Monday, November 30, 2015

Manga Review: Attack on Titan Volume 12

Title - Attack on Titan Vol 12
Author - Hajime Isayama 
Series - Attack on Titan #12
Genre - Manga horror
Published - 
Format - Kindle 

Synopsis
THE CHASE IS ON! 

Erwin and the Survey Corps desperately mount a rescue operation to take Eren back from the Colossus Titan and Armored Titan. But without the numbers to form up properly outside the walls, how can the humans catch up before they're all slaughtered? Just whose side is Ymir on? And will Eren ever see his friends again? PRAISE FOR THE HIT ANIME "A visceral and fantastically intense action/horror story." - Anime News Network "Japan's equivalent of The Walking Dead." - io9

Chapter List:

47. Children
48. Someone
49. Charge
50. Scream

Review
I watched the first few episodes on nextflix but it’s not in English so I opted to go with the manga to check it out because the complete series exists instead of just season one. This is my first manga so I don’t really have any prior experience to base it off when it comes to the art or story. I like the art it’s not over complex when it comes to telling the story it seems to work for the gritty horror story. So far the story while is well developed it’s easy to get lost turning the pages.

The twelfth installment isn’t as amazing as the last one was but it does have a lot of stuff happening. Ymir doesn’t want to go with the other titans unless they get Krista who has given her a reason to live again. With the looming Survey Corps it’s in their best interest to get away before they are caught. However the survey corps is determined to get Eren back because he is the only hope for saving the people inside the wall. Will Eren see his friends again or will it be too late?

I really enjoy the series it’s smart giving a little bit of story tossed in with the action as they encounter the titans. In each installment we are given just a little more info in finding out what is really causing the titans and how to stop them. I admit I wish they had been in color but I’ve gotten used to the black and white of the books. It’s really a well-crafted series a perfect mix of story to art, blending so easily into a captivating story. The characters I feel I have been able to connect with even though it’s little snippets we are given glimpses into their pasts revealing more than they share. As my first manga it’s created a quick love for them and after I catch up with the series I can’t wait to start a new one it’s a perfect way to relax if you have about 20 minutes. I can’t wait to see what will happen next. 

2016 Pick Your Genre Reading Challenge

2016 Pick Your Genre Reading Challenge 

Challenge Details
Challenge Dates: Jan 1, 2016 and ends Dec 31, 2016

Once you've read it...review it then link it up! 

What Counts
Any book over 80ish pages counts (please no short stories)
Books MUST be read in 2016
All book formats count!
Re-reads & challenge cross overs count!
Anyone can join! If you don't blog you can use a dedicated shelf on Goodreads or similar.

There's an event giveaway! Each review (one per book) left on a major platform--Goodreads, Amazon, etc--and linked in the review widget will be an entry for the end of the year.

Quarterly Update posts will be done so we can see how everyone's doing and cheer each other along :) They'll count for the year end giveaway too!

There's a FB group for the challenge--join to get book suggestions, socialize and get event news!

My goal 
I've decided to do Urban Fantasy/Paranormal 
Level 3 (Wading In): 25 Books but possible shoot for Level 4 depending on the year. 

1. Burden by Lila Felix - Review
2. Boy's that Bite by Mari Mancusi - Review
3. Dissension by Adrienne Monson - Review
4. The Hunter's Moon by Beth Trissel - Review
5. Forbidden Alpha by Missy Lynn Ryan - Review
6. Demons in my Driveway by R.L. Naquin - Review
7. Ashes In The Woods by Jennifer M. Eaton - Review
8. Lost by Alyssa Rose Ivy - Review
9. Eyes of Persuasion by Adrienne Monson - Review
10. Taming A Bear by Stella Bryce - Review
11. Accidentally Dead, Again by Dakota Cassidy - Review
12. What Zoey Doesn't Know by R.L. Naquin - Review
13. Hidden Holiday by R.L. Naquin - Review
14. Ill Fated by Rachel Rawlings - Review
15. Mistletoe Meltdown by Rachel Rawlings - Review
16. Blood Bath by Rachel Rawlings - Review
17. Wolfsbane by Rachel Rawlings - Review
18. Witch Hunter by Rachel Rawlings - Review
19. The Morrigna by Rachel Rawlings - Review
20. Dead Town Angel by Raquel Lyon - Review
21. Ill Conceived Magic by R.L. Naquin - Review
22. Becoming by R.L Naquin - Review
23. Baehrly Beginning by Elizabeth A. Reeves - Review
24. How (Not) To Play With Magic by Elizabeth A. Reeves - Review
25. Flee by Miranda Kavi - Review
26. Shifting Dreams by Elizabeth Hunter - Review
27. Unbound by Elle Thorne - Review
28. The Prophecy of Shadows by Michelle Madow - Review
29. Phoenix Reborn by Carina Wilder - Review
30. Love, Lattes, and Mutants by Sandra Cox - Review
31. Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs - Review
32. Wickedly Dangerous by Deborah Blake - Review
33. Wickedly Magical by Deborah Blake - Review
34. Secrets of Valhalla by Jasmine Richards - Review
35. From Russia With Claws by Jacey Conrad and Gia Corona - Review
36. Solidify by Alexia Purdy - Review
37. Hunted Holiday: A Vampire Romance by Mandy M. Roth - Review
38. Of Light and Darkness by Shayne Leighton - Review
39. Strange Girl by Christopher Pike - Review
40. Passenger by Alexandra Bracken - Review
41. Alternate by Marilyn Almodovar - Review
42. The Truth Spell by Anita Oh - Review
43. Sanyare: The Last Descendant by Megan Haskell - Review

Goal was 25 but I'm currently at 43 so far!








2016 Debut Author Challenge

2016 Debut Author Challenge 
challenge objectives
To introduce reader to the awesomeness of debut authors and their books!
To challenge readers to discover and read 12 books by debut authors!

challenge rules & guidelines
You must have place to post your thoughts on the books you’ve read for the challenge. Be it a blog, goodreads account, youtube page, tumblr, amazon account, etc.
Due to past demand there will be no deadline to join the challenge, but please be sure to give yourself enough time to complete the challenge.
The 2014 debuts must be read between January 1, 2016 – January 31, 2017.

Use the hashtag #2016DebAuthC
 The extra month is to allow participants time to read December debuts.
Each review equals one entry into the monthly prize packs.

book guidelines
must be a young adult, middle grade or new adult title.
must be the authors ya/mg/na debut, released in 2016*

Lists 

12 or more is the goal 

Possible to read list
1. Burning Glass by Kathryn Purdie - Goodreads
2. Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman - Goodreads
3. Bookishly Ever After by Isabel Bandeira - Goodreads
4. 
5. 
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

0 of 12 Complete

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? & Musing Mondays

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?
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.

It's been a busy week. With the holiday upon us not sure how many I will get read this week. Hopefully at least 4 but not sure. 


Last week

After several days of struggling through Bloodborne it was added to the DNF pile for now. It could be I'm just not in the mood for vampires not sure. I do plan to give it another try later. 
Bloodborne by Kya Aliana - Goodreads
Attack on Titan vol 10 by Hajime Isayama - Review
Attack on Titan Vol 11 by Hajime Isayama - Review

Currently Reading
Follow Me Home by Cathy Woodman - Goodreads
Replica by Jenna Black - Goodreads

Up Next


Sanyare by Megan Haskell - Goodreads

Rest of the week
Avalanche of the Undead by Laura A. Hansen - Goodreads
Musing Mondays
Hosted by A Daily Rhythm
Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week…
This week's question: 
What makes a book really enjoyable for you? And, conversely, what would turn you off about a book?

My Answer:
I'm super unique when it comes to books. I try to read books that sound interesting and I'm always finding positives in a book. I read all kinds of fiction and I'm branching off into non-fiction slowly. I like my stuff to be captivating. I get turned off on books that ramble are slow or super descriptive like explaining the character getting out of bed and walking to the bathroom in 10 pages. Flowery books tend to be a struggle as well. 
Best book you've read so far?
What are you reading this week?

Manga Review: Attack on Titan Volume 11

Title - Attack on Titan Vol 11
Author - Hajime Isayama 
Series - Attack on Titan #11
Genre - Manga horror
Published - 
Format - Kindle 

Synopsis
"DO YOU THINK THIS WORLD HAS A FUTURE?"
Thanks to Eren's timely arrival, the 104th has managed to turn the tide at Wall Rose. But this momentary victory forces two more traitors into a corner – and the identity of the Titans who have been destroying the walls is revealed! What can Eren do against the two most dangerous monsters humanity has ever faced? And who else might be an enemy in disguise?

PRAISE FOR THE HIT ANIME
"A visceral and fantastically intense action/horror story." - Anime News Network

"Japan’s equivalent of The Walking Dead." - io9

Review
I watched the first few episodes on nextflix but it’s not in English so I opted to go with the manga to check it out because the complete series exists instead of just season one. This is my first manga so I don’t really have any prior experience to base it off when it comes to the art or story. I like the art it’s not over complex when it comes to telling the story it seems to work for the gritty horror story. So far the story while is well developed it’s easy to get lost turning the pages.

The eleventh installment is just wow….so much has happened in this volume we’ve learned more about who the Titans who destroyed wall Rose are. They have exposed themselves and when Eren used his titan ability he proved he was no match for the colossal titan or the armored titan and they take off with him and ymir the other titan from the survey corps. Will Mikasa be able to save Eren or will he be a victim of the titans he’s will or those who are looming.


So far the best book in the series, things are starting to unfold with just enough mystery to leave you wanting more. I finished this book really quick in less than 20 minutes while the husband was making dinner. The art isn’t amazing but it’s well done with enough to tell the story but not overwhelming. I admit I wish they had been in color but I’ve gotten used to the black and white of the books. I’ve enjoyed the books so far it’s getting really good I can’t wait to see how it’s going to play out. Typically I’m not a huge fan of horror but with the dystopian feel and zombie like titans it’s perfect. I’m hoping to finish the current ones today and I’m nervous about having to wait for the next one. 


Manga Review: Attack on Titan Vol 10

Title - Attack on Titan Vol 10
Author - Hajime Isayama 
Series - Attack on Titan #10
Genre - Manga horror
Published - April 9th 2013
Format - Kindle 


Synopsis
FORTRESS OF BLOOD

With no combat gear and Wall Rose breached, the 104th scrambles to evacuate the villages in the Titans' path. On their way to the safety of Wall Sheena, they decide to spend the night in Utgart Castle. But their sanctuary becomes a slaughterhouse when they discover that, for some reason, these Titans attack at night!

Chapters List:-
39.Soldier
40.Ymir
41.Historia
42.Warrior

Review
I watched the first few episodes on nextflix but it’s not in English so I opted to go with the manga to check it out because the complete series exists instead of just season one. This is my first manga so I don’t really have any prior experience to base it off when it comes to the art or story. I like the art it’s not over complex when it comes to telling the story it seems to work for the gritty horror story. So far the story while is well developed it’s easy to get lost turning the pages.

The tenth installment the Survey corps has been dispatched to find the breach in the wall but have been unsuccessful in finding it. They are tasked with evacuating the near villages some of them that they are even from finding no bodies in some. While one recruit finds Titans in his village and another finds a boy that needs saving from the titans. Hoping to get a break from the titans they take shelter in Utgart Castle only to find that the Titans aren’t stopped by the dark like they thought. Will they survive the long night?

I enjoyed the tenth installment we are starting to learn more about what happened with the walls as well as what’s really going on with the titans. The story is finally starting to reveal little bits about the titans and that Eren and the female titan may not be the only titans in the Survey corps after Ymir transforms to save her friends. So much is happening each chapter is loaded with action making the manga hard to put down. I finished this book and went right into the next one because I had to know more about the other titans. Attack on Titans just is so captivating it’s one of those series you just can’t get enough of because each volume is getting you one step closer to what’s really going on. I can’t wait to see how it will all end. 

Book Blitz: More Than Once



More Than Once 
Elizabeth Briggs
(Chasing the Dream #4)
Publication date: December 1st 2015
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult

Special release week price of $0.99! Get this stand-alone holiday romance now before it goes up to full price!
She’s trying to be good. He loves it when she’s bad.
Andrew West is done being the nice guy. After a marriage proposal gone wrong, he’s started over in a new city and he’s never risking his heart again.
Becca Collins is done being the bad girl. After quitting the band she played bass for, she’s going to prove to her family that she’s really changed.
When Becca’s dumped by her boyfriend and fired from her job on Christmas Eve, all seems lost, until she runs into a former one night stand–Andrew. To impress her parents, Becca convinces him to pretend to be her perfect boyfriend for their holiday dinner.
After Andrew shows Becca he’s all bad boy in the bedroom, neither wants to pretend anymore. But when Becca’s invited to rejoin her band for a show and Andrew’s forced to face his ex, they both wonder if they’re ready to take a leap again–or if they’re doomed to fail in life and love a second time.
The Chasing The Dream series:
#0.5 More Than Exes: get it FREE by signing up for Elizabeth’s newsletter!
#1 More Than Music
#2 More Than Comics
#3 More Than Fashion
#4 More Than Once
#5 More Than Distance (coming in 2016!)
Get the Chasing The Dream box set!
MtO2
EXCERPT:
She had to be cold, wearing only a black leather jacket over her clothes, but she didn’t show it. I shrugged out of my coat and stepped close, draping it over her shoulders, even though I’d be freezing in a few minutes in only my suit. Her eyes fluttered open, and she gave me a faint smile. “Thanks.”
I nodded, my throat tightening at the sight of that smile. She wore the sexy, bright red lipstick I remembered from before, and I had the strongest urge to kiss it right off her. God, this girl was dangerous. I’d spent the last few months completely dead inside, yet somehow she’d jolted me back to life in a matter of minutes. Problem was, I wasn’t sure I was ready to be resurrected yet.
She pulled the jacket tighter around herself and took a deep breath. “What about you? Any big plans for Christmas?”
“No plans.” I looked away so she couldn’t see what it cost me to admit that. “I just started at this job a few months ago and I’m trying to make a good impression, so I didn’t want to ask for any vacation time to visit my parents back in Michigan.”
“That’s rough. What about friends here? A nice guy like you must have made some by now.”
“Nope…it’s just me this year.” Friends? Ha. I shrugged it off, rubbing my hands together for warmth. “It’s all right. I have a lot of work to do, and the office will be nice and quiet. I’ll even get paid time-and-a-half if I come in on Christmas Day.” The excuse sounded pathetic even to my ears.
“No shit?” She let out a short, harsh laugh. “That is the saddest thing I’ve ever heard. You can’t be alone at Christmas!”
“It’s not that big a deal, really…”
She suddenly straightened up, her eyes widening. “I have the perfect idea.”
“You do?”
“It’s the best solution to both our problems. You come with me to my family’s holiday dinner tonight and pretend to be my boyfriend. You’re definitely the kind of guy who will impress my parents, and that way you won’t have to spend Christmas Eve alone.”
“Pretend to be your boyfriend?” A wave of panic swept over me at the thought. I wasn’t ready to be anyone’s boyfriend—fake or otherwise. “I’m not sure that’s such a great idea. Couldn’t you just tell your parents what happened?”
“Ugh, of course you would say that. Fine, forget it. It was a stupid idea anyway.” She pushed off the car and unlocked the door with her key.
“Hang on,” I said, taking her arm and turning her back to face me. If she got in that car, I’d probably never see her again, and I couldn’t let her go just yet. Not until I fixed things between us somehow. “What kind of food are we talking here?”
A slight grin touched her lips. “My mom always makes enough food to feed the entire neighborhood. Turkey and ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, yams with marshmallows, green bean casserole, five kinds of pies… I could keep going, but you probably get the idea.”
“Hmm, that is very tempting. But are you sure they’d be okay with me showing up unexpectedly?”
“They expect me to bring the perfect boyfriend I’ve been telling them about for weeks. You’ll fit the bill.” She tilted her head and considered. “That reminds me, you’ll have to go by the name Brett, too.”
“Brett?” She was kidding, right? One look at her face told me she wasn’t. I had zero desire to pretend to be some other guy on Christmas Eve, but after getting her fired, how could I possibly say no? I owed her this favor at the very least. “Anything else I should know?”
“Nah, I never told them that much. Just that I was dating a nice, handsome guy.”
I arched an eyebrow. “Hmm, not sure I fit that description.”
“You know you do, pretty boy.” She met my gaze head-on. “Look, after tonight you don’t have to see me again. Once the holidays are over, I’ll tell them we broke up, and we can pretend it never happened. So are you in or out?”
The smart thing to do was to say goodnight and high-tail it back to my car. I wasn’t ready to get involved with any girl, let alone one who turned my insides out with a single look or the slightest touch. But there was something about her that I couldn’t walk away from, not this time.
“All right, I’ll pretend to be your boyfriend tonight…but only if you agree to go on a real date with me later.”

Author Bio:
Elizabeth Briggs is a full-time geek who writes books for teens and adults. She graduated from UCLA with a degree in Sociology, currently mentors teens in writing, and volunteers with a dog rescue group. She's the author of the Chasing The Dream romance series and the upcoming young adult novel Future Shock. Elizabeth lives in Los Angeles with her husband and a pack of fluffy dogs.

GIVEAWAY!
Hosted by:
XBT250

Super Middle Grade Mondays: Author Spotlight – Vanessa Barger with Giveaway #SuperMGMondays

MGMondays-Bannernew
 
Welcome to this week’s Super Middle Grade Mondays presented by Tantrum Books/Month9books!
Today, we get up close and personal with
Vanessa Barger
author of Super Freak from Tantrum Books.
Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!
    
Vanessa Barger was born in West Virginia, and through several moves ended up spending the majority of her life in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She is a graduate of George Mason University and Old Dominion University, and has degrees in Graphic Design, a minor in Medieval and Renaissance Literature, and a Masters in Technology Education. She has had articles published in Altered Arts Magazine, has had some artwork displayed in galleries in Ohio and online, and currently teaches engineering, practical physics, drafting and other technological things to high school students in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. She is a member of the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), the Virginia Writer’s Club, and the Hampton Roads Writers. When not writing or teaching, she’s a bookaholic, movie fanatic, and loves to travel. She is married to a fabulous man, and has one cat, who believes Vanessa lives only to open cat food cans, and can often be found baking when she should be editing.
Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest |YouTube
  
interview2
Describe yourself in three words.
Weird Writing Nerd
 
Describe your book in three words.
Geeky Puzzle Solver
 
Tell us about your day job.
In my day job, I’m a high school Technology Education teacher. Which means I do nothing with writing, except run a writer’s club once a month or so. I teach 9-12 graders practical physics (which sounds like an oxymoron, but itsn’t really), engineering, robotics, work skills, 3D modeling, architecture, drafting, and computer stuff. Depending on the year and what classes I have, anyway. I also run a gardening club and we play in the dirt sometimes. J
 
Which writers inspire you?
There are so many! Shakespeare and Austen are always at the top of my list. Tolkien is up there too. In the YA/MG world, I love the way that Lisa Ann Sandell’s words just flow, and I love Rick Riordan’s imagination. And…well, let’s just stop there. I love so many!
 
What is your writing process like?
My writing process is in flux. I am making “office” hours for myself after work, but in a general sense, I keep a writing journal with me all the time. I write notes to myself about things I’m working on or thinking about. When I have enough of an idea that I feel like I can start writing, I try to make sure and sit down and write out the main points. It’s a really basic outline that I go back and add to until its fully fleshed out. But I’m not married to it. If I write and end up somewhere else, I just adapt the outline to work. When I finish a draft, I go through and the first things I do for edits is a search through the document for words I know I use too many (that, just, etc) and then I sit down and try to read it through, looking for mistakes. Once I’ve got it as good as I think it can be, I send it to critters and see what they say. Then I start again!
 
What are you reading right now?
Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff
 
Do you have an author crush?
Neil Gaiman.
 
Quick questions:
Physical books or eBooks?
Physical Books, though I love my ereader too.
Coke or Pepsi?
Coke! Really, root beer, cause I don’t drink caffeine anymore.
Twitter or Facebook?
Both for different things? I like the immediate gratification of Twitter, but I like FB too!
Song you can’t get out of your head right now?
Well, I was doing fine until you asked that. Now Steampunk Revolution by Abney Park is back in my brain. Grrrr.
Sweet or salty?
Sweet.
Coffee or tea?
TEA.
Write on computer or notebook paper?
Blank. Even though I can’t write in a straight line.
   
Super-Freak-Cover
Thirteen-year-old Caroline is a freak. Her parents have uprooted her to a town full of Supernaturals. You’d think she’d be thrilled. But, with someone without a magical bone in her body, this daughter of tree sprites feels like even more of an outcast than she has ever before.
To make matters worse, her new home is cursed. But when Caroline takes to investigating the mysterious and strange happenings of Harridan House, her BFF goes missing. Seems someone doesn’t want Caroline sticking her non-magical nose where it most certainly does not belong. Determined to prove herself, Caroline uncovers a plot to destroy her new hometown.
Undeterred, Caroline can’t give up. But what’s a human without magical powers to do? Caroline better figure it out fast, before she loses everything she has ever loved and the whispers she’s heard all her life prove true: Caroline is a useless superfreak.
add to goodreads
   
giveaway2
Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!
 
Chapter-by-Chapter-blog-tour-button

Sunday, November 29, 2015

The Sunday Post

The Sunday Post 
Hosted by:

The Sunday post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer~ It's a chance to share new ~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. 

This week

It was a cold busy week. I struggled most of it with one book but have decided it just isn't the right time and moved onto something more interesting. I do have a few manga reviews to write today too. We had a nice Thanksgiving I hope everyone else had a nice one too. 

Posts this past week you may have missed at TRD

Cover Reveal: Rise - Here
Blitz: There We'll Be + Giveaway- Here
Blitz: Redemption + Giveaway - Here
Blitz: Nashville Nights + Giveaway - Here
Cover Reveal - Anarchy Found + Giveaway - Here
Blitz: The Truth Spell + Giveaway - Here
Blitz: Second Chance - Here

No reviews yet but I hope to finish my current read today and I have a few manga reviews to write today also.
Newest additions to my shelves. 
For review
None this week. 
Purchased
Physical
Nuts by Alice Clayton - Goodreads
The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh - Goodreads
A Thousand Nights by E.K. Johnston - GoodreadseBooks
The Allure of Julian Lefray by R.S. Grey - Goodreads
Shattered Blue by Lauren Bird Horowitz - Goodreads
Reign of the Vampire by Rebekah R. Ganiere - Goodreads
Nameless by Jennifer Jenkins - Goodreads
Aimee and the Hearthrob by Ophelia London - Goodreads
Troll by Ashley C. Harris - Goodreads
They Who Fell by Kevin Kneupper - Goodreads
This week was amazing!!!!!! So many lovely new exciting books!!!!!


I one clicked a lot of freebies way to many to list but I just can't seem to help myself when they are free. 

Around the blogosphere
Estella's Revenge she has a great challenge I think I'm going to join this coming 2016 
That Artsy Reader Girl has the 2016 debut Author challenge be sure to sign up I need to. 
The Herd Presents the Blogger Shame Review challenge. Another one I need to do this new year. 

This coming week @ TRD
Not sure yet =D

I'm still an instagram addict you should check it out lots of fun!!!!

Find me (Here)

Busy week ahead should be a lot of fun!!!