tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33333863795796768122024-03-13T03:24:00.418-04:00Missy's Reads & ReviewsMissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004391528728968783noreply@blogger.comBlogger635125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3333386379579676812.post-17980701265938006602020-02-27T09:41:00.000-05:002020-02-28T09:25:48.374-05:00940 Saturdays, by Harley A Rotbart | Book Review<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>This book was provided by its author and/or publishers in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of this publication. </i></span></h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2gDWdHqSBTaHuBRfPxI1RYEUb3szV4sjwqC-4Br3gTLPSxZ7mt-MbdGPHpd-QQMl-lYh6xf8txpa0Vycs3G79OZvvWM9tVqlKkdld_SXhB000O3TrQ_P0PfljAZI2_8NL0ezXxUFvg_n/s1600/940-Saturdays-cover-flat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2gDWdHqSBTaHuBRfPxI1RYEUb3szV4sjwqC-4Br3gTLPSxZ7mt-MbdGPHpd-QQMl-lYh6xf8txpa0Vycs3G79OZvvWM9tVqlKkdld_SXhB000O3TrQ_P0PfljAZI2_8NL0ezXxUFvg_n/s1600/940-Saturdays-cover-flat.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
<b>Author:</b> Harley A Rotbart, MD<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Potter Style<br />
<b>Release Date:</b> September 2, 2014<br />
<b>Format:</b> Hardcover, 480 pages<br />
<b>Series:</b> N/A<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Non-Fiction; Crafts & Hobbies<br />
<b>Avg. Rating:</b> ★★★✩✩<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0804185425/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0804185425&linkCode=as2&tag=misrere-20&linkId=3BNCAHCDTMVQGKJG" rel="" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | </b><b><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/940-Saturdays-Harley-Rotbart/9780804185424/?a_aid=10251983" target="_blank">Book Depository</a></b><br />
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<b>There are 940 Saturdays between a child’s birth and the day he or she turns 18.</b>
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That may sound like a lot when there are adventures to plan and hours to fill. But as your child learns to walk, ride a bicycle, and drive, the years pass quickly. This beautiful package includes both a removable booklet with a thousand ideas for family activities that you and your child will love at every age, and a keepsake journal for preserving what you saw and did, thought and felt, so you can savor these memories in the years to come.
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Obviously, I'm a little late to the game on this book (or the book is a little late on the game for me?) since my son was born in 2012 - so I've already missed the first (approximate) 104 Saturday opportunities to write about in this book. Nonetheless, I was very excited to receive this book and start on our memories together.</div>
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After getting this book and getting the chance to check it out firsthand.. I have mixed feelings about it. The best reasoning for my feelings, I think, is what I assume to be a missed connection that happened somewhere between the actual title of the book and the synopsis. It clearly states in the blurb that there is a <i>removable booklet</i> full of activities. But, after seeing the cover and full title of the book, wires got crossed and I thought that it was a book full of activities with a small journal area. <b>Completely</b> my fault. I might also note that this was the first time in YEARS that I didn't read any reviews before purchasing. Again, completely my fault. </div>
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When you get this book, you get a book that is 480 pages. It's THICK - about 2 inches thick. And every single page of this book, aside from the booklet tucked neatly in an envelope on the inside of the back cover, is a journal page. You have room for two Saturdays on each page: each titled with the numbers 1-940 to represent every Saturday, along with a place for a date and about ten lines to write your journal entry on. Another hiccup for me - I write big, so I'm scared that the space provided may not be enough for me to write entire entries in. But it IS a beautiful book. The cover is what I call a soft hardcover, it's hard but has a padded feel to it. I do believe this book will stand the test of time. </div>
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However, as I said, it's not what I expected. It's disappointing, but I can only blame myself. The booklet in the back IS full of ideas and you do have the added convenience of activities being divided into age groups. A lot of the ideas are what I would consider common and not very original, something that someone can think up themselves on a whim. In my opinion, I think this book would be more successful for me if the ideas in the booklet were written in the actual book itself - and they were a bit more creative and uncommon. Also, each entry for every single Saturday seems like it could get a little overwhelming after a while with trying to keep up with every single weekend day to write down what you did. But, again, this is just my opinion.</div>
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I'm giving this book <b>3 STARS </b>out of 5, based solely on how I feel about this book - which is middle of the road and somewhat neutral. If you're one of those people that can keep up with weekly updates on your family and want something a little fancier than just a regular lined journal (with the restrictions of only writing on Saturdays), then I think you will REALLY like this book. Otherwise, with a retail price of $24.99, if you are NOT one of those people, then I might suggest otherwise. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">**Source: Publisher, via Blogging For Books</span></div>
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<br />Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004391528728968783noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3333386379579676812.post-54985573833808640652014-10-21T11:03:00.001-04:002014-10-21T13:42:24.353-04:00Draw-A-Saurus, by James Silvani Book Review<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>This book was provided by its author and/or publishers in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of this publication. </i></span></h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikafpQmMDplTkk7D76CZvFsvXSXA7q_93zCvYGihtQ6hn7oehibMXmsXxlxTskEYgPvGzadGxKkiv02WWQZoRxCYFWfQCdSHAIiJQfTfvrt6uXkBO5jS25hrDdgfBbL5pAVPdLrZdBD1m5/s1600/draw-a-saurus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikafpQmMDplTkk7D76CZvFsvXSXA7q_93zCvYGihtQ6hn7oehibMXmsXxlxTskEYgPvGzadGxKkiv02WWQZoRxCYFWfQCdSHAIiJQfTfvrt6uXkBO5jS25hrDdgfBbL5pAVPdLrZdBD1m5/s1600/draw-a-saurus.jpg" height="320" width="264" /></a></div>
<b>Author:</b> <a href="http://silvaniart.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">James Silvani</a><br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Watson-Guptil<br />
<b>Release Date:</b> September 9, 2014<br />
<b>Format:</b> Paperback, 160 pages<br />
<b>Series:</b> N/A<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Non-Fiction; Arts & Crafts<br />
<b>Avg. Rating:</b> ★★★★✩<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20262571-draw-a-saurus?ac=1" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> </b><br />
<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0385345801/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0385345801&linkCode=as2&tag=misrere-20&linkId=Q4IYJD6MO6QDPYXW" rel="" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | </b><b><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Draw-Saurus-James-Silvani/9780385345804/a_?aid=10251983" target="_blank">Book Depository</a></b><br />
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<b><span style="text-align: justify;">This in-depth yet accessible dinosaur drawing guide combines humor, creativity, and the latest dino research to show artists young and old how to breathe life into drawings of their prehistoric favorites. </span>
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<b>Prehistoric Pencil Power!
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Even though they lived some 65 million years ago, dinosaurs and other prehistoric reptiles continue to rule today. From movies to comics and cartoons, these ancient, giant beasts are everywhere you turn. Of course, who wants to just read about or watch these dinos when you can learn how to use pencils, pens, markers, and more to draw your very own?
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Cartoonist James Silvani combines easy-to-follow art exercises with the latest, greatest dino-facts to help you create fun and cool dinosaur doodles all by yourself. With lessons on old favorites like T-rex and stegosaurus, as well as lesser-known (but still awesome) creatures like the massive argentinosaurus, Draw-a-Saurus has everything the dinosaur fan could ever ask for (outside of their very own pet dino!).</blockquote>
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Back in the day, I used to be somewhat of an artist. I loved to draw. I drew all the time.. took as many art classes and courses as I could. Then, I became an adult. Work and responsibilities made me put my art on the back-burner. Aside from random, boring doodles, I don't think that I've drawn in the better part of a decade. Then, I found out I was pregnant. Pregnancy sucked but, when I had time to myself, I always daydreamed about showing my son all of the things that I love. </div>
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My son isn't too old (he'll be two next month), but he's already very artsy and loves doing fun activities with his mom throughout the day. One of the things that we love to do together is draw - well, doodle. But having a child so willing to learn has inspired me to push myself and make time for those creative outlets and education that I loved so much when I was younger. <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0385345801/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0385345801&linkCode=as2&tag=misrere-20&linkId=Q4IYJD6MO6QDPYXW" target="_blank">Draw-A-Saurus: Everything You Need To Know To Draw Your Favorite Dinosaurs</a></i> was actually on my radar and on my wishlist for some time. Having the opportunity to review it was just a fun little surprise that I'm grateful for. </div>
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No matter if you're a child or adult, beginner or expert, everyone can have fun reading and following the instructions of this book. Before you get into drawing, you can read the first chapter, titled "Getting Started" which gives you details of items you need and tips to help you with your dinosaurs. The chapters that follow are categorized into dinosaur suborders like Theropods, Sauropods, Armoured, etc etc; and this is followed with chapters that covers topics like fine tuning your drawings and environments these dinosaurs lived in. </div>
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Being a huge fan (mainly because I have no choice) of the popular PBS show, Dinosaur Train, I knew that the first dinosaur I wanted to try to draw for my son was the Tyrannosaurus. Conveniently, it was one of the first dinosaurs covered - obviously, since T-Rex is the king and all. Sitting down with the book (and supplies), I found it amazingly easy to follow along with the step-by-step instructions that you're given. Every dinosaur pretty much starts out as a stick figure - yes, a stick figure y'all! Saying this book simplifies for even the most novice of drawers would be an understatement - this book breaks down every single detail for you and turns it into a fun activity that actually ends in realistic (and detailed!) drawings that you will be proud of, no matter what your age. As if that wasn't enough, this book is FULL of scientific facts on almost every page. Being a tomboy growing up and having been obsessed with dinosaurs for many years, I thought I knew all there was to know about dinosaurs but it seems my knowledge didn't even scratch the surface of what this book has.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Obviously, this book was an absolute home run for me. Though my son may not be old enough to actually be able to follow along, I'm confident that he'll be able to pick this book up in just a few short years and be able to draw some of our favorite dinosaurs just following the easy instruction in this book. Until then, I will happily draw all the dinosaurs he wants me to - with confidence. And I'm sure I'll be able to impress him with my newly-found vast dino-knowledge. Mommy bonus! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: inherit;">I'd recommend this book for anyone and everyone. If you have a passion for dinosaurs, drawing and/or even a curiosity for science, I believe you'll enjoy this book. On my usual five-star scale, this book will definitely be receiving <b>5 STARS</b>! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818;"><b>**Source:</b> Publisher, via Blogging For Books</span></span>
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Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004391528728968783noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3333386379579676812.post-18563947458056758742014-09-18T12:34:00.003-04:002014-09-18T12:53:14.993-04:00Hello, World!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hey, guys! How's it been?</div>
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I have to make a thousand apologies for being so inactive for the past year and so many odd months. I'm so ashamed to say that it's been that long but life got REALLY hectic for me and, unfortunately, this blog had to suffer because of it. </div>
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So, what's been going on? Well keeping up with a toddler, for one! My little Riley will be TWO in just a couple months and it's making me so sad. I miss my tiny little Peanut but it's so exciting to be able to experience every little milestone with him. But he's not the only thing that's kept me busy. My husband has decided to become a volunteer firefighter, which re-ignited his passion of wanting to one day become a full-time firefighter. Aside from working, he's been taking as many classes as possible to make that dream come true -- which means I see very little of my husband. He gets off of work, comes home to eat and change, then he's out the door again. Even if he has a night off, it's rare we get to see much of each other since he's on-call as a volunteer and he goes on as many calls as he possibly can. I am so very proud of him... HOWEVER, having my husband away so much really puts the burden of all household and child-related activities on me. And THAT is truly why this blog has suffered. </div>
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I have been extremely overwhelmed with all of it thrown on me kind of all at once. But I have found a method to all of the madness. And now that I've [hopefully] got it all mostly under control, I can get back to something for me -- this blog!</div>
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Although I've been away, my love for reading has never waned.. and I'm almost certain that it's slowly (but surely) growing on my son as well. I still read a lot of YA but I have been reading a lot of other books in many other genres also. I predict this will more than likely influence the types of posts and reviews that show up on this blog. Hope you all don't mind!</div>
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Overall, I'm truly excited to be able to get back to this blog and my love of reading. I apologize for being away for so long and I do feel horrible.. but I can't exactly say that I regret it since it's given me the quality time I needed away from the computer and with my family. </div>
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Expect reviews to start popping up soon!</div>
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Until then.. here's my most recent favorite picture of my little guy! :)</div>
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Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004391528728968783noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3333386379579676812.post-81284952237824331652013-02-08T09:36:00.000-05:002013-02-08T09:36:04.596-05:00Blog Tour: 2013 Your New Astrology Horoscopes (& Giveaway!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DjM0O0s9Hm3ujrBl1mOVgUKZ1lruS66sseQ1I0c3E5YxdcZtTHLKfQwoWLF9M-9h_acE8FISee_Wqk71WQLu-RodLA0usUFI7kbzECcCZpB4T_VCVBFTBnOlEG84KmBGqJbLg9n_Y0du/s1600/2013+Your+New+Astrology+Horoscopes+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9DjM0O0s9Hm3ujrBl1mOVgUKZ1lruS66sseQ1I0c3E5YxdcZtTHLKfQwoWLF9M-9h_acE8FISee_Wqk71WQLu-RodLA0usUFI7kbzECcCZpB4T_VCVBFTBnOlEG84KmBGqJbLg9n_Y0du/s400/2013+Your+New+Astrology+Horoscopes+banner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Once again, Suzanne White brings us her ingenious “New Astrology” Predictions for the next 12 months. This exciting new book is offers lengthy, detailed, month-by-month horoscopes for every sign (Western and Chinese). </div>
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We each have two signs – AN ANIMAL YEAR SIGN AND A WESTERN SUN SIGN. Suzanne White’s brilliant NEW ASTROLOGY™ is the fusion of both. With this amazing book, a Leo born in an Ox year will know what will happen to her all throughout 2013 as well as what will be going on in the life of her Scorpio born Goat sweetheart and for her kids, her boss, her family, her friends and her enemies.
Suzanne White is the world renowned high priestess of Chinese and Western astrologies. She is always fun to read. And… she is uncannily accurate. This dazzling book offers readers over 100,000 words of crucial information about and forecasts for each and every astrological sign both Chinese and Western. Find out what’s in store for you and yours in the sultry, highly charged and charming WATER SNAKE YEAR 2013. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7v8B59HXW31NhnoGJ6QRW5fzrhjxwAF4-LAgut_N7HsIELP7oT98TSNJnjTo8wUwfBZxY7eP4MoVkCyngMMlXzVPCrUa8HUrGeezFSsFlU20sD9UCyGycOJTfbhxnon5BDfTdeXqEwFId/s1600/2013+Your+New+Astrology+Horoscopes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7v8B59HXW31NhnoGJ6QRW5fzrhjxwAF4-LAgut_N7HsIELP7oT98TSNJnjTo8wUwfBZxY7eP4MoVkCyngMMlXzVPCrUa8HUrGeezFSsFlU20sD9UCyGycOJTfbhxnon5BDfTdeXqEwFId/s320/2013+Your+New+Astrology+Horoscopes.JPG" width="247" /></a></div>
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<b>Purchase your copy:</b></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2013/01/24/pump-up-your-book-presents-2013-your-new-astrology-horoscopes-book-blast-win-25-amazon-gc-free-books/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/2013-Your-New-Astrology-Horoscopes.JPG">AMAZON</a> | <a href="http://bit.ly/XD1ufa">BARNES & NOBLE</a> | <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/257874">SMASHWORDS </a></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsm95yS4TNltw3mqYZAY1baScRL8O3RJ1FslARsYsMN8hjRVSv2IFGxvUxgb0Hwa7quwzqVkRyzwULf758-zYYDxZp9CEwM4m11O5VIsBwFjdd_GPQiAjdwfePawYKhG6ylPZ2ljQoCc7S/s1600/Suzanne+White.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsm95yS4TNltw3mqYZAY1baScRL8O3RJ1FslARsYsMN8hjRVSv2IFGxvUxgb0Hwa7quwzqVkRyzwULf758-zYYDxZp9CEwM4m11O5VIsBwFjdd_GPQiAjdwfePawYKhG6ylPZ2ljQoCc7S/s320/Suzanne+White.JPG" width="224" /></a></div>
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<b>About the Author:</b>
Suzanne White is an American author. She lives in France. She has been a college professor, a fashion model, a journalist, an interpreter, a novelist, a fireworks salesperson, director of a Parisian Couture boutique, an elevator operator, a shoe salesperson, a single mother and a simultaneous translator. In between she has written books. Lots of books. About Astrology. The New Astrology – a blend of Asian Animal Signs and Sun Signs. Suzanne’s readers have dubbed her “The High Priestess” of Chinese and Western Astrologies. 2013 NEW ASTROLOGY HOROSCOPES BOOK – CHINESE AND WESTERN PREDICTIONS FOR THE SNAKE YEAR 2013 IS # 1 ON AMAZON’S ASTROLOGY BOOK BEST SELLER LIST. </div>
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<b>Visit the Author:</b></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.suzannewhite.com/">WEBSITE</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/suzeparis">T</a><a href="https://twitter.com/suzeparis">WITTER</a> | </b><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/suzeparis?fref=ts"><b>FACEBOOK</b></a></b></div>
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Pump Up Your Book and Suzanne White are teaming up to give you a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card plus a paperback and e-copy of her book, 2013 Your New Astrology Horoscopes!</h3>
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Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004391528728968783noreply@blogger.com392tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3333386379579676812.post-19008421206837895392013-02-06T07:16:00.002-05:002013-02-06T07:26:27.973-05:00Midwinterblood, by Marcus Sedgwick<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHayj6Z1fWS_bBEDZquvzdIhWlKIR_lLSF9DjQNYTE_j_IVnYnOTAxmROrzKCLLeQYFqbKXODZvn2leXslEY59lI3D6H1xfjhprBapFJkWsWaIVOJQLUM2fAEL_lzYIjqqnPu9hpBI6zjb/s1600/15792870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHayj6Z1fWS_bBEDZquvzdIhWlKIR_lLSF9DjQNYTE_j_IVnYnOTAxmROrzKCLLeQYFqbKXODZvn2leXslEY59lI3D6H1xfjhprBapFJkWsWaIVOJQLUM2fAEL_lzYIjqqnPu9hpBI6zjb/s320/15792870.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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<b>Author:</b> Marcus Sedgwick<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Roaring Brook Press<br />
<b>Release Date:</b> February 5, 2013<br />
<b>Format:</b> Hardcover; 272 pages<br />
<b>Series:</b> N/A<br />
<b>Genre:</b> YA, Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal<br />
<b>Avg. Rating:</b> <span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">✩</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">✩</span><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15792870-midwinterblood" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Midwinterblood-Marcus-Sedgwick/9781596438002/?a_aid=10251983" target="_blank">Book Depository</a></b><br />
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<span id="freeText17189419676471060606">Seven stories of
passion and love separated by centuries but mysteriously
intertwined—this is a tale of horror and beauty, tenderness and
sacrifice.</span></div>
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<span id="freeText17189419676471060606">An archaeologist who unearths a mysterious artifact,
an airman who finds himself far from home, a painter, a ghost, a
vampire, and a Viking: the seven stories in this compelling novel all
take place on the remote Scandinavian island of Blessed where a
curiously powerful plant that resembles a dragon grows. What binds these
stories together? What secrets lurk beneath the surface of this idyllic
countryside? And what might be powerful enough to break the cycle of
midwinterblood? From award-winning author Marcus Sedgwick comes a book
about passion and preservation and ultimately an exploration of the
bounds of love.</span></div>
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<span id="freeText17189419676471060606"><i>Midwinterblood</i> is one of those books that you have to let stew in your head for a little while before actually judging - or, in my case, reviewing. As the description says, there are seven stories in this book. All of these stories revolve around two main characters - the same main characters - and what happens to them in each time period. The stories go from the future to the past in order to tell a more clearer account of the events that unfold during each life. </span></div>
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<span id="freeText17189419676471060606">Now, it sounds a little confusing.. but it's not all so bad. A perk to this book is that the same characters are used in each story, although who they are and who they are to one another changes from story to story. </span>The overall feel and theme to <i>Midwinterblood</i> is a little tragic, as all stories are centered around the idea of love requiring some type of sacrifice. There is also a plot that intertwines each story to one another that really ties everything together, although the stories could actually be read separately.<br />
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<span id="freeText17189419676471060606">This book has a great gothic feel to it and the island itself is ten shades of creepy. The writing was nothing short of fabulous and it definitely kept me reading from the beginning to the very end in one sitting. Books that are compiled of multiple short(er) stories are usually harder to grasp since they're like novellas - where you don't get as invested in the characters and you don't get as much background information as you think you need to really get into the stories. Since these stories are tied together, there was more that was fleshed out.</span></div>
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<span id="freeText17189419676471060606">If I had to say anything "bad" about this book, I would say that there was still a little sparseness to the information you receive in the writing. I don't think it will deter anyone from the story, it just leaves the reader a little curious on a few points throughout the book. </span></div>
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<span id="freeText17189419676471060606">Overall, I absolutely loved this book. I think it's a wonderful read that deserves more recognition than it may receive, considering I haven't seen much about it on the internet. </span></div>
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<span id="freeText15307372252578046032"><b>Rating:</b> </span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">✩</span><br />
<span id="freeText15307372252578046032"><b>Source: </b>Purchase</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWmQkkyk3E_5JCAWCv9L9jVwo3nWqEKKrsYit2FbtiH6MxK-LbO-ov_9tO_pTt5nQVRDu5Kh6jqOiArNpSAquFMmjnnil0w3Hh-QMsvtL76I7JDaTiRpHey6QbyfuCOQ7h01VOP55LEyx/s1600/110234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWmQkkyk3E_5JCAWCv9L9jVwo3nWqEKKrsYit2FbtiH6MxK-LbO-ov_9tO_pTt5nQVRDu5Kh6jqOiArNpSAquFMmjnnil0w3Hh-QMsvtL76I7JDaTiRpHey6QbyfuCOQ7h01VOP55LEyx/s1600/110234.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span id="freeTextContainerauthor110234">Marcus Sedgwick (b 1968) was
born in Kent, England. Marcus is a British author and illustrator as
well as a musician. He used to play for two bands namely playing the
drums for Garrett and as the guitarist in an ABBA tribute group. He has
published novels such as <i>Floodland</i> (winner of the Branford Boase Award in 2001) and <i>The Dark Horse</i> (shortlisted for The Guardian Children's Book Award 2002).</span></div>
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<span id="freeTextContainerauthor110234"> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/marcussedgwick" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.marcussedgwick.com/" target="_blank">Website</a></span></div>
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Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004391528728968783noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3333386379579676812.post-23184382843216996782013-02-05T08:47:00.000-05:002013-02-05T08:52:50.249-05:00Blog Tour: Blood Fugue & Witch's Nocturne (& GIVEAWAYS!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt18E7KXg1uP1RMa_uu8ThmPxLpdbSVVMT5gWqzFP65Ed2F5vhq04RXzlCOCFZU9e9DW72Pf8Ks42f5AC3lmmkQuPr4ETbUkOfbgm_SVdkiQpqcxIhVCzvofFI0FvmMpUAMKlAx0qHoTiP/s1600/moonsong(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt18E7KXg1uP1RMa_uu8ThmPxLpdbSVVMT5gWqzFP65Ed2F5vhq04RXzlCOCFZU9e9DW72Pf8Ks42f5AC3lmmkQuPr4ETbUkOfbgm_SVdkiQpqcxIhVCzvofFI0FvmMpUAMKlAx0qHoTiP/s1600/moonsong(1).png" /></a></div>
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<i>This post is part of the blog tour for Books One and Two in E.J. Wesley's Moonsongs series. For more information on the blog tour, click <a href="http://www.candacesbookblog.com/2012/12/new-blog-tour-announcement-sign-ups_31.html" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a> or click the button at the bottom of these reviews.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrvhSJrU0pCdiVWTYZq216xRHg1XBOroGFQWwjypU6OadRR2mf2kgpm3rV0PdASr2t04Oc9x2jfP5kt8-XZtWVNcjl3bMA5uHnp89uKsOLCUyD2VWqjervgQU-mQlW2ZhJy6n9snz-xbs/s1600/Blood+Fugue+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrvhSJrU0pCdiVWTYZq216xRHg1XBOroGFQWwjypU6OadRR2mf2kgpm3rV0PdASr2t04Oc9x2jfP5kt8-XZtWVNcjl3bMA5uHnp89uKsOLCUyD2VWqjervgQU-mQlW2ZhJy6n9snz-xbs/s320/Blood+Fugue+Cover.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15865066-blood-fugue" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Fugue-Moonsongs-Book-ebook/dp/B009ED5M0C/ref=la_B009GI10B0_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1355846648&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a><br />
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<span id="freeText7850736255937677422">Jenny
Schmidt is a young woman with old heartaches. A small town Texas girl
with big city attitude, she just doesn’t fit in. Not that she has ever
tried. <br /><br />Life has pummeled her heart into one big, lonely callus.
She has no siblings, both parents were dead by sixteen, and her last
grandparent—and caretaker—was in the ground before she turned
twenty-one. She’s the last living member of her immediate family. Or so
she thinks…<br /><br />Suddenly, instead of
burying it with the dead, Jenny is forced to confront the past. Armed
only with an ancient family journal, her rifle, and an Apache tomahawk,
she must save her grandfather’s life and embrace her dangerous heritage.
Or be devoured by it.</span></div>
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<span id="freeText7850736255937677422">I'm not too overly fond of novellas because you never get a lot of info, usually leaving you with too many questions that may not be ever answered. But after reading the first two books in the Moonsongs series, I'm happy to say that's not the case.</span></div>
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<span id="freeText7850736255937677422">In this first book, we're introduced to some important characters and we get a good little piece of action as well. When you think 47 pages for a novella, you don't think you'll get too much. Only.. you do. While you don't necessarily go very in-depth with all the information, this book is still chock full of action and you get a decent look at the characters in a very short amount of time. </span></div>
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<span id="freeText7850736255937677422">The writing is amazing - even in just a few short pages, you can see that right off the bat. It really engages you in the story and keeps you reading along until the end. Jenny, the protagonist, is written amazingly well. She's a tough chick, very passionate and also surprisingly very funny. I loved her attitude and the way that she presented herself. </span></div>
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<span id="freeText7850736255937677422">Like the main character, this story is full of passion. The pace and story itself, though short, will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end - leaving you ready for more. This story is definitely worth your time to check out. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAv3o9qkVDoA_EfIkVfEX0xcIEzXbh5-vvNHhR5FjHIpGSYKQkBjGihBa3R5Ph6PdJ0iZWkMtyE852eFTDudfpiRwlkN82pNTECjXWPxWK_hgvv8ubT_gacyrsahOP-Sp1N8qXaXwttc5/s1600/Witch%2527s+Nocturne+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAv3o9qkVDoA_EfIkVfEX0xcIEzXbh5-vvNHhR5FjHIpGSYKQkBjGihBa3R5Ph6PdJ0iZWkMtyE852eFTDudfpiRwlkN82pNTECjXWPxWK_hgvv8ubT_gacyrsahOP-Sp1N8qXaXwttc5/s320/Witch%2527s+Nocturne+Cover.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<span id="freeText7850736255937677422"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16589826-witch-s-nocturne" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Witchs-Nocturne-Moonsongs-Book-ebook/dp/B00APKRTOK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1355801247&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/witchs-nocturne-moonsongs-book-2-ej-wesley/1113991380?ean=2940016083438" target="_blank">B&N</a> | <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/265285" target="_blank">Smashwords</a></span>
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<span id="freeText3559378188010625758">After receiving an
ancient tribal journal from her grandfather, Jenny is sent on a mission
of discovery in an attempt to unravel clues to her family's monster
hunting past. The journey becomes more than academic when she is asked
to confront a coven of dangerous witches who plan to cast an insidious
spell on the plains of West Texas. <br /><br />Witch's Nocturne is the
second of the Moonsongs Books, a series of paranormal-horror-action
novelettes by author E.J. Wesley. These stories contain language and
content better suited for mature readers.</span></div>
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This is the second installment of the Moonsongs series and, like its predecessor, it's nothing short of amazing. </div>
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We pick up where we left off in the first book. Once again, Jenny is as spunky as ever - although she has turned the anger down a notch or two. She's more in control than before and things seem to be going smoothly.. until we're introduced to a new antagonist that definitely turns the story up a notch.</div>
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As always, Wesley wastes no time delving into the action and has us snared for the duration of the story. This installment was longer than the first, we learn more about our characters as well as having a great new plot. </div>
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I got Book Two with One, so I didn't have to wait like most others. However, now I DO have to wait for Book Three and I have to admit that it's driving me nuts! These stories are nothing short of amazing, and Moonsongs is definitely a series that I would recommend to everyone. </div>
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Both of these stories definitely get <span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★ from me! </span></div>
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<span id="freeTextContainerauthor6483199">Author of the Moonsongs books,
a series of New Adult supernatural action-suspense novelettes. E.J.
reads horror, YA, thrillers, MG--basically, anything with words. He is
currently in love with the television shows Battlestar Galactica,
Downton Abbey, Sherlock, and Fringe. E.J. writes, reads, and watches
from Texas, where he maintains a very neighborly attitude. </span></div>
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<span id="freeTextContainerauthor6483199"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/E.J.-Wesley/e/B009GI10B0/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.facebook.com/EJWesley?ref=hl" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/EJWesley" target="_blank">Twitter </a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.candacesbookblog.com/2012/12/new-blog-tour-announcement-sign-ups_31.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TXDSYJwRHh-YD9JL3V8CfiQuzImycA0pLRxnLlqIosxCdjWFZAUGkK2NOj7Rnht4na4NBSgngcp_KIihPnoqtz2J7yFoMyjPD75FVErU7qMeo-8-6N-wqRnL8icChJkOtwPhndKSbpvK/s1600/cbb%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span id="freeTextContainerauthor6483199"><u><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Giveaways</span></b></u></span></div>
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<span id="freeTextContainerauthor6483199"><span style="font-size: small;">There are TWO giveaways that I am excited to share with you guys! </span></span></div>
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<span id="freeTextContainerauthor6483199"><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★ </span>The first one is here, just for my readers! There will be TWO winners that will win BOTH books in the Moonsongs series. All you have to do is make sure that you <span style="font-size: small;">follow Missy's Reads & Reviews, then leave a comment with your contact information. The winner <span style="font-size: small;">will be cho<span style="font-size: small;">sen this Sunday, February <span style="font-size: small;">10th. Since these are ebooks, this giveaway is open WORLDWIDE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span id="freeTextContainerauthor6483199"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★ </span>The <span style="font-size: small;">second giveaway is for the whole blog tour. The prizes are as follow<span style="font-size: small;">s:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>1 Prize Package #1:</b> Signed copy of Soul Screamers Vol. 1 by Rachel Vincent, Signed copy of Capital Hell by Alicia M. Long, signed copy of The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, and Texas (Little Known Facts about Well Known Places (Package open to US addresses only) by Victor Dorff </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> 2 winners of a $15 GC to amazon or B&N </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> 1 winner of $20 towards The Book Depository (INT ONLY!)</span></div>
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<span id="freeTextContainerauthor6483199"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Simply f<span style="font-size: small;">ollow the rules on the Rafflecopter below. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span id="freeTextContainerauthor6483199"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Good luck!! </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004391528728968783noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3333386379579676812.post-19288364235686459392013-01-26T23:30:00.000-05:002013-01-26T23:34:41.662-05:00The New Hunger, by Isaac Marion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEK5M7IjozfmNmjUshLxbNdwWRpzDtrWIvaYdixEMzmK0DVdfevp1wCFBbkfWbdlvPu27c-TnyrxQt9N6T6UtPMRBlZ-buTruhQffHMKt-8WQkPL36WH_Lbffi9MV9CJFkHfrrqf85iHH/s1600/17233701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEK5M7IjozfmNmjUshLxbNdwWRpzDtrWIvaYdixEMzmK0DVdfevp1wCFBbkfWbdlvPu27c-TnyrxQt9N6T6UtPMRBlZ-buTruhQffHMKt-8WQkPL36WH_Lbffi9MV9CJFkHfrrqf85iHH/s320/17233701.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<b>Author:</b> Isaac Marion<b></b><br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Zora Books<br />
<b>Release Date:</b> January 28, 2013<br />
<b>Format:</b> eBook; 140 pages<br />
<b>Series:</b> Warm Bodies (Book 0.5) <br />
<b>Genre:</b> YA, Horror, Paranormal, Zombies<b></b><br />
<b>Avg. Rating:</b> <span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">✩ (<i>4.50</i>)</span><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17233701-the-new-hunger" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> </b><br />
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<span id="freeText18207608202446132764">New York is a bayou.
New Orleans is a reef. The entire country has been devastated by natural
disasters and governmental collapse, and on top of everything else
there is the annoying problem of zombies trying to devour you at every
turn. But sixteen-year-old Nora and her younger brother Addis are about
to discover the most frightening thing yet: being abandoned in this
horrific world by their own parents.<br /><br />Left with only a bag of
clothes and a first-aid kit, Nora and Addis begin a harrowing journey to
connect with anyone who isn't looking to rob them or eat them. A
wounded man wrecks a meal of green beans and French fries at the top of
the Space Needle in Seattle. An attempt to get a good night’s sleep in a
fortified motel is ruined by an undead face staring at them through the
window. And they just can’t seem to shake someone – something – that’s
been following them everywhere they go…. <br /><br />Meanwhile, a girl named
Julie is traveling toward the city in an SUV with her parents. She is
only twelve, but has already seen friends die and her school burn. She
has watched her father become nearly as cold and remorseless as the
Dead. All she wants is someplace to call home, even if it never really
will be.<br /><br />And somewhere nearby, a tall man awakens in the woods,
unsure of exactly where he is, or even who he is. As he struggles to
remember details of his life, a single consonant comes to him: R. He
is…a name that begins with R…</span></div>
</blockquote>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span id="freeText18207608202446132764"></span></b><span id="freeText18207608202446132764">Since <i><b>The New Hunger</b></i> is actually a novella, I guess we would call this a mini-review as I don't plan on speaking much about it for the risk of spoilers. </span><b><span id="freeText18207608202446132764"></span> </b></div>
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All I really want to say is that if you like <i><b>Warm Bodies</b></i>, <i><b>The New Hunger</b></i> is an absolute must for you. It is a great read from Isaac Marion that gives you a glimpse of the characters and their lives before we meet them in <i><b>Warm Bodies</b></i>. </div>
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I definitely enjoyed reading the part of the story about R. You get to experience his first days as a zombie and how he somehow manages to control the hunger from within. I fell in love with R in <i><b>Warm Bodies</b></i>, so this back story was definitely a treat.</div>
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Even though R is my favorite character, I have to admit that Nora and Addis' story really won me over. Seeing their will to live really stands out as some of the best parts of the story. </div>
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Just like with <i><b>Warm Bodies</b></i>, Isaac Marion has managed to use his incredible writing skills to ensnare you back into the world of zombies. This was a great, quick read that everyone should pick up - as soon as it's out, of course.<b> </b></div>
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<span id="freeText15307372252578046032"><b>Rating:</b> </span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363"><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span>★</span><br />
<span id="freeText15307372252578046032"><b>Source: </b>Publisher</span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK48pHxHLiDL4ATx9V4fCb4BeytJOQxiAxTNiYaln0aD4w4ZhBGEpbxAeoREuTjlY0eCwnmaH7YYbGXsYL2VKczfV0HaiRViH2-LSZKXKsbrMq4x3_rwvAdaY6EBNOOIxfzoTnBTpZenyo/s1600/1302285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK48pHxHLiDL4ATx9V4fCb4BeytJOQxiAxTNiYaln0aD4w4ZhBGEpbxAeoREuTjlY0eCwnmaH7YYbGXsYL2VKczfV0HaiRViH2-LSZKXKsbrMq4x3_rwvAdaY6EBNOOIxfzoTnBTpZenyo/s320/1302285.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
Isaac Marion was born near
Seattle in 1981 and has lived in and around that city ever since. He
began writing in high school and self-published three novels before
finally breaking through with Warm Bodies. He currently splits his time
between writing more novels, playing obscure instruments in obscure
bands, and exploring the country in his 1977 GMC motorhome.</div>
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<a href="http://burningbuilding.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/isaacmarionauthor" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="http://twitter.com/isaacinspace" target="_blank">Twitter </a></blockquote>
Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004391528728968783noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3333386379579676812.post-53582820419343482862013-01-24T08:30:00.000-05:002013-01-24T08:30:02.087-05:00A Shade Of Vampire, by Bella Forrest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGP-PlLfRIliSYV1i9qke3m2CNBxl208IMHK9CiSNjDqUQrsmHLMSA5UQzGHQHQeig2FbPb3CNtXAgfApgzHEn0lExynfqAZyjHVYVYo9UpcBZtK0RsgrIVMN4uyj6OQtziOI_pUsArHl/s1600/17255435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGP-PlLfRIliSYV1i9qke3m2CNBxl208IMHK9CiSNjDqUQrsmHLMSA5UQzGHQHQeig2FbPb3CNtXAgfApgzHEn0lExynfqAZyjHVYVYo9UpcBZtK0RsgrIVMN4uyj6OQtziOI_pUsArHl/s320/17255435.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Author:</b> Bella Forrest<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Forrest Books<br />
<b>Release Date:</b> December 14, 2012<br />
<b>Format:</b> Paperback; 147 pages<br />
<b>Series:</b> A Shade Of Vampire (Book One) <br />
<b>Genre:</b> YA, Paranormal, Romance, Vampires<b> </b><br />
<b>Avg. Rating:</b> <span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">✩</span><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17255435-a-shade-of-vampire" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Shade-Vampire-Bella-Forrest/9781481280761/?a_aid=10251983" target="_blank">Book Depository</a></b><br />
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<span id="freeText18024190722033543545">On the evening of Sofia Claremont's seventeenth birthday, she is sucked into a nightmare from which she cannot wake.</span></div>
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<span id="freeText18024190722033543545"><br />A quiet evening walk along a beach brings her face to face with a dangerous pale creature that craves much more than her blood. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span id="freeText18024190722033543545"><br />She is kidnapped to an island where the sun is eternally forbidden to shine. An
island uncharted by any map and ruled by the most powerful vampire
coven on the planet. She wakes here as a slave, a captive in chains. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span id="freeText18024190722033543545"><br />Sofia's
life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn when she is the one selected
out of hundreds of girls to join the harem of Derek Novak, the dark
royal Prince. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span id="freeText18024190722033543545"><br />Despite his addiction to power and obsessive thirst
for her blood, Sofia soon realizes that the safest place on the island
is within his quarters, and she must do all within her power to win him
over if she is to survive even one more night.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span id="freeText18024190722033543545"><br />Will she succeed? ...or is she destined to the same fate that all other girls have met at the hands of the Novaks?</span><b> </b></div>
</blockquote>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Alright, I'll just come out with it: I love this book. I have read many books this year and many, many books over the past couple of years - and I can honestly say that it has been a long while since I have enjoyed a book THIS much. </div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
First off, it's hard to believe that this book is actually a debut novel - although I guess it makes perfect sense with the author's background. But usually, even with a history like Bella Forrest has, you don't typically see such great writing until a few books down the line. Seeing as how I'm a stickler for writing most of the time, this was one of the things that made me happy.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
All of the characters in this story defined themselves well through their actions throughout the story. Sofia was an instant hit for me. I liked that she was a strong character, but definitely had a little vulnerability to her that made her so human and easy to relate to. Derek was also a character that I loved from the very beginning. His actions stayed true to his character, and I love the way his attraction for Sophia shined through.The other characters were just as great. My heart bled a little when Ben showed back up in the story and you found out a little as to what he was going through when Sophia disappeared. Lucas was another character that popped off of the pages for me, but not in the best of ways. </div>
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Being only 147 pages, this book reads very quickly. I think the winning factor to this book, for me, is the fact that this book gets straight to the action and the facts - there's not a ton of fluff that you have to weed through to get to the good stuff. The constant action made me flip feverishly through page after page until the very end. The only downside to that is knowing that I am completely finished with the novel and have to wait for the next book in the series to come out.. which I hope is very, very soon!</div>
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Essentially, this book is a vampire romance with a whole lot of action in it. So, if you like any of those themes, then I'm sure you will absolutely LOVE this book. It's definitely one to add to your bookshelf and covet. </div>
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<span id="freeText15307372252578046032"><b>Rating:</b> </span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363"><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span>★</span><br />
<span id="freeText15307372252578046032"><b>Source: </b>Author</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span id="freeText15307372252578046032">ABOUT BELLA:</span></b></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span id="freeText15307372252578046032"><span id="freeTextauthor6860531">I've been telling stories
pretty much since I could talk. Instead of having my parents read me
bed-time stories, I would prefer to share with them my own made up
tales.<br /><br />As I grew older, I developed a passion for the fantasy genre, but more specifically vampires.<br /><br />I had my first idea for a novel when I was sixteen, and haven't really stopped since.<br /><br />My debut novel, <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17158457-a-shade-of-vampire">A Shade of Vampire</a>, was released on December 14, 2012.<br />The book quickly became a Number 1 Christmas Bestseller in Vampire Romance, Paranormal and Fantasy <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shade-Vampire-Bella-Forrest/dp/1481280767" rel="nofollow"> on Amazon</a>.<br /><br />If you sign up for personal email updates from me here: <a href="http://www.forrestbooks.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.forrestbooks.com</a> ,<br />you'll be the first to hear about my new releases.<br /><br />I'd also love to meet you on Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ashadeofvampire" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/ashadeofvampire</a><br />Or Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/AShadeOfVampire" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.twitter.com/AShadeOfVampire</a></span> </span></div>
</blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>A SHADE OF VAMPIRE</b> is available on Amazon:</span><br />
<br />
USA, paperback:<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shade-Of-Vampire-Bella-Forrest/dp/1481280767" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/Shade-<wbr></wbr>Of-Vampire-Bella-Forrest/dp/<wbr></wbr>1481280767</a><br /><br />
USA, eBook:<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/A-Shade-Of-Vampire-ebook/dp/B00AOHDMFE" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/A-Shade-<wbr></wbr>Of-Vampire-ebook/dp/B00AOHDMFE</a><br /><br />UK, paperback:<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shade-Of-Vampire-Bella-Forrest/dp/1481280767" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shade-<wbr></wbr>Of-Vampire-Bella-Forrest/dp/<wbr></wbr>1481280767</a><br /><br />
UK, eBook:<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/A-Shade-Of-Vampire-ebook/dp/B00AOHDMFE" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.co.uk/A-<wbr></wbr>Shade-Of-Vampire-ebook/dp/<wbr></wbr>B00AOHDMFE</a>Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004391528728968783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3333386379579676812.post-65835543151274751902013-01-19T02:19:00.001-05:002013-01-19T02:19:06.135-05:00Life After Death, by Damien Echols<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>[ <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/google_preview/16035409" target="_blank">Google Preview</a> ]</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>Author:</b> Damien Echols<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Blue Rider Press<br />
<b>Release Date:</b> September 18, 2012<br />
<b>Format:</b> Hardcover; 399 pages<br />
<b>Series:</b> N/A<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Non-Fiction, Memoir, True Crime<br />
<b>Avg. Rating:</b> <span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">✩</span><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13513092-life-after-death" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Life-After-Death-Damien-Echols/9780399160202/?a_aid=10251983" target="_blank">Book Depository</a></b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span id="freeText2278635018394398072">In 1993, teenagers
Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley, Jr.—who have come
to be known as the West Memphis Three—were arrested for the murders of
three eight-year-old boys in Arkansas. The ensuing trial was marked by
tampered evidence, false testimony, and public hysteria. Baldwin and
Misskelley were sentenced to life in prison; while eighteen-year-old
Echols, deemed the “ringleader,” was sentenced to death. Over the next
two decades, the WM3 became known worldwide as a symbol of wrongful
conviction and imprisonment, with thousands of supporters and many
notable celebrities who called for a new trial. In a shocking turn of
events, all three men were released in August 2011.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span id="freeText2278635018394398072"><br />Now Echols shares
his story in full—from abuse by prison guards and wardens, to portraits
of fellow inmates and deplorable living conditions, to the incredible
reserves of patience, spirituality, and perseverance that kept him alive
and sane while incarcerated for nearly two decades.</span></div>
</blockquote>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
When the whole ordeal with the West Memphis Three happened, I didn't pay it much attention. I was nine years old, so it didn't interest me much. Obviously, even at that age, it made me sad that children my age died.. and I got the "don't trust strangers" talk from my parents about a dozen times - but that was about the extent of my concern. But my father kept up with the case. A couple of years later, I found myself more caught up in the case. I liked mysteries. These murders were mysteries to me. And, for whatever reason, I never believed that the three guys who were found guilty of killing the three boys were actually the murderers. Ever since I was thirteen, I have kept up with the West Memphis Three. When they were released (albeit with a crap bargain), I was happy. When I saw that Damien's memoir was out, I was even happier. Now, I have a first-hand account into the history of the West Memphis Three all through the mind of the alleged "master mind" of the group. </div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
I think I should say that it's pretty hard to actually review a memoir, as it is a story of someone's life. I am not trying to review Echols' life - rather, the format this book was written. As far as the story, I loved this book. Yet, at the same time, it was truly heart-wrenching. I couldn't imagine being in Echols' shoes, having to spend eighteen years in prison for a crime you didn't commit.. especially a crime so heinous as the murders of three little boys. Echols has an amazing talent at writing, and you can practically feel the emotion he put into his writing oozing out of the pages. </div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Having said that, I did see some minor things that could have been worked on. First off, it felt like the first half of this book was <i>Almost Home</i> (Echols' book he wrote while incarcerated) written all over again. I don't know, there could have been a reason for this. For someone who has read <i>Almost Home</i> (me), this seems like it could have been skipped. But, if you haven't read it, then you practically get two books for the price of one. There were also some other parts of the story that were repeated that could have been skipped, but it doesn't really distract from the story. What does distract me is the constant use of the word magick/magickal (yes, he spells it with the "k" every single time). The usage was a little excessive - however, again, not a true distraction to the point of this book.</div>
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Like I said, I really did enjoy this book. If you know about the WM3 and haven't read this book, then you're missing out. For those of us that do believe that sometimes innocent people are accused of horrible crimes, this is not a book to be ignored - it's a real eye-opener to what sometimes happens to those innocents. </div>
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<span id="freeText15307372252578046032"><b>Rating:</b> </span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">✩</span><br />
<span id="freeText15307372252578046032"><b>Source: </b>Netgalley</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span id="freeTextauthor234724">Damien Wayne Echols, along with
Jessie Misskelley and Jason Baldwin, is one of the three men, known as
the West Memphis Three, who were convicted in the killing of three
eight-year-old boys Steve Branch, Christopher Byers, and Michael Moore
at Robin Hood Hills, West Memphis, Arkansas, on May 5, 1993.<br /><br />Damien
Echols was convicted of murder by a jury and sentenced to death by
lethal injection. He was on death row under 23 hours per day lockdown at
the Varner Supermax. On August 19, 2011, Echols, along with the two
others collectively known at the West Memphis Three, were released from
prison after their attorneys and the judge handling the upcoming retrial
agreed to a deal. Under the terms of the Alford guilty plea, Echols and
his co-defendents pleaded guilty to three counts of first degree murder
while maintaining their innocence. DNA evidence failed to connect
Echols or his co-defendents to the crime.</span></div>
</blockquote>
Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004391528728968783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3333386379579676812.post-48511116708771417722013-01-17T00:27:00.001-05:002013-01-17T00:28:54.287-05:00Gates of Paradise, by Melissa de la Cruz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPfY0f56C9AU7F0gFB9_dFjNFyTBFtv4D1CLclAebbByeKhbGd-b32HZ1eDlI7Vu4sok9ZC_xPP23uJuN0rGAOq124RI8On47u0eqplthpJYoyBfbrsFxPhpV2bLIPAXTAYfsr8thC4tz/s1600/10814946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPfY0f56C9AU7F0gFB9_dFjNFyTBFtv4D1CLclAebbByeKhbGd-b32HZ1eDlI7Vu4sok9ZC_xPP23uJuN0rGAOq124RI8On47u0eqplthpJYoyBfbrsFxPhpV2bLIPAXTAYfsr8thC4tz/s320/10814946.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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<b>Author:</b> Melissa de la Cruz<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Disney-Hyperion<br />
<b>Release Date:</b> January 15, 2013<br />
<b>Format:</b> Hardcover; 368 pages<br />
<b>Series:</b> Blue Bloods (Book 7)<br />
<b>Genre:</b> YA, Paranormal, Romance<br />
<b>Avg. Rating:</b> <span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">✩</span><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15818593-gates-of-paradise" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Gates-Paradise-Blue-Bloods-Novel-Melissa-de-La-Cruz/9781423157410/?a_aid=10251983" target="_blank">Book Depository</a></b><br />
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<span id="freeText7231646636691271395">Schuyler Van Alen is
running out of time. The Dark Prince of Hell is storming the Gates of
Paradise, intent on winning the heavenly throne for good. This time he
has his greatest angels by his side, Abbadon and Azrael—Jack and Mimi
Force, as they are known in the Coven.<br /><br />Or so he thinks. Even as
Lucifer assigns Jack and Mimi the tasks of killing their true loves, the
Force twins secretly vow to defeat the Dark Prince once and for all.
But how far will Mimi and Jack go to conceal their real loyalties?<br /><br />Meanwhile,
former vampire Bliss Llewellyn has joined forces with Lawson, the
greatest wolf of the underworld, to free his people from their
imprisonment in Hell. As they struggle against impossible odds, an
ancient message, woven into the very fabric of time, reveals just how
much depends on the success of their mission.<br /><br />Lucifer seeks the
key to the Gate of Promise, and when Schuyler is taken captive and
delivered straight to Hell, she must make an unthinkable choice—the same
one the archangel Michael was forced to make during the Crisis in Rome.
Will Schuyler find the strength to do what he could not?<br /><br />The
epic, heartbreaking Blue Bloods series comes to a close with this final
novel about staggering courage, unbearable sacrifice, and the
immortality of true love.</span></div>
</blockquote>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span id="freeText7231646636691271395"></span></b><span id="freeText7231646636691271395">Admission: I have followed the <i>Blue Bloods</i> series from the very beginning. As much as I hate things </span>that deal with fashion, money, socialites, etc.. I couldn't help but love this series. And this series has turned into something so much more than any of the things I have listed - and I freaking love it for that reason alone! But there's so much more. So, forgive me if I am a little biased when it comes to <i>Blue Bloods</i>. I think I can do a pretty fair review, though. ;)</div>
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This is the final book in the Blue Bloods series. While I'm sad to see it go, I have to say that I have enjoyed the ride. Compared to the last few books in the series, which dragged a little and come up a bit stale for me, Gates of Paradise was a breath of fresh air. Like all books in a series, it's nice to see some of your favorite characters reprise their roles in a story and see them grow. I've loved Schuyler from the very beginning and her journey has definitely had its ups and downs. However, I think the character that has truly shined for me in this particular book is Mimi - which is amazing considering how much I have hated her for a majority of the series. Her growth and own journey have both astounded me. She literally won me over without me even realizing it until the very end of the book, which I love because I never knew a character could be written so well.</div>
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I can't say much without the risk of spoilers, so I'll just keep this short and sweet by saying that this is an amazing book. The storyline is intricate and I loved watching everything come together at the very end. Literally any loose end or question that I could recall throughout the series was wrapped up with a nice little bow to where you were left with a filling of satisfaction instead of confusion.</div>
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If I had to pick out some flaws, I can think of two things that I didn't necessarily love about the novel. One, this book is DEFINITELY a part of a series.. and, in being so, you can't just pick up this book without any knowledge of the characters, series, and story/stories. If you try, you'll fail miserably - that's a promise. There were also some parts in the final chapters that felt a little rushed, as though the author was in a hurry to just wrap this series up and move on with her life. Though after seven books with the same characters in the same world, I think it's safe to say that it could be understandable. In all honesty, it's not THAT noticeable.. it's just something that kind of stood out to me while I was reading. </div>
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Overall, I completely loved this book. If you've been a follower of the series, I have no doubt that you will love this book as well. If you haven't followed this series.. I'd say you're doing yourself a disservice by not checking it out. Pick up this book, along with the others in the series. I promise you won't be disappointed!</div>
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<span id="freeText15307372252578046032"><b>Rating:</b> </span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363"></span><br />
<span id="freeText15307372252578046032"><b>Source: </b>Purchase</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0tRPuToe0mTzXRSmNxqoSNyUL_5fgINU1A-k-0dR7hMdL1ZXgX9doTS-kwSUedZorGXnNm9NLTPKamQf1yHeFBqQkr5lqncL6O27L967OnMrvfdC4i7T2lN7iYqy278AHcYbY9n_4uwM/s1600/21911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0tRPuToe0mTzXRSmNxqoSNyUL_5fgINU1A-k-0dR7hMdL1ZXgX9doTS-kwSUedZorGXnNm9NLTPKamQf1yHeFBqQkr5lqncL6O27L967OnMrvfdC4i7T2lN7iYqy278AHcYbY9n_4uwM/s200/21911.jpg" width="170" /></a></div>
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<span id="freeTextauthor21911">Melissa </span><span id="freeTextauthor21911"><span id="freeTextauthor21911">de la Cruz</span></span><span id="freeTextauthor21911"> grew up in Manila and
moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school
salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art
history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs
and shopping!).</span></div>
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<span id="freeTextauthor21911"><span id="freeTextauthor21911">Melissa is the New
York Times and USA Today best-selling author of many critically
acclaimed and award-winning novels for teens including The Au Pairs
series, the Blue Bloods series, the Ashleys series, the Angels on Sunset
Boulevard series and the semi-autobiographical novel Fresh off the
Boat.</span> </span><span id="freeTextauthor21911"></span><span id="freeTextauthor21911"><br /><br />She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.</span></div>
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<span id="freeTextauthor21911"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/authorMelissadelaCruz?ref=ts&fref=ts" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="http://www.twitter.com/MelissadelaCruz" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.melissa-delacruz.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> </b></span></div>
</blockquote>
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<br />
<a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Blue-Bloods-Melissa-de-La-Cruz/9781423101260/?a_aid=10251983" target="_blank"><img height="200" src="http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u621/missyreadsreviews/872333.jpg" width="131" /></a> <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Masquerade-Melissa-de-La-Cruz/9781905654772/?a_aid=10251983" target="_blank"><img height="200" src="http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u621/missyreadsreviews/106085.jpg" width="131" /></a> <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Revelations-Blue-Bloods-Novel-Melissa-de-La-Cruz/9781423102298/?a_aid=10251983" target="_blank"><img height="200" src="http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u621/missyreadsreviews/2753843.jpg" width="131" /></a> <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Van-Alen-Legacy-Melissa-de-La-Cruz/9781905654796/?a_aid=10251983" target="_blank"><img height="200" src="http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u621/missyreadsreviews/6267237.jpg" width="131" /></a> <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Blue-Bloods-Melissa-de-La-Cruz/9781423142683/?a_aid=10251983" target="_blank"><img height="200" src="http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u621/missyreadsreviews/7031834.jpg" width="143" /></a> <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Misguided-Angel-Melissa-de-La-Cruz/9781905654758/?a_aid=10251983" target="_blank"><img height="200" src="http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u621/missyreadsreviews/7747263.jpg" width="131" /></a> <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Bloody-Valentine-Melissa-de-La-Cruz/9781907410208/?a_aid=10251983" target="_blank"><img height="200" src="http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u621/missyreadsreviews/7817785.jpg" width="131" /></a> <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Lost-Time-Melissa-de-La-Cruz/9781905654765/?a_aid=10251983" target="_blank"><img height="200" src="http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u621/missyreadsreviews/9578590.jpg" width="131" /></a> Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004391528728968783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3333386379579676812.post-20365497632690350952013-01-08T01:48:00.001-05:002013-01-08T08:51:25.569-05:00Anatomy of a Single Girl, by Daria Snadowsky<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1UWeupE4wBQbS5lvnEwWF97u-TsH5GnX8-jPJ6pWpB-YN7EDjvh-ycUxKxyeOeatiEyg9ZseyO48n00SRGvvtY9b371iRe5TuyDSu5Tx3u3lA_IpAFCJ-MrU6s4IcnkSGeB71pR-cL96/s1600/13628184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1UWeupE4wBQbS5lvnEwWF97u-TsH5GnX8-jPJ6pWpB-YN7EDjvh-ycUxKxyeOeatiEyg9ZseyO48n00SRGvvtY9b371iRe5TuyDSu5Tx3u3lA_IpAFCJ-MrU6s4IcnkSGeB71pR-cL96/s320/13628184.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<b>Author:</b> Daria Snadowsky<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Delacorte BYR<br />
<b>Release Date:</b> January 8, 2013<br />
<b>Format:</b> Hardcover; 240 pages<br />
<b>Series:</b> N/A<br />
<b>Genre:</b> YA, Contemporary<br />
<b>Avg. Rating:</b> <span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">✩</span><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13628184-anatomy-of-a-single-girl" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Anatomy-Single-Girl-Daria-Snadowsky/9780385737982/?a_aid=10251983" target="_blank">Book Depository</a></b><br />
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With Judy Blume-like honesty and insight, this sequel to Anatomy of a Boyfriend is about life after first love--romance, sex, friendship, family, and the ups and downs of life as a single girl. </div>
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After everything that happened—my first boyfriend, my first time, my first breakup—jumping back into the dating game seemed like the least healthy thing I could do. It’s not that I didn’t want to fall in love again, since that’s about the best feeling ever. But as a busy college premed still raw from heartbreak, which is the worst feeling ever, I figured I’d lie low for a while. Of course, as soon as I stopped looking for someone, an impossibly amazing—and devastatingly cute—guy came along, and I learned that having a new boyfriend is the quickest way to recover from losing your old one. </div>
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The moment we got together, all my preconceptions about romance and sex were turned upside down. I discovered physical and emotional firsts I never knew existed. I learned to let go of my past by living in the present. It was thrilling. It was hot. It was just what the doctor ordered. </div>
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But I couldn’t avoid my future forever. </div>
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After reading <i>Anatomy of a Boyfriend</i>, I was thrilled to here that there would be a follow-up. This book is shorter than the first, but it covers less of a timeline than the first does. And it's just as enjoyable, if not more so.</div>
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One of the very first things that I noticed about the story was that the writing and Dom was much more mature. It was a small point that may not have been necessary but was definitely a welcomed change, considering that Dom is older and it makes sense that she would sound a little older. And I do like the change of romantic interests and romantical situations - it's not just something that was written to sound like a repeat of the first book. Guy was a surprise as I was thinking it was going to be about Dom's guy friend, but having Guy wasn't so much of a bad thing. And of course Dom's best friend Amy is included in this story and takes a more prominent role in the book.</div>
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There is a couple of things that kept me from absolutely loving this book, though they're not so bad. Even though a shorter story is sometimes a good thing, I found that I longed for more story in this case. I think if there was more story with maybe some more characters, or a side-plot or just SOMETHING extra, it would have made this story much more enjoyable.There were also a few situations that felt a little forced to me to keep the story moving along but, like I said, it's nothing that really took away from the whole story - it's just me being super picky.</div>
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Overall, this was a great follow-up to Snadowsky's first <i>Anatomy</i> book and I definitely enjoyed having the opportunity to read it.</div>
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<span id="freeText15307372252578046032"><b>Rating:</b> </span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363"></span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">✩</span><br />
<span id="freeText15307372252578046032"><b>Source: </b>Netgalley</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVGlJCw70HacaamYuRoZiCpOE_7eITBglTK7HfGNQCohSaGU7wdxPnE145yVolg2D89c3OVpqCAnBSKUJqv-r4vCX8stxVsxRYcLX6dntwCA1ONIy9pA7BWxFwno74F_fU1WuN7Nz01iD/s1600/21214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVGlJCw70HacaamYuRoZiCpOE_7eITBglTK7HfGNQCohSaGU7wdxPnE145yVolg2D89c3OVpqCAnBSKUJqv-r4vCX8stxVsxRYcLX6dntwCA1ONIy9pA7BWxFwno74F_fU1WuN7Nz01iD/s200/21214.jpg" width="124" /></a></div>
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Daria Snadowsky is the author of
the novels "Anatomy of a Boyfriend" and "Anatomy of a Single Girl."
She also contributed the essay "To Sir Anthony, With Love," to the
anthology "Crush: 26 Real-life Tales of First Love." </div>
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<a href="http://www.daria-snadowsky.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="http://www.facebook.com/adultolescent" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/adultolescent" target="_blank">Twitter </a></div>
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<br /></blockquote>Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004391528728968783noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3333386379579676812.post-88336523008714783562013-01-05T00:00:00.000-05:002013-01-05T00:00:06.351-05:00The Dead And Buried, by Kim Harrington<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSOK6kCCtdNsQGa0buz-WUvc8oFBDkSYe0jSSUm_T1hmohGn_KdqXHCr0kj2VNtDHjTfrkDMZUOdYuPn9OPc5MOwzBLE5ZdUiE3rARTTxmg1ZN35Cqq-EVxTbzQ-e7EOeOcDYzghw2gb4/s1600/9396154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSOK6kCCtdNsQGa0buz-WUvc8oFBDkSYe0jSSUm_T1hmohGn_KdqXHCr0kj2VNtDHjTfrkDMZUOdYuPn9OPc5MOwzBLE5ZdUiE3rARTTxmg1ZN35Cqq-EVxTbzQ-e7EOeOcDYzghw2gb4/s320/9396154.jpg" width="221" /></a></div>
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<b>Author:</b> Kim Harrington<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Scholastic Point<br />
<b>Release Date:</b> January 1, 2013<br />
<b>Format:</b> Hardcover; 304 pages<br />
<b>Series:</b> N/A<br />
<b>Genre:</b> YA, Mystery, Paranormal, Thriller<br />
<b>Avg. Rating:</b> <span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">✩</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">✩</span><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9396154-the-dead-and-buried" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Dead-Buried-Kim-Harrington/9780545333023/?a_aid=10251983" target="_blank">Book Depository</a></b><br />
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<span id="freeText4632288909091999907"><b>A haunted house, a buried mystery, and a very angry ghost make this one unforgettable thriller.</b><br /><br />Jade
loves the house she's just moved into with her family. She doesn't even
mind being the new girl at the high school: It's a fresh start, and
there's that one guy with the dreamy blue eyes. . . . But then things
begin happening. Strange, otherworldly things. Jade's little brother
claims to see a glimmering girl in his room. Jade's jewelry gets moved
around, as if by an invisible hand. Kids at school whisper behind her
back like they know something she doesn't.<br /><br />Soon, Jade must face
an impossible fact: that her perfect house is haunted. Haunted by a
ghost who's seeking not just vengeance, but the truth. The ghost of a
girl who ruled Jade's school — until her untimely death last year. It's
up to Jade to put the pieces together before her own life is at stake.
As Jade investigates the mystery, she discovers that her new friends in
town have more than a few deep, dark secrets. But is one of them a
murderer?</span></div>
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There's nothing that I love more than a good mystery. Have it in any scenario and I will covet it - I'm just THAT crazy about a mystery. However, a good mystery has to have one quality to make me like it. I'm not picky, but I do ask that the mystery is just that - <i>a mystery</i>. I want to be able to read through the story pulling my hair out because I have no clue how to solve the mystery. I don't think that's too much to ask for. </div>
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Unfortunately, it seemed as though that was too much to ask for with <i>The Dead and Buried</i>. It didn't take me much time at all (less than a third of the way through the book) to figure out what was going on in the story. I was slightly disappointed by how quickly the mystery was unraveled for me and almost wanted to go ahead and put the book down. But I didn't do that. I've read books by Kim Harrington before and I enjoyed them, so I wanted to give this book a chance. I also secretly hoped that if I continued reading, I would find out that I had everything wrong and didn't figure anything out. </div>
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By the end of the story, I knew that I was right all along but I was very glad that I finished the book. Aside from the "mystery" (I use that term loosely), this story had some very redeeming qualities. I liked the cast of characters and didn't mind any mention of social circles. I was surprised to find out that I actually liked Alexa more than Jade, the main character. Alexa's role in the novel was actually small, but her personality really made her stand out in her parts of the story. The romance in this was a little aggravating to me. On one hand, you have the beautifully broken boy that is connected to the murder somehow that Jade feels a real connection to - which was nice. On the other though, you have the other boy that is basically drooling over Jade that she pretty much uses for her own reasons - that was not so sweet, and I honestly could have done without that little part. </div>
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Obviously, a ghost story isn't something very new to Young Adult but the plot of this one was engaging enough to keep me going. I think that, aside from the small detail of the mystery not being so mysterious, this story is a good read. </div>
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<span id="freeText15307372252578046032"><b>Rating:</b> </span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">✩</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">✩</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363"></span><br />
<span id="freeText15307372252578046032"><b>Source: </b>Purchase</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbxMJWy7jATtRANCpaqbqZNuzESSA2Gm20jTQTuB05B__eNTmBM6X-RFeMAYSEf_awUWx2n31-50CpfZNiy6ypbAK3l8z9hTjOP7DigRZcviIvjjW6QuBJwyq9cm5jpZmo-wNpPvI2dOqx/s1600/kimharringtonbooks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbxMJWy7jATtRANCpaqbqZNuzESSA2Gm20jTQTuB05B__eNTmBM6X-RFeMAYSEf_awUWx2n31-50CpfZNiy6ypbAK3l8z9hTjOP7DigRZcviIvjjW6QuBJwyq9cm5jpZmo-wNpPvI2dOqx/s200/kimharringtonbooks.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span id="freeTextContainerauthor3111339">Kim Harrington is the author of six books for kids and teens. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and son.</span></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.kimharringtonbooks.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="http://www.facebook.com/kimharringtonauthor" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="http://www.twitter.com/Kim_Harrington" target="_blank">Twitter</a></b></div>
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Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004391528728968783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3333386379579676812.post-44328575597471303242013-01-03T08:45:00.000-05:002013-01-03T08:45:36.197-05:00Dark Territory, by J. Gabriel Gates & Charlene Keel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXRFX4DL3c1Nk-TGnCRZ0iEa1JMEJkYcy1pyq_80BURKQQFOwA64076bLWllaaxRBzIjHqqkqjjyTKpKaTwxaM3pcW753F-OeJvaXXrMR6pIfwJu4bDpzy5L5_tgd6iKiVxwSE5qHksWB/s1600/11178367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXRFX4DL3c1Nk-TGnCRZ0iEa1JMEJkYcy1pyq_80BURKQQFOwA64076bLWllaaxRBzIjHqqkqjjyTKpKaTwxaM3pcW753F-OeJvaXXrMR6pIfwJu4bDpzy5L5_tgd6iKiVxwSE5qHksWB/s320/11178367.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<b>Author:</b> J. Gabriel Gates [<a href="http://www.jgabrielgates.com/" target="_blank">W</a>], Charlene Keel [<a href="http://charlenekeel.com/" target="_blank">W</a>]<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> HCI Teens [<a href="http://www.hcibooks.com/c-7-teens-young-adult.aspx" target="_blank">W</a>]<br />
<b>Release Date:</b> July 1, 2011<br />
<b>Format:</b> Paperback; 504 pages<br />
<b>Series:</b> The Tracks (Book 1)<br />
<b>Genre:</b> YA, Romance, Urban Fantasy<br />
<b>Avg. Rating:</b> <span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">✩</span><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11178367-dark-territory" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Dark-Territory-Gabriel-Gates/9780757315749/?a_aid=10251983" target="_blank">Book Depository</a></b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span id="freeText16100871836308678023">Star-Crossed Love,
Martial Arts, and Supernatural Evil meet at the Abandoned Tracks in the
Deceptively Quaint town of Middleburg...When Ignacio Torrez moved from
the rough streets of Los Angeles to a small town dead smack in the
middle of nowhere, he never expected to find himself in the midst of a
gang war. But, he soon learns, these are no ordinary gangs. The wealthy,
preppie Toppers on one side of the tracks and the working-class
Flatliners on the other adhere to a strict code of honor and use their
deadly martial arts skills, taught to them by the wise Master Chin, to
battle one another for pride, territory, and survival. When Raphael,
leader of the Flatliners, falls for Aimee, a Topper girl, the rival
gangs prepare for a bloody, all-out war. The only hope for peace between
them lies within the dark territory of the abandoned train tunnels
where the tracks cross. Under the direction of the mysterious and
frightening Magician, the awesome power within the crossing sends the
rivals on a terrifying mystical quest to fight the malevolent force that
threatens the existence of Middleburg.</span></div>
</blockquote>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span id="freeText16100871836308678023">I've read many, many books. And there have been many plots and elements in each and every one of those books. However, out of the plethora of books that I have read, I can honestly say that I have never in my life read a book involving martial arts. I thought that was something that would have to stay to the television screen or a real life event that I see with my own two eyes in order to really get into it and understand it. Boy, was I wrong! To be quite honest, the one thing that made me hesitate the most about this book was the one thing that hooked me to the book quite easily. </span></div>
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<span id="freeText16100871836308678023">It's not just the martial arts that made me fall for this book, though. It was every single element and detail in this book, especially the characters. Raphael was an amazing character with so much history and quality to him that he seemed to really jump out of the pages for me. With his back story and how he handles his life, it was easy to feel a connection with him. Aimee was also great and I couldn't help but cheer for her and Raphael to work out together. The chemistry between the two is endearing.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span id="freeText16100871836308678023">There's also a nice number of characters that I couldn't help but love to hate. I'd assume that comes along with the territory of getting involved with a story that deals with gangs. BUT, I didn't know that I would get so emotionally attached to the story that the "bad guys" would actually make me have a physical reaction on top of the emotion. I would say that type of influence that a book has on you is a pretty big deal - and it shows just how well developed and written this book really is.</span></div>
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<span id="freeText16100871836308678023">If I had to say anything bad about the book, I guess it would be that some of the plot is a little unoriginal with the whole girl on the "right side" falling for the boy on the "wrong side." That didn't deter me from the book one bit though because that very insignificant detail is just that - insignificant. The unique spin that the book takes on that plot, along with all the action, drama and suspense, really puts this story in its very own category. I absolutely loved this book and look forward to catching up with the rest of the books in the series. </span></div>
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<span id="freeText16100871836308678023"> </span><br />
<span id="freeText15307372252578046032"><b>Rating:</b> </span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><br />
<span id="freeText15307372252578046032"><b>Source: </b>Publisher</span>Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004391528728968783noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3333386379579676812.post-72071564808683025432013-01-01T00:00:00.000-05:002013-01-01T00:00:06.748-05:00Falling Kingdoms, by Morgan Rhodes<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEJs-p52JwhKHs8BcXeT_v7zlCIRbqhNorwutw1Dv-smGYJ-SB0D6Pt9RA3Mdmb9U-EgPqkUjA098n7mOhZODxFLccAyzY8pzNarLCyDGSfOUw9W3V1vf2IMs71timZjKcWwBvRwNdMGC/s1600/12954620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEJs-p52JwhKHs8BcXeT_v7zlCIRbqhNorwutw1Dv-smGYJ-SB0D6Pt9RA3Mdmb9U-EgPqkUjA098n7mOhZODxFLccAyzY8pzNarLCyDGSfOUw9W3V1vf2IMs71timZjKcWwBvRwNdMGC/s320/12954620.jpg" width="210" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">[ <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/google_preview/16476640" target="_blank">Google Preview</a> ]</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>Author:</b> Morgan Rhodes [<a href="http://www.facebook.com/morganrhodesbooks" target="_blank">F</a>] [<a href="http://www.twitter.com/morganrhodesya" target="_blank">T</a>] [<a href="http://www.morganrhodes.net/" target="_blank">W</a>]<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Razorbill [<a href="http://www.us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/publishers/yr/razorbill.html" target="_blank">W</a>]<br />
<b>Release Date:</b> December 11, 2012<br />
<b>Format:</b> Hardcover; 412 pages<br />
<b>Series:</b> Falling Kingdoms (Book 1)<br />
<b>Genre:</b> YA, Fantasy, Magic<br />
<b>Avg. Rating:</b> <span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">✩</span><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12954620-falling-kingdoms" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Falling-Kingdoms-Morgan-Rhodes/9781595145840/?a_aid=102583" target="_blank">Book Depository</a></b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span id="freeText14038937845247363522">In a land where magic
has been forgotten but peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest
is simmering. Three kingdoms grapple for power--brutally transforming
their subjects' lives in the process. Amidst betrayals, bargains, and
battles, four young people find their fates forever intertwined:</span><br />
<span id="freeText14038937845247363522"></span><br />
<span id="freeText14038937845247363522">
Cleo: A princess raised in luxury must embark on a rough and
treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of a magic long
thought extinct.</span><br />
<span id="freeText14038937845247363522"></span><br />
<span id="freeText14038937845247363522"> Jonas: Enraged at injustice, a rebel lashes out
against the forces of oppression that have kept his country
impoverished--and finds himself the leader of a people's revolution
centuries in the making.</span><br />
<span id="freeText14038937845247363522"></span><br />
<span id="freeText14038937845247363522"> Lucia: A girl adopted at birth into a
royal family discovers the truth about her past--and the supernatural
legacy she is destined to wield.</span><br />
<span id="freeText14038937845247363522"></span><br />
<span id="freeText14038937845247363522"> Magnus: Bred for aggression and
trained to conquer, a firstborn son begins to realize that the heart
can be more lethal than the sword...</span><br />
<span id="freeText14038937845247363522"></span><br />
<span id="freeText14038937845247363522"> The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?</span></blockquote>
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<span id="freeText14038937845247363522">War and politics in a book? Fantasy is sometimes very hit or miss for me - especially when these two themes are prevalent. War? Well, I have to admit that I like a good war story every now and then. Politics? Yeah, not so much. Thankfully, this book has both - so any qualms that I may have about politics is somewhat muted out by the war in the book. Add to this a few minor elements that may have rubbed me the wrong way, and I'll admit that I wasn't sure about this novel as I was reading. However, once I was finished, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with the ample amounts of intrigue that I had with this book. </span></div>
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<span id="freeText14038937845247363522"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span id="freeText14038937845247363522">Let's start with the not-so-good. As I said before, I'm not too keen on politics. Even with series that I absolutely adore like <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Hunger-Games-Trilogy-Box-Set-Suzanne-Collins/9780545265355/?a_aid=10251983" target="_blank"><i>The Hunger Games</i></a>, the politics sometimes makes me roll my eyes and wish for a little more of anything BUT politics. There is also the matter of dialogue. This book is categorized as historical fiction and definitely has the feel of something that happened in a different time. However, the dialogue sometimes contradicted that as it felt a little too.. modern. There was just some use of words and phrases uttered that didn't feel as if they were part of the same time period as the setting of the story. </span></div>
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<span id="freeText14038937845247363522"><br /></span></div>
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<span id="freeText14038937845247363522">Aside from those two things, any issues that I may have had with the story were resolved as I was actually reading. The narrative switching perspectives for several characters was a little confusing but got easier as the story progressed. As a matter of fact, I don't think the story would have been as good without the switch of characters. Speaking of characters, I have to say that the four main characters really grated my best, most patient nerves at the very beginning - especially Cleo. However, like the switching around with the points of view, this annoyance disappeared as I delved deeper into the story. These characters actually grew on me quite a bit - all of them, <i>including</i> Cleo. </span></div>
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<span id="freeText14038937845247363522"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span id="freeText14038937845247363522">The plot of this story was a little unoriginal as I have seen the premise taken on by other authors. HOWEVER, this story can definitely stand on its own two feet (or ends, as it is) quite well. The ending of this story was a bit of a cliffhanger, but in a very good way that keeps the appeal to find out more at an all-time high for me. Overall, this turned out to be a very interesting start to a series that I plan on staying with until the end. </span></div>
<br /><span id="freeText15307372252578046032"><b>Rating:</b> </span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">✩</span><br />
<span id="freeText15307372252578046032"><b>Source:</b> Gift</span>Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004391528728968783noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3333386379579676812.post-17925949761772650402012-12-31T00:00:00.000-05:002012-12-31T00:00:04.032-05:00New Year's Giveaway!<br />
<a href="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af256/bibliocentric/Blog/giveaway.png"><img alt="" border="0" height="58" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af256/bibliocentric/Blog/giveaway.png" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="400" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Happy New Year's Eve, everyone! Since it's about to be a new year and a fresh start for me after a very chaotic two years, I thought I would start the year out right. And how is that? With a giveaway, of course!</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
I'll be randomly setting up giveaways on Missy's Reads & Reviews every once in a while through 2013, just as a thank you to my wonderful followers/readers/subscribers. And while I normally go through <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/?a_aid=10251983" target="_blank">Book Depository</a> for everything, I thought I would switch things up and check out <a href="http://www.powells.com/" target="_blank">Powells</a>. I've bought a few books through them but not as many as I should. So, let's remedy this now! </div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
For this giveaway, you can choose any book <i>valued up to</i> <b><span style="font-size: large;">$10.00</span></b>. If you're selected as the winner, I will contact you via e-mail and ask your book selection then - so no pressure to find something right now! </div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
For this giveaway, it will be <b>US only</b> (sorry!) since that is where <a href="http://www.powells.com/" target="_blank">Powells</a> ships. However, I promise US only giveaways will be RARE this year!</div>
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Giveaway ends THIS coming <b>Saturday, January 5th</b> so ENTER NOW!</div>
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Good luck!!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004391528728968783noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3333386379579676812.post-37697974480996835982012-12-30T00:00:00.000-05:002012-12-30T00:00:01.563-05:00New This Week!<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmsXRTMTavhb-vt4QlnE-eh7a5Q-1lRqwDVBT7URfzSJ9Ul5VcUnjptU4rQyJnRWyryacZK6soAPuPUu4FBIFpajWqH38ulB5KlmbGRhDvfKujAeRtcGf0HvBT_d3jJ9F3UFYoEJtzLR-/s1600/posthead_new.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702732894309189266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmsXRTMTavhb-vt4QlnE-eh7a5Q-1lRqwDVBT7URfzSJ9Ul5VcUnjptU4rQyJnRWyryacZK6soAPuPUu4FBIFpajWqH38ulB5KlmbGRhDvfKujAeRtcGf0HvBT_d3jJ9F3UFYoEJtzLR-/s400/posthead_new.png" style="display: block; height: 105px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 498px;" /></a> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Tuesday, January 1, 2013</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9396154-the-dead-and-buried" target="_blank"><img height="200" src="http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u621/missyreadsreviews/January%202013/9396154.jpg" width="130" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13565858-empty" target="_blank"><img height="200" src="http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u621/missyreadsreviews/January%202013/13565858.jpg" width="130" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13565858-empty" target="_blank"><img height="200" src="http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u621/missyreadsreviews/January%202013/12631512.jpg" width="130" /></a>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Dead-Buried-Kim-Harrington/9780545333023/?a_aid=10251983" target="_blank">The Dead And Buried, by Kim Harrington</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Empty-Walton/9781442453593/?a_aid=10251983" target="_blank">Empty, by K.M. Walton </a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Essence-Kimberly-Derting/9781442445598/?a_aid=10251983" target="_blank">The Essence, by Kimberly Derting</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13553217-falling-for-you" target="_blank"><img height="200" src="http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u621/missyreadsreviews/January%202013/13553217.jpg" width="130" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14746310-the-fire-horse-girl" target="_blank"><img height="200" src="http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u621/missyreadsreviews/January%202013/14746310.jpg" width="130" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12024430-teeth" target="_blank"><img height="200" src="http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u621/missyreadsreviews/January%202013/12024430.jpg" width="130" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Falling-for-You-Lisa-Schroeder/9781442443990/?a_aid=10251983" target="_blank">Falling For You, by Lisa Schroeder</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Fire-Horse-Girl-Kay-Honeyman/9780545403108/?a_aid=10251983" target="_blank">The Fire Horse Girl, by Kay Honeyman</a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Teeth-Hannah-Moskowitz/9781442449466/?a_aid=10251983" target="_blank">Teeth, by Hannah Moskowitz</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13027702-victoria-rebels" target="_blank"><img height="200" src="http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u621/missyreadsreviews/January%202013/13027702.jpg" width="130" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Victoria-Rebels-Carolyn-Meyer/9781416987291/?a_aid=10251983" target="_blank">Victoria Rebels, by Carolyn Meyer</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Wednesday, January 2, <span style="font-size: x-large;">2013</span></b></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15820836-a-dance-with-darkness" target="_blank"><img height="200" src="http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u621/missyreadsreviews/January%202013/15820836.jpg" width="130" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14813667-ali-s-pretty-little-lies" target="_blank"><img height="200" src="http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u621/missyreadsreviews/January%202013/14813667.jpg" width="130" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11266086-catherine" target="_blank"><img height="200" src="http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u621/missyreadsreviews/January%202013/11266086.jpg" width="130" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dance-Darkness-Angelfire-HarperTeen-ebook/dp/B008QY37A2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1356500160&sr=8-1&keywords=a+dance+with+darkness" target="_blank">A Dance With Darkness, by Courtney Allison Moulton </a></div>
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<a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Pretty-Little-Liars-Alis-Pretty-Little-Lies-Sara-Shepard/9780062233363/?a_aid=10251983" target="_blank">Ali's Pretty Little Lies, by Sara Shepard</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Catherine-April-Lindner/9780316196925/?a_aid=10251983" target="_blank">Catherine, by April Lindner</a></div>
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These are just some of the books available this week. For more information on each book, please click the <b>image</b> to be redirected to the book's Goodreads page. If you're interested in purchasing the book, click on the <b>title</b> to be taken to the book's purchase page on Book Depository.</blockquote>
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Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004391528728968783noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3333386379579676812.post-36672801769174741532012-12-10T09:36:00.000-05:002012-12-10T09:36:21.755-05:00Alice in Zombieland, by Gena Showalter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQWorBw9lfCAtG0loteo5Buo_NfC064IE603wU4H7wls60JUY_aschRsF5vobXdQJAk7Mq_307djSKeXYDmSTNSOJOhEvMp5QmutzqHskUQ-KKlCmSIlWRP0TP5KIrYUNfwPF9P6cMFxZ/s1600/11300302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQWorBw9lfCAtG0loteo5Buo_NfC064IE603wU4H7wls60JUY_aschRsF5vobXdQJAk7Mq_307djSKeXYDmSTNSOJOhEvMp5QmutzqHskUQ-KKlCmSIlWRP0TP5KIrYUNfwPF9P6cMFxZ/s320/11300302.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
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<b>Author:</b> Gena Showalter [<a href="http://www.facebook.com/genashowalterfans" target="_blank">F</a>] [<a href="https://twitter.com/genashowalter/" target="_blank">T</a>] [<a href="http://members.genashowalter.com/" target="_blank">W</a>]<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Harlequin Teen [<a href="http://www.harlequin.com/store.html?cid=2357" target="_blank">W</a>]<br />
<b>Release Date:</b> September 25, 2012<br />
<b>Format:</b> Hardcover; 404 pages<br />
<b>Series:</b> The White Rabbit Chronicles (Book 1)<br />
<b>Genre:</b> YA, Paranormal Romance, Zombies<br />
<b>Avg. Rating:</b> <span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">✩</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363"></span><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11300302-alice-in-zombieland" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Alice-Zombieland-Gena-Showalter/9780373210589/?a_aid=10251983" target="_blank">Book Depository</a></b><br />
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<span id="freeText16062407434055932909"><strong>She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.</strong></span><br /><span id="freeText16062407434055932909"></span><br /><span id="freeText16062407434055932909">Had
anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between
one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to
tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One
heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and
loved was gone.</span><br /><span id="freeText16062407434055932909"></span><br /><span id="freeText16062407434055932909">Her father was right. The monsters are real….</span><br /><span id="freeText16062407434055932909"></span><br /><span id="freeText16062407434055932909">To
avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she
must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole
has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might
just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….</span></blockquote>
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<span id="freeText16062407434055932909"></span>With the exception of <a href="http://missyreadsreviews.blogspot.com/2011/04/warm-bodies-by-isaac-marion.html" target="_blank"><i>Warm Bodies</i></a> and a few others, I'm really not the biggest fan of zombie books. I can read them.. I just don't enjoy them all that much, and I really don't go out of the way to read them completely voluntarily. And I definitely don't go out of the way to contact a publisher for a zombie book. HOWEVER, this IS Gena Showalter we're talking about. Everyone has their exceptions.</div>
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For me, the best part of picking up a Gena Showalter novel is knowing before I even hold the book in my hands that I will enjoy it. Is that biased? Maybe, but it's completely true. There's something very genuine and unique about Showalter's writing that stays completely true to her style to let you know the book is definitely hers, yet she still manages to keep every story's tone its own and every character has their own individual voice. It's something rare that you may not always see in an author's work, especially when they have so many books under their literary belt. </div>
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Having said that, it shouldn't be a total shocker that I really loved this book. I know that I read about people being disappointed with the fact that the title of this novel is very similar to Alice in Wonderland, so it was assumed that it was a highly-imaginative retelling when it really didn't have much to do with the classic tale at all. I can say that wasn't the case for me - as a matter of fact, that little bit didn't bother me one single bit. There's also a twist on the actual zombies in this book that some people didn't like much. Again, didn't bother me. Just the opposite actually.. I really LOVED the twist on the zombie lore of this book. It's something that I have never EVER in my life come across in a book, and that made it just that much more special of a read for me.</div>
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Alice was a great female lead. Very independent, strong and need I say hard-headed? Especially when it came to a certain boy. Cole was the sexy bad boy in the novel and I thought he was a great opposite for Alice - and I definitely mean opposite. Their ways always seemed to clash (which I'll admit at times got a little tedious for me), but the chemistry was off the charts for these two. I also enjoyed Alice's quirky best friend, Kat. She brought that special magic to the story that only some characters can pull off and managed to keep an aura of mystery to her that kept me intrigued.</div>
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The setting to this story was perfect and helped to really set the tone for the book. I loved the pace and the plot, which isn't short of amazing - but I expect no less from Gena Showalter. This is definitely a great read that I think all of my paranormal readers would enjoy. And if you're a Showalter fan, I think this is really a given that you MUST read this book. ;)</div>
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<span id="freeText8651407225120225463"><b>My Rating:</b> </span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span></div>
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<span id="freeText8651407225120225463"><b>Book Source:</b> Publisher</span></div>
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Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004391528728968783noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3333386379579676812.post-54022728582032158702012-12-09T09:10:00.000-05:002012-12-10T09:42:03.644-05:00Ripped, by Shelly Dickson Carr<br />
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<img border="0" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhlHMFdvpY2U9HxCYQ5gAJnHdYqYm9McKbH0IhV62gKtIKW1NliEltQzNazOHrx8chzp9inVsfNZZIsHmrKlLKeOZGkvfqRAv32nsW2eHXNYvJuvzxtL8cmQOI2HHcjOiHpImHzOUrzIw/s320/ripped.jpg" width="215" /></div>
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<b>Author:</b> Shelly Dickson Carr [<a href="https://twitter.com/shellykarol" target="_blank">T</a>] [<a href="http://www.ripped-book.com/about_the_author.html" target="_blank">W</a>]<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> New Book Partners [<a href="http://www.newbookpartners.com/newbook.html" target="_blank">W</a>]<br />
<b>Release Date:</b> December 1, 2012<br />
<b>Format:</b> Paperback; 520 pages<br />
<b>Series:</b> N/A<br />
<b>Genre:</b> YA, Indie, Thriller, Time-Travel<br />
<b>Avg. Rating:</b> <span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span> (via <a href="http://amazon.com/">Amazon.com</a>)<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16293347-ripped" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Ripped-Shelly-Dickson-Carr/9781939003003/?a_aid=10251983" target="_blank">Book Depository</a></b><br />
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<span id="freeText8651407225120225463">Katie Lennox wishes her
parents were still alive. Having to leave Boston to live with Grandma
Cleaves in London was hard, but she's making new friends, working on her
British accent and even learning some Cockney rhyming slang. London's
cool and actually feels like home in some ways, like she's been here
before, belongs here. When a museum visit with her cousin and his cute
friend turns funky, Katie finds herself in a long, uncomfortable dress,
wearing a ridiculous hat, wondering what happened to her jeans and
high-top sneakers? And where's her iPhone?... It's London, 1888. Smart
and gutsy, Katie knows she's here to stop Jack the Ripper. The serial
killer didn't just slash his victims' throats; he butchered the women.
Katie has read about the Ripper, knows the names of his victims and
where and when they were killed. She's watched her fair share of CSI.
Can Katie save their lives?</span></div>
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<span id="freeText8651407225120225463"><i>Ripped</i> was one of those random finds that I discovered while browsing around for new books to read. Loving all things Jack The Ripper related I knew that, fiction or not, I had to check this book out. I ordered, waited and read as soon as I received it in the mail.I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I don't know what exactly I was expecting, but for some reason I wasn't expecting it to be so good that I devoured this book in very little time. </span></div>
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<span id="freeText8651407225120225463">This book is told from the point of view of a fifteen-year-old girl (Katie) that goes back in time to try to stop Jack The Ripper from butchering women - one being an ancestor of Katie, whom her rock star sister looks a lot like. I loved Katie's voice in this book and, between her dialogue and references to modern-day pop culture, I think she really made this story very easy to read - even the gory and violent parts.</span></div>
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<span id="freeText8651407225120225463">This story is very detailed and historically accurate when it comes to the facts about Jack The Ripper - someone definitely did their research and stayed true to history where it mattered. Seeing a book that is 500+ pages long about history and time travel may seem daunting but the intrigue in the mystery of this book definitely sets the pace and you'll be through it before you know it. </span></div>
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<span id="freeText8651407225120225463">If you're a fan of Jack the Ripper, time travel or just a good mystery then I would definitely recommend this book. </span></div>
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<span id="freeText8651407225120225463"><b>My Rating:</b> </span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span></div>
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<span id="freeText8651407225120225463"><b>Book Source:</b> Purchase</span></div>
<span id="freeText8651407225120225463"><br /></span>Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004391528728968783noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3333386379579676812.post-54129238504069928432012-12-03T09:02:00.002-05:002012-12-03T09:04:12.228-05:00Special Announcement!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETcvvxwaY3XqeImqpw1Up5CUzftTwDhqQ-ekjgH-rMDSCKAun9-kyyMDWWD1SBBpQeCQS3Y29Bd1zsM1bF0_GT-gpnbSaZdlpAuc84m-J86t9ijZVXRb_cnszpRScW7V5kOvB94NevlQu/s1600/riley(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETcvvxwaY3XqeImqpw1Up5CUzftTwDhqQ-ekjgH-rMDSCKAun9-kyyMDWWD1SBBpQeCQS3Y29Bd1zsM1bF0_GT-gpnbSaZdlpAuc84m-J86t9ijZVXRb_cnszpRScW7V5kOvB94NevlQu/s320/riley(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I know I told you all in my <a href="http://missyreadsreviews.blogspot.com/2012/10/hey-whats-going-on.html" target="_blank">last post</a> that I was anxiously awaiting the arrival of my little bundle of joy. Well, he's here! My little Riley was born two days before his due date after only eleven hours of active labor and thirty minutes of pushing. I'm completely over the moon in love with him and it's still sometimes hard for me to believe that I birthed this amazing little boy. But, I did.. and he's here.. and we're enjoying every moment together!</div>
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I expected to start blogging a little sooner, but Riley has definitely taken up more of my life and time than I could have ever imagined. We also have a few things we're working through like cluster feeding and fighting sleep. Both of these things are making my free time almost non-existent right now. But, he's definitely worth it. </div>
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I'm hoping to have a better schedule worked out soon because I'm <u>so</u> behind on reviews it's not even funny. I can tell you I have at least a good 50 <b>new</b> reviews I need to post, and that's <b>not</b> including the back-up of reviews that I had before and during my pregnancy that still needs to go up. Eesh! </div>
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I hope everyone had an amazing Thanksgiving holiday and I hope to be speaking to you guys again BEFORE the Christmas holiday. </div>
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XOXO</div>
Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004391528728968783noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3333386379579676812.post-70791248013491211502012-10-26T17:15:00.002-04:002012-10-26T17:15:18.576-04:00Hey! What's Going On??<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hey, guys! Long time no post, eh? Sorry about that. As most of you may or may not know, the past year and a half has been c-r-a-z-y for me and not always in a good way - but mostly in a good way, especially the past nine months almost. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>So, what's been going on??</b></span></div>
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Let's start from the beginning. Early last year, due to some miscommunication between myself and my doctor (but mostly just the doctor - lol), I went through a bout of crazy high blood pressure and weight gain. At first, no one knew what was going on because everything except for one thing had stayed the same - and it just so happened that one thing is what brought it all on. </div>
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Once that was figured out (by a new doctor, I might add), I was on the road to getting everything back in order and everything seemed to start going splendidly again. So splendidly in fact, that my husband and I decided it might be time to add an addition to the family after four years of marriage - we wanted to have a baby. Being the overly paranoid type, I decided before we started trying that I wanted to go to the doctor to make sure everything was 100% ready to go - and that's when the second big road block came around. I found out I had cervical cancer. Luckily for me, I caught it super early and it was still superficial, so all I had to do was undergo a small surgery to get rid of it - no radiation and no chemo of any sort. But, that put a HUGE stop on plans to have a baby because not only did I have to recover for months and months, there was also the very high possibility that my cervix might not be strong enough to carry a child full-term. There was a lot of crying and depression on my part, but ultimately I came to the conclusion that things in life happen for a reason and, if I wasn't meant to have a child, then that just meant I'd grow old with just my husband and our animal babies. </div>
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After my months of recovery, I just decided to let nature take its course even though my doctor had warned me it could take forever to conceive after my surgery.. or it just may never happen. A little over a month later, I found out I was pregnant. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8WzxKxpajZBVHy9G9wAM6ujpja-ctOWNC2qdiUFuvcWWcmkT1K74tKK4PKbN4MY8kIi7E7rMesXCc5sykaOLr26M5ZJ2W_DBjchT_s1baTD9BO6e6i4ixOjX-1dsnbzDlWfdAp_lU-D_q/s1600/217995_10152123009290607_1037438994_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8WzxKxpajZBVHy9G9wAM6ujpja-ctOWNC2qdiUFuvcWWcmkT1K74tKK4PKbN4MY8kIi7E7rMesXCc5sykaOLr26M5ZJ2W_DBjchT_s1baTD9BO6e6i4ixOjX-1dsnbzDlWfdAp_lU-D_q/s320/217995_10152123009290607_1037438994_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This coming Monday, I will be 38 weeks pregnant. That pic up there is a 3D picture of my sweet baby boy that will be gracing us with his presence so very soon. My pregnancy hasn't been ideal with morning sickness, allergies, sinus issues, aches, pains, etc. HOWEVER, as far as pregnancy and his development goes, it's been pretty textbook and I couldn't ask for anything more than that. At my appointment today, I found out that he weighs 7 pounds already and they're expecting him to make it to his due date of November 12.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>So, what does that mean for the blog??</b></span></div>
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I would first like to say a huge thank you to all of my followers that have stuck around, even though there hasn't been much going on lately. This blog has suffered more than anything else in my life from my health issues and everything else going on. But I haven't forgotten about it and I most certainly am NOT ready to give up on it. Even though I haven't been around and I have not updated.. my love of books has never waned. I still read a lot and I have a TON of books that I need to review.. I just haven't gotten around to it because it's so uncomfortable for me to be on a computer for more than a few minutes. If it wasn't for my phone, I probably wouldn't have any online communication whatsoever. </div>
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I can say one thing, though: I miss blogging and reviewing. And I'm ready to get back on track. However, I am a lot more realistic about my life and my priorities now versus what I would like to get done. It will be a slow process, but it WILL happen. If my baby goes full-term, then that means I have a little over two weeks to prepare for him.. and I still have A LOT to do to prep for him. So, that comes first. And I know that once he's here, my world will be turned upside down for a little while. There's no physical way I can just come back to blogging 100% from the very beginning. So, I'm making a compromise.</div>
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In some of my down time, I have revised a small plan that may help me get back on track. First, I know there's no way I can post reviews on a daily basis - even though I probably have a year's worth or more of reviews I could post if I did it daily. (I told you I've still been reading!) I have a list of at least 50% of my books that I have read and need to do reviews for. When I have some time to myself, I will start scheduling those.. and these will probably start showing up around the time I have Riley or maybe later in November. Second, I don't think sporadic reviews will be enough and I'd like to start up a feature again to keep this blog active. A lot of bloggers do IMM, Teaser Tuesdays, Waiting on Wednesday, or some type of weekly top ten list. I love those, but I don't know if I can be consistent with any of those. What I thought I would do that seems more feasible is the Before & After feature that I started a couple years back with debut authors. Before & After is an easy enough deal to keep up with. The most energy spent for the project is finding debut authors (already have a list), contacting them and formatting each blog post for each author that participates. It's simple - and something that I really enjoy because it goes with what I like doing on my blog, which is promoting good books and new authors. </div>
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So, that's the plan. Hopefully, this blog will be up and running again very soon and I will be able to join the bookish world once more during my journey of becoming a new mommy. :)</div>
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Once again, thank you all for sticking around. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. I'll see you all very soon!! <3</div>
Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004391528728968783noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3333386379579676812.post-89157939474179959242012-06-26T07:08:00.001-04:002012-06-26T07:08:11.406-04:00Wicked Nights, by Gena Showalter {Giveaway!!}<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">I'm holding a week-long giveaway for a chance to win a copy of this book. If you'd like to enter, be sure to scroll down to the bottom of this post to find out about the rules!</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0BRzw6CpmQy-D_CGY70vb-y45AkVBHUGEHbsTA1HOhszmIXnO4x52VJCNrJTQMt6SftQTEM68Sv9sKgcucVV4_l1XQ0ZVO7VNmyTEuf-HoLxkaM0UdE5-57b9dnQy7_pAHurPLUwcO-7p/s1600/12900491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0BRzw6CpmQy-D_CGY70vb-y45AkVBHUGEHbsTA1HOhszmIXnO4x52VJCNrJTQMt6SftQTEM68Sv9sKgcucVV4_l1XQ0ZVO7VNmyTEuf-HoLxkaM0UdE5-57b9dnQy7_pAHurPLUwcO-7p/s320/12900491.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
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<span id="freeText11444621348962949121">Leader of the most
powerful army in the heavens, Zacharel has been deemed nearly too
dangerous, too ruthless--and if he isn't careful, he'll lose his wings.
But this warrior with a heart of ice will not be deterred from his
missions at any cost...until a vulnerable human tempts him with a carnal
pleasure he's never known before.<br /><br />Accused of a crime she did not
commit, Annabelle Miller has spent four years in an institution for the
criminally insane. Demons track her every move, and their king will
stop at nothing to have her. Zacharel is her only hope for survival, but
is the brutal angel with a touch as hot as hell her salvation--or her
ultimate damnation?</span></blockquote>
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<span id="freeText11444621348962949121"> I don't think that it's a secret I love Gena Showalter's books, especially her <i>Lords of the Underworld</i> series. When I found out there was a spin-off series, I was excited. When I found out the first book was about Zacharel.. I almost hesitated. Don't get me wrong, I'm not bias - I love the angels, demons and other supernaturals that pop up in Showalter's books just as much as the Lords. But, Zacharel? He's so serious! Could there really be a girl out there that would turn him around like the heroines in my <i>LoTU</i> books? Not too be too spoiler-ific but, after reading <i>Wicked Nights</i>, I can definitely answer this with a resounding YES!</span></div>
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<span id="freeText11444621348962949121">At the beginning, there is no mistaking that the Zacharel we encountered briefly in the <i>Lords of the Underworld</i> books is exactly the same Zacharel that we are introduced to here.. just as serious as ever. Then there's Annabelle, who is a bit on the vulnerable side but still has a hard, kick-ass side to her. Honestly, I think she has to have that hard side to live through all of the things that she has in order to live to see another day. The chemistry between the two is pretty explosive from the very beginning, though not necessarily the way that you would think. It's fun to see these characters evolve into what I would consider almost better, stronger versions of themselves throughout the story - as well as seeing the attraction between the two build up and explode. </span></div>
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<span id="freeText11444621348962949121">Like all of Showalter's books, the story doesn't just revolve around the romance between the two main characters. There is an amazing plot to this book that doesn't just center around these two, though it does definitely involve them. This plot just scratches on the surface of what is the beginning of a major storyline in the <i>Angels of the Dark</i> series. After reading this story, I don't think this new spin-off could have started with a better main character than what it did. There are also a ton of supporting characters that you will fall in love with, some you have met before if you've read the <i>Lords of the Underworld</i> series - including some of the Lords themselves! </span></div>
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<span id="freeText11444621348962949121">I know that I have mentioned the <i>Lords of the Underworld</i> a lot in this review <strike>because I'm a little obsessed with that series</strike>. Make no mistake though, you will NOT get lost in this book if you've never read that series before. While there are references, the <i>Angels of the Dark</i> series is an entirely different brand with it's own story that may run parallel to the other story but definitely does not run on the <i>same</i> story. </span></div>
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<span id="freeText11444621348962949121">If you're a huge Gena Showalter fan like me, make no mistake that you WILL love this book. If you've never read her books before but you like paranormal romance, you will definitely fall in love with her stories after reading this. Showalter delivers and definitely does not disappoint with her new series. </span></div>
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<span id="freeText15307372252578046032">Rating: </span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363"> <span style="font-style: italic;">Avg 4.33</span></span><br />
<span id="freeText15307372252578046032">Source: <a href="http://littlebirdpublicity.com/">Little Bird Publicity</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0BRzw6CpmQy-D_CGY70vb-y45AkVBHUGEHbsTA1HOhszmIXnO4x52VJCNrJTQMt6SftQTEM68Sv9sKgcucVV4_l1XQ0ZVO7VNmyTEuf-HoLxkaM0UdE5-57b9dnQy7_pAHurPLUwcO-7p/s1600/12900491.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0BRzw6CpmQy-D_CGY70vb-y45AkVBHUGEHbsTA1HOhszmIXnO4x52VJCNrJTQMt6SftQTEM68Sv9sKgcucVV4_l1XQ0ZVO7VNmyTEuf-HoLxkaM0UdE5-57b9dnQy7_pAHurPLUwcO-7p/s1600/12900491.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 165px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 110px;" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Title: </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12900491-wicked-nights"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wicked Nights</span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Author</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">: </span><a href="http://members.genashowalter.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gena Showalter</span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Series: </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/series/67816-angels-of-the-dark">Angels of the Dark</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Publisher: </span><a href="http://www.harlequin.com/articlepage.html?articleId=949&chapter=0"><span style="font-weight: bold;">HQN Books</span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Format: </span>Paperback, 411 pages<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Release Date: </span>June 26, 2012<br />
<span id="freeText2570107055298862825"><br />► <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Wicked-Nights-Gena-Showalter/9780373776986?a_aid=102583"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Purchase</span></a></span><span id="freeText14053100071053918264"></span><br />
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<span id="freeText10123510879852456363" style="font-size: x-large;">★ </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Giveaway!</u> </span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363" style="font-size: x-large;">★</span></div>
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<span id="freeText10123510879852456363">Thanks to Little Bird Publicity, Harlequin and Gena Showalter, I am to give away a copy of <i>Wicked Nights</i> to one lucky reader!! The rules are simple:</span></div>
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<span id="freeText10123510879852456363" style="font-size: xx-small;">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363"> You must live in the US.</span></div>
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<span id="freeText10123510879852456363" style="font-size: xx-small;">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363"> You must comment on this post with a VALID e-mail address.</span></div>
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<span id="freeText10123510879852456363" style="font-size: xx-small;">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363"> You must get your entry in before Wednesday, July 4th. </span></div>
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<span id="freeText10123510879852456363">Good luck!!</span></div>Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004391528728968783noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3333386379579676812.post-55313751727771675432012-05-22T07:43:00.005-04:002012-05-23T09:23:29.874-04:00The Forsaken, by Estevan Vega<a href="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af256/bibliocentric/13549852.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 215px; height: 335px;" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af256/bibliocentric/13549852.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText17030885739097014365" style=""></span><blockquote><span id="freeText17030885739097014365" style="">DON'T LET IT IN.</span><br /><span id="freeText17030885739097014365" style=""></span><br /><span id="freeText17030885739097014365" style="">The first victim has no natural wounds. No prints left behind. No lacerations. But the life has been gruesomely drained from the corpse, and a broken cross is now imprinted inside the skin.</span><br /><span id="freeText17030885739097014365" style=""></span><br /><span id="freeText17030885739097014365" style="">Left for dead a year ago by his former partner, reckless and medicated Detective Jude Foster now endures mindless therapy sessions in order to be given another chance at his life.When the chief of police discovers the first victim strangely killed in this sadistic fashion, Jude enters a dark world all-too-familiar. He knows he’s seen this method of murder before, but he never caught the killer.</span><br /><span id="freeText17030885739097014365" style=""></span><br /><span id="freeText17030885739097014365" style="">Could this be a copycat, or is it the one that got away?</span><br /><span id="freeText17030885739097014365" style=""></span><br /><span id="freeText17030885739097014365" style="">Forced to take on a new partner for the case, Jude must come to terms with the fractured memories of his past, attempt to keep his younger brother safe, and chase down a ghost killer who is collecting human souls. But time is against him. How many more victims will there be before the killer is satisfied? And will Jude Foster be able to survive this new hell or in the chaos, will he risk becoming something else entirely?</span></blockquote><span id="freeText17030885739097014365" style=""></span><br /><span id="freeText17030885739097014365" style=""></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText17030885739097014365" style="">Beautifully written, dangerously dark and inexplicably twisted.</span><br /><br /><span id="freeText17030885739097014365" style="">I think that I could honestly stop my review right there and it would pretty much sum up how I feel about The Forsaken almost as well as anything else that I'm about to write. Just when you think Estevan Vega has delved far enough into the dark side of things, he goes just a little further with his next story.</span><br /><br /><span id="freeText17030885739097014365" style="">Short of swooning and expressing my absolute love for this book, I just want to say that it's probably one of the darkest and best written books that I've read so far this year. The main character, Jude, is a character that you want to follow and can't help but cheer for throughout the story. The flashbacks of the past really help us to understand exactly what Jude has gone through and why he is the way he is. I'll admit, it's unusually depressing but it adds to the intrigue of the story.</span><br /><br /><span id="freeText17030885739097014365" style="">There's an emphasis on a more surreal feeling to this book than just our reality that we are used to, which really takes the story to that next level. The twists and turns in this book will have you dizzy trying to keep up with everything going on in, but you'll stay on the edge of your seat anticipating what will happen next. And not everything is what it seems in this book. There was a time when I thought I knew exactly what was going on... and then there was another huge twist at the end, completely blowing all of my theories out of the water.</span><br /><br /><span id="freeText17030885739097014365" style="">This book is not full of sunshine and rainbows, but I guarantee that you'll be hooked once you start this amazing book. If you like dark books, you'll definitely want to grab a copy of The Forsaken. If you're a fan of psychological thrillers, I guarantee you'll fall in love with the genre all over again once you read this book. It's just THAT good.</span><br /></div><span id="freeText17030885739097014365" style=""><br /></span><span id="freeText15307372252578046032" style="">Rating: </span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363" style="">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363" style="">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363" style="">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363" style="">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363" style="">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363" style=""> <span style="font-style: italic;">Avg 2.71</span></span><br /><span id="freeText15307372252578046032" style="">Source: Author</span><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class=" down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link"><img src="http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" alt="Link" class="gl_link" border="0" /></span></span><br /><hr /><br /><a href="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af256/bibliocentric/13549852.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 110px; height: 160px;" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af256/bibliocentric/13549852.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Title: </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13549852-the-forsaken"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Forsaken</span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Author</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">: </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.estevanvega.com/">Estevan Vega</a><br />Series: </span><span>N/A</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Publisher: </span><a href="http://stonehouseink.net/"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">StoneHouse Ink</span></span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Format: </span>Kindle, 158 pages<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Release Date: </span>March 13, 2012<br /><span id="freeText2570107055298862825" style=""><br />► <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Forsaken-Thriller-Estevan-Vega/dp/0615617867/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337777228&sr=1-1"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Purchase</span></a></span>Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004391528728968783noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3333386379579676812.post-76837048434312886262012-05-22T06:14:00.004-04:002012-05-23T08:42:50.603-04:00Unbreak My Heart, by Melissa Walker<a href="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af256/bibliocentric/13060734.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 215px; height: 325px;" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af256/bibliocentric/13060734.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText14053100071053918264" style=""></span><blockquote><span id="freeText14053100071053918264" style="">Sophomore year broke Clementine Williams’ heart. She fell for her best friend’s boyfriend and long story short: he’s excused, but Clem is vilified and she heads into summer with zero social life. </span><br /><span id="freeText14053100071053918264" style=""></span><br /><span id="freeText14053100071053918264" style="">Enter her parents’ plan to spend the summer on their sailboat. Normally the idea of being stuck on a tiny boat with her parents and little sister would make Clem break out in hives, but floating away sounds pretty good right now. </span><br /><span id="freeText14053100071053918264" style=""></span><br /><span id="freeText14053100071053918264" style="">Then she meets James at one of their first stops along the river. He and his dad are sailing for the summer and he’s just the distraction Clem needs. Can he break down Clem’s walls and heal her broken heart?</span></blockquote><span id="freeText14053100071053918264" style=""></span><br /><span id="freeText14053100071053918264" style=""></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText14053100071053918264" style="">Melissa Walker has been an author on my radar ever since I read her novel, <span style="font-style: italic;">Small Town Sinners</span>. The story and writing were both amazing, so I had some high expectations when it came to this book. Those high expectations were met with a lot of hesitation when I read the synopsis of <span style="font-style: italic;">Unbreak My Heart</span>, only to find it dealt with what I would consider a form of cheating. Cheating is a huge no-no for me, but I thought I would go against my better judgment and give this book a shot - and I'm definitely glad that I did.</span><br /><span id="freeText14053100071053918264" style=""></span><br /><span id="freeText14053100071053918264" style="">This book is told from Clementine's POV with alternating chapters, going between the past and the present. Clementine is a character that is very easy to relate to, and I'm sure that her story is also one that many can sympathize with. Though I cannot say I'm one of those sympathizers, I can say that reading about what happened between her and her best friend's boyfriend definitely helped to understand her side a lot better. It was hard not to hurt for Clem when she was being ostracized for something that was just not only her fault - it takes two. Thankfully, we have James in her present that turns out to be a good reprieve for her. I love the relationship that develops between these two characters, their interactions with one another seemed to flow so easily. </span><br /><span id="freeText14053100071053918264" style=""></span><br /><span id="freeText14053100071053918264" style="">I also have to point out that we have a book where there are actual parents that are involved in their teenage daughter's life. No dead parents, no absentee parents, no self-absorbed parents... it was one of the best aspects of this book because, sadly, it's not something that you see a lot of in young adult books these days. There's also Clementine's younger sister Olive, who shines brightly and pretty much steals the show in each and every single scene that she's in. It's another point in this book that you don't see in many others, the secondary characters actually play a role in this book and aren't just lifeless fodder that fills all the extra pages. This is a definite plus in my book.</span><br /><span id="freeText14053100071053918264" style=""></span><br /><span id="freeText14053100071053918264" style="">There's no complex storyline that's hard to follow, the plot of this book is fairly easy and straight-forward. The writing, like Melissa's other work, is amazing and flows well from page to page. <span style="font-style: italic;">Unbreak My Heart</span> is a nice, easy read whose characters will steal your heart - though I don't think your heart will be broken when you finish this book. ;)</span><br /><span id="freeText14053100071053918264" style=""></span></div><span id="freeText14053100071053918264" style=""><br /></span><span id="freeText15307372252578046032" style="">Rating: </span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363" style="">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363" style="">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363" style="">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363" style="">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363" style="">✩ <span style="font-style: italic;">Avg 3.98</span></span><br /><span id="freeText15307372252578046032" style="">Source: Purchase</span><br /><br /><hr /><br /><a href="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af256/bibliocentric/13060734.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 110px; height: 165px;" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af256/bibliocentric/13060734.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Title: </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13060734-unbreak-my-heart"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Unbreak My Heart</span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Author</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">: </span><a href="http://melissacwalker.com/"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Melissa Walker</span></span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Series: </span><span>N/A</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Publisher: </span><a href="http://www.bloomsburyusa.com/"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bloomsbury USA</span></span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Format: </span>Hardcover, 240 pages<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Release Date: </span>May 22, 2012<br /><span id="freeText2570107055298862825" style=""><br />► <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Unbreak-My-Heart-Melissa-Walker/9781599905280/?a_aid=102583"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Purchase</span></a></span><span id="freeText14053100071053918264" style=""><br /></span>Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004391528728968783noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3333386379579676812.post-66398240038782776582012-05-21T07:04:00.004-04:002012-05-21T07:47:27.591-04:00Music Box, by Estevan Vega<a href="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af256/bibliocentric/musicboxlo-res1.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 215px; height: 288px;" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af256/bibliocentric/musicboxlo-res1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;">Esther is getting old. No, she is old. Aging with every blink, with every breath.<br /><br />After a life full of power and purpose, she is met with the harsh reality that she is now obsolete, and her fragile moments are short. On the eve of the last night in the city she has called home for years, Esther and her lover Jacob share their fears and their romance for this world over one last meal, as they wait in fearful unrest for what is coming.<br /></div></blockquote><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Considering this is a short story (a little over 30 pages), I am going to be making this one of my short but sweet reviews as I do not want to give away too much of the actual story.<br /><br />Much like Vega's other works, Music Box delves a little into the dark side of the story. The description and perspective in the story keeps a thrilling edge that seems to evoke a million different emotions in the reader as you read. Quite honestly, I think that my only complaint about this story is that I want more - even though "more" is not necessary. This story is most certainly complete, touching on many points. The main character, Esther, is trying desperately to hold onto the life that she has that seems to be coming to an end entirely too quickly. She reflects on herself, nit-picking at things that her husband tries to assure her is not necessary. I found her character to be extremely real and her husband to be a noble character.<br /><br />Obviously, there is more to the story than one woman's self-obsessions... but I don't want to delve too much into any more for fear of spoiling something for someone. There's a level of suspense as the end approaches that keeps you on the edge of your seat - which is a feat that Vega seems to excel at. The characterization and descriptions in this book are amazingly strong that really pull you into the story and keep you there until the end. This is a must-read for fans not only of the author, but also for those who love suspense and thrillers. As always, I continue to be a huge fan of Estevan Vega's work and look forward to many more stories from him in the future.<br /></div><br /><span id="freeText15307372252578046032" style="">Rating: </span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363" style="">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363" style="">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363" style="">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363" style="">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363" style="">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363" style=""> <span style="font-style: italic;">Avg 4.43</span></span><br /><span id="freeText15307372252578046032" style="">Source: Author<br /><br /></span><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class=" down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link"><img src="http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" alt="Link" class="gl_link" border="0" /></span></span><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);" class=" down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link"><img src="http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" alt="Link" class="gl_link" border="0" /></span></span><hr /><br /><a href="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af256/bibliocentric/musicboxlo-res1.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 112px; height: 151px;" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af256/bibliocentric/musicboxlo-res1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Title: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Music-Digital-Short-Thriller-ebook/dp/B007PT0OB4/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Music Box</span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Author</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">: </span><a href="http://estevanvega.com/"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Estevan Vega</span></span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Series: </span><span>N/A</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Publisher: </span><a href="StoneHouse%20Ink"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">StoneHouse Ink</span></span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Format: </span>Digital Short, 33 pages<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Release Date: </span>March 28, 2012<br /><span id="freeText2570107055298862825" style=""><br />► <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Music-Digital-Short-Thriller-ebook/dp/B007PT0OB4/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Purchase</span></a></span><br /><span id="freeText5349049085189442497" style=""></span>Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004391528728968783noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3333386379579676812.post-27604895617315698812012-05-21T00:00:00.001-04:002012-05-21T07:03:25.396-04:00Of Poseidon, by Anna Banks<a href="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af256/bibliocentric/12425532.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 215px; height: 323px;" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af256/bibliocentric/12425532.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText5349049085189442497" style=""><blockquote>Galen, a Syrena prince, searches land for a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. It’s while Emma is on vacation at the beach that she meets Galen. Although their connection is immediate and powerful, Galen's not fully convinced that Emma's the one he's been looking for. That is, until a deadly encounter with a shark proves that Emma and her Gift may be the only thing that can save his kingdom. He needs her help--no matter what the risk.</blockquote></span><br /><span id="freeText5349049085189442497" style=""></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText5349049085189442497" style="">I think that I can safely say that, on my blog, books involving any type of mythology are set to a higher standard than just light and fluffy reads. Is it unfair? I don't think so. I think any time you're going to put your own spin on some type of lore that has been around for many, many years that you need to make your book stand out to be recognized among the masses. With that said, did I think that <span style="font-style: italic;">Of Poseidon</span> stood out from all other mermaid books that came out before it? Yes and no. My opinion of this book kept wavering throughout and, even now while I'm writing this review, I cannot honestly say exactly how I feel about this book.</span><br /><span id="freeText5349049085189442497" style=""></span><br /><span id="freeText5349049085189442497" style="">The most prominent problem that I had with this book has got to be the actual characters. There was a strong scene at the beginning of the story that showed a lot of promise, but the first glance of the characters really didn't live up to that hype throughout the rest of the novel. For instance, I think Emma has to be one of the most bi-polar female leads that I have read in a while. With her, there is the person that she thinks she is... then, there is the person she actually is. While she seems to see herself as a very sweet girl, some of her actions are actually quite sour and pretty much the polar opposite of what you would see from a "sweet" girl. Her internal dialogue and rationalization never quite match up to her actions and statements outside of her head, which was more annoying than anything.</span><br /><span id="freeText5349049085189442497" style=""></span><br /><span id="freeText5349049085189442497" style="">Then, there's Galen. Oh, Galen... he seemed to have the potential to be a completely swoon-worthy male lead, but ended up being the douchey jerk that you always want to steer clear of. While sometimes playing coy and being a little possessive over someone you like is somewhat appropriate and cute, being that way 24/7 is not. I found his attitude to be entirely too self-serving and vain. He had a few nice moments, but definitely not enough to overshadow all of the rest. </span><br /><span id="freeText5349049085189442497" style=""></span><br /><span id="freeText5349049085189442497" style="">Now, despite my lack of fondness for the characters I did find the mythology of this book to be up to par. The world-building and description in this book was nothing short of beautiful, minus a few inconsistencies that are so minor the point of bringing them to light is almost moot. Even though this book is over 300 pages, I found it to flow so exceptionally well that the pages seemed to fly by. Overall, I found <span style="font-style: italic;">Of Poseidon</span> to be a decent read that is worth the time to give it a try. The cover is absolutely stunning and, of course, the writing is right there with it. As far as debut books are concerned, this one definitely made the cut for me in many aspects - just not the characters. ;)</span><br /><span id="freeText5349049085189442497" style=""></span></div><span id="freeText5349049085189442497" style=""><br /></span><span id="freeText15307372252578046032" style="">Rating: </span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363" style="">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363" style="">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363" style="">★</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363" style="">✩</span><span id="freeText10123510879852456363" style="">✩ <span style="font-style: italic;">Avg 4.21</span></span><br /><span id="freeText15307372252578046032" style="">Source: Borrowed</span><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);" class=" down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link"><img src="http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" alt="Link" class="gl_link" border="0" /></span></span><br /><br /><hr /><br /><a href="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af256/bibliocentric/12425532.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 110px; height: 166px;" src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af256/bibliocentric/12425532.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Title: </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12425532-of-poseidon"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Of Poseidon</span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Author</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">: </span><a href="http://byannabanks.blogspot.com/"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Anna Banks</span></span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Series: </span><span>Of Poseidon, Book 1</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Publisher: </span><a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CFUQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fus.macmillan.com%2FFeiwelAndFriends.aspx&ei=gB-6T4eCM4Se8gScss2xBQ&usg=AFQjCNHciXq3X34eSoWpuEy73P4SQjdKxA"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Feiwel & Friends</span></span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Format: </span>Hardcover, 324 pages<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Release Date: </span>May 22, 2012<br /><span id="freeText2570107055298862825" style=""><br />► <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Poseidon-Anna-Banks/9781250003324/?a_aid=102583"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Purchase</span></a></span><br /><span id="freeText5349049085189442497" style=""><br /></span>Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10004391528728968783noreply@blogger.com20