Thursday, January 31, 2013

Clayton Falls Book Tour! Review and Giveaway!




Derailed
(Clayton Falls)
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy

ISBN:
1479209139 (ISBN13: 9781479209132)
Release Date: 
September 23rd 2012
Genre:
New Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Series:
Clayton Falls #1









Summary
When you're lost, sometimes the only place you can go is home.

Broken over the death of her fiancé, Molly leaves law school to return to her childhood home in North Carolina. Expecting to lay low until she can figure out what else to do with her life, she finds herself in the arms of her high school sweetheart, the boy who represents everything from the past she tried to leave behind.

Looking for an escape, she instead finds a way back to the girl she almost forgot existed and a future she never dreamed possible.


Review

I quite enjoyed this book, it had its moments where I thought it wouldn’t go anywhere but I kept reading and I did like how the plot was. This story makes me think this is like something that could happen in real life. That’s how contemporary this book was as I read it.
The plot of this story centers on a girl named Molly who just returned to the place where she grew up. She’s someone whose trying escape a tragedy that had happen in Boston. Returning back to her hometown though has its own bad memories but she could deal with those more then she could in the city. There she runs into her ex high school boy friend Ben.  It’s a great plot but a little to predictable in some cases, though in other cases it surprises you. The ending was sweet and it couldn’t have ended any better then that.

Molly is the main character of this story. She is not your average strong heroine type in most books out there. She has to many loses that are close to her, which made her depress and want to run away from it all. She ran away once from the small town she tried to leave and she ran away a second time in Boston where she thought she could make a life for herself. I am proud of her by the end of the book where Ben helps her realize that nothing was her fault. I also like that she decides to stay with Ben this time.

Ben is a really sweet guy who still has strong feelings for Molly even after five long years. What surprises me most about him was his jealousy. I do find jealousy in guys attractive but he just went a bit overboard with driving away. At least he came back when he was calm to talk things over with Molly. He loves taking care of Molly and he would do anything to make her happy. Ben also helps Molly realize that she wasn’t the cause for the deaths in her life.
This romance thing is all over the place, first it’s basically friends with benefits, then it’s friends with benefits exclusive meaning they only see each other no one else. We all know how they will end up but it takes so long for Molly to give in it’s frustrating at times. Though it does get better by the ending and it’s really sweet and adorable how they end up together.

Rating
3 out of 5 Howling Wolves





Veer

(Clayton Falls #2)

Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy

ISBN:
1481019716 (ISBN13: 9781481019712)
Release Date: 
November 29th 2012

Genre:
New Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Series:
Clayton Falls #2  


 
 



 






 Summary
Only when you let go can you learn to live.

Between the death of her mother and pushing through law school without her best friend, it's been a tough year for Becca. Needing a break from Boston, she moves to a tiny coastal North Carolina town for a relaxing summer. After bumping heads repeatedly with a local cop, she realizes her summer will be anything but quiet.

Three years after a career ending injury ruins his chance to play Major League Baseball, Gavin has a distrust of northerners and lately girls in general. He wants nothing to do with a girl who is only in town for the summer.

When the two give in to their impossible attraction, they realize that they may just have found the key to freeing themselves from the ghosts of their pasts.

Review (edit version coming soon)
I love the second book to the Clayton Falls series. For being something none paranormal(which is something I usually read) it’s one of my favorites.

Veer takes place in Clayton falls with our main character Becca who is friends with Molly(the main character of the first book in the series). This book feels to much like the last book, only a few differences with the backgrounds of the girls. I couple of different twists, as well as moments you wish you could strangle the characters with how they act towards one another. The twists in this story will shock you, and they aren’t predictable twists either, which I really do love.

Gavin is such a jerk at first, from their first meeting to practically half way through the book he was a jerk to Becca. It’s a miracle how she could even like him a little bit. Though suddenly after realizing that Becca was a virgin and he said such awful words to her  and made a mistake he does everything to try and get her back. He learned how much he couldn’t get her out of his mind and made it up to her in a big way. I so would have punched him for doing that to me or to a friend. He’s lucky that he’s doing all he can to make it up to Becca or else I would have totally hated his character.

You know what I don’t care what anyone says I hate Gavin’s mother. How could she be talking about her and Gavin having babies after only dating Gavin for like two months. That really made me mad and I don’t blame Becca for wanting to run away. Though her methods were a bit…extreme, at least she sucked it up in the end and apologies and somehow got back together with Gavin. She still does have a lot of insecurity’s she needs to fix because her being insecure was annoying at times. I guess her and Gavin both have their faults.

Romance was a bit fast but it’s alright, they did have a lot of bumps on the road. Not to mention that Becca also notice how fast it was going and started to freak out. Besides that it was sweet seeing these two characters together, I loved how Gavin acted like a great gentlemen and did everything old fashion like.
Rating
4 out
of 5 Howling Wolves



Author

Alyssa Rose Ivy is a Young Adult and New Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.

--Author Website: http://www.alyssaroseivy.com/

Purchase Books at:
Barnes & Noble
a Rafflecopter giveaway


 

Seeds of War by Rachel E. Fisher Review



Seeds of War
(Eden's Root Trilogy #2)
Author: Rachel E. Fisher

ASIN:
B008K7YDCG
Release Date: 
July 16th 2012
Genre:
Dystopian,
Young Adult,
Science Fiction, Romance
Series:
Eden's Root Trilogy #2
 
 



 
 
 
 
Summary
Seeds of War is the second book in the Eden's root trilogy.

The mission of Eden must be fulfilled and Eden’s best Seekers are needed. Forming a new group they dub the Seeders, Fi, Asher, and Sean are joined by a new addition as they set out to bring hope and support to the Topsiders in the form of radios and heirloom seeds. Their experiences Topside prepare them for the threat from marauding gangs they call Lobos, but it is a different, less obvious sort of threat that takes them by surprise. As radio broadcasts begin to reconnect Eden and the Topsiders, the Seeders stumble upon mysterious broadcasts from unknown stations. When two of their own new radio stations go silent within days of each other, Fi and her companions realize that something is terribly wrong. Eden finds itself pitted against a growing and unknown force as their very mission lights the flames of war.

Review
Got to say I really did love Seeds of war. This dystopian book didn’t disappoint, I was always left guessing with what’s going to happen next. When I thought I knew what was coming it turned out a surprise when I was wrong.

The setting for this book to place mostly in either eden or outside where our main characters travel too. It surprises me by how much backpacking they do with the distances they travel. They go so far to stay away for weeks and weeks for their job, sleeping outside under the stars. They love their job and look forward to doing it, you have to be fit to pull off that long of a trip. Though I can understand why they like it, being coupped up inside a place inside a mountain for long periods of time would feel quite boring.

The plot was fine, It was interesting to see how Fi new life inside Eden turned out inside of Eden.(all during the first book Fi and her family was trying to get to Eden to be safe, from the world outside) Not to mention we get to learn more about the reasons why the famine happen. (yes they do explain it) Fi was pissed at the reason for the famine, I would have been pissed too and probably want to kill the guy but Fi after having time to herself realized that the scientist who did this, never wanted to cause the Famine but it did, so the one person who was apart of that group, told Fi and she forgave him and told him to tell his story. Oh! we also see a new group of bad guys. The bad guys are called Truthers, Well not really bad guys and of course they don’t see themselves as bad guys. I’m sorry but if you burn down crops and electronics’ that people need to contact one another you are bad guys in my eyes. They believe that everything eden is trying to do(which is helping people) is evil.

Fi is our main character who in the last book found Eden. She stayed relatively the same person, only time she changed is near the ending of the book but that’s logical because of what new development she found out about. She now works for them going on seeking missions. Seeking is something where they go out into the world and gather materials from abandon stores or abandon houses. Because her group (Asher, Sean and Sean’s girlfriend Sara) has been doing so well the higher ups wants to do something for the families who are living outside in the world. This is where Fi gets back her role as being a leader of a group. She does a great job at being a leader, she knows how to lead and this is the role that makes her shine as a person. Though good drama does happen in this book from the wedding between her an Asher, which was really cute and sweet. To something I couldn’t believe Fi and Asher wouldn’t make sure not to happen. I won’t say what but I find it stupid that when she finds out about this thing she doesn’t go home right away. Hearing how Fi could agree with what the preacher man was saying (he has a name but this fits him more). She knows that Eden is doing it’s best with helping people so I can’t see how she could believe this percher man lies. Then suddenly she see’s him a devil for his words. I don’t get her and her switching sides all the time. It makes me doubt her abilty to be someone people can trust.

Asher is a great guy and a great boyfriend/finance/husband. He is a good trainer of the seekers, training them how to protect themselves and fight. Which I find pretty cool, anyone who can fight and use a sword is hot in my eyes. He is actually the one to plan the whole wedding between him and Fi, I thought usually a girl is the one ot plan the wedding but he did it himself and surprised Fi. It was cute and it made me wish how I could get a sweet guy like him. It’s really surprising when he suddenly becomes jealous over Fi. He wasn’t jealous at all in the first book when Sean has crushing on her. No he became jealous he and Fi gotten married. It’s so silly and I laughed to myself at how silly he had acted towards guys Fi was talking too.

Sean is Fi’s friend and fellow Seeker/Seeder, at first he seemed to be the same as how he acted in the first book but then he totally changed to protect the one he loves. Whether it’s a good change or a bad change we’ll just have to wait and see. He is still all about gadgets still and gets mad when the Truthers destroy a farm that had a lot of computers.

Sara has a complete personality change from the ending of the first book to the starting of this book. Only because she now because with Fi in charge of the seeking (which before was only left for the men) she may have a chance to become who she wants to be. Which is a very strong character. Her reason for this doesn’t make sense to me still but maybe it’s because I’m not all that connected to her but she does the job right. She picks up on skills fast and I enjoy how she can kick ass when the time needs her to be a kick ass type of person. I can’t wait to see what more she brings onto the table in the next book.
Rating
4 out of 5 Howling Wolves


Sever by Lauren DeStefano


Sever(arc)
Author: Lauren DeStefano
ISBN:
1442409096 (ISBN13: 9781442409095)
Release Date: 
February 12th 2013
Pages:
384
Genre:
Dystopian,
Young Adult,
Science Fiction
Series:
The Chemical Garden #3
 
 



 



 
 
 
Summary
Time is running out for Rhine in this conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Chemical Garden Trilogy.


With the clock ticking until the virus takes its toll, Rhine is desperate for answers. After enduring Vaughn’s worst, Rhine finds an unlikely ally in his brother, an eccentric inventor named Reed. She takes refuge in his dilapidated house, though the people she left behind refuse to stay in the past. While Gabriel haunts Rhine’s memories, Cecily is determined to be at Rhine’s side, even if Linden’s feelings are still caught between them.

Meanwhile, Rowan’s growing involvement in an underground resistance compels Rhine to reach him before he does something that cannot be undone. But what she discovers along the way has alarming implications for her future—and about the past her parents never had the chance to explain.

In this breathtaking conclusion to Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden trilogy, everything Rhine knows to be true will be irrevocably shattered.

Review
The author is a great writer, don’t get me wrong, it’s the reason why I first began to read this book. I was just so surprise by how much I began to loath this series as I read each book. She knows how to tell her story and how to get points across. All of this though didn’t keep me from hating the book to death(wanting to shoot it to death, resurrect it and then drown it in a lake). The first book was great I was happy with it and gave it good rating, but then the second book came out and I began to loath what happens next and then the third book came and I dispise this series. I hate how Raine loves to keep secrets that are important to her brother or to people she once called husband and sister wife, who are now her friends. I hate how dumb her brother can be and not see how much pain Raine is in. I hate how Raine makes bad choices and gives into Mr. Ashbe and not kill him in the first book. I hate how Gabriel doesn’t make appearance and only is mention through out the book and finally makes an appearance close to the ending (like the author forgot about him and didn’t know how he fit into the story, though he was important Reine in book one and two.)Sorry that’s an offle lot of hate, but that was all I ever felt in this series. Everything and I mean everything was a let down and I was just to depress while reading the book to think if this was a great book or not.

I don’t see any improvement in the character Raine, she doesn’t grow and still acts like her normal secret hiding self. I will give her credit she is smart in knowing what to do and planning on how to escape different situations. Though she has a nack for keeping being captured once more and stay captured… Oh and her love for keeping important things (THAT OTHERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT) a secret. She likes putting herself in danger in every chapter, she doesn’t run away when she should, she doesn’t confide in her brother who she finally found.

The lead up to Rhine’s brother Rowan was a great failure. I got my hopes raised on high for someone to save Rhine and keep her safe, only to once again feel a big disappointed in this series. Rowan is nothing but a all to trusting teenage boy, who enjoys experiments being done on him and blowing things up. I thought twins who spent all their lives together would know when something is wrong with the other but nope he’s clueless and stupid. We were told from the beginning how brave and non-trusting Rowan is, he also doesn’t trusts the hospitals or their experience, so I figure oh that’s why he is bombing the places but that’s not it at all. Surprisingly he got over his trusting issues because of Dr.Ashbe who came out of no where and told him how Rhine is dead. In that kind of world, I’m sorry BUT I WON’T BELIEVE ANYONE OR TRUST ANYONE. Rowan we were told was a complete lie and I still can’t get over his sudden change in personality from Rhine’s description and memories of him.

Dr.Ashbe I laughed my head off at his stupid ending, that’s really all you need to know. Hate the guy and how he tried to seem like the good guy but was really a crazy fool and I’m glad for his stupid ending.

Gabriel is not seen anywhere in this book till the end when we finally find out why. Depressing really on the reasons for his not showing up….just makes me think the author needed a reason to not use his character. So she butchurd him and stuck him in the hands of Dr. Ashbe…WOOPIE! I DIDN’T SEE THAT COMING NOT AT ALL.

Linden…HAHHAHAHAHA…no seriously I felt nothing for him when a tragic accident happen, it wasn’t explained and so I never cared. He was a great character and even though at first he was in the dark about things when he finally found out the truth about his father he became a great guy. He looked after Cecily his youngest wife and even though he knew Rhine didn’t love him, he still loved her and wanted to help her.

Rating
2 out of 5 Howling Wolves

Fate Succumbs by Tammy Blackwell Review



Fate Succumbs
(Timber Wolves Falls #3)
Author: Tammy Blackwell
AISN
:
B0098JRPS4
Release Date: 
 
September 9th 2012
Genre: Paranormal,
Young Adult,
Romance
Series:
Timber Wolves Trilogy #3
 
 





 
 
Summary
Having narrowly escaped an unjust death sentence, Scout Donovan is on the run. But the more she discovers about the Alpha Pack and herself, the more she realizes she can’t run forever. Destiny is propelling her towards an unavoidable battle. Can Scout survive, or will she finally succumb to fate?

Review
Not a perfect ending to a series but great none the less. I knew from the ending of the second book something was going to happen between Liam and Scout and I love how right I was. I did love Scout and Liam interaction towards one another.  Though with little romance written and mostly a lot of fillers when the two were alone I was a bit disappointed.  Not to mention a spontaneous mating happening that I don’t understand the how, the when and the why. The author never really wrote or explained how they were magically bonded and so it will leave me dumbfounded till the end of time.

The plot to Fate Succumbs(third and final book of the series) was great, I loved every moment of it. From the cross country trip, to the placed Liam and Scout stayed in the middle of no where, to finally challenging the alpha female for position over the entire world of shifters and seers. I did love the cabin scenes I found it took up to much of the book especially since the author only briefly went over what they were doing, training, more training, hunting. (they spent a couple of months in that cabin) I was expecting a bit more romance but again the romance was only a little highlighted and pushed to the side though they somehow fell for each other. Again I say WHEN, HOW AND WHY DID THIS MATING HAPPEN. Actually I could see this book expanded into two more books because everything that happen, happen way to fast, from Scout and Liam falling for each other, to the training and especially the epic battle at the end. I did like this book enough to laugh a few times and cry (once) it just didn’t feel enough to me. Because of how Liam and Scout were moving around a lot it took place in a couple of different area's of North America. From parts of Kentucky all the way up to Canada, they just loved to travel(not really they were on the run).

Scout is a great character, I found she grew up more as the book came to the end. She still cared about the way she looked (pale skin, ice blue eyes, almost white hair) but knew that it’s apart of her. She learned more about the shifter side her. She also found that she was finally able to let go of Alex(her first love, because she fell for his brother….amazingly I do love their pairing no matter how obscure it is). She fell for his brother Liam which I never would have thought of as a good choice because he can’t trust her! But to her you can’t help who you love, even if it’s with the brother of the boy she loved but died. I did love how she ran to save Liam from wolves, even when she didn’t know if she could transform into her wolf form she still wanted to do what she could to save Liam. It’s because of that that she was able to transform proving to herself she can do anything she puts her mind too it.

Liam loves to keep things to himself, he hates opening up to Scout and practically stays the same throughout the book. He loves her yet he can’t tell her the truth about his plans nor tell her his true feelings. To me I find his whole personality hot not to mention he’s dominate meaning he doesn’t back down to anyone, I love that about him. He’s quite most of the time and would only sometimes talk to scout but he did talk a bit more while they were alone in the middle of no where. He acted quite cute in a couple of scenes I just wish there was more interaction between him and Scout romantically.

Alright I can understand how even when we read this book the romance seemed a bit fast. But the time Liam and Scout spent alone together in the cabin in the middle of nowhere for a couple of months. I can see how their attraction to one another grew, to maybe more then just attraction. Maybe it’s just me but only once did the author out right say they kissed I had to reread paragraphs more the once to know that they actually kiss….which is disappointing cause again it made me feel like the author was skipping through the book or that she didn’t know how to actually write their love scenes or make it appropriate for YA. I don’t see how because she did just fine in writing scenes between Scout and Alex.

Rating
3.5 out o
f 5 Howling Wolves

.5

Sunday, January 27, 2013

The Undesirable Release Day Blitz

YANR_BlogTour_Undesirable_RDB
Today is the release day of the new book The Undesirable by S. Celi!




Title:
The Undesirable
Author: Sara Celi
Publisher: Lowe Interactive Media
Pages: 225
Release date: January 28th 2013






Summary
*This book is Mature YA/ New Adult. It is recommended for readers 14 and over.

What if everything you knew turned out to be a lie?

Charlotte Walker knows how to live under the rule of The Party. She has managed for 18 years. She helps out her drunken mother and keeps life going at a familiar, steady pace. She doesn’t ask questions, even though she has many of them in her heart.

Fostino Sanchez knows how to live under the rule of The Party, too. For 19 years, he’s worked to be the perfect Party member. He knows what must be done to keep Maxwell Cooper in power, and how find the The Undesirables that threaten to take away everything that matters.

As the months go by, what matters most to Fostino is Charlotte Walker.

While their love blooms, danger comes to Charlotte and Fostino’s small hometown of Harrison Corners, OH. Threats they never knew existed could take away all that they care about. And just when these two teens think they know what will come next, Charlotte learns the truth about a secret she has long suspected.

What Charlotte finds out changes everything.

EVERYTHING.

THE UNDESIRABLE is Charlotte Walker’s story, from her point of view. It is a thrilling, suspenseful tale of love, curiosity, adversity, and maturity against the backdrop of a futuristic war.

Should Charlotte trust Fostino with what she knows? Can she trust anyone? Will she find it in herself to rise up against terrible odds? What if the ultimate Undesirable is her?




Excerpt
CHAPTER ONE

Fostino’s frown mixes with his tightened jaw. “Are you serious about this, Charlotte? Really serious? I just — I can’t believe you’re breaking up with me.” His eyebrows pull tighter than any seam I have ever sewn.“God. I’m so stupid.” His mouth sets in a hard line. My heartbeat jumps to my ears. I bite down hard on the inside of my bottom lip.

Oh, God. Did I make the right choice? Will he understand? Will he always hate me?


My breath quickens as the air constricts all around the two of us. I almost taste the awkwardness in the air. I pray my pain doesn’t show on my face.

How do people manage to stay friends after something like this?

I can’t. No, I won’t. Not this time.

I stand in this apartment and know that I failed to make this breakup painless.My words cover this small dusty room. All the muscles in my back tighten and twist from the stress. We will never be just friends — ever.

He gets up from the couch and pulls on his worn, muddy combat boots. He seems wounded, broken, and defeated. He radiates pain. He picks up my keys to the apartment from the coffee table. Awkward. My mind flickers to the beginning. I remember the moment in the town square when The Party transformed our lives. I want to go back and change everything since then.

“I wanted to take care of you and shield you from—” He stops and gestures to the windows and the crumbling world outside this room. His soulful brown eyes glint with anger. “Everything.” Now he exhales. “I guess I’m not surprised. Not after all that happened.”His shoulders slump.

Sweat beads on the back of my neck. I swallow some of my uneasiness. My plan just might work. I taste the hollow victory in the back of my throat.

Good.

“I—I’m sorry.” I have nothing else to say, no words to make this better. In minutes, I’ll leave the apartment and flee my life because I have no other choice.

“I’ll never understand you. Or this.” Fostino shakes his head of dark waves. He fixates on the bare wall behind me.

His words hurt, but Fostino can’t know how much he affects me. I push away the urge to reach out and hold him tighter than I ever hugged anyone. Instead, I shudder a little in my shapeless black dress — the one the government issued me last month. I hate this. I am not a cold person. I don’t hurt people on purpose.

“Fostino, I—“

In a few steps, I reach his side. My shaky hand reaches out and the keys link our hands together. I smell him through all the dust in this studio apartment with the Murphy bed in the corner. I inhale just remember how he smells. I’m so afraid I will forget it. Each second ticks by worse than the last. This conversation is hard, so very hard. I bite down on the inside of my cheek to stop myself from saying something I can’t back up. If only I could tell him the truth, share my terrible secret, and find a way out of my bleak future.

If only.
“Did you ever mean anything you said? I mean, even for one second. Did you ever even like me?” He balls his hand into a fist once I raise my arm to stop him. He keeps talking anyway. “I told you I loved you right here in this room, even though you didn’t say it back. I meant it.”

My stomach twists and heart pounds while I keep up the lies. “Well — I did like you.” I emphasize my next words as my toes curl in my sandals. “I thought I loved you once. I wanted to say it, but—”

“But, I’ll always love you. I will.”

He mutters something else I can’t understand, and his words undo me. I give in and kiss him. His lips are a gentle push against mine, and the kiss is so good it hurts. His lips taste like a nectar I want to savor forever. But I can’t. This moment must stay cold and Fostino needs to know this is goodbye for good. Before the kiss intensifies, I pull away and remember my task. The black Humvee full of people waits around the corner. We all must leave soon. They gave me fifteen minutes to make sure this break-up is a clean one. Time is up.

Now.

His eyes lock mine. “Why won’t you tell me what’s really going on?”

Oh no. He can’t know the truth.

Hurt him
.

They told me I must end it.Loving me will destroy him. It will destroy everything.

My teeth bite my lip hard on the inside as I search for the words. “It’s — well — we just…we aren’t right for each other. I don’t want you to come after me. We need to end this. This relationship—”

“Whatever. It’s fine. You shouldn’t make stuff up.”Fostino sounds very weary and haggard with each sentence.

I take my keys and slide them into the black wool satchel on my left shoulder. Then I take the deception a step further. “I won’t ever love you, Fostino Ahmed.” The words taste like rusted metal. “I just won’t.”

My hands open the door with purpose. A few steps will take me through an ancient hallway that links this apartment with sixteen others. I push myself through the doorframe and pull the door shut behind me. Then I take the first steps of what I know will be a lifetime of solitary strides. With each step, I sever this connection.

Once outside, I round the corner and slide into the alleyway as the armored vehicle hums a signal. The Humvee’s fat tires set off its flat black paint, tinted windows, silver chrome handles, and a large armored grill on the front and the back. This car is a fortress, made for combat and intimidation. All the cars the government owns mirror this one. I slip inside and sink into black leather.

Soon, we will all leave Harrison Corners, Ohio. This small band of rebels will take me some place. And I don’t care where. I just want to disappear, and need to more than ever. After I close the Humvee door, Thompson speaks first.

“Did he believe you?” Thompson throws the vehicle into gear and drives it down the alley. He gets irritated when I don’t answer right away and runs a thick hand through his long dreadlocks. “Well?”


Author’s Links
Purchase on Amazon
The Undesirable's Facebook page

Sara Celi Facebook fan page

Goodreads


Add The Undesirable to your Goodreads list
Sara Celi Pinterest

Sara Celi Twitter: @saragceli
The Undesirable Twitter: @undesirablebook


Author
6578895
 

New Orleans born Sara Celi has lived all over the United States. She calls the Greater Cincinnati area and the Queen City home. She's currently a TV reporter and anchor in Oklahoma City, and has spent more than a decade working in journalism. She graduated cum laude from Western Kentucky University in 2004. Celi is also a contributing author to Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Power of Positive. The Undesirable is her debut novel. In her spare time, she likes to read, shop, write, travel, run long distances, volunteer with the Junior League, and fundraise for Cooperative for Education, a non-profit providing educational opportunities for Guatemalan kids.  

Friday, January 25, 2013

Reckoning Book Tour Promo

Reckoning
(A Dark Prophecy Novel)
Author: Molly M. Hall
AISN
:
B0095JKKFCISBN: 978-1479342112
Release Date: 
October 2nd 2012
Genre: Paranormal,
Young Adult
Series:
Dark Prophecy #1
 
 
 
 
 
Summary
"They say the truth can set you free. I found out it can kill you."

Seventeen-year-old Kat Matheson has never revealed the dark secret that sets her apart from everyone else: She can see and hear the dead. Until now, she has been able to ignore the strange apparitions and whispering voices. But it may not be that simple anymore. Haunted by eerie visions and increasingly frightening nightmares, Kat begins to fear she may be the target of a dark and ominous force from beyond the grave. Complicating matters is the arrival of her new neighbor, a young man she instinctively distrusts but is inexplicably drawn to. Gorgeous and mysterious, he seems to hold a disturbing knowledge of her long-held secrets.

As she desperately tries to maintain control, events take an unexpected and violent turn. Discovering that nothing is what it seems and that her psychic abilities may involve far more than just communing with the dead, Kat may be forced to confront her worst fears and the powerful curse that controls her destiny.

Author
Molly M Hall is the author of Reckoning, the first novel in the Dark Prophecy series. She has spent most of her life in Colorado and currently lives just outside of Denver. She pursued a degree in English Literature at Columbia College, and worked in the corporate world for several years before turning to writing full time.

When not reading or writing, she can be found shopping for awesome boots, listening to music, exercising, working on her very inadequate French, playing piano, or looking for inspiring landscapes to photograph. More at: mollymhall.com



Blog – www.mollymhall.com
Twitter - @mollymhallbooks
Facebook – www.facebook.com/mollym.hall.31
www.facebook.com/pages/Reckoning/457393657635234
Goodreads – www.goodreads.com/book/show/16077558-reckoning

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Renren Zakari Manga Review


Author:
Risa Konno
Artist: Risa Konno
Genra: Drama, Romance,
School Life, Shoujo  
Year: 2012
Original Publisher:
Shogakukan
Volumes: 
  1 Volumes (Complete)
 Licensed (in English)
No
English Publisher







Summary
Running late for her Highschool opening ceremony, Sumika gets lost. She soon runs into a playboy named Ryo who just got slap by a girl he had recently broke up with. Then out of no where another boy appears named Oshou.  
 
"If that day, I wasn't late, If that day, I didn't get lost. Then I probably won't be regretting this right now. Then, I probably won't meet him."
 (wrote the summary myself because it didn't make sense to me))

Review
This is a one-shot manga and for that i let it go that the characters falling in love with each other was fast. Though it took some time for our main girl to realize she fell in love with one of the boys. Also this has an unexpected ending to the story you don't expect Sumika to fall for the person you never thought she would.

Sumika is our main female character, she shy sometimes but she is serious about her school work. This is why she takes on the deed to teach both Ryo and Oshou getting closer to the boys she first calls monkey and playboy. When it comes to actually liking a boy it's a first for her so she gets confused, which i guess is normal for someone who hasn't experience love before.

Ryo is our playboy in this story, which you can tell by the first scene where he breaks up with a girl. He has never fallen for a girl before and never thought he would until he meets Sumika. Its amusing to see how much he changes with her around. He begans to change his life around where he breaks up with all the girls he had dated or had going on at the same time. He wants to make Sumika trust him and he is taking it one step at a time with her.

Oshou is your tiplicle good guy he does everything to be a good guy. He falls for Sumika right away, when they are paired up to study, he goes to every teaching. It's sad to watch as Ryo asks Sumika out and he feels left out. He tries to ignore Sumika which doesn't do well because she finds way's to find him and talk to him. He hurts her a few times and I hate him for this but in the end it all turns out well when Sumika finds out who she truely likes. He's not as interesting as Ryo but he is cute and likeable in a way.


Yes this is your love triangle type of book. Both boys fell for Sumika but she can only choose one and it's not at all who I thought she would pick but in the end i think her choice suit her.

Design


Well what can i say I do love the style of this manga. I'm happy with how the author puts detail in her characters to differentiate between them all. Ryo is the black hair Boy, Oshou is the white hair boy and of corse the girl is Sumika. The author knows how to make expressions work for her characters and your really drawn into them. It's probably one of the reasons why this book didn't get a low rating.












Rating
3 out of 5 Howling Wolves