That Bookish Girl

Tune in Tuesday {027)

2012-02-21T00:01:00.000-05:00

Tune in Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads. It's a fun way to share your favorite music with other bloggers and hopefully introduce them to so truly kickin' tunes :)

Matt Pond PA - Specks

Favorite Line: Hear your voice come across the pillows, whisper sweet and low
In the dark we're disappearing, in the dark we'll go

I saw The Vow with one of my friends on Valentine's Day and this song was in the movie. Honestly, I hated the movie, but Specks? Specks stuck with me. I've heard of Matt Pond PA before, but I've never heard a song of theirs that I've loved. That all changed with Specks.

Imagine Dragons - Radioactive

Favorite Line: I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones.
Enough to make my system blow
welcome to the new age

I'm straying a bit from the traditional format because this song is no where to be found on youtube. So if you please, go to the soundcloud link and enjoy. Because, believe me you will. Anyways, I LOVE Imagine Dragons and their new EP is absolutely epic. There isn't a song on there that I don't like. But.. Radioactive is my favorite. Demons & On Top Of The World are also awesome. And It's Time, well it has always been a favorite song of mine. You know, you can download a free copy of It's Time from their website. But seriously, do yourself a favorite and go download the EP. You won't regret it!

RADIOACTIVE

Lana Del Rey - Video Games

Favorite Line: Swinging in the backyard
Pull up in your fast car
Whistling my name

Open up a beer
And you say "Get over here
And play a video game"

It was really difficult for me to pick one song of hers to use for this. So I went with Video Games. She's got such a unique and distinctive sound that I can't help but love her.

Mike Doughty - Like a Luminous Girl

Favorite Line: I saw you in the shipwrecked disco
Ghosting, drifting 'cross the floor
Wondering where can this go
and how to get you out the door, out the door

This is an old favorite of mine. I was introduced to Mike Doughty on Veronica Mars and fell in love instantly. He's a bit quirky, but super cool. Plus his melodies are super catchy :)

Nikki & Rich - Next Best Thing

Favorite Line: I can truly say that it's not you it's me,
you can't cage a bird when they're made to be free

I can truly say that baby, it's on me
You can't fly a kite
When you ain't got a string

Again, I had the worst time choosing just one song. I love these two.

Tune in Tuesday {026)

2012-02-14T00:01:00.002-05:00

Tune in Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads. It's a fun way to share your favorite music with other bloggers and hopefully introduce them to so truly kickin' tunes :)

The Kills - Heart is a Beating Drum

Favorite Line: And when you come to hate her, show her more than just a spark

I love these guys. Honestly, almost every song surprises me. They have a very distinct groove to their sound.

First Aid Kit - Emmylou

Favorite Line: No I'm not asking much of you - just sing little darlin, sing with me

I'm getting my twang on again. No seriously guys, there is something about this song that just pulls me in. It's so raw and so honest - I just love it.

Mat Kearney - On and On

Favorite Line: If there's one thing that I need to hear from you, it's how we gonna see this through, how we gonna see this through? // Nothing worth anything ever goes down easy

Well you all know how much I love Mat. And if you don't.... have you been hiding under a rock? This is one of those tracks that really surprised me. He's got about 10 songs that gripped me right away, but every once in a while I connect to a new song. I mean, there isn't a song of his that I don't like, but I don't connect with them all, you know? I was driving home the other night and I had him on shuffle on my car stereo and this came up. I literally listened to it on repeat for the entire drive. I love when that happens: the universe aligns and a song just touches your heart.

Avalanche City - Love, Love, Love

Favorite Line: Girl, I say, if only life would lean our way,
Well, you and me, we'd run away to be wherever our adventure awaits,
And time would be a distant memory, nobody could tell us to stay,
Well, I've been dreaming ever since I've seen your heaven when you came my way.

Total and complete cuteness. I don't even really have anything else to say about it.

Review: Harbinger by Sarah Wilson Etienne

2012-02-10T08:58:00.000-05:00

Book: Harbinger by Sarah Wilson Etienne
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy
Buy A Copy: Amazon | Book Depository
Available Formats: Ebook / Hardcover
Publication Date: February 2nd, 2012
How Did I Get This Book: From Author, For Review
First Sentence: "My nose prickled with the stench of dead flowers and mildew."
Description: "Girl, Interrupted" meets "Beautiful Creatures" in this fast-paced thriller
When sixteen-year-old Faye arrives at Holbrook Academy, she doesn't expect to find herself exactly where she needs to be. After years of strange waking visions and nightmares, her only comfort the bones of dead animals, Faye is afraid she's going crazy. Fast.

But her first night at Holbrook, she feels strangely connected to the school and the island it sits on, like she's come home. She's even made her first real friends, but odd things keep happening to them. Every morning they wake on the floors of their dorm rooms with their hands stained red. Faye knows she's the reason, but what does it all mean? The handsome Kel tries to help her unravel the mystery, but Faye is certain she can't trust him; in fact, he may be trying to kill her - and the rest of the world too.

Rich, compelling writing will keep the pages turning in this riveting and tautly told psychological thriller.

I'm a bit on the fence about Harbinger. You see, I really, really wanted to adore it. The cover is beautiful, the concept is superb and the writing is absolutely gorgeous. So naturally, I thought that it would become of one of my favorite new books.

The problem I had - the only problem was that I was completely and utterly confused about 3/4 of the way through the book. Things take a crazy turn and I will admit that I got absolutely lost in the story. I was loving everything; the characters, the setting and the mysterious storyline and then Etienne threw in a huge plot-twist. For me, it was just too much. I didn't really understand what was happening and the book just left me completely and utterly confused. And because I was so invested in the characters and story, I was really put off by it. I wanted to understand what was going on.

But you know, that may just be me. I am sure that some of you will follow along beautifully. So, I would recommend that you give Harbinger a chance because (from what I understood) it was a beautiful book. It's dark, creepy, intense and exciting. Plus, like I said, the writing is absolutely lovely. I mean, look at all of the quotes I pulled - I obviously enjoyed that factor of the book. I'm going to have to give Harbinger 3 stars, because of the all the confusion. However, for others (who understand everything), I could easily see it being a 4-5 star book.

Favorite Quotes:

I'd learned early on that secrets were insidious things. And I had my own. Maybe the only reason people avoided my eyes was because they saw the wrongness in them.

This wasn't panic, this was madness.

Old memories fluttered in their cages and then vanished again as the air stilled.

THen he looked straight at me, and I saw a flicker of fear in his eyes before he looked away. Like I was an escaped tiger who might attack at any second. I had the urge to do just that. To rave and scream and claw. But my sense of defeat overwhelmed everything else.

"I was about to scream bloody murder when my stepmom popped her head in and told me to brush my teeth. 'Cause of course, dental hygiene is super important when you're being kidnapped."

It was like learning a new language, this back and forth. Kel's voice was sad and rough and funny all at the same time, and it made me want to tell him things.

She locked me in the dark and I said thank you.

It was more intoxicating than I ever imagined to have someone look at me like that. To let them see into me without flinching.

Was it so obvious that I was broken?

Because when Kel touched me, I was terrified. Terrified and so very alive.

A few heads were nodding now. They might not know what she was talking about,but they could smell blood.

His eyes flicked up and speared mine. Splaying my thoughts wide open. Every buried yearning sizzled to the surface. And as I burned, the world froze around me. The fence, the chatter, the Takers dropped away, and all that was left was an island of us.

But I didn't want to be his. I wanted to run through the dark. I wanted the hot breath of night against my skin. I wanted to be touched, but not eclipsed.

It's all fun and games until someone gets a Taser in the crotch.

Free Friday Reads {003}

2012-02-10T08:24:00.000-05:00

It's time for Free Friday Reads again! Today I've got a wide selection of both Nook Books and Kindle picks for you guys!

The Girl in the Converse Shoes by Yaritza Garcia
Nook

A geek is in search of the mysterious girl that kissed him on Halloween, but his only clues are her blonde hair...and her pink Converse shoes.

Bitten by Merrill Gemus

Kindle | Nook

Ally is pumped for this year's Halloween festivities! As she finally heads to Flambe, she bumps into the hottest vampire she has ever seen.

Dressed as a vamp herself, she is immediately drawn to the handsome dark stranger. Her friends disapprove, but Ally is unable to shake her attraction towards him.

Is he the one? Who exactly is he? And, boy does he look hot in those tight fitting jeans!

The Mating by Nicky Charles
Nook

Elise had no idea when she came home that day that she'd end up mated to a complete stranger. A new Alpha and the need for an alliance between packs have made her a pawn EXCERPT: She lay beside him, staring blankly at the ceiling. The deed was done. They were mated. It didn't matter that she had no love for him nor he for her. Political alliances were more important than feelings...

Thirst by Claire Farrell

Kindle | Nook

Ava Delaney calls herself a hybrid - a living, breathing human who happens to have vampire poison running through her veins. The only thing greater than her thirst for human blood is her capacity for guilt. She does her best to avoid the human world, for everyone's sake.

When Ava accidentally enslaves a human while saving him from a vampire, she realises she has to look for help setting him free. Despite her misgivings, she expands her world but finds herself dragged into a possible vampire civil war. With the help of some new friends with ambiguous loyalties, she tries to find a way to keep her human, and herself, alive.

Free Friday Reads {002}

2012-02-03T05:00:00.001-05:00

It's time for Free Friday Reads again! Today I've got a wide selection of both Nook Books and Kindle picks for you guys!

Reckless Magic - Rachel Higginson
Kindle | Nook

16 year old Eden Matthews has been in and out of private schools for the last two years. Kingsley is her last chance to finish high school and she is determined to simply do that. But when she meets Kiran Kendrick and her world opens to something she thought only existed in fairy tales, she's unsure what her future will hold. Suddenly she is captivated by a boy who seems to be the source of all of her problems and struggling to rescue her best friend from a foreign prison. When attempts are made on Kiran's life, Eden alone must save him. Thrust into a world that is more make-believe than reality, Eden has to find her own destiny without losing those she loves most. Reckless is an intricate story of mystery, adventure, magic and love. Eden Matthews is an unlikely heroine set on a path to save the world and her loved ones before its too late.

Anathema - K.A. Tucker

Kindle | Nook

Evangeline has spent her teenage years in obscurity. Her foster parents have the emotional aptitude of robots and her classmates barely acknowledge her existence. About to turn eighteen and feeling like a social pariah, she is desperate to connect with someone. Anyone.

When Evangeline meets Sofie after literally stumbling upon her café, she believes she’s found that connection. Willing to do anything to keep it, she accepts a job as Sofie’s assistant and drops everything to fly to Manhattan, where she is thrust into a luxurious world of Prada, diamonds, and limitless cash.

With such generosity and kindness, it’s easy for Evangeline to dismiss certain oddities . . . like Sofie’s erratic and sometimes violent behavior, and the monstrous guard dogs. She’s even willing to dismiss her vivid dreams of mob-style murders, beautiful homeless people living in caves, and white-eyed demons that haunt her each night as figments of her imagination—especially when one of those figments is the gorgeous Caden. When she wakes up with bite marks on her neck, the fairy tale quickly turns into a nightmare. She slowly unravels the mystery surrounding Sofie and friends, and the reality of the bites and the “dreams.” What she discovers is far more mysterious and terrible than anything she could have imagined.

In a world where everyone has motive to lie for personal gain, Evangeline must decide which deception is least likely to get her killed.

Survival - A.M. Hargrove
Kindle | Nook

"Maybe I was caught between the two worlds. I was having serious trouble distinguishing fantasy from reality."

While on a backpacking trip in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, nineteen-year-old Maddie Pearce finds her world has been thrown into a vortex and is madly spinning toward the impossible. Abducted by a mad psychopath, Maddie narrowly escapes with her life. But that is only the beginning. Her mysterious rescuer introduces her to a world that Maddie has difficulty accepting as reality. Will this strikingly gorgeous stranger be the key to her future or will she return to her mundane world, scarred from her experience? Follow Maddie as she is forced to make difficult decisions that carry her to mysterious places.

The Book of Deacon by Joseph Lallo

Kindle | Nook

The tale of Myranda Celeste, a young woman orphaned by a century long war, and her chance discovery of a fallen soldier's priceless cargo. The find will change her life, sending her on an adventure of soldiers and rebels, wizards and warriors, and beasts both noble and monstrous. Each step will bring her closer to the truth of her potential, of the war, and of the fate of her world.

The Queen's Blade - T.C. Southwell
Kindle | Nook

A doomed kingdom, a young queen’s sacrifice and a killer who will bring an empire to its knees...

In a world where men share kindred with beasts, an ageless seer predicts a child who will end the Endless War. One man is the instrument who will change fate. He will usher in a time of strife and pain that will live in legend, and forever bear his name... the time of the Queen’s Blade.

Tune in Tuesday {025}

2012-01-31T00:01:00.028-05:00

Tune in Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads. It's a fun way to share your favorite music with other bloggers and hopefully introduce them to so truly kickin' tunes :)

The Bandana Splits - Stay If You Wanna

Favorite Line: you don't have to go. You can stay if you wanna, leave if you have to, I don't want you to go.

I don't know if you guys know that I love Dawn Landes, but I do. She's wonderful (and the lucky wife of Josh Ritter), and a member of The Bandana Splits. I have their debut album and it's loaded with super cute and catchy tracks, but this one is my favorite :)

Grace Potter & The Nocturnals - That Phone

Favorite Line: It's for you to be alone, so I ain't picking up that phone

I love this lady. I love most of her music, but That Phone was an early favorite.

Lykke Li - I'm Good, I'm Gone

Favorite Line: Yeah, i know your hands will clap

Yes, it's totally my jam :)

Tune in Tuesday {024}

2012-01-24T00:01:00.003-05:00

Tune in Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads. It's a fun way to share your favorite music with other bloggers and hopefully introduce them to so truly kickin' tunes :)

AWOLNATION - Sail

Favorite Line: This is how an angel cries, I blame it on my own sick pride // Maybe I'm a different breed, maybe I'm not listening

So, guys. I've heard alot of hub-bub about AWOLNATION and honesty, I did not really get the big deal. Every song that I had heard just didn't really do anything for me. They left me feeling sort of meeh. You know? But, then something glorious happened. As you may or may not know, I am also a member of the youtube community; I've created music videos of my favorite TV shows for a few years now - it's just a creative thing that I enjoy. But anyways, there is quite a large YT community that does this sort of thing and I follow some pretty awesome people there. One of my favorite vidders posted this awesome Emma/Graham video (from Once Upon a Time) and it was set to an AWOLNATION song. I didn't know it was an AWOLNATION song when I first heard it, but I knew that I LOVED it. Anyways, yes. That's my story. I don't really like AWOLNATION's other songs, but... Sail? Sail is incredible.

Youth Lagoon - Daydream

Favorite Line: so I'll daydream about you and i'll think happy thoughts before somebody sees me oh please don't be gone

Youth Lagoon is really growing on me, guys. There are two songs that I really adore off of the EP "Year of Hibernation"; Daydream and Cannons. I can thank emusic for directing me to this little known artist :) I think I like Daydream more, although, I will admit that I'm not a huge fan of this breakdown halfway through the song. I don't hate it, but I don't love it either. But I do LOVE the beginning.

I think it's because I connect with the lyrics so much. I mean, yes, they are super simple. But let me tell you what, he could be describing me on any given night. I always find myself daydreaming to myself when I'm walking around late at night by myself. Before I get comments about how unsafe that is, believe me - I know. But sometimes it cannot be avoided. I have to take night classes sometimes, which means I have to walk around campus by myself in the dark. But, fear not, I always keep my pepper-spray handy. I ain't no fool :) Anyways, yes. I love this song.

Lifehouse - All in All

Favorite Line: Things don't stop and the others announce they're moving on, salt and tears in the minds in the mouths of a bad decision. Too late for another mistake, it's bringing me down. With all your faults it isn't your fault what's going on.

I adore Lifehouse and I am not ashamed to admit it. They are one of those bands that you don't really realize how wonderful they are. Everybody forgets (or dismisses) them. But if you look back through their discography, they have an ungodly amount of hits. Think about it, they have Hanging By A Moment, Breathing, You & Me, Halfway Gone, From Where You Are, Everything, Spin, First Time, Broken, All In and Whatever It Takes.Those are just their popular singles, and I am sure there are ones that I've missed. I bet you didn't realize how truly kickass they were did you? Oh and It Is What It Is (Which is awesome) was on the Vampire Diaries. So case closed. Lifehouse = AWESOME.

Sheryl Crow - My Favorite Mistake

Favorite Line: Until your guilt goes up in flames // Did you know, could you tell, you were the only one that I ever loved

My Favorite Mistake is hands down my favorite Sheryl Crow song... Well, let's just say it's tied with Strong Enough. I mean, everybody's been there. We've all loved someone who wasn't good for us and it's so damn catchy.

Mariah McManus - Say It Again

Favorite Line: I lose my mind trying to get in your line of sight // and if it's quite alright, I'd like to be the only one on your mind

I've been waiting for her CD to drop for... what about a year now? And guess what... it's here!!! You can get it on emusic for.. $4.90. Anyways, Say It Again was a single that came out this summer.. and I've pretty much played it into the ground. That and Unarmed - which was released quite a while ago. But my point is guys buy the CD. It's great. This is the acoustic version of Say it Again, but I just love the video.

Brandy - Almost Doesn't Count

Favorite Line: But you can't get to heaven half off the ground. Everybody knows, almost doesn't count

Who remembers this one? I always forget how much I love this song and then my ipod (who knows me better than I do) plays it and I have myself a little jam time. It's a simple song, but it's a well constructed song that just sticks with me. I love the melody, I love the lyrics and I love her voice on this. Everything comes together and it's just magic.

The Pipettes - Pull Shapes

Favorite Line: There's a whole floor before us just for you and me, so follow my lead and we'll 1, 2, 3

Ahh, the Pipettes. Their first CD, We Are the Pipettes is amazing. It's got this same retro-fabulous feel to it and it's just incredibly infectious. Their sophomore album, however kind of stinks. They went for a discoish sound and it just... doesn't work. But.. I still play We Are the Pipettes all the time... which obviously includes, Pull Shapes.

Review: Tempest by Julie Cross

2012-01-23T05:00:00.000-05:00

Book: Tempest by Julie Cross
Series: Tempest Trilogy #1
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy
Buy A Copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
Available Formats: Ebook / Hardcover
Publication Date: January 17th, 2012
First Sentence: "How far back should I go?"
How Did I Get This Book: From Publisher, For Review
Edition Review: ARC
Description: The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler. Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

Tempest by Julie Cross is the story of Jackson, a 19 year old guy who just happens to have the ability to time travel. It's definitely an exciting story that keeps you on your toes.

I was a bit worried I would have a difficult time keeping everything straight with all the time traveling. You see, there are all of these different rules and loopholes about time traveling that make it kind of an intimidating setup. Sometimes when Jackson travels back to the past it’s almost like a memory – he doesn’t really change the outcome. He can alter the past while he is in it, but it doesn’t change the future. But sometimes, once he starts getting the hang of time traveling he really can change things around. This means when he has interactions with people during a time jump, they sometimes remember it and they sometimes don’t - but Jackson always does. Am I confusing you yet? Honestly, I was intimidated by the whole thing, but it’s not hard to keep track us. Cross does a great job establishing the parameters of each time jump as well as the outcomes. I can see how it could get confusing when reading the next book, simply because everything won’t be fresh in your mind. I can just picture myself thinking, “does this person know that? I remember it happening, but did it still happen?”

Now I loved the concept of Tempest and I loved most of the plot. My main issue with the storyline is that we don’t really get a concrete vision of Holly and Jackson. Yes, their relationship takes center stage in the story, and we do see them together a lot, but it’s with all of these different versions of Holly. Let me explain – we’re back to the whole time travel thing. There are two main Holly’s in the book; 007 Holly and 009 Holly (Holly from 2007 and Holly from 2009). When the story begins, Holly and Jackson are living in 2009 and if I remember correctly met earlier that year. Well after some time travel gone haywire, Jackson gets stuck in 2007. He seeks out 007 Holly, but she obviously doesn’t remember him, because she hasn’t met him yet. So we’re got these two different versions of Holly, which mean, really we have two different relationships. So as a reader, it’s hard to come to grips with what their relationship actually is and how they are together. I know that I liked them well enough, but with two different Holly’s it really throws a monkey wrench in things. Honestly, I don’t know what I would have preferred happen. I did like the both Hollys and I liked Jackson with both of the Hollys. It was just hard to separate the Hollys from one another. I guess it would be different in 2009 Holly remembered 2007 Holly and Jackson, but she doesn’t. And there I go confusing you again.

Now, let’s talk about my favorite aspect of Tempest. There is this whole mystery/espionage thing incorporated into the story and let me just tell you – it is awesome. Jackson not only has to try and figure out how to control thing time traveling ability, he also has to unravel this mystery surrounding his life and the people around it. As the story progresses, he uncovers more and more secrets that make him question who he can really trust. Honestly, it’s incredibly exciting. There is another surprise around every corner and believe me; it all makes the mind reel.

I’m going to be straight with you guys, Tempest was awesome. It’s absolutely brimming with adventure, mystery and excitement. What am I looking forward to the most about the next book? Courtney. I caught that foreshadowing, Julie Cross. So bring it. Seriously everyone, you won’t be disappointed, go find yourself a copy right now!

Favorite Quotes

Bad. Very Bad. Absolute wrong thing to say. I cringed, waiting for her to shout or grab another shoe to launch in my direction.

"I don't mind hearing your secrets, even if they're sad."

Maybe it wasn't good and evil, but a whole bunch of gray area.

Her scream was deafening and I went into machine mode as I jumped. Not through time, but an actual jump. Off the roof.

I squeezed my arms around her so tight, I don't know how she kept breathing.

"I'm trying not to think about what we just saw, but I have a feeling therapy is in my near future."

Blog Tour // Review & Giveaway: The Curse of Gremdon by Ciara Knight

2012-01-21T05:00:00.002-05:00

I've got another blog tour for you guys! Today I've got a review and giveaway of The Curse of Gremdon by Ciara Knight. This tour stop is brought to you by Bewitching Book Tours.

Book: The Curse of Gremdon by Ciara Knight
Genre: Fantasy / Romance
Buy A Copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Available Formats: Ebook / Paperback
Publication Date: December 19th, 2011 (Crescent Moon Press)
How Did I Get This Book: From Blog Tour
First Sentence: Arianna inhaled the damp night air and glanced over the castle tower wall to the center courts.
Description: In a world where marriage is forbidden, sex is only granted to male warriors, and the outer realm is full of murderous creatures, Arianna fights to protect the life of her only living relative, her brother.

Tardon, an elite warrior, is granted anything he desires by the Elders, but finds little joy in the voluptuous women presented to him. Born for the bloodlust found only in battle, complicated emotions emerge when he discovers his equal in the alluring warrior, Arianna.

Charged by the Elders with saving the castle from attack, Tardon and Arianna risk the curse when they traverse the vast outer realm to retrieve serum from the Tree of Life. If successful, the Elders have promised Tardon the right to marry and Arianna the cure for her brother’s death fever. Will their love carry them through or will the discovery of a great deception be their ultimate demise?

The Curse of Gremdon was a well crafted fantasy rich with adventure and excitement. I loved the idea of Arianna being the only girl in a boys club. She is the only female warrior left in her rank and it has worked extremely hard to prove her worth. Arianna has been through a great deal during her life and she has faced every obstacle head on. When the book begins she is partaking in a fight with Tardon in hopes of becoming an elite warrior.

Tardon himself is an Elite warrior and he plays a large part in the story. You see, Tardon and Arianna fall in love, but they are forbidden from being together. It is against the law for Arianna (a female warrior) to have sex - which is something that I really didn’t understand. The reason given in the book is that it is believed it would mess with her ability to fight or something. The man warriors are encouraged to give into their desires; the Elder’s even send them “gifts” when they succeed in a battle. I understand that the double standard was necessary for the plot to move forward, but I wish it would have been explained a bit better.

Anyways, long story short, when the two are discovered a death sentence is hefted onto them. The only way they can redeem themselves (and earn the right to be together) is to set out on a dangerous quest for the Elder’s.

For me, this is when things started to fall apart a bit. About halfway through the book the plot began to drag. I especially had a difficult time getting through the scenes featuring Saldor. Saldor is the Dungeon Master (I don’t really know if that is the proper tile) and sort of takes Arianna under his wing. He develops a very strange attachment to her; much to Tardon’s (and my) dismay. I could never really understand what Saldor wanted and he just really rubbed me the wrong way. He is one of those characters that tries to do what’s best, but ends up making a huge mess of everything instead. And he does this repeatedly. I believe Knight intended readers to be sympathetic towards his character, but unfortunately I disliked him more and more as the book progressed.

Although the plot was slow at times, I did enjoy the overall story. And Let’s talk about the plot twists of all plot twists. About three quarters of the way through something happens that throws everything in Tardon and Arianna’s world on its head. It’s insane and I absolutely loved it.

I honestly enjoyed The Curse of Gremdon. It was heavier on the romance portion than I expected, but that didn’t really bother me. The underlying story was still well developed and the fantasy aspects well crafted, so everything balanced out rather nicely. Often with romance stories I find that the plot suffers, but that certainly wasn’t the case with The Curse of Gremdon.

Favorite Quotes

Both stood in a ready stance. Both gasped for air. Neither was willing to admit defeat.

Warmth curled through her belly, but no, she could not care for him. One day I might have to kill him.

That was all he could say. If any other words left his lips they would be things he should not say.

"Yes, I speak the truth. Now, silly woman, will you marry me?"

Light and darkness collided with hope. Darkness won.

About The Author:

Ciara Knight always had a passion for storytelling. At an early age, she wrote several short stories and poems, and in college she started work on her first novel. It wasn’t until late 2008 that she returned to her true passion of writing. Over the past few years she has penned five novels and joined several professional writing organizations to better her craft.

When not writing, she enjoys reading all types of fiction. Some great literary influences in her life include Edgar Allen Poe, Shakespeare, Francine Rivers and J K Rowling.

Ciara is happily married and enjoys family time. She has learned to embrace chaos, which is a requirement when raising three boys, and utilizes the insanity to create stories not of this world including, Fantasy, Paranormal, Sci-Fi, and Young Adult Dystopian.

Her first love, besides her family, reading, and writing, is travel. She’s backpacked through Europe, visited orphanages in China, and landed in a helicopter on a glacier in Alaska.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Ciara has been kind enough to provide two lucky readers with ebook copies of The Curse of Gremdon! This giveaway is open internationally and will close when the Blog Tour ends, on February 13th.

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Guest Post with Tawny Stokes - The Teen Inside Me

2012-01-20T05:03:00.000-05:00

Today I have a guest post from the completely awesome Tawny Stokes. Tawny is the author of the young adult paranormal books, Static and Demon Whisperer. I'd like to thank Roxanne over at Bewitching Book Tours for putting arranging Tawny's visit!

The Teen Inside Me

Tawny Stokes

I’m pretty sure I never really grew up. Not really. Sure I got married and had a kid, and got divorced and pay taxes and pay bills. I do all the adult things I’m supposed to. But deep down inside I still feel 16. Which is probably why writing YA feels so normal to me.

I’ve written a lot of books for adults but it wasn’t until I started writing YA that it felt truly right. Static was the first YA I’d written. And it was an easy book to write. And a joy to write. Some of it was like jotting down old memories. Vivid memories that I could still see, and hear and feel.

Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean that Salem’s experiences were mine. Although I had attended many gigs when I was a teen, and I did travel around following different bands, I have in no way had any contact with an incubus and have ever been turning into anything unnatural. *looks in mirrors checks eyes*. Nope, still good.

It was the same when I wrote Demon Whisperer. It was easy. Well, not easy easy, all writing is hard, but I didn’t have to think about what I was writing, it just flowed. The difficult part was not interjecting my thought processes into the way Caden would think and behave. He’s 17 and I’m well, not 17, and I have many life experiences, I’ve learned the hard way some tough lessons. So, sometimes it proved difficult to allow Caden to make those mistakes when I knew better. I didn’t want Caden to do dumb stuff, make poor decisions, but I knew to keep his voice authentic I had to let go. And remember all those painful moments from my teen years. In some ways, it was fun to relive them. Like first love. That’s always my favourite thing to re-experience, that rush. And Caden’s got it bad for Aspen. :)

So now I’ve come up with the 5 ways you can tell you have a teenager living inside of you, for all those adults out there…

You call everyone dude
Your thumbs have callouses from texting
Your iPod, iPhone and other devices are part of your iDentity
You are either Team Gale or Team Peeta, or the fact that you think in teams when it comes to dudes
Other words in your vocabulary are: epic, uber, junk and awesomesauce
You watched the Hunger Games movie trailer ten times in a row. (Okay, that might’ve just been me)

Tawny Stokes

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Tawny Stokes has always been a writer. From an early age, she’d spin tales of serial killers in love, vampires taking over the world, and sometimes about fluffy bunnies turned bunnicidal maniacs. An honour student in high school, with a penchant for math and English, you’d never know it by the foot high blue Mohawk and Doc Martens, which often got her into trouble. No longer a Mohawk wearer, Tawny still enjoys old school punk rock, trance, zombie movies, teen horror films, and fluffy bunnies. She lives in Canada with her fantastical daughter, two cats, and spends most of her time creating new stories for teens.

Tawny also writes adult paranormal/urban fantasy fiction under the name Vivi Anna, and is an aspiring screenwriter.

Demon Whisperer by Tawny Stokes

Genre: Paranormal YA

Buy Now: Amazon Kindle | Smashwords

Awake a year-long coma, where he literally spent in hell, Caden Butcher, 17, developed a special power. He can speak to demons in their own language. This new trick helps him take over the family exorcism business, from his broken alcoholic father. Having to take care of the finances, Caden makes a decent income getting rid of demons. He’s known as the young whiz-kid exorcist to the stars, obtaining most of his work in Hollywood. But what others don't know is the exorcisms are all staged with the help of his best buddy, a demon he met in hell named Dantalion (Dan).

When an exorcism goes wrong, Caden discovers the demon inside a teen girl is not the run of the mill malicious entity but an adversary from down under who is hell bent on Caden’s destruction. The International Order of Exorcists, an organization that tolerates Caden at best because of his respected father, starts their own investigation because of his screw up.

Now with the help of his demon buddy, and Caden’s girlfriend Aspen Spencer, a skilled necromancer, Caden must track down the rogue demon before he can expose Caden as a fraud and destroy everything that matters to him in his life, ending his reign as the one and only Demon Whisperer.

Static by Tawny Stokes
Genre: Paranormal YA
Buy Now: Amazon | Smashwords

Be careful what you listen to....

During the summer before her senior year, 17 year old band groupie, Salem Vale, has been following her favorite punk rockers, Malice, from gig to gig hoping that one night she might get backstage and meet the sinisterly sexy guys. She’s been saving her virginity for the lead singer Thane. One fateful evening she gets her wish. It’s a dream come true.

Except the dream turns to a nightmare when she wakes up in a dumpster, tossed away like yesterday’s trash, with no memory of what happened the night before. She feels strange, different, as if something is trying to get out. Soon she realizes she’s changing…turning into something not quite human.

Now a hunger deep inside claws at her to feed, to siphon energy from those around her. Before she can do just that, Trevor, the band’s roadie shows up and stops her from killing. With his help she learns to control the hunger inside, because he’s just like her. And in return he wants her help to do one little thing…

Help him kill the members of Malice.

Free Friday Reads {001}

2012-01-20T05:01:00.001-05:00

I've decided to start a new feature at That Bookish Girl, Free Friday Reads. Now that the Kindles and Nooks are more affordable, more and more people are switching over reading ebooks. I myself have a Nook and I love it. So I decided to start a feature that highlights different ebooks that are free to read. Because who doesn't love free books? I will post deals for both Amazon and Barnes & Noble (Kindle & Nook) so that everybody has something new to read :)

The Glassheart Chronicles - Courtney Cole, J.L. Bryan, Fisher Amelie, Wren Emerson, Amy Jones, Tiffany King & Nicole Williams
Kindle | Nook

The Glassheart Chronicles is a short story anthology written by a talented cast of Paranormal YA authors.

Fisher Amelie (author of The Leaving series), J.L. Bryan (author of the Paranormals series), Courtney Cole (author of The Bloodstone Saga), Wren Emerson (author of the Witches of Desire series), Amy Maurer-Jones (author of The Soul Quest trilogy), Tiffany King (author of the Saving Angels series) and Nicole Williams (author of the Eden Trilogy) come together in this captivating anthology to each write a short story about a character from their already existing novels.

This lively group of authors shine in this anthology. If you enjoyed the following books:
Jenny Pox (J.L. Bryan)
The Understorey (Fisher Amelie)
Fated (Courtney Cole)
I Wish...(Wren Emerson)
Soul Quest (Amy Maurer-Jones)
Meant To Be (Tiffany King)
Eternal Eden (Nicole Williams)

Then you will love these short stories, each of which provides a further look at the characters you have already grown to love.

The Arrival (Birth Right Trilogy #1) - Nicole MacDanald
Nook

Cat, Kassie, Sian and Loi are anything but damsels in distress.
Fed up with a lack of decent male specimens they cast a love spell in the hopes of finding their soul-mates. And inadvertently land themselves on another planet. Oops.

The Arrival, follows the girls' adventures as they stumble through a foreign and often hostile world where humans are NOT at the top of the food chain. Friendships are forged and love teeters on the horizon while the threat of civil war looms thanks to the girls' very unexpected 'gifts'. Will the girls master these gifts in time to survive a war in which, not only are they the ultimate weapons, but also the ultimate prize?

Sojourner (Sojourner Series #1) - Maria Rachel Hooley
Kindle

Seventeen-year-old Elizabeth Moon has been dreaming of her murder her entire life, and in those dreams, a dark presence is there, watching. When she returns home to Hauser's Landing, the very place her father disappeared, she comes in contact with a gorgeous boy named Lev Walker, and it's not long before she's falling in love. But there's something wrong with Lev. When she realizes he's the eerie watcher in her dreams, she'll have to discover the truth. Is he a guardian angel or a sojourner, an angel of death who has come to collect her soul?

Blog Tour // The Mers by Ami Blackwelder {REVIEW & EXCERPT}

2012-01-19T00:01:00.010-05:00

This blog tour was put together and hosted by Bewitching Book Tours. Today We've got a review & excerpt for you guys!

Book: The Mers by Ami Blackwelder
Genre: Dystopian / Young Adult
Buy A Copy: Amazon
Available Formats: Ebook / Paperback
Publication Date: October 19th, 2011
How Did I Get This Book: From Blog Tour
Description: A Mermaid Dystopian
What lies beneath the surface? One hundred years from now, the world has changed and brought with it, new forms of life. Who are the Mers? Who is Mira? Mira always knew she was different. Growing up with Mers, she never quite fit in. When Mira breaks the rules and takes Niren across the border that divides Ellis Island and New Jersey, a border that divides two vastly different worlds, she thought the journey to find out who she really is would be an easy one. But as the world in Jersey proves to be a convoluted mix of Aristocrats who hate the Mers, Pirates who want to sell them, and Magi who want to use them...finding her true identity will be a challenge, especially when her best friend Niren is a Mer willing to fight to the death.

The Mers features an Interesting take on the tradition mermaid story. Blackwelder puts a dystopian spin on things and sets her story in a futuristic New York / New Jersey. The Mers themselves are not your traditional take on mer-people either. They are an evolved race of humans; after the world floods over humans began adapting and developing gills and webbed fingers, toes and legs. Soon friction develops between the two races - mainly on the human side of the story. Well long story short, war breaks out and humans come out on top and end up being downright nasty – killing Mers for sport and what not.

The story centers around Mira, a teenage girl who has grown up with the Mers. Mira know she is different; it is obvious to her that she isn’t a Mer. She doesn’t have gills, webbed limbs and can’t even really swim. While I liked the idea behind this setting, I thought Mira (and those around her) who a little slow coming to this conclusion. Obviously Mira knows she is different, but she was a bit slow on the uptake. She’s 17 when the story begins and nobody has come out and told her she was a human. She doesn’t look like anyone else in her community (they are all Mers); yet it’s still kept like some big secret. She states that everyone knows she is different, but nobody talks about it. And the children all think she is a Mer. When her parents finally tell her about her true linage (it happens early on in the story, so it’s not much of a spoiler!), she is completely shocked. What? How is that shocking? I am pretty sure we all knew you were adopted.

Well, anyways, back on track. Mira soon embarks on a dangerous journey to find her real parents and find out who she really is. Now, like I said, I loved the idea of this book. I think the plotline is incredibly creative and has a ton of potential. That was an A+ for me. But, I really struggled with the character connection. I just couldn’t get emotionally invested into Mira’s story, even though I wanted to. The characters came off a bit flat and my attachment to them suffered as a result.

That being said, I’d still recommend The Mers. It was an interesting light read that will keep you entertained. I didn’t love it, but it was decent. I will definetly be open to reading more of Blackwelder’s work in the future.

EXCERPT:

Liberty Shore

On the abandoned shores of Ellis Island, New York, Mira watched the pink horizon blend with subtle tones of grey and muted purples until the broken sky became an endless abyss of blackness and countless stars. Even the Statue of Liberty was barely visible anymore. Only a faint tip of Liberty’s torch stuck out of the brazen waters that had risen steadily each year for the last one hundred years.

Most of the land masses on Earth were now covered in water, with exception to mountains, and a few regions that had been prepared before the Great Deluge. Because scientists warned of the events that would transpire, the wealthiest of the world built upward upon some of the existing land to create higher ground level. Manhattan, along with Ellis island, being some of these coveted regions that the wealthiest did not want to give up to flooding.

Mira only knew of a few places still in existence, such as New York, New Jersey, and Washington state. She heard rumors there were bits of land on Africa, Europe, and Asia, but she never traveled outside of her home to know for sure. Besides, she would miss Nerin too much if she ever left, and she had everything she would ever need right here, right now. Hadn’t she?

Sliding his webbed fingers over Mira’s left shoulder, Nerin plopped next to her and took a deep breath. Handing her one of his many paper origami designs, he placed a dove into her open palm.

“For you. For peace....and overcoming fear.” Taking in a deep breath, he took pleasure in the smell of the salty sea. The ocean had captivated him, maybe as much as any young lady in Liberty Shore might captivate him. But his fixed gaze fell to Mira time and time again, more than anyone else. Something about her innocence and frankness drew him to her.

“Thanks,” Mira blushed. He always gave her things.

“I knew I’d find you here,” Nerin glanced in her direction, his eyes lit up like fire crackers.

“You know me well, I guess,” Mira blushed, her freckled cheeks reddening as she tilted her head towards him. Curling her legs underneath her chest, she shivered in the cool breeze and hugged her legs with arms covered in a maroon sweater. Nerin, enchanted with her beautiful, cherry-red hair, softly combed his webbed fingers through it.

“What is it about this spot?” Nerin raised a dark brow above his yellow eyes, untangling his hand from her hair.

“I don’t know,” she shrugged. “I feel on the brink of discovery here....like there is something more beyond the horizon.”

“Yes, more ocean,” he chuckled, the crooked corner of his lip rose when he laughed.

“Don’t poke fun,” Mira nudged him with a hard elbow, “Besides, this place is important to your...you too.” She almost said, “your kind, too,” but remembered she didn’t want to make that distinction yet. Others noticed her differences. She saw her differences. But no one said anything out loud.

“Yes...” Nerin rolled his neck back in thought; his shining, yellow eyes matched the stars radiance in the darkened purple sky. Mira never got over the fact that his eyes, everyone’s eyes, glowed yellow. Why hadn’t hers? “A lot of history here. It’s not called Liberty Shore for nothing. My parents told me this is the one place where Mers can live freely.”

Mira sighed, the mention of the word Mers always nearly brought her to tears. As if they somehow did not belong to the human race. As if their unique features existed only to remind the human world of the abominations of God. Why were there such class distinctions? After all, it wasn’t their fault the flood had happened.

One hundred years ago, humans began to reap what they had sewn. The Earth fought back with vengeance. Water saturated the planet in what had been dubbed the Great Deluge. Much of the land on Earth vanished underneath the seas. Many humans died, but those who survived became divided.

The human Epigenome began to adapt, more quickly than anyone realized. Within decades, new features began sprouting up on a number of babies, but not all babies shared these characteristics. A new class had been born and separated, exiled as others called it, but it didn’t matter the name given. The treatment and the result were the same. Humans did not want to intermix with this new breed....a breed dubbed “the Mers.” The more strange Mer features became, the more discriminating the human laws became.

“Have you ever even seen the outside world?” Fixing the falling sleeve from her shoulder, Mira met Nerin with those grey-blue eyes that pierced into his heart. She could say a thousand words with only a look. She had that look now as though she searched the deepest parts of his soul for answers.

“The out...side world?” The words caught in his throat. He had been to the border where Ellis Island met Jersey but no further. “Uh...no, not really. Why, you plan on going?” His expression cast a shadow of dread over her.

“I...don’t know,” she shrugged again, pretending she hadn’t thought about it or planned it over and over again in her mind. How she would sneak off in the middle of the night and peak, only peak, over the border line and, if no one was around, how she would high-tail it into the forbidden city. Sure, she might get dirty and acquire a few scrapes. Maybe even have a few hungry and homeless nights. But what she would find would surely be greater than she could imagine.

“You want to go. I know you, Mira. You can’t shrug and pretend. I see the longing in your eyes. You can’t hide from me.” And she couldn’t. Nerin had been her best friend for ten years. Ever since she had turned seven.

Remembering how he met her, Nerin saw her standing by the tide, lapping over her bare toes. Fiddling with her damp dress, she splashed up water with each jump. Giggles puffed her cheeks and her cherry-red hair caught his attention. No one on Liberty Shore looked like her. He wanted one kiss.

Tip-toeing up behind her, Mira’s attention was focused on the salty sea. When Nerin stepped one foot behind her, he tapped her shoulder, causing her to flip around to greet him for the first time face-to-face. Puckering his lips, he waited for his kiss. His toes balanced, teetering as he extended his form forward.

Slapping her hand across his cheek, Mira’s cheeks turned blood red while Nerin’s face blushed pink. Surprised, Nerin stumbled backward while keeping his stark yellow pupils focused on her. Mira’s face bunched up like an animal warding off enemies. But as Nerin retreated, he felt sure in each step that he would see her again.

Lifting from his memory, Nerin fixed his attention on the Mira who now sat next to him...ten years older.

“I don’t want to talk about this,” Mira changed her mind. The truth was always too much for her to bear. What could she tell him? She wanted to break Mer law and jump ship? Well, it was more of a harbor of water with interspersed boat homes. There were a few walkways made of wood tied from pole to pole to keep them above the water, but still. Further, it would break human law and no Mer wanted the wrath of the Aristo City Hall, the highest branch of human government since the Great Deluge.

The notion of Mira leaving him, of risking her life, or putting the lives of Mers in danger all because of her curiosities left Nerin nervous and angry. Dusting her hands off against her faded jeans, she played with a hole in them that had formed over her knee, hoping to avoid another conversation about the outside world. But Nerin turned his whole body toward her; his hand tightly gripped her forearm.

“You DON’T want to go outside,” his voice rose, and he pressed his face closer. Shimmering yellow eyes scanned her delicate facial features, revealing his distress.

“You don’t know what I want,” Mira yanked her arm away and stood with a huff.

“I do. I heard every word. You-want-to-cross-into-forbidden-land!” He said it like he discussed the plague. “And risk all our lives!”

“I...I...,” she couldn’t think of anything to convince him of her reasoning. Mers were taught all their lives that crossing into human land is punishable. That it would draw danger to them. He would never understand.

Her eyes glanced at Nerin’s shocked expression, and then she knew she could say no more. Instantly, she was remorseful, “I’m sorry, I don’t know what I’m saying.” Extending her hand to him, he slapped his palm against hers and pulled him up. His anger had diminished at her touch and the mini-feud forgiven. He could never stay mad at Mira for long.

Walking away from the shore, where the ocean crested some of the scarce and coveted land, Mira and Nerin walked hand-in-hand. Not because they were boyfriend and girlfriend, though both had thought about it more than once, but because Mer tradition permeated Ellis Island -Liberty Shore-; friends always walked hand-in-hand.

Liberty Shore, as the Mers called it, had been Mira’s home for as far back as she could remember, and it covered Ellis Island and part of New York. But lately, she kept having memories of a different life. The kind of life where humans took care of her. Not surprising, after all, she didn’t look like a Mer. She didn’t have webbed feet or webbed thighs. She didn’t have gills underneath her lungs. Heck, she couldn’t even swim that well!

She had known for a while she wasn’t a Mer, but she would never tell that to her father or mother. After all, she wouldn’t want to break their heart. They raised her and told her, despite what she looked like on the outside, she was Mer in her heart through-and-through, and that was all that mattered.

The Mers, despite their aquatic features, always had something the human race envied: beauty. Despite the grotesque webbing of Mer fingers, toes, and inner-thighs, what made any high-class human jealous were the striking eyes, wavy hair, and creamy complexions. The human’s jealousy was so intense they did not care if a Mer was killed for their attributes. And some Mers were. They were hunted like fish to be sold to the highest bidder as prized possessions. Like slavery long ago, when humans looked at Mers, what they saw was property and commodity. The worst of these humans...Pirates.

The practice, though outlawed, still existed among the Pirate circles. The Pirates stole what they could to survive. Capturing and selling a Mer brought in plenty of money but only if the Mer features were at their best. To achieve this, experience had taught Pirates to keep the Mers alive in coffins of water aboard their ships, until they could be sold.

However, Pirates were far from Mira’s and Nerin’s mind. After scurrying around a few ponds and leaping over puddles like frogs, Mira and Nerin raced across the sporadic spots of soil. They ran as they did when they were children, racing through the neighborhood after school, only slowing when approaching her home. Mira always had the advantage in running as Nerin’s webbed feet were more suited for swimming.

“You look so funny in that thing,” Mira pointed at the wavy movements of his kilt.

“What else could I wear? Pants?!” Niren jested, a tug at his inner legs, catching the webbing of his thighs. The webbing that extended from his upper inner leg to several inches above the knee reminded Mira that pants with their inner seams would not fit Mers. She had grown used to Mers walking around with kilts instead of pants, but the sight of Nerin in one always made her blush.

“Maybe a long tunic?” Mira teased, and Niren rolled his eyes.

A minuscule, three-roomed shack made of wood hung high on thick stilts. What humans would call a combined living/kitchen area and two bedrooms, the Mers called a litch and two sleepers. Mers didn’t need homes as much as humans did. They spent most of their time in the ocean. When they spent too many days out of water, Mer skin began to shrivel and dry like a snake shedding layers of skin, the sight not often pretty.

Home really meant a place to eat and sleep, and other than those two activities, Mers rarely stayed inside. As bedtime approached, Mira rushed up the cracking wooden steps and swung the door open. Niren waved good-bye after her retreating form and leapt off the steps into the puddles draining from underneath her house; a house, like many others, that harbored puddles...a result of the Great Deluge. If not for the stilts lifting the shack, the home would be submerged in salty water.

Entering her home, Mira’s eyes gazed over the wooden furniture. Most furniture had to be of wood because the factories were destroyed in the flood and left little capability to make anything else. But what Mers lacked in material, they made up for in artistry. Hand-carved flowers and geometric shapes decorated most pieces.

Mira’s father and mother, otherwise known as Zale and Marina, sat in the litch, relaxing in a set of wooden rocking chairs that surrounded the table. They rocked back and forth, making the hand-carved tulips on the arms of the rocking chair appear to blow in wind. Mira’s father kept a close eye on her as she strolled inside, hoping they wouldn’t notice she was late...again.

“What?” Mira’s guilt gave her away, and she threw her arms up, fingers fanning.

“You know I expect you home before dark. No telling what kind of dangers you might run into out there.” Crossing his arms over his chest, her father stood. A strong man with muscles carved from years of hard, outside labor. No stubble grew over his pointy chin as Mers didn’t have body hair over their soft, luminescent skin. Like most Mers, he remained shoeless. They preferred to travel over land on webbed feet, for the thick layers of extra skin provided comfort like a shoe.

“I...,” she didn’t want to fight, and she had recently learned in school all of the real reasons for danger, but she had to stand her ground. After all, she was notorious on Liberty Shore for her out-spoken personality. “I wanted to see the sunset on shore. Is that so wrong?” She innocently batted her long lashes, a habit she couldn’t help. Being the only one in Liberty Shore with long lashes, legs, real toes and fingers, the Mers thought of her as an angel. The young Mers anyway, the older Mers knew better. They’d seen war between humans and their kind. They’d seen how fiendish humans could be.

But the brutal history that led to Liberty Shore, wasn’t taught to Mers in school until they turned seventeen. This violent history is what Mira and Niren now understood. Until seventeen, the Mers lived in a bubble of ignorance. They were only warned to come home before dark. The reasons extended as far as, “because I told you so,” or “because it’s dangerous,” but rarely did parents talk about the real reasons.

“Yes, it’s wrong when you know good and well that we expect you back before dark and especially since learning about all the atrocities our Mer ancestors had to endure at the hands of humans and Pirates. I would think school would have scared you straight.”

“I...” What could she say? I’m not a Mer. “I’m sorry. I won’t stay out late again.” But both she and her parents knew she would. Something on the edge of the horizon, between Liberty Shore and New Jersey, beckoned to her, like a taunting ghost calling to her night and day. Too many unanswered questions left her restless.

She quickly fell asleep after she flopped on her small, quilted cot. It was not very large, not a king-sized or queen-sized bed, but more of a twin-sized bed. And all hers. How could she complain, no Mers slept in anything larger than two yards of space. Space was an expensive commodity with land so scarce. Somewhere in the middle of her dreams, she awoke.

A “who-who” sprung from the mouth of the owl perched on the lone, naked tree outside of her stained window. Midnight, a sliver of moon reflected silver light over the tree like the delicate veil to a wedding dress. She couldn’t take her eyes off the spotted owl that wore his feathers like a wise man wears his beard. Each sound he made posed a question to her. “Who-who,” the owl sang again and she flung her legs off the cot with a huff and pressed her pudgy nose to the window, “who-who.”

“What?!”

“Who-who.”

“Yes,” she sighed with a set of hands to her hips, “I want to know w-h-o I am too.” With that, the owl flew away and disappeared into the black abyss of sky.

About The Author:

Ami Blackwelder is a forbidden romance writer in the paranormal, scifi, and historical genres. Growing up in Florida, she went to UCf and in 1997 received her BA in English and teaching credentials. She travelled overseas to teach in Thailand, Nepal, Tibet, China and Korea. Thailand is considered her second home now. She has always loved writing and wrote poems and short stores since childhood; however, her novels began when she was in Thailand. She also wrote three nonfiction spiritual books at this time.

Achievements:
In university, having won the Best Fiction Award from the University of Central Florida (Yes, The Blair Witch Project University;), her fiction From Joy We Come, Unto Joy We Return was published in the on campus literary magazine: Cypress Dome and remains to this day in University libraries around the country. Later, she achieved the Semi-Finals in a Laurel Hemingway contest and published a few poems in the Thailand’s Expat magazine, and an article in the Thailand’s People newspaper. Additionally, she has published poetry in the Korea’s AIM magazine, the American Poetic Monthly magazine and Twisted Dreams Magazine.

Ami's Blog

Tune In Tuesday {023}

2012-01-17T00:01:00.001-05:00

Tune in Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads. It's a fun way to share your favorite music with other bloggers and hopefully introduce them to so truly kickin' tunes :)

Bedouin Soundclash (feat. Coeur de pirate) - Brutal Hearts

Favorite Line: So use me // I'm just glad you want me at all

So, I have a confession to make. I LOVE Coeur de pirate. I don't speak a lick of French, but her music is just so... lovely. I have both of her CDs and don't know a single word to any of the songs, but I love them all. So.. when she was featured on this song (WHICH IS IN ENGLISH) I jumped for joy.

Ellie Goulding - Every Time You Go

Favorite Line: It starts with forever and it ends with a touch. And I know that you're clever, and I don't ask for much.

Love Ellie. LOVE her.

Florence + The Machine - Drumming Song

Favorite Line: Louder than sirens, louder than bells. Sweeter than heaven, and hotter than hell. // There's a drumming noise inside my head that starts when you're around. I swear that you cold hear it, it makes such an all mighty sound.

Who doesn't love Florence + The Machine? I certainly do. You know.. when I first dyed my hair red, I used the same color formula as she does. My came out more blonde, though. Anyways, back to the music. I cannot possibly pick my favorite Florence song; but this one is definitely in the running :)

The Black Keys - I'm Not the One

Favorite Line: You wanted it all, but I give you - give you none. I'm not the one. // Well like a toy to a kid, I said jump and momma, you did.

The Black Keys are one of my favorite bands EVER. Honestly, I cannot think of one of their songs that I dislike. My favorite changes every other day, but this is a current favorite of mine :)

Coldplay - Gravity

Favorite Line: Baby, it's been such a long time coming. Such a long, long time.

This song was written by Coldplay and apparently this track was given to someone else.. I don't remember the band. From what I gather it was a big hit across the pond. But, I love my Coldplay. I love my Chris Martin and I much prefer this version :)

Cake - Love You Madly

Favorite Line: I don't want to sit across the table from you wishing I could run // When I kiss your lips I want to sink down to the bottom of the sea

Yes, I love me some Cake :) Plus, isn't this video fun? They certainly have some talent.

In My Mailbox {047}

2012-01-15T00:01:00.001-05:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren!

Tangled (Torn Trilogy #2) by Erica O'Rourke

(Kensington Publishing)
For Review

Constance started to keen as the air around us began to thrash and twist, the caustic scent of ozone burning my nose. As I watched, her dark gold hair began to lift and kink into knots.

“I’m here. It’ll be okay.” It was the last thing I said before my best friend’s little sister went supernova in the second-floor girls’ bathroom, taking me with her.

A month ago, Mo Fitzgerald risked her life to stop an ancient prophecy and avenge her best friend's murder. Now, she only wants to keep her loved ones safe. But the magic—and the Chicago Mob—have other plans.

Mysterious, green-eyed Luc is back, asking for help—and a second chance. Colin, her strongest protector, is hiding a shocking secret. And inside Constance, the magic is about to go terribly wrong. Tangled in a web of love and betrayal, Mo must choose between the life she's dreamed of and the one she's destined for.

Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin
(G.P Putman & Sons / Putman Juvenile)
For Review

Kelsey Finkelstein is fourteen and FRUSTRATED. Every time she tries to live up to her awesome potential, her plans are foiled – by her impossible parents, her annoying little sister, and life in general. But with her first day of high school coming up, Kelsey is positive that things are going to change. Enlisting the help of her three best friends — sweet and quiet Em, theatrical Cass, and wild JoJo — Kelsey gets ready to rebrand herself and make the kind of mark she knows is her destiny.

Things start out great - her arch-nemesis has moved across the country, giving Kelsey the perfect opportunity to stand out on the soccer team and finally catch the eye of her long-time crush. But soon enough, an evil junior’s thirst for revenge, a mysterious photographer, and a series of other catastrophes make it clear that just because KELSEY has a plan for greatness… it doesn’t mean the rest of the world is in on it.

Kelsey’s hilarious commentary throughout her disastrous freshman year will have you laughing out loud—while being thankful that you’re not in her shoes, of course…

The Earthquake Machine by Mary Pauline Lowry

(AuthorHouse Publishing)

For Review

The Earthquake Machine tells the story of 14 year-old Rhonda. On the outside, everything looks perfect in Rhonda's world but at home Rhonda has to deal with a manipulative father who keeps her mentally ill mother hooked on pharmaceuticals. The only reliable person in Rhonda's life is her family's Mexican yardman, Jesús. But when the INS deports Jesús back to his home state of Oaxaca, Rhonda is left alone with her increasingly painful family situation. Determined to find her friend Jesús, Rhonda seizes an opportunity to run away during a camping trip with friends. She swims to the Mexican side of the Rio Grande and makes her way to the border town of Boquillas, Mexico. There a peyote-addled bartender convinces her she won't be safe traveling alone into the country's interior. So with the bartender's help, Rhonda cuts her hair and assumes the identity of a Mexican boy named Angel. She then sets off on a burro across the desert to look for Jesús. Thus begins a wild adventure that explores the borders between the United States and Mexico, adolescence and adulthood, male and female, English and Spanish, and adult coming-of-age and Young Adult novels.

A Brush of Darkness (Abby Sinclair #1) - Allison Pang
(Pocket Books)
For Review

The man of her dreams might be the cause of her nightmares.
Six months ago, Abby Sinclair was struggling to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Now, she has an enchanted iPod, a miniature unicorn living in her underwear drawer, and a magical marketplace to manage. But despite her growing knowledge of the OtherWorld, Abby isn’t at all prepared for Brystion, the dark, mysterious, and sexy-as- sin incubus searching for his sister, convinced Abby has the key to the succubus’s whereabouts. Abby has enough problems without having this seductive shape-shifter literally invade her dreams to get information. But when her Faery boss and some of her friends vanish, as well, Abby and Brystion must form an uneasy alliance. As she is sucked deeper and deeper into this perilous world of faeries, angels, and daemons, Abby realizes her life is in as much danger as her heart—and there’s no one she can trust to save her.

A Sliver of Shadow (Abby Sinclair #2) - Allison Pang
(Pocket Books)
For Review

Just when her new life as a TouchStone – a mortal bound to help OtherFolk cross between Faery and human worlds – seems to be settling down, Abby Sinclair is left in charge when the Protectorate, Moira, leaves for the Faery Court. And when the Protectorate’s away…let’s just say things spiral out of control when a spell on Abby backfires and the Faery Queen declares the Doors between their worlds officially closed.

The results are disastrous for both sides: OtherFolk trapped in the mortal world are beginning to fade, while Faerie is on the brink of war with the daemons of Hell. Along with her brooding eleven prince Talivar and sexy incubus Brystion, Abby ventures to the CrossRoads in an attempt to override the Queen’s magic. But nothing in this beautiful, dangerous realm will compare to the discoveries she’s making about her past, her destiny, and what she will sacrifice for those she loves.

Cycles by Lois D. Brown

(Levanter Publishing)
For Review

She remembers things that never happened.
She's a stranger in her own home.
She always knew she was different.
She just didn't know why.
Until now.

Renee Beaumont is about to die . . . again.

Review: The Emerald Talisman by Brenda Pandos

2012-01-14T09:50:00.002-05:00

This EBOOK is currently FREE on both Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Book: The Emerald Talisman by Brenda Pandos
Series: Talisman #1
Genre: Urban Fantasy / Young Adult
Buy A Copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Available Formats: Ebook / Paperback
Publication Date: March 24th, 2010
First Sentence: "What kind of secret superpower would you want Julia?"
How Did I Get This Book: Purchased
Description: To be normal, sixteen-year-old Julia Parker would shed her empathic gift in a second. Life has been difficult since her mother's mysterious disappearance ten years earlier - an event she witnessed, but can't remember. Julia's situation becomes more complicated after a near death experience from a blood thirsty stalker. As high school students go missing it is clear there is a connection to her own experience--past and present. Someone has to stop the madness and a chance encounter with a creepy psychic foretells that only Julia is the key to stopping the madness, but it may require the life of the one she loves.

I enjoyed the character of Julia. She is a heroine that is interesting and actually uses her brain. She tries to think her way through things, which I really appreciate. I’m not saying things always work out for her, but she’s tries. She doesn’t just rush into situations without worrying about what it means. Plus, she can read people’s emotions. Which, is just awesome.

Early on in the story Julia means two new boys – Nicholas and Phil. She meets Nicholas after she is attacked by something in the woods. He comes to her rescue and helps her home. He is also smoking hot. So obviously, Julia falls for him. But, he starts pulling that hot/cold act and Julia is left feeling rather cold.

But, then things start looking up when she meets a new boy at school, Phil. Now, I liked Phil I did. But, I just happened to like Nicholas better. I’m not going to explain the plot lines from here, because this is about when all hell breaks loose. Let’s just say that things (and people) get crazy and excitement and adventure ensue.

Pandos does a wonderful job keeping the story entertaining. Sure, some plot elements are predictable, but there are enough twists and turns that you still will be surprised.

There were however, two major elements that put me off a bit. The first of which was some of the writing; mainly the descriptions. Look, the majority of the writing was superb, but at times I would read something that just sounded off. When I was looking back through my notes, I saw that all of the passages I marked were descriptions. So it’s not that the writing is wrong, it’s just that some of the descriptions are strange. Like this one, “his comfort infused me like I'd just crawled under a pile of warm laundry fresh from the dryer.” What? What is that. Do any of you crawl under piles of freshly laundered clothes? I mean, I get where the author is going with this, but it just doesn’t work for me.

The second issue I had with the book was Julia’s instant and overwhelming attachment to Nicholas. Like I said before, I liked Nicholas, it is just that their “connection” was so forced. After he saves her, she falls into a sort of hero worship. Honestly, her crazy, earth tilting reaction to him isn’t justified. This seems to happen a lot in YA vampire books, but I still can’t let it slide. I prefer for the characters to work up to their obsessive love and to have it justified.

That being said, I did enjoy the Emerald Talisman. Sure, I found a few things to nitpick, but that’s my job. Overall, the story was exciting and the characters were entertaining and likable. It was a good read and I will be continuing on with the series.

Favorite Quotes

I screamed as I fell, knowing I was about to die.

That last thing I expected was to have someone catch me.

I didn't make friends with liars, especially compulsive ones.

Where was my better judgement?

Why did he have to be sensible? This maddened me. It was my body. I should be able to decide when and if I needed medical attention. I let out a determined huff. They could try to make me go, but I wouldn't be forced.

We felt no shame as we stuffed our faces in silence.

The last thing I expected to happen was for him to jump over the cliff, carrying me with him in the process.

I am woman, hear me roar.

Tune in Tuesday {022}

2012-01-10T00:01:00.000-05:00

Tune in Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads. It's a fun way to share your favorite music with other bloggers and hopefully introduce them to so truly kickin' tunes :)

Kitten - Kill The Light

Favorite Line: He only said I'm gonna love you til I'm crazy, I'm gonna love you till I'm dead

I'd like to give a big thank you to Pandora for knowing me oh so well.

Caitlin Crosby & Jay Nash - Wooden Ships

Favorite Line: We're just wooden ships out in the blue. So close to shore but we never knew. But it my heart I know it's true, it's time for me to say goodbye to you.

So, I've had a few Caitlin Crosby songs for a while. I've always liked Still Have My Heart and I few others, but I didn't love her. But... then she put out this EP with Jay Nash. And... I loved it. I've had it for months now, and I still listen to it on a regular basis :)

Lightyear - When You're Alone

Favorite Line: What do you do when you're alone? Do you put records on and dance around your room? Does your loneliness move with you? Do you think of me?

Okay. So I really do love this song, but does it remind anyone else of the song "Home is in Your Heart" from the Care Bears movie? I can't help it. It always pops in my head when I hear the Lightyear song.

Ingrid Michaelson / Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know

Favorite Line: You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness //And I don't want to live that way, reading into every word you say. You said that you could let it go, and I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know

Alright guys, which version do you like better? Because I don't know. There is so much awesomeness happening right now that I can't even deal with it.

Kimbra - Good Intent

Favorite Line: It's not enough to say, it's not what's in your heart. You've tainted every moment till death do we part

I love everything about this. EVERYTHING.

Javier Dunn - Animal

Favorite Line: In your eyes I see the eyes of somebody I knew before, long ago. But I'm still trying to make my mind up - am I free or am I tied up?

So this is a Miike Snow cover. I just have to say, that I like Javier's version better. Way better.

The Bridges - Blue

Favorite Line: You think our hearts are ready to push the limits of the sky. I think the wind will blow us out of proportion if we try // There is a world of difference; you’ve got someone to grow on.

I had the worst time picking a song to use for this Band. I LOVE The Bridges. I've used them once before on Tune in Tuesday; when I did my post on the Top 25 Most Played Songs in Itunes - that time it was their song Nice & Easy. This time, I decided to go with Blue. It is off their debut album, Limits of the Sky. I've had this CD for a few years now and I still listen to it all the time. It's so incredibly catchy that it never really gets old.

Damien Rice - Rat Within the Grain

Favorite Line: I wouldn't want you to want to be wanted by me. I wouldn't want you to worry you'd be drowned within my sea. I only wanted to be wonderful and wonderful is true. In truth I only really wanted to be wanted by you

Oh, Damien Rice... I love you. I love every song he has ever made. Have you heard that crazy good cover of When Doves Cry/Babe I'm Gonna Leave You? I would have went with that this week, but youtube doesn't want anyone to upload it. I about fell over when I heard it. One of my favorite singers singing my favorite Price Song & my favorite Zeppelin song? I died.

Review: Coexist by Julia Crane

2012-01-09T05:00:00.001-05:00

Book: Coexist (Keegan's Chronicles #1) by Julia Crane
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy
Buy A Copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Available Formats: Ebook / Paperback

Publication Date: June 19th, 2011
How Did I Get This Book: Blog Tour
First Sentence: "Keegan's call echoed in Rourk's mind as he was finishing his set."
Preview Book: Read Chapter 1
Description: Sixteen-year-old Keegan is struggling to keep her huge secret from her friends—she’s an elf, descended from a long line of elves that lives in secrecy alongside humans.
In elfin society, mates are predetermined but not allowed to meet until they are 18. Against tradition, Keegan’s brother Thad told her Rourk’s name because his visions warned him she’d need Rourk’s protection, especially since Keegan will play a key role in the coming war between the dark and light elves.

Rourk finds himself drawn to Keegan’s side every time she thinks his name. He wants to talk to her but remains in the shadows, silently guarding her every time she mentally beckons him. A twist of fate thrusts the two of them together when Rourk is forced to step up his protection and make his presence known.

An ancient prophecy deeply entwines Keegan’s family in the future of their society. Depending on the outcome of the battle Keegan and Rourk may never have their life together.

I love the concept of Coexist. I idea that your soul mate is predetermined and you would never have to search for them. Sure it sounds like a familiar concept, but in Coexist it actually works. When I think of someone not having the ability to chose their partner, I immediately think of dystopian books/societies. But Crane presents this has a sort of utopia. There are flaws in Keegan's elfin society, but the system isn't flawed; it's magic. People are actually happy and in love. So although Crane took a concept that has been used before, she turns it completly on it's head.

I loved the connection between Rourk and Keegan. I'll admit, I was a bit weary of Rourk - his narratives did not really do much for me. But when Keegan and Rourk finally meet, all of my doubts were gone. They are simply wonderful together. I do not want to spoil anything, but their meeting was both touching and beautiful. I am definitely a huge fan of these two. That beings said, I did have a few issues with Coexist. While I enjoyed the majority of the characters, I found some of them to be rather flat. Especially Donald. I don't know a blasted thing about Donald.

And I am a little disappointed at the sheer amount of magical creatures Keegan ends up knowing. That just seems incredibly far fetched to me. I was also not a huge fan of the ending. Let me tell you folks, the final plot twist was a doozey. A game-changing, head-spinning doozey. And I for one, did not like it. Plus, the final obstacle that the characters face was settled entirely too quickly and easily. There was such build up and then it was all over so quickly.

In short, I was loving Coexist until about the last fourth of the book. Then things went a bit haywire. But I still enjoyed it and I am interested to see what becomes of the characters; especially Keegan, Rourk and Thaddeus (Keegan's little brother).

Favorite Quotes:

"If he's not able or willing to protect you, he is not worth your time."

When she thought his name, it pierced through his heart.

His face looked rugged, angled with eyes that were confident. He looked exactly like what he was, a warrior. She could not believe he was all hers.

Review: With My Last Breath by Courtney Cole

2012-01-07T05:00:00.000-05:00

Book: With My Last Breath by Courtney Cole
Series: The Bloodstone Saga #3
Previous Books in the Series: Every Last Kiss (#1), Fated (#2)
Genre: Fantasy / Young Adult / Time Travel
Buy A Copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Available Formats: Paperback / Ebook
Publication Date: September 1st, 2011
First Sentence: "I was floating in a dark place, a place where I was all alone."
How Did I Get This Book: Kismet Book Tours
Description: Just when Harmonia thought she had saved everyone she loved, the unthinkable happens and her life is shattered… in the space of just one breath.

Now, she is left alone to shoulder a challenge, because she alone can fulfill a prophecy and restore Olympus. She knows she can succeed; she is the daughter of gods, after all. But will doing so cause her to lose herself?

To find Zeus’ sword, she is forced to return to a place that she knows will cause her pain. But she willingly goes in order to save everyone she loves, because pain alone cannot kill her. Or can it?

At the time of writing this review I have already finished reading the entire Bloodstone Saga. That being said, With My Last Breath is easily my favorite.

Whenever I begin one of these books, I play a little game. I never read the descriptions or reviews, because I want to be surprised by where the characters end up. First it was ancient Egypt, then it was ancient Greece. Now.... Camelot! I've loved each setting (Cole definitely knows how to pick them) but what can be better than Camelot?

Not only does With My Last Breath have a great setting, but it also features some amazing character development. Over the past few books we've gotten to know Harmonia rather well, but we've been kept in the dark about Ares and Aphrodite. Sure, we've encountered their human versions, but we were never really introduced to them as gods. Well, in this third installment, that all changes. Ares and Aphrodite are fully awakened and are their godly selves throughout the entire course of the book. Harmonia, Ares and Aphrodite all poses the knowledge of their true forms and it certainly makes for an interesting time. It's incredibly entertaining to see them struggling to fit in within Camelot.

It is also nice to see their relationships with each other. In the past books, they've all known each other; but they were held back by the societal constrictions at the time and their forms at the time. Harmonia didn't have a maternal relationship with Aphrodite because in their past lives they weren't mother and daughter; likewise with Harmonia and Ares. Now, we get to see their bonds at full strength.

I've always enjoyed all of the characters, but now I feel like I know them better. I am particular fond of Ares. He may just be my favorite. I love the contradictions within him; he's the god of war, but he is so delicate and thoughtful with Aphrodite and Harmonia. Plus, he's a total cut-up. Aphrodite is quite amusing as well. I've never really liked her in Greek mythology (or in an retellings), but Cole did a remarkable job with her.

Honestly, I don't know what else to say about this. It's amazing - just like the first two books. I plot is exciting, intriguing, creative and incredibly imaginative. And the love story. Oh, I just adore Camdus and Harmonia. They go through so much that you just want to see them finally happy. Can you imagine being reincarnated for thousands of years and having every one of your lives end in tragedy? If anyone deserves a happy ending it's these two.

If you haven't started this series yet, I really recommend that you do. It's amazing and I promise that you won't regret it!

Favorite Quotes

Cool hands grasped my shoulders and tried to pull me away from Camdus, but I wouldn't have it. I was going nowhere. I clutched his shoulders, breathing him in. I was determined to stay with my husband no matter what. They would have to pry me away. And then someone did.

Her bones felt thin and hollow beneath my fists, but her frailty didn't deter me. I wanted her to feel my pain.

The thought of his mind wandering while long sharp objects were trying to knock him off his horse alarmed me.

You're much too pretty to be bloody.

Perfect. I would have an unbalanced psychopath on my hands armed with immortal supernatural power. This night kept getting better and better.

"I do not give a rat's front teeth about decorum right now," my father enunciated clearly and loudly. "I have a hole in my side! Have you not noticed?"

He looked at me for a moment, studying my face. What I had requested was very brazen for these times, something a lady would never do. But I wasn't a lady. I was a goddess and I would do whatever the hell I felt like doing.

My screams were loud enough to reach the corners of the earth.

"I can never watch you die again," I cried as tears streaked down my cheeks and fell onto him "I cannot do it. Are you listening?"

Blog Tour // Guest Post & Giveaway with Courtney Cole {Author of the Bloodstone Saga}

2012-01-06T05:00:00.006-05:00

Today I have the wonderful Courtney Cole stopping by for a guest post. She is here (thanks to Kismet Book Tours) in promotion of the final book in the Bloodstone Saga, My Tattered Bonds. If you are a regular here at That Bookish Girl than you are already aware of my obsession with this series. Guys, I'm not going to lie, I love it.

If you haven't started the series yet and still need some convincing, be sure to check out my reviews of Every Last Kiss and Fated (Books 1 & 2). The review for With My Last Breath will be up tomorrow and the review for My Tattered Bonds will be up on Sunday.

Ending a Series…

I’m not going to lie. Ending The Bloodstone Saga was hard. Really, really hard. It wasn’t physically difficult to write nor was it hard to think of what to say or how to end it. It was hard because I was emotionally attached to those characters and I really didn’t want it to end.

I had spent so long living with Harmonia as I wrote her in the first person. I had spent months and months and months trying to decide how she would feel in any given circumstance, what she believed, how she would act. She was always in the back of my head.

And then all of a sudden, it was time to let go of that and say goodbye. It was time for me to just be myself again. And you know what? Apparently, that’s really hard for a writer to do. And I was sad about that. I cried when I typed “The End” of My Tattered Bonds. It sounds silly, but I did. For the few days following that, I felt a little empty without Harmonia accompanying me everywhere.

And then… lo and behold, someone new started occupying my thoughts. Empusa—the main character of the spin-off series that I’m writing, The Moonstone Saga. Suddenly, it was easy to let Harmonia go, because I had someone new to write about and live with everyday…which led me to a revelation.

I think writers are sort of co-dependent. Not with our spouses…. But with our characters. And why wouldn’t we be? We share space in our heads with them… and that’s bound to take a toll.

But that truly doesn’t bother me- I relish it. I love the entire process… creating a character, living with that character and then finally bringing that character’s story to a close. I know that I’ll be sharing headspace with characters until the day I die. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

About Courtney Cole - website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads
Courtney Cole is a YA novelist who loves thunderstorms, cake batter and insane amounts of coffee. She wrote her first story at the age of 9, although thankfully it has remained hidden away in an old cedar chest beneath musty blankets. Her more recent efforts are much better.

It is always darkest before the dawn. Harmonia has certainly found this to be true. She has faced more than any one person, goddess or mortal, should ever have to.

She has lost her soul mate time after time, lies and deceit have surrounded her and in fact, she has even been misled about her very identity. Yet she has always emerged with strength and grace. But now she will face the unthinkable. Her daughter has been taken and Harmonia will risk everything to get her back.

In this epic series finale, all will be revealed. The only question remaining is…Who will be left standing?

goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Now, on to the giveaways..

Courtney has been kind enough to provide one lucky reader with a signed copy of Soul Kissed, the first book in her new series, The Moonstone Saga. This new series is a spin-off and follows Empusa, one of the characters in the Bloodstone Saga.

Question: When your mother is a powerful witch and your father is a soul-sucking vampire, what does that make you?
Answer: Cursed.

With all the beauty and charm of a Siren, but cursed as a blood-sucking succubus, Empusa longs for love and a normal life. Neither of these can ever be hers, because the only thing she brings to anyone she loves is death.

Em lingers in the mortal world, hiding from her father and existing in a lonely life. Until she meets Brennan. With golden hair and a radiant smile, he captures her heart and awakens it from slumber.

But Brennan is more than he seems. And in a relationship where life itself hangs in the balance, is love ever really enough?

How do you enter, you ask? Simple. Just comment on this post. This giveaway ends tomorrow, so don't dilly-dally.

For a chance to win a Kindle Touch, be sure to enter in the tour wide giveaway by filling out the form below.

Please note that both the daily and grand prize give-aways are for US/Canada participants only. See full contest rules here.

Tour Schedule

Monday, January 2nd - Jenny, Supernatural Snark

Tuesday, January 3rd - Ana, The Book Hookup

Wednesday, January 4th - Lisa, A Casual Reader's Blog

Thursday, January 5th - Dani, Refracted Light Reviews

Friday, January 6th - Sarah, That Bookish Girl

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: The Scarlet Dagger by Krystle Jones

2012-01-04T05:00:00.005-05:00

Book: The Scarlet Dagger by Krystle Jones
Series: The Red Sector Chronicles #1
Genre: Urban Fantasy / Young Adult / Dystopian
Buy A Copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Available Formats: Ebook
Publication Date: October 23rd, 2011
First Sentence: "The bus driver eyed me up and down, confusion sweeping across his weathered face. "You lost or somethin', doll?"
How Did I Get This Book: From Author, For Review

Description: The strength of Sloane’s heart is about to be put to the ultimate test.

After the Eclipse – the night vampires began openly slaughtering human victims – everything changed. Out of fear, the government salvaged what remained of the human population and enclosed them in massive, security-laden cities called White Sectors, while marking the vampire infested territory as Red Sectors.

When seventeen-year-old Sloane McAllister’s twin brother disappears, she seems to be the only one who thinks he isn’t dead, and vows to stop at nothing to find him. Gathering her courage, she braves the Red Sector to search for clues to his whereabouts. By chance, she encounters Aden, a handsome, charismatic vampire with a hidden agenda. He turns Sloane against her will, and whisks her away to his underground city. Enemies quickly become friends as Sloane struggles against her attraction to Aden, and resists her growing loyalties to the creatures that ruined her life. But the vampires themselves are the least of her problems. The city is harboring a devastating secret, one that could change the tide of the war and threaten to destroy everything Sloane has come to believe in.

Heart-stopping action and scorching romance collide in this dystopian, urban fantasy thriller.

I’m kind of on the fence about The Scarlet Dagger; there were elements are the story that I enjoyed, but there were also elements that I didn’t. The book starts out strong and amazing. Jones does a remarkable job drawing you into Sloane’s world – she is quite good at world building.

With Sloane, Jones has created a strong, likeable heroine that readers are sure to enjoy. Sloane is quite unique in the fact that while she is strong willed and independent, she realizes that she isn’t invincible. Sure, she makes some questionable decisions, but she is also willing to admit when she needs help. Plus, she is cheeky as all get out.

I am still on the fence about her main love interest, Aden. We are really given any firsthand knowledge on Aden. We just have to go on what Sloane thinks and feels about him - which is a problem because she is constantly changing her mind about him and it taints the reader’s view of him.

I must admit that the first half of the book was immensely better than the second half. The first half is filled with just the right balance of action and excitement as well as description and plot. As the story progresses, so does the pacing. Unfortunately, the pacing becomes too fast and leaves the reader with a bit of whiplash. There are a number of tight squeezes that Sloane gets out of rather quickly and the ending itself is incredibly rushed. I felt like we weren’t really given a lot of answers for the final plot twist, so it felt rather forced.

I enjoyed The Scarlet Dagger, but I certainly wasn’t in love with it. There were plot elements that didn’t make sense to me, the pacing at the end of the book was off and Aden did not really make an impression on me. But, at the same time, I liked Sloane and the world building was incredible. So, now for the million dollar question - am I going to continue the series? I hate to disappoint, but I honestly don't know. I'll probably read some reviews before I dive into it.

Favorite Quotes

I tried to move as quickly as I could away from him, praying he couldn't hear the jangling of all the guns and knives hidden beneath my clothing.

That comment stabbed straight into my heart, which should have been completely calloused over from the emotional beating it had endured these past three years.

Subconsciously, my lips twisted into a carnivorous smile.

I stared at it, part in awe, part in grim satisfaction, as its muscles and bones glowed orange-red like embers before what was left of the vampire disintegrated into a pile of ash.

I immediately decided I didn't like her. She seemed awfully hostile for a doctor.

Well, if he thought this girl was going to play the part of love struck damsel-in-distress, he obviously didn't know who he was dealing with.

He beamed at me, and for a few precious minutes, it felt like it did before, when we were younger and the world hadn't fallen apart.

Tune in Tuesday {021}

2012-01-03T00:01:00.002-05:00

Tune in Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads. It's a fun way to share your favorite music with other bloggers and hopefully introduce them to so truly kickin' tunes :)

Buddy Holly - Everyday

Favorite Line: Everyday it's a-gettin' closer, goin' faster than a roller coaster. Love like yours will surely come my way

If you don't like Buddy Holly you don't have a soul and you are surely not American. Hell, you're probably not even human.

Natasha Bedingfield - Strip Me

Favorite Line: Take what you want steal my pride, build me up or cut me down to size. Shut me out but I'll just scream - I'm only one voice in a million but you ain't taking that from me.

It's a total pump up song. For when you're feeling down in the dumps :(

Matt Costa - Behind the Moon

Favorite Line: I would shine just like a million suns if you'd just love me baby

I've loved this song for years. I remember driving around in high school blasting it in my little car. I still have that car and Matt is still a regular on my radio.

Aidan Hawken - Wanna Be Sure

Favorite Line: If I lose my grip; if I hold on too tight, will you keep me from drifting away - swept up in the tide?

Thank you yet again, Vampire Diaries for giving me some awesome music. I won't lie, I don't even watch the show. But... I do look up the songs featured on the show, because they are ALWAYS awesome.

Adele - One and Only

Favorite Line: Nobody's perfect - trust me, I've learned it.

Oh my god. I love her. And I have been LOVING this song. 21 is such an amazing record that some of the tracks got kind of overshadowed for me at first. This was one of those tracks. But now, it's one of my favorites :)

Laura Bell Bundy - Giddy On Up

Favorite Line: No you wont string me along. You better be moving on

Well, this is by far the most countrified some I have. And theoretically I should hate it. It's cheesy, absurd and completely ridiculous. Yet, it's insanely infectious. Trust me, you will find yourself singing along and bobbing to the beat. It's one of those songs that I blast when I'm completely and utterly alone. Nobody needs to see me jamming out to this one, that's for sure.

Paper Route - The Sound

Favorite Line: I won't forget the moment you looked at me and said, "In years when we get older, will you be someone colder?"

Alright guys, this is by FAR my favorite Paper Route song. I really don't know what it is about it that gets to me, but it just does. I hope you love it too!!

Review: Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep

2011-12-30T05:01:00.001-05:00

Book: Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep
Series: Mythos Academy #1
Previous Books in Series: Touch of Frost (#1)
Genre: Urban Fantasy / Young Adult
Buy A Copy: Amazon | Book Depository | Barnes & Noble
Available Formats: Paperback / Ebook
Publication Date: November 29th, 2011
First Sentence: "Logan Quinn was trying to kill me."
How Did I Get This Book: From Publisher, For Review

Description: Logan Quinn was trying to kill me. My Spartan classmate relentlessly pursued me, swinging his sword at me over and over again, the shining silver blade inching closer to my throat every time. A smile tugged up his lips, and his ice-blue eyes practically glowed with the thrill of battle...

I’m Gwen Frost, a second-year warrior-in-training at Mythos Academy, and I have no idea how I’m going to survive the rest of the semester. One day, I’m getting schooled in swordplay by the guy who broke my heart—the drop-dead gorgeous Logan who slays me every time. Then, an invisible archer in the Library of Antiquities decides to use me for target practice. And now, I find out that someone at the academy is really a Reaper bad guy who wants me dead. I’m afraid if I don’t learn how to live by the sword—with Logan’s help—I just might die by the sword...

Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep is a marvelous follow up to the exciting and entertaining Touch of Frost. I loved seeing the now solid friendship between Daphne and Gwen. I have to admit, they are quickly becoming two of my favorite YA friendships. They just complement each other so beautifully. I am also digging the relationship between Daphne and Carson.

And Logan. Oh, Logan. Can we just take a moment to reflect on the perfection of this ever lovely Spartan….. okay. Although, I must admit, there were a few moments when I wanted to smack him across the face. Granted, most (if not all) of those instances involved his irritating semi-girlfriend/she-devil Savannah. Honestly, I don’t know if Savannah ever actually did anything that justified my hatred for her.. but do I ever hate her. She’s coming between Gwen and Logan, and we cannot have that. Plain and simple.

I was a bit disappointed with Gwen in Kiss of Frost. I just felt like she was rather clueless about Oliver and it just didn’t fit. I am not going to give any the plotline, but let’s just say that I believe Gwen is smarter than that. She wasn’t even slightly skeptical about Oliver and that just does not fit with her character. Gwen is jaded and she’s intelligent. She would have at least known that something was off.

I was also put-off by the sheer amount of recapping. I’ve read a number of Estep’s books and I’ve come to see that this is just her writing style. She is a big believer in lengthy recaps. Even though I’ve come to understand this about her writing, I still can’t come to accept it. I always want to get to the good stuff and I feel weighed down by all the excess.

Despite these minor flaws, I LOVED Kiss of Frost. It’s a story that is easy to fall into. I read the entire thing in one sitting. Estep does a wonderful job of pulling her readers in. She mixes the perfect amounts of romance, excitement, adventure and humor to produce a truly wonderful and delightful story. I cannot wait to get my hands on Dark Frost and see what Estep has in store for Gwen and the gang next!

Favorite Quotes:

Since coming to Mythos, I'd almost been run through with a sword and mauled to death by a killer kitty cat. Dirty looks didn't faze me anymore.

I didn't know what would take my mind off the sexy Spartan, except for maybe a total lobotomy.

I didn't know if he really meant talk, make out, or something else completely, but I'd be happy with any of them.

He realized something was going on between Logan and me. I wish he'd clue me in on exactly what it was, because I had no idea.

It didn't take long for the anger to put the happiness in a headlock.

I'd be damned if I let him see the tears in my eyes.

Etiquette? What kind of etiquette was there in someone trying to murder me?

And that's when I snapped up my left hand and smashed him in the face with the hammer I'd grabbed.

"It'll be okay, I promise. No matter what I see or feel. You'll still be Logan and I'll still be your Gypsy girl."

How had I ever thought he was cute? He so needed to be locked up in an insane asylum somewhere. Too bad Batman wasn't here to come and drag his ass off to Arkham.

"I might be old and cranky, but I'm not bloody stupid."

Blog Tour // Character Interview with Keegan of COEXIST by Julia Crane

2011-12-27T00:02:00.000-05:00

Today I am happy to announce that we have Keegan of Julia Crane's Coexist stopping by for an interview! She is here as a part of the blog tour for Coexist that is being hosted by the wonderful Julie from A Tale of Many Reviews! Thanks Julie for putting this all together!

What was it like being raised in an elfin family?

Well, I’ve never been human so I’m not really sure what the differences are. Because elves have the ability to find their perfect mate I think elfin families in general get along better than most. My parents get along pretty well. My brothers can get on my nerves which I think is typical in all families.

Do you ever wish you were simply human?

I’m not sure I ever wished to be human, but I have wished I didn’t have to hide who I am to others.

For those of us who haven’t read your story yet, Keegan, can you tell us a little bit about Elfin abilities?

Elves pass along many powers through our bloodline. One cool thing is we all have the ability to close our eyes and see who is nearby. Like if someone is at the door I can close my eyes and picture who it is. My main power is invisibility. I think it’s pretty neat, but I don’t get to use it very often. My mother has a more useful power as a healer, my brother is a seer and my father is a warrior. There are many more; each elf is born with one main power and several secondary powers.

You, Anna and Lauren are pretty close. What is your favorite thing about each of them?

I’ve always envied Anna’s ability to be herself. She never seems to care what anyone else thinks. She can pull off any crazy look.

Lauren is perfect and somewhat of a goody-goody. She is captain of the cheer squad, and will someday be a lawyer. I’ve been friends with her so long I cannot imagine not having her or Anna in my life.

If you could trade places with a supernatural being from another book for a day, who would you choose and why?

I think it would be pretty neat to be Cassie from The Secret Circle. She has so much to learn about her powers and her heritage. I’ve always known I was an elf. Finding out you had powers as a teen would be interesting to say the least.

You’ve been waiting for Rourk a long time. Did you ever question the elfin process of marriage? Did you ever want to choose a mate for yourself?

It is so ingrained growing up that I never doubted it. It is the way of the elf. There was a time when I definitely had doubts about the whole process after my bond to my chosen was severed.

Julia crane is the author of the Coexist: Keegan’s Chronicles. She has a bachelors degree in criminal justice. Julia has believed in magical creatures since the day her grandmother first told her an Irish tale. Growing up her mother greatly encouraged reading and using your imagination. Although she’s spent most of her life on the US east coast, she currently lives in Dubai with her husband and three children.

Contact Julia
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Sixteen-year-old Keegan is struggling to keep her huge secret from her friends–she’s an elf, descended from a long line of elves that live in secrecy alongside humans.
In elfin society, mates are predetermined but not allowed to meet until they are eighteen. Against tradition, Keegan’s brother Thaddeus told her Rourk’s name because his visions warned him she’d need Rourk’s protection, especially since Keegan will play a key role in the coming war between the dark and light elves.

Rourk finds himself drawn to Keegan’s side every time she thinks his name. He wants to talk to her but remains in the shadows, silently guarding her every time she mentally beckons him. A twist of fate thrusts the two of them together when Rourk is forced to step up his protection and make his presence known.

An ancient prophecy deeply entwines Keegan’s family and the future of their society. Somehow they must find a way to thwart fate and win the battle…without losing Keegan. With war brewing, and dark forces aligning, will Keegan and Rourk ever have the life together that they both desire?

Purchase Coexist:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Tune in Tuesday {020}

2011-12-27T00:01:00.010-05:00

Tune in Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads. It's a fun way to share your favorite music with other bloggers and hopefully introduce them to so truly kickin' tunes :)

Bruce Springsteen - I'm On Fire

Favorite Line: Sometimes it's like someone took a knife baby edgy and dull and cut a six-inch valley through the middle of my soul

Oh, my love for the Boss is shinning through yet again. What are you going to do? He's awesome.

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/ifram&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/font&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;e&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="text-align: center;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span style="font-size: small;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span style="font-family: inherit;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="text-align: center;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="text-align: center;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span style="font-size: small;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span style="font-family: inherit;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;font style="font-family: inherit;" size="3"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/font&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="text-align: center;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span style="font-size: small;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span style="font-family: inherit;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;font style="font-family: inherit;" size="3"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/font&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="text-align: center;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span style="font-size: small;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span style="font-family: inherit;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;font size="3"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;b&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Freestylers - &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;i&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Cracks&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/i&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; (feat. Belle Humble) Flux Pavilion Remix&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/b&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/font&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="text-align: center;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span style="font-size: small;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span style="font-family: inherit;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;font size="3"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;b&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/b&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/font&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="text-align: left; font-family: inherit;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;font size="3"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;b&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Favorite Line: &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/b&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;And the cracks begin to show&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/font&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="text-align: left; font-family: inherit;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;font size="3"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/font&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="text-align: left; font-family: inherit;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;font size="3"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;I have a friend that is introducing me to dubstep and this song keeps popping up. I don't know if it is technically dubstep or not... I really don't understand it all. But, I do know that I LOVE this.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/font&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style="text-align: left; font-family: inherit;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;font size="3"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/font&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-cVbw8RZOfM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

Greg Laswell - I'd Be Lying

Favorite Line: And I can understand, all I need is your hand. Oh, won't you take the fall? It is me after all

I love this song so much. Honestly, I had the worst time picking one line as a favorite. The whole thing is my favorite.

Freestylers - Cracks (feat. Belle Humble) Flux Pavilion Remix

Favorite Line: And the cracks begin to show

I have a friend that is introducing me to dubstep and this song keeps popping up. I don't know if it is technically dubstep or not... I really don't understand it all. But, I do know that I LOVE this.

Review: Agartha's Castaway by Chrissy Peebles

2011-12-23T00:01:00.000-05:00

*this ebook is currently FREE on Amazon

Book: Agartha's Castaway by Chrissy Peebles
Genre: Young Adult / Adventure / Sci-Fi / Fantasy

Buy A Copy: Amazon
Available Formats: Ebook
Publication Date: September 3rd, 2011
How Did I Get This Book: From Author, For Review
First Sentence: "Casey strolled toward her best friends, Mike and Jack, who were standing near the stern of the boat."
Description: Dinosaurs, abduction, and a hidden civilization were never part of Casey Smith’s vacation plans. That is, until a freak storm tossed her and two best friends, Mike and Jack, out to sea. When they wash up on what they presume to be a mysterious tropical island...they soon discover that being lost...is the least of their troubles. In a jungle that teems with impossible creatures, UFOs, and a hidden civilization, the three friends need to team up to fight danger...without letting their emotions tear them apart. Can they find a way to survive the harsh jungle...and its deadly inhabitants?

Agartha's Castaway by Chrissy Peebles is the story of three friends who become shipwrecked on a rather strange deserted island. I have to say that the characters are rather one-dimensional. They are given stereotypes in the beginning and stay within those lines throughout the book. I found this to be true with Mike and Jack in particular. Jack is the brains of the operation and Mike is the jock. Jack acts with caution, while Mike brazenly jumps into dangerous situations without a second thought. He is constantly getting the three of them into trouble. Hopefully, in the sequel, we will see them break away from this and develop into more dynamic characters.

While the plotline was a little farfetched at times for my liking, it was both thrilling and exciting. Peebles also does an excellent job with the imagery. Everything is described in such lush, descriptive detail that you can’t help but create a vivid, beautiful image in your mind.

I enjoyed Casey and her narrative - she’s feisty and determined. Although at times she did get under my skin. She’s was rather dense when it came to her interactions with Jack and Mike; mostly with Jack. Although, that can be attributed to what I believe is the target audience. If I had read this story as a preteen I probably wouldn’t have had any issues with Casey.

I can also say that I truly enjoyed the unpredictable nature of the plot line. While the characters were a little stereotypical, the plot was nothing of the sort. Peebles packs so much excitement and entertainment into this book that it’s unreal. Honestly, it seems like every other page brings some sort of challenge for the three teenagers. I would definitely say that Agartha’s Castaway is plot/action driven, rather than character driven.

I feel bad pinpointing and nitpicking Agartha’s Castaway, because I feel it is superbly written for a younger audience. It’s just that, as an older reader, I struggled with bits of it. Hopefully the sequel with have a bit more character development, then we will be treated to the best of both worlds. Peebles has already got the excitement, danger and action down.

Favorite Quotes

Jack smiled and held out a hand to help her up. Triumph flicked in his blue eyes as his dark, wild hair was tousled by the wind.

"I don't believe in talking animals. This is definitely the work of aliens. Maybe they can help us phone home."

Blog Tour // Review of Indulge by Megan Duncan

2011-12-22T00:01:00.002-05:00

Today I've got yet another marvelous blog tour stopping by! Today is my stop for Megan Duncan's Indulge.

Contact Megan:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Book: Indulge (Warm Delicacy #2) - Megan Duncan
Genre: Paranormal Romance / Young Adult / Urban Fantasy
Previous Books in Series: Savor (#1)
Buy A Copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Available Formats: Ebook
Publication Date: December 16th, 2011
How Did I Get This Book: Book Tour
First Sentence: "It wasn't the sound of Arrick's feet treading heavily against the brittle forest ground, but the sound of his heart thumping madly in his chest that woke me."
Description: Claire's heart is torn between her first vampire love, Dmitry, and the Blood Mate, Arrick, that she is eternally bonded to with a powerfully deep and emotional connection. A vengeful vampire is haunting her steps, after Claire killed their mate. An ancient evil threatens to rip her world apart. With the danger of war looming on the darkening horizon, will Claire find the strength to fight back and protect those she loves? Even if it means embracing the darkness inside her? Is it worth it to become the evil she fears, in order to destroy it?

While I enjoyed Savor, I have to say, I loved Indulge. In Indulge, we are introduced to a new cast of characters, the most memorable being Claire’s real parents. I mean, honestly, it’s about time the poor girl gets to meet dear old mom and dad. I never really formed a connection with Claire’s first set of vampire parents; whose names elude me. Well, obviously they didn’t make a huge impression on me. But, the point I am trying to make is that Claire’s real parents are about a million times better. The reunion scene between the three of them is just amazing.

And let’s talk about Arrick for a second. Shall we? Yes, we shall. Let me just start off by saying when I finished Savor, I was on the fence about both of Claire’s love interests (Dmitry and Arrick). But now, I am a full fledge, card-carrying member of team Arrick. Dmitry who?

I also loved seeing Claire stand on her own two feet. She does a lot of growing up in Indulge and begins to develop more of a spine. After everything that happened to her in Savor, it’s understandable that she wants to become more self-reliant.

But, would you like to know my favorite part of the book? Oh course you do, that’s why you’re reading this. It was easily Naos. Duncan does such an incredible job creating Claire and Arrick’s home city. The vivid imagery is just amazing; I’ve got such a beautiful image in my head. I can only hope that we spend lots of time there in future books.

There were moments of the story that read a bit slow for me. I did find myself skimming bits and pieces, but overall, I really loved the story. I don't want to give any plot points away, but the parts I struggled with were about 3/4's of the way through.

In what I have come to learn is true Megan Duncan fashion, Indulge ends with one heck of a plot-twist. I’ve read three of her books now and with every single ending I was left wanting to know more. Indulge is certainly no exception. You’ll definitely be ready for book three ASAP.

Favorite Quotes:

I may be a vampire, but I'm still a girl and creepy crawlers will never be less scary.

Yes, my situation was very dark I decided, so I stopping sipping the wine and drank greedily.

We had enough problems and causing a car accident didn't need to be one of them.

We would be going to war and it was all because of me.

I probably ripped apart my bedroom door but I didn't care, nor did I care; that I was running through the Chateau in my underwear.

No more relaxing around the Chateau or on the beach, no more balls or fancy dresses. Okay, well maybe balls; I did love to dance, but that would have to wait for later. After I kicked some serious evil vampire butt.

I wasn't above bragging. Besides, I was damn proud of myself.

Tune in Tuesday {019}

2011-12-20T00:01:00.000-05:00

Tune in Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads. It's a fun way to share your favorite music with other bloggers and hopefully introduce them to so truly kickin' tunes :)

Well, I've had a busy couple of weeks - finals were last week. So... I've been absent for Tune in Tuesday. What this means for you, is that I've got a whole bunch of songs to share this time around :)

Winterpark - Never Alone

favorite line: I'll watch you bleed me dry

I couldn't decide if I wanted to use Never Alone or One Night Alone. They are both beautiful. But I finally decided on Never Alone. It just... gets to me.

Ingrid Michaelson - Spare Change

Favorite Line: Save your smile for everybody else you see, 'cause I don't want the one that you make for me

As you probably already know, I love Ingrid. I was browsing through emusic the other day and I saw this single. Apparently it's an older song, but I hadn't heard it before. Isn't it lovely?

Ryan Horne - Terrible Tommy

Favorite Line: I was born into this family, I was born the devil’s son

So, I have a recent obsession. I've fallen in love with Sons of Anarchy. Please don't spoil it, I've only gotten through the first two seasons (whats posted on netflix) and it's just sooo good. Plus, the music is absurdly good. I've downloaded so many songs from the show, but Terrible Tommy is one of my favorites.

The Black Keys - Sister

Favorite Line: I used to say I need you, but now I gotta leave you

I love the new album. It's crazy good, as always. P.S. they are coming to Michigan in March... and I am going to be there. I'm swearing to it right now.

The Lumineers - Ho Hey

Favorite Line: I belong with you, you belong with me. You're my sweetheart. // I don't think you're right for him. Look at what might of been.

I heard this song a few weeks ago on the midseason finale of Hart of Dixie. I immediately fell in love with it and just had to have it. When I finally tracked down the band, I couldn't find a way to purchase the song... but then a lovely person on youtube put it up. And... I downloaded it. It's wrong, I know.. but I really NEEDED the song. Isn't it wonderful? I also have their song, Elouise. It's amazing too. I cannot wait for their new album to drop.

The Pretty Reckless - You

Favorite Line: You can't feel me, no, like I feel you. I can't steal you, like you stole me.

I don't know if you know this.. but Little J can sing. I've had a few Pretty Reckless songs for a while now, but I just recently purchased the whole album... and it's actually really good. I'll admit it, I was surprised, but I love it :)

Sufjan Stevens - For the Widows in Paradise, For the Fatherless in Ypsilanti

Favorite Line: If there's anything to say, If there's anything to do. If there's any other way - I'd do anything for you.

So, I've had this album for a long, long time. I've been a fan of Sufjan for years and of course Greetings From Michigan was the first CD of his I ever bought (Yay Michigan!). I believe I was still in Middle School at the time.. wow. That's crazy. But back to the point, For the Widows... is my favorite song off the album. It is quite possibly my favorite song of his ever. I was rather ashamed when I realized that I hadn't shared it with you guys yet.