September Rewind

Well, another month has gone by, fellow readers. September wasn't as busy for me as August was, unfortunately. So here's a fast recap.

I read books.
I reviewed said books.
I gave away books.

Yep. That pretty much sums it up. Here's a detailed recap.

READ & REVIEWED BOOKS IN SEPTEMBER

Sept 3 - Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Sept 4 - Six Impossible Things by Fiona Wood
Sept 4 - Loving Lies by Lora Leigh
Sept 7 - Paradise by Jill S. Alexander
Sept 9 - Days Like This by Alison Stewart
Sept 11 - Fateful by Claudia Gray
Sept 11 - All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin
Sept 16 - Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
Sept 17 - Sixteenth Summer by Michelle Dalton
Sept 18 - The "What If" Guy by Brooke Moss
Sept 20 - The Forest of Adventures by Katie M. John
Sept 20 - Nocturne by Syrie James
Sept 23 - This is Shyness by Leanne Hall
Sept 25 - Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
Sept 27 - Crave by Melissa Darnell
Sept 27 - As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott
Sept 28 - Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

Average rating for the month of September: 3.64 stars

CONTESTS WINNERS

Zoe won herself a copy of Lola and the Boy Next Door for correctly guessing the book I would read first amongst the pile of my September Shopping List.

JustJahnvi won copies of Anna Dressed in Blood and The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer this month.

Huh. This is kind of sad. I promise to do a better job in October. I can't believe I only held two contests in September. 

SPECIAL MENTION

Alison Stewart, author of Days Like This posted a link of my review on her blog and personally thanked me via email for reading and reviewing her book. I don't know about you, but I admire authors who actually takes the time to express their gratitude for reading their work.  

As well, this month, I've participated in an auction benefitting the victims of hurricane Irene. I won myself signed copies of Ashfall by Mike Mullin, Matched by Ally Condie and an ARC of Crossed. Mr. Mullin, whose  generosity knows no bounds, decided that it would be cool to name a bit part character in my namesake on his upcoming book, ASHEN WINTER. How awesome is this?!

LOOKING FORWARD

I have a feeling October will be a busy month...or I'll make sure it will be anyway. I have my very first author interview lined up, which I'm very excited about! There will also be a giveaway as offered by Entangled Publishing with this post, so stay tuned!

I finally grew a pair and sent some not-so-embarrassing letters to publishers for ARCs. I'm happy to say that I got my first nod. YAY ME!

I'm also excited about the Smart Chicks Kick It Tour that's happening - well, tomorrow, actually. Kelley Armstrong, Beth Revis, Melissa Marr, Margaret Stohl, Jennifer Lynn Barnes & Sara Zarr will be in attendance. I can't wait!

Also, please check out We Fancy Book's Follower Appreciation Giveaway! They have some awesome prices in store for the winners!

So that's it for the month of September. October is upon us and there's a whole slew of awesome releases for the month!

What was your September like?



Why I Fancy Books

When did my love affair with books start? Growing up in a country where the libraries only stock reference books and the like on the shelves, reading fiction was a luxury a lot of us couldn't afford. I remember actually be-friending my friends' older sisters just so I could borrow their books. It came to a point where I was practically visiting them everyday on the pretense that I was there for my friend but in reality, I was actually there to borrow more books.

My country would have power outages, frequently at that. But imagine a young girl reading in her bedroom with the flickering candle light. It doesn't matter how little sleep I got...I just have to finish that book because my friend's sister would only allow me to borrow one book and for only one day.

When my family moved to Canada, my love for reading intensified. Life became ultimately better especially when I found out that books can be bought at a thrift store - where they were priced for as little as twenty five cents. I thought I died and gone to heaven.

But being in a new country where everything was so fresh and different, it's sad to say that my love of reading eventually petered out - for years, I neglected reading. I got married, had kids...pretended to be an adult. It's only been the last four years that I've found my passion for books again.

Honestly? I owe it all to Stephenie Meyer. It's those damn Twilight books of hers! Edward Cullen owned my soul for about two years until Jace Wayland ripped it from him. Sad to say, it didn't take long before Jace took a backseat. The boys from the various books I've read stole my heart, piece by piece until Jonah Griggs decided enough is enough. My heart only belongs to him now.

I'm a bit of a neurotic when it comes to books. I seem to be in constant panic-buying mode. I just had to have them, no matter how bad the book is *coughsHadescoughs*. Anyway, reading books has a way of taking me to places that I could only dream of...meeting characters that are larger than life itself. It's a means of an escape without having to leave my bedroom. And you know what else? I'm learning about LIFE as I go along. I mean, who knew that some vampires can't be killed by a stake to the heart nowadays? Or that werewolves can change even without the full moon? Lol. I read somewhere that books are the cheapest way to go on a vacation. Judging by my choices in reading materials, I've visited a lot of desolate places where people are being eaten by zombies! :)

Review: Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

Publication Date:  September 5, 2011
Poppy
Format: Hardcover, 273 pages

Goodreads Summary

Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part, Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention.

Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: she and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. And Lissa never sees her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling, coming.

Inspired by Aristophanes' play Lysistrata, critically acclaimed author of The Duff (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) Kody Keplinger adds her own trademark humor in this fresh take on modern teenage romance, rivalry and sexuality.

______________________________________________

MY TAKE: 3/5 STARS

I definitely had different reactions on certain parts of this book. The early pages made me cringe. I even debated whether or not I should flounce on the book. I’m not really that interested in having a peek at these kids’ mundane high school life (I’m an old woman, bear with me). Maybe I’m just bitter or jealous – for not having the full experience. But in any case, I really didn’t want to read about a bunch of girls having Kumbaya sessions at sleepovers.

I can pin point the exact moment Shut Out grabbed my attention. It was the part where Lissa caught Randy having a tongue-fence duel with a sophomore. Oh happy me. Randy was not really that bad of a character; he loved spending time with her family and he seemed to genuinely care about her. He just has his moments of idiocy, like all men do. But dude, the aforementioned scene won him the douche award. Just read the book to find out what else he did.

Cash Stirling wins the most perfect book boyfriend award. {Gratuitous sigh}
He’s handsome, athletic, all-around nice guy, though a bit oblivious. Oh well, you can’t have them all.

Lissa is a bit of a neurotic spazz – a trait that I found endearing.
Anyway, this book oozes sex – not in a very descriptive way wherein the kids are getting it on left and right, but how both genders use it as a weapon. It also touches on the age-old debate about the double standards in our society, where a girl who sleeps around gets called a ‘slut’, and a boy who does the same thing is fondly called, a ‘player’. But let me tell you, these darn kids in the book are having lots of them – sex, that is.

I absolutely loved Keplinger’s DUFF. She has this ability to make her characters so unbelievably real and is not afraid to tell you how it is. Some may cringe at the amount of sex the kids in her books are having but I thought that it was a real enough representation of what’s going on these days. I’ve read a lot of realistic YA fiction and I’ve got to say, no one has come close to even a speck of reality that Keplinger delivered. I’m slowly becoming a fan of this pull-no-punches author and I look forward to reading more of her future work.

Review: Crave by Melissa Darnell

Publication Date: October 15, 2011
Harlequin Teen
Paperback, 416 pages
Goodreads Summary

Savannah Colbert has been shunned all her life by the kids of the Clann. And when she undergoes some drastic changes after a strange illness, Savannah learns secrets about the group and about herself—dangerous secrets. For the Clann are powerful magic users, and Savannah herself is half Clann and half vampire—a forbidden, unheard of combination. Falling for Clann golden boy Tristan Coleman isn't just a bad idea—it could be deadly if anyone finds out. But her attraction to Tristan—and his to her—isn't something either of them can resist for long.

______________________________________

MY TAKE: 2/5 STARS

This book is a single serving of everything on the YA menu. You’ve got witches, vampires, and star crossed loves, combined with the clichéd cliques of high school. It’s a buffet…with a side order of cheese – a lot of cheese.

I liked the better part of the beginning of the book – and when I say the better part, we’re talking the first three pages or so. I thought the first page that gave me a glimpse of Savannah’s and Tristan’s natural reactions toward each other were a good preamble to this story. And when I turned the page to the Prologue, I was already salivating for more.

Sadly, this book started out pretty strong but let up with its intensity in the middle. You’d think that the story would take off even more after Savannah found out she was a half-vampire, half-witch. But it didn’t. It got even slower, if that was even possible. There were so many parts of this story that probably should’ve been left out of the finished product, perhaps those parts where Savannah kept agonizing about the Brat Twins or when she decided to be the manager of the Charmers(resisting the eye roll here) or when Tristan became a quasi-manager himself (say, what?!). Tristan was supposed to be a studly football player but opted to follow around a dance team as an escort/manager. I’m sorry, but now you just sound like a wimp to me. I probably skimmed through most of the parts where they were either preparing for a game or at a game. They were pointless.

*head desk*

There are a lot of things that bothered me with this book. Bullying is very rampant. The character doesn’t do anything about the ‘accidental’ pushing, shoving, and verbal abuse she got from the members of the Clann. I just can’t like a book that justified these acts okay. And the character did just that, by thinking that if she ignored them, they’d go away. I’m sorry…just no.

Crave is very unoriginal from this genre’s standpoint. But that’s really okay – only if it was executed very well. As it was, I thought that when Savannah was finally told she was a half-vampire, half-witch, her reaction was a little blah. She accepted her parents’ decisions quite easily with very little questions.

When she finally went through the change, I waited for the bloodlust and got none. What kind of vampire (half or not) does not thirst for blood? Instead, you’ll read about Savannah prancing around school being chased by hormonal boys who suddenly noticed she grew a full cup size over a week’s time. I understand she’s part witch too, but come on! There’s got to be a part of her that yearns for blood, no? The whole Tristan-Savannah romance thing was painful to watch. It was a cheese-fest of epic proportions.

Over all, Crave is a cookie-cutter YA paranormal read. No plot twists await for you here.

On another note, I think I’m a minority on this one, so please - my opinion about this book is just that…MY OPINION.

Arc provided by Net Galley and Harlequin for an honest review.

Review: As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott

 

Publication Date:  September 15, 2011

Dutton Juvenile

Format:  Hardback, 224 pages

 

Goodreads Summary

 

Ava is welcomed home from the hospital by a doting mother, lively friends, and a crush finally beginning to show interest. There's only one problem: Ava can't remember any of them - and can't shake the eerie feeling that she's not who they say she is.

Ava struggles to break through her amnesiac haze as she goes through the motions of high-school life, but the memories that surface take place in a very different world, where Ava and familiar-faced friends are under constant scrutiny and no one can be trusted. Ava doesn't know what to make of these visions, or of the boy who is at the center of them all, until he reappears in her life and offers answers . . . but only in exchange for her trust.

_______________________________________________________

 

MY TAKE 2/5 STARS

 

Let me see if I can give you a breakdown of what this book is about.

…hold on…

…still thinking…

…Nope. Sorry. I got nothing.

Even if I try to put into words how I perceived this book, I think I’ll just confuse you even more.
I’d like to give this book five stars for originality; because no one, I MEAN no one, can probably duplicate the story line that Elizabeth Scott created. We’re talking alternate universe where one or more of the same person can exist but not in the same space. Where the government was free to vanish criminals – innocent or guilty – into a dystopian world where food was scarce that you would need stamps or tickets to avail of your basic needs; where no one is trusted and you are being watched, listened, and stalked, day in and day out. But there was also a parallel universe where life was normal, where kids go to school and they worry about cliques or if their crushes will finally talk to them.

I think the premise is simple enough to follow. But when the characters’ worlds collide, that’s when I ran into a mountain of problems.

The story focuses on Ava, a girl who woke up not knowing who she was. Little by little, tidbits of her memory unearth a million of questions that I still felt were unanswered. I’d like to give props to Ms. Scott for successfully inciting this reader’s empathy with Ava’s character. I was as confused as Ava was…and I don’t know if that’s a good thing.

For a book of 224 pages, I thought that there were too many things going on that it could’ve probably used a hundred more. Everything was vague and muddled. I’d like to have a one-on-one talk with Ms. Scott just so she could explain this book to me.

I have so many questions.

What happened to the world that the government suspected everyone?

How did Ava know what the chemical composition is of an explosive?

How did those kids end up in a dark place where they are trained to be some sort of government spies?

Plot-wise, I felt like Elizabeth Scott threw me in a vast ocean without a life jacket; not necessarily to drown but to find my way to the shore. You have to find your way to the end of the story – a story which I found difficult to follow. Some of the dialogues were stilted, which at some point annoyed me. Even so, I thought that the dark undertones made the writing strange and beautiful.

I have read reviews of this book, and I am probably missing the whole point. If you like solving puzzles or being thrown in a world full of mysteries, then this book is for you.

In the end, I was just happy to finish this book. Reading this was not a pleasant experience.

Confessions of an Addict (6): In Which I Decided to Fly Solo.

My Sunday is a lazy day. I usually spend it in my bedroom - donning my pyjamas, and only leaving the premises to find something to eat. Even then, the hubby is like a butler who comes in from time to time bearing gifts of junk food and caramel iced coffee. I read, eat, tweet, watch football - all in the comfort of my perpetually unmade bed.

Yesterday, Rachel Caine tweeted about Smart Chicks Kick It Tour schedule and I realized that the only one possibility that I could attend these kind of book signings is if I will be willing to spend the money to actually fly over wherever it's being held. I live in the middle-of-nowhere, Canada, so our bookstores rarely  host events like these.

My dear Mr. B booked me a day trip to Vancouver for their stop on October 1st! I'm so freaking excited I barely slept last night! I'm scared too because I've never flown without my husband anywhere.

I can't wait to meet the authors in attendance! Oooooo and the autographs! swags! Hmmm...I wonder if Beth Revis will have some ARCs of A Million Suns...Lol. I'm just hoping I don't get lost. Vancouver is such a hugely populous city compared to ours.

'Don't worry about it, honey,' said my husband. 'Airport, bookstore then back to the airport for you. There's no chance you'll get lost.'

Hah! Doesn't he know me at all? I get lost as soon as I walk out of my front door.

...Oh! and stay tuned. There might be a SIGNED BOOK giveaway in the horizon!

Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Publication Date: September 27, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 420 pages
Little, Brown & Company

Goodreads Summary

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?

__________________________________________________

MY TAKE: 5/5 STARS

As I sit here and ponder on the magnificence of what I’d just read, I can truly, honestly say that I will probably fail to write a review that will give this novel its due justice.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone lived up to the hype – and more. It delivered in spades and didn’t – not once – disappoint. Even the ending, which would have normally driven me to rant for days, couldn’t damper my irrevocable love for this exquisite masterpiece. Laini Taylor created a complex world with equally complex characters. The history, the legends of angels were molded and twisted into something unbelievably multifaceted and unique.

I often found myself stopping just to savor the words. The prose was as beautiful as the heartbreaking story of reincarnated love itself. 

I fell in love with Karou's blue hair, her grotesque but beautiful art and her wry humour. The anonymity of her past added to the sublime beauty of her character. Her's and Akiva's love story were one of the most heartbreaking and beautiful story I've read in a while. I have the deepest hope that the second book to this series will bring some happiness to these two. But since there will be three books, I am not holding my breath.

We’ve been bombarded with a lot of angel books lately or an impossible romance between two mortal enemies. But trust me when I say, Laini Taylor wrote this book with the absence of clichéd plot lines in mind. This book is highly imaginative, dark, deceptively funny and deliciously sensual.

The only problem I have with this book is that I’d have to wait for a long time for the second book and with how this book ended, the wait will be extra, extra painful. 

IMM #7

In My Mailbox is a weekly event hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren, which features books that I procured this week...mostly purchased since, well, I haven't got the courage to beg from the publishers lol. Okay, okay, I bring you this week's episode of HOARDERS, Books Edition. 

____________________________________________________________

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Sacrifice by Laura J. Burns & Melinda Metz

Enthralled by Melissa Marr & Kelly Armstrong et al. 

Dark of the Moon by Tracy Barrett

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

So Silver Bright by Lisa Mantchev

Blood Wounds by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey

The Girl of Fire & Thorns by Rae Carson

Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews

A Weekend with Mr. Darcy by Victoria Connelly

The King of Plagues by Jonathan Maberry

Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry

Whispered Lies by Sherrilyn Kenyon & Dianna Love

Wisdom's Kiss by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Hotblood (A House of Slide Novel) by Juliann Whicker

Under the Stars by Rebecca A. Rogers

Fitzwilliam Darcy, Rock Star by Heather Lynn Rigaud

Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison

The Erotic Treasury (????) by Susie Bright

As well, this week, I've gotten another copies of A Long, Long Sleep and Remembrance which brings my total copies to 3 and 2 respectively. Watch out for some giveaways because I noticed that I've got some duplicate copies of other titles as well through no gaffe of my own doing this time.

What's in your mailbox?

Congratulations are in Order!

Announcing the winner of the Anna Dressed in Blood & an October release giveaway. 

JUSTJAHNVI

Congratulations! The winner chose The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer instead of an October release, which is totally fine by me! 

Review: This is Shyness by Leanne Hall

Publication Date: August 2nd, 2010
Text Publication
Format: Paperback, 272 pages

Goodreads Summary

A guy who howls. A girl on a mission to forget. 

In the suburb of Shyness, where the sun doesn’t rise and the border crackles with a strange energy, Wolfboy meets a stranger at the Diabetic Hotel. She tells him her name is Wildgirl, and she dares him to be her guide through the endless night. 

But then they are mugged by the sugar-crazed Kidds. And what plays out is moving, reckless...dangerous. There are things that can only be said in the dark. And one long night is time enough to change your life.

____________________________________________________

MY TAKE: 4/5 Stars

I’ve been sitting here staring at my blinking cursor. You know it’s bad when you’re suffering from a mild case of ‘reviewer’s block’ (get it? heh). Maybe I shouldn’t blame myself per se, perhaps I should hold this book responsible for rendering me speechless, grasping for words to describe the mentally stimulating experience I just had.

The entire book happened in one night…or one day, depending on how you look at it. Shyness is a city in perpetual darkness and in most instances, lawless and timeless. It’s quite difficult to explain all the things that make this book unique. I can’t decide which I love more, the world of Shyness in itself or the characters. At first glance, this book can be classified as dystopian; set in the future where a city lay in all its derelict goodness. Normally, I’m big on asking the whys, when and what of a certain outcome in a book but I found myself accepting all the reasons why it was always nighttime in Shyness.

There were theories thrown in the book – most of them out of this world. And this was what made Shyness unique. From its peculiar and unforgettable characters, to a world lacking in daylight and adult supervision, Shyness had the ability to silence all the questions I’d normally ask.

Questions like:

Why the heck is the city over run by sugar-crazed kids and monkeys?

What the heck is Wolfboy? (A much hotter image of a changed Teen Wolf came to mind.)

How is it possible that the gargantuan sun chose not to rise in Shyness and yet a stone’s throw away, along the border, it chose to perch on the horizon like an egotistical fireball taunting the citizens of Shyness?

The characters of Wildgirl and Wolfboy were equally charming. They had me laughing and wishing for those nights when nothing else matters but to live for the moment. On the surface, these two were just two kids who have that instant attraction – out to see where the night was going to take them. But each one had agendas why they stayed together. These two played with me and teased me until they almost drove me insane. It took them forever to kiss even though they were fighting the urge to do so the entire night. And when the sublime moment finally happened, it left me wanting to write a note to the author demanding for a sequel. Honestly, it wasn’t enough. Well, this book isn’t enough. There has to be more.

First of all, I felt that Wildgirl was still a closed book. She never did tell Wolfboy the real reason why she wanted to forget or to run away. I learned more about Wolfboy than I did Wildgirl. Perhaps the author intended it – to make Wildgirl’s character hard to read.

Second of all, I wanted to know who Diana’s real father was. Although it was hinted that she had the most incredible blue eyes like Gram’s, perhaps, it didn’t make it conclusive that Diana was indeed, Wolfboy’s niece.

I thought the ending was rushed that didn’t give me reconciliation. I was sighing and smiling for the most part of the book, but the ending left me scowling and a bit dissatisfied.

In spite of that, I still think this was an amazing head-trip; totally unlike anything I’ve ever read before. It’s a well-written book that will make you fall in love with the world and its characters. Definitely, recommendable!

Waiting on Wednesday #5

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine which showcases books that I'm just dying to read!

_________________________________________________

Expected publication: October 18th 2011 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Goodreads Summary

Ethan Wate thought he was getting used to the strange, impossible events happening in Gatlin, his small Southern town. But now that Ethan and Lena have returned home, strange and impossible have taken on new meanings. Swarms of locusts, record-breaking heat, and devastating storms ravage Gatlin as Ethan and Lena struggle to understand the impact of Lena's Claiming. Even Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals is affected - and their abilities begin to dangerously misfire. As time passes, one question becomes clear: What - or who - will need to be sacrificed to save Gatlin?

For Ethan, the chaos is a frightening but welcome distraction. He's being haunted in his dreams again, but this time it isn't by Lena - and whatever is haunting him is following him out of his dreams and into his everyday life. Even worse, Ethan is gradually losing pieces of himself - forgetting names, phone numbers, even memories. He doesn't know why, and most days he's too afraid to ask.

Sometimes there isn't just one answer or one choice. Sometimes there's no going back. And this time there won't be a happy ending.

_________________________________________

*chews nails* Oh man. The synopsis sounds so ominous, isn't it? I'm simultaneously scared and excited to read this third instalment to the Caster Chronicles series. I just want my boy Ethan to have a moment of peace. But I guess, if you live in mystical Gatlin, it's just too much to ask. 

Review: Nocturne by Syrie James

Publication Date:  January 4th, 2011

Vanguard Press

Format:  Hardcover, 224 pages

Goodreads Summary

When Nicole Whitcomb’s car runs off a Colorado mountain road during a blinding snowstorm, she is saved from death by a handsome, fascinating, and enigmatic stranger.

Snowbound with him for days in his beautiful home high in the Rockies, she finds herself powerfully attracted to him and soon comes to realize that the feeling is mutual. But there are things about him that mystify her, filling her with apprehension—and Nicole can’t shake the feeling that he doesn’t want her there.

Who is Michael Tyler? Why does he live alone in such a secluded spot and guard his private life so carefully? What secret—or secrets—is he hiding?

Nicole has secrets of her own and a past she is running from—but Michael understands her better than anyone she has ever known. Soon, she is falling as deeply in love with him as he is with her.

But as the sexual tension between them builds, the clues mount up. When Nicole learns the terrifying truth—that her host is an ages-old vampire who is torn between his love for her and his desire for her blood—there’s nowhere for her to run but into the blizzard raging outside, and he’s the only one who can save her life.

Filled with unexpected twists and surprises, Nocturne is a page-turning, haunting, and deeply romantic story of forbidden love that will grab your heart and not let go.

_______________________________________________

MY TAKE: 5/5 STARS



This book was sitting on the Teen Fiction shelves at my local bookstore. I picked it up because I was drawn to two words that were on blurb of the book: FORBIDDEN LOVE. What can I say? I’m a total sucker for this type of romances, no matter how much of a cheese-fest the book turned out to be.

Thankfully, Nocturne, didn’t turn out to be a big ball of cheese. In fact, this is probably one of my favorite romance reads of the year. I found out much later that this book didn’t belong in Teen Fiction section; I think it was placed there by mistake. First of all, the characters were adults; and second of all there were explicit sex…well, explicit by my standards.

After attending a friend’s wedding, Nicole drove through a snow storm en route to the airport. Unfortunately for her, the rental she was driving skidded off a mountain road that ended up buried in a ditch. She was saved by an enigmatic recluse, Michael Tyler, whose distaste for company was as obvious as his masculine beauty. Forced to suffer each other’s companionship, Nicole and Michael fought their attractions with one another, (futile though as it may be) and discovered each other’s past. They found love along the way but had to face the brutal fact that the two of them together was pretty much an impossible reality.

I rarely pick up adult fiction on my bookstore jaunts. I think it was by divine intervention that I found this book.

I absolutely loved it!

The snowstorm created a more eerie, mysterious backdrop to this sensual vampire tale. The characters were well drawn that captivated me from page one to the last. Their conversations were very intelligent and every scene screamed sexual tension. Michael’s inner struggles to fight off his true nature were as palpable as Nicole’s constant need to discover more about her very private host.

It’s got an amazing plot that didn’t drag nor was it told at a break-neck speed. Each layer of Michael’s identity was revealed in such a way that made me feel like rushing on to the next page.

Although this book didn’t end the way I would have liked it to end, I still don’t feel a single regret for gushing about this absolutely heartrending novel.

Syrie James’ writing is exquisite as is her talent for taking her readers to historic voyages. The lady knows a thing or two about history, that’s for sure. I’ve only read one of her works in the past, The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen, which, I’ve enjoyed very much. And after reading Nocturne, I think I’m going to check out her other works as well.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books that I Feel as Though Everyone has Read but Me.

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's Top Ten feature books that I think I'm missing out on. 

__________________________________________________

1. HARRY POTTER Series by J.K. Rowling I don't know why I haven't gotten around to reading this series. But every time I see it on the shelves, I cringe at the sheer thickness of the books. I know this is one of the most brilliant series ever written but I think I'm going to pass. (Don't hate me!) I haven't seen any of the movies either. Is that crazy or what? I think the BIBLIOPHILE community should throw me out for this reason alone!
2. SOUTHERN VAMPIRE (Sookie Stackhouse) Series by Charlaine Harris A friend of mine sent me the first five books of this series and have yet to read them. I know it's pretty popular especially to those who follow True Blood  but I can't get inspired to read it because of BILL COMPTON. I'm sorry, but the name Bill just seemed so banal to me especially if you're a vampire.  Oh well, to each to their own. 
3. OUTLANDER Series by Diana Gabaldon I picked up the first book a while back and managed to  read the first two pages before I gave up. Again, I'm going to say something foolish and admit that the miniscule text/printing of the books is the primary reason why I can't get into this. And the books are massive! So yeah, I gave up. 
4. THE LORD OF THE RINGS Trilogy by J.R.R Tolkien I've seen the movies. I loved them...but not enough to pick up the books. 
5. IMMORTALS AFTER DARK Series by Kresley Cole This paranormal series has been sitting on my Kindle forever. I have read some pretty good reviews about this so, looking forward to reading this in the not so distant future.
6. KATE DANIELS Series by Ilona Andrews There are eight books so far and I know some of my Twitter cohorts have been gushing about how awesome this series is. 
7. ALL of Nicholas Sparks' Works I'm a big fan of happily ever after and judging by the movies based on his works, his characters either die or they end up NOT being together. So yeah, I pass. 
8. MAXIMUM RIDE Series by James Patterson Someone told me that this book has some pretty heavy subliminal political messages...either that, or that person is just paranoid. Lol. I'm interested in this series and will probably give it a go sometime in the near future. 
9. LORDS OF THE UNDERWORLD Series by Gena Showalter This series screamed hot, bad to the bone men. Yep. My cup of tea!
10. CRESCENDO by Becca Fitzpatrick Yeah, so...I have this book. I just haven't grown a pair to read it. I will apparently hate Patch Cipriano in this so I'm postponing reading until SILENCE comes out in two weeks or so. 

Confessions of an Addict (5): The Bookshelves Tell the Tale.

Do you remember this? 

This was my bedroom floor - littered with TbR books.

Well now, it looks like this. Pretty good huh? And no, I didn't suddenly develop a pair of bionic eyes that I was able to read all those books that quick. I bet you're wondering what happened to them, huh?

Hard to believe this bookshelf is now filled to the hilt with TbR books. I am not even kidding!  I don't think I'll ever ran out of books to read. So what did I do to the ones I've already read, you ask? Well, brace yourself...

{dramatic drum roll}

TA-DA! Behold the power of a woman's persuasion!

After much whining and griping, Mr. B finally gave in...I got myself a library! :) Seriously, I love that man.

___________________________________________________________

CLUE #3

Still not sure? Head to my review of a book that features a girl, a highway and a flower for your final clue!

Review: The Forest of Adventures by Katie M. John

Publishing Date: December 1st, 2010
Little Bird Publishing House

Format: Trade paperback, 360 pages

Goodreads Summary

For seventeen year old Mina Singer, falling in love with an Arthurian Knight on a white horse was never part of the plan - especially being that she's an ordinary college girl living in the twenty first century.

As Mina finds herself catapulted into a land she believed only existed in the bedtime stories of her childhood, she soon discovers that Fairyland is not quite as innocent as she imagined. The question is...who will come out alive? Haunting, beautiful and sexy, The Forest of Adventures, is a dark romantic quest into the land of true and forbidden love. 

__________________________________________

MY TAKE: 3/5 STARS

The synopsis of the book didn’t do much to sell the originality of this story. At first glance, you’d think that the same old forbidden love and destiny would be the fare but there was so much more to this story. There were legends to be had and a world that bordered on ancient history and mysticism.

The first few pages of this book were written almost poetically but for some reason, the lyrical writing petered to a stop.

I’ve never been a fan of instantaneous love; and this book is heady with it. Although understandable, what with destiny and such, I couldn’t help but cringe when two characters proclaim their undying devotion in a tiny window of time. I just couldn’t stand it when Mina took one look in his eyes and readily saw how much HE loved her.

What’s up with that?

He kicked at the leaves under his feet and looked at me, sizing me up, working out the measure of his love for me. Oh my God, he loved me. - page 110

It just came out of nowhere. There was no slow built, no slow realization. Sure the physical attraction was there but I don’t know how she could’ve known instantly. Was it maybe written in his eyes? Was there a clue? If there was any, then I completely missed it. Maybe if Blake was a bit more taken with her the first time they met, then I could understand this unreasonable immediate adoration between them. It was explained later that Mina had been in Blake’s dreams and there was a written irrevocable prophecy about them.

There is a disorganization of events and character development in this book that hindered me from completely enjoying what would have been a brilliant story. At the end of it all, I couldn’t, no matter how hard I tried, feel anything for the characters. Often times, Mina’s character fell flat, as was Blake’s. It’s hard to continue reading when the cast themselves couldn’t interest me. But I pressed on.

Incidentally, I bought this book last June and just decided to read it today. I found out that Katie M. John signed my copy and wrote a personalized note thanking me for purchasing it. I thought it was the coolest, sweetest thing ever. So you can just imagine how awful I feel for writing this review. But I wanted to be honest and I tried my hardest to be fair.

It is what it is. 

Review: The "What If" Guy by Brooke Moss

Publication Date: August 2, 2011

Entangled Publishing

Format: E-Copy

Goodreads Summary

What would you do if your "what if" guy showed up at the lowest point of your life?

(Autumn Cole clocked hers with an encyclopedia.)

After losing her job at a swanky Seattle art gallery and finding out her father has been hospitalized, single mother Autumn Cole reluctantly returns to her tiny hometown of Fairfield, Washington, to put the pieces of her life back together.

Her disgruntled twelve-year old son isn't thrilled about going from hip to hick, but Autumn's got it worse. She resumes her role as the daughter of the town drunk, promptly facing a crisis with her father that's been decades in the making.

Running into Henry Tobler, and nearly breaking his nose, is almost more than she can handle, but can rediscovering love-and herself-with her "what if" guy teach Autumn to forgive before it's too late?

___________________________________________________

MY TAKE: 4/5 STARS

Most of us have them.

You know, the one person that got away; the one that from time to time would niggle his or her way into your somewhat peaceful existence.

Well, Autumn Cole has that person. But for her, the thirteen years and the miles apart didn’t seem to have made a difference. Because for her, Henry Tobler would always be the lit torch she would carry around with her forever. When news of her father’s accident and subsequent failing health reached her, she had no choice but to go back to Fairfield. After all, there was really nothing in Seattle that was holding her and her son back. She just lost her job and it just seemed like the next logical thing to do was to go back to her hometown. Boy was she surprised when she ran into Henry again…and in her former Alma Mater, no less.

The “What If” Guy is a heart-warming story about love, family and second chances. For Autumn, it was about making amends to the people who loved her – her father, to Holly, her best friend, and to Henry, the one she jilted because she had this misguided belief to “do the right thing”.

This book had me laughing for the most part and tearing up on some. The struggles that Autumn had to go through while growing up being the town drunk’s daughter were painfully sad. Actually, right from the get go, the Prologue had me misty-eyed. But I’ve always been a very emotional reader so maybe that was just all on me, though. This book was just heady with poignant and moving views of her life then and her struggles as she tried to make another life for her son and her sick father.

I can’t think of any other literary character as painfully clumsy as Autumn. And it was just one of those endearing traits that made me love her character more. She was strong and at times unsure of herself. It was in the way she continually second-guessed herself with raising Elliott, her son and her hot and cold relationship with Henry. All in all, you’ll laugh with her and at her; cry, and sometimes, she’ll make you so mad, you just want to shake her.

I think I fell in love with this tiny town of Fairfield. I even found the gossip-mongering neighbors charming. I love the fact that no matter what, nosy neighbors or not, the whole town raised Autumn when it was obvious that she was really alone even if her father was still there.

I just wished there was some sort of closure between her and her mother who abandoned them all those years ago. She showed up toward the end but they never really talked. I wanted to read some sort of confrontation that would give Autumn at least an explanation why she really left.

Also, I found Henry’s excuses for not calling her a bit weak. Come on man, there are phones in California! The fact of the matter is, I just don’t think he tried hard enough. And Autumn was so quick to forgive. I think I was still mad at Henry even after reading the Epilogue.

{Sigh}.

But hey, you know what? I still think this was an awesome read. Brooke Moss wrote with heart and created a cast of engaging characters. Her pride for the small town of Fairfield was obvious in the way she made fun of the tiny town. But if you look harder, you’ll find her love for it as well. This story moved fast that you'll probably devour this in one sitting. It just took me longer because it was an e-copy (I'm a slow reader when it comes to this format).

A copy was provided by the author and Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review. 

Review: Sixteenth Summer by Michelle Dalton

Paperback, 320 pages

Published May 3rd 2011 by Simon Pulse

Goodreads Summary
Anna is dreading another tourist-filled summer on Dune Island that follows the same routine: beach, ice cream, friends, repeat. That is, until she locks eyes with Will, the gorgeous and sweet guy visiting from New York. Soon, her summer is filled with flirtatious fun as Anna falls head over heels in love.

But with every perfect afternoon, sweet kiss, and walk on the beach, Anna can’t ignore that the days are quickly growing shorter, and Will has to leave at the end of August. Anna’s never felt anything like this before, but when forever isn’t even a possibility, one summer doesn’t feel worth the promise of her heart breaking….

_______________________________________

MY TAKE: 4/5 STARS

I’d planned on reading this book a week ago and never really picked it up until today. Once I started, time just simply melted away. Before I knew it, six hours had passed and I was sniffling like the onion-skinned pansy that I am.

Anna is heading into another summer of discontent. The budding romance between her two best friends didn’t help either. But then she met brooding Will, and all of a sudden, summer didn’t seem so bad after all.

I don’t really like reading books about summer romances for the simple reason that it never usually end in a happy ending. It feels like the stories were unfinished. I’m left with a whetted appetite for a continuation. Well, Sixteenth Summer is no different. I’m itching to read more.

But you know what? This book had so much going for it that I'm honestly surprised to have enjoyed this heartily (dangling-a-carrot-to-rabbit aside).

It had some genuine cast of characters that you couldn’t help but love. Anna and Will’s relationship was sweet and awkward at first but once they “got over themselves”, it was smooth sailing from there. I swear the smile on my face seldom left. Ahhh, young love.

I also fell in love with the setting. The quaint beach town’s beauty leapt off the pages with such clarity through the locals, tiny shops, and traditions Dune Island was known for.

This book was just full of sappy goodness; the kind that will put a saccharine smile on your face, the kind that will make you giggle like a schoolgirl and reminisce about the sweetness of young love. 

IMM #6

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren. I'm just along to share this week's episode of HOARDERS, Books Edition. 

__________________________________________________________

FOR REVIEW

The "What If" Guy by Brooke Moss

This was sent to me by the author for review. I'm about 85 pages in and enjoying it!

I also got another copy of Anna Dressed in Blood (hence, the giveaway) courtesy of a blog tour. TheJay2xA sent this book over to me. Bless his heart! 

WON

Signed swags and an ARC of Illegal by Bettina Restrepo. 

Okay so, technically I didn't really win this. TheJay2xA won these awesome loot over at The Class of 2K11 and he had it sent to my address. He's a hundred shades of awesomeness so it's probably a good idea for you guys to befriend him. Lol. 

And of course, the week wouldn't be complete without sharing a bit of my madness.

Remembrance by Michelle Madow

Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey

Damage by Anya Parrish

Isle of Night by Veronica Wolff

Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

Circle Nine by Anne Heltzel

Vanish by Sophie Jordan

The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle

Bloodborn by Karen Kincy

Away by Teri Hall

As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott

The Hidden by Jessica Verday

Frost by Marianna Baer

Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Hurst

A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan

Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison

Storm's Heart by Thea Harrison

Envy by J.R. Ward

The Sky Hears Me and the Hills Don't Mind by Kirstin Cronn-Mills

Exiled by M.R. Merrick

Hurricane by Jenna-Lynn Duncan

Bad Moon Rising by Sherrilyn Kenyon

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Skyship Academy by Nick James

Fateful by Claudia Gray

After Obsession by Carrie Jones

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

This Dark Endeavour by Kenneth Oppel

Shelter by Harlan Coben

Oy. I think this is my biggest haul yet. This past week was just pure insanity for book releases. 

I'm going to need another bookshelf.

What's in your mailbox?