The Book Breakup: reading

Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts

Wednesday, 24 February 2016

Demigods and Monsters Cover Reveal!

Review: The Soul Summoner by Elicia Hyder

Title: The Soul Summoner

Author: Elicia Hyder

Publisher: Forge Creek Press

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Mystery

Release Date: November 9, 2015

Blurb: Blessed–or cursed–with a connection to the souls of others, Sloan Jordan can see the best in people… and the worst. For twenty-seven years, she's kept her ability a secret, but eleven young women have been murdered in the mountains of North Carolina, and Sloan may be the only hope of finding their killer.

She has just agreed to help Detective Nathan McNamara with the case, when a stranger—who is as alluring as he is terrifying—shows up at her doorstep with a dark past and another puzzling mystery: she can't see his soul at all.

Now Sloan is on the hunt for a deadly psychopath with two irresistible men. One of them would die for her, and the other would kill to keep her safe.

REVIEW:

The Soul Summoner opens quickly and gives you a recap on the main character's, Sloan's, powers. While it's quick, it is necessary so that you have a bit of back story on her abilities, and the rest of the book isn't weighed down with lengthy explanation. Showing the history between Sloan and her BFF was also useful right off the bat, although in the first few chapters the timeline moves MUCH faster. Weeks pass, but that's usually the nature of serial killer mysteries.
However there was a lot less investigation in this book than it leads you to believe in the blurb. I expected there to be a lot more serial killer hunting and a bit less obsession over two guys that are fighting over her. Warren, the irresisstable stranger that arrives has a lot more attention than Det. McNamara as the blurb leads you to believe, and they mostly just flirt and discuss her strange ability to call to people's souls. While I don't mind romance in a novel, this was less mystery more...flirting on every page. It got tiring after a while, and I just wanted them to get back to the murders!
That said, it made up for it with an explosive and captivating ending. I always go easy on books when I feel the killer is obvious, since my brother tells me I have an unusual knack for figuring out who the killer is due to my "Hollywood Formula" (basically a joke between us about how there's always a similar formula for who the killer is), and while I knew who the killer was before the reveal, it was still a good twist.
Fans of the TV series Bones or Castle would really like this book I think! I look forward to the next one.

Friday, 19 February 2016

Feeling Nostalgic!

I've been feeling so nostalgic for books I've read in the past lately that I finally broke down and bought the box series of The Mortal Instruments with the new covers. I originally only read the first three, because I loved the ending so much I was afraid that the other books might somehow ruin it! But my friend read them and assures me that they don't ruin it, though they aren't quite as good as the first three.

And while I normally want original covers in my books, I'm kind of loving the new ones so much better!

Wednesday, 17 February 2016

Waiting on Wednesday (Feb17)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

In the concluding book in the otherworldly Taking trilogy, Kyra struggles to understand who she is as she races to save the world from complete destruction.

Ever since Kyra was abducted by aliens and then returned to earth, she has known there was something different about her. Now she knows the truth: she is an alien too. Her alien captors replaced all her human DNA with their own—gifting her with supernatural powers like incredible healing, enhanced eyesight, and telekinesis. But when she’s captured by an unexpected enemy, Kyra begins to wonder if her abilities are also a curse. And is she, as her enemies believe, meant to play some key role in helping an impending alien invasion? Is it programmed into her, something inescapable? Or can she fight that destiny?

No matter what the truth is, Kyra is sure of one thing: She just rescued the love of her life, Tyler, and she is not going to stand by and let anyone hurt him or her friends. Whatever it takes, Kyra will do everything in her power to save the world…even if it means making the ultimate sacrifice.

Monday, 1 February 2016

Review: Miss Mayhem by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Miss Mayhem

Author: Rachel Hawkins

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Genre:YA, Fantasy

Release Date: April 7, 2015

Blurb: Life is almost back to normal for Harper Price. The Ephors have been silent after their deadly attack at Cotillion months ago, and her best friend, Bee, has returned after a mysterious disappearance. Now Harper can focus on the important things in life: school, canoodling with David (her nemesis-turned-ward-slash-boyfie), and even competing in the Miss Pine Grove pageant.

Unfortunately, supernatural chores are never done. The Ephors have decided they’d rather train David than kill him. The catch: Harper has to come along for the ride, but she can’t stay David’s Paladin unless she undergoes an ancient trial that will either kill her . . . or make her more powerful than ever.

REVIEW:

While Miss Mayhem was not quite as fast-paced as the first book in the series, Rebel Belle, it was still an intriguing read. From the awesome fights and action scenes to the sudden breakups and hook-ups of the characters, it kept me interested. We come in after a large cliffhanger that reminded me how much I love to hate cliffhangers.
The one thing I found best in Miss Mayhem was Harper's relationship with her BFF Bee. In the first book you see it a bit, but it's not until this one that you really feel their friendship. They each express how they would rather become Paladin's than make the other do it, in a self-sacrifice kind of way.
I did find Harper was a little more whiny in this one though, and every other sentence seemed to be about how bad she felt. I get that she's going through a tough time, but I found the fact she was feeling guilty and sad was getting shoved down my throat, especially near the end.

Overall a good follow up to Rebel Belle!

Monday, 25 January 2016

Review: The Taking by Kimberly Derting

Title: The Taking

Author: Kimberly Derting

Publisher: HarperTeen

Genre:YA, Scifi

Release Date: April 29th, 2015

Blurb: A flash of white light . . . and then . . . nothing.

When sixteen-year-old Kyra Agnew wakes up behind a Dumpster at the Gas ’n’ Sip, she has no memory of how she got there. With a terrible headache and a major case of déjà vu, she heads home only to discover that five years have passed . . . yet she hasn’t aged a day.

Everything else about Kyra’s old life is different. Her parents are divorced, her boyfriend, Austin, is in college and dating her best friend, and her dad has changed from an uptight neat-freak to a drunken conspiracy theorist who blames her five-year disappearance on little green men. Confused and lost, Kyra isn’t sure how to move forward unless she uncovers the truth. With Austin gone, she turns to Tyler, Austin’s annoying kid brother, who is now seventeen and who she has a sudden undeniable attraction to. As Tyler and Kyra retrace her steps from the fateful night of her disappearance, they discover strange phenomena that no one can explain, and they begin to wonder if Kyra’s father is not as crazy as he seems. There are others like her who have been taken . . . and returned. Kyra races to find an explanation and reclaim the life she once had, but what if the life she wants back is not her own??

REVIEW:

When I first picked this book up I had thought it was going to be about faery's (since the cover has a bunch of little bugs on it!), but was pleasantly surprised by the back cover to learn it was more about alien abductions. Who doesn't love a good alien abduction story?
Kimberly Derting is by far one of my favourite authors, and this book was no let down! Derting grasps the voice of a teenage girl perfectly, blending normal issues like dating and school in with the preternatural problems the characters face.
I found the reactions of everyone in Kyra's life to be odd after her return; granted everyone must react oddly to something like that. A person disappears for five years and returns with no memory there's bound to be some oddness. Her mother was a little cold, as were her friends (her friends didn't even really make much of an appearance at all, actually).
There was something missing, however, I'm just not sure what it is. Maybe it was because the book leaves off with such a major cliffhanger I'm feeling this way...which obviously means I just need the next one, right? No matter what, I can't wait to find out what happens!

Tuesday, 3 November 2015

NBtM Tour: Savage Magic by Judy Teel

Today I'm honoured to introduce you to Judy Teel, author of Savage Magic (Shifty Magic, #3). She has a guest post for us on the lessons she learned from the bad guy, as well as an excerpt. Judy will be awarding $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Enter to win a $20 Amazon/BN GC - a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lessons I Learned From a Bad Guy

Lord Bellmonte, or as Addison disrespectfully calls him, Bellmonte, is not someone you’d invite home to meet the family. Not just because he’s a vampire. Above and beyond that hazardous fact, Bellmonte is someone you really don’t want noticing you. He’s that dangerous.

He’s also been the big surprise as I’ve created the Shifty Magic series.

I originally cast Bellmonte as the quintessential bad guy—pushy, unpleasant and threatening, more the gangster or mob boss type than a brilliant puppet master kind of guy. Until he turned out to have his own ideas about how things should go, which is typical of him.

As I wrote Shifty Magic (Book 1) and worked with this intriguing character, his unexpected and sophisticated snark emerged and evolved into the perfect foil for Addison’s take-no-prisoners style. I was thrilled. I began to look forward to scenes with her and Bellmonte, even while struggling to keep him under control. No star likes a secondary character upstaging her, even in novels. (Which is why I had to temporarily bench him for Savage Magic, Book 3.)

And then a strange thing happened.

Despite all his manipulative and plotting ways, I began to admire this ruthless, ambitious vampire exec. I was shocked. Bellmonte’s the kind of guy who’d snap your neck as soon as look at you, or order everyone you care about slaughtered if it suited his bigger picture. How could I like someone like that?

But as I wrote Undercover Magic (Book 2), something unexpected happened. His character deepened, becoming more layered, and I realized that maybe some of his attitude wasn’t completely without merit. Even if the direction he prefers isn’t the one I’d choose for myself (or anyone I know).

Maybe, there were things we could all learn from the self-serving, charming Lord Bellmonte.

10 Rules to Live By (According to Lord Bellmonte)

Never tolerate having a delicious meal interrupted.

Always look your best, you never know who might show up at your door.

Never do anything for only one reason.

Always have two backup plans, three if you’re less than 100 years old.

If you’re obsessively intrigued by a difficult person, keep it to yourself.

Never pass up the opportunity to give a Were a hard time.

Being fabulously rich is delightful. Never let anyone tell you any differently.

Where your age is concerned, always keep them guessing.

Keep your enemies close, and your relatives closer. The latter is more likely to stab you in the back.

Above all, always keep your sense of humor. It will irritate your enemies in the most delicious manner.

Judy will be awarding $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. I would like to Encourage you to follow the tour and comment because the more you comment the better your chances of winning! The tour dates can be found at the bottom of this post.
Enter to win a $20 Amazon/BN GC - a Rafflecopter giveaway

Title: Savage Magic
Author: Judy Teel

Blurb: A deadly disease from an unknown origin…
Addison Kittner and ex-FBI agent Cooper Daine arrive at Bone Clan expecting a warm welcome. Instead they’re imprisoned and placed under quarantine, where they discover that the werewolf mountain Clans are being decimated by a deadly plague which can’t be cured.
An old obligation that changes everything… With only a few days to live, Cooper’s brother, Alpha of Bone Clan, asks Cooper to fulfill his promise, one that’s crucial to their Clan’s survival. But if he does, Cooper risks loosing Addison. Forever.
An ancient creature bred for genocide… Determined to stop the plague and cure Cooper’s brother, Addison defies Clan law and sneaks away to an ancient ruin which might hold the key. There she discovers an unexpected link to her past and inadvertently calls forth an immortal monster that will destroy the paranormal races protecting humanity if it can’t be stopped. But as Cooper and Addison battle to stop the annihilation of the Clans and the forces trying to tear their bond apart, something even more powerful and deadly gathers just out of sight… And prepares to strike.

Read the first two in the series:

Excerpt

The scent of blood got stronger, pulling my thoughts back and making my heart pound a little harder against my chest. Slipping a knife from the sheath inside my right boot, I watched the flutter of shadows on the path below where it turned and disappeared behind a thick wall of laurels. Slow breath in…Silent breath out…

Deeper shadows emerged and took shape — a man and a woman, both dressed for living outdoors and blending in. And there was Cooper, complacently allowing them to roughly pull him along between them, his nose and a cut on his cheek seeping blood. Weird. Cooper was built like an early twenty-first century Olympic gymnast and I’d seen him take out opponents in less than ten seconds without a single blow landing on him. How had they managed to subdue him?

I watched them come closer and pass below me. The woman on one side of Cooper was medium height with light skin and dark red hair that she’d pulled back into a short ponytail with a strip of leather. The man on the other side was tall and muscular with tanned skin, his bright red hair in a military cut.

I adjusted the soles of my logger boots against the branch under me to give myself a more solid launch, judged the distance — and jumped.

About the Author

Judy Teel was born in Virginia and moved to North Carolina just before middle school. She's a fiction author and novelist writing in the dystopian urban fantasy genre. Her stories deliver mystery with some thriller elements, a kick-butt heroine with a large dash of snark in her, a bit more than a touch of romance with a guy that makes readers' hearts beat a little faster, and a wild ride full of action and emotion from start to finish.

Shifty Magic is permanently free on all platforms and Undercover Magic is free as a thank you gift for anyone who signs up on my readers list: http://judyteel.com/my-free-book/

Website: http://www.judyteel.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JudyTeelBooks

Twitter: @JudyTeelBooks / https://twitter.com/JudyTeelBooks

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5023501.Judy_Teel

Amazon Author’s Page: http://goo.gl/a7oKub

Tumblr: http://judyteel.tumblr.com

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/judyteelbooks/

Links to books

AMAZON:

Shifty Magic (Book 1): http://amzn.com/B00CXQ7EOE

Undercover Magic (Book 2): http://amzn.com/B00H7M48KM

Savage Magic (Book 3): http://www.amazon.com/Savage-Magic-Shifty-Book-ebook/dp/B00Z3NTSFC/