Monday, May 5, 2014

Blog Tour: Review - The Midnight Spell


Title - The Midnight Spell
Author - Kody Boye & Rhiannon Frater 
Genre - Paranormal Young Adult
Publication - February 28th 2013
Publisher - Permuted Press
Format - PDF Review Copy

Synopsis

Best friends since kindergarten, Adam and Christy have always been the perpetual outsiders in their small town in Texas. The other kids call Adam gay and Christy a witch.


On both counts the bullies are right.

Their junior year in high school seems destined to be the same old same old until Christy decides to cast a love spell for Adam at the midnight hour. The next day an alluring and mysterious boy enrolls at school and sets hearts aflutter, including Adam’s. Meanwhile, Christy’s mad crush on the handsome football player Ian seems to be going nowhere fast and her witch puberty is making her life miserable.

When a great evil arrives in town that threatens everything they hold dear, the best friends realize that finding a boyfriend is the least of their worries. Soon Adam and Christy will have to battle a force of darkness that has killed in their town before, and will again.


Review
I received The Midnight Spell in return for an honest review as part of the tour hosted by Xpresso Book Tours. Christy and Adam have been best friends since they were kids growing up in the small town. They each came out of the closet to each other revealing their own deep dark secrets one being gay the other a witch. Since Adam is the only gay boy in town it’s been hard fitting in and impossible finding a potential boyfriend but with the help of a spell cast at midnight his perfect match may just make an appearance.

They each secretly think the spell won’t work, but the next day a handsome guy registers for school, he’s everything Adam dreamed about and wants to be with Adam. Christy is thrilled that Adam is happy but there is something about Mark she just can’t put her finger on it and the more she gets to know Mark the more worried she is about Adam. As if that’s not enough Christy is gaining her powers, and controlling them isn’t as easy as it used to be and now the one guy she has a crush on knows her deep dark secret. What will happen when Christy learns Marks secret?


With The Midnight Spell we are given two points of view both Christy and Adam. I loved Christy right from the start casting a spell that would make her best friend happy. She’s the kind of friend I would want as a best friend. I thought Adam was a perfect character to pair with Christy, and they are paired well together willing to stand up for each other against the Barbie’s. I like the supporting characters as well Drifter & Olivia they added and enhanced the story.

The Midnight Spell is a captivating story that mixes magic with romance throwing in a twist of suspense and flashes of darkness. The authors have taken the witch concept giving it a face lift with a new exciting history. I honestly really enjoyed the whole idea of Christy creating a spell for the right reason but we all know even good intentions don’t always turn out right. The characters are fantastic I connected with them all, laughing, crying, and just rooting for the underdogs. As if it’s not enough being an outcast in high school, dealing with teen relationships when you throw in magic, bad guys, and a cat always in heat you can’t help loving the story. I really enjoyed all aspects of the story it’s fast paced full of action it even has the creepy factor that keeps you on the edge of your seat till the very end.  The authors wrote a clever story that is well written flowing along perfectly, that’s teens as well as adults will fall in love with. This is my first book by these authors but I know now I need to check out their other books.
5 out of 5 stars 

Author Bios
Rhiannon:

Rhiannon Frater is the award-winning author of over a dozen books, including the As the World Dies zombie trilogy (Tor), as well as independent works such as The Last Bastion of the Living (declared the #1 Zombie Release of 2012 by Explorations Fantasy Blog and the #1 Zombie Novel of the Decade by B&N Book Blog), and other horror novels. In 2014, her newest horror novel, The Mesmerized, will be released by Permuted Press. Dead Spots will be published in 2015 by Tor. She was born and raised a Texan and presently lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and furry children (a.k.a pets).  She loves scary movies, sci-fi and horror shows, playing video games, cooking, dyeing her hair weird colors, and shopping for Betsey Johnson purses and shoes.  
Website Facebook / Twitter / Blog / Pinterest / Email rhiannonfrater (at) gmail.com

Kody:
Born and raised in Southeastern Idaho, Kody Boye began his writing career with the publication of his story [A] Prom Queen’s Revenge at the age of fourteen. Published nearly three-dozen times before going independent at eighteen, Boye has authored numerous works—including the short story collection Amorous Things, the novella The Diary of Dakota Hammell, the zombie novel Sunrise and the epic fantasy series The Brotherhood Saga. He is represented by Hannah Brown Gordon of the Foundry Literary + Media Agency.

Musing Mondays

Musing Mondays 
Hosted by Should Be Reading
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!

What's on your musing this week?

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

I'm very impatiently waiting for The One by Kiera Cass
It's the conclusion and I can't wait to see how it will end. I love the cover can't wait to add it to my collection. 

I have the first two in hardcover and ordered the third one weeks ago as a pre order. I can't wait for the box from amazon I've waited so long to see how it will all end. 

What are you musing today?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? May 5th 2014
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.

Another 

I only got two this week. I did have surgery so it killed my reading as well as the hubby being out of town. I'm shooting for five this week.

Read last week


The Midnight Spell by Rhiannon Frater (Review)
Slayers by C.J. Hill (Review)

Currently Reading
Rainwater Kisses by Krista Lake (Goodreads)

Up Next 
 Fledgling by Nicole Conway (Goodreads)

Rest of the week
Not sure yet I do have a long list so you will just have to wait and see.

I have big plans and a lot of books I plan to read this week. Hopefully I'll get through them all. 

What are you reading this week?

30 Day Blog Challenge ~ Day 4&5

30 Day Blogging Challenge

I've been a slacking in the whole blog thing for a while. I had such high hopes for this year but I feel like I've been behind on my reading goals, to many reviews, and just lost a little passion for blogging. So after searching around the internet I found the perfect challenge for me. Originally from Live Love Simple

Day 4 ~ Dream Job

I would love to work with animals. I've considered getting my falconry training, so I can work with large predatory birds. I've also been considering learning to train service dogs. I would also love to have a rescue with horses, wolfs, wolf dogs, and large predators (big cats). I would love any job that allows me to read and do something I love.

Day 5 ~ Your Proudest Moment

Hmm that's another tough one. I haven't done anything amazing yet. My bookish one would be getting my name in a physical book. That was pretty awesome. I'm really proud of my hubby every day. He's my inspiration because he's gone a lot but still makes every effort to make sure I know he loves me. He's always been amazing and I'm proud to call him mine.


Feel free to start your own challenge. Leave a link so I can check yours out. Here's to a new amazing month. 

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Stacking The Shelves

Stacking The Shelves
Stacking The Shelves May 3rd 2014
Stacking the Shelves is a meme by Tyngas Reviews that let's bloggers share their new books and swag, whether they are physical or virtual. I'll include books I've been sent, emailed, purchased, won and for review.

I picked up a few ebooks for the urban fantasy genre this week. Plus to many to list kindle freebies. 

Review

No review books this week. So far doing good at not overloading myself.

Purchased
Ebooks
The Change by Teyla Branton 
Awakening the Fire by Ally Shields
Darkness Haunts by Susan Illene 
A Demon Bound by Debra Dunbar 
What did you get this week?

March & April Re-cap 2014

March & April Re-cap 2014
What happened in March & April at The Reading Diaries

March just flew by. It was insane how quickly it came and went. I didn't even re-cap in April because I had so much going on it just slipped my mind. I decided to do March and April together. 


Read in March

On Dublin Street by Samantha Young (Review)
The Convenience of Lies by Kimberly Castillo (Review)
The Secret by Julie Garwood (Review)
Pride & Popularity by Jenni James (Review)
Werewolf in Denver by Vicki Lewis Thompson (Review)
Donna of the Dead by Alison Kemper (Review)
Sun Damaged by Nikki Rae (Review)
Unfed by Kirsty McKay (Review)
Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews (Review)
Everlasting by Candace Knoebel (Review)
Werewolf in Seattle by Vicki Lewis Thompson (Review)
Evil Red by Nikki Jefford (Review)
Total 12

Read in April 
Into the Darkness by K.F. Breene (Review)
Braving the Elements by K.F. Breene (Review)
On a Razor's Edge by K.F. Breene (Review)
Psi Another Day by D.R. Rosensteel (Review)
Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Review)
Saltwater Kisses by Krista Lake (Review)
Pride's Run by Cat Kalen (Review)
Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige (Review)
No Place Like Oz by Danielle Paige (Review)
Embrace by Cherie Colyer (Review)
Willow by Amy Richie (Review)
Night Broken by Patricia Briggs (Review)
Total 12

I read 12 each month which means I'm still 21 books behind as of today. So my goal is to read 30 books the month of May. I know it's a lot but I figure with the new puppy I'll be spending a lot of time sitting outside or up late with her so I should have lots of reading time. My goal is to get caught up so I'm not chasing my goal of 200. 

I'm going to keep this update short just a simple what I read for my re-cap. 

So it was a low reading month but I have huge plans. 

My Dusty Bookshelf

My Dusty Bookshelf
I've got an addiction for adding books to my bookshelf but never getting around to them. I'm sure I'm not the only one either. It's just so easy with all the new books to forget about the older ones. I'd like to start reading some of the books I've had for years and just haven't read. I thought this would be a good way to share and rekindle some interest in my dusty books. Plus I love giving books a little extra spotlight when I can. 

I picked this one up as a kindle freebie back in January 2013 and it's been forgotten. I hope to one day check it out, because it sound interesting. I even bet my hubby would like it. 

Beasts of the Walking City
by Del Law
(Goodreads)

Synopsis


A roller-coaster ride through another world that will appeal to fans of Naomi Novak, Patrick Rothfuss, Lev Grossman and George R.R. Martin...

It’s not easy being a color-shifting, bourbon-loving Beast, even when you can travel between your own world and Earth’s past. Even when you’re working for the gangster Al Capone.

Now, Blackwell is on a one-way trip into the ruins of a flying city to steal an ancient craft from one of his world’s biggest gangster families—a family you just don’t want to cross. But the ship is just the beginning, and Blackwell isn’t prepared for everything that comes next. First, he's hunted by a cult who wants to wipe his race out for good. Then, he’s a pawn stuck between powerful gangster families at each other’s throats. Who can he trust? There’s the beautiful and seductive double-agent named Mircada who will steal his heart? A huge fire-belching family kingpin named Nadrune who wants him for her pet? The mysterious woman Kjat, who loves him—and who’s filling up with crazy demons from another world? The crazed general who’s after him for revenge? (Not him, at least that's pretty clear.) Then there's the mystery of a legendary flower that once belonged to his race, a flower that might change the world—if only he can find it.

Beasts of the Walking City is fast-paced, funny, sexy adventure with steampunk cities that float and walk and fly, exploding gangsters at each other’s throats, pyrotechnic magical battles, time travel, crazy new alien races and the fate of two worlds hanging in the balance.


What's on your dusty bookshelf? Do you have books that have been there for years? I do. I can't wait to see what you have to share this week. Be sure to leave a comment with a link so I can check yours out. Happy Reading!!!

Follow Friday

Follow Friday
Hosted by:
&
The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs!
Each week a new question, new answer, and new blogs to follow. 
If you want to follow via GFC just in case it goes away I ask you follow a second way, email, Linky, Bloglovin'. 
Thanks
Featured blogs this week:

Books, Movies, Reviews. Oh My!

This Week's Question:

Share! Tell us about one of your hobbies that is not reading. 

Answer:
I'm crafty, so I have a whole bunch of projects that keep me busy. I love to bake it's my favorite way to destress. I've started sewing so I've made pillows, a few purses and I have plans for a lot more. I also cross stitch I have a few patterns that I plan to do just need to find the time. I also make bookmarks & bracelets out of floss. These are just a few of the non-bookish craft stuff that I do to keep busy.


I can't wait to see all your non-bookish hobbies. 

30 Day Blog Challenge ~ Day 3

30 Day Blogging Challenge

I've been a slacking in the whole blog thing for a while. I had such high hopes for this year but I feel like I've been behind on my reading goals, to many reviews, and just lost a little passion for blogging. So after searching around the internet I found the perfect challenge for me. Originally from Live Love Simple

Day 3 ~ Your favorite quote

Ekk this one is tough. I don't really have one that I would say is my favorite. 
So instead I'll share a few of my favorite bookish ones

"Be Awesome! Be a book nut!"
~ Dr. Seuss

"So many books, so little time."
~ Frank Zappa 

"A room without books is like a body without a soul."
~ Cicero

Feel free to start your own challenge. Leave a link so I can check yours out. Here's to a new amazing month. 

Review: Slayers

Title - Slayers
Author - C.J. Hill 
Series - Slayers #1
Genre - YA Fantasy Dragons
Published - August 20th 2013
Publisher - Square Fish
Format - Paperback

Synopsis

Dragons exist. They’re ferocious. And, in this novel from C. J. Hill, they’re smart: before they were killed off by slayer-knights, they rendered a select group of eggs dormant so their offspring would survive. Only a handful of people know about this, let alone believe it—these “Slayers” are descended from the original knights and are now a diverse group of teens that includes Tori, a smart but spoiled senator’s daughter who didn’t sign up to save the world.


The dragon eggs have fallen into the wrong hands. The Slayers must work together to stop the eggs from hatching. They will fight; they will fall in love. But will they survive?


Review

For years Tori has asked her parents to send her to dragon camp but they have opted for the best camps. At last Tori is going to get her chance to spend a month at dragon camp learning more about them as well as why she dreams about them. Arriving at dragon camp Tori is surprised to learn she’s not with the regular campers but with an advanced group who aren’t here just to expand their dragon craze. Soon Tori is wrapped up in a world where dragons really exist, the human existence resting on her shoulders as well as her fellow Slayers. The ones with the Dragon Knights blood in their veins that will allow them to fight them. 
Only one problem Tori doesn’t have a special power but the ability to hear what the dragon hears.

The Slayers have come back every year since they were 11 years old only this year Tori is joining for the first time getting a late start. They also had two slayers not return this year so already they are short a few slayers. As Tori tries to fit into a world she only dreamed about the real danger becomes real when she overhears that the dragon eggs are close by and this may be their only chance to stop them before they hatch.  Will Tori survive camp? Will they be able to stop the dragons? What about the missing slayer that Dr. B has been looking for since day one?

I like Tori she’s a rich socialite but just because she likes to dress nice and have hair doesn’t change the fact she knows what’s important. The characters are well developed I found it easy to connect with Tori and found myself cheering her on as the book went.  I liked Tori right from the start, all the slayers are great characters they each have their own story as well as abilities. I’m still torn on the guy aspect for Tori we are introduced to a potential love triangle which I tend to avoid. I’m curious to see how it will play out.

I've had Slayers on my TBR list since I saw the new cover, even added a copy to my bookshelf but it got lost in the piles. I grabbed my copy off the shelf as a spur of the moment read and found myself pleasantly surprised. The concept for the dragon eggs being in hibernation mode I found interesting, it almost make you wonder if maybe there could be dragons out there. I like the way the author used history as a platform for when the Dragon Knights and Dragon Lords came from. The whole idea for Slayers is new and exciting it’s a captivating story that I had a hard time putting down. This is my first book by the author but I found her writing style enjoyable it was easy to fall into the story losing all track of time. The book is beautifully written teens as well as adults will enjoy the action packed adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat till the very last page only to leave you wanting more. I need to pick up the next one because I’m dying to know what’s going to happen next. I really enjoyed Slayers I’m a huge dragon fan and enjoyed the unique story. I’m looking forward to checking out the other books from the author. 
5 out of 5 stars