Tour Review: The Exemeus by Folami & Abeni Morris (Giveaway)

Title: The Exemeus

Series: The Exemeus #1
Author: Folami Morris, Abeni Morris
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Science Fiction, Dystopian Fiction
Publisher: Royal Colours Ink
Format: PDF, 503 Pages
ISBN: 9780988688612
Release Date: January 3, 2013
Source: Tour Host {Bewitching Book Tours
Rating:

Purchase Here: Kindle // Paperback 

Tagline(s): Hyalee Smith is dead, she just doesn’t know it yet.

Summary: Her short life was devoted to love and to hate. Love of the man who stole her heart, hate for the man who stole the world. Murdered by the government she swore to destroy, fate has given her another chance to make it right. But to save the planet, she needs the help of the most powerful mystic the world has ever seen—unfortunately he hasn’t been born yet.

In a world where fear is the only currency, Dephon has committed the ultimate crime: inspiring hope.

His only goal is to make it safely through ninth grade, but on a post-apocalyptic Earth run by the Treptonian government, it isn’t that simple. Heir to a legendary power, Dephon Johnson is the only threat to the government’s rule. And on Trepton, all threats must be eliminated. When hundreds of assassins are dispatched to neutralize him, Dephon is forced to fight back. His only chance of survival is to enlist the aid of the greatest warrior the world has ever known. The only problem is, she's been dead for 13 years.

Review:

REVIEW WILL BE POSTED AFTER 12PM.

Excerpt: 

A scream rippled through the emerald-green sea. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Singleton groaned. I sighed deeply, trying to remain composed. Another scream pierced our ears, this one coming from a different direction. Within seconds the horizon was filled with no less than twenty of the slug-like creatures traveling with chilling military-style precision towards us. They were all swimming from different directions, their eyes flickering in the distance.

“Hyles, leave.”

“No,” I said firmly.

“I'm losing too much blood as it is. I’ll never make it back and who'll avenge my mother? Get out of here. I will not watch you die too! Do it now, Hyles!”

“Would you leave me?” I challenged him, racking my mind for a course of attack.

I gripped my sword awkwardly in my hand as I tried to keep Singleton afloat with the other one. “Hyles, just go or we’ll both die.” The creatures were close enough for us to see their rattling teeth. The combined effect of their screams was enough to shatter our eardrums. “Hyles, go!” he said again. The creatures were no more than eight feet away, and it was clear that neither of us was getting out of here alive.





About these Authors:

Folami and Abeni Morris are a sister-sister writing team. Together they wrote (and rewrote) The Exemeus series, somehow managing to accomplish it without murdering one another. Despite their facial similarities, tendency to finish each other’s thoughts and stick up for each other constantly, no, they’re not twins and thus deserve their own individual bio.

Folami Morris

Folami grew up in the tiny city of San Mateo Ca, where nothing ever happens and no one ever leaves. She went to Xavier University for undergraduate, getting her B.A in physics and her B.S in Biology. After graduation she returned to California, to live in an even smaller city, where even less happens, Antioch Ca. During this time she escaped the monotony by hanging out with her imaginary friends Hyalee and Dephon, and by writing the Exemeus.

She finally escaped to Queens NY and now realizes that quiet and tiny aren’t so bad.

Abeni Morris

As luck (and logic) would have it, Abeni grew up in the same tiny little town as her sister, then she too escaped to the tinier town of Antioch. She has yet to leave. She received her bachelor’s degree in early childhood development from Cal State East Bay. She is the mom of two amazing kids, who swear that they deserve a percentage of the book proceeds and a ton of the credit. At least she raised dreamers.

Author Links:

www.Folamiandabenimorrisbooks.com
www.theexemeus.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Exemeus/231400970230388
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16189172-the-exemeus

GIVEAWAY: 

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Tour Review: Food for a Hungry Ghost by Becky M. Pourchot

Title: Food for a Hungry Ghost

Series: Hungry Ghost # 1
Author: Becky M. Pourchot
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Supernatural Fiction
Elements: Ghosts, Psychic Abilities
Setting Location: Flagler Beach, Florida
Publisher: Laughing Tiger Publications
Format: PDF, 72 Pages
ASIN: B0088FCKD4
Release Date: June 1, 2012
Source: Tour Host (Promotional Book Tours)
Rating: 4/5

Purchase Here: Kindle 

Tagline(s): ~NONE~  

Summary: Life was pleasantly normal for Gala Rhyce...

...that is, until her mom moved the family to Flagler Beach, Florida. Now despite the palm trees, ocean breezes, and cute surfer guys, Gala is miserable until she meets Trista.

Trista makes a great friend, except there's a snag: she's a ghost. The girls learn to communicate, and through Gala, Trista finds a way to experience the world again.

Even as Gala’s romance with a heart throb poet begins to bloom, she enjoys her unlikely friendship with Trista—that is until the ghost wants more than Gala can give and things go horribly wrong. Filled with humor, romance, and horror, Food for a Hungry Ghost is about friendship, jealousy, and boundaries that get pushed too far. How much can Gala endure?

Will she survive the clutches of the Hungry Ghost?

Review:

Food for a Hungry Ghost was a really fun book to read! It made me laugh while giving me chills the next moment. The bird poop moment was so hilarious, and Trista's moods and tantrums can get downright spooky.

I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more romance between Gala and Cy. We get little teaser moments that suggest the beginnings of a relationship, but by the end  there isn't really anything concrete in that area.

It is hinted that Gala has great power and it seems by the end of the book she has some kind of psychic ability. That would definitely explain why Gala was such a great source of power and strength for Trista. But is also seems that Gala's interactions with Trista opened some kind of gateway, since she's seeing a shadowy figure. There is a sense of foreboding at the end of the book. I can't wait for the next book in the Hungry Ghost series.

About this Author:

Becky Pourchot is the author of two books: I Look Better in Binary and Food for a Hungry Ghost and had published over one hundred articles ranging in topic from haunted museums to burlesque dancers. Ms. Pourchot grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, but has spent her last year and a half enjoying the sand and surf in Flagler Beach, Florida, where she now lives with her husband, three kids, and a grouchy parrot named Zoey.

Author Links:

http://www.hungryghostbooks.com
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5279861.Becky_Pourchot
https://www.facebook.com/Hungryghostbooks

PART OF....

Tour Review: Frost Fire by Olivia Rivers (Giveaway)

Title: Frost Fire

Series: Tortured Elements # 1
Author: Olivia Rivers
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Paranormal Romance, Supernatural Fiction
Elements: Witches
Publisher: Red Sparrow Press
Format: PDF, 332 Pages
ISBN: 9780615738369
Release Date: November 20, 2012
Source: Tour Host (Xpresso Book Tours)
Rating: 

Purchase Here: Kindle 

Tagline(s): “Magic is just like love, Allai. It won’t wait for permission before it destroys you.”  

Summary: Like sand in an hourglass, Allai’s future is dwindling away. She’s spent her entire life fighting the Mages who threaten humanity, and dreams of someday eradicating magic. But all it takes is an anonymous phone call for the truth to spill out: Allai is the one thing she despises most. 



She’s a Mage.
 


Though ancient law mandates Allai’s death, she still has one last chance of survival. His name is Drake Rhaize, and he swears he can lead Allai to a sanctuary for Mages. Allai hasn’t seen Drake in years, but she remembers him as the Demon boy who used to hold her close and softly whisper that he’d keep her safe. But Drake has changed since then: He’s now suspected of murder, and has been out-casted for betraying his own kind. 



While Allai doesn’t trust Drake, she has no choice but to put her life in his hands and hope he can get her to safety. Because Allai’s father has hired a pack of Demons to bring her back to him, dead or alive–and Demons never stop the hunt.  

Review:

REVIEW WILL BE POSTED AFTER 12PM.

About this Author:

Olivia Rivers is a high school student, a literary agent intern, and an obsessive-compulsive reader. She has a slight obsession with Kootenai County in Idaho, and she’s pretty sure life will always be awesome as long as Irish accents exist. She lives with dysautonomia, a chronic medical condition affecting her nervous system. Portions of proceeds from her “Tortured Elements” series go toward supporting youth with dysautonomia.  

Author Links:

Website: http://oliviarivers.blogspot.ca/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6548741.Olivia_Rivers
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RiversOlivia

GIVEAWAY:

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Tour Review: Dehumanized by Michael Loring (Giveaway)

Title: Dehumanized

Author: Michael Loring
Genre: Urban Fantasy Fiction, Supernatural Fiction
Elements: Werewolves
Publisher: Bokheim Publishing
Format: PDF, 454 Pages
ISBN: 9780985848040
Release Date: July 20, 2012
Source: Tour Host (FMB Book Tours)
Rating: 

Purchase Here: Kindle // Paperback 

Tagline(s): ~NONE~

Summary: A deadly and currently incurable disease has been released as the result of an unknown experiment that went awry. Dubbed 'Lycanthropy' by the media due to its similarity to the horror movie genre depiction about werewolves, anyone infected begins to change, and every night of the full moon the 'beast' within is released. Within one year, lycanthropy spread throughout Europe, Asia and has now infected the USA. In an attempt to control and treat the outbreak, concerned governments have begun creating camps to contain those who are infected and to help find a cure. Despite rumors comparing these camps to the concentration camps of almost 70 years ago, the US government maintains these camps have the best interests of the public and the residents at heart. Expectations for a cure in the next year remain high.

Ryan Zachery lived his life the way all high school teenagers should - carefree, and oblivious to anything around him. He had an attractive girlfriend and hope for the future. One night when he was walking home he was attacked by an unknown assailer. He awoke in the hospital to learn he had been infected by lycanthropy, a disease he had heard about but had ignored.

Taken by armed guards and dragged away from his parents who did not understand what was happening, Ryan was thrown into a US camp made for those 'suffering' from lycanthropy. Treated like prisoners, he and other lycanthropes were abused by the guards and by their own kind. Scientists regularly performed experiments that promised to treat the disease, yet only caused pain. If Ryan or any of the other roommates acted up or demanded answers, they were thrown into solitary, nicknamed the 'dungeon', and ignored until they became docile once more.

But at the night of the full moon, the beast within him is freed. The beast hates the prison and Ryan. When an experimental procedure allows the beast and Ryan to communicate, the two enemies become unlikely allies who will stop at nothing to tear down the walls keeping them prisoner. With the beast's help, Ryan learns how to change at will. When even his own kind begin to fear him, he creates a plan to release all lycanthropes. They caged the beast, but now he will show them that he will never be dehumanized.

Review:

REVIEW WILL BE POSTED AFTER 12PM.

About this Author:

Michael Loring was born in Bristol, Connecticut, but has lived in a variety of places such as Florida and Tennessee. He likes to think of himself as an amateur Lycanthropologist, studying werewolves ever since he was eight years old when he first saw An American Werewolf In London. He spent most of his life switching between home school and public school, always focusing on his passion of writing no matter what. His interest in writing was sparked in the second grade when his teacher encouraged him to write short stories for the class, earning him more than one award at school assemblies for Creative Writing. He currently resides back in his birthplace of Connecticut with a house full of women who like to drive him up the wall until he finishes his chores. Though they seem to avoid him during the night of the full moon for some unexplainable reason…

Website | Twitter: @MichaelLoring |

GIVEAWAY:

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PART OF....

With All My Soul Mini-Reading Challenge {Sign Up}

The With All My Soul Mini-Reading Challenge is hosted by Fiktshun!!

The Challenge

To read and review WITH ALL MY SOUL (Soul Screamers #7) by Rachel Vincent by April 30, 2013.

The Deets 

• The challenge will begin on March 19th and end on April 30th, 2013.
• The challenge is to read AND review WITH ALL MY SOUL by Rachel Vincent.
• To participate in this challenge, SIGN UP in the Linky List below.
• You can sign up any time between now and the end of the challenge.
• You must have a blog, Tumblr, Facebook page or Goodreads account – or some other way to post a review online – to be a participant in this challenge.
• If you do not have a blog and want to have your review posted on the Soul Screamers Reading Challenge Blog, leave a link to that blog with your name in the Linky List.
• If you’d like to create a participation post, you can get extra entries into the sign-up giveaway by leaving a link to your post in the Rafflecopter form. (Not required.)
• Feel free to grab a challenge button from the sidebar! (Not required.)
• On March 19th there will be a “Challenge Begins” post where you can leave a link to your review.
• Only those who review WITH ALL MY SOUL during the dates of the challenge and leave their links will be eligible for the challenge giveaway which will be announced in that post.

SIGN UP HERE:

 http://www.fiktshun.com/fiktshun/2013/02/19/with-all-my-soul-mini-reading-challenge-sign-ups/

Tour Review: Heart by Jacqueline Paige

Title: Heart
Series: Animal Trilogy # 1
Author: Jacqueline Paige
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Supernatural Fiction
Elements: Werewolves
Publisher: Eternal Press
Format: PDF,
ISBN: 9781615728022
Release Date: November 7, 2012
Source: Promotion Host (Bewitching Book Tours)
Rating: 

Purchase Here:

Tagline(s): You can only hide for so long before fate steps in.

Summary: Torn from her sheltered life, Rayne is alone and scared after she discovers her fiancé is not the man she thought he was. Unable to accept the corrupt world he belongs to, she flees to the furthest possible location she can reach on her own. Nothing could ever prepare her for the journey and what she finds out when she arrives.

Is she strong enough to survive on her own?

The epitome of the lone wolf, Devin stays in the wilderness and far away from people, avoiding the decision of whether to accept his title as leader and alpha of the pack. One alluring woman stirs up his resolve and passion when she disturbs his solitary world. The man inside is tempted in a way he can’t understand but his wolf knows he’s found his mate.

Can he have her without succumbing to the responsibilities waiting for him?

Review:

REVIEW WILL BE POSTED AFTER 12PM

About this Author:

Is a world class multi-tasker being a mother to five adventurous and unpredictable children, a cafe manager and having a colossal imagination that allows her to step outside of reality into a world of paranormal romance --with just a touch of suspense.

Jacqueline lives in Ontario, Canada and avoids the ever changing weather of the region she lives in by creating other worlds to fall into in her stories of all things paranormal.

Her first book was published in 2009 and since then has published eight. She is always writing and currently has more than a dozen stories in one stage or another of the writing process.

Tour Review: Cornerstone Deep by Charlene A. Wilson (Giveaway)

Title: Cornerstone Deep

Series: Chronicles of Shilo Manor #1

Author: Charlene A. Wilson

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Supernatural Fiction

Elements: 

Publisher: Class Act Books

Format: PDF, 233 Pages

ISBN: 9781935048725

Release Date: November 15, 2010

Source: Tour Host {FMB Book Tours}
Rating:

Purchase Here: Kindle // Paperback

Tagline(s): ~NONE~

Summary: It’s their nature – long lives and rebirth. They’re from another dimension, one gifted with advance abilities, but they serve in Cornerstone Deep. They're the Wizards of Shilo Manor.

"We are of another plane. Only by ancient covenant do few know our true natures. We walk this world among you, beside you, loving you."

They outlive the mortals of this realm by thousands of years, and when it comes to love the cruel fact is reinforced. Reincarnation doesn’t exist on this plane. They lose their wives to death with no hope of reuniting. Yet they continue to accept others for whatever time they have together. Save for Cole. His love for his last wife still burns in his soul four centuries after her death.

When the service they render to the noblemen of Cornerstone Deep brings him face to face with Anna, something unexpected happens. In a realm of silent souls, hers calls to him. He responds with a kiss—one that joined with the spell of servitude she inhaled, binds her soul.

Breaking ancient covenants, angering the lords, and bringing the gods' wrath upon him, Cole tries desperately to undo his wrong and free his love—despite the determination of the nobleman to keep her.

~ * ~

"My life is a mirage of endless time. But you in this moment engulf me, rivet my mind, encompass my soul."

Review:

REVIEW WILL BE POSTED AFTER 12PM.

About this Author:

Charlene is an author of paranormal suspenseful tales that sweep you away to other dimensions. She weaves magic, lasting love, and intrigue into multi-layered story lines to immerse you into the lives of her characters.

She began writing in her early teens when her vivid dreams stayed with her long after she had them. The characters and worlds were so amazing, she brought them to life through her books. You can meet them now in her series, Chronicles of Shilo Manor, and soon in her series, Aumelan.

She resides in a small community in Arkansas, USA, with her two beautiful daughters, a gray cat, Chester, and a fluffy black dog, KooJo.

Her first novel, Cornerstone Deep, was published in November 2010 by Class Act Books. Her second, Cornerstone Deep Echoes, was released February 2012, also by Class Act Books.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | LinkedIn |

GIVEAWAY:

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Challenge Review: Darkest Powers Bonus Pack 2 by Kelley Armstrong

Title: Darkest Powers Bonus Pack 2
Titles Included: Facing Facts, Belonging
Series: The Darkest Powers #3.5, #3.6
Author: Kelley Armstrong

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Supernatural Fiction

Elements: Sorcerers, Werewolves, Necromancers, Witches, Ghosts
Setting Location: Unknown (they've gone incognito, remember?)

Publisher: Traverse Press
Format: Kindle Edition
ASIN: B009H6XPV4
Release Date: September 25, 2012
Source: Amazon.com
Rating: 4/5

Purchase Here: Kindle

Tagline(s): ~NONE~ 

Summary: In Facing Facts (a short story set after The Reckoning) Tori discovers who her father is, and Chloe deals with a vengeful ghost. Narrated by Chloe. This was previously published in Enthralled.

In Belonging (a novella set after The Reckoning) Derek's werewolf family comes to claim him. Narrated by Derek.

Review:

This Bonus Pack has a short story from Chloe's POV that was originally published in the Enthralled anthology, and a novella from Derek's POV. Both take place after The Reckoning. So we get to see how their life is after the series main story ended.

Facing Facts - Chloe's POV

In Facing Facts, it's been a month since they were reunited with Kit and Lauren. Kit feels this is the time to inform Tori that she's his biological daughter. She doesn't take the news well and storms out of the house. Chloe volunteers to talk to her, but Tori is hurt that Chloe suspected the truth a didn't say anything to her. That friends don't keep that kind of thing from each other. She runs away from Chloe, but Chloe gives chase. Tori runs toward the one place she knows Chloe can't follow her: an abandoned house.

Derek tracks Chloe to the mall where she saw Tori run, but it turns out that Tori really did go into the abandoned house and it was the ghost of her mother, Diane, that lead Chloe to the mall.

Diane is still trying to control Chloe and knows that she still feels guilty for killing her and then using her zombified body to kill Dr. Davidoff.

What I loved most about this short story was how Chloe stood up to Diane, declaring that she will not be controlled and that she's not going to feel guilty anymore for killing her, because it had to be done and Chloe wouldn't want anyone else to shoulder the guilt that came with it. Then she gives Diane a big mental shove, sending her back to the other side. That moment was just really awesome and I liked seeing how strong Chloe's becoming.

Belonging - Derek's POV

In Belonging, we learn that Derek really is Zachary Cain's son and the Cain clan intends to claim Derek as he should have been when he was young. But their motives aren't all for Derek's benefit. They've been told how smart Derek is and how fast he is coming into his powers. If the Cain's have Derek, it would make them a serious threat to the Pack.

Back at the escapee camp, Derek and Chloe's three month anniversary is coming up! Chloe's off at the mall with Tori and Derek is feeling the anxiety of not being there to watch over her. And his anxiety isn't unwarranted this time, Carter Cain is moving in on Chloe!

Once a week, Derek and Chloe go into the woods so he can work on Changing on command. While he's trying to Change, Derek thinks back to the first time Chloe stayed with him when he first started Changing behind Lyle House. It was the first time he saw someone he could imagine as a friend, besides Simon. Now, though he's Changed around others before, it's never as comfortable as it is when it's only him and Chloe. Derek manages to Change, but it's during their hide and seek game that the Cains make their move.

In this novella we see how strong Derek and Chloe's relationship has become. I loved how Chloe didn't let the Cains take Derek without following them back to where they were staying. The only backup she had was Liz, and she's a ghost, although a pretty dangerous one. Derek and Chloe will do anything to protect each other. I was worried for a bit that Derek would want to stay with the Cains, but I was relieved to be wrong. I loved the anniversary gift Derek got for Chloe, although it was kind of disappointing that we weren't told what she got for him.

What I like about both Facing Facts and Belonging is that they take place after the end of the main story. We get to see what's going on with everyone after they escape together. I can only hope that Kelley Armstrong chooses to write novellas like these for the Darkness Rising series too.

About this Author:

Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.

Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.

 

PART OF.... 

Challenge Review: Darkest Powers Bonus Pack 1 by Kelley Armstrong

Title: Darkest Powers Bonus Pack 1
Titles Included: Dangerous, Divided, Disenchanted
Series: The Darkest Powers #0.5, #1.5, #2.5
Author: Kelley Armstrong

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Supernatural Fiction

Elements: Sorcerers, Werewolves, Necromancers, Witches
Setting Location: Buffalo, New York

Publisher: Traverse Press
Format: Kindle Edition
ISBN: 9780987703149
Release Date: November 15, 2011
Source: Amazon.com
Rating: 4/5

Purchase Here: Kindle

Tagline(s): ~NONE~ 

Summary: Contains three companion stories to the #1 NYT bestselling Darkest Powers trilogy.

Dangerous (prequel to The Summoning) The story of how Derek and Simon came to Lyle House, told from Derek's point of view.

Divided (set between The Summoning and The Awakening) Derek and Simon's adventures while separated from Chloe and Rae in the factory. Also told from Derek's point of view.

Disenchanted (overlaps part of The Awakening) Simon and Tori continue their journey after Chloe and Derek are left at the truck stop. Told from Tori's point of view.

Review:

What I love about some novellas is that they can be from the POV of a character that you're just dying to know what they are thinking while you're reading the main storyline. In the Darkest Powers, Derek is that character for me, and most of the novellas are from his POV.

Dangerous - Derek's POV

This novella is the prequel to the main series and it starts 10 years before, when Derek was 5 years old and living in the lab with the other werewolf pups. I really liked being able to read about what Derek's life was like before Simon's dad took him. And even at 5 years old, Derek felt better being around Simon and was just as protective of him.

We read about why Simon and Derek ended up at Lyle House, but it was just a vague explanation given to Chloe. But in Dangerous, we get to read about what really happened. We see how Derek protected Simon from a bully with a knife, which resulted in that bully being put into a coma. We see how people judged Derek by how he looked, assuming he was up to no good. Then we see what happened when they arrived home one day to their dad missing and what they went through to try to find him. Which then led to them being caught an sent to Lyle House. I felt this was a pretty good lead up to the main story when Chloe arrives at Lyle House and meets Simon and Derek.

Divided - Derek's POV

This novella takes place between The Summoning and The Awakening when Derek, Simon, Chloe, and Rae escaped Lyle House and were being pursued in the factory. This is Derek and Simon's side of the story when they end up separated.

Derek is really not happy with Chloe not following the plan and having stayed with him while his Change began. We learn why Derek used Chloe to escape Lyle House: Simon had withdrawn into himself and Chloe was bringing him back to himself. Chloe needed their help and Derek used that to get Simon to leave Lyle House. It wasn't until Chloe confronted Derek about using her and still staying with the plan that he started seeing her as a person and feeling responsible for her.

So when he realizes that Chloe and Rae are nowhere in the factory and that she called her aunt, he begins to feel anxious. Derek and Simon go from library to library trying to find information on where Chloe could be, while still trying to find their dad. It's during this that he notices a paper with the reward notice of $500,000 that her dad is offering for her return. You can imagine this doesn't make Derek very happy. You can also imagine Derek's relief and annoyance when they return to the factory and Chloe's there, but with Tori in tow.

I really liked reading this novella because while Chloe and Rae are hiding in the warehouse and eventually recaptured, we get to see what is happening with the other half of their group. Derek is almost desperate to get to Chloe and you can see small changes in the way he sees and feels about her. While I believe that the true changing point in his feeling for Chloe was when she stayed with him when he started Changing again at the truck stop, I think the beginning of those changes started here.

Disenchanted - Tori's POV, partially Simon's

Now Disenchanted takes place during the time that Chloe and Derek were left behind at the truck stop, but this is the story of Tori and Simon's continued journey to Andrew's.

Simon wants to go back for Derek and Chloe, while Tori wants to continue on to Andrew's place. Tori gets her way and they eventually make it to Andrew's. But along the way, Simon doesn't bother to hide his dislike for her and Tori knows that they don't want her there. When they get to Andrew's house, he's just gone, like Simon's dad was just gone. It's while they are hiding out in the pool house waiting for Derek and Chloe to arrive that Simon tells Tori why he doesn't like her. She's inconsiderate and selfish, only thinking of herself.

I think the moment that really got Tori thinking was when Simon protected her from a perceived threat, someone he doesn't even like. It's after this point that Tori slowly begins to change. Although she can still be a brat sometimes.

About this Author:

Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.

Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.

 

PART OF.... 

Challenge Review: The Strange Case of Finley Jayne by Kady Cross

Title: The Strange Case of Finley Jayne
Series: The Steampunk Chronicles #0.5
Author: Kady Cross
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Science Fiction, Steampunk Fiction
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Format: Kindle Edition
ASIN: B004WEKR1W
Release Date: May 1, 2011
Source: Amazon.com
Rating: 3/5

Purchase Here: Kindle 

Tagline(s): ~NONE~

Summary: Finley Jayne knows she's not 'normal.' Normal girls don't lose time, or have something inside them that makes them capable of remarkably violent things. Her behavior has already cost her one job, so when she's offered the lofty position of companion to Phoebe, a debutante recently engaged to Lord Vincent, she accepts, despite having no experience. Lord Vincent is a man of science with his automatons and inventions, but Finley is suspicious of his motives where Phoebe is concerned. She will do anything to protect her new friend, but what she discovers is even more monstrous than anything she could have imagined....

Review:

Finley Jayne has just been fired for punching the governess, who slapped the young son of the house and made him cry. She returns home feeling down until she is approached by Lady Morton with a job offer--be a companion for her daughter, Phoebe. Finley was suspicious and reluctant at first, but accepted the offer. She becomes friends with Phoebe and everything seems normal until the night of Phoebe's engagement party. There, Finley meets Lord Vincent, Phoebe's much older fiance. She felt suspicious about him before, but when she learns that she was hired to protect Phoebe from him, she realizes how serious things have become. Finley just needs to learn what he's up to before it's too late for Phoebe.

When reading The Girl in the Steel Corset, we know that Finley was working for Lady August-Raynes. This job with Lady Morton leads Finley to working there. She even warns Finley about Lord Felix. Which makes sense since this is the prequel to The Steampunk Chronicles.

One thing I really liked about The Strange Case of Finley Jayne was the Phoebe and Lady Morton were really accepting of Finley and her strange abilities. I bet it felt real good to be accepted like that. Lord Vincent's little scheme and reasoning for marrying Phoebe were totally creepy--in an obsessive, drowning in grief and guilt way.

It was kind of funny how Griffin, or Lord Greythorne as he's known in this novella, is like this elusive person. Every time he's around, Finley completely misses him, except the time she saw his backside as he was walking out of the chocolate shop. "I don't have a chance with him, either. All I'll have is the memory of his backside." It's almost ironic considering what happens in The Girl in the Steel Corset.

About this Author:

Kady Cross is a pseudonym for USA Today bestselling author Kathryn Smith. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and a pride of cats. She likes singing with Rock Band on the 360, British guys, Vietnamese food, and makeup (she’s hopelessly addicted to YouTube makeup tutorials!). When she’s not writing Kady likes to catch up on her favorite TV shows, read a good book or make her own cosmetics.

PART OF....

Tour Review: When Silver Moons Rise by KaSonndra Leigh (Giveaway)

Title: When Silver Moons Rise

Series: Lost Immortals #2

Author: KaSonndra Leigh

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Supernatural Fiction, Dystopian Fiction

Elements: Angels

Publisher: TriGate Press

Format: Kindle Edition

ASIN: B00B2G8GFM

Release Date: January 17, 2013

Source: Author {KaSonndra Leigh}
Rating:

Purchase Here: Kindle

Tagline(s): What would you sacrifice to save the one you love?

Summary: Facing an unstable future, Chela Prizeon leaves Castle Hayne and crosses over to enemy territory in pursuit of Faris--the boy of royal blood who is cursed by a bitter rival. But soon Chela learns that he has been taken deep into the treacherous ice prison--a majestic, but deadly place where people enter and are never seen again.

To find the boy she loves, Chela must join forces with one of her greatest enemies. And even though she pulls strength from the good in her powers, she finds herself drawn to the dark side's temptation as well.

Narrated from both Chela's and Faris's point of view, this enchanting sequel to When Copper Suns Fall will take them on a voyage into unknown lands, where the dark, twisted, and revengeful wait to make this their most dangerous journey ever.

Review:

REVIEW WILL BE POSTED AFTER 12PM.

About this Author:

I live in the City of Alchemy and Medicine, North Carolina. I write about people doing fantastical things in magical worlds. Sometimes they fall for each other and make sacrifices for their friends. Oh, and sometimes they love music and nature too. I live with my two sons,a guinea pig, a cat, and two dogs. Now that I have completed my MFA in creative writing, I find that I have a little extra time to play CLUE more often. I live in an L-shaped house dedicated to my grandmother. It has a secret library complete with fairies, venetian plastered walls, and a desk made out of clear blue glass.

The Lost Immortals: When Copper Suns Fall is my debut novel.

GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

PART OF....

2013 Get Steampunk'd Reading Challenge {Sign Up}

The 2013 Get Steampunk'd Reading Challenge is hosted by Bonnie @ Bookish Ardour!!

The Get Steampunk’d Reading Challenge is all about Steampunk! Read anything as long as it has that Steampunk theme, with steam-powered gadgets, dirigibles, and punked up Victorian dress.

The Finer Deets

• Running dates for all 2013 challenges: 1st of January – 31st of December 2013 

• Sign-Ups are accepted until the 16th of December 2013. 

• Formats: All BA Challenges are eBook, audio, short story, and graphic novel friendly. 

• Crossovers: You’re welcome to crossover with BA’s challenges. Include as many books across all the challenges as you can, I always say. 

How To Sign-Up and Join In

1. Choose Your Level: Choose a challenge level listed below.
2. Sign Up Post: Create a post on your blog, in a group, or on a forum (where possible) to let others see what you’re aiming for (a predefined list of books is optional).
3. Grab The Badge: Download or grab the badge and place it in your sign up post. Then link back to Bookish Ardour.
4. Link Up: Grab the direct URL to your sign up post, not your blog, click the Mr Linky graphic and enter your link.
5. Blogless? Don’t worry, you can sign up with your social network profile (YouTube, Twitter, GoodReads, Shelfari included), just make sure you link to your review list, shelf, tweet, or category. If you don’t have any of those feel free to comment.
6. Your Reviews: Reviewing is optional! But if you do review it would be great for you to share them by submitting them on the review page.
   
7. Finished: When you’re done it’s completion post time and you can share these on the completion/wrap-up page. 
 

Challenge Levels:

1. Geared – Choose 5 books to read
2. Cogged – Choose 15 books to read
3. Goggle Mad – Choose 30 books to read
4. Victorian Lord/Lady – Choose 50 books to read
5. Inventor – Choose 75 books to read
6. Zephyr Pilot – Choose 76-135 books to read
7. Steampunk’d – Choose 136-200 books to read

My Goal:

 I am going to try to aim for the Cogged level and read 15 Steampunk books.
All reviews can be found here.

Challenge Review: Alpha & Omega by Patricia Briggs

Title: Alpha & Omega
Series: Alpha & Omega #0.5
Author: Patricia Briggs
Genre: Urban Fantasy Fiction, Supernatural Fiction
Elements: Werewolves
Publisher: Berkley Books
Format: Kindle Edition
ASIN: B001IZC3LU
Release Date: October 20, 2008
Source: Amazon.com
Rating: 4/5

Purchase Here: Kindle // Hardcover

Tagline(s): ~NONE~

Summary: Anna Latham never knew werewolves existed, until the night she survived a violent attack...and became one herself. After three years at the bottom of the Chicago pack, she's learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males. But when she discovers wrongdoing in her pack, she has to go above her Alpha's head to ask for help.

Charles Cornick is the son--and enforcer--of the leader of the North American werewolves. Now his father has sent him to Chicago to clean up a problem there. Charles never expected to find Anna, a rare Omega wolf--and he certainly never expected to recognize her as his mate...

Review:

Alpha and Omega takes place during the Moon Called storyline in Patricia Briggs's Mercy Thompson series. Alpha and Omega shows us what happens when Charles is sent to Chicago. Anna calls the Marrok about Alan Mackenzie Frazier, a young boy who has been reported missing. Only he's not missing--Anna has seen him in a cage for new werewolves in her Alpha's home.

When Charles arrives in Chicago and meets Anna, he realizes right away that she's not a submissive but a rare Omega. By the way that her pack treats her though, Charles knows that something isn't right within her pack. What he never expected though, was to find his mate. Now he'll do anything to protect Anna.

I absolutely loved Anna. She acts submissive because that's what she's been told she is, but she's got fire inside her, and Charles sees it. He has shown more emotion in this novella than in any of his appearances in the Mercy Thompson series. I'm really happy to see him with someone. He always seemed so alone and Anna brings Charles alive. I hated the way Anna's pack treated her. They made her think and feel that she was less than she is, and that's just not right. With Anna headed to Montana with Charles, I'm really excited to see what happens next for these two.

About this Author:

Patricia Briggs was born in Butte, Montana to a children’s librarian who passed on to her kids a love of reading and books. Patricia grew up reading fairy tales and books about horses, and later developed an interest in folklore and history. When she decided to write a book of her own, a fantasy book seemed a natural choice. Patricia graduated from Montana State University with degrees in history and German and she worked for a while as a substitute teacher. Currently, she lives in Montana with her husband, children and six horses and writes full-time, much to the delight of her fans.

PART OF....

 

Review: Looking for Alaska by John Green

Title: Looking for Alaska
Author: John Green
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Speak Books, Penguin Group
Format: Paperback, 221 Pages
ISBN: 9780142412213
Release Date: August 14, 2008
Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library
Rating: 4/5

Purchase Here: Kindle // Paperback

Tagline(s): ~NONE~

Summary: Before.

Miles "Pudge" Halter is done with his safe life at home. His whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the "Great Perhaps" (Francois Rabelais, poet) even more. He heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed-up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young, who is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart.

After.

Nothing is ever the same.

Review:

Looking for Alaska was POWERFUL. That is the first word that pops into my head when I think about this book. There are messages within messages that you could totally miss if you're not really thinking about what you're reading, they are so seamlessly written into all the other aspects of the story. Everyone will come away with something different by the time they finish reading.

The next words I can come up with are EMOTIONALLY CHARGED. You will laugh, you will get upset, and you will cry. Pudge goes through a lot in his short time at Culver Creek--and although the other characters have pretty big emotional points, because Pudge is our narrator, readers will feel more connected to his feelings than the others.

And finally, Looking for Alaska is THOUGHT PROVOKING. I still don't have any definite answers to these questions myself, but there are three questions in Looking for Alaska that I feel deserve some thought:

1. Pudge goes to Culver Creek to search for a Great Perhaps. What is your Great Perhaps?
2. Alaska's favorite last words were Simon Bolivar's when he said, "How will I ever get out of this labyrinth!" She comes to the conclusion that the labyrinth is not life or death, but suffering--so she asks, How do you get out of the labyrinth of suffering?
3. Their Religion teacher, Dr. Hyde, tells them about their final exam and that each of the religions they studied brings a message of radical hope, so the question he leaves them with is, What is your cause for hope?

These are all very important questions that are difficult to answer, but Looking for Alaska makes you think about your own answers to these questions.

About this Author:

John Green's first novel, Looking for Alaska, won the 2006 Michael L. Printz Award presented by the American Library Association. His second novel, An Abundance of Katherines, was a 2007 Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book and a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His next novel, Paper Towns, is a New York Times bestseller and won the Edgar Allen Poe Award for Best YA Mystery. In January 2012, his most recent novel, The Fault in Our Stars, was met with wide critical acclaim, unprecedented in Green's career. The praise included rave reviews in Time Magazine and The New York Times, on NPR, and from award-winning author Markus Zusak. The book also topped the New York Times Children's Paperback Bestseller list for several weeks. Green has also coauthored a book with David Levithan called Will Grayson, Will Grayson, published in 2010. The film rights for all his books, with the exception of Will Grayson Will Grayson, have been optioned to major Hollywood Studios.

In 2007, John and his brother Hank were the hosts of a popular internet blog, "Brotherhood 2.0," where they discussed their lives, books and current events every day for a year except for weekends and holidays. They still keep a video blog, now called "The Vlog Brothers," which can be found on the Nerdfighters website, or a direct link here.

PART OF....

#WWReadathon: Wicked Valentine's Read-A-Thon Finale Wrap Up

The Wicked Valentine's Read-A-Thon is hosted by April and Rebecca @ My Shelf Confessions!!

Books To Read: 

• The Boys of Summer by C.J. Duggan
• Koishi by Annie Nicholas
• Seeds of Discovery by Breeana Puttroff
• Farsighted by Emlyn Chand
• Fall For Me by K.A. Last
• One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
• Looking for Alaska by John Green (Pages 3-111)
• Full Moon Kisses by Ellen Schreiber 

  Manga To Read: 

• The Wallflower Volume 29 by Tomoko Hayakawa

UPDATES:

02/07

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get any reading done last night. **sniff sniff** :(

02/08

Number of books I’ve read today: 2

Total number of books I’ve read: 2

Books: The Boys of Summer (Pages 1-10) , Full Moon Kisses (Pages 1-130)
Challenge Post: The Dating Game Challenge

02/09

Number of books I’ve read today: 2

Total number of books I’ve read: 3

Books: Full Moon Kisses (Pages 130-215) , One Foot in the Grave (Pages 1-129)

Books Finished: Full Moon Kisses
Challenge Post: Clue To My Heart Crossword

02/10

Number of books I’ve read today: 1

Total number of books I’ve read: 3

Books: One Foot in the Grave (Pages 129-261)

Challenge Post: Valentine's Day Cover Ball

 

02/11

Number of books I’ve read today: 2

Total number of books I’ve read: 4

Books: One Foot in the Grave (Pages 262-357) , Looking for Alaska (Pages 1-85)

Books Finished: One Foot in the Grave

Challenge Post: Lines of Love

 

02/12

Number of books I’ve read today: 1

Total number of books I’ve read: 4

Books: Looking for Alaska (Pages 85-162)

 

02/13

Number of books I've read today: 2

Total number of books I've read: 5

Books: Looking for Alaska (Pages 163-221) , The Girl in the Steel Corset (Pages 1-58)

Books Finished: Looking for Alaska

 

02/14

Number of books I've read today: 1

Total number of books I've read: 5

Books: The Girl in the Steel Corset (Pages 58-139)

 

 

FINAL STATS:

 

Total Number of Books Read During the Read-A-Thon: 5

Total Number of Books Finished: 3

Books Finished: Full Moon Kisses , One Foot in the Grave , Looking for Alaska

Books Started but Unfinished: The Boys of Summer (Pages 1-10) , The Girl in the Steel Corset (Pages 58-139)

Tour Review: Fall For Me by K.A. Last (Giveaway)

Title: Fall For Me

Series: The Tate Chronicles #1

Author: K.A. Last

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Supernatural Fiction

Elements: Angels, Vampires

Publisher: K.A. Last

Format: Kindle Edition

ASIN: B00B2GO534

Release Date: January 17, 2013

Source: Tour Host {Bewitching Book Tours}
Rating:

Purchase Here: Kindle // Paperback // Smashwords

Tagline(s): “Angels aren’t supposed to fall in love, especially with each other. But for the record, you were worth it.”

Summary: Grace Tate is a Protection Angel and Vampire Hunter, and she has always followed the rules. But some rules are made to be broken…

Until now the fight against evil has been simple, and falling in love was never part of the plan. So what happens when it’s beyond Grace’s control, and when she least expects it she falls for the wrong person?

All hell breaks loose, that’s what.

At Hopetown Valley High, not everything is as it seems, and the one person Grace thought was her enemy becomes her most important ally.

Blood will be shed, lives will be lost and friendships will be tested. It all comes down to one decision, and when Grace tries to save all those dear to her, she realises not everyone can be—or wants to be—saved.

Review:

REVIEW WILL BE POSTED AFTER 12PM.

Character Profile:

Name: Archer Henry Tate

Biography: Archer is Grace’s twin brother and the sixth Hunter in the Tate family. Because he was born alongside an angel he has above average strength and speed, among other abilities. As the male, it’s his responsibility to keep the linage going. But sometimes things don’t always go to plan.

Age: 17

Height: Five-feet, ten-inches

Weight: 70kg

Body Type: Toned but not overly muscular.

Complexion: Tanned.

Eyes: Hazel.

Hair: Sandy brown.

Clothing Style: On weekends you’ll find him in jeans, boots, and a T-shirt.

Speaking Style: Archer is pretty cocky and has a smart mouth.

General Demeanour: Archer is the class clown, the one who is always cracking jokes, or riling someone up. He’s pretty happy go lucky most of the time.

Career: Vampire Hunter.

Prejudices: Seth. He hates the guy.

Best Qualities: Archer is extremely loyal to his friends and family, especially Grace.

Weaknesses: His mouth often gets him into trouble.

Hobbies: Staking vamps and annoying Grace.

Talents: Strength, above average speed, and the ability to suppress normal human functions such as slow his heart rate down.

About this Author:

K. A. Last was born in Subiaco, Western Australia, and moved to Sydney with her parents and older brother when she was eight. Artistic and creative by nature, she studied Graphic Design and graduated with an Advanced Diploma. After marrying her high school sweetheart, she concentrated on her career before settling into family life. Blessed with a vivid imagination, she began writing to let off creative steam, and fell in love with it. She now resides in a peaceful leafy suburb north of Sydney with her husband, their two children, and a rabbit named Twitch.

Author Links:

Website: www.kalastbooks.com.au
Twitter: www.twitter.com/KALastBooks
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KALastBooks
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/KALast
Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/kalast

GIVEAWAY: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

PART OF....

#WWReadathon: Wicked Valentine's Read-A-Thon Day 7 Wrap Up

The Wicked Valentine's Read-A-Thon is hosted by April and Rebecca @ My Shelf Confessions!!

Books To Read: 

• The Boys of Summer by C.J. Duggan
• Koishi by Annie Nicholas
• Seeds of Discovery by Breeana Puttroff
• Farsighted by Emlyn Chand
• Fall For Me by K.A. Last
• One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
• Looking for Alaska by John Green (Pages 3-111)
• Full Moon Kisses by Ellen Schreiber 

  Manga To Read: 

• The Wallflower Volume 29 by Tomoko Hayakawa

UPDATES:

02/07

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get any reading done last night. **sniff sniff** :(

02/08

Number of books I’ve read today: 2

Total number of books I’ve read: 2

Books: The Boys of Summer (Pages 1-10) , Full Moon Kisses (Pages 1-130)
Challenge Post: The Dating Game Challenge

02/09

Number of books I’ve read today: 2

Total number of books I’ve read: 3

Books: Full Moon Kisses (Pages 130-215) , One Foot in the Grave (Pages 1-129)

Books Finished: Full Moon Kisses
Challenge Post: Clue To My Heart Crossword

02/10

Number of books I’ve read today: 1

Total number of books I’ve read: 3

Books: One Foot in the Grave (Pages 129-261)

Challenge Post: Valentine's Day Cover Ball

 

02/11

Number of books I’ve read today: 2

Total number of books I’ve read: 4

Books: One Foot in the Grave (Pages 262-357) , Looking for Alaska (Pages 1-85)

Books Finished: One Foot in the Grave

Challenge Post: Lines of Love

 

02/12

Number of books I’ve read today: 1

Total number of books I’ve read: 4

Books: Looking for Alaska (Pages 85-162)

 

02/13

Number of books I've read today: 2

Total number of books I've read: 5

Books: Looking for Alaska (Pages 163-221) , The Girl in the Steel Corset (Pages 1-58)

Books Finished: Looking for Alaska