Thursday, January 31, 2013

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Now I really enjoyed Before I Fall, so when I saw this go for a steal on the kindle I had to pick it up.

Amazons blurb about this book :

They say that the cure for Love will make me happy and safe forever. And I’ve always believed them. Until now. Now everything has changed. Now, I’d rather be infected with love for the tiniest sliver of a second than live a hundred years smothered by a lie.

Can you imagine a world where there is no Love. Everyone is cured of it at 18 and you are matched with someone based on an evaluation to spend out your days and to populate the world. I couldn't imagine being with someone I didn't love, nor could I imagine being without love. The giddy feelings, the happiness to be stripped of that. I could not do it. You'd see me be a invalid or jump to the wilds before they could even get near me with talk of a cure.

Our main character is the daughter of a woman who chose to love rather then live without it. She is struggling with the desire to be cured. Then ends up meeting a boy and falling in love.

I really enjoyed the entire story and all the twists and the way we got to the end of the book. I have Pandemonium and I can not wait to get to read it.

5 out of 5 stars. Loved it.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Stacking the Shelves #2

So here I am doing this again.. I was planning on getting it up on Saturday and then I have been working like crazy the last couple days. So here I am.. getting it up now. This is put on by Tynga's Reviews I am happily participating. Hopefully at some point soon I will participate in more blog hops and meme type fun.

So I picked up from the library

Mercy by Rebecca Lim

Pretty Dead by Francis Lia Block

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

That's it.. my slow but steady week. I work almost everyday this week so I decided it should be a slower week.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter a Review

I had to pick this up because of the Alice in Wonderland content. Even though it is less Alice more Zombies.. but still I couldn't resist. I had heard so much about how great the book was and I wanted to check it out. So to the library I went. I got the only copy my whole system had.

Amazon's blurb on the book:

She won't rest until she's sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever. 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.

Her father was right. The monsters are real.

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.

I wasn't sure what to expect since it was a zombie book with Alice, I will say if the reason you are picking it up is because you are a Alice in Wonderland fan, then I will say this may not be the book for you if you aren't a paranormal or zombie fan. But if you are a paranormal fan then this just might be the kind of book you really enjoy.

The book starts up about Alice living with her father, mother and sister in a home where they never go out at night because her father believes in zombies, more so that young Alice has no friends. She ends up begging to see her sister perform in a night time concert, at the request of her very charismatic little sister. After the performance the family ends up in a car accident. Leaving Alice alive while the rest of her family is dead.

Alice moves in with her grandparents and starts high school, she runs into some "bad labeled" kids and is drawn to the alpha.

Gena Showalter has written quite a few other books, she is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the Lords of the Underworld series and more than thirty other books. And yet sadly this is the first one of hers I have ever picked up. I can tell you I will be looking for more of her books.

I enjoyed the story and give it a 4 out of 5. Definitely give it a chance.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Before by Jessie Harrel Review

This is a short story, prequel to Destined. I really enjoyed Destined so I had to pick up this short story. I love character development.

This story is about Eros, the god of Love. He falls for a human. Its a quick read, and if you enjoy it. You should pick up Destined.

Eros falls for a human girl and the effect it has on him. This is just a taste to give us a peek at the god before he met Psyche.

Real short but great.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor Review

I have been reading recently lots of books and this one caught my eye at Comic Con back in 2010. I never had the time to pick it up so when I got the chance this week to do just that I did.

Amazon's Blurb :

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

The book is colorful with a cast of monsters, angels, wishes and war. Lots of fun hearing about all the characters brought together and the different types of things our author has dreamed up.

Our main character Karou is a blue haired young girl who grew up in a supernatural setting with a monstrous father sending her on errands to gain teeth. She is spunky. You grow to love her. When her world is threatened and she is taken away from the family she knows, she has to fight. We meet Akiva a tortured angel who is closing portals to the other world helping end a war. He meets Karou and is instantly attracted to her. The story unfolds between the two of them.

I am glad I finally picked up the book, I really enjoyed it.

4.5/5 stars.

Monday, January 21, 2013

Swapping Bookmarks

I would love to make some handmade bookmarks and swap them with other book readers who want to have some handmade bookmarks.

If you are interested let me know. I think it could be lots of fun.

Sunday, January 20, 2013

GIVEAWAY - Poster for Safe Haven

Poster looks different.. but they are rolled up right now.. So yesterday I went and saw Silver Linings Playbook.. AMAZING. Go see it if you like dramas and haven't seen it. But while I was there I got a poster for Safe Haven, a new Nicholas Sparks movie that is coming out on Valentine's Day. (I saw it as a screener a few months ago and really enjoyed it.)

I really enjoyed the book for Safe Haven so I thought, this works with my book theme .. since the movie was a book first and thought I'd give away a poster.

Entering is easy.. Just leave a post on this giveaway post.

You don't have to join my blog if you don't want. But there will be more giveaways coming up.

I'm also giving away some bath and bodyworks stuff on my makeup blog.

Kitten Reviews Makeup so if that's your sort of thing. Hop on over there and join that giveaway too.

Both contests end 1/27/13

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Glitches a short by Melissa Meyer

This is a fun short story that is a before the book of Cinder. I really enjoyed Cinder so when I saw this I had to pick it up.

I adore Melissa Meyer and I can't wait to read Scarlet. You can read my Cinder review on this blog. Its a great story. She really has a way of telling stories that is captivating.

Here is amazons blurb on it:

Cyborg Cinder has always been alone in the world. When she learns that she’s going to be adopted, her whole life changes – she gets an all-new family, complete with a mostly-absent father, two step-sisters and an unwelcoming stepmother. How will she cope with being the only cyborg in the family? This story is a prequel to the futuristic fairytale Cinder, by Marissa Meyer.

This story focuses on Iko. The adorable human like robot that Cinder fixes and who also becomes her friend. I really enjoyed the short story. If you liked Cinder pick this up. Or pick up the new paperback copy that comes with this story.

Stacking the Shelves #1

Decided to take a part in this meme... I'm gonna try to do more things like this.. more so that I can get more in the habit of having posts up.

This is from Tynga's Reviews on her blog she started it. It's so we can show off the things we got this week to read, review and enjoy.

I didn't get much I picked up Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter at the library.

I also picked up Delirium by Lauren Oliver for my kindle.

So it will be a good week.. hopefully soon I will get more ARC's that I can review. :)

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr

I got this for my kindle the other day, because I had heard good things about Melissa Marr and it was on sale. So I thought why not? (Even though I had 12 library books and had just 25 books.. but still lol.)

Amazons blurb :

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

This book is about fighting for what you want. Our story is 2 sided about a girl in hiding that doesn't know the truth being raised by a witch. And about a fighting game that the victor comes out to get a say in government, where you can be a nobody with nothing, or someone from a good family. So our characters are all types.

We have Mallory a young girl living with a witch constantly training for the day the daimons will come to kill her. She doesn't know that the daimons are after her and not her witch father Adam. She starts to fall for a boy she meets and has no idea that he has been sent there to find her.

I really liked the story. If had twists, some I didn't even see coming. It was very enjoyable.

4/5 for sure a book to pick up.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

This book made me smile. I really love that most of the zombie books I am picking up are about the hope for humanity after a catastrophic event. If you grew up never seeing anything but the small town you live in, would you hunger for more? That's the question this book asks. If you lived and only saw a life enclosed in gates, would you want to venture out, even if that meant a chance at death or worse.

I thought the author did a great job of portraying the differences in personalities and the fact that some people are happy just accepting what is happening in their life, while other people need something more, whatever that may be.

Our main character, Mary is at the age where she has to marry, but she doesn't want that. Well she does, but the person she wants she doesn't think wants her. So she takes on his brother who has always loved her. They live in a town surrounded by a gate to keep out the unconsecrated. Mary ends up in the sisterhood and meets a girl from another town, which is unheard of. People don't pass the gates. This girl ends up infected and the town falls. So Mary, her betrothed and his brother, her friend, her brother and his wife, and a small child all pass through the gate in search of others and a new town. The story goes from there. Where you get to see each personality and the fears they have.

I really enjoyed the story, I would like to think if I was in that situation I'd want to see the ocean as well.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Calling all Bloggers

Calling all bloggers! Calling all bloggers! Entangled needs you! *points at you* Be part of The List. Here's what you need to know: One of my awesome publicists at Entangled is compiling a list of bloggers. Here are the requirements: Do you have a blog?

Do you love to review books?

Do you want access to books before they release?

If your answers to these questions is a resounding "YES" then you're the right blogger for the job.

We want you! Now's a great time to join The List.

If you want to be a part of The List, here's what you have to do:

1. Add Til Death to your Goodreads TBR pile: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16129271-til-death

and

2. Leave the following in the comments section: Here

a. Your Name

b. Your Blog URL

c. Your Goodreads Name

d. Your Email Address

Additional Option: URL to your blog post about this call for bloggers.

Priority will be given to those who help spread the word by creating a post on this call for bloggers on their blog. *smiles*

If you have any questions, let me know in the comments section and I'll reply right away.

Don't miss this exciting opportunity.

Be part of The List today.

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

I really wanted to read this right off the bat because of the awesomely beautiful book cover. I guess I do judge books by the cover, but let me tell you. I really enjoyed this one. So I guess all in all it was a good choice for me.

The book is about Cas our main ghost hunter, a ghost hunter now that his father the original in the trade is deceased murdered by a ghost. The boy is bent on following in his fathers footsteps.

I got into reading this and quickly was caught in the writers web. You want to learn more about the character he is tough and ready for things, but a kid and struggling with trying to be grown up and with wanting the normalcy of life. I liked that about the main character. Writers don't always remember that even when pushed into being a grown up it doesn't mean the person might not long for the things other kids his age might have.

I enjoyed the plot and the development of the characters. I love that you get to see the kids grow up a bit while facing down a foe. People learning to work together, lives changing forever after learning new knowledge. I wasn't expecting the ending. So I was pleasantly surprised. I love writers that can keep a book interesting throughout without making things too complex or adding too much unnecessary things to keep you guessing.

I give this book a 5/5 stars. Really good quick read.

Friday, January 11, 2013

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

I had been wanting to read this book forever, but I have had about 300 books sitting around my room waiting to be read, so I kept putting it off since I wanted to be fair to other books I had wanted to read before it.

So I am in love with fairy tales and I love the story of Cinderella. Fairy tales have always held a special place in my heart. I love the idea of love and fantasy, that odds can be beaten, that somewhere out there a prince charming is waiting.

The book takes place in the future. Not only is the planet different from disease, and many other things but we now have the technology to create cyborgs and robots. We are not the only people in this universe and we know it. The backdrop is New Beijing, a time when life is different there is death and there is fear. The book focuses on Cinder a half human half android girl living with her step mother, who ends up helping out the prince and the whole world changes because of it. It has everything you need, romance, intrigue, robots, monsters and excitement.

I really like the character Cinder, I like the strength she has, the way her character wants things and the sadness and love she feels. I love her android it has its own personality and character.

I really enjoyed this story and am anxiously awaiting Scarlet the sequel. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but it was well written, enjoyable, the story had twists and turns, the characters were likable and developed.

Go pick up this 5/5 star book and then preorder Scarlet.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Rape Girl by Alina Klien a Review

I know what you think when you see the title, and I think not everyone would pick it up based on the title. I saw this available for review on Netgalley and I just had to review it. It's a cord that really strikes deep with me. I have a past that haunts me and I know a lot of people do. We can't control the things that happen. We can only learn from them and move on and try to pick up the pieces that are falling apart.

This book leans on the world of what can happen when you report a rape. The sad fact that the act itself is not always as horrifying as the events and the reactions after the fact. This book deals with the strength it takes to come forward. I never did. There was too much going on in my world and I shut down. So the book rings for me a truth that I would have liked to taken part in. Even if it meant all the different ways my life could have changed.

The characters are well written, understandable. You care about them, you are angry at them. You feel sorrow and loss for our main character. Its a tough read with a touchy subject but a good read.

Its available for purchase right now on amazon.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Reading right now. Sunday edition

I am reading Melissa Marr's Carnival of Souls. I am enjoying it. Picked it up for cheap in one of those one day amazon deals on ebooks. Like it so far. Can't wait to finish it.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Rot and Ruin by Johnathan Mayberry

I picked this book up because I saw it listed on a bunch of different book blogs and I wanted to see what the fuss was about. I think that is why I picked up more then half of the books I am reading right now.

First things first, I have never had a zombie book made me cry until now. This book is the first in a series of 3. I can not wait to get my hands on the next books. It tells the story of young Benny Imura, who has come to the age where he must either start work or starve in a post zombie society. His brother asks him to come work with him as a zombie bountyhunter. I really enjoyed the plot of this book. It makes you think that if we came to a point where humanity was doomed, would we lose our humanity? That's the big question in the book. I like the way he handles it.

Each character is brought to life with a past, history, with emotion and purpose. You love them, you hate them, you want them to succeed or fail. You fear for them. He does so well in making you hope for the characters. And not only for the characters but for humanity itself.

I can't imagine having my family and friends become zombies nor can I imagine living boxed in a world where you can't leave because of the zombies, where the internet is no more, tv is a thing of the past and I can't microwave anything. Not my ideal world at all.

This is definitely a 5 star in my book. Great read for sure. Definitely a pick me up.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

My new year goals

So I will maybe get buttons or the counters.. not really sure how to do them, or how to put stuff on the blog.. still new to all this, not that I haven't been at it for quite a while.. usually just get to annoyed to put them on.

But I plan to read 65 YA Novels this year.. mostly in the paranormal/horror/dystopian genre.. but I might throw in a few fiction for good measure.

First book of the year Texas Gothic. Then onto finishing Daughter of Smoke and Bone.