I'm changing up the format a little bit! I am going to be pulling covers off the Most Popular Page on Goodreads.
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Sunday Cover Scramble [70]
I'm changing up the format a little bit! I am going to be pulling covers off the Most Popular Page on Goodreads.
Friday, June 6, 2014
Sidekick Showcase [79] - High Warlock
Sidekick Showcase, previously known as Sidekick Saturday, is a weekly bookish meme, hosted here by Jaclyn at JC's Book Haven. There are many secondary characters that are as great as the primaries. In some cases, the sidekicks actually steal the show and you like them better than the heroine or hero. Maybe they didn't have enough page time for how great they were. Anyone can play along! I will post my Sidekicks on Saturday, then whichever day during the week that you would like to post yours, you can put your link in on my page. Just do the following:
• Choose a sidekick *or someone other than the hero or heroine* that you would like to put in the spotlight that fits in the week's topic
• Share a picture (if you can) and information about the character
• Give the title and author of a book the character can be found in
• Please don't include too many spoilers when describing why the character is such a great sidekick
• The day of your post, put your link in below and grab the code for your post so you can see the others that post their's throughout the week as well
I have a few topic ideas for June (Thanks Robyn!):
The month of June is LGBT Pride Month so we can celebrate those characters that we love. Also we have Father's day so we can celebrate dads or characters we think would make good fathers. There are a lot of summer trips taken in June as well so we can pay tribute to those characters we would hate to travel with or just characters that remind us of summer trips for one reason or another.
My choice is Magnus BaneThe Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Claire
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| Magnus Bane picture created by Jaclyn Canada |
Magnus Bane is the by far the most awesome character in The Mortal Instruments. He's half demon and half human, making him a warlock. He has great spell-casting abilities as well as being immortal. He has been erasing Clary's memories since she was a baby. When the group meets him, he openly flirts with Alec who has yet to come out of the closet. Magnus is called upon often when they are facing odds that only a High Warlock of Brooklyn could face.
Quotes:
“We came to see Jace. Is he alright?"
"I don't know," Magnus said. "Does he normally just lie on the floor like that without moving?”
Even the Inquisitor's eyebrows shot up when Magnus strode through the gate. The High Warlock was wearing black leather pants, a belt with a buckle in the shape of a jeweled M, and a cobalt-blue Prussian military jacket open over a white lace shirt. He shimmered with layers of glitter. His gaze rested for a moment on Alec's face with amusement and a hint of something else before moving on to Jace, prone on the ground.
"Is he dead?" he inquired. "He looks dead."
"No," snapped Maryse. "He's not dead."
"Have you checked? I could kick him if you want." Magnus moved toward Jace.
"Stop that!" the Inquisitor snapped, sounding like Clary's third-grade teacher demanding that she stop doodling on her desk with a marker.
“You never called me back," he said. "I called you so many times and you never called me back."
Magnus looked at Alec as if he'd lost his mind. "Your city is under attack," he said. "The wards have been broken, and the streets are full of demons. And you want to know why I haven't called you?"
Alec set his jaw in a stubborn line. "I want to know why you haven't called me back."
Magnus threw his hands up in the air in a gesture of utter exasperation. Alec noted with interest that when he did it, a few sparks escaped from his fingertips, like fireflies escaping from a jar. "You're an idiot."
"Is that why you haven't called me? Because I'm an idiot?"
A pair of werewolves occupied another booth. They were eating raw shanks of lamb and arguing about who would win in a fight: Dumbledore from Harry Potter books or Magnus Bane.
"Dumbledore would totally win," said the first one. "He has the badass Killing Curse."
The second lycanthrope made a trenchant point. "But Dumbledore isn't real."
"I don't think Magnus Bane is real either," scoffed the first. "Have you ever met him?"
"This is so weird," said Clary, slinking down in her seat. "Are you listening to them?"
"No. It's rude to eavesdrop," said Jace.
Even the trip throught the Portal had not disarranged Magnus's hair spikes. He tugged on one proudly. "Check it out", he said to Isabelle.
"Magic?"
"Hair gel. $3.99 at Ricky's.”
Thursday, June 5, 2014
ARC Review: The Collapse (The Uprising #2) by R.A. Desilets
Genre: Dystopia
Format: ebook
Source: Sent by author for honest review
Goodreads SummaryMurphy carries on after Jay abandons Hipstopia-and him. With a mixture of hatred and admiration for his new foe, Murphy becomes more aggressive than ever, unearthing a darker side of himself. He’s willing to sacrifice anything to keep Sky and Hipstopia safe, even if it means killing Jay.
Free from Murphy’s reins, Jason wants to begin his new life with Kiera, but she’ll never be able to settle as long as Leo is trapped in prison. The only way Jason can keep her safe is by going back into Hipstopia with her, but if he sees Murphy again, he doesn’t know if he’ll be able to pull the trigger.
Now on opposite sides of the war, Jason and Murphy tell their stories as they come head to head in the final battle.
"Besides, Jay wouldn't dare come back. He doesn't have the guts."
Desilets has a voice that draws me in. She takes an idea that may seem simple in theory and creates a world out of it that you would never expect. Her creativity amazes me.
The Good
Desilets created a world in Hipstopia that was all about Murphy leading a hipster uprising to flush out corporate America. It sounds comical, a little silly, and a bit odd, but not only does she make it work, she made me feel as if I was in an alternate reading world where this actually made sense. In this follow up novel, I'm back with Jason (Jay) shortly after he abandoned his post as Murphy's right-hand for the "good" side in this war.
The Collapse reads as alternating view points between Jason and Murphy. I loved this in-depth look into Murphy's mind. I also really appreciated getting to see how the two are similar and how they vastly differ. They both really care about the other from bonds forged over the years. Jay makes Murphy remember that there is good in the world and Murphy took care of Jason after his parents abandoned him. These two guys also have it BAD for their respective ladies. They would each lay down their lives for the women they love. Now, where they differ is that Murphy has very little remorse about hurting anyone, at any time, and is definitely not above torture. He also has no desire to right the wrongs that he has done whereas Jay feels deep remorse for anything he's done that's hurt someone and wants to set it right.
The side characters in the story are written so well that I love them all. Vanessa and Peter are with Jason and Kiera throughout most of the story and the banter with these two around is a lot of fun. Kiera is this strong-willed spitball that fights for the ones she cares about. She makes a great match for Jason. Then there's Sky. Dun, Dun, Dun.
Sky is probably my favorite character in the book. She's bad and she loves it. With her black bob, and hipster glasses, she still reminds me of one of Bellatrix Lestrange's cousins with how she gleefully enjoys hurting people. If she's going down, she wants to take the whole world with her.
The Bad
If I really sit and think about how the world got this way and that no one is doing anything about it, I would drive myself crazy. The trick is to just let yourself be sucked in, accept that this is the way things are, and enjoy the ride.The Romance
While the romance happened quickly in Hipstopia due to it being a novella, I love these matches. I really enjoyed getting to see Jason and Kiera as a couple. They argue, they make up, and they go fight the bad guys together. They fit very well, bringing out the best traits in the other so the romance is very cute.Murphy and Sky also make a good pair. Evil is as evil does, and Murphy can't pull himself away from the girl that he brought the darkness out in. They are the opposite for each other, always bringing out the worst traits in the other one but it's such good symmetry.
Conclusion
It's great. The characters are dynamic and varied, they are fleshed out well, the action is top-notch, and the ending is perfect. Desilets pulled out another winner for me. Recommended.
ARC Excerpts
Murphy:I almost convinced myself that I was powerful enough to pull it off. I had already destroyed the one good thing in my life out of my own selfish need. What was everything else?
I hated his name. In the beginning, I had decided that names ending with "y" were better than any others. But in all honesty, there wasn't a name I hated more than Zachary.
Sky's face dripped with pride. Every time the execution came up, her face lit up with a viciousness I had never seen.
Jason:
Then again, Vanessa had never knocked me out. I shifted my gaze to Kiera, who gave me a sweet smile in return. I chuckled despite myself. I would be the kind of guy to fall for someone like her.
Her voice was gentle, kind, but I still flinched at the words. It always came back to who I used to be, not who I was now.
We were leaving tonight. We had a few hours to gather everything we needed, just a small amount of time before we were off on a rescue mission that could change - or end - our lives. I ran my fingers through her hair, breathing in the smell of almonds.
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
When life's kicking your butt, how about a theme song? [6]
My friend Robyn from robgirlbooks tasked us with coming up with a theme song each month, and I love it! Music is a VERY big part of my life. This month Robyn has asked that we come up with a songs that bring SUMMER to mind. That barbecue, sun-kissed, beach ball, long nights with lightening bugs, time that I absolutely love.
There are two songs that I think of right off the bat when I think of summer. One of them is Katy Perry's California Girls, but I have already used Katy Perry twice. I seem to like her for theme songs.
Some of you may question my choice, Independence Day by Martina McBride. I know it's a sad song. It's a song about a situation that many women and children find themselves in though and I find the chorus empowering. I hope that anyone that is in a domestically abusive relationship finds the strength to leave.
My choice for the month of June is:
Zane's choice for June:
What are your choices this month??
Monday, June 2, 2014
The Dragon's Egg by H.B. Bolton Blog Tour - Review, Excerpt, and Giveaway
The Dragon’s Egg (Relics of Mysticus- Book Three) by H.B. BoltonSure, the glass castle floating over Evan’s head makes him uneasy, but that’s the least of his worries. With each step inside the Dungeon of Dreadful Dreams, he must battle against his worst nightmares. One after the other, wispy smoke-filled bull sharks come at him — he must remember they’re only illusions pulled from his imagination by those dreaded shadowlike hands. If only the vengeful dragon circling above was also an illusion and didn’t have his mind set on destroying the one person who can control him: Emrys. Inside the castle’s glass tower, Emrys sleeps in an eternal slumber, and Evan’s uncertain whether he can save the great wizard. Especially now that Emrys’ former student, the Lady of the Lake, has joined forces with the cunning immortal Alamaz. Together they have already stolen the Dragon’s Egg, but their greed doesn’t end there. The Siren’s Pearl calls to them, and that means only one thing … Atlantis is in trouble. Join Evan, Claire, and Dunkle — along with a few other unlikely heroes — as they travel across the realm of Medieval Legends, float through the Ancient Isle of Avalon, plunge inside the Dungeon of Dreadful Dreams, and be there when Atlantis rises once again.
Book Trailer | Amazon | Goodreads
I still really miss Lazonia from The Serpent's Ring, but that's it. Bolton please bring her back for me.
There was an amazing villain, amazing characters, an amazing story. Overall it was an AMAZING book. Too many amazings? Ah well, insert your appropriate synonym where needed.
"Doesn't this guy realize we're on an important quest?"
The Good
The characters were amazing, from the unicorn, to the faerie, to the wizard. They were all fantastic. The villain was really cool and he had an interesting background. The story was great too. Somehow nothing EVER seems to go right for Evan, and it's very entertaining. I loved the cliff-hanger ending. It makes me hungry for more.
The Bad
I still really miss Lazonia from The Serpent's Ring, but that's it. Bolton please bring her back for me.
Conclusion
There was an amazing villain, amazing characters, an amazing story. Overall it was an AMAZING book. Too many amazings? Ah well, insert your appropriate synonym where needed.
EXCERPT - Entering the Dudgeon of Dreadful Dreams
“Remember, this portal will lead us to the realm of Dreams … both cheerful and petrifying.” Dunkle edged closer to the well. His eyes squeezed shut, as he tumbled inside.
“Stay close.” Claire tightened her grip on her spear, and in a blink, she too jumped in.
“Why am I always last?” Evan said to himself, as he peered down the hole into complete darkness. “All right, what am I waiting for? They’re only dreams.”
With that, he sprang off the disc, tucking his legs into a cannonball position as if diving from a board. Splash down! Instantly, a tantalizing scent surrounded him: apple pie fresh from the oven. Evan searched through flashes of light and sprinkles of color. Something warm and gooey dripped onto his arm. He looked up. Hot fudge drizzled from nothingness, down into a vat of happily ever after. Evan moved his arms and legs, using strokes as if swimming through water … except, he wasn’t in water. Still, he followed the stream of fudge down toward an enormous sundae.
Before his eyes, a cherry burst from a pink cloud and landed right on top of a mountainous scoop of vanilla ice-cream. Evan squealed like a child and rushed toward the mountain of glee. A tink, plink sounded from above and pecan bits trickled down, sticking to globs of chocolaty bliss. He wrapped his arms around a gigantic marshmallow, but to his utter disappointment, they rolled right through. He reached for a chocolate chip, but the instant he grabbed hold, it vanished!
“No!” Evan screamed as the entire sundae faded away.
Just then, he heard a voice … a familiar voice.
“Evan, over here,” she said.
“Lazonia,” he called out. “Is that you?”
“Yessss,” she said in a hush as she swam from a sea-blue mist. “I’m here.”
“How’s this possible?” Evan scratched the side of his head as he studied her.
“Anything’s possible … in the realm of Dreams.” The mermaid flicked her lavender tail and floated around him. “Come with me.”
“But, you’re not really here. You’re in Asgard.”
A delicate smile rolled across her face as she swam through the sky. Her cheerful expression slowly melted as she dove behind a wisp of smoke.
“Save me!” she cried out.
Evan’s heart skipped a beat, as he tore past a school of fish and a playful dolphin, but the second he reached his friend, she changed … really changed. No longer was she the Lazonia he knew and cared for. A sinking feeling tugged at his heart as he inched his way closer.
“Lazonia, is that you?” he asked.
Just then, a frightening shriek erupted from the girl’s lips as sharp tipped nails grew from her slender fingers. Her fair complexion turned sickly-green and the whites of her eyes darkened to jaundice-yellow. No longer was she a lovable mermaid. Now, she took the form of a sea siren! A glistening light flashed from around her neck, and Evan looked closer. A pearl shimmered from a chain of golden seaweed.
“It’s too late to save the Siren’s Pearl … and soon it will release me,” she said through razor-sharp teeth, seething and snapping at him. Her mouth reared open and out poured a terrible screech. Suddenly, a smoke-filled bull shark tore through her cloud-like center and she evaporated right before his eyes.
“Ah!” Evan swung his arms, throwing punches at the shark, but then it too disappeared.
“Evan,” Claire called out to him, waving from the edge of a jagged cliff. “We’re over here!”
“Help me,” he hollered as a swarm of cloud-sharks thronged him. Somewhere, deep inside, he knew they weren’t real, but that didn’t stop his voice from trembling and hands from shaking.
“Your sword, use it,” she yelled while stuffing her spear into the belly of an enormous worm. The worm exploded into a million pieces and lay sizzling around her boots.
Evan’s sword hummed and quivered inside its sheath. He reached for its hilt, and with trembling fingers, he swung it aimlessly in front of him. His heart slammed against his chest as he haphazardly sliced through a shark’s fin, and just like the marshmallow, the entire shark simply disappeared in a puff of smoke.
“Remember, nothing here is real,” said Dunkle. “Clear your mind and release your fears.”
Evan swiped the back of his hand across his sweat laden forehead and raced towards his sister.
“Claire,” he shouted, “I knew you didn’t like worms, but you’re seriously afraid of them?”
“I can’t stand them.”
With his sword braced in front of him, he circled around Claire as he hunted nightmares. He searched, but nothing came at them. No swarming sharks. No bloodcurdling screams from mythical sea sirens. And not one single life threatening, Claire-eating worm floated by.
The Serpent's Ring (Relics of Mysticus- Book One)
Evan and Claire Jones are typical teenagers, forced to go with their parents to yet another boring museum … that is, until something extraordinary happens to make their day a little more than interesting. After following a strange little creature into a closed exhibit, Evan and his older sister, Claire, discover the Serpent’s Ring, one of the magical relics formed from the shattered Mysticus Orb. Purely by accident, they have awakened its powers and opened a portal to Sagaas, land of ancient gods. Before the siblings can comprehend what has happened, the Serpent’s Ring is wrenched from Evan’s hand by an enormous fish and flown back to Aegir, the Norse god of the sea. Evan and Claire, accompanied by a band of unlikely heroes, must retrieve the Serpent’s Ring before Aegir uses its immense powers to flood all the lands on Earth. 
The Trickster's Totem (Relics of Mysticus - Book Two)Life has returned to normal for fourteen-year-old Evan and his older sister, Claire. That is until Dunkle, a clever but stinky little imp, pays an unexpected visit to their school. He has come to take the siblings back to Sagaas, the mythical realm of the gods. Once again, a Relic from the ancient Mysticus Orb has fallen into the wrong hands. Only Evan and Claire, with their unique mystical abilities, can help find it. Through the power of the Trickster’s Totem, a coyote trickster has escaped. His laughter echoes throughout the realm, as he spreads mischief and mayhem. He burns an entire crop of popcorn, carves his grinning image into sacred artifacts, and things really get interesting when he shape-shifts into Evan’s friends. Claire and Evan must capture the Trickster, retrieve the Totem, and be careful not to become sidetracked by robotic Steampunk animals, “sweet” pixie-like Pains, and a problematic mermaid … all while dodging Mothman-like aces. Most surprising, Evan discovers the true reason dragons exist in the Native American Spirit World.
About the Author:A magical part of H.B. Bolton’s childhood was being swept into worlds of enchanting
characters, fantastical creatures and extraordinary powers—simply by picking up a book. As a mother and a teacher, she was compelled to create imaginary worlds of her own in order to share them, not just with her children, but with all children. H.B. Bolton lives in Florida with her supportive husband and two highly spirited children. Shh, can you keep a secret? Not only does she write books for the young-at-heart, adventurous sort who yearn to dive into a good young-adult fantasy story, she also writes spellbinding, heart pounding women’s fiction. These particular books are written under the name Barbara Brooke, but that’s another story, altogether. LUX: Beginnings and LUX: Consequences Release Day Launch
It's here! Today is the day you can get the beautiful new bindups of Jennifer L. Armentrout's LUX Series! Are you as excited as we are?
Doesn't it look amazing? You don't want to miss these or the bonus content included in each bindup! We have all the information for you below, and a fabulous giveaway for you. Make sure you check it all out and enter for your chance to win!
LUX: Beginnings
LUX: Consequences
ABOUT LUX: Beginnings: Now available together for the first time, don't miss Obsidian and Onyx, the first two books in Jennifer L. Armentrout's bestselling Lux series. Also includes bonus content exclusive to the print edition! "A thrilling ride from start to finish," says RT Book Reviews.
Starting over sucks. When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring…. until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up. And then he opened his mouth. Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something…unexpected happens. The hot alien living next door marks me. You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades. If I don’t kill him first, that is.
ABOUT LUX: Consequences: Now available together for the first time, don't miss Opal and Origin, the third and fourth books in Jennifer L. Armentrout's bestselling Lux series. Also includes bonus content exclusive to the print edition! "A thrilling ride from start to finish," says RT Book Reviews.
No one is like Daemon Black. When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well... There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on. But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love. After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different... And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever. Together we’re stronger...and they know it.
OPPOSITION Comes out August 5th!
Pre-Order It Now!
About Jennifer L. Armentrout: # 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.
Find Jennifer L. Armentrout
Add the LUX Series on Goodreads!
Find Entangled Publishing
a Rafflecopter giveawaySunday, June 1, 2014
Teaser Tuesday [26]
Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.
The Collapse (The Uprising #2) by R.A. Desilets
Teaser from ARC (quotes could change):
"You're changing things. You're taking a stand for what you believe is right, and no one can fault you for that. Not anymore."
I held her close, grateful for the comforting words. They were the last things I heard before the distant sounds of coyotes lulled me into sleep.
Murphy carries on after Jay abandons Hipstopia-and him. With a mixture of hatred and admiration for his new foe, Murphy becomes more aggressive than ever, unearthing a darker side of himself. He’s willing to sacrifice anything to keep Sky and Hipstopia safe, even if it means killing Jay.
Free from Murphy’s reins, Jason wants to begin his new life with Kiera, but she’ll never be able to settle as long as Leo is trapped in prison. The only way Jason can keep her safe is by going back into Hipstopia with her, but if he sees Murphy again, he doesn’t know if he’ll be able to pull the trigger.
Now on opposite sides of the war, Jason and Murphy tell their stories as they come head to head in the final battle.
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