Feature and Follow Friday (4)

Feature and Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read! :)

Q: Best cover? What is the best cover of a book that you've read and loved?

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

A: I absolutely love the cover of Shadow and Bone!! There's something so cool about it and mysterious about it that just draws you in, And the story is absolutely amazing! Go High Fantasy!! The story arc and the details of this book are amazing! And seriously, the Darkling is *swoon*!

FOREIGN COVERS:

The Italian cover of Dreamless by Josephine Angelini and the French cover of Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi are both GORGEOUS. I read the English editions of these books and loved them but I can't help but wish I knew how to read Italian and French to read them again! :)

Dreamless by Josephine Angelini

English / Italian

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

English / French

Leave a link to your Feature and Follow Friday post and we'll check it out!

Winners!!

Hi guys!!

Our 150 Follower Giveaway just ended and we got a whopping 275 entries!! We're so excited to announce the winners!!

The lucky person who won the signed Liesl and Po ARC is...

Leanne M. !!!

And the other lucky person who won the SWAG pack is...

Tiffany !!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The winners have been notified, please be reminded that you only have 48 hours to reply or else we'll be forced to choose new winner/s.

Thank you all so much for entering our giveaway and for giving us all your support! :) And to those who didn't win, don't worry! We'll be having MORE giveaways soon! One of them may or may not involve a sexy green-eyed alien... *wink*

And we still have our A Need So Beautiful giveaway where you can win BOTH books from the series!! Just click HERE to be directed to the post!

Have an awesome day/ night!!

Waiting on Wednesday (6)

Waiting on Wednesday/s are hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine in which you choose a book or books that you're excited and waiting for.

This week's Waiting on Wednesday book is:

Title: Carnival of Souls

Author: Melissa Marr

Publication date: September 4th' 2012

Pre-order the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

In a city of daimons, rigid class lines separate the powerful from the power-hungry. And at the heart of The City is the Carnival of Souls, where both murder and pleasure are offered up for sale. Once in a generation, the carnival hosts a deadly competition that allows every daimon a chance to join the ruling elite. Without the competition, Aya and Kaleb would both face bleak futures--if for different reasons. For each of them, fighting to the death is the only way to try to live.

All Mallory knows of The City is that her father--and every other witch there--fled it for a life in exile in the human world. Instead of a typical teenage life full of friends and maybe even a little romance, Mallory scans quiet streets for threats, hides herself away, and trains to be lethal. She knows it's only a matter of time until a daimon finds her and her father, so she readies herself for the inevitable. While Mallory possesses little knowledge of The City, every inhabitant of The City knows of her. There are plans for Mallory, and soon she, too, will be drawn into the decadence and danger that is the Carnival of Souls.

From Melissa Marr, bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely series and "Graveminder," comes a brand-new tale of lush secrets, dark love, and the struggle to forge one's own destiny.

(Summary from Goodreads)

Why we're excited for this book:

First off, can I just say? Melissa Marr is one of my most favorite Paranormal authors. The threads she weaves whenever she tells a story is phenomenal, and I could get lost reading her books for days. I really think it shouldn't come as a surprise is to why I'm excited for this book. The premise is absolutely stunning and intriguing and filled with imaginative characters and places. I absolutely love the way Melissa Marr writes, and I'll read anything she publishes because I know she never disappoints. ;)

Here's the book trailer: (I usually don't watch these but this one is particularly fantastic!)

Leave a comment with your WoW post and we'll check it out! :)

Review: The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg

Title: The Catastrophic History of You and Me

Author: Jess Rothenberg

Pages: 375 pages

Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group

Published on: February 21st 2012

Source: Bought from Fully Booked

Buy the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Dying of a broken heart is just the beginning.... Welcome to forever.

BRIE'S LIFE ENDS AT SIXTEEN: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart—literally.

But now that she's D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost—and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul . . . who just might hold the key to her forever after.

With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on. But how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?

(Summary from Goodreads)

Review:

I had a pretty bipolar Friday night.

I can totally relate with Cady Heron here.

Note that I started reading on my bed. I somehow managed to fall on the floor.

This book is amazing beyond words that I will NOT retell what happened in my own words. Instead, I will persuade you go get your own copy and read it, and you will join the I Just Went Through An Emotional Roller Coaster club. This I know, will happen. My prediction calculator is 101% sure. Unless you're a rock.

I finished the story in 2 freaking hours. And I was in a reading rut. I couldn't seem to get focused on a book. Then, BAM! Catastrophic History comes along and I gobble the whole thing up in 100 minutes. How awesome??

I was hooked the moment I turned to Chapter 1. The intro was really funny and it caught my attention, allowing me to read further. I'll admit, if the book has a lousy intro or has dragging first chapters, I usually stop even if people say it's nice. Maybe I'll read it again sometime, but it's appeal points have definitely lessened. Catastrophic History got me reading from the first chapter to the last with my full on attention. I was laughing, crying and bawling as I read on. I'm pretty sure I looked like a maniac laughing my ass off one second then tearing up the next. I loved how there were twists and unexpected plots in the book and how these twists aren't that far from each other that you're just like "what the hell? how is that even related?!" This story's different paths were very well paved and well executed. It wasn't a sharp turns, but a slow curving one making you go "ooh" and "aah" instead of "WTF?". I loved how the story has depth and not just about a ranting teenager who seeks revenge and realizes that she loves the boy too much to do anything about it. The book was very realistic by the way it was told. That at some point in our lives, we've made a certain judgement about someone, or had a burning desire to get revenge, or when we just simply let things get too far. I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone. The fantastic story line would make everyone think twice before doing anything. Something I believe everyone needs today. Thank you for writing such a beautiful tale, Miss Rothenberg!

Have you ever ridden the emotional roller coaster yet? Tell me all about it in the comments! 

Rating:

Dual Review + Giveaway: A Need So Beautiful AND A Want So Wicked by Suzanne Young

I dunno if it's just me but the girl in A Want So Wicked kinda looks like T. Swift.

Title: A Need So Beautiful (A Need So Beautiful #1) / A Want So Wicked (A Need So Beautiful #2)
Author: Suzanne Young
Pages: 267 / 288 pages
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Published on: June 21st 2011 / June 26th 2012
Source: Bought from Fully Booked / Won
Buy the books: 
A Need So Beautiful: Amazon / Barnes and Noble
A Want So Wicked: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Review:

The A Need So Beautiful is an absolutely phenomenal, sob-worthy book series. There was just something so special about the way it was written that made it so heart-breakingly beautiful. Trust me when I say that when you read this series, you'll never want to put it down.

I think the beauty of the novels really stemmed from its heroines, Charlotte and Elise. They both built the foundations that connected everyone to them. And it was also their bravery and sacrifice that made them all the more appealing. Here's a brief character review of the two lovely ladies:

Charlotte (A Need So Beautiful):

Charlotte, I felt, was the stronger of the two. The sadness and pain she had experience literally pierced through my heart and sent me crying. The way Suzanne Young had written A Need So Beautiful, the words she used and the emotion put into them will really get the message across and get you to empathize with Charlotte as a person. You will really feel and go through the pain she went through because even though she was some kind of angel, she characterized and solidified enough for you to actually relate to her and that's what really made me like her as a character.

Elise (A Want So Wicked):

With Elise, she had the opposite effect on me. I felt like she really wasn't built enough as a character and there was a sense of indifference that I felt reading her story. I did feel and understand the heartbreak she went through during the book but I felt like it lacked a bit of... something.

I really enjoyed the romance that occurred in both books, especially in A Want So Wicked because of the fact that there was a build up in the relationship and did take quite some time to develop (not too long though.) I felt that even though the romance aspect was a major part of the series, it didn't overshadow the main plot line, about the Forgotten and the Shadows. I think in the end, the people I felt sorry for the most are the Seers, the fact that they have to lose their loved ones at the end and look for other Forgottens is really hard. I think that the Seers in the story (I won't tell who) were one of the strongest characters because of the hardships that they had to go through.

I found that the concept of the Forgotten and the Shadows very interesting and unique, it really deviated from the normal "Good" guy / "Bad" guy plot because of the fact the there was a possibility that these Forgottens do turn into Shadows, how not everything good will stay that way. We may assume that these "angel" aren't capable of being seduced or tempted, this book really shows us a different perspective on these beings. Suzanne Young brought an absolutely unique and new concept to the angel mythology that we have now.

Suzanne Young managed to captivate and enthrall me in both her books and I'd really like to commend her for that. She has written such a beautiful series that was able to pull at my heartstrings and never let go. If you're looking for a fresh and unique read with insanely hot guys that will most likely bring you to both happy and sad tears, this is the series for you!

Rating (average): 

AND, we're having a....

YAAAAY!!

Because we think anyone should be given a chance to read this series, we're giving away:

A paperback copy of A Need So Beautiful and an ARC of A Want So Wicked

DETAILS:

~ You aren't required to be a follower but it'd be cool if you were. :)

~ Must be 13 years old or older

~ Open INTERNATIONALLY

~ Winners have 48 hours to respond to our e-mail else we'll be forced to pick new ones.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck and may the angels be with you! :)

Feature and Follow Friday (3)

Feature and Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read! :)

Q: Worst cover? What is the worst cover of a book that you've read and loved?

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

A: I can't really say it's the worst cover I've seen but it's not really that great.. or nice looking. But I still absolutely LOVED the story and the cover didn't deter me from devouring it! I guess you really can't judge a book by its cover! ;) (I really love the cover of Days of Blood and Starlight though, so I guess it made up for it.)

Leave a link to your Feature and Follow Friday post and we'll check it out!

PS: Check out our 150 Follower Giveaway while you're here! :) Click HERE.

Waiting on Wednesday (5)

Waiting on Wednesday/s are hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine in which you choose a book or books that you're excited and waiting for.

This week's Waiting on Wednesday book is:

Title: Days of Blood and Starlight

Author: Laini Taylor

Publication date: November 6th 2012

Pre-order the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed "Daughter of Smoke and Bone," Karou must come to terms with who and what she is, and how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, mysteries and secrets, new characters and old favorites, Days of Blood and Starlight brings the richness, color and intensity of the first book to a brand new canvas.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone was declared a "must read" by Entertainment Weekly, was named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon.com, and The New York Times called it "a breath-catching romantic fantasy."

(Summary from Goodreads)

Why I'm excited for this:

I'm positive that everyone here agrees with me when I say that this cover is absolutely gorgeous! I love the designs on her face and the title font is so cool! But let's get serious, Daughter of Smoke and Bone was literally one of the best books I've read, like, EVER. And with an ending like that, I'm pretty sure anyone would want to know what would happen next. November can't come fast enough, I need my Akiva fix ASAP!

Leave a comment with a link to your WoW and we'll check it out! :)

Review: I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

Title: I Hunt Killers (Jasper Dent #1)

Author: Barry Lyga

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Publication date: April 3rd 2012

Buy the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

What if the world's worst serial killer...was your dad?

Jasper (Jazz) Dent is a likable teenager. A charmer, one might say.

But he's also the son of the world's most infamous serial killer, and for Dear Old Dad, Take Your Son to Work Day was year-round. Jazz has witnessed crime scenes the way cops wish they could--from the criminal's point of view.

And now bodies are piling up in Lobo's Nod.

In an effort to clear his name, Jazz joins the police in a hunt for a new serial killer. But Jazz has a secret--could he be more like his father than anyone knows?

 (Summary from Goodreads)

Review:

I can honestly say that I Hunt Killers is one of the best books I've ever read. I don't think it was just the fear factor that got me, but I will get to that, it was also the sense of paranoia and excitement that you get reading a book like this. It isn't just a normal mystery/ thriller novel, it's a novel that literally places you in a killer's position. The details that Lyga placed in the story was impeccable and made it all the more creepy and good-bump inducing. I literally felt the hairs on my arms and neck go up as I was reading this book.

I really loved the way Barry Lyga built Jazz as a character. There was a complexity to his personality and character that really intrigued me and drew me in. Being the son of a world famous serial killer really does put a dent into a person’s psychological health and I felt like this issue was one of the things that made Jazz all the more interesting, the fact that there was a sort of trauma that he still had and probably would never go away. Jazz Dent was created with finely woven threads and as the books went on, slowly unraveled and revealed a multi-faceted character. Here is a boy who is loyal to his friends, loves his girlfriend but lives such a hard and conflicted life (I’d give him a pat on his back if I could.) As you read on with the book, you realize and feel the conflict that Jazz is going through. You’ll find out why he’s so haunted by the horrors that his father committed (and possibly he committed…), having to witness the things Jazz did, I’m pretty sure anyone would be scarred.

One of the things that really appealed to me about I Hunt Killers is the details of the book, and did think they were essential to the way the story was built. I really felt like it would’ve been incomplete if the story lacked those details and I really did like them. They made the story more creepy and intriguing.

I Hunt Killers isn’t just a normal thriller novel, it’s about overcoming your fears even if it’s yourself that you’re scared of. Barry Lyga did a wonderful job creating these characters and the story. There were a lot of times where I went “Oh, holy crap! That did NOT just happen” and “Oh. Em. Geee. Take me, Jazz.” It was an exhilarating book and will literally leave you gripping at the edges of the book and turning the pages furiously. Barry Lyga will take you to a dark and creepy world that will suck you in and in the end, will drown you in its magnificent structure and detailed writing. This book will definitely get you hooked and will linger in your mind even after days have passed since you read it. And the end will seriously leave you hanging (and got me cursing the publication date of the next book, which is April 2013.) I guarantee you that you will love this book and will seduce you until all you can do is give in to it wiles.

Rating:

Review: The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

Title: The Future of Us

Aithors: Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication date: November 21st 2011

Buy the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

It's 1996, and Josh and Emma have been neighbors their whole lives. They've been best friends almost as long - at least, up until last November, when Josh did something that changed everything. Things have been weird between them ever since, but when Josh's family gets a free AOL CD in the mail,his mom makes him bring it over so that Emma can install it on her new computer. When they sign on, they're automatically logged onto their Facebook pages. But Facebook hasn't been invented yet. And they're looking at themselves fifteen years in the future.

By refreshing their pages, they learn that making different decisions now will affect the outcome of their lives later. And as they grapple with the ups and downs of what their futures hold, they're forced to confront what they're doing right - and wrong - in the present. 

(Summary from Goodreads)

Review:

I had been itching to read this book for quite some time now. The summary seemed really interesting and my "kind" of book, but sadly, the "book high" (you know... when you're still all hanged-up from the story and keeping imagining alternative endings or scenes) didn't last as long as I expected. *SIGH*

My pity party lasted for a WHOLE DAY!

Here's why.

Our main characters Emma and Josh are waaaay back in 16 or so years ago, where internet was just starting out and they had to use those dial-up connections. Suddenly, Facebook pops out of nowhere and Emma and Josh are able to see their profiles at present day. What starts as innocent curiosity was immediately killed by the mixed up feelings cat, tumbling Emma into all sorts of unhappiness...

It's gonna take curiosity a lot more to kill this one.

While the story started out pretty good, and I really liked the original concept and story background, I found it a bit too... lacking. I felt like there wasn't a real depth to the story. The characters seemed shallow and superficial, although I do appreciate the sudden change of heart at the end and they learned the valuable lesson that a person will never be happy unless they live the moment. At least that's what I got. Emma seemed really selfish and she started to get crazy with the whole future thing, trying to change it too much. Josh on the other hand, was a pretty chill character. I almost feel bad for him for being stuck with crazy Emma. Overall, the book is a pretty OK, as long as you're not looking for a "serious" read that'll keep you up all night.

If the book didn't keep you up, Maybe this will!!

Rating:

Stacking the Shelves (1)

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews! It's where bloggers can share what they got for review, bought, borrowed, won or gifted (both physical and eBooks may be included! :D)

Here's what I got this week:

Bought:

Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1) by Sarah Maas (Goodreads)

The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell (The Land of Stories #1) by Chris Colfer (Goodreads)

Shadow of Night by (All Souls #2) Deborah Harkness (Goodreads)

Rift (Nightshade prequel #1) by Andrea Cremer (Goodreads)

The Selection (The Selection #1) by Kiera Cass (Goodreads)

Timepiece (Hourglass #2) by Myra McEntire (Goodreads)

Girl of Nightmares (Anna #2) by Kendare Blake (Goodreads)

Endlessly (Paranormalcy #3) by Kiersten White (Goodreads)

A Discovery of Witches (All Souls #1) by Deborah Harkness (Click HERE for my review)

Obsidian (Lux #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Goodreads)

I would like to thank my parents and Fully Booked!

Thanks for stopping by! :) Leave a comment with a link to your Stacking the Shelves post and we'll check it out!

Feature and Follow Friday (2)

Feature and Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read! :)

This week's question:

Q: What blogger inspires you? It can be any kind, it doesn't have to be a book blog.

A: There are a lot of really cool people I've met because of blogging but a few of them who've really inspired me are:

~ Nancy from A Lush Budget Productions: Tales of a Ravenous Reader

~ Andye and Amy from Reading Teen

~ Rachel from Fiktshun

~ Amy and Jennifer from Fictitious Delicious

Their blogs are all awesome! :D Oh and can I just say? I LOOOOOOVE their blogs~

Leave a comment with your answer and we'll check it out! :)

PS: Check out our 150 Follower Giveaway while you're here! :) Click HERE.

Waiting on Wednesday (4)

Waiting on Wednesday/s are hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine in which you choose a book or books that you're excited and waiting for.

This week's Waiting on Wednesday book is Velveteen by Daniel Marks:

Title: Velveteen

Author: Daniel Marks

Publication date: October 9th 2012

Pre-order the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Velveteen Monroe is dead. At 16, she was kidnapped and murdered by a madman named Bonesaw. But that’s not the problem.

The problem is she landed in purgatory. And while it’s not a fiery inferno, it’s certainly no heaven. It’s gray, ashen, and crumbling more and more by the day, and everyone has a job to do. Which doesn’t leave Velveteen much time to do anything about what’s really on her mind.

Bonesaw.

Velveteen aches to deliver the bloody punishment her killer deserves. And she’s figured out just how to do it. She’ll haunt him for the rest of his days.

It’ll be brutal... and awesome.

But crossing the divide between the living and the dead has devastating consequences. Velveteen’s obsessive haunting cracks the foundations of purgatory and jeopardizes her very soul. A risk she’s willing to take—except fate has just given her reason to stick around: an unreasonably hot and completely off-limits coworker.

Velveteen can’t help herself when it comes to breaking rules... or getting revenge. And she just might be angry enough to take everyone down with her.

(Summary from Goodreads)

Why I'm excited for this:

Not only is the cover so cool and dark, the summary will really catch your attention. I mean, reading about a girl stuck in purgatory and looking to exact revenge on her killer is definitely going to get you interested! I'm really excited to read about Velveteen and her "adventures" as well as see how Daniel Marks portrays purgatory.

Leave a comment with your WoW and we'll check it out! :)