Monday, September 30, 2013

Review: Thicker Than Blood: A Collection of Short Stories by K.N. Lee

Book Title: Thicker Than Blood: A Collection of Short Stories
Author: K.N. Lee
Published Date: June 8th, 2013
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services Inc.
Genre: Short Story/Horror
Standalone
Book Link: Goodreads
Purchase Link: Amazon

Synopsis from Goodreads:
A collection of dark tales. 

Thicker Than Blood 
Twin girls embark on a journey of fear, discovery, and death. 

Where is Katie? 
This little girl is more than what she seems. What is she hiding? 

The Galloway Lake 
There are rumors that the Galloway Lake is haunted. Tanya wakes up to find herself drowning in it. Can she survive this horrific night?

Disclaimer: This e-book was a personal purchase.

Review:
I think I have come to the conclusion that short stories just aren't my thing at all. This is the 2nd book of short stories that I have read and I just cannot get into them. I was hopeful because the descriptions od each short story looked really good and creepy. However the only one I actually liked was the 2nd one. Where is Katie. That was a good one and I really would have liked to see a full length version of just that one.

The other two were just okay. I hate saying that,but I promised myself that I would be totally honest in my review of books.Overall they really didn't have the horror & creepiness factor that I was really hoping for. That's why I have to give it 2 stars.The 2nd short story saved it a little bit but not enough for me to really enjoy it.

Maybe someone else will like it. Judging by the stellar reviews I've seen,I seem to be the only one who didn't really enjoy it. Give it a shot if you want to.

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Stacking The Shelves #13


Hello again everyone. This week was a very slow week thank goodness. I am still trying to get caught up on my reads but it's proving harder than I expected. I have a cold now and for anyone else,it wouldn't be a big deal but as I've got some health issues,it could be very dangerous for the cold to turn into anything else. So I am resting a lot and taking it easy. Now onto the fun stuff. I got one book from Netgalley this week and I won a book from ARCycling.

As always,please let me know if you have read either of these and what you thought of them.

Before I forget, this meme comes from Tynga's Reviews. Don't forget to stop by and link up your STS posts and/or vlogs. 
Bought
-
Received for Review
Infinityglass by Myra McEntire

Won
All The Truth That's In Me by Julie Berry (Thanks ARCycling)


Gifted
-

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway for Destiny (New Avalon #1) by Andrea Buginsky

Book Title: Destiny ( New Avalon #1)
Author: Andrea Buginsky
Published: September 16th, 2013
Genre: YA/Fantasy
Series: Book 1 in New Avalon series
Book Link: Goodreads
Purchase LinkAmazon


Synopsis:

Constantly teased and taunted by the popular girls, Elena Baxter desperately wants to fit in. On her sweet sixteenth, she receives two shocking gifts: telekinesis and the surprising truth about her heritage. With high hopes that things will be different now, Elena returns to school to find that nothing has changed. Only this time her hurt feelings and frustration boil into something even she cannot understand. 
When her powers explode, chaos ensues and she learns that her new ability is greater than she ever desired. As she learns to control her powers, Elena discovers there’s so much more to her heritage than she ever imagined.
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for my participation on a blog tour.

Review:
As someone who felt lonely all through high school, though I tried to hide it, I was hoping to connect well with Elena. Like her I was bullied constantly, but unlike her it was the boys that tormented me. Not the popular girls. Anyway,despite those minute differences, I was excited to read this and was confident that I would love Elena. But it just didn't happen.If I can connect well with a main character,then the chances are good that I'll love the book.

The genre of Fantasy has always been a favorite of mine and I did love the authors descriptions of Avalon. It sounded so magical and peaceful. It clearly brought Elena into a situation where she was no longer and outcast. Clearly a situation that Elena had longed for. The dialogue seemed strange, I'm not sure if it was stilted or just seemed that way because the dialogue was so simplistic.

The book itself seemed so short and I think that the book could have been improved upon if the book was longer. Certain parts seemed rushed and that really bugged me. I did love that Elena's family was present in her life. Too often in YA books, parents are mentioned once or twice but never actually seen. That was not the case with this book.

Editing-wise it was perfect. Not a single editing issue in the entire e-book. That made me SO excited as often times debut books are poorly edited which leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

I didn't hate this book, but I didn't love it either. This really bums me out as the synopsis was so promising. I went into the book with high hopes,but those hopes were not met. So for that reason and many other reasons that I have mentioned, I have to give the book 3 stars.

Hopefully many others will enjoy this book. It just wasn't for me.


Connect With The Author:

Twitter: @andreabuginsky

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, September 27, 2013

Book Blogger Challenge- Week 3



I'm back again for Week 3 of the Book Blogger Challenge. This comes from Good Books and Good Wine. Instead of doing this once a day, I am doing this once a week. This week's topic is...

Who Are Your Blogging BFF's? 
In the past few months that I've been blogging, I've made some really great friends. Some of them,I knew from even before I started blogging. Some of them I got to know only recently.
  • First up is Molli of Once Upon A Prologue. I knew her before I began blogging and actually she was one of the first people to encourage me to start blogging about my love of books.
  • Next up is Marie of Ramblings of a Daydreamer. Like Molli,she also encouraged me to start blogging. She has also been a huge supporter of my writing.
  • Now Christina of A Reader of Fictions has been a blast to get to know. We do tend to think the complete opposite about books so it definitely makes things interesting.
  • Ashley of Nose Graze and I tend to think alike on a majority of books so it's definitely fun to have someone around who has the same or at least very similar tastes in books.
  • And last but certainly not least, Meredith of Pandora's Books. We have only gotten acquainted with each other recently,but she's a truly fantastic person and I think that we would TOTALLY be friends if we knew each other in real life.
So who are some of your blogging BFF's?

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Book Blitz: Reckless Longing by Gina Robinson

Book Title: Reckless Longing (Reckless Longing #1)
Author: Gina Robinson 
Publication date: September 23rd 2013 
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult

Synopsis:

Ellie Martin hates her beautiful, man-crazy mother. Her mother’s wild and wanton behavior has left Ellie with a deep longing. To escape. To belong. To know who her real dad is. To really be loved. Her mother finally crosses a line thatsends Ellie running, escaping to college with one, focused goal–to find and confront her bio dad, who doesn’t even know she exists. Then she meets Logan. Hot, charming, and troubled. He turns her world upside down and puts all her plans in jeopardy.

Logan Walker is hiding a shameful and painful secret. One that nearly cost him everything. When he meets the beautiful and mysterious Ellie at a Week of Welcome event, something inside him awakens and he finds himself drawn to her.

But the attraction they both feel for each other is as delicate as the web of secrets they each hide behind. And as the truths are revealed, their reckless longing may not survive the fallout.

Purchase: 
(Direct purchase links not yet available but will be found here come release day)
--Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=reckless%20longing%20gina


Excerpt:

The evening was going about as well as I expected. How likely is it in any given mating-game situation that the wingman will fall for the girl's moral support sidekick? In this case, given my mindset, the odds were exactly zero. With the pounding music, even trying to make idle conversation was pointless.
We got our subs and energy drinks and found an empty patch of lawn to sit on. Bre cooed to Dan. Jake and I were awkward and ate mostly in silence. My gaze landed on an Up All Night sign advertising the events of the evening.
Precision Piercing. Specials—Tonight only! Half off the usual price. Bellybutton, ears, cartilage, and noses only.
My heart pounded in my ears. I'd read enough. I knew what I wanted, what I had wanted for a couple of years now but was too rebellious to do—pierce my navel. To understand how not piercing my bellybutton is rebellious, you have to know my mom. It was what she wanted me to do, so it was exactly what I refused to do. But now I didn't care what she thought. I could pierce or not pierce at my pleasure. I was of age and didn't need her permission. She'd never know unless I wanted her to. And even then, she wouldn't be around to gloat and enjoy her triumph.
Anyway, that wasn't the way I saw it. Doing what I wanted without regard to her was my victory. I looked around at the party atmosphere that I should have been enjoying and found myself almost smiling.
Dan and Jake wolfed down their sandwiches and were ready to party. Bre wrapped the remains of hers, ready to toss it so she could get on with the evening. I'd barely touched mine, but that wasn't unusual. Since the breakup I'd lost my appetite for just about everything in life and ten pounds along with it. And I hadn't been overweight to begin with.
Dan offered Bre a hand up. "Dance or take in the magic show?"
"Dance!" Bre laughed and took his arm, smiling up at him coyly.
"Body piercing!" I said in unison with Bre as I stood and dusted the grass off my butt.
Three pairs of eyes turned on me. I kept smiling. "What? It'll be fun. It's not something you do every day. What better way to remember the start of our illustrious college careers here than with a new piercing?"
I spoke boldly for someone who only had her ears pierced.
Beside me, Jake shook his head. "Guys don't get pierced. Not at Up All Night." He spoke like an expert.
I ignored him and appealed to Bre. She shook her head. "The line will be too long by now. We'll miss everything else. You can get pierced any time. I'll go with you whenever you want."
"But not for half price," I said.
"Ellie, come on." Bre's eyes begged me to be reasonable.
I waved her off. "You guys go ahead. I'm off to get my bellybutton pierced. I'll text you when I'm done and catch up with you later. Have fun!"
Without waiting for an answer, I spun and ran off through the crowd toward the SUB, feeling free and exhilarated for the first time all summer.
My exhilaration lasted as I wound through the crowded first floor of the SUB, following the signs to Precision Piercing's station. Up the stairs to the second floor toward the ballroom, right until I saw the long line and my courage failed.
Jake had been an ass about things, but he was right about one thing—there were no guys in line for piercing. Bre was right, too. There was a good chance I was already too late. Any minute they'd be shutting off the line, saying they'd reached their maximum.
I stood there, not quite in line, staring and debating with myself. I'd just ditched my roommate and she was going to be pissed about it, especially if I came back without another hole in my body. On the other hand, I could claim I'd been turned away because the line was too long and she'd have gloating rights for the rest of the semester. Maybe even the rest of the time we knew each other. At homecoming twenty years from now, I still wouldn't hear the end of it.
"You'd better get in line before it's too late."
It took me a second to realize the sexy male voice was speaking to me. Startled, I looked around for the source. What was a guy doing here, anyway?
When I found it, my heart did an odd little flip. Sitting on a bench with an instant icepack pressed to his right eye was a guy that was too gorgeous to be benched. How could I have missed him? He had a wicked smile calculated to make girls melt, and his left eye danced with amusement as he watched me. He sat with his legs spread wide, just inviting a girl to stand between them and coo condolences on his injury. Touch his cheek. Offer him any comfort he wanted. He looked dangerous with one eye covered and the way a lock of dark hair fell against the icepack. Yet sympathetic at the same time, like you just wanted to take care of him.
Even though he was sitting, it was obvious he was tall and athletically built beneath the T-shirt and shorts he wore. "Well?"
I blinked. "I'm thinking."
"The window of opportunity is closing." He stood and walked over to stand next to me, so close I could smell the delicious scent of his cologne.
"Yes," I said. "I know."
He ignored any sarcasm that had slipped into my tone. "What do you want to have pierced?"
"My bellybutton." I just blurted it out, wondering why this complete stranger inspired my confidence. And why he cared.
He nodded. "Good choice. Bellybutton rings are hot. Every woman should have one."


Author Bio:
Gina Robinson loves a good love story and always has. She writes romance of all kinds--new adult, contemporary romance, historical romance, and romantic suspense.

Currently she's best known for her Agent Ex series-- contemporary romance featuring sexy spies and plenty of adventure and humor. License to Love, the latest book in the series is available now.

She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and children.

Author links:
Website: http://www.ginarobinson.com/


Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Review: If You Leave (Beautifully Broken #2) by Courtney Cole

Book Title: If You Leave
Author: Courtney Cole
Published Date: August 6th, 2013
Publisher: Forever
Genre: NA/Romance
Series: Book 2 in the Beautifully Broken series
Book Link: Goodreads
Purchase Link: Amazon

Synopsis from Goodreads:
26-year old Gabriel Vincent is a badass hero. Or he used to be, anyway. As an ex-Army Ranger, Gabe never thought he needed anyone. But after one horrible night in Afghanistan scars him in a way that he can't get past, he needs someone who can help him heal...even if he doesn't realize it.

25-year old Madison Hill doesn't need anybody...or so she thinks. She grew up watching her parents' messed-up abusive relationship and she knows there's no way in hell that she's ever letting that happen to her.

They don't know it in the beginning, but Gabriel and Madison will soon develop a weakness: Each other.

But Gabriel's got a secret, a hidden monster that he's afraid Maddy could never overcome... And Maddy's got issues that she's afraid Gabe will never understand. They quickly realize that they need each other to be whole, but at the same time they know that they've got demons to fight.

And the problem with demons is that they never die quietly.

Disclaimer: This e-book was a personal purchase.

Review:
I read If You Stay at the very beginning of my blogging endeavor and I had absolutely loved it. I wasn't sure if If You Leave would have the same special-ness that book one had had. I needn't have worried. If possible I loved If You Leave even more than the first book.

We had gotten snapshots of Madison in the first book but I had no idea how much alike we were until this book. Like Madison, I had to deal with my mother's marriage to an abusive man right in my teenage years. The very time that I was starting to notice boys was the very time my mother was married for the second time. I knew that the way he was treating my mother was not okay and I got angry with her for not leaving sooner. It took her 12 years to leave the marriage, something Madison's mother was not brave enough to do. 

Because of having to watch my mom get treated in such a terrible way, I built up walls. Walls the size of The Great Wall of China. I was not going to put myself in a position to get hurt like my mother had. So I resonated big time with Madison. I knew what it felt like to have those walls up.It's never really said outright but I am guessing that Madison had friends that told her that she could overcome this if she really wanted to and that she was not her mother. Trust me, I had friends tell me the exact same thing. But it's not easy. It's not easy to let your guard down if you've been a witness to some truly shitty things.

"It's because of my parents that I'm afraid to get involved with anyone.It's because of them that I am afraid any relationship I get into will hurt me.Just like my dad hurt my mom." -Madison

Oh sure Madison dates, like the guy Ethan who she has known since kindergarten and who had puked up chocolate milk all over her.Too bad he's vanilla and Madison isn't interested in him at all.

"Oh yeah,that's just what I want. The guy who vomited up his chocolate milk on me in kindergarten doing my pap smear." -Madison

In comes sexy as hell Gabriel Vincent.Oh man he was cocky and arrogant from the beginning but I suspected that was a facade for the demons that were buried inside of him. He definitely did not make the best of impressions the first night they met,but over time he softened up and in turn so did Madison. She got to see his softer side and his protective side as he dealt with his sister Jacey and her crazy as hell boyfriend. Gabriel began to make Madison feel safe. 

When crap goes down,Gabriel begins to realize that he cannot just push his issues aside. He's got to deal with them. If he doesn't he could lose Madison...forever. 

Watching Madison's walls slowly inch down was awesome. It was inspiring and it gave me a lot of hope. Watching her let Gabe in, in every way was heartwarming and it made me cry on multiple times. Gabe's decision to get help for his issues was awesome too. I liked that he realized that he couldn't deal with it on his own and that it wasn't a crime or a mark against his manhood to need and therefore get help. 

Getting to see Mila and Pax was an awesome surprise. I loved how they were still so close as they were in the first book.

This book gets 5 stars from me. If at all possible, I loved this book more than If I Stay mostly because of how well I related to Madison and how she was feeling. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series.

"Love is deathless."

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Blog Tour: Excerpt and Giveaway for Love Interrupted by A.J. Warner






Blurb:


Logan Brooks and Andrew Eastin shared a once in a lifetime love. After losing her parents and overcoming many obstacles, she could not handle the possibility of losing him, too. She loved him enough to walk away, for both of their sakes.

As tragedy strikes again, Logan is on a downward spiral. Andrew knows she needs protection from herself, and he needs to love her through it, even if only from a distance.

When fate intervenes and allows them a second chance at love, will Logan and Andrew risk it? The Attraction is undeniable. The sexual tension, relentless. She is everything he has ever wanted. He sweeps her off her feet, renewing all that was lost.

Andrew promised her forever, but can words ever be enough? Can love prevail when life has different plans—bringing on more pain and emotions than imaginable? When lies and deceit corrupt the one thing sacred to them, plans will be ruined, promises will be broken, and hearts will be shattered.

What happens when the unknown threatens all of their dreams? Will Logan and Andrew survive their love, interrupted?

Excerpt:

My knees slammed down onto the cold, hard ground. The first tear of many silently rolled down my face. My reason for being just walked out, leaving me shattered on the floor. Knowing she could walk away so easily ripped me apart. I wept uncontrollably as the realization of my sudden loss consumed me. I didn't give a shit where I was, who was staring, or what was going on around me. In all honesty, those details were the furthest things from my mind. All I could focus on was the pain—the gut wrenching pain. Never in my life had I felt such devastating agony. My entire world, four years, dissipated in less than three minutes. I could not think of a reason as to why she would do it, no signs, no warnings—nothing. I startled as I felt arms wrap around me, helping me to my feet. I prayed for it to be her, but deep down I knew it wasn’t. I was shocked as to whose face I found when I looked up, but willingly went into her embrace.


Author Links
Bio:


A.J. was born and raised in Amarillo, Texas. Four years ago, she relocated to the Dallas/Fort Worth area with her husband and four wonderful children, Hayden (15), Jacob (13), Riley (11), and Isaiah (10).

A.J. is passionate about working with people with disabilities, and has a long time love of working with munchkins. She currently owns and operates a childcare facility in North Central Texas.

When she is not busy breaking up fights about who is mom’s favorite, or who ate the last bowl of Fruity Pebbles, A.J. enjoys reading and writing. She also likes chatting and laughing with her book club friends. Love Interrupted is her first book and she is currently working on her second and third novels.





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Monday, September 23, 2013

Review: Not For Profit by Glenn Shepard MD

Book Title: Not for Profit
Author: Glenn Shepard MD
Published Date: May 5th, 2013
Publisher: Mystery House Publishing Inc.
Genre: Mystery
Series: The Doctor Scott James Thriller Series
Book Link: Goodreads
Purchase Link: Amazon

Synopsis from Goodreads: 
A prominent surgeon accused of murder and terrorism . . . 

A corrupt healthcare administrator hell-bent on bloody revenge . . . 
A mysterious seductress whose secrets could free the doctor and kill thousands . . . 
A terrorist cell with missiles aimed at a leading hospital in America’s Bible Belt . . . 
NOT FOR PROFIT takes you on an action-packed thrill ride that will have you questioning suspects, motives, and outcomes until the very last page. 
Renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Scott James is charged with murder after two bodies are found at his surgery center. Just weeks before the start of his capital murder trial, Dr. James is approached by a beautiful woman claiming she can help him gain information that would prove his innocence. 
As James hunts down the evidence that might free him, he faces a barrage of threats to his life and liberty—and makes one chilling discovery after another: Corporate corruption. A conspiracy to frame him for murder and for terrorist acts. A secret drone-control operation that takes out targets in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The true identity and intent of his beautiful ally. And a plot to blow up the local hospital and surrounding community.

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.

Review:
I was truly hopeful that this book would live up to the synopsis that that author emailed me awhile back. But it didn't. It failed horrifically and the only reason I even finished the book was that I felt obligated to since the author had so kindly sent me a copy.

I don't know what was worse, the botany lesson at the beginning of every chapter or the vivid descriptions of ritualistic rape and murder throughout this book.Or even the horrifically one dimensional characters. The dialogue was simplistic and not very interesting at all. None of the characters were likable which is a really big deal to me. If they are likable,then sometimes that can save a book. Not this book and not these characters.

It was all just too much for me. I'm giving it one star for the sole reason that I managed to finish this book. There were many times that I just wanted to throw it far away from my body and never look at it again. Yes it was that horrible.Maybe someone else will really enjoy this book. It just wasn't for me.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Stacking the Shelves #12


Hello again everyone. This weekly feature comes from Tynga's Reviews. Don't forget to stop by and link up your STS posts or vlogs.All bookish goodies count. 

This week was a big week. I had won a mystery box of books from Skye @ Skye's Scribblings a few weeks ago and the box finally arrived this week, I was really happy to see that I hadn't read any of these books.Not only that but I hadn't even HEARD of any of them. So yay for me.

I swiped up a few things from Netgalley this week. I had finished several review books this week so this was my treat to myself since I didn't purchase anything for myself this week.

As always, be sure to let me know if you've read any of these and what you thought of them. Also leave me a link to your STS post or vlog so I can stop by and see what you got this week.


Bought
-
Received for Review
Sidelined by Kendra C. Highley (e-galley from Netgalley)

How Sweet It Is by Melissa Brayden (e-galley from Netgalley)

Torn (Torn #1) by K.A. Robinson (e-galley from Netgalley)

Won
You Are So Undead To Me (Megan Berry #1) by Stacey Jay

Betrayal (Empty Coffin) by Gregg Olsen
Family by Micol Ostow
I'll Be There by Holly Goldberg-Sloan
Open Mic: Riffs on Life Between Cultures in Ten Voices by Mitali Perkins
The Persistence of Memory by Anita Atwater-Rhodes
Tiger's Quest (The Tiger Saga #2) by Colleen Houck

Gifted
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