It's Monday, What are you Reading?

 

This weekly meme is hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books.

 

Read this past week:

Too Hot To Touch - Louisa Edwards 

Hunting Lila -  Sarah Alderson

Instant Attraction - Jill Shalvis

 

Currently Reading: 

Instant Gratification - Jill Shalvis

Upcoming:

But I Love Him - Amanda Grace

What about you? What are you reading this week and are you enjoying it?

Author Weekend Giveaway Winners

I have a winner for the Author Weekend Giveaway!

The winner of a pair of a bookmark from WhispySnowAngel is:

Review - Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Title and Author: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: August 16th, 2007

Paperback/Hardcover: 332

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal

Summary:

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .
Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

Review:

It took me a long time to pick this book up. I’ll confess I was skeptical about it but I ended it enjoying Vampire Academy much more than I could ever have imagined I would.

This is a great first book to a series and I actually couldn’t put it down. It kept me entertained and curious.

Vampire Academy is not your usual YA vampire book. The writing is actually quite mature and the types of vampires in this book are not typical ones. There are Moroi vampires, who are the good vampires, are alive and are able to use magic connected with the four elements: air, earth, water and fire. There are also Strigoi vampires, who are the bad vampires, are technically dead and are not able to use magic.

While both types of vampires need blood, Strigoi kill to get it while Moroi don’t.

There are also Dhampirs, who are half Moroi and half human. Dhampirs don’t need blood and are trained to be the guardians of Moroi because of their strength. The vampire academy is where Dhampirs train.

In the beginning of the book, Rose – a Dhampir – and Lissa – a Moroi – are on the run from the academy where something happened that made them need to get away. Rose and Lissa are being hunted and are eventually captured by the academy’s guardians, who take them back to the academy, so they can complete their education. This is the first time Rose sees Dimitri – a guardian – and her future mentor and love interest.

I think I liked almost every character in this book, which is always a plus.

Rose’s a very interesting character. She can be a little arrogant sometimes but she’s also very loyal, feisty, brave and strong. She would do anything to keep Lissa and those she loves safe.

Dimitri was my favorite character, though. He’s swoon-worthy! He’s a little bit older than most characters in the book, so he shows more maturity than others. Dimitri becomes Rose’s mentor, role model and love interest. Some people say he is a God and he shows determination in everything he does.

The relationship between Rose and Dimitri is very interesting. They know they shouldn’t be together for several different reasons but the attraction between them is still too strong to deny!

I also liked the other characters in this book like Lissa, who is sweet and caring and Christian, who is incredibly sarcastic!

All in all I really enjoyed Vampire Academy. The book is well-written, fast paced and interesting. There’s a lot of action, romance and friendship. The characters are well-written and the plot is interesting and different.  I think any YA fan will be able to enjoy this book!

Rating: Must Read (5 Stars)

Goodreads

Bookdepository

Richelle Mead

Hello, how are you all?

So, this weekend's Author we'll get to know a little better is Richelle Mead!

Author's Profile:

"Scorpio Richelle Mead is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of urban fantasy books for both adults and teens.  Originally from Michigan, Richelle now lives in Seattle, Washington where she works on her three series full-time. Before becoming a writer, she considered a few different career paths. She received a liberal arts degree from the University of Michigan, an MA in Comparative Religion from Western Michigan University, and a Master in Teaching (Middle & High School English) degree from the University of Washington. In the end, she decided writing was the way for her but believes all of her education prepared her for it.

A life-long reader, Richelle has always had a particular fascination with mythology and folklore. When not writing,, she enjoys bad reality TV, traveling, trying interesting cocktails, and shopping for dresses. Lots of dresses. She is a self-professed coffee addict, fights a constant (and losing) battle with procrastination, and has a passion for all things wacky and humorous.

Her adult series are published by Kensington Books.  The Georgina Kincaid Series (Succubus Blues, Succubus on Top, Succubus Dreams, and Succubus Heat) tell the humorous and heart-breaking story of a reluctant succubus who can't touch the man she loves without dire side effects. On top of that, she must deal with Hell's middle management team and the many supernatural threats that come her way.  Richelle's Dark Swan Series (Storm Born and Thorn Queen) follows Eugenie Markham, a free-lance shaman who battles ghosts and fey that sneak into our world from the Otherworld. When an alarming prophecy suddenly makes her every Otherworldly creature's object of desire, Eugenie must dodge their advances while also fighting a dark power rising within her.

Richelle's YA series, Vampire Academy, is published by Razorbill Books (Penguin) and thus far contains Vampire Academy, Frostbite, Shadow Kiss, Blood Promise, and Spirit Bound.  This New York Times and USA Today bestselling series has won honors from the American Library Association and been translated into 30 languages.  It follows the war between two races of vampires, living and undead. Rose Hathaway, a 17-year old half-vampire, is training to be a bodyguard for the living vampires and finds her life complicated by the dangers that involves, as well as an illicit romance with one of her teachers."

Richelle Mead's Books:

The Vampire Academy Series: 

Bloodlines Series:

Georgia Kincaid Series:

Dark Swan Series:

 

You can find Richelle at:
Official Website
Twitter
Facebook

Blogoversary Giveaway Winners

So, I finally have winners for my Blogoversary Giveaway.

Link Your Reviews

We all want to promote our reviews, don't we? This is a way of letting other people know about them. Just leave a link to your review below.

Go visit the other reviews and let people know what you think about them!

This will is weekly feature posted on Thursdays. :)

My Book Boyfriend

My Book Boyfriend is a weekly meme, hosted by Missie at The Unread Reader. It is a weekly meme where we talk about a literary crush including stats, a picture of what you imagine he looks like and some quotes from him that make you swoon.  If you are interested in participating please check out the My Book Boyfriend Introduction Page over at Missie's blog The Unread Reader.

This week my book boyfriend is:

Patch from Hush Hush Series by Becca FitzPatrick

Stats

Status: Patch is a fallen angel. He's very mysterious and he's Nora's love interest.

Height: 6,1'

Eyes: Black

Hair: Black

More info: Patch likes to wear black clothes. He always has a comeback ready and is great at creating sentences full of innuendo. :) His real name is Jev.

"His black eyes sliced into me, and the corners of his mouth tilted up. My heart fumbled a beat and in that pause, a feeling of gloomy darkness seemed to slide like a shadow over me. It vanished in and instant, but I was still staring at him. His smile wasn't friendly. It was a smile that spelled trouble. With a promise."

Nora: "You possess other people's... bodies." He accepted that statement with a nod. "Do you want to possess my body?"

Patch: "I want to do a lot of things with your body, but that's not one of them."

"You smell good, too." Patch said.

"It's called a shower." I was staring right ahead. When he didn't answer, I turned sideways. "Soap. Shampoo. Hot water."

"Naked. I know the drill."

"Hang on, did you just call me Angel?" I asked

"If I did?"

"I don't like it."

He grinned. "It stays, Angel."

Nora: "If you can't feel, why did you kiss me?"

Patch: "Because I feel it here, in my heart. I haven't lsot the ability to feel emotion."

Model Drew Doyon

So, what do you think? Who is your patch?

Review - Light Fixtures by Deborah DeMoss Smith

Title and Author: Light Fixtures by Deborah DeMoss Smith

Publisher: Smashwords

Publication Date: 2011

Paperback/Hardcover: 

Genre: Young Adult 

Summary:

During the sweltering summer of 1963, everything is moving fast for 14-year-old Aurora, who’s spending the days with her grandparents in the northwest Louisiana countryside. Her fast thoughts and actions can cause those around her to shake their heads in bafflement, especially when her spirits nosedive. But it’s no puzzle for the mystical Mr. Hematite and his tiny assistant, Mr. Dragonfly. Together, they guide her in understanding her bipolar moods and show her that as Light Fixtures, everyone has the potential to shine with balance and brilliance.

Review:

I received Light Fixture from the author (Deborah DeMoss Smith) in exchange of an honest review.

Light Fixture is the story of Aurora. She is spending her summer with her grandparents in Louisiana during the 1960’s. Aurora’s thoughts are always fast moving and she often high spirited. Her family is used to that already but soon Aurora meets Mr. Hematite and Mr. Dragonfly, who seem to know exactly why Aurora is the way she is.

I liked Aurora and thought she was a good main character. She is never still and her thoughts are constantly running fast. She’s smart and strong and feisty. The way she always has an answer ready for Johnny Lee was great.

Aurora’s grandparents were really nice as well. It was obvious they loved Aurora.

I didn’t know what to expect from Mr. Hematite and Mr. Dragonfly at first but I ended up liking them. They were very interesting characters who helped Aurora understand a lot about herself.

I enjoyed the fact the story was set in the 1960´s and I think the descriptions the author provides us with were great. All the details were able to make me feel like I was actually there.

All in all I think Light Fixtures is a great read. The author does a great job in dealing with the issue of bipolar depression. The book is well written and I think anyone will be able to sympathize with Aurora who is hipper and happy in a moment and in a low mood the next.

I recommend Light Fixture to any YA fan who is interested in reading about an intriguing topic.

Rating: Worth Your Time (4 Stars)

Goodreads

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• 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 & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 

This week I'm reading: 

Too Hot To Touch by Louisa Edwards

"Then he said it: This is your show. Your house, your rules.
Jules felt his words all through her, like the blast of searing heat from opening a hot oven.
The very idea of it soothed something inside her, something that had been there so long, she hardly remembered a time when she hadn’t felt the thin, cold trickle of helplessness."

“What was the doctor talking about?” Max demanded, barely recognizing his own voice under the growl of fear and pain.

Jules closed her eyes for a brief instant, and when she blinked them back open, Max could see the mirror of everything he was feeling. But her voice barely wavered, steady and soft, as she began to explain."

What about you? What are you reading right now?

It's Monday, What are you Reading?

 

This weekly meme is hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books.

 

Read this past week:

Silence by Becca FitzPatrick

 

Currently Reading: 

Too Hot To Touch - Louisa Edwards

 

Upcoming:

But I Love Him - Amanda Grace

Instant Attraction by Jill Shalvis

I had a slow reading week. I hope this one is better!

What about you? What are you reading this week and are you enjoying it?

Author Weekend Giveaway

Are you ready for the Author Weekend Giveaway?

Here are the details:

• One winner will win the following bookmark from WhispySnowAngel:

Cute, right?

In order to enter the giveaway all you have to do is fill in the Rafflecoptet Form below: (You might have to wait a few seconds for it to open!)

Review - Sophie & Carter by Chelsea Fine

Title and Author: Sophie & Carter by Chelsea Fine

Publisher: Acacia Publishing, Inc.

Publication Date: June 20th, 2011

Paperback/Hardcover: 117

Genre: Young Adult

Summary:

While other high school seniors are dreaming about their futures, Sophie and Carter are just trying to make it through each day. Carter is overwhelmed by issues at home as he struggles to support his mother. Meanwhile, next door neighbor Sophie is left to care for her three younger siblings in place of their absent and troubled mother. All that holds these two best friends together is each other, and knowing that each night they'll sit together on Sophie's front porch swing and escape from reality, if just for awhile. But as their relationship reaches a turning point and high school graduation nears, will their friendship become something more?

Review:

I knew I would like Sophie & Carter when I read the synopsis; I just didn’t except to enjoy it so much! This is a great book to pick up if you’re interested in a quick, sweet and interesting read.

Sophie and Carter are neighbors and close friends who share their secrets and support each other as well as they can. They both have to deal with difficult issues that made them grow up too fast and the comfort they find in each other is what helps them move on.  Sophie’s mom is a prostitute who left Sophie to take care of her three younger siblings and Carter is forced to take care of his mother, who his father abused for years until she was driven to insanity.

The chapters in the book alternate between the point of view of Sophie and Carter, which gives you the opportunity of getting to know both characters a little bit better. I appreciated that because I liked both characters. Both Sophie and Carter are easy to fall for. You feel for them and can’t help but to want things to work out.

Sophie and Carter are young but they went through a lot and is really nice seeing their relationship develop from friendship into something more. The romance between them is really sweet and cute and is obvious they care for each other and want to protect one another. They make a great couple.

All in all I really enjoyed this book. I wish it was longer, though! :)

Sophie & Carter is a well-written and interesting book. It is easy to read and it kept me captivated. I can’t wait for the sequel to come out so I can read more about Sophie and Carter and their live.

I recommend this book to any YA fan!

Rating: Must Read (5 Stars)

Goodreads

Bookdepository

Chelsea Fine Interview

Chelsea Fine accepted to answer a few of my questions. 

She is great so check out her answers! I hope you enjoy them.

1 - Tell us a little bit about yourself? 

CF: Well, I’m obsessed with brushing my teeth. Haha. I probably brush my teeth 4-6 times a day. Because I’m weird. I have two kids; a five year-old and a six year-old and I’ve known my husband since we were teenagers. I’m an artist by trade (I paint murals and stuff), and I really hate cleaning. I love watching teen drama on TV and, if I could, I would marry coffee.

2 - Have you always wanted to be a writer? How does it feel to be a best-selling author?

CF: I’ve always wanted to be creative, and I’ve always written short stories and novel plotlines, etc. But I don’t think I truly decided to be a writer until I was in college. Being a best-selling author still sounds surreal. Haha! But it’s a dream come true and I’m so very grateful to all my readers out there who believe in me and my books! Readers rock!

3 – What inspired you to write Sophie & Carter?

CF: Sophie & Carter started off as a writing exercise to clear my head. But it just sorta…took hold of me and became its own story. There was no real inspiration behind it other than I wanted to write about hope and perseverance and friendship and love. And, hopefully, that’s what I did.

4 – Out of all your characters, which one is your favorite and why? (I must say I loved Carter!) :)

CF: Haha! My favorite character to write is one my readers haven’t met yet. She’s a character named Heather in my new paranormal series, The Archers Of Avalon. Heather is superficial and suspicious and WAY too happy for her own good. I get a kick out of writing her. But, as far as Sophie & Carter goes, my favorite character was probably Chloe. Chloe was happy and innocent and, in my opinion, gave Sophie a real reason to believe in hope.

5 – What would you like your readers to take away from your book?

CF: HOPE. (Have I used that word too many times today? Haha) I want readers to finish Sophie & Carter and think to themselves, “Everything is going to be okay.”

6 – Will there be a sequel to Sophie & Carter?

CF: Yes. It will probably come out sometime next year…if everything goes according to plan. :)

7 – What is your favorite part about writing? What would you say is the most challenging part of the process of writing a book?

CF: My favorite part is writing scenes with a lot of tension…sexual tension, angry tension, ironic tension…I love the drama of it all! The most challenging part of writing a book is probably the set up. You have to have a back story that’s not going to fall apart halfway through the book, you know? So the set up is crucial…and tricky.

8 – Which author or authors influenced you the most?

CF: Stephenie Meyer was a big part of why I wanted to write young adult fiction, as opposed to any other genres. And J.K. Rowling is the reason I wanted to write, period. The Harry Potter books blew my mind! :)

9 – What was the last book you’ve read that you absolutely loved?

CF: I really loved Born At Midnight by C.C. Hunter. (And I’m totally Team Lucas. :))

10 - Can you tell us a little bit more about your future writing projects?

CF: I’m currently working on a series called The Archers of Avalon. The first book in the collection, Anew, should come out in December. It’s a story about a girl who wakes up in the woods without any memories, but meets two brothers who inform her that she’s been cursed to die. The brothers try to save her life, while fighting over her because, naturally, they both have feelings for her. (Love triangles are the BEST!)

11 - Is there anything else you would like your readers to know?

CF: Um…I’m really chatty and I love to hear from readers! So, don’t be shy! :)

Thank you so much, Chelsea!

You can find Chelsea at:

Official Website

Twitter

Chelsea Fine

Today's posts are dedicated to Chelsea Fine. Go check out her book Sophie & Carter!

Author's Profile:

"Chelsea is a professional artist living in Phoenix, Arizona. Her passion for writing began when she took a creative writing course during her studies at Arizona State University and found herself not only enjoying the class, but energized by it. She has been dabbling in fiction ever since. She lives with her husband and two children who graciously tolerate her obsession with superheroes and complete lack of skill in the kitchen. "

Chelsea Fine's Books:

Title and Author: Sophie & Carter

Publisher: Acacia Publishing, Inc

Publication Date: June 20th, 2011

Paperback/Hardcover: 117

Genre: Young Adult

While other high school seniors are dreaming about their futures, Sophie and Carter are just trying to make it through each day. Carter is overwhelmed by issues at home as he struggles to support his mother. Meanwhile, next door neighbour Sophie is left to care for her three younger siblings in place of their absent and troubled mother. All that holds these two best friends together is each other, and knowing that each night they'll sit together on Sophie's front porch swing and escape from reality, if just for awhile. But as their relationship reaches a turning point and high school graduation nears, will their friendship become something more?

Upcoming Books:

Title and Author: Anew ( The Archers of Avalon 01)

Publisher: Acacia Publishing, Inc

Publication Date: 2012

Paperback/Hardcover:

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal

Scarlet awoke in the woods without her memories...without a past...without a future. Until she met a boy with a familiar voice. A boy with secrets. A boy with answers. A boy named Gabriel Archer.
Intrigued by his voice, Scarlet immerses herself in Gabriel's life only to discover he has a brother he's kept hidden from her: Tristan Archer. Once Scarlet meets Tristan, her world becomes even more muddled.
While she's instinctively drawn to Gabriel, she's impossibly drawn to Tristan--and confused out of her mind. Why does Gabriel seem so familiar? Why is she so attracted to Tristan?
And why do both brothers keep telling her she's cursed to die?
Scarlet doesn't have the answers...but the Archer brothers do.

You can find Chelsea at:

Official Website

Twitter