Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Diary Entry

Diary Update
July 31st 2013

This is a little Mandy post that I attempt daily. I love being able to ramble about all things bookish.  I've been slacking and I want to try harder to create a better daily diary post. 

Currently Reading 

Becoming Bryn
by Angela Carling
(Goodreads)

I'm only 76 pages in but after the kids eat I should be able to finish by this afternoon.


Teaser 


Consciousness came slowly, painfully, starting with the ability to move my fingers just a twitch at a first. I wanted to scream out, "I can move," but I still couldn't control my voice. 


New Cover I saw
I saw the cover reveal for I Am Forever by Wynne Channing this morning so it's my WoW. It's really beautiful and I can't wait to get my hands on the next chapter of Axelia's story. 


Kindle freebie 
Marking Time is currently free on kindle. Grab it while you can you won't be disappointed. My (Review)
(Buy it here)

Wishlist
I saw this one on amazon this morning and it sounds awesome. I had to add it to my wishlist.


Soul Ties by Lisa Swallow (Goodreads)

Newest addition to my shelf
I have a weakness when it comes to ebooks. I can't seem to get enough of the cheaper ones that sound yummy. I did go a little crazy but it's the first time this week.
Rent a Husband by Sally Mason (Goodreads)

Bloodfire by Helen Harper (Goodreads)

Blood of the Pride by Sheryl Nantus (Goodreads)

Flame by Mari Arden (Goodreads)
The Werewolf Prince and I by Marian Tee (Goodreads)

The B Girls by Cari Cole (Goodreads)

In Deep Voodoo by Stephanie Bond (Goodreads)

If the Slipper Fits by Olivia Drake (Goodreads)

Randomness 

Blogging habit
My 80 pound puppy sits by my feet while I blog. He's always had stinky farts so I keep the wax burner going with a yummy scent. I also drink coffee iced or latte while I blog. I also like background noise. Lately it's been catch up of Army Wives, soon to be Gossip Girl then Vampire Diaries. I also have a planner at hand, and a folder with all bloggy stuff and anything else I may need. I also find it easy to be distracted by my books instead of blogging.

Movies
This weekend the family and my hubbies best friend went to the drive in. We saw Turbo and Pacific Rim. We loved Turbo my three year old has been asking to watch it again. I can't wait till its on blue ray so she can watch it over and over at home. I've been dying to see Pacific Rim but because it was after 11 and I was sleep deprived I passed out like 20 minutes in. What I saw I loved and I can't wait to buy a copy.


I'm making plans and setting new goals for the new month. Going to streamline and try harder to read more books. I need to get back up to my 25 books a month I'm tired of feeling like a slacker. I'm going to orginize and make sure I have a routine set for the new month. 

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge (Day 14)

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge 
Hosted by April @ Good Books & Good Wine 

Tell us your deal breakers

I can't stand love triangles they drive me nuts. I hate when the guy or girl is torn between another object of their affection. 

I won't read non-fiction. Reading is my escape. 

I think those are the two biggest ones.  

W...W...W... Wednesdays

W...W...W... Wednesdays July 31st 2013



W...W...W... Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Be sure to link up to her so others can see what your reading.

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions...

1.What are you currently reading?
2.What did you recently finish reading?
3.What do you think you'll read next?


Books

What are you currently reading?  Becoming Bryn by Angela Carling (Goodreads)
What did you recently finish reading? Shadow Embraced by Cheree Smith (Goodreads)
What do you think you'll read next? Swimming Upstream by Jack Thompson (Goodreads)

What are you reading?

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday July 31st 2013

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

~Grab your current read
~Open to a random page
~Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on the page
~BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! ( make sure that what you share doesn't give away too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
~Share the title & author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

A little late because I forgot about it till it was past my set blogging time. 

Currently Reading 


Becoming Bryn 
by Angela Carling
Published June 15th 2013
(Goodreads)

My teaser

Consciousness came slowly, painfully, starting with the ability to move my fingers just a twitch at a first. I wanted to scream out, "I can move," but I still couldn't control my voice. 

Page 76 

So far it's a captivating book. I had a hard time putting it down to sleep or blog this morning. 

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday July 31st 2013

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating. In my case not so patiently waiting for the new releases, which I lack.


I'm dying to get my hands on this one after I saw the cover!!!! I can't wait I'm so excited!!! I just love the cover it's so beautiful!!

I Am Forever
by Wynne Channing
What Kills Me #2
Expected November 2013
(Goodreads)

Synopsis


The prophecy said a girl would kill them all.
Against an army of vampires, Axelia fought back and survived. Once fated as the destroyer of the vampire race, she is now welcomed into the immortal empire and revered as a god. But she is not safe. The empire is rife with danger and deceit — and Axelia and her companion, Lucas, are caught in the middle of a bloody war.
With everyone's lives at stake, Axelia must battle to protect those she loves.
What's your wow?

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke And The Brookish. Who doesn't love lists. They make life easy! And fun!! It's always a never ending topic.

This week's topic is:
Top ten beginnings/endings of books

Beginnings 

1. My mother had vanished again. 
From Marking Time by April White.
A book that starts off like that has me intrigued. I love the story in this book it's currently my favorite book and I suggest it to everyone who has a interest in timetravel. I just love everything about it. My review (here).

2. Alessa dropped her pen and looked longingly at the clock. 
From Stitch by Samantha Durante
I know I've done this a million times even today so far a few times. I loved the story in Stitch and I'm super excited to read the next book Shudder. It's teasing me on my shelf for the upcoming tour. My Review (here).

3. I would rather die then face them all again. Die horribly. In a messy fleshy, blood 'n' guts kind of way. It is a total no-brainer. 
Undead by Kirsty McKay
I admit I've not read this book yet. I've planned to read it a zillion times but something always comes up. Soon I hope to get a chance to read it before the second one comes out. Maybe read them both over the weekend. I love Zombies. (Goodreads)

4. Guess what? Today was my sixteenth birthday. Pretty cool, huh? Sure, if by “cool” you mean worst day ever . . . and it was only noon.
Almost to Die for by Tate Hallaway
I'm sure I'm not the only one who's had a birthday turn into the worst day ever. I admit it wasn't my 16th but still. I read this over the weekend. I really enjoyed the story. (Review)

5.  I needed to make the call: a promise was a promise. I was hoping to get his voicemail, but no luck; he picked up on the third ring. The voice who answered said, “Daniel’s Orphanage. You make ‘em, we take ‘em.” I looked at the phone to make sure I’d dialed the right number. “Uh, Daniel, it’s Beau.”
Centaur Legacy by Nancy Straight
I think that's one of the best opening lines I've read. It just grabs you right into the story. I'm a huge fan of the Touched series, I've also been really lucky to be offered advanced copies. I love the characters and the story is so unique and exciting. I can't wait for the next one. (Review)

Endings
1. “Hello, sweetheart,” Forneus said.  He smiled and slid his arm around Jinx.  “Buy you a drink?”
So much for a nice, relaxing evening.
Ghost Light by E.J. Stevens
This is one you kind of have to know who Forneus is but if you do it all makes sense. I love the series the teaser has my anxiously awaiting the next book. (Review)

2. He brushes my hand away, and raises his lips to mine. The whole world stops as it always does. He rolls me onto my back and pulls away, gazing down at me with such love I feel like I’m made of stardust.
 “Hell’s bells, I love you.”
The biggest smile I've never had is only for him. Hell’s bells are ringing indeed.
What's a Witch to Do? by Jennifer Harlow
What can I say. I'm a sucker for a happy ever after especially if it has a paranormal twist like witch and werewolf. (Review)

3. Heat sparked in his eyes. “What are you doing for winter break?”
I smiled. I guess I was packing my bags.
Taste by Kate Evangelista
I love a happy ever after plus add a paranormal zombie like twist and I'm sold. Fantastic book! I can't wait for the next one. (Review)


Those are all I have at the moment. 
Leave your links I would love to check out your post. 

Monday, July 29, 2013

Launch Party - Awakenings by J.E. Shannon

Title: Awakenings
Author: J. E. Shannon
Publisher: Entranced Publishing
Genre: YA paranormal romance
Release Date: July 29th 2013
(Goodreads)


Blurb:

Evie Shepard awakens to a nightmare. She's been buried alive and has no idea how or why. As she struggles to remember what happened, she begins to notice changes -- heightened senses, as well as increased speed, agility, and strength. And her heart no longer beats. She soon makes a disturbing discovery: she wasn't buried alive; she was murdered. Somehow, she has come back...and she wants revenge.

Book trailer: http://youtu.be/_UESQtbQ8vA

Buy Links: Amazon | Kobo | Smashwords


Giveaway:

To celebrate her new release, JE Shannon is giving away a Kindle with an ecopy of Awakenings (US only). One runner-up will win an ecopy of Awakenings (open internationally). You can enter (here


About the Author:

J. E. Shannon currently lives in Florida, but is a Missouri native. She spends most of her time reading, writing, and taking care of her small child and two crazy dogs. Visit her at www.jeshannonbooks.com.

Author Social Media Links: 
Blog: http://jeshannonauthor.blogspot.com.au/ 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JEShannonauthor 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/J-E-Shannon/433304970085317?fref=ts


Review - Almost to Die For

Title - Almost to Die For 
Author - Tate Hallaway
Series - Vampire Princess of St. Paul
Genre - YA Witches & Vampires
Published - July 29th 2010
Publisher Nal Trade
Format - Paperback I purchased. 

Synopsis

Twilight meets The Princess Diaries in the new series from the author of Honeymoon of the Dead 


On her sixteenth birthday, Anastasija Parker learns that her so-called deadbeat dad is actually a vampire king. And he wants Ana to assume her rightful position at his side, in spite of the fact that she has witch's blood running through her veins-from her mother's side.

Too bad witches and vampires are mortal enemies. And now Ana's parents are at each other's throats over her future. It's up to Ana to make a choice, but deciding your eternal destiny is a pretty big deal for a girl who just wants to get through high school.


Review

I decided to read Almost to Die For as this week’s challenge book. Ana short for Anastasija has been raised by only her mother trained to be a witch. However unlike her friends and fellow witches she exhibits very limited powers. She fears that at her Wiccaning she won’t have the power to join the true witches letting her mother down. It’s on her sixteenth birthday she learns that her father is the king of the vampires making her a princess. Suddenly Ana is in the middle of a powerful power struggle between her parents who are mortal enemies.

It’s while trying to call the East at her Wiccaning that everything turns upside down, the group is attacked by vampires revealing that Ana doesn't know everything and her mother has been keeping secrets. After running into the woods she meets her father’s royal guard Elias who starts to explain it’s not all black and white. That maybe the vampires aren't the bad guys her mother and fellow witches have made them out to be.  As Ana is drawn into a new world that she knows little about she starts to learn that there are two sides to every story and maybe the vampires aren't the bad guys after all.

Ana is a great character she’s half witch and half vampire giving her abilities from both sides. She’s stubborn, independent, and fun to read about. She’s torn between to guy who happen to be on either side of the line. She has Nik who’s a vampire slayer also a true witch who would make her mother proud. Then there is Elias who is a super old vampire and her father’s royal guard. I tend to avoid love triangles but I have to admit this one has me intrigued. 


Almost to Die For is a unique concept for me I like the idea that Ana is half witch and half vampire. By being from both worlds she’s tied to both but not inhibited by just one. She was created to bring peace between the witches and vampires who have been at war forever. Ana has some big shoes to fill but she deals with the truth better than I expected. Though she did lick the guy she doesn’t like in schools bloody nose.  The book is action packed right from the start it was easy to lose all track of time till the end. The book is well written it flows along smoothly creating an exciting story, capturing the imagination I felt like I was there with Ana.  I also like as the book progresses Ana grows as a character making it easy to connect with her, even if she is torn between two guys. At the moment I can’t say if I’m team vampire or witch so we will have to wait till I start the second one. So far love the story can’t wait to see what happens next. 

5 out of 5 stars

Musing Mondays

Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week…
• Describe one of your reading habits.
• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).
• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it! 
• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren't) enjoying it.
• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!
• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!

Hosted by Should Be Reading

My Musing this week:

• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it! 


Currently I'm desperate to get my hands on a copy of The One by Kiera Cass. The cover hasn't even been revealed yet and the wait is a long time off May 6th 2014. I've been dying to read the final installment in The Selection Series. I love America she's a fantastic character and I'm super curious to know who she's going to choose. Which is funny I hate love triangles but maybe it's the dystopian/bachelor feel tot he story that I love. 

Other books in the series
The Selection (Goodreads)
The Elite (Goodreads)
The One (Goodreads)

I imagine that the cover will be fantastic like the prior two covers only done in a white wedding dress. 




It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? July 29th 2013
Welcome to It's Monday! is a weekly event hosted by Sheila at Bookjourney to share with others what you've read the past week and are planning to read the next.

So I read one book and I'm half way done in another. It was a crazy real life week just didn't get much reading done. Hopefully this week will be better. At least that's my plan. I did love Romancing the Bookworm.


Read this week :

This week I've read three books which is better then last week but not as many as I hoped. 



Undeniably Yours by Becky Wade (Review)

The Trouble With Fate by Leigh Evans (Review)
Almost to Die For by Tate Hallaway (Review) To come shortly

Currently Reading
Shadow Embraced by Cheree Smith (Goodreads)

Up Next
Becoming Bryn by Angela Carling (Goodreads)

Rest of the week
Not sure yet. I'll need a book for my words with friends challenge then we will see which review book I need to read. 

What are you reading this week?

Diary Entry

Diary Update
July 29th 2013

This is a little Mandy post that I attempt daily. I love being able to ramble about all things bookish.  I've been slacking and I want to try harder to create a better daily diary post. 

It's a new week with all kinds of new reading goals. 
I'm shooting for 5 books this week need to get back on track I've been slacking all summer. 

Currently Reading 
Shadow Embraced 
by Cheree Smith 
(Goodreads)

Synopsis

No escape. 

Those words haunt Scar's dreams. She thinks the creature that terrorises her while asleep isn't real, but when she's abducted and taken to a reform school meant to contain creatures too dangerous to function in society, she starts to wonder whether she isn't some monster.

She turns to an underground fight club full of vampires, werewolves and witches established by the students to control her urges, and who is she kidding, she loves to fight.

When fighters begin to disappear, turning Scar into the prime suspect, she must race to prove her innocence before her true nature is exposed.

The only problem is that she's not entirely sure she's innocent.

This one sounds really exciting it just screams for me to read it. 

Opening Teaser 

THE PALE GIRL KNOCKS ME BACK AGAINST THE fleshy wall of the crowd with a couple of hard smacks. I scramble away from a woman in a purple dress, my eyes on my opponent. Over the pulsing music, the crowd keeps up their tribal chant:

“Fight! Fight! Fight!”

This is my first time at The Basement – innovative name for a club set up on the second-storey. The dim lights and smoky atmosphere make the graffiti on the walls blaze. Between the pinball machines, sagging lounges, and the close-pressed crowd, there isn't much room to manoeuvre.


Cover Reveal Today

Awakenings 
J.E. Shannon

Synopsis

Evie Shepard's nightmare begins when she finds herself buried alive, with no idea how she got that way. As she struggles to remember what happened to her, she begins to notice changes about herself. Her senses are heightened, her movements are quicker, she is incredibly strong, her heartbeat has stopped. It's then she makes a disturbing discovery. She wasn't buried alive. She was murdered. Somehow she has come back...and she wants revenge.

I love the cover it just draws you in. I hope to pick up a copy. 


Spotlight

Timeless 
by Alexandra Monir
(Goodreads)

Synopsis

When tragedy strikes Michele Windsor’s world, she is forced to uproot her life and move across the country to New York City, to live with the wealthy, aristocratic grandparents she’s never met. In their old Fifth Avenue mansion filled with a century’s worth of family secrets, Michele discovers a diary that hurtles her back in time to the year 1910. There, in the midst of the glamorous Gilded Age, Michele meets the young man with striking blue eyes who has haunted her dreams all her life – a man she always wished was real, but never imagined could actually exist. And she finds herself falling for him, into an otherworldly, time-crossed romance.
 
Michele is soon leading a double life, struggling to balance her contemporary high school world with her escapes into the past. But when she stumbles upon a terrible discovery, she is propelled on a race through history to save the boy she loves – a quest that will determine the fate of both of their lives.


I stumbled across this one. Sounds really interesting plus I love the time travel concept.

Off to make cookies and read. 

Have a great day!

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Cover Characteristic - First in Series Covers

Cover Characteristic - First in Series Covers
 Hosted by Sugar & Snark

Each week we will post 5 of our favorite covers to go with the theme of the week. 
I'm a huge cover fan so this is a great meme for me.

So picking just five was really hard.  


Picks

Deadtown by Nancy Holzner (Goodreads)
Taste by kate Evangelista (Goodreads)
 Teardrop by Lauren Kate (Goodreads)
Black City by Elizabeth Richards (Goodreads)

 My Pick!!!
Lark by Erica Cope (Goodreads)

What are your top 5?