Friday, January 31, 2014

*Review* Human Remains by Elizabeth Haynes ~Kellie's Review~




Release Date:  August 20, 2013
Published By:  Harper Paperbacks
Length:  447 pages
Review Copy:

Add to Goodreads











Human Remains is a chilling, masterful thriller by New York Timesbestselling author Elizabeth Haynes that explores our darkest fears, showing how vulnerable we are—and how easily ordinary lives can fall apart when no one is watching.

Annabel, a police analyst, is shocked when she discovers her neighbor’s decomposing body in the house next door. And she’s appalled to think that no one noticed her absence.

Back at work, she sets out on her own to investigate, and finds that such cases are frighteningly common in her hometown.

A hymn to all the lonely and compelling characters that haunt our lives,Human Remains is a deeply disturbing and powerful novel of suspense from Elizabeth Haynes, author of Into the Darkest Corner.

  Human Remains by Elizabeth Haynes is one of the few novels, which accomplished the seemingly impossible. It managed to thoughtfully take me outside of my comfort zone. Certainly I have read a few books, which have resulted in a level of discomfort, but in large part, it was due to poor writing or simply gruesome details. Human Remains however, was a thoughtful and well-written Crime fiction novel, which meticulously deconstructed a taboo subject and brought a new element to the world of Crime Fiction. 

  Annabel is the protagonist. She is a rather unlikely protagonist. She’s overweight, nearing middle age and she doesn’t really stand out in a crowd. She has, (debatably) an uninteresting job, she is a Police Analyst. Which means she looks at a lot of data to determine trends in crimes. Annabel is also rather lonely, she lives by herself, with a stubborn cat and the only human contact she really has is with her mother. Unfortunately for Annabel, her mother is an elderly lady who is a bit on the grouchy side and she has never appreciated Annabel. So, Annabel is pretty much alone, especially considering the fact that the people at work tend to think that she is simply a weird cat lady. Annabel’s less than exciting life is turned upside down however, the day she finds the decomposing body of her next door neighbor next door. Horrified and frightened over the notion that someone can just die and go unnoticed by the world, Annabel’s initial thought process is that it was just an unfortunate circumstance. Especially since that police fails to be alarmed, after all, she did die of natural causes. Annabel however, while at work does a bit of analysis of her own, and discovers a disturbing trend in the area. The number of bodies discovered in homes have greatly increased when analyzing past years. In fact, many of the victims are rather young. Curious, Annabel digs deeper, despite the fact that those around her fail to recognize the trend. She recognizes that she must aggressively further her analysis, without knowing that she herself could be the next victim. 

  From his first introduction, it was quite obvious that Colin was unlike most people. He possessed an inhuman cruelness. He is antisocial, and incapable of connecting with others on an emotional level. He has only one friend. Although it is quite apparent that Colin doesn’t care too much about him either. Colin’s interests are quite different that others and he’ll do everything within his means to insure that his curiosity towards the “beauty” of human transformation is realized. 


  Human Remains is tragically executed. The stories of the lonely are given voice and it is easy to understand that such human frailty could lead to a corruption of the mind. The characters were all human. They were “human”, because their emotions and actions were real. Each character had a level of vulnerability and an importance in Annabel’s world. Sam, the young journalist was a thoughtful, caring and loveable guy, whom Annabel unknowingly needed in her world. Annabel’s co-workers also eventually were useful towards the plot. The character of Colin was masterfully maddening and unlike any character I have ever been introduced to as a reader. Even he had complexities, which in a way managed to explain some of his behavior, but also added the sense of horror, because he could be anyone. Haynes has incredibly managed to take Crime Fiction to new heights and she is certainly an author worth reading again.

At first it was just a feeling, a creeping sense of dread, and then I realized that the windowsill inside the house, just visible in the gloom, was covered with dead flies. And the cat was there, winding herself around my legs, and she was covered in something, some mess, sticky and smelling foul.


Review by: Kellie~

Thursday, January 30, 2014

**Review** Feeling Death by D.T. Dyllin


Release Date:  July 1, 2013
Published By:  Dragonfairy Press
Length:  298 pages
Review Copy:  Paperback, purchased

Add to GOODREADS

Buy it:
Amazon~B&N~Chapters









  Samantha Bevans is having the best sex of her life, but not with her husband. As an empath who senses other people's emotions, isn't her affair all in her mind? Her connection to the man with the the chiselled face and haunting eyes seems so real. But there's no time for fantasies when a serial killer loose in Pittsburgh begins targeting dancers at a strip club where Samantha used to tend bar, back when drugs were the only cure for the torment brought on by her abilities. Now a member of a special task force, Samantha uses her talents to help with the investigation by sensing the victims' final thoughts. Just when she thought the case was complex enough, she discovers one of the victims was thinking about her fantasy man when she died. Readers will yearn for more in this spine-tingling ride through death, blood, murder, mystery, and passion, as Samantha questions who she can trust when she can’t trust her own mind. After all, an empath feels the emotional environment around her . . . and Samantha is surrounded by death.



  Books like this feed an addiction I sometimes forget I have.  This is an adult erotic/romance/suspense novel and I was loving every single minute of it.  Dyllin has a way with words and crafts her characters in a way like no other.  Feeling Death was a sexually charged mystery that had me gripping the pages and sent my mind reeling, trying to work out all of the little signs that screamed that there was more to the story than what sat at the surface.

  The plot with this one was so much different than I had expected.  I basically went into this with expectations of the characters based on the short synopsis... DO not do what I did because you will be wrong and you will feel sorry for yourself for having been so naive.  To say that everything was simple would be a lie but Dyllin also did not over complicate things.  She kept my interest easily but never gives away more than needed at that moment.  There is a certain amount of intrigue that I felt consistently throughout and not that I didn't figure certain things out but even with that, it seemed there was always a little piece missing,  This made it not only addictive but a quick read because I was pulled right through to the end... No stopping.

  Sam was a character that I can't say I related to but I did want to know her story.  She seemed reasonable enough but she did not take everything at face value, but who could blame her with all the crap going on.  She seemed to be living a happy life but what her dreams and feelings are telling her contradict that.  With her being an empath, that is huge and sent all kinds of questions trough my mind.  This is when I realized that she was not so much as having an affair with the guy in her dreams but maybe seeing something more that she was supposed to.  Thankfully being with an ability seems to have made Sam perceptive and seeing she wasn't a push over, she wasn't going to just take everyone's word about everything.  I ended up really on her side and wanting to kick some ass for/with her because of all of the lies that she had to decode and deal with.

  Now for the romance part of this.  I have realized that Dyllin does not really do triangles.  There may be a second guy but it is only ever one that is ever the clear choice.  It is never annoying or makes me want to punch something, even if I do not like one or the other.  These are the triangles that people don't mind and I mean that with all seriousness.  Heck one of these guys only seems to be in Sam's dreams only... no matter how hot those dreams may be.  Where I said that I normally don't like one guy or the other, because of the mystery I was unsure who I liked.  Well I knew I liked Austin but Nixon put me on edge despite how sweet he seemed... mostly.  I think more people will like Austin the dream man but hey you never know.

  When it comes to new adult and adult novels that have a paranormal element, D.T. Dyllin has the most original ideas.  When I first started reading this talented woman's writing I was blown away with not only my first new adult read but a paranormal one at that.  Picking up Feeling Death I knew I was in for an addictive read but I was not sure if it would live up to my love of her previous series.  However, I was proven wrong and though I will always love the P.J. Stone trilogy above all, The Death trilogy is easily catching up.  If you love paranormal but want something with some heat to it, Feeling Death is not to be ignored!

18+ (Adult)


And for my treachery, I was rewarded with a mind-blowing orgasm; my mind was blown because in order to get off while having sex with my husband, I just had to picture someone else.  And not just for help like a normal fantasy, no.  I was as if I were wishing Nixon would actually become Austin.

"Yes, I told you about my imagined affair, remember?  That's an example of why I'm not good enough for Nixon, not really.  I'm sure he doesn't go around imagining I'm someone else when we're... being intimate."

  One of the many problems of being an empath was that now I knew he was aroused, I couldn't let him comfort me, it was just too weird.  I shifted in his arms uncomfortably; a sudden arousal of my own washing over me.  Crap.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday: Centaur Redemption




I can't even describe the love I have for this series and its author Nancy!!!  Though this is 
the end I am excited for it and sad at the same time...  Here is one of my most anticipated 
books of the year!!! 

Expected Release:  January 31, 2014
Written By: Nancy Straight

**This book does not yet have a description but I am extremely excited & could 
not wait to post it follow Nancy Straight's Website for full details**

Other Books in the Series




Click on the covers to be taken to Goodreads 
to add them to you TBR list!!


What are you waiting on this week?!

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Welcome Kellie!!!


  So I decided to take a leap and look for someone to help out on my blog.  After a couple of weeks I found myself discouraged and sure that I would remain the only reviewer on this blog.  Then something wonderful happened...  I got an e-mail from Kellie, she expressed interest in reviewing a few times a month.  I was SOLD!  So I would like you guys to meet Kellie:




My Name is Kellie and I am thrilled to be a member of Escaping…One Book @ a Time. I am a Mass Communications student and I have always had a deep appreciation for the written word. Thanks to my parents always making sure that I had a book in my hands as a small child, it just became second nature to me, which is why today, I still enjoy a great book. I enjoy a plethora of genres; Sci-fi Fantasy, YA, Paranormal, Mystery, Historical Fiction and more. In other words, my book library is quite diverse. A few none reading related details about me? I am a bit of a fashionista, who’s always looking for an excuse to take a trip to the mall, nothing quite beats a new pair of boots. Also, I enjoy dabbling into politics, I’m always up for a great debate. So that pretty much describes me. I can’t wait to share my love for books with you all.


I hope you all give her a warm welcome and keep a look out for her reviews that will be coming soon!! 

Monday, January 27, 2014

*Review* Cold Spell by Jackson Pearce



Release Date:  November 5, 2013
Published By: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Length:  323 pages
Review Copy: ARC from HBG Canada

Add to GOODREADS

Buy it:
Amazon~B&N~Chapters






Kai and Ginny grew up together–best friends since they could toddle around their building’s rooftop rose garden. Now they’re seventeen, and their relationship has developed into something sweeter, complete with stolen kisses and plans to someday run away together.

But one night, Kai disappears with a mysterious stranger named Mora–a beautiful girl with a dark past and a heart of ice. Refusing to be cast aside, Ginny goes after them and is thrust into a world she never imagined, one filled with monsters and thieves and the idea that love is not enough.

If Ginny and Kai survive the journey, will she still be the girl he loved–and moreover, will she still be the girl who loved him?

Jackson Pearce, author of the acclaimed SISTERS RED and FATHOMLESS, has returned with a unique vision of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen,” one about power and redemption, failure and hope, and the true meaning of strength.


  Now I do not know much on the story that this is twisted from, "The Snow Queen."  However, what I do know is that I loved what Pearce did with it.  It was interesting, sweet and had some unique concepts on some mythologies that I would have never considered.  Maybe this is a part of the original myth from the original Snow Queen, but regardless I loved the new take.  This was also not a glamoured up and romanticized retelling, though the nitty gritty of it started with love.  This was more a show of someone that would do what it takes to get someone they love back, and just how much that adventure/journey can change a person.

  The thing with the story line in this one is that you hit the ground running.  You do get a prologue that gives you a taste of what is to come but also a glimpse of why certain events happen.  There are times that things seem to go a little off track and slow down but it was never slow enough that I lost interest, it was more of a time to gather the facts.  This book never has something happen with no reason, there is no need to put meaningless moments because there is far to much at stake to just mess about.  The people that are introduced and the developments were staged wonderfully and had purpose, giving the book a complete feel as you read.  I enjoyed that I never once got the feeling of being lost in the plot, or overwhelmed with information that I would have to instantly retain to understand later.  Though it was not a quick and smooth ride, the ups and downs of this one blended well to create a balanced book that kept my attention while maintaining different pacing. 

  Ginny is difficult to explain for me because while I didn't really connect with her, I liked her.  To start I worried because she seemed so reliant on Kai and I feared the worst of her.  However, him being taken from her forced her to take steps she would have never even considered prior to that.  With the one little (well major) defining moment in her life being the removal of the one person she thought she would have forever, her entire life changed and so did the character I thought would drive me through a wall.  Ginny became a strong and likeable individual that realized the journey was on had changed her and she was capable of more than she could have ever imagined.  It ended up being her loyalty and determination that really defined her and made her someone that I routed for.  It may be the love that she had for Kai that started her journey but it is the other characteristics that carried her through.

  Normally I would go on about the romance here but I think that from the little description and what I had to say about Ginny kind of gives a general idea, and there are more things to be mentioned.  This is not saying that I didn't find the romance well written because I did, there was a good developed romance between the two that was sweet and strong in its own way but this book held so much more.  Mora aka Snow Queen for example was a surprise.  Every now and again we got a bit of the story from her point of view and it was undeniably wicked.  Some may think otherwise but to me she may have been changed into what she is because of life events, but she has also made the worst of her circumstances and taken advantage of things she shouldn't have.  Some events that she went through were sad but I mostly found myself thinking she was selfish and needed to be shown that she didn't have the right to whatever she wanted.  Mora was the type of villain that I really felt nothing towards and wished she could just get what was coming to her.

  There are also many people that help Ginny that I loved like Lucas and Elle, but my favourite was by far Flannery.  I think the best way to describe Flannery and the travellers would be as Gypsy's but Flannery was ambitious and stubborn as heck.  She was to be married simply because her mother believed the people that she would control would not listen because she was a girl and therefore needed someone by her side.  Needless to say she wanted nothing to do with this and well defies everyone at every turn.  This includes but is not limited to help Ginny in some unconventional ways.   She was without a doubt a strong girl and if there were ever a way to write a spin off that was based on her, I would without hesitation pick it up.

  Cold Spell was honestly a great read.  Where many books would lose me the second the pacing slowed down, this one held my attention easily.  This was more than a simple fairytale moulded into something else, it was a tale of growing up and realizing your own potential.  It shows that sometimes it takes loosing everything to gain more and find out just how strong you really are.  Pearce is a phenomenal author and I will continue to look for her takes on classic tales as they are wonderfully enchanting.  Pick this one up if you want something with a refreshing romance, no triangle and amazing character development, 


  I don't turn on the lights as the sun begins to set.  I want to be asleep, because surely, surely when I wake up Kai will be the Kai I love again.  And we will be together, the way we're supposed to be, and I won't be so confused and lost.

  Something in my chest plummets.
  I was afraid she'd kill him, afraid she'd hurt him, afraid she'd abandon him.
  It never occurred to me she'd keep him.

  I barely sleep, plagued by a fight for my heart.  Staying with Lucas and Ella, being happy, being warm, being home.  Or going after Kai, the boy who broke my heart.  The boy who walked away into the cold.  The boy who not only may never want me again, but might get me killed.
  The boy who I love.

  "I had an elk once," Flannery says forlornly.  "But he trampled me and ran away."
  "I'm sorry?" I say, trying to keep the shock from registering in my voice.  She's crazy.  Not just strange, not just eccentric, but actually crazy.

...I'm not letting the world   or anyone in it   determine my fate.  Not anymore, at least.

Friday, January 24, 2014

*ARC Review* Something Wonderful by M. Clarke




Expected Release: February 10, 2014
Review Copy:  eARC, provided by author for honest review

Add to GOODREADS









Sometimes falling in love means letting go of the past…

Jeanella’s confidence and trust in Max continues to grow, and life seems to be on track. Then Crystal decides to pursue a sexual harassment lawsuit, and Jeanella’s world turns upside down. Once again, she wonders if she will ever be enough for Max. Jeanella is forced to make a decision; stay and fight for her man or leave him for good.

Becky's unexpected friendship with Matthew continues to blossom, as they try to define the boundaries of their relationship; but a one-night stand threatens to ruin it all. As Matthew’s feelings for Becky grow, he’s torn between guilt and heartache over his deceased fiancée. Can Becky break through his wall and help him heal?

Something Wonderful was exactly what its title suggest, something wonderful.

  Nothing is ever as simple, as happily ever after.  Something Wonderful shows that despite all of the happy ever afters we read, the truth is never that simple and relationships that are worth it take work.  We revisit Jenna and Max but add in Becky and Matt and the result is phenomenal.  Clarke's writing is beautiful and the story and characters she has created are dazzling.   There is so much emotion packed into the pages that you wont want to stop reading for even a minute.

  The plot is every bit as scrumptious as the one in Something Great but with a little extra fun thrown in with Becky and Matt.  I am a fan of multiple point of view and it was interesting having such small players from the previous read become large players in this novel.  This brought more depth and dimensions to an already deep story, allowing you to see everything almost as a whole.  There is a new understanding of some of the characters and I think that using the four of these characters really kept everything rolling.

  Jenna made an extreme amount of growth this time around!  Not that there wasn't some in Something Great but I mean she grew with leaps and bounds this time around.  I like her character because she just feels real and I find it easy to understand her reactions.  Clarke has crafted her in such a way that when something happens you can almost see Jenna and how she is going to deal with it.  Not that she is predictable but I guess it is more like I know how I would react and she reacts almost the same... most of the time.  Jenna is not perfect but as far as characters go she is easy to like and route for, especially when it comes to her and Max.  She is the least reasonable when it comes to her relationship with him, be it in a good way or the bad way.  They have their problems but no matter what way you look at it, they are just right for each other.

  Now for the new and emerging not yet emerging couple, Becky and Matt.  Now I just have to put it out there that I think that their lives are more intertwined than they realize but they also work well together.  Matt is kind of broken from loosing the girl he thought that he would have forever and Becky is still haunted by a loss of her own.  There is an undeniable spark between the two of them. So what if it is filled with snark and neither of them wants it, it is still happening.  I love that what is starting between the two is not just as simple as attraction, but getting over themselves as well.  It is so hard to describe this relationship and them because really I do not feel like I can do what they do/don't have any justice here.  I would like to say it is complicated but it isn't at the same time.  Matt and Becky are just that, Matt and Becky.

  With beautifully writing, sensational pacing and characters that you will love; Something Wonderful is the New Adult novel everyone can fall into.  Clarke's Something Great series will leave you begging for more every time.  If you haven't read Something Great I suggest you pick it up so that you can get caught up on one of my favorite New Adult series of last year and from the looks of it this year as well!  For fans of NA this is a must and if you are just looking to break into the genre, Clarke does not disappoint!! 



  "Back to our place, Ms. Mefferd.  You've been very naughty today.  You have no idea how turned on I am right now.  I'm going to punish you until you can't take it anymore."  Then he drove off with the thunderous roar coming from his car.
  Holy Jesus!  I think I've just combusted from his hot word and the anticipation of what he was about to do.
  I sucked in air as I dissolved into Matthew's embrace.  He was the sizzling sun and I was ice, unable to move, melting into his warmth.  


Thursday, January 23, 2014

**REVIEW** Unbreakable by Kami Garcia



Release Date:  October 1, 2013
Published By:  Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Length:  320 pages
Review Copy: ARC, Provided by HBG Canada for honest review

Add it to GOODREADS

Buy It:
Amazon~B&N~Chapters







I never believed in ghosts. Until one tried to kill me.

When Kennedy Waters finds her mother dead, her world begins to unravel. She doesn’t know that paranormal forces in a much darker world are the ones pulling the strings. Not until identical twins Jared and Lukas Lockhart break into Kennedy’s room and destroy a dangerous spirit sent to kill her. The brothers reveal that her mother was part of an ancient secret society responsible for protecting the world from a vengeful demon — a society whose five members were all murdered on the same night.

Now Kennedy has to take her mother’s place in the Legion if she wants to uncover the truth and stay alive. Along with new Legion members Priest and Alara, the teens race to find the only weapon that might be able to destroy the demon — battling the deadly spirits he controls every step of the way.

Suspense, romance, and the paranormal meet in this chilling urban fantasy, the first book in a new series from Kami Garcia, bestselling coauthor of the Beautiful Creatures novels.


  I really enjoyed this read.  I had only read the first book in the Beautiful Creatures series (though I own them all) and I have heard so many conflicting things about both books that the successful authors published on their own.  Though I have yet to pick up Icons, I am glad that I picked this on up and did not wait.  Garcia has a wonderful writing style and the story completely captivated me.  The entire book just pulled me in and begged me not to put it down.  Being in school and having things to research did not mesh well with reading this one.

  I don't put much thought normally into the parallels from book to book or show/movie, unless I am trying to give someone an idea of why they might like the read the book or it's a really strong resemblance.  With this book it was right there in the description... The problem with this is I am probably one of the only human beings that hasn't watched Supernatural in awhile and I found it to be nothing like the Da Vinci Code.  So what were we left with?  For me it was something completely fun and original.  Yes I got the brothers and the snark and quirks but to me it was just new and great.  Between the boys, Kennedy coming to terms with everything and everything that was going on, the plot really did keep a steady pace and keep you glued to the pages.  I actually do have a few lingering questions that I can not decide if I missed the answer or if I am maybe the only person that has the thoughts (can't explain because I do want to spoil it).  However, it is to be expected and I think the need to know is one more thing that pulled me through.

  Kennedy has been kept in the dark for her entire life and honestly I could not blame her for one moment for freaking out.  I personally would have lost my mind if I had seen what she saw and then found out what she did.  Did she believe right away...  In a way yes and in a way no but really after what she saw, the truth was really not all that debatable.  However, what I think made her so easily likeable though was that she refused to take crap from anyone no matter what the situation.  This does get her into trouble and occasionally endangers everyone including herself.  Though I was still happy that she never gave up trying, and wanted to be accepted as a part of them because if she had to be with them she didn't want to be useless.  She wasn't always productive but she wasn't a push over and I think that this will be an advantage as she develops throughout the books.

  Now I guess there is a bit of a love triangle going on but I am not really sure how to describe it.  The guys are brothers to start and really one gives her what she needs, while the other is more protective and caring in his own way.  There is also the fact that he also seems to like her/care one minute and then the next he is ignoring her.  Kind of the bad boy thing, while confusing.  Though there is the option of both of these guys, I am not really sure how to classify this as a triangle or say it isn't without being wrong on either account.  I liked the guys and the possibility of romance with one or the other (even if I prefer Jarred) but I would prefer that it continue on only if a horrid triangle doesn't fully form with the twins.  I'm not picky but I think that in this particular case a triangle would take away from the far more interesting paranormal factor that Garcia has written so well.

  With some sort of action or new information around the corner of every chapter, it was easy to not want to put this one down.  There are still many unanswered questions and though I have my speculations, I am eager to get the next book and see how my ideas fair.  This is the type of book that I think many will pick up and easily slip into but some will find irritation in the possibility of the triangle.  However, if you are a paranormal lover and want something fun I would suggest that you pick this one up because it is easy and so much fun to read!!

  

  I slid to the floor, choking on my tears.
  My mother's head lay against the bed at an awkward angle, her face turned toward me.
  Her eyes were as empty as a doll's.

  I wanted to let the pain fill me up and coat my insides with the armor I needed to make it through this.  I imagined the dome from Lady Day lowering itself over me.
  But instead of glass, mine was made of steel.
  Unbreakable.

  I made my decision when I became more than just a girl with a dead mother   somewhere between girl in the white nightgown, the knives flying, and the cyclone in my hallway.  I was a girl whose mother was taken from her by something supernatural.
  And something evil.


Wednesday, January 22, 2014

~Book Blitz~ TAUT by JA Huss







TAUT: The Ford Book

Release Date: January 20, 2014
By: JA Huss


TAUT IS A STANDALONE NOVEL - you do NOT have to read any of the Rook and Ronin books first.
Ford Aston is known for many things. Being an emotionless, messed up bastard, a freakishly smart social outcast, and a cold, domineering master who keeps "pets" instead of girlfriends.

And after Rook broke his heart, he plans to keep it that way.

Ashleigh is known for nothing, and that's exactly what she's got going for her. She's broke, stranded in the mountains with a three month old baby, and Ford Aston is screwing with her head.

Big. Time.

And she plans to mess with his right back.

It's a coy game at first, filled with flirting, and innuendo--but Ford soon realizes something is not quite right with Ashleigh. In fact, something is seriously, seriously wrong and the closer they get to their final destination, the closer Ford gets to the truth.

One night of devastation, self-loathing, and emptiness turns into the best thing that ever happened to Ford Aston. But one day of in-your-face reality threatens Ashleigh's whole existence.

******
Since A LOT of people have been asking here is the scoop on how this book fits in with my Rook & Ronin series:
Ford first appears in Rook and Ronin #2, Manic. He has a bigger role in Panic, R&R #3, and then he has a novella, called SLACK. ThisTAUT book is only FORD. It's not really part of the R&R series, as that plot has all been sidelined for this one romance book.
Buy it:
Amazon~B&N

Trailer


About the Author




J. A. Huss likes to write new adult books that make you think and keep you guessing. Her favorite genre to read is space opera, but since practically no one reads those books, she writes new adult science fiction, paranormal romance, contemporary romance, urban fantasy, and books about Junco (who refuses to be saddled with a label).

She has an undergraduate degree in horses, (yes, really–Thank you, Colorado State University) and a master’s degree in forensic toxicology from the University of Florida. She used to have a job driving around Colorado doing pretty much nothing but shooting the breeze with farmers, but now she just writes, runs the New Adult Addiction and Clean Teen Reads Book Blogs, and runs an online science classroom for homeschoolers.

Author Links:


Teaser




This is a Blitz wide giveaway!  Good luck everyone!!




Tuesday, January 21, 2014

~Release Day Giveaway & Review~ Avalon by Mindee Arnett



Release Date: January 21, 2014
Published By: Balzer & Bray
Length:  432 pages
Review Copy:  ARC from publisher for honest review
Add to Goodreads

Buy It:
Amazon~B&N~Books-a-million~IndieBound~Google Play~Kobo~iTunes







A ragtag group of teenage mercenaries who crew the spaceship Avalon stumble upon a conspiracy that could threaten the entire galaxy in this fascinating and fast-paced sci-fi adventure from author Mindee Arnett.

Of the various star systems that make up the Confederation, most lie thousands of light-years from First Earth-and out here, no one is free. The agencies that govern the Confederation are as corrupt as the crime bosses who patrol it, and power is held by anyone with enough greed and ruthlessness to claim it. That power is derived from one thing: metatech, the devices that allow people to travel great distances faster than the speed of light.

Jeth Seagrave and his crew of teenage mercenaries have survived in this world by stealing unsecured metatech, and they're damn good at it. Jeth doesn't care about the politics or the law; all he cares about is earning enough money to buy back his parents' ship, Avalon, from his crime-boss employer and getting himself and his sister, Lizzie, the heck out of Dodge. But when Jeth finds himself in possession of information that both the crime bosses and the government are willing to kill for, he is going to have to ask himself how far he'll go to get the freedom he's wanted for so long.

Avalon is the perfect fit for teens new to sci-fi as well as seasoned sci-fi readers looking for more books in the YA space-and a great match for fans of Joss Whedon's cult hit show Firefly.



  Avalon is such a huge leap from the Mindee Arnett novel that made me fall for her writing, but it is the type of thing that will bring me back for more.  I am not a hard core sci-fi girl but when done right I do enjoy them and there was so much to enjoy with Avalon.  The space aspect of everything was actually fun and Arnett made it feel natural, real.  It's easy to see the talent in an author when they can so easily switch between genres and maintain an audience in both.

  Maybe it is due to the fact that I do not often linger in sci-fi often but I found the story unique in its own way.  The fact that this was a group of teens banded together, each for reasons of their own, needing something or a place to be and honestly their differences make an amazing team.  For most of the book I really enjoyed the interaction between everyone.  I would be lying if I said there was a wonderful pacing because there were a few times that the story plateaued a it but Arnett more than made up for it in action and progression at other times.  The times that it slowed there was reason, but it also left me hanging and wanting to know what happened next.  There were things that I saw coming and some things that freaking blew me right out of the water but by the end I was basically begging for more.

  Jeth was not mind blowing to start but he was a sturdy character.  Now when I say to start, I mean that he really did grow on me and was seriously wonderful by the end.  Jeth may be a mercenary but he takes what he does and does the jobs because he is working toward a greater purpose; the freedom of him and his sister, along with their deceased parents ship Avalon.  He is definitely the kind of guy that wants what is best for those he cares about and is not beyond doing the right things, if he is given proof that it is the right thing.  That being said he is not the person that believes everything just because someone said so and even more so if he knows it could be wrong.  I do not know if it was because he was a guy or if it was just his character but some of his thoughts made me smile and brought out some realism.  However, though his positive attributes and strengths did make him easy to read but I still had a hard time loving him because I never fully connected with him.

  There is little room in this action, sci-fi novel for romance but Arnett managed to put the perfect little amount in.  I had expected there to be a little more but then I guess there was the possibility that I would have complained about too much romance.  Sierra brought something to the story and the interactions between her and Jeth were wonderful.  There was an attraction but they didn't fall and become completely infatuated with each other.  Yes, their interactions were fun but they both had plans and things to accomplish.  At times it was as if the chemistry between them was a plan by one or the other, to accomplish the ultimate ending that they wanted.  However, there was a sign and a few happenings that proved otherwise, proved that there was something between them that they both tried to hold back on.  I was happy that romance was kept to a minimum in the end.  Arnett instead focused on the story that was unfolding and only adding in the necessary romance.

  Avalon ended spectacularly and I am left waiting for the next installment.  Admittedly the start was a little slow, but with Arnett's creative writing and a burst of action and suspense, the book took off. With it's sci-fi plot and a uniquely written plot, I am going to have to highly recommend this read to lovers of the sci-fi genre.  


"I get it." Jeth patted her arm, the awkwardness returning.  It was funny, considering how physically intimate the two of them often were while working jobs.  Then again, in his experience, that kind of thing was a lot easier than opening yourself up.

  Jeth frowned.  It did seem like the ship had just appeared, but then again, neither of them had been paying attention to the front window.  Still, the ship had been right on top of them before Avalon's proximity alarm had gone off.

"Are they surrendering?" Shady asked from behind Jeth.
"I guess."
"Can I shoot 'em?"
Tempting. . . . "Uh, no."

  To his surprise, her annoyed expression made him want to laugh.  It reminded him a bit if Viggo when Jeth had accidentally stepped on the cat's tail    pissed off but incredibly cute in a fearsome, fuzzy sorta way. 
About the Author


Mindee Arnett is the author of one other book for teens,The Nightmare Affair. She lives on a horse farm in Ohio with her husband, two kids, a couple of dogs, and an inappropriate number of cats. Her dream home, though, is aboard a spaceship.



Find Her:



Good Luck everyone!!




**Note:  This is a release day giveaway & sponsored by the 
publisher/author.  It is release wide giveaway.

Monday, January 20, 2014

*Review* Pawn by Aimee Carter




Release Date:  November 26, 2013
Published By:  Harlequin Teen
Length:  352 pages
Review Copy:  Hardback won from tour

Add it to GOODREADS

Buy It:
Amazon~B&N~Chapters







YOU CAN BE A VII. IF YOU GIVE UP EVERYTHING.

For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country.

If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter.

There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed …and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand.


  I have adored Aimee Carter's writing since the first pages I read of the Goddess Test and Pawn just proved how much more talented this woman is.  I was easily captured by her first series because I am an addict when it comes to mythology but I am finding dystopians harder and harder to love as easily.  Everything seems to have been done and even when you find something original, it seems that for whatever reason a triangle pops up.  However, I found so much pleasure in not only reading a book that was wonderfully original but also lacked any unnecessary geometric shapes.   The writing was supreme as expected and honestly I could not have been happier.

  The plot and pacing was marvellous!  There was not a dull moment or anything insignificant thrown in as filler.  Carter started and finished with every moment counting.  There was twists, suspense and romance at every turn.  Right from the get go it was obvious that Kitty was a smart girl, despite what the government testing told her.  Being a III is not ideal and it is not the IV that she wanted and needed to have the life she dreamed of with Benjy.  Taking a few risks ends up being a bigger risk than she expects because she wakes up as someone else.  This is more of a problem than expected because she starts to find out about all of the deception in the lead families lives and the fight it's going to be to survive.  This also goes against everything that some are asking of her and her life as a III isn't looking so bad even when she is one of the few privileged VII's.

  I really liked Kitty and it isn't hard to explain why.  This girl was realistic and yet she was nobody's fool.  When she is told about the rebellion and asked to continue the work, she basically picks life.  She is aware of the situation she has been put in and the lives that are at stake because it isn't just hers any more.  However, she also understands the importance of the work that Lila did and with some new promises wearily agrees.  This is a girl that knows the difference between right and wrong but also knows the difference between living and being put down.  It is not a question of if she is a strong female because she is, and as everything progresses she does start to find her voice and lets everyone know that she wont stand for things.  She was the pawn that decided she would no longer be used and stepped up, wanting to become more.

  There was this terrifying moment that I thought there was going to be a love triangle.  I was like a deer in the headlights terrified at what was coming and yet unable to move or look away.  Then this wonderful thing happened... nothing.  I know that sounds horrible but it isn't because the inevitable triangle crashed and burned before it could ever really happen.  This shouldn't have really surprised me because Carter kept her Goddess Test series relatively triangle free, basically squashing the idea any time it came up.  This isn't saying that I don't like both guys but the fact that Benjy and Kitty were solid prior to the masking incident, made me hope for something good to happen.  I don't want to dive into the dynamics too much but know the lack of a triangle rocked my world!

  Pawn may have been the last dystopian I read in 2013 but it easily made its way to my favourites of 2013.  Carter's characters and plot are brilliant.  Though I did fall in love with Carter's first series, I believe a pattern of book obsession may be happening with these series.  If you love dystopian and would like a break from geometrical shapes in the love department Pawn is the read that you should not miss.



  In the speeches we watched from first grade on, Prime Minister Daxton Hart promised us privileged American citizens, we would be taken care of all our lives, so long as we gave back to the society that needed us.  If we worked hard and gave it our all, we would get what we deserved.  We were masters of our own fate.
  Up until today, I'd believed him.

  We all dodged bullets from the moment we turned seventeen.  Sometimes they caught up with us, and there was nothing I could do about it.

  My entire life, I'd been told that the ranks were there for a reason.  Everyone had their place, and the only way society could function was if we all respected the system.  We were all equals when we took the test, and we were all scored the same way.

  I wasn't a killer.  Doing this made me no better than Daxton, and I hated him too much to want to be anything like him.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Weekly Report.... Indie Girl March & In Need of more shelf space


Weekly Report is my way of showing you from week to week (most of the time) what new books I received and what has gone on in the past week. So basically it's a report for all the awesome that I got and shared! Originally I posted IMM by Story Siren this is just my version with a little extra ;) all book names take you to the Goodreads page.
Bought



For Review

E-books

Well it is that time of year where I take in more ebooks than any other...  I prep for the migraines
that it will bring and dig in because Indie Girl March is almost here!!!  This is my second year holding
the event and with roughly 65 ladies all doing reviews, guest posts, interviews, character posts & GIVEAWAYS you guys are in for a treat in March :)  So here are the books I received and thank you
so much to all the ladies that sent them!!!











Physical Copies

Now below you will see ALL of the amazing that Amber sent me but when I asked to buy
this one to review for Indie Girl March Amber offered to send it <3  ((HUGS))--Amber



Thank you SO MUCH T.L. Clarke (Sedona Venez) for this BEAUTIFUL book!!
I was super excited about having this book on Indie Girl March and when she
offered to send me a physical copy I was BEYOND excited!!!



Danielle seriously surprised me with these!! I thought I was just getting book one but
she was kind enough to send all three <3  She said just in case I got pulled in and I 
have no doubt I will be!!



Won

So in case you guys did not know, there is this AMAZING author Sutton Shields and she rocks my reading world!! She hosted a 12 authors of Christmas giveaway on her blog (here) and I crossed my fingers and got amazingly lucky and WON!! Anyway it was 17 books in total and Amber gave me my choice of what I wanted...  Being amazing as she is and because I took so long to decide what I wanted, she sent me the Syrenka series all SIGNED and the new cover for Waterproof SIGNED!!!  Thank you SO much Amber you are yet another Author that rocks the reading world and I seriously danced and the post office getting these :)


Promises, Betrayal & Arise by Amber Garr



Dianne from Oops! I Read a Book Again and Michelle from The Escapists have
been holding SUPER giveaways on their blog celebrating Débutantes of 2013.  From
Dianne's blog I won this pretty!! Thank you so much ladies for all of the hard work you
have put into this wonderful event!!  Also a big thank you to Strange Chemistry
(Randomhouse Canada) for sending the copy!!




Well that is everything from the past couple of weeks I do believe...  If I missed
anything it will go up next week with anything that comes in this week <3 What
did you get this week?  Leave me a message letting me know!!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...