them both into a spiral that threatens to end Arianne’s life. But will Niko break his own Reaper’s code to save her? And what would the consequences be if he did?

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15988916-reaping-me-softly

The cover is gorgeous...Don't you think so...?? The blurb seems interesting too..!!

Review: Unlikely Allies by Tiffany King

Eighteen-year-old Kimberly gets the shock of her life when she learns the father she thought was dead is not only very much alive, but never even knew she existed. Angry with her mother for lying all these years, Kimberly flies to Colorado to meet the father she knows nothing about before heading off to college in the fall.

Her father’s world turns out to be nothing like she expected. Rather than the typical nine to five lifestyle, Kimberly’s father runs a summer foster camp that teaches young children skills to build their confidence and self-esteem. The Colorado Rocky Mountains are a different world than the sunny shores of California, taking Kimberly completely out of her element, and causing her to second-guess her spur of the moment decision.

Never being one to quit anything, Kimberly is determined to show her father that a surfer girl can fit into this rugged mountain wilderness. That is if she can deal with Mason, an arrogant nineteen-year-old guy who has made it his mission to point out every mistake she has made since her arrival. While she would love nothing more than to rub it in his know-it-all face, Kimberly can’t deny the feelings he stirs up inside her, or the chemistry between them, even during their verbal assaults.

When a tragic accident leaves them stranded in the mountains, Kimberly must use her shaky skills to save Mason and survive the elements. Suddenly, fighting is the last thing on their minds as they must rely on each other if they want to live. In their struggle for survival, they realize what they thought they knew about each other isn’t true after all.

MY OPINION:


First 35% of the book was good enough. Later than that..it was arrgghh..!!(I felt like pulling my hair out!)

Here are a few instances that did not agree with me at all:

1)There is talk of giving a 12 year old space to come to terms with a shocking and unwelcome news she's just received .Well,in my opinion, twelve year olds in such a situation need a lot of hugs and someone to hold them as they cry!

2)When the land below them gives away, as they go trekking, Kimberly takes quite a fall (literally !) and still suffers from a few bruises and a fractured finger only, while Mason fractures his leg.(Umm..really? Even if she falls onto a tree,the acceleration caused by the gravity would have led her to fall with enough force that she suffered some serious injuries.)

3)While taking a fall,Mason looses the walkie-talkie too.Well, aren't the walkie -alkies secured to your waist band? All I know is that it is not so easy to loose a 'well secured walkie-talkie', which you would expect given all the training and experience Masons had.

4)Also,while fixing Kimberley's finger Mason informs her that the nearest hospital is an hour and forty-five minutes away, in the foothills, so they had to learn more medical training than usual.(Well,then won't it be normal for them to carry the appropriate anti-biotic injections to prevent infection in an open fractures in their first-aid supplies?
If you are going trekking on a mountain,fracture from a fall is the most obvious kind of emergency you would expect ! )

5)Well lets move on further with the story,Kimberley waits outside as Mason undergoes his first physiotherapy session.It's natural to expect that he will try to push her away. All he says is 
: "I don't need you."  and next thing Kimberley is saying is:
"I'm going home.". Once she's home she tells her best friend that she left him in a hope that he will come after her! (She's soo.. intelligent! He's there, dealing with a heavy blow of loosing his leg and instead of making him believe that she is going to be there for him she leaves him and expects him to come after her..!! This is soooo.. ridiculous !)

Here's the actual quote:

"You little minx. You think he'll come after you."
"I hope he does," I said honestly.

Well, I can go on and on about how crap this book was but I really don't want to burden you all with my rant any further. 
So here goes:

My Rating:

Review: Spark (Elemental #2) by Brigid Kemmerer

Gabriel Merrick plays with fire. Literally.

Sometimes he can even control it. And sometimes he can’t. Like the fire that killed his parents.

Gabriel has always had his brothers to rely on, especially his twin, Nick. But when an arsonist starts wreaking havoc on their town, all the signs point to Gabriel. Only he’s not doing it.

More than Gabriel’s pride is at stake -- this could cost him his family, maybe his life. And no one seems to hear him. Except a shy sophomore named Layne, a brainiac who dresses in turtlenecks and jeans and keeps him totally off balance. Layne understands family problems, and she understands secrets. She has a few of her own.

Gabriel can’t let her guess about his brothers, about his abilities, about the danger that’s right at his heels. But there are some risks he can’t help taking.

The fuse is lit…


MY OPINION:

Well, no book is entirely without flaws but this book is a nice read. This book is written from Gabriel point of view. The characters in the book are so well written that I found myself  actually being able  relate and sympathise with them several time while reading the book.  Gabriel's  character portrayed several emotions : love, self-doubt, betrayal, anger, frustration, need to be loved and understood.

There is a little mix up regarding Simon's hearing and speaking ability and it isn't well conveyed, but that's a minor thing.

What I like about this series is that each book in this series is written from a different brothers point of view and tells his story . This is a new and refreshing concept in young adult books and is more often found in romance and action series like those written by Maya Banks , Lori Foster. etc.

While I wanted a little more action towards the end...you know..like a final show down ..BUT now that I think about it...it would have lead to the revelation of Gabriel power to Layne in a drop of the bomb manner. Nick being with her first and  Gabriel finding them later and no physical confrontation with 
Calla..helped to make Layne's acceptance of Gabriel's power more believable. 
Another thing I liked about the book was that Lynne's father turned out to be a decent man rather than the enemy (that would definitely have been predictable..!)

Summing up,this book is worth a read !

My favourite quote:

    She paused. “Look, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea ” 
   “Don’t worry, I already have.”

My Rating:

Review: The Guardian of Bastet by Jacqueline M. Battisti

Cat-shifter Trinity Morrigan-Caine has discovered a demon is killing supernaturals. Magically challenged, she has every intention of letting handsome Alpha werewolf Gordon Barnes handle it. But after a dying vampire gifts Trinity a mystical amulet, she is drawn into the fray as the legendary Guardian of Bastet, a warrior born when the need arises.

Though Trinity initially rejects the role, she warms to the idea when Gordon agrees to train her—and their passion for each other grows as he teaches her to embrace her animal instincts.

As she begins to accept her destiny and believe in her growing powers, Trinity realises the danger is even closer to home than she ever imagined—and she and Gordon are going to have to face the demon in a fight to the death...

MY OPINION:

Trinity is a sassy, kick ass character.She is a shifter.Her mother is a powerful witch and her father is an alpha were puma. However trinity has neither a flair for witchcraft nor does she transform into any impressive animal.She is a simple cat shifter.
Here is a brief of the rest of the story:
She doesn't believe in her worth nor does her mother.However, an old vampire believes her to be a reincarnation of a warrior goddess and presents her a powerful  Amulet .He believes that only Trinity can,with the help of the Amulet , send the demon back.The story progresses further as Trinity realises her self worth and eventually faces the demon.


The story was a little slow in the start but picked up pace later on. The relationship between the characters wasn't well developed..I personally think they needed more time together to develop that degree of closeness There should have been a little more of Trinity and Gordon since they kept on saying:  "We will talk about this after all this is over!"
But what happens after all is over? Pah! nothing..! Well duh..!Also there  seemed a certain friend she had been interested in and  though about how well he knew her etc etc..But later he is just sent to a trip and this new bossy person who doesn't even know her well enough gives her his loyalty on the basis of the powerful Amulet she is granted....AND... of course they fall in love!(I am being sarcastic..!).not because he began to understand her but because he thinks she is worth respect now that she carries the Amulet..!!

Trinity is sassy, feisty and has got spunk but when it comes to men, she has the morals of,well ,an alley cat! I am not sure I liked the part when she ends up having sex with THE DEMON..!

Lily dear allowed to get away even after being intentionally ignorant and therefore partially responsible for the death of so many people..all because she is family??..Oh..! They must have taken certain action..but..of course..we as the readers are expected to imagine it because the author didn't care to mention it.

So, the ending was definitely flawed as were a few parts in-between.

My Rating: