My favourite book that I read in July - Leona

I have read a lot of amazing books in July but my favourite has to be Hate List by Jennifer Brown.

Paperback, 432 pages

Published October 5th 2010 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers 

Goodreads Summary:

Five months ago, Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Shot trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saved the life of a classmate, but was implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. A list of people and things she and Nick hated. The list he used to pick his targets.

Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life.

Here's the book trailer:

I will post a review of Hate List in the next few days. I will also have an interview with the author, Jennifer Brown! 


What was your favourite book that you read in July?

Review: Rift by Andrea Cremer - Leona

Summary from the back of the book:

Ember has always known her life was not her own. That she owed a debt to the mysterious order of knights who saved her as a baby.

Despite their brutal training, serving the knights is all she has ever wanted. That was before she found love. But finding it and keeping it are very different things.

Little does she know what danger lies ahead. Neither Ember, nor her heart, will survive unscathed.

First line:

Ember brought her sword down without warning and her aim was true.

Thank you to the publishers for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I haven't read Andrea Cremer's Nightshade series yet, so I wasn't sure of what to expect when starting Rift. I was instantly pulled into this wonderful story and Andrea Cremer had me in her grasp for the entire book. Andrea Cremer has a wonderful writing style that I instantly loved. She described everything in perfect detail and helped us to get a sense of the environment and a feel for the characters thoughts and feeling. In Rift we get a look at the back story to 

Ember is a strong female character that you can't help but connect with. She has a unique and irresistible attitude that is easily relatable. I stayed up way to late to read more of Embers story. It's near impossible to not love her.

The romance in this book is irresistible and I found myself feeling every single emotion that Ember was feeling.

There are several characters in this book that I loved and hated, and sometimes it was hard to decide if I liked them or not. Every character was well rounded and it made the book even more enjoyable. I adored every aspect of this book.

Saturday Snapshot (28th July) - Leona

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by At Home With Books. To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky below. Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.

I would like to apologize for not posting a Saturday Snapshot for a few weeks!

Recently I was looking at photos on my camera and I found my pictures from my last trip to see my grandparents. Here are some of my favourite!

What do you think of my photos?

Do you have a Saturday Snapshot? Leave the link below so I can check it out!

Moonlight Mayhem Blog Tour: Trivia & Giveaway

“Which Spellbound Character Would YOU Most Likely Be?”

This giveaway is open internationally! So let’s tell the blogging world!

Hi everyone, I’m Sherry Soule—waving from Castro Valley, California, where it gets foggy even during the summer months. But even with the fog burning off by afternoon, I’m relaxing on the sofa and blabbering on Twitter about my life-long obsession with books. It’s a real honor to be a guest today as part of my epic tour this summer and meet all these awesome booklovers.

To celebrate the release of author, Sherry Soule’s newest paranormal novel, MOONLIGHT MAYHEM, the second book in the epic Spellbound Series, take this super fun quiz to see which character in the Spellbound universe you’d mostly be similar to, and score a Kindle or Nook version of the first book in this unforgettable YA series, Beautifully Broken!

 

Take this quiz and be sure to check the bottom of the post for the details regarding this random giveaway. 

 

1. What’s your favorite season?

1. Winter - Cloudy, Chilly, Rainy, Stormy
2. Fall - Windy, Misty, Foggy, Mild
3. Summer - Hot, Dry, No Wind, Sunny
4. Spring – Warm, Breezy, Greenery, Brisk

2. I detest using labels, but what would others call you at school?

1. Normal or Jock/ Cheerleader
2. Preppy/ Student Counsel
3. Amateur Fashionista
4. Girlish tomboy

3. Which of the following best describes your personality?

1. Stuck-up, Eccentric, Perky
2. Haughty, Moody, Smart
3. Tough, Snarky, Weird
4. Playful, Vivacious, Straightforward

4. Which genre do you read most often?

1. Urban Fantasy
2. Horror / Dark YA
3. Paranormal Romance
4. Young Adult

5. You are at school and witness a student bullying someone. What do you do?

1. Run in the opposite direction before they pick on you
2. Laugh and join in on the fun
3. Stop and tell the bully to knock it off or else!
4. Go tell a teacher what’s going on

6. What’s your hairstyle?

1. Short and sassy
2. Long and straight
3. Medium with highlights
4. Curly or wavy

7. What’s your typical breakfast?

1. Eggs and bacon
2. Oatmeal and orange juice
3. Coffee and a Pop tart
4. Heaping bowl of my fav cereal

8. What type of pet would you like to have or do you own?

1. Hamster
2. Small Dog
3. Shade
4. Cat

9. How often do you shop or hit the mall?

a) Only on sale days

b) Once or twice a month

c) Every week—duh

d) Hardly ever

If you answered...

Mostly a's: You and Kayla are a lot alike! You both love a good sale, and you’re energetic and sassy.

Mostly b's: Ashley and you could be sisters. You each enjoy autumn days, hanging at the mall, abut you can be a tad moody.

Mostly c's: Shiloh and you could be besties! You both love to shop for the newest trends, enjoy reading paranormal romance novels, and you even have a snarky-side.

Mostly d's: Sounds like you and Ariana have a lot in common. You each love to read YA books, adore cats, and can often be straightforward, but super fun.

MOONLIGHT MAYHEM Synopsis:

Otherworldly Creatures. Dazzling Magic. Fiery Romance.

Shiloh Ravenwolf thought she was getting used to the strange events in Whispering Pines, until the full moon brings another surge of supernatural threats to her coastal town. Ferocious wolves, deadly necromancers, and shambling zombies have descended upon the neighborhood, so Shiloh needs to gain control of her magical abilities—fast!

 

It sucks that she has a crippling fear of the dark, which for a demon hunter can be an epic problem.

When her classmates are attacked by a mysterious creature and her father is murdered, Shiloh vows vengeance. Forcing her phobias aside, she forms an unlikely coven of supernaturally gifted teens to help her eradicate this menace. Except that's not all Shiloh has to worry about. She’s battling a different monster within herself and struggling not to become the very thing she fights: evil.

But with demon blood inside her—anything can happen…

 

Moonlight Mayhem is the second novel in the unforgettably epic Spellbound series

Places you can cyberstalk Sherry Soule:

Official Blog: http://www.sherrysoule.blogspot.com

Official Spellbound Series Universe: http://thespellboundseries.blogspot.com

Twitter @WriterSherry: http://twitter.com/writersherry

Awesome Book Trailers/YouTube: http://youtu.be/5uqVXKygvUs

and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o44sW-gFtvA

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4925996.Sherry_Soule

Random winner will be picked on 18th AUGUST and be posted at the top of this quiz, please check back on that day to find out if you’re the lucky winner.

Giveaway details for a Kindle or Nook of BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN:

1.) You must comment with your quiz results

2.) Be a follower of the Spellbound Series Universe Blog (link above)

3.) Be a follower of this blog

4.) Follow us all on Twitter - @WriterSherry @megs_mk @leonanaan_21

Good luck!

Review: Beautifully Broken by Sherry Soule - Megan

Synopsis from Goodreads

Thirteenth daughter. Heritage witch. Demon slayer.

They say every town has its secrets, but that doesn’t even begin to describe Whispering Pines. The townsfolk are a superstitious lot and the mystical disappearance of a local teen has everyone murmuring about a centuries old witch’s curse.

Sixteen-year-old Shiloh Ravenwolf is a heritage witch from the Broussard family, a family both destined and cursed. After she takes a summer job at Ravenhurst Manor, she discovers a ghost with an agenda. That’s where she meets the new town hottie, Trent Donovan. But Trent may be the next victim on the supernatural hit list, and Shiloh is the only person with the power to save him. Complicated much?

After receiving cryptic messages from a creepy wraith and frightening threats from a demon, Shiloh finally begins to understand the mysterious significance of the strange mark branded on her wrist. Now Shiloh must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice to protect the other teenagers in town.

Unfortunately, for Shiloh, not all ghosts want help crossing over. Some want vengeance.

*A copy was provided by the author for review purposes*

With a thought provoking beginning that includes an unforseen encounter with a man masked in shadows, Beautifully Broken sets the stage for an intriguing book. Told from the perspective of 16-year-old Shiloh Ravenwolf, we experience the chilling events that originate from the tales of a curse placed upon the town of Whispering Pines. 

There is a distinct eerie atmosphere present throughout this book that lingers within the mystery Sherry Soule fuels into the imponderable plot. Twists and turns are constantly being thrown in our direction so you have no idea what's going to happen next. 

Let's skip to the romance, shall we? Trent Donovan is typical of most boys populating our planet today - undeniably gorgeous with an unappealing personality. You can't help but be sympathetic towards him though because of his broken past (a dead mother and a father who pretends you don't exist would definitely bruise the ego, right?).

His relationship with Shiloh was realistic due to its uncanny similarities with everyday teenage relationships. Their romance took a backseat to the main aspect of the plot but not extensively and it intertwined perfectly with Shiloh's task at hand. Lust was the fuel for their relationship for the majority of the book however, but once we reach the climax we can sense that they truely have fallen in love with each other.

Shiloh is strong and determined yet filled with fear to the brink of breaking down, but her growing powers gives her the added courage that pulls her through to the finishing line. Her tendency to quickly accept and forgive left me a little frustrated with her however. I mean, there are various deaths throughout the book but a few tears are shed and suddenly it's the next chapter with little reminiscences to follow. Despite this flaw, Sherry did a remarkable job of capturing the essence of a teenager's frame of mind.

The supporting characters made little appearances but they contributed to the plot accordingly rather than hang about like party decorations. Even with their lack of presence I appreciated what they individually brought to the story.

Darkness fills every crevice within the story that is wonderfully described once it releases itself onto the pages. My only problem is the grammatical mistakes that occasionally appear throughout the book but I could easily forgive this due to it's high quality. 

The chilling conclusion was impeccably done with loose strings neatly tied up and new ones cheekily left hanging. I wouldn't neccessarily call it a cliffhanger but the final words make you thirst for the next book.


Stop by tomorrow for the blog tour for book two in the Spellbound series MOONLIGHT MAYHEM and get a chance to win an ebook copy of BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN!

Blogaversary!

From Leona:

It's so hard to believe that it has been an entire year since I started blogging. In that year I have met so many wonderful people.

After a rather slow start, I really started in December. I felt lonely so I got my best friend Megan to help me. Thank you Megan!

This week we also reached 100 followers! We cannot thank each and every one of you enough for taking the time to visit us here and then to go one further and follow us.

From Megan:

I would firstly like to thank Leona for introducing me into the blogging world and to all you wonderful people! Ever since joining the blog last month I've been having the best time reading, reviewing and meeting all you fellow bloggers. 

I was worried that I wouldn't be kindly received because I was a late edition to the blog but yous welcomed me with open arms and for that I am grateful! I'd also like thank everyone who has read and appreciated my reviews. I hope to continue getting to know yous all in the future.

To thank all you wonderful followers we are having a huge giveaway!

One of you awesome followers will get to choose one of these books. This giveaway is international so that you all have a chance to win! To enter just fill in the Rafflecopter form below!

Across The Universe - Beth Revis

Ashes - Ilsa J. Bick

Under the Never Sky - Veronica Rossi

The Forest Of Hands And Teeth - Carrie Ryan

Glow - Amy Kathleen Ryan

The Unbecoming Of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin

The Immortal Rules - Julie Kagawa

Matched - Ally Condie

Partials - Dan Wells

Fateful - Claudia Grey

Deadly Cool - Gemma Halliday

Grave Mercy - Robin LaFevers

Starcrossed - Josephine Angelini

Rapture - Lauren Kate

Forgotten - Cat Patrick

The Iron King - Julie Kagawa

My Soul To Take - Rachel Vincent

Insurgent - Veronica Roth

Eve - Anna Carey

Torn - Cat Clarke

You Against Me - Jenny Downham

Legend - Marie Lu

Unravelling - Elizabeth Norris 

Pushing the Limits - Katie McGarry

Deadly Hemlock - Kathleen Peacock

172 Hours On The Moon - John Harstad

The Girl In The Steel Corset - Kady Cross

Fated - Alyson Noel

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Intangible by J. Meyers - Megan

Synopsis from Goodreads

Twins Sera and Luke Raine have a well-kept secret—she heals with a touch of her hand, he sees the future. All their lives they’ve helped those in need on the sly. They’ve always thought of their abilities as being a gift.

Then Luke has a vision that Sera is killed. That gift they’ve always cherished begins to feel an awful lot like a curse. Because the thing about Luke’s ability? He’s always right. And he can’t do anything about it.

Intangible proved to be an enchanting read that incorporates various groups of paranormal enitities bound together in a race against death. I was pleasantly surprised once I realised that this was a self-published novel because it soars high above the standard set by most traditionally published authors.

The story is told from multiple POV which helped build the characters' personalities without making the story distracting. The third-person narrative knocked me a little because recently I've been reading a lot of books spoken in the first-person but this isn't an issue that deteriorated the novel's overall quality.

The plot progressed at a steady pace with no unnecessary interruptions from impatient bad guys or idiotic protagonists. The written transition between the characters' viewpoints flowed with pronounced elegance.

Luke and Sera's relationship was portrayed exceptionally well and I was deeply satisfyed with how it went from strength to strength as their journey progressed. Their synchronized personalities in addition with their devotion to each other is heart-warming and projects a realistic connection with the reader.

Each chapter felt like a story of its own and the continuous twists and turns will leave readers gasping between pages. The ending feels like a massive cliffhanger and it will have you begging for book two.

 

 

Review: Blood On My Hands by Todd Strasser - Leona

Summary from Goodreads:

A powerful and uncompromising thriller – not for the faint-hearted.

Some girls are glamorous, beautiful … and deadly. Found kneeling by a dead body, with a bloody knife in her hand can only mean Callie Carson is guilty of the brutal murder of Katherine Remington – can’t it? Joining the in-crowd is tough; leaving is a killer. 

First line: 'In the dark woods behind the baseball dugout, I'm kneeling next to Katherine's body, my heart racing, my breaths shallow and fast, my emotions reeling crazily at the sight on the ground before me.'

This was the first book I had read by Todd Strasser. I absolutely adore it!

The story of it was so intriguing and it was hard not to be captivated. We are thrown straight into the action with our main character, Callie, found standing above her dead friend with a knife in her hand. So naturally, Callie runs.

Callie gets a lot of help throughout this book from her ex-boyfriend. There is a lot of tension in the book and you have to keep reading to see what happens. It is extremely addictive.

Todd Strasser wrote this book wonderfully and each character was brilliantly developed.

I love many shows that are based on the police, this book was right up my street. There was a heavy involvement from the police with Callie constantly listening to the police radio to hear if they have found her or not. I loved the twists and turn that carried on throughout this book. I was completely shocked when we discover a lot of things. It was brilliant.

I admit that the ending left me rather emotional. It was an ending that left me thinking "This can't be the ending. There has to be a sequel!". Unfortunately, that was not the case. To my dismay this is part of a series but the next book does not carry on from this one.

I enjoyed every aspect of this book, except the ending.

The book trailer:

Review: Hourglass by Myra McEntire - Leona

Summary from Goodreads:
One hour to rewrite the past . . . 

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn't there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents' death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She's tried everything, but the visions keep coming back. So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson's willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he's around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

It took me a few chapters to really get into this book, but then Myra McEntire had me firmly in her grasp! This was a truly amazing debut novel that I really enjoyed.

The idea of the book had me hooked and I had to keep reading to find out more about the characters and their stories. Emerson "Em" is an irresistible lead character, from her witty comments to her attitude there was nothing I didn't like about her. It would be really hard to not get captivated by her story and I couldn't stop reading. I had to find out everything I could about Em.

In Hourglass we have an amazing little love story. Their really is a chemistry between them and you, as the reader, will feel every single emotion that Em feels towards her interest. It's so hard not to love him. He's caring, smart and so many other things. We even get another love interest later on in the book, and let me tell you that he is just as amazing as the first.

Myra has got time travel nailed. It was brilliantly written about, easy to understand and well developed. I haven't read many, or any, books about time travel so it was fun to read something new. It was also a nice break from my usual books that involve vampires, werewolves or, my personal favourite, witches.

Myra McEntire has a wonderful writing style that simply flows off the page and it really helps to get a good image in your head of what's going on. The entire concept of Hourglass was very original.

Also, what an amazing cover! It really blends in with the original story line. The only real problem I had was with Emerson's family. Frankly I thought they were way too lovey-dovey. 

Having said that, I loved this book and cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel Timepiece.

Waiting on Wednesday (4) - Leona

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine to share the books that you are highly anticipating!   


This week I am waiting on Shadows by Ilsa J. Bick! Shadows is the sequel to Ashes. After the cliff hanger of an ending at the end of Ashes I have been dying to read Shadows!

Release Date: 27 Sep 2012
Summary from Goodreads:
The Apocalypse does not end.
The Changed will grow in numbers.
The Spared may not survive.

Even before the EMPs brought down the world, Alex was on the run from the demons of her past and the monster living in her head. After the world was gone, she thought Rule was a sanctuary for her and those she'd come to love.

But she was wrong.

Now she's in the fight of her life against the adults who would use her, the survivors who don't trust her, and the Changed who would eat her alive.

Welcome to Shadows, the second book in the haunting apocalyptic Ashes Trilogy: where no one is safe and humans may be the worst of the monsters




What are you waiting on this Wednesday? Leave a link below!

Review: Rapture by Lauren Kate - Megan

Synopsis from Goodreads

The sky is dark with wings . . . .

Like sand in an hourglass, time is running out for Luce and Daniel. To stop Lucifer from erasing the past they must find the place where the angels fell to earth. Dark forces are after them, and Daniel doesn’t know if he can do this—live only to lose Luce again and again.

Yet together they will face an epic battle that will end with lifeless bodies . . . and angel dust. Great sacrifices are made. Hearts are destroyed. And suddenly Luce knows what must happen.

For she was meant to be with someone other than Daniel. The curse they’ve borne has always and only been about her—and the love she cast aside. The choice she makes now will be the only one that truly matters.

In the fight for Luce, who will win?

This is it. This is the end to the Fallen series. Oh my, where has the time gone? I always found myself to be rather confused as to why I love this series so much because it's riddled with all the typical YA features that I despise - the clichéd love story; the annoying heroine; the gushy love-interest; the tacky love-triangle and so on. I can't put my finger on it but it's just captivating!

I found the first half of the book to be rather like trudging through cement although there was nothing particularly slow about it. The action and suspense was consistent but it was missing the mystery that its predecessors possessed. I soon developed the strong urge to just skip to the last few chapters to get the book over and done with but Lauren Kate kept dishing out page-clutching words that had an unbeatable hold on me. 

I can't even begin to comprehend the impact this book had on me. The conclusion drew so many emotions from me, I was incapable of pulling myself together to write this review until now. The twists and turns literally made my heart skip a couple of beats but I still couldn't shake that I-want-to-skip-to-the-end feeling. 

Unfortunately, the spotlight was kept fairly away from Cam so my anticipated Rapture experience was slightly dampened by his lack of physical presence. That probably sounds a little unjust but you can't deny that Cam is the cherry on top of the Fallen cake!

With Passion being my least favourite instalment in this series, Rapture definitely succeeded in redeeming the series reputation, although I was rather frustrated with the constant reminiscences of Passion's antagonist Bill - aka Lucifer. It felt almost as if Lauren Kate assumed we all suffered from short-term memory loss.

The answer to our golden question is the very thing that turns this entire story upside down - What happens? Get your tissues at the ready and fasten your wings because, like me, you'll be blubbering like a baby until the final words.

Teaser Tuesday (3) - Leona

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at Should Be Reading where you grab a book, open at two random pages and share something that isn't going to ruin the book! My book this week is Rift by Andrea Cremer!



Paperback

Expected publication: August 7th 2012 by ATOM


Summary from back of book:
Ember has always known her life was not her own. That she owed a debt to the mysterious order of knights who saved her as a baby.


Despite their brutal training, serving the knights is all she has ever wanted. That was before she found love. But finding it and keeping it are  very different things.


Little does she know what danger lies ahead. Neither Ember, nor her heart, will survive unscathed.


And now for my Teaser's!


"Don't be ridiculous. Love is a fool's errand, and I've no time to worry over which of the Guard are handsome or ugly.I only care how skilled they are with a blade." - Page 35


"We didn't have time to heat it, milady," one of them said. - Page 257




What's your Teaser Tuesday? Leave a link below!

Review: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare - Leona

Summary from Goodreads:

The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace freed from captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing, so is the boy she hates: her brother Sebastian, who is determined to bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

The Clave's magic cannot locate either boy, but Jace can't stay away from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith's magic has wrought - Jace and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other.

Only a few people believe that Jace can still be saved. Together, Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle bargain with the sinister Seelie Queen, contemplate deals with demons, and turn at last to the merciless, weapon-making Iron Sisters, who might be able to forge a weapon that can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. If the Iron Sisters can't help, their only hope is to challenge Heaven and Hell - a risk that could claim their lives.

And they must do it without Clary. For Clary is playing a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing not just her own life, but Jace's soul. She's willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

Having been rather dissappointed with City of Fallen Angels, I didn't have high hopes for City of Lost Souls. However, Cassandra Clare managed to slightly rekindle my love of this series. Emphasis on the slightly. 

When I finished City of Glass I thought that it was the perfect ending  to the series and that we didn't need anything more. Then came City of Fallen Angels which was my least favourite of this series by far. 

In my opinion I have had enough of Clary and Jace. Personally, I think that there is only so many times their love can be threaten before it becomes completely unrealistic. There are so many other amazing characters that Cassandra Clare has created that, in my honest opinion, should be the focus instead of Jace and Clary. 

Where City of Fallen Angels failed, City of Lost Souls triumphed. We have more of the beloved humor that we all love. The writing is tighter and the story is better. 

In City of Lost Souls they do an awful amount of travelling. I didn't get a feel for any of the places that they visited. Having been to one of the places that they were in more than once I know what it's like and yet I didn't get a feel at all for the surroundings. 

We have some more ties to The Infernal Devices!! I am more a fan of The Infernal Devices than I am of The Mortal Instruments. I prefer Will over Jace and I prefer Tessa over Clary. 

All of the above said I did love the book, I just don't think that the series should still be going. Also, while I am excited to read City of Heavenly Fire, I am way more excited to read Clockwork Princess!!