tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57234964229911398502024-03-12T17:47:15.261-05:00Reading to Stay AliveReading makes the heart grow stronger.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04090281511556396009noreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723496422991139850.post-63416510485509119752013-07-22T08:44:00.000-05:002013-07-22T08:44:04.227-05:00Nearly Broken<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JZFUh8AfyUw/Ue0pvNTnsDI/AAAAAAAAAgw/fnJnlMWQ2uY/s1600/Nearly+Broken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JZFUh8AfyUw/Ue0pvNTnsDI/AAAAAAAAAgw/fnJnlMWQ2uY/s400/Nearly+Broken.jpg" width="242" /></a><em style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><strong>We’d both gone missing at one point, but Claire had one thing I didn’t. Someone to notice. So why was I the one still here and she the one still gone?</strong> </em><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Nineteen year old Megan Smith has spent the past year working in a small town diner in the middle of nowhere. Life is quiet, simple, </span><em style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">safe</em><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">. Then comes the news that her look-a-like has gone missing. </span><br />
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<em style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Claire.</em><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Still damaged both physically and mentally, Megan's not looking to be noticed. Wherever she goes from here, it's a road she needs to take alone. But when Nickolas Ellis takes the job as the new nightshift cook, it scares her how easily her defenses crumble down, down, down for him. But there are secrets she can't bear to share with just anyone, unspeakable acts that continue to haunt, and when the similarities of Claire’s abduction couples with the fear of an unwanted visitor in town, the urge to run before it all happens again intensifies, threatening the only happiness Megan's ever found.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Title: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17377345-nearly-broken">Nearly Broken</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Author: Devon Ashley</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Release Date: June 4th 2013</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Rating: <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>4 Stars</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Review:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">When they said this book was dark, they meant it. I don't think anything could have prepared me for the morbid life Megan has had to go through. This book discusses very </span><span style="line-height: 21.107954025268555px;">traumatic</span><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"> circumstances that is not recommended for feint hearted. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">When left with the choice to stand and fight against your darkest fears, will you stay and face them, or continue to hide and run? Megan has to choose and if you decide to read this book you will get to be right there with her. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Megan is finally safe. She is happy, in this small nowhere town. Where her past surely wont find her. She has escaped the nightmare of her kidnapping. But just when she starts to feel comfortable, letting down her guard down to the new night cook Nickolas, she is mistaken for another girl, Claire. A girl that looks exactly like Megan, who has gone missing as well, but this girl has someone to notice she is gone, she has someone to care what happened to her, so why hasn't she turned up. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">A man comes to the small town and </span><span style="line-height: 21.107954025268555px;">Megan's</span><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"> carefully patched together world comes crashing down. She has to choose between keeping her secrets and confronting her demons, or releasing her burden to be free.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.107954025268555px;">Remember this story may not be for everyone. Be sure this type of mature content is right for you! If you do choose to read it I hope you enjoy it. I look forward to the sequel!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Recommended reads based off of Nearly Broken:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16056408-easy?ac=1">Easy</a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16113791-the-coincidence-of-callie-and-kayden?ac=1">The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04090281511556396009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723496422991139850.post-90916574680955011002013-07-19T06:40:00.000-05:002013-07-19T06:40:17.655-05:00Random Acts of Crazy<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ak0LRNBWjdE/UekdORMencI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/2D9ylwOZsg0/s1600/Random+Acts+of+Crazy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ak0LRNBWjdE/UekdORMencI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/2D9ylwOZsg0/s400/Random+Acts+of+Crazy.jpg" width="250" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17971217-random-acts-of-crazy?ac=1">Goodreads Summary</a>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">I never intended to pick up a naked hitchhiker wearing nothing but a guitar. A guitar. Really. I don't collect guys like that (don't ask what kind of guys I do collect), but when you spot a blonde, tanned, sculpted man with a gorgeous smile and his thumb poking up and practically begging you to stop – you stop.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">And I definitely never thought I'd be staring into the bright blue eyes of Trevor Connor, the lead singer for Random Acts of Crazy, an indie rock star I followed like the slobbering fileshare fangirl I am. How he came to be nude and lost six hundred miles from home is quite the tale, but how we fell in love is even more unreal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Because someone like Trevor Connor, headed to Harvard Law next year, isn't supposed to want someone like me, a rural Ohio chick majoring in Boredom at Convenience Store University who is all curves and frizzy blonde hair and manners so unpolished they have sharp edges that make you bleed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">But he did.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">When his best friend, Joe Ross, the bass player for Random Acts of Crazy and a man who makes Calvin Klein models look like Shrek, drove eleven hours through the night to rescue him, though, it got real complicated. It's one thing to like two different guys and be torn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">What do you do, though, when maybe – just maybe – you don't have to choose?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">As my Aunt Josie says sometimes, "It's always complicated."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Title: Random Acts of Crazy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Author: Julia Kent</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Release Date: May 21st 2013</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Rating: <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>3 Stars</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Review:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">This book is for mature audience only. There is sexual content and </span><span style="line-height: 21.107954025268555px;">inappropriate</span><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"> language for young readers. 18+</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">While this isn't the typical book I would pick up, when I had the opportunity to review it, I jumped at it, my own random act of crazy. Darla picks up a hitchhiker whose wearing nothing but his guitar, a spiked dog collar and a straw cowboy hat. She somehow finds reasoning in picking him up, and she soon finds out that he is Trevor Conner, the guy she follows online with a fiery passion as he is in the lead singer in the band Random Acts of Crazy an online indie rock sensation. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.107954025268555px;">Joe comes to Trevor's rescue. Joe is of course the lead guitarist. And I cannot understand why Darla falls for him immediately but she does even after the time she just spent with Trevor. Now this is where the plot took a twist into Savages (the movie) territory. Darla may not have to choose between the lead and the bass guitarist. She may just be able to have both. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.107954025268555px;">I can see why Joe and Trevor are attracted to Darla. All three are stuck living a life they feel trapped in. Joe and Trevor see Darla as this carefree spirit with a curvy body that sings to their souls. Now I know everyone knows the saying 'Bros before hoes' but whoever said that apparently didn't think about sharing because that is exactly what they decide to do. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.107954025268555px;">I personally would have liked the book a lot better if it had just been a love triangle (I can't believe I just said that, I have never wanted a love triangle before) but for this story I think it would have worked better for my tastes than what actually happened. Major plot twist, that I wasn't expecting but after thinking about it their were clues leading up to that point. I just don't believe you would expect any story to take that kind of turn, so that is why I was caught off guard. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.107954025268555px;">Anyways, I find that this was an enjoyable read. It had a lot of lighthearted comedy, that will make you giggle. There was some very steamy romance. A major plot twist. And there will be a sequel so if you find yourself enjoying Random Acts of Crazy, the ride doesn't stop here!</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jlFd-gwewsw/UekkOnk4R3I/AAAAAAAAAgg/eJBOVR3V6uk/s1600/3-Stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jlFd-gwewsw/UekkOnk4R3I/AAAAAAAAAgg/eJBOVR3V6uk/s1600/3-Stars.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.107954025268555px;">Recommended reads based off of Random Acts of Crazy:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.107954025268555px;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12989112-such-a-rush?ac=1">Such a Rush</a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10194514-pushing-the-limits">Pushing the Limits</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04090281511556396009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723496422991139850.post-29171139099292991152013-07-15T00:00:00.000-05:002013-07-15T00:00:03.433-05:00Riding On Air<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_j_3UfrZKfc/UeNVyloTDjI/AAAAAAAAAfU/jR3eTR0CNs4/s1600/Riding+on+Air.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_j_3UfrZKfc/UeNVyloTDjI/AAAAAAAAAfU/jR3eTR0CNs4/s400/Riding+on+Air.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17561305-riding-on-air?ac=1">Goodreads Summary:</a></div>
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<em style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">For readers of Jenny Downham, John Greene and Maureen McCarthy, a poignant young adult romance about following your dreams and realising what really matters.</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">What can you do when your own hands are the enemy? Hold on tight, for as long as it takes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Melissa has secrets. Sure it’s pretty obvious she has Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, but no one knows how bad it is or how many pills she takes for the pain. She’s determined to make her horse Jinx into a champion and she dreams that her childhood friend William will one day see her, rather than her condition.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">So when William asks her out and Jinx is shortlisted for selection in an elite training program, it seems Melissa’s dreams have come true. But when her secrets are exposed, all those dreams come crashing down around her. Can William ever forgive her? And can she learn about letting go in time to truly ride on air when it matters most?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Title: Riding On Air</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Author: Maggie Gilbert</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Publisher: Escape Publishing</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Release Date: April 1st 2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Rating: <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>2 Stars</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Review:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">This story fell way short for me. I have to say it was okay, nothing special about it, it was just a story. Boring and drawn out. This would have been a great idea for a short story, but it was unevenly paced and just so downright simple. No complexity. The only things I really did enjoy were how factual it was about horses, something I very much enjoy and the setting of being around horses. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">I picked this up with the expectations of getting to live in the horse world, and I got that but it fell so flat, too flat for me to even say I liked it. I can only describe it as ehh...okay...I guess. I would not recommend it, unless you were just dying to read it. There is no complexity to the story. Yes our main character Melissa has JRA which would be </span><span style="line-height: 21.107954025268555px;">devastating</span><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"> for someone who just wanted to ride and couldn't hold the reigns. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">I felt this book could have been promising. I could have had more interesting and compelling plot twists. Instead it ended exactly the same boring way it started. I was hoping this would be the kind of story that would have more to it than meets the eye, so if you do decide to read this don't make the same mistake I did. She has JRA and she always will, it isn't going to </span><span style="line-height: 21.107954025268555px;">miraculously</span><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"> get better or find a way for her to be able to use her hands. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Another piece of the disappointment was the insta-love quality. So Melissa has been in love with William for forever. She has admired her older brothers best friend from afar. Now all of a sudden he is showing interest in her and telling her he has had feelings for her for forever even though bombshell looking babes throw themselves at him all the time. Apparently he couldn't go after her till she was 16 because he would have looked like a perv to her brothers because he is 18. This part seemed </span><span style="line-height: 21.107954025268555px;">ludicrous</span><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"> to me since they have always been two years apart, but I don't want to nitpick. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">One other thing I enjoyed was her step-mother Jenny. She was a nice and positive step-mother something that isn't always portrayed as so. Which was unexpected. I just wish there could be more of those unexpected characters twists. Minus all the self-</span><span style="line-height: 21.107954025268555px;">consciousness</span><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"> and just grow a pair, get out there and make shit happen. Instead of all these random, I am not good enough for him moments. I want a story I read to be more than that! And I don't think that is unfair or unrealistic of me. </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrERAgSYpyc/T7pY4XU1EcI/AAAAAAAAAUo/xKfljZcCyfs/s1600/2-Stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrERAgSYpyc/T7pY4XU1EcI/AAAAAAAAAUo/xKfljZcCyfs/s1600/2-Stars.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Reads that won't make you disappointed or upset:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12294652-my-life-next-door">My Life Next Door</a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12989112-such-a-rush">Such a Rush</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04090281511556396009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723496422991139850.post-40288178268996528672013-07-11T00:00:00.000-05:002013-07-11T00:00:01.551-05:00Evercrossed<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WX4r3DKI6vo/Ud1zCNoUppI/AAAAAAAAAeI/G0Nc8tG4Y0Y/s1600/Evercrossed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WX4r3DKI6vo/Ud1zCNoUppI/AAAAAAAAAeI/G0Nc8tG4Y0Y/s400/Evercrossed.jpg" width="260" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Goodreads Summary: </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">It’s been a year since Ivy’s boyfriend, Tristan, died. They’ve both moved on—Tristan to the other side of the afterlife, and Ivy to sweet, dependable Will. Now Ivy’s heading to Cape Cod, hoping to leave the horror of last summer behind. She wants nothing more than to lie on the beach, sip lemonade, and hang out with her friends. </span><br style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;" /><br style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;" /><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">But then a car crash ends Ivy’s life. </span><br style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;" /><br style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;" /><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">As she floats to the beyond, looking down on the life she’s left behind, Tristan breathes life back into her with a passionate kiss. She wakes up in the hospital, surrounded by Will and her family, but all she can think about is the love that she lost. </span><br style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;" /><br style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;" /><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">But memories aren’t all that’s come back from the past. And this time, Ivy’s not sure love will be enough to save her.</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Title: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8724084-evercrossed">Evercrossed (Kissed by an Angel #4)</a></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Author: Elizabeth Chandler</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.984375px;">Publisher: Simon Pulse</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.984375px;">Release Date: March 8th 2011</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.984375px;">Rating: </span><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>5 Stars</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">In my head all I can really think is Oh Mother Trucker! I honestly enjoyed the book but it leaves you on the mother of all cliff hangers. Of course we are introduced to the characters we have known before, Ivy, Will, and Beth. They are on a summer vacation in Cape Cod working for Beth's Aunt. There is a brief glimpse of Tristan as a super angel, and of course our Lovely Lacey makes a few appearances. With all that said there are some new characters also. Like Kelsey, Beth's party hardy cousin, who has a personality similar to Suzanne (who is vacationing in Europe) which they point out in the book. Kelsey is very blunt and her character is very modern. She is supposedly a super athlete with a body like Serena Williams. Her best friend Dayhna is a good girl pushed to do bad things with Kelsey, I thought her character was going to be more important because she was discussed a lot in the first half of the book however her character slowly deteriorated. There is also a new man figure an amnesiac that washed up on shore mysteriously the same night that Ivy and Beth get into a fatal car accident where Ivy actually dies. Guy (the temporary name for the amnesiac because he cannot remember who he is) has very similar characteristics to Tristan which is what pulls Ivy to him and also pulls her away from Will. Oh sweet Will, how I wanted you to be the one. It became clear a short way into the book that they were a couple that just ran the bases, without any real sincerity behind it. Will of course was sincere with his feelings but Ivy just could not open her heart enough, which then caused Will to become kind of a dink and really made me shake my head in disappointment. </span><br style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><br style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">This book is filled with many ups and downs, taking you on a spin that if your weak hearted you might not be able to handle (*consult your physician if necessary). I have to tell you right now I feel broken hearted. There is a common theme to this book that Gregory has somehow made his way back to get revenge, so I am slowly waiting for this to happen, while Beth and Will are being overprotective parents to Ivy. I do not know what it is, maybe it's Chandlers writing, but I always feel like Will is about to go off an start dating someone else. Every time Ivy sees Will he is going off or coming back from hanging out with mainly Beth and Dayhna. I do not know why but I just feel like he is, maybe it is Ivy and I am just shadowing her but man she handles things way better than I would have been able to.</span><br style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><br style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">So in summary I Loved the book, Chandler impresses me with her writing yet again and has me flipping the pages and before you know it the short 288 page book is over with. I am however so disappointed that I had to wait any time at all on that mother of a cliff hanger. A whole year came and went before the Everlasting came out and that is just wrong. So now that they are both out I feel confidant telling you to go read these two books now! The Kissed by an Angel series is AMAZING!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Recommended reads based off of Evercrossed:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/477338.Blue_is_for_Nightmares?ac=1">Blue is for Nightmares</a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/675614.Book_of_Shadows?ac=1">Book of Shadows</a></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04090281511556396009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723496422991139850.post-6188119972540179292013-07-10T08:00:00.000-05:002013-07-10T09:30:50.379-05:00Keeper of the Lost Souls<span id="freeText16315558807485847838">Goodreads Summary:</span><br />
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Bryn McCaskey is young, naïve, and can talk to ghosts...<br />
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Like her mother and grandmother, Bryn comes from a breed of witches called The Keepers of the Lost Souls. Their main purpose is to guard those spirits who are permanently or temporarily grounded in the world of the living. Handling supernatural creatures is something which comes naturally to Bryn, however, dealing with people is a whole different story.<br />
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As her 18th birthday approaches it's time for her to take on her first assignment. Bryn is forced to confront her inability to communicate with others in an effort to save the one soul that can mean the difference between life and death for mankind.<br />
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Johnny Shaw is a lost soul with a personal vendetta against witches... <br />
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A vendetta he has carried on even after death. As much as he hate's them he must join forces with a keeper witch, in order to stop a century old threat. When fate brings them together, not only will they be forced to learn how to work as a team, but they will have to depend on each other to stop an evil witch carrying a six hundred year grudge!<br />
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Title: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17901220-keeper-of-the-lost-souls?ac=1">Keeper of the Lost Souls</a><br />
Author: Kristy Centeno<br />
Publisher: Limitless Publishing<br />
Release Date: July 8th<br />
Rating: <strong><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">4 Stars</span></strong><br />
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Review:<br />
This is an intriguing story about a girl who was just turned 18 and now has 23 ghost charges to look after, one with a a grudge against witches. Understanding this can be a rough situation, as Bryn is a witch and Johnny Shaw, number 23, hates them for what they have done to his family. The only way they can possibly unite is because they find they have a common enemy. The evil witch that plans to unleash a terrible evil on the world.<br />
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I enjoyed Centeno's take on witches. I haven't read a book dealing with witches in a while so it is always nice to read a new authors take on the mystical world. I found her writing witty and fun. We got to know the characters as the story went on and not in the boring info dump kind of way, they characters really grew throughout the novel.<br />
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Bryn is an awesome character. She was not a popular girl in high school, she was viewed as weird and a loser, but she holds nothing against any of those people. She truly is just a nice person. She has the support of her mother and grandmother, which always seems common in witch related stories the trait of being a witch transfers through the generations.<br />
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Johnny and Bryn have a wonderful connection, when Johnny isn't damming her to hell, a perfect example of opposites attract. There is romance in this story, but in no way is it forced or just thrown into the story. I really thought it worked and was a great fun to read.<br />
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The good...<br />
Strong writing and witty banter<br />
Great character development<br />
Fun and interesting story<br />
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The downfall...<br />
There was a bit of a drag period after she got her charges, before it picked up again into the action.<br />
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A really fun read. I look forward to more of Johnny and Bryn!<br />
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Recommended reads based off of Keeper of the Lost Souls:<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5287473-hex-hall?ac=1">Hex Hall Series</a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3099780-the-secret-circle?ac=1">The Secret Circle</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04090281511556396009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723496422991139850.post-30258133087041805042013-07-09T10:24:00.003-05:002013-07-09T10:24:25.496-05:00Anomaly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sl_r8AAIAwA/UdwfxsYmDrI/AAAAAAAAAdY/kKnSdpgNzl8/s1600/Anomaly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sl_r8AAIAwA/UdwfxsYmDrI/AAAAAAAAAdY/kKnSdpgNzl8/s400/Anomaly.jpg" width="261" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Goodreads Summary:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Thalli has fifteen minutes and twenty-three seconds left to live. The toxic gas that will complete her annihilation is invading her bloodstream. But she is not afraid.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Thalli is different than others in The State. She feels things. She asks questions. And in the State, this is not tolerated. The Ten scientists who survived the nuclear war that destroyed the world above believe that emotion was at the core of what went wrong—and they have genetically removed it from the citizens they have since created. Thalli has kept her malformation secret from those who have monitored her for most of her life, but when she receives an ancient piece of music to record as her community’s assigned musician, she can no longer keep her emotions secreted away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Seen as a threat to the harmony of her Pod, Thalli is taken to the Scientists for immediate annihilation. But before that can happen, Berk—her former Pod mate who is being groomed as a Scientist—steps in and persuades the Scientists to keep Thalli alive as a test subject.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">The more time she spends in the Scientist’s Pod, the clearer it becomes that things are not as simple as she was programmed to believe. She hears stories of a Designer—stories that fill her mind with more questions: Who can she trust? What is this emotion called love? And what if she isn’t just an anomaly, but part of a greater design?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">Title: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16124145-anomaly">Anomaly</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">Author: Krista Mcgee</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publishers</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">Release Date: July 9th</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">Rating: </span><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>4 Stars</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">Review:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">A great sci-fi dystopian combo. I had a great time reading this story. I know you are probably thinking about Delirium and how it sounds similar, and it is...but Anomaly is still a story of it's own. While I am not a religious person, and tend to lean more towards science, I still enjoyed this book with it's Christianity basis. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">The way the society was described was really fascinating. It is always my favorite part about Dystopian novels, is how the world is the way it is and why it is that way. Anomaly really did an excellent job creating this world underground, were people have lived without feeling since the earth is no longer habitable. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">When Thalli's anomaly is discovered, she can feel and no one else can, she becomes a test subject as to what went wrong and why she can feel. This is when she meets an old man who introduces her to Christianity and the plot thickens as we get the idea of a designer aka god. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">The good...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">A very interesting society with a thrilling story line. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">Great plot and strong characters.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">Great set up point for the next novel.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">The downfalls...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">The idea of religion is kind of sprung on you without any warning in the description which may not be appealing to some people.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">The start of the novel takes place during the climax, which draws for a thrilling beginning but takes away a lot of the surprise of the ending.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">Anomaly is a part of a series, this is just the beginning of what is sure to be a fun and exciting trilogy. I can't wait to read what is next!</span></span><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DvILMkqPS0E/UdwppQcWRGI/AAAAAAAAAdo/a3Qvsb21Jh4/s1600/4-Stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DvILMkqPS0E/UdwppQcWRGI/AAAAAAAAAdo/a3Qvsb21Jh4/s1600/4-Stars.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">Recommended reads based off of Anomaly:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11614718-delirium?ac=1">Delirium</a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11594257-under-the-never-sky?ac=1">Under the Never Sky</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;"><br /></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04090281511556396009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723496422991139850.post-38656095897215354262013-07-06T00:00:00.000-05:002013-07-06T00:00:01.633-05:00The Year of the Great Seventh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rYyhV88CFT4/UdcsC6puGfI/AAAAAAAAAc8/vMsU5B8pajw/s1600/The+Year.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rYyhV88CFT4/UdcsC6puGfI/AAAAAAAAAc8/vMsU5B8pajw/s400/The+Year.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>
Goodreads Summary:<br />
<span id="freeText7276400848454881452">Sophie has always felt out of step — an outsider, even amongst friends in her high school with all the hype about celebrity culture. Her life in L.A. seems to have been already written for her, but when her junior year starts, it all takes a drastic turn. When she crosses paths with the school's heartthrob, Nate Werner, they fall for each other in a way neither can understand. What they don’t know is that by giving in to their desires, they are unlocking an ancient Egyptian prophecy that threatens to return Earth to the dark ages.<br /><br />To undo the curse, Nate and Sophie embark on an adventure that takes them across the country. But their quest is not only to save the world as they know it. It is also a fight for their very survival. Behind the scenes, there are those that are counting on them to fail.</span><br />
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Title: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17667824-the-year-of-the-great-seventh?ac=1">The Year of the Great Seventh</a></div>
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Author: Teresa Orts</div>
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Publisher: Drayton Press</div>
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Release Date: July 6th 2013</div>
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Rating: <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong>3.5 Stars</strong></span></div>
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Review:</div>
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So, in the beginning you are going to get the setting for a rather generic begining of a relationship. Also you will get a lot of tell vs. show. However, once the plot gets rolling, so does your heartbeat and you are sucked in to this ya-fantasy. Orts gives us a very interesting story outline...Egyptian Prophecy...oh yes, I think so. It really is an exciting ride, although when I first heard of the story I thought for sure it would be taking place in Egypt, and it actually does not, it takes place in Los Angeles and New York. I found myself many times so wrapped into the story, I could actually picture myself on the streets of New York. </div>
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So as Nate and Sophie are on the hunt for clues to save Nate's life, we are drawn in more and more as hints are dropped, and you have to make sense of. While this is a fantasy story it has a strong sense of realistic fiction as well a mystery all in one. All elements combine forcing you to keep the book in your hands until you are finished. </div>
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So to the Positives...</div>
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A very intersting story line that draws you in and has you begging for more.</div>
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A cleverly laid out plot that allows the reader to try and piece the mystery together along with Sophie and Nate.</div>
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Descriptive quality</div>
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Quirky and inteligent characters</div>
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The dowfalls...</div>
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The beginning is slow and drags on, couped with teen angst for the first few chapters</div>
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A little too much telling whats going on rather than letting the reader experience it</div>
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I am very excited for the sequel. Since we already know our characters we wont have the beginning character building that caused the beginning to drag on a little long, so it should dive right in to some more heart-pumping action. I hope you write fast Orts!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9sZdFr9qVRs/T6AZrhutYPI/AAAAAAAAAO0/E_vv4rHtips/s1600/3.5-Stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9sZdFr9qVRs/T6AZrhutYPI/AAAAAAAAAO0/E_vv4rHtips/s1600/3.5-Stars.jpg" /></a>Recommended reads based off of The Year of the Great Seventh:</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9284655-tiger-s-curse">Tiger's Curse</a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17288137-banished-from-grace">Banished from Grace</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04090281511556396009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723496422991139850.post-65044230697778207132013-07-04T00:00:00.000-05:002013-07-04T00:00:01.393-05:00Addicted to You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wvn4BY0jeWo/UdR-1H53kyI/AAAAAAAAAco/xJXuSYwJ2Lc/s1600/Addicted+to+You.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wvn4BY0jeWo/UdR-1H53kyI/AAAAAAAAAco/xJXuSYwJ2Lc/s400/Addicted+to+You.jpg" width="267" /></a>Goodreads Summary:</div>
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<span class=" PIN_1372880551700_hazClick" id="freeText1462672459888378921">No one would suspect shy Lily Calloway’s biggest secret. While everyone is dancing at college bars, Lily stays in the bathroom. To get laid. Her compulsion leads her to one-night stands, steamy hookups and events she shamefully regrets. The only person who knows her secret happens to have one of his own.<br /><br />Loren Hale’s best friend is his bottle of bourbon. Lily comes at a close second. For three years, they’ve pretended to be in a real relationship, hiding their addictions from their families. They’ve mastered the art of concealing flasks and random guys that filter in and out of their apartment.<br /><br />But when they go on a family boat trip, surrounded by open seas and limited male bodies in sight, Lily’s confronted with a big fear. Only one guy on board can fill her addiction, and she’s sworn off going <em>there</em> with Loren Hale ever again.</span></div>
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<span class=" PIN_1372880551700_hazClick">Title: Addicted to You</span><br />
<span class=" PIN_1372880551700_hazClick">Author: Krista and Becca Ritchie</span><br />
<span class=" PIN_1372880551700_hazClick">Release Date: July 1st 2013</span><br />
<span class=" PIN_1372880551700_hazClick">Rating: <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">5 Stars</span></span><br />
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<span class=" PIN_1372880551700_hazClick">Review:</span><br />
<span class=" PIN_1372880551700_hazClick"><strong>My Take - </strong></span><br />
<span class=" PIN_1372880551700_hazClick">What a compelling story, that you WILL NOT be able to put down until your finished. I loved every moment of this book and could not get enough. Addicted to You has me addicted. Two people, best friends, both dealing with their own addictions, trying to live their lives while keeping their addictions a secret. Get ready to live through their addictions with them. This is an intense roller coaster ride full of awakening to find your true feelings and seeing your life for all it's faults.</span><br />
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<span class=" PIN_1372880551700_hazClick">This book will keep you on your toes, as Lily and Loren struggle to get control of their lives. </span><br />
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<span class=" PIN_1372880551700_hazClick"><strong>Characters - </strong></span><br />
<span class=" PIN_1372880551700_hazClick">Lily is addicted to sex which leads her to a lot of poor choices. She is in love with Loren but won't ever go there again because she feels like she isn't good enough for him. She looses her virginity at a very young age and now sex is her biggest stress reliever. She can't go through the day without having an orgasm to let the stress go away.</span><br />
<span class=" PIN_1372880551700_hazClick">Lo is addicted to drinking like his father. He has never had contact with his mother and becomes an alcoholic at a very young age. Such a sad situation that is actually very common with youth today.</span><br />
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<span class=" PIN_1372880551700_hazClick"><strong>Overall - </strong></span><br />
<span class=" PIN_1372880551700_hazClick">Lo and Lily become enablers for each other. Once they get past their qualms about not being good enough for each other and come to show their true feelings of loving one another, they become even more of enablers for one another. Lo satisfies Lily's sexual needs and Lily takes care of Lo when he is way to fucked up to take care of himself. But this is a dangerous line to cross and cannot last forever... This is a</span><span class=" PIN_1372880551700_hazClick"> definite must read for those that are interested in stories about addiction wrapped up in a new adult novel. I can't wait for the sequel!!!!</span><br />
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<span class=" PIN_1372880551700_hazClick"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ai6ypmOZYhw/T5gzGcoLKdI/AAAAAAAAALU/I25zSwbZA4U/s1600/5-Stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ai6ypmOZYhw/T5gzGcoLKdI/AAAAAAAAALU/I25zSwbZA4U/s1600/5-Stars.jpg" /></a>Recommended reads based off of Addicted to You:</span><br />
<span class=" PIN_1372880551700_hazClick"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15717876-the-secret-of-ella-and-micha?ac=1">The Secret of Ella and Micha</a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16113791-the-coincidence-of-callie-and-kayden">The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden</a></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04090281511556396009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723496422991139850.post-32536333335688363032013-07-03T00:00:00.000-05:002013-07-03T00:00:02.076-05:00Untellable<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zBJ26L7w_VU/UdMmgsq4THI/AAAAAAAAAcY/gADUCMdOBJM/s475/UNtellable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zBJ26L7w_VU/UdMmgsq4THI/AAAAAAAAAcY/gADUCMdOBJM/s400/UNtellable.jpg" width="257" /></a><span id="freeText16221229590292599376">Goodreads Summary:</span><br />
Aspen Dwyer, recently emancipated from foster care, is searching for a place to hide from a past with secrets too dark to share. Honey Creek, Ohio, presents itself as the best place to start a new life and stay undercover. There she meets Colton Moraine, a man with strong family ties and an even stronger sense of loyalty. His boisterous, loving family welcomes Aspen with warmth she hasn’t felt in years. She’s surprised at how quickly and deeply she falls for Colton. When a dangerous criminal comes to Honey Creek, intent on his revenge against her, Aspen must choose between two options. Should she stay and risk her life and the rejection of the people she’s grown to love? Or should she run again, and leave behind any chance of a happy future?<br />
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Title: Untellable</div>
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Author: Suzanne Lilly</div>
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Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press</div>
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Release Date: February 24th 2013</div>
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Rating<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">: 3 Stars </span></div>
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Review:</div>
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<strong>First Take - </strong></div>
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A unique and interesting story that draws you in for more. The cover gives a dark and intense vibe, which flows well throughout the novel. Aspen has been emancipated and is on the run from her father. She has had a terribly tragic past and is trying to escape from its shadow. </div>
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<strong>The Characters - </strong></div>
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Aspen is a driven individual. She is hardened by the her past yet still an insecure girl that was robbed of a proper childhood. I would have liked her to grow more, which could only happen if the novel was longer. </div>
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Colden was the bright light in this novel. He had a great sense of humor and was exactly what Aspen needed. He was someone she could depend on and after living in foster care that is something she has never had the chance to know. </div>
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Elise, while you are an interesting character I was not a fan. I couldn't get over the fact that a true friend would never use their friend to get ahead. She fell into the selfish journalist stereotype for me. </div>
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Rick, her father, was a terribly scary man. No one should ever have to deal with a guy like that let alone should a guy like that ever have kids. He was an extremely terrifying villain. </div>
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<strong>The Plot - </strong></div>
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I really liked the direction this novel took. It could have been longer and an overall more developed, but for the length it was, I enjoyed it. A valuable coin isn't always something to kill for but it worked will in this story. The romance as a subplot to me felt forced and could have used a lot of work. While Colden was a great character and so was Aspen when a romance is forced it just doesn't come across as well as it should. </div>
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<strong>Overall - </strong></div>
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This story gets three stars, for the interesting plot that kept me in tune to the story and the characters that were just living their lives.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qWAcSouZcO4/UdIl3VRlIKI/AAAAAAAAAcI/q3KdpaT8mBM/s167/3-Stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qWAcSouZcO4/UdIl3VRlIKI/AAAAAAAAAcI/q3KdpaT8mBM/s167/3-Stars.jpg" /></a></div>
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Recommended reads based off of Untellable:</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4268157-perfect-chemistry?ac=1">Perfect Chemistry</a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4570679-going-too-far?a=5&origin=related_works">Going Too Far</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04090281511556396009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723496422991139850.post-8023768098939659442013-07-02T00:00:00.000-05:002013-07-02T00:00:08.830-05:00Banished from Grace<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Goodreads Summary:</span><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C8ywm_z1Rzg/UdHWtlpHNMI/AAAAAAAAAb8/JqtsIR1pPSo/s1600/Banished+from+Grace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C8ywm_z1Rzg/UdHWtlpHNMI/AAAAAAAAAb8/JqtsIR1pPSo/s400/Banished+from+Grace.jpg" width="265" /></span></a><span id="freeText12974195485609269920"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Nardia is a young woman who woke up in an abandoned building over four hundred years ago when the plague was sweeping England. It was at this time she discovered that she had a special gift. She could heal the sick with her bare hands. Fast forward to the present day she has not aged and has no recollection of who she is and why she can perform miracles.<br />Life should be easy for Nardia, she is young and beautiful and could get any man she wanted, she just didn’t expect for two wonderful men to show so much interest at the same time. Nardia is confused and worries that making the wrong choice between the men could have disastrous consequences . One of these men is deceitful and has his own agenda and has not told the truth from the moment they met.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Title: Banished from Grace</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Author: Aria Williams</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Rating:</span> <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">3 Stars</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Review:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong>The Characters -</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">AJ was a great character, he is definitely the reason this book received three stars. He is the kind of guy that is dream worthy. I wish there were more men like AJ in the world, real-life and fiction. He has a lot of depth and is overall a great person. He is my favorite character in this whole novel and he is the main reason I want to read the next one in the series. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Nardia was likable enough. I wasn't a fan of her snarky attitude towards other women, even when mentioning you are just being objective it is still mentioning it and looking down on others. This didn't happen very much, but just enough to catch my notice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Doctor Raegen was...he is really hard to describe. He was shy and reserved in the beginning and grew in his confidence and comfortability as he and Nardia grew closer. Honestly, in the beginning I didn't really care for him, but towards the end he turned it up a bit. I still don't love him like AJ, but I think he would be an alright friend. I didn't care for his taste in friends, nor his attitude towards Nardia after hearing <em>rumors</em>. But I did like that he stood behind her even when doubt clogged his mind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong>The Plot - </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The story moved very slow and I didn't get the big climax I was hoping for, but it was paced evenly enough. I was confused on a few parts, regarding her daughter and what she decided in the end, so I am going to have to get that clarified in the next novel, but I assume these endings will be tied together later in the series. I would have liked more from this story, with all the build up we could have had a larger bang in the end. The idea behind this story is great, I love the healing quality and angels being brought to life. The forbidden nature of it all, it is magical and mysterious. The characters were real, they could be anyone around you, anyone you run into. Williams did a great job bringing real life characteristics into the novel. </span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">My Outlook - </span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">This story is told to you. Never shown to you, it is all said through Nardia. There isn't one interaction we get to experience for ourselves through description. Just through narration. It was like Nardia was sitting in front of me telling me this story. So that was a big frustration, it is much more enjoyable to actually live the story with the character instead of just being told what is happening. The best way to describe this sensation is like if I was blind and watching a movie with only someone there to tell me what is happening. You get so much more connection and you feel more when you actually live it. I hope this improves for the next ones. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>Summary - </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The cons in this novel were that the climax, wasn't climactic enough, we could have gotten more from this story. The story was told to us, we didn't live it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The pros, AJ is the best. A great character to read and experience in a story. The premise and the outline of this story is very intriguing. I wanted more and I enjoyed what this book was about. Even for a paranormal type of book it was realistic and the characters were down to earth <- lol literally!</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qWAcSouZcO4/UdIl3VRlIKI/AAAAAAAAAcI/q3KdpaT8mBM/s167/3-Stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qWAcSouZcO4/UdIl3VRlIKI/AAAAAAAAAcI/q3KdpaT8mBM/s167/3-Stars.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Recommended reads based off of Banished from Grace:</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/321645.Kissed_by_an_Angel">Kissed by an Angel</a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11043885-hereafter">Hereafter</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04090281511556396009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723496422991139850.post-16291661708704533092013-07-01T00:00:00.001-05:002013-07-01T00:00:11.556-05:00Motocross Me<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Aw0Ri2x8qbw/Ucr1o-5j7qI/AAAAAAAAAbo/QP7M_0E0fD0/s1600/Motocross+Me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Aw0Ri2x8qbw/Ucr1o-5j7qI/AAAAAAAAAbo/QP7M_0E0fD0/s400/Motocross+Me.jpg" width="250" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Goodreads Summary:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">When Hana Fisher moves to the small town of Mixon, Texas to live with her dad, she dreads having to work at the boring pile of dirt he fon</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">dly calls a motocross track. But when she gets there, she finds the rinky-dink dirt bike track from her childhood has grown into the most respected racing track in the state.</span><br />
<br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;" />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Now popular by association, Hana endures the pain and sweat of working in the summer heat in order to fit in with a sport she’s growing to love. She gets a real family, a best friend and not just one, but two of the fastest racers trying to win her heart.</span><br />
<br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;" />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">When Hana abuses her status as the track owner’s daughter to help the gorgeous Ryan Russo cheat in the biggest race of the year, she risks more than just losing her job. Every good thing in her life is at stake now- her friends, her dad’s trust, and Ash Carter- the kind-hearted racer who may not be as alluring as Ryan, but is proof that nice guys don’t always finish last.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Title: Motocross Me</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Author: Cheyanne Young</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">Release Date: June 26th 2013</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">Publisher: 336 Love</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">Rating: </span><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">3 Stars</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">Review:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;"><b>The Setting</b> - This has to be one of my favorite settings in a book <i>ever!</i> I love motocross (in the past I raced bmx which is bicycle motocross, so being at a track and in this atmosphere is second nature to me.) When I saw the title for this book, I knew immediately I would have to read it. I thank Cheyanne Young for bringing this setting into the beautiful pages of a book. For those that are afraid that they may not be able to follow this story because of the setting don't fear, the main character Hana doesn't know much about the sport either so you will learn with her. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><b style="line-height: 21.109375px;">My Outlook</b><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;"> - While I loved the atmosphere, I wasn't ecstatic about the plot. It was entertaining, and I enjoyed this novel, but I found myself face palming often about some of the poor choices Hana made as she is torn between two boys. I can understand her dilemma when presented with two gorgeous but very different men. I still would have liked if she could have seen past some of the superficial glamour and dug a little deeper. Hana became much better and less face palm worthy towards the halfway point (I said less not completely done face palming here.) Basically, I considered Hana like my misguided love struck friend, who needs heavy guidance about what is truly important in life. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">Hana has a rough past with her mother. She has been sheltered her whole life, so the whole dating world is kind of foreign to her when her only example has been her mom who is on her fifth husband whose half her age. Hana can't take her mothers behavior any longer and moves in with her dad, and this is where her healthy dose of reality is served (in the form of delicious breakfast burritos.) I loved her stepmother Molly, her father, and her little brother Teig (even if I am not completely confident in how I pronounce his name. Teeg? Maybe?) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">Lastly, I love Ash. While he may be quiet, and needs quite a few kick-starts to get him into gear he is lovable and so are the images I have of him in my head. <i>Yum...</i> Anyways, while at some points Hana made me want to rip out my hair, I loved the setting Young brought us in. It is a completely new perspective in YA that I think is very much needed. I wish there would have been more description as the events played out, because I want more. More Ash, and motocross. I would like to know more about her family life after the Nationals race as well. So...if Cheyanne ever decides to write a sequel I will definitely be pouncing on that like a wolf on raw meat. Basically to conclude, Ash has my heart, and you will have to read and find out if he has Hana's as well!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">Pick up this lovely novel for an exciting new setting in YA fiction. </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vYg5fJS1-FU/UcrtOUvUXaI/AAAAAAAAAbY/Z_8i10uRXI8/s1600/3-Stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vYg5fJS1-FU/UcrtOUvUXaI/AAAAAAAAAbY/Z_8i10uRXI8/s1600/3-Stars.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1357162102p5/6860131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img _src="http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1357162102p5/6860131.jpg" alt="Cheyanne Young" border="0" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1357162102p5/6860131.jpg" style="border: 0px; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="161" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">Recommended reads based on <i>Motocross Me:</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8492251-playing-hurt?ac=1">Playing Hurt</a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9888775-catching-jordan">Catching Jordan</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br /></span><b style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;">About the Author</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Cheyanne is a native Texan with a fear of cold weather and a coffee addiction that probably needs an intervention. She loves books, sarcasm, Xbox and paid holidays. She lives near the beach with her daughter, one spoiled rotten puppy and a cat who is most likely plotting to take over the world.</span></span><a href="https://mail.stcloudstate.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=0rzPaav62kyxTf73VHttDC6WioL_RdAIZSX5rTob_hYbR25cointZpZUw_JXElv6xWVcqdRj0oU.&URL=http%3a%2f%2fd.gr-assets.com%2fauthors%2f1357162102p5%2f6860131.jpg" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff0046; font-family: Trebuchet MS,Trebuchet,Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Giveaway Time!!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Enter this giveaway for these awesome prizes!</span></span></div>
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/64262976/" id="rc-64262976" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04090281511556396009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723496422991139850.post-6678640807711187092013-06-24T11:19:00.000-05:002013-06-24T11:19:19.896-05:00Shutdown<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uj93Xfu1haE/UchifQkWmqI/AAAAAAAAAao/e98by7kAsPc/s1600/Shutdown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uj93Xfu1haE/UchifQkWmqI/AAAAAAAAAao/e98by7kAsPc/s400/Shutdown.jpg" width="266" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Goodreads Summary:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">The battle is all but over, and hope seems to be lost. Zoe and her fellow Resistance fighters are on the run, having lost their home, their protection, and their leader. They are outnumbered and outmatched by the powerful corporation that controls the world, and the cruel Chancellor is inches away from completing a scheme that would kill most of humanity. Zoe's only remaining option is to chase the impossible dream of upending the Link system, freeing the world from the hardware that controls their thoughts and emotions, and hope it will trigger a revolution. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">The plot requires a nearly impossible mission to infiltrate the dangerous Community, and it is a task that Zoe must unfortunately complete alone. With challenges and surprises at every turn, nothing goes according to plan. Adrien's visions of the future now show two possible outcomes: one in which they succeed, and one in which humanity falls. It all lies in Zoe's hands. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Full of romance, high-adrenaline action and shocking twists, Shutdown is a heart-pounding conclusion to an exciting sci-fi adventure trilogy for young adults. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">The thrilling conclusion to an action-packed sci-fi trilogy</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Title: Shutdown (Glitched #3)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Author: Heather Anastasiu</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Release Date: July 2nd 2013</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Rating: </span><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">5</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"> Stars</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Review: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">The stunning conclusion is what this book should be remembered as. A series that gets better and better, unlike common and typical run on series that are just trying to bleed readers dry, this story fully grows and develops along with each passing novel. Finally after the twist of a lifetime in Override, we still have Zoe, trying to save the world by saving humanity and </span><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">shutting</span><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"> down the Link System once and for all. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">It was great to see how strong Zoe became and how she truly became the YA heroine that we all wanted her to be. The plot was riveting and drew me in. If it has been a while since you have read Override then I recommend you reread it before you pick up Shutdown, otherwise the story will be hard to follow. But reading Glitched and Override would be worth it to reread a million times to read Shutdown, it has become one of my favorite books of 2013.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">This is the kind of book that will stick with you. I don't want to give anything away about the plot, I want you to read it, you will not be disappointed. I thank Itching for Books for allowing me to be on this blog tour and I thank Heather Anastasiu for giving out e-arc's to us lucky bloggers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">This is the kind of series worth investing your time in. I love the unique dystopian world. Written with a beautiful imagination and crisp, refreshing writing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Rating:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Recommended reads based off of Shutdown:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11594257-under-the-never-sky?ac=1">Under the Never Sky</a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12476820-partials?ac=1">Partials</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04090281511556396009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723496422991139850.post-29746991464811844122013-06-15T00:00:00.000-05:002013-06-15T00:00:00.345-05:00Culture Shock by Jeanette Pekala - Book Blast<div style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 16px/normal Calibri; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">CULTURE SHOCK is a witty tale of mystery and romance with a large helping of southern hospitality.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Macy Holmes is a seventeen-year-old socially-isolated introvert since her best friend's death a year ago. When her family decides to move from Manhattan to the quaint country town of Bougainvillea, Florida, Macy finds she's in a completely different world. Macy is no longer the outsider hiding behind designer clothes when she is sought out by three strange students, one of whom she is particularly interested in. The more time she spends with Chad the more things don't add up. When his true identity is finally revealed, Macy is pulled into a supernatural society with its saturation of inhabitants residing in Bougainvillea. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">You would think she has enough on her plate, but no, then her dreams become infiltrated by an external magical force, Macy and her band of supernatural misfits must find the culprit behind the magic-induced nightmares. They must dodge zombie assassins, shifty shape-shifters and high school bullies in order to stop this perpetrator before Macy, her friends or her parents pay the ultimate price. Especially when Macy has the sneaking suspicion that these dreams are reality...</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Excerpts from Culture Shock by Jeanette Pekala</b></span></span></div>
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<i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">There were two guys and one girl. The girl had severely long red wavy hair and flawless fair skin. She was supermodel skinny. Heroin-addict supermodel skinny. Her back was to me so I couldn’t get a good look at her face. </span></i></i></div>
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<i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">The first boy was sitting next to her. His back also to me, but when I first caught them spying, I noticed something peculiar about this boy. He was wearing a black hoodie, with the drawstrings tied so tight, the hood was covering nearly his whole face. He had dark aviator glasses on and gloves. Seriously, it’s like ninety-something degrees outside. Why on earth would you wear gloves? His skin, what was showing of it anyways, was even paler than the girl’s. </span></i></i></div>
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<i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">We found a spot over by the water free of sawgrass. It was a beautiful view. On the back end of the lake was a dense forest. It was dark just beyond the first set of trees. That was the only end of the lake that had remained uninhabited. There was a syrupy mist rising slowly off the surface of the water. It was creepy, but romantic in a sinister way. The sights, sounds, and smells all mingled together to create a scene an artist would love to capture with the stroke of his brush. </span></i></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><u>About the Author</u></b></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ZShO7Pswfw/UbZu0OnhwVI/AAAAAAAAF5Y/r1C1kV2s3-Q/s1600/_DSC2162b&w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ZShO7Pswfw/UbZu0OnhwVI/AAAAAAAAF5Y/r1C1kV2s3-Q/s400/_DSC2162b&w.jpg" width="271" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">After finishing her degree in Sociology from the University of Florida, Jeanette Pekala had no idea what she wanted to do with her life.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">While her husband was deployed overseas, she focused on what she loved to do, write, where she has finally found an outlet for her overactive imagination. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> She lives a not so normal life just a wee bit north of Bougainvillea where she resides with her husband and two children working on Shock Wave, book 2 in the Culture Shock Series.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04090281511556396009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723496422991139850.post-22983428622572659822013-06-10T00:00:00.000-05:002013-06-10T00:00:02.504-05:00Sliver of Hope<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JGWnOmpo_Sw/Ua5jVhDNCMI/AAAAAAAAAaU/BbfHu0QPsj4/s1600/Sliver+of+Hope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JGWnOmpo_Sw/Ua5jVhDNCMI/AAAAAAAAAaU/BbfHu0QPsj4/s400/Sliver+of+Hope.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
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Goodreads Summary:</div>
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<span id="freeText4206997194309679993">My twin sister was the only person in the world I thought I’d known inside and out. Apparently, I was wrong.<br /><br />Twin sisters share a unique bond, one that can't be broken by miles, time, or even death. Hannah and Hope Morton are no exception. When Hope takes her own life, Hannah loses a sister and a best friend, a catastrophe she isn't sure she'll survive herself. <br />With her family in ruins, Hannah is slowly disappearing, drowning in a sea of misery. Even her wild, energetic best friend can't pull her out of her grief. Desperate to help Hannah, her brother comes home from college, bringing his best friend Julian along, the first boy to break Hannah’s heart. None of their efforts are enough to pull Hannah off her self destructive path, though. Julian is the only one who can get through to her, working his way into her frozen soul with cocky remarks and genuine love that warms her from the inside out.<br /> As Hannah works to find answers, she continues to uncover new secrets and people that reveal a side of Hope she had never shared with her twin. Alone now, Hannah must make a decision of her own: move on and start a new life with the people she has left, or let the weight of her grief drag her down with her sister.</span></div>
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Title: A Sliver of Hope</div>
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Author: Karla J. Nellenbach</div>
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Release Date: March 25th 2013</div>
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Publisher: Booktrope</div>
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Buy Links: <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-sliver-of-hope-karla-j-nellenbach/1114957355?ean=9781620151334">Barnes and Noble</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sliver-Hope-Karla-J-Nellenbach/dp/1620151332/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370383642&sr=8-1&keywords=Sliver+of+hope">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Sliver-Hope/Karla-J-Nellenbach/9781620151334?id=5703837171107">Books-A-Million</a>, <a href="http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/usedbooks/a-sliver-of-hope/grp24386400-9781620151334-rare.html?ikwid=SLiver+of+hope&ikwsec=Fallback+Used+Books">Chapters</a></div>
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Rating: <strong><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">5 Stars</span></strong></div>
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Review:</div>
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My initial thoughts- This book is great! The story really draws you in and keeps you there. Such a sad story that really shakes you to the core. Written in diary format, the style is different than what I'm used to, but after only a few chapters I found myself immersed in Hannah's story. You feel her hurt and her want to just understand. If only she could grasp just a sliver of her sister Hope (<-- you see what I did there) she could realize what has happened and move forward. </div>
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This is a really fast read. I finished in only a few hours. As the story unfolds you just have to keep reading, you want to know what's going to happen next, and you need to know how Hannah is doing. Hoping that she is getting better and praying she will be able to move on. I have never had, nor lost a twin, so I can only imagine the pain it would cause to lose your other half, and I feel Nellenbach did an excellent representation of it in this story. </div>
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By the end my emotions were worked, from the end of one love, to the beginnning of a new/old one. Through the twisted lies and hidden secrets, Hannah emerges from the shadow of her lost sister and into her own light. She ends with a new beginning and an understanding of how little others show their true selves and how to trust again.<br />
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<strong>Characters</strong>-<br />
Hannah: Seeing as we are reading this story from her diary, I have to say she is an excellent story teller *wink,wink* Even though I don't have any actual experience with this kind of incident, Hannah was very relatable. The girl that lived in her sisters shadow, the girl that was always second best, or an add-on in everyone elses lives. Now she is the main focus, but they still only see her lost sister Hope. It would definitely suck to be identical twins and lose him/her, so that everyone that looks at you is clouded in pain of seeing a person they loved dearly, only it isn't your twin, it's you. I feel for Hannah, that would have been terrible. The story was told so well through her eyes. I feel her struggle.<br />
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Hope: I kind of hate her. She seemed to have everything she wanted, but she was depressed and sad underneath it all. Her character honestly seemed unrealistic to me, but then again that depth of depression is hard for me to even comprehend. Overall, I just feel for everyone that was a part of Hope's life, she was adored and loved by so many and she decided to take her life before it really even started.<br />
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Julian: Swoon worthy man alert. Hannah and Julian used to be in a relationship, they were the IT couple. Everyone loved them together and I have to say I was loving them together as well. Julian is very supportive to Hannah, he is probably the closest person to her after she loses Hope, and the only one that can truly comfort her in this time of grieving and confusion. He is without a doubt a yummy hearthrob. Can't get enough of him! The book was too short, I need more Julian. <br />
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Doug: Is such a good older brother, so sweet. I really enjoyed his part in the book. He had a strong sense of family. He may not have known what to do to help, but he did the best he could. <br />
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<strong>Overall-</strong></o:lock></v:textpath></v:path><br />
<v:path o:connectangles="270,180,90,0" o:connectlocs="@9,0;@10,10800;@11,21600;@12,10800" o:connecttype="custom" textpathok="t"><v:textpath fitshape="t" on="t"><o:lock shapetype="t" text="t" v:ext="edit">Definitely worth the read! You will go through it fast, so if you were on the edge before you mind as well just dive on in! You really get a great story with good character development. The book has stayed with me long after the last page was turned. I look forward to reading more by this author.</o:lock></v:textpath></v:path><v:shape fillcolor="black" id="_x0000_s1025" o:cliptowrap="t" style="height: 45pt; left: 103.5pt; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 2.88pt; mso-wrap-distance-left: 2.88pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 2.88pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 2.88pt; position: absolute; top: 45pt; width: 97.5pt; z-index: 1;" type="#_x0000_t136">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04090281511556396009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723496422991139850.post-69078722320453437782013-06-04T00:00:00.000-05:002013-06-04T00:00:07.457-05:00Take Me There<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rScVOajIY8c/UZ5UjRL9PZI/AAAAAAAAAZs/9JEZebNEcFw/s1600/Take+Me+There+CD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rScVOajIY8c/UZ5UjRL9PZI/AAAAAAAAAZs/9JEZebNEcFw/s400/Take+Me+There+CD.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7148786-take-me-there">Goodreads Summary</a>:</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dylan has a bad-boy past and a criminal record. He knows that rich, beautiful Jess is way too good for him—but she has always been the one person who sees through his tough exterior and straight to his heart, and he has been hopelessly in love with her from the first time they met. He would change his life for a chance with her.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">But trouble follows Dylan wherever he goes, and a deadly mistake soon forces him to hit the road and leave his dreams behind. He’s on the run and in search of answers—answers to questions he wishes he’d never asked.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Title: Take me There</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Author: Carolee Dean</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Published: July 20th 2010</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Review:</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-align: left;">Knock, knock...enter a male POV, love story, that does not make me want to throw up. Yay! Take me there was an original. I got more of the bad boy feel that I read in the </span><a 17.98611068725586px="" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4268157.Perfect_Chemistry" left="" line-height:="" text-align:="" title="Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles">Perfect Chemistry</a><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-align: left;"> series. With the sensitive, </span><em style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-align: left;">I am a softy underneath</em><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-align: left;">, loooooove connection. You see, Dylan's been loving Jess for forever. She has been a little piece of life in his shitty messed up world. A lot of people mention how they read this for the love story, that they wanted Jess, Jess and more Jess. She was there for a lot of it, but they are right this book does not move day and night with love story. There is more to it than that. It is largely based off of his father, and why he is the way he is. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">I loved that this book did not follow the normal paradigm of YA. But I will not sing praises about it well </span><em style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">"execution"</em><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">(<--- if you read it you will get it.) There is a lot that could have been better about the story. For one, we could have had a major turn around on the ending. This is not your happy go lucky fairy tale, where the bad boy shits roses at the end of the tunnel. On the contrary this is a very real story about how the nice guy finishes last, and justice, is served... but poorly. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">I would have loved to give this story five-stars but I just couldn't bring myself to do it, when the ending brought the novel down terribly. My recommendation is that you read this book. I really enjoyed it and I think it is worth it, it will be a change of pace for whatever you have been reading. Maybe, even make you appreciate what you have been reading a little more. </span><strong style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Don't read this book if you only like happy endings where everything is peachy clear in the end</strong><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">, because in this novel Romeo certainly sucks his poison. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">That is all I can really tell you without giving away anything. It was hard enough as it is. One thing that bothered me through this book is...was google not invented, because Dylan certainly could have figured out a lot about his dad if he had just bothered to type his name in a search engine. Anyways, carry on with your day. Reliving this book has me sad again and I need to go eat a Butterfinger or something.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O5rh0lA5As8/UZ5VEH62wsI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/or1PjZ02Q_A/s1600/4-Stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O5rh0lA5As8/UZ5VEH62wsI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/or1PjZ02Q_A/s1600/4-Stars.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-align: left;">Ahh, I wish I could give it more, but that would require a complete rewrite of the ending.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-align: left;">Recommended reads based off of Take Me There:</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8492251-playing-hurt?origin=related_works">Playing Hurt</a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4268157-perfect-chemistry">Perfect Chemistry</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04090281511556396009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723496422991139850.post-70671933530228778682013-05-31T11:06:00.000-05:002013-05-31T11:08:51.599-05:00Perfect Scoundrels<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k5i925fJ0oQ/UajFjQIiyVI/AAAAAAAAAaE/GPuEXtXmfGU/s1600/Perfect+Scoundrels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k5i925fJ0oQ/UajFjQIiyVI/AAAAAAAAAaE/GPuEXtXmfGU/s400/Perfect+Scoundrels.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13580928-perfect-scoundrels">Goodreads Summary</a>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Katarina Bishop and W.W. Hale the fifth were born to lead completely different lives: Kat comes from a long, proud line of loveable criminal masterminds, while Hale is the scion of one of the most seemingly perfect dynasties in the world. If their families have one thing in common, it's that they both know how to stay under the radar while getting-or stealing-whatever they want. No matter the risk, the Bishops can always be counted on, but in Hale's family, all bets are off when money is on the line. When Hale unexpectedly inherits his grandmother's billion dollar corporation, he quickly learns that there's no place for Kat and their old heists in his new role. But Kat won't let him go that easily, especially after she gets tipped off that his grandmother's will might have been altered in an elaborate con to steal the company's fortune. So instead of being the heir-this time, Hale might be the mark. Forced to keep a level head as she and her crew fight for one of their own, Kat comes up with an ambitious and far-reaching plan that only the Bishop family would dare attempt. To pull it off, Kat is prepared to do the impossible, but first, she has to decide if she's willing to save her boyfriend's company if it means losing the boy. </span><br />
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Title: Perfect Scoundrels<br />
Author: Ally Carter<br />
Released: February 5th 2013<br />
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion<br />
Rating: <span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><b>3 Stars</b></span><br />
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Review:<br />
I love Ally Carter's series. While intended for younger audiences, I have always found her books witty, eventful, and a great representation of heroine's that respect themselves and those around them. Perfect role model characters. With how much I love her stories, I wish I could give this book more stars, but I found myself getting lackadaisical about 85% of the way through. I thought I was only halfway (I read the ebook and I wasn't paying attention to the total page number) and I just had to take a break from this story for a day. When I picked it back up, there was only 30 ebook pages left, so I finished it relatively fast.<br />
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The reason this didn't make it to 4 or 5 stars is because everything Kat planned was happening behind closed doors. We weren't a part of the decision making process, leaving us totally out of the loop kind of took away some of the excitement that was held in the past two books in this series. Not only were we kept out of the loop but so was Hale! What the heck was that about, he is her partner in crime, if anything is going down, he should know about it.<br />
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Lastly, the ending fell really flat. Everything changed so swiftly, and it never felt believable. I mean when the author knows she is going to pull a 180 sometimes they give these really obvious hints, and I think her hint might have been that she just didn't throw her gusto into the last few chapters. Kat became scarily serious and the fact that she was working alone made it so we couldn't pull that fun sense of humor out of her. She was trying to be the big bad wolf for a change and it really didn't suit her. She is the kind of person that plays the passive role, to let the other person think they are winning when really they are way underestimating her, she gives them a devilish smile that says she is smarter than you and cut scene. Big bad wolf role - is usually a failing role. It didn't fit her personality at all she is too smart to play devils advocate.<br />
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So, what did I like? I love con-artist stories, so basically the premise of the book is awesome. Kat is robin hood, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor only she steals from the thief and gives it back to the rightful owner. I still love the dialogue, when the crew is talking to one another it never stops being hilarious comments. Some of my favorite quotes...<br />
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<i>"Cat in the Cradle?" Gabrielle said.</i><br />
<i>"We don't have Hale,"Hamish said.</i><br />
<i>"You could do it,"Gabrielle challenged.</i><br />
<i>"Do I look like a classically trained violinist to you?" he asked, and Gabrielle didn't broach the subject again.</i><br />
<i>"Then what about Ace's Wild?" Simon said.</i><br />
<i>Angus scooted forward. "With a little Count of Monte Cristo?"</i><br />
<i>"Exactly," Simon said, excited.</i><br />
- Page 62 of 219 (nook ebook) I love the names of the Con's Carter throws into these books. So funny.<br />
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<i>"What?" He cut a grin at Kat when he saw the impressed look on her face. "Corporate espionage is my second great passion."</i><br />
<i>"With your first being..." Kat prompted.</i><br />
<i>"Gelato." Hale said and turned back to the group.</i><br />
-page 124 of 219 (nook ebook) - who doesn't love gelato???<br />
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<i>"We can find Garrett, right? And he can't sell the prototype if he is...shall we say...tied up?" She gave a self-satisfied smirk.</i><br />
<i>"Gabrielle!" Kat rolled her eyes.</i><br />
<i>"What?" Her cousin looked as innocent as she could possibly be. "We could keep him somplace nice. It will be like a vacation. Or rehab. He might even thank us."</i><br />
<i>"Yeah," Kat mocked. "Thank us...have us arrested for kidnapping...really, they're practically the same thing."</i><br />
- Page 126 of 219 (nook ebook)<br />
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<i>"Dad doesn't hate you. He just...well, Dad doesn't hate you anymore than he would any boy who was...a boy."</i><br />
<i>"He doesn't hate the Bagshaws."</i><br />
<i>"The Bagshaws aren't boys. They are bombs with very colorful fuses."</i><br />
<i>"Good to know."</i><br />
- Page 159 of 219 (nook ebook)<br />
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Anyways, If you have been reading this series, I think it is worth to read this book too. And I hope she writes a fourth book to this series as well. I want the con's to keep on coming. If you haven't read this series I would recommend it to you if you like the idea of some good old con-artist fun and witty characters.<br />
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Recommended reads based off of <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13580928-perfect-scoundrels">Perfect Scoundrels</a>:<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13505666-the-almost-truth">The Almost Truth</a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5287473-hex-hall">Hex Hall (Hex Hall #1)</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04090281511556396009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723496422991139850.post-57613015149462877692013-05-30T00:00:00.001-05:002013-05-30T00:00:07.157-05:00Cover Reveal - Angels of the Knights Book 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ldUpNwL9bqs/UaVwG1Y9gFI/AAAAAAAAPqA/gufp_Sp-tBg/s1600/nikki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ldUpNwL9bqs/UaVwG1Y9gFI/AAAAAAAAPqA/gufp_Sp-tBg/s640/nikki.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Angels of the
Knights - Nikki (Book 3)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5281726.Valerie_Zambito"><span style="color: blue;">Valerie
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Angels of the Knights - Fallon </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/series/99384-angels-of-the-knights"><span style="color: blue;">(Angels of the Knights #1)</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5281726.Valerie_Zambito"><span style="color: blue;">Valerie Zambito</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Summary from Goodreads:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">When Fallon Angell died at the age of sixteen, her life changed forever.<br /><br />The hallowed world of Emperica is everything she had ever hoped for as a mortal—immeasurable beauty, unconditional love and light. But, with affection for humankind still burning within her, she joins the Knight Caste to train as an angel warrior. As a Knight, she will give up her wings and return to the place that killed her to use her unique powers to search out and destroy the evil Kjin that roam the earth. As a Knight, she will stop at nothing to protect the mortals in her care.<br /><br />The elders warn her that the path she chose will be a solitary one. That she will not have the same bond with humans as she once did. But, as far as she knows, the elders had never met Kade Royce.<br /><br />When her duties place her in the path of this handsome former cop, emotions buried long ago rise to the surface and she is powerless to ignore the depth of her feelings for this young man. She knows instinctively that she has found what most people search their entire lives for.<br /><br />Ignoring the risks, she invites him into her world of danger, but soon their lives collide with explosive consequence. As a result, Fallon realizes with heartbreaking despair that she can no longer hide from the painful truth. In order for Kade to live, she must destroy him.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: red;">E-book is currently free!</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Angels-Knights-Fallon-Paranormal-ebook/dp/B008KP6GJG/ref=sr_1_4_title_1_kin?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1369618509&sr=1-4&keywords=valerie+zambito" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo B6096376-6C81-4465-8935-CE890C777EB9-1855-000001A1E900B890_zps5affbed6.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u367/nereyda1003/new/B6096376-6C81-4465-8935-CE890C777EB9-1855-000001A1E900B890_zps5affbed6.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/angels-of-the-knights-valerie-zambito/1111916662?ean=9780615650135" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 111AD205-AA04-4F9E-A0F4-C1264C4E9F30-1855-000001A1E8CEB6D7_zps9b730b94.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u367/nereyda1003/new/111AD205-AA04-4F9E-A0F4-C1264C4E9F30-1855-000001A1E8CEB6D7_zps9b730b94.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Angels of the Knights - Blane </span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/series/99384-angels-of-the-knights"><span style="color: blue;">(Angels of the Knights #2)</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5281726.Valerie_Zambito"><span style="color: blue;">Valerie Zambito</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Summary from Goodreads:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Once the hunter, now the hunted. As the war with the Kjin rages, Blane Romero must lead the Paladin Knights against their mortal enemy while trying to protect the young, Juliet Hunter, who unwittingly finds herself entangled in their sinister schemes. Juliet cares only about shielding her young sisters from harm, but finds herself drawn to the enigmatic man who offers her much more than either he or she was prepared for.<br /><br />Ostracized by the families they loved, Blane and Juliet find they have more in common than they thought as they battle demons both real and personal to stay together. But, will it be enough when the powerful Cesar Grant decides he wants Juliet for his own?<br /><br />Book Two in the Angels of the Knights paranormal fantasy series.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Buy Links:</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Angels-Knights-Blane-Paranormal-ebook/dp/B00CR0H1EO/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1369618509&sr=1-7&keywords=valerie+zambito" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo B6096376-6C81-4465-8935-CE890C777EB9-1855-000001A1E900B890_zps5affbed6.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u367/nereyda1003/new/B6096376-6C81-4465-8935-CE890C777EB9-1855-000001A1E900B890_zps5affbed6.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/angels-of-the-knights-valerie-zambito/1115381013?ean=2940044535749" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo 111AD205-AA04-4F9E-A0F4-C1264C4E9F30-1855-000001A1E8CEB6D7_zps9b730b94.jpg" border="0" src="http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u367/nereyda1003/new/111AD205-AA04-4F9E-A0F4-C1264C4E9F30-1855-000001A1E8CEB6D7_zps9b730b94.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">About the Author<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Thank you for visiting my Goodread's profile. I am Valerie Zambito, and I live in upstate New York with my husband and three sons. After having been involved in a busy sales career for fifteen years, a great love of world building, character creation, and all things magic led to the publication of my first adult epic fantasy series, ISLAND SHIFTERS, in October of 2011. Since then, I have added two additional books to this series and wrote the first book in a new teen paranormal series called ANGELS OF THE KNIGHTS.<br /><br />My reading preference is fantasy as well and I devour in copious amounts. In my opinion, there’s nothing like it! Great fantasy grants us entry into a world beyond our own that is filled with adventure, mystery and danger. How exciting to enjoy a front row seat to human struggles of epic proportions. Struggles that tug at our heartstrings and elicit real emotion.<br /><br />I gravitate to fantasy with heroic elements. I like strong, confident men who never back down from a fight against evil. The kind who will not hesitate to throw himself between a woman and a fire-breathing dragon. I like strong women, too. The kind who will appreciate the offer, but is more inclined to push the man out of the way and take care of the dragon herself. ;)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.valeriezambito.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Website</span></a>│<a href="http://twitter.com/@vzambito"><span style="color: blue;">Twitter</span></a>│<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Valerie-Zambito-Author-Page/207290402664749"><span style="color: blue;">Facebook</span></a>│<span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5281726.Valerie_Zambito"><span style="color: blue;">Goodreads</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
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<b>***GIVEAWAY***<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">(1) Print or
e-book copies of books 1 & 2 in this series plus $25 Amazon Gift Card<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b>Cover Reveal Organized by:</b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04090281511556396009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723496422991139850.post-17921115881320266652013-05-28T00:00:00.000-05:002013-05-28T00:00:09.324-05:00Unraveling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9yCkAkVwR0c/UZ5TB9tDzdI/AAAAAAAAAZU/Rim9qstxa9U/s1600/Unraveling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9yCkAkVwR0c/UZ5TB9tDzdI/AAAAAAAAAZU/Rim9qstxa9U/s400/Unraveling.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13425392-unraveling">Goodreads Summary</a>:</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she's opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn't possible, she knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><span style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">But her revival, and Ben's possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI agent father's files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what's right in front of her: Everything that's happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben's sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she's going to need to uncover Ben's secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">From debut author Elizabeth Norris comes this shattering novel of one girl's fight to save herself, her world, and the boy she never saw coming.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Title: Uraveling</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Author: Elizabeth Norris</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Published: April 24th 2012</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Review:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-align: left;">*sigh of relief* a book full of awesomesauce. So happy I read this, despite it's terrible cover. I loved his book to the core! Janelle is a great character that you should be happy to get into the mind of. She is strong and level headed. Plus, she is total BA with how she handles herself. Her father is a part of the FBI and she often reads his case files. Well, after she gets hit by a truck, and should have died but was brought back to life by Ben, she get's interested in her own case, and the radiation deaths of many John Doe's that seem to be related. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-align: left;">Janelle is smart and determined. She will uncover the truth, just like her dad. While dealing with her bipolar mother and taking care of her younger brother at the same time. Her best friend Alex is so sweet and charming and none of the typical best friends fall in love or disgusting love triangles plague this story. Alex is her friend and she loves him as he loves her, but it never stretches beyond friendship. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-align: left;">Many surprises and turns, a lot of unfortunate deaths and catastrophes bring this story to a much anticipated climax. Ben and Janelle's love is not lost, but they make decisions that are important for themselves and not driven by lust ridden teenagers. I recommend you read this book! It was so much fun and I think you will love it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-align: left;">Rating:</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WXiLOnayb3Q/UZ5Ti5mQHpI/AAAAAAAAAZc/2hXL3D2r8vM/s1600/5-Stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WXiLOnayb3Q/UZ5Ti5mQHpI/AAAAAAAAAZc/2hXL3D2r8vM/s1600/5-Stars.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-align: left;">Oh, yes. I wish there were more to give, because they get all the stars in the sky!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-align: left;">Recommended reads based off of Unraveling:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 17.98611068725586px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12681233-revived?origin=related_works">Revived</a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10429033-deadly-cool">Deadly Cool</a></span></div>
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04090281511556396009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723496422991139850.post-58176625749492760222013-05-24T00:00:00.000-05:002013-05-24T00:00:06.307-05:00Cursed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cw08_sFsTyc/UZ5QlNLYKvI/AAAAAAAAAY8/6lyh2GdjojQ/s1600/Cursed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cw08_sFsTyc/UZ5QlNLYKvI/AAAAAAAAAY8/6lyh2GdjojQ/s400/Cursed.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11946026-cursed">Goodreads Summary</a>:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Dying sucks</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">...and high school senior Ember McWilliams knows firsthand.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"> </span></div>
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</span><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">After a fatal car accident, her gifted little sister brought her back. Now anything Ember touches dies. And that, well, really blows.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Ember operates on a no-touch policy with all living things--including boys. When Hayden Cromwell shows up, quoting Oscar Wilde and claiming her curse is a gift, she thinks he's a crazed cutie. But when he tells her he can help control it, she's more than interested. There's just one catch: Ember has to trust Hayden's adopted father, a man she's sure has sinister reasons for collecting children whose abilities even weird her out. However, she's willing to do anything to hold her sister's hand again. And hell, she'd also like to be able to kiss Hayden. Who wouldn't?</span></div>
</span><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">But when Ember learns the accident that turned her into a freak may not've been an accident at all, she's not sure who to trust. Someone wanted her dead, and the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she is to losing not only her heart, but her life.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">For real this time.</span></div>
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Title: Cursed</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Published: September 18th 2012</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Review:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Gahhh! A little to lovey but it was decent. Reminded me a lot of </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6780439-dark-visions">Dark Visions</a><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"> by L.J. Smith. The collection of people with powers. I love Armentrout and will cowtow to her till the day I die, but this book was less than miraculous. Simply plain. There is a bit of choke-me insta-love brewed here that was sappy and sickening that rubbed me in all the wrong ways. Maybe I would have flown for it in the past, but after reading so many amazingly wonderful loves, I cannot accept this as even close to one of them. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">I hate that her best friend was abandoned and forgot her. It was so terribly and he could have added so much to the story. He was a great character one that if Armentrout would have kept him, could have kept the story to a four-star rating, but instead you get three. Oh so sad, but that is the truth of life. You cut out great characters, you only get a good book. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">The fact that she couldn't be touched was very much like </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10429045-shatter-me">Shatter Me</a><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">, in that if anyone touches her, they will die, except of course the love interest, because what fun would that be. The little sister was a good character but I thought her part was way overplayed. She was actually annoying in how much of an angel she was. Little kids are so bribed by sweets and toys that they cannot see real love if it smacked them in the face and that made me sad for Ember (which by the way is a cruel name for someone with red hair, even though it is an awesome name.)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;" /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Overall, the story could have been executed better. Too much mushy love, equals a less than happy Kelley. Not a waste of time, but I definitely could have waited to buy it. Oh, well. Hopefully I have helped you in your own reading decision!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 17.98611068725586px;">Rating:</span></span><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NXIaNBpctvQ/UZ5QnhftD3I/AAAAAAAAAZE/T75Xtdx5fVw/s1600/3-Stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NXIaNBpctvQ/UZ5QnhftD3I/AAAAAAAAAZE/T75Xtdx5fVw/s1600/3-Stars.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 17.984375px;">Since it is an Armentrout, I wish I could give it more, but I just can't. No where near as good as the Lux series.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 17.984375px;">Recommended reads based off of Cursed:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 17.984375px;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10429045-shatter-me">Shatter Me</a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6780439-dark-visions">Dark Visions</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04090281511556396009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723496422991139850.post-20199624583500689702013-05-23T00:00:00.000-05:002013-05-23T00:00:05.454-05:00Click to Subscribe<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w66ScGrasRg/UYKVbWXiwVI/AAAAAAAAAWE/he9WObpDTEQ/s1600/Click+to+Subscribe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w66ScGrasRg/UYKVbWXiwVI/AAAAAAAAAWE/he9WObpDTEQ/s400/Click+to+Subscribe.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Goodreads Summary:</span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">1,135,789. That’s how many subscribers sixteen-year-old West Ryder has on his web vlog series. But he only has eyes for one of them. </span><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"> </span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">As one of the internet’s most prestigious video bloggers, West talks about high school relationships under the name “Sam Green.” As far as he knows, no one from school, not even his best friend, Cat, has seen his videos. But the highlight of the whole thing is Harper Knight, who comments every day at exactly 2:02 in the afternoon. He doesn’t know anything about her aside from the occasional deep philosophical messaging on why pizza tastes so delicious, but as stupid as it sounds, he might be falling for her. So when they finally agree to meet in real life, West’s hope for romance seems more and more in reach. But that all changes as soon as he arrives at their meeting spot and sees Cat walking toward him, wearing the same “I <3 Sam Green” T-shirt Harper promised she'd have on.</span><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"> </span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">To his alarm, West realizes he is falling in love with the best friend who has always been a sister to him.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
<span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Title: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17285743-click-to-subscribe?ac=1">Click to Subscribe</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Author: <a href="http://authoraugustine.blogspot.com/">L.M. Augustine</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Release Date: May 9th</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="ecxyui_3_7_2_30_1368356805587_334" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;">Buy links: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Click-To-Subscribe-ebook/dp/B00COQNGPE/" style="cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit;" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Click-To-Subscribe-ebook/dp/B00COQNGPE/" style="cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit;" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Click-To-Subscribe-ebook/dp/B00COQNGPE/" style="cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit;" target="_blank">Amazon CA</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1115259181?ean=2940016496511" style="cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit;" target="_blank">B&</a></span><span style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1115259181?ean=2940016496511" style="cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit;" target="_blank">N</a> | <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/314303" style="cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit;" target="_blank">Smashwords</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.109375px;">Review:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 21.109375px;"><b>WARNING: Reading this book will cause random bouts of laughter. Extreme cravings of Vanilla Ice Cream with Rainbow Sprinkles (because they make the world go round) and may endanger Old Lady's walking along the street. Read at your own risk!</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">The warning is for your own good, I just had to warn you, it's in my nature of being such a wonderful person! This book was amazing and I loved every fun-filled second of it. Click to Subscribe had me with a big grin on my face one moment, to my eyes pooling out this strange salty liquid at the next, only to bring me back around to fits of laughter that can only be described as howling glee. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.109375px;">Told through the male POV of West Ryder, aka Sam Green to all his vlog followers, is just an ordinary teen with an extraordinary tolerance of sugar. He has been dealt a short stick in life, he was really close to his mother and is still mourning over loosing her. Luckily he has his best friend Cat to lend him a shoulder whenever he needs it. And mysterious girl vlog follower Harper to help take the edge off. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">When one day they plan to meet, and it turns out that Harper and Cat are the same person. West has to learn to accept that the cyber-girl Harper, he was falling for, and his so-close-of-a-friend-she-is-more-like-a-sister Cat are one in the same. How can he risk loving someone so close to him like Cat? He is terrified of what loosing her would mean for his life if they didn't work out. Needless to say, West is going through a whole heck of a lot and be prepared for this stories epic and bumpy ride! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">My only complaint is that I want more! It would have been awesome to read more about his vlog in the beginning, what he talks about and what other kinds of followers he has. He is obsessed with Harper, and that is really what drives the story so it is understandable that it revolves around their conversations, I would have just liked a little more West or his alias Sam Green, to add layers and depth to his character. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;"><br /></span>
</span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ycxuA5ucWRY/UYKb_fQWWFI/AAAAAAAAAWc/6pD2gMJumBM/s1600/Vanilla+Ice+Cream+Rainbow+Sprinkles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ycxuA5ucWRY/UYKb_fQWWFI/AAAAAAAAAWc/6pD2gMJumBM/s1600/Vanilla+Ice+Cream+Rainbow+Sprinkles.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.109375px;">Anyways, I loved every minute of it. West is fun and refreshing a male main character with a sensitive side, and confident enough in himself to pull it off. He was such a relatable character. It was beautiful to be in the mind of West and to feel what he felt. I couldn't get enough of him. I felt so bad for what happened to his mom and how his life was crumbling apart. Yet he had such a light and refreshing personality that just kept me wanting more, page after page. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 21.109375px;"><------------ Almost as good as the book!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">And lets face it, Cat is the BOMB. She is what females strive to be! Nice, beautiful, kind, forgiving, and knows how to go after what she wants. [beach scene ;) I know what you were trying to do Cat you naught devil!] <--- forgive me, but you will understand once you read it! And that is exactly what you should do right now, go read it! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">Thank you Sel from Bookcase to Heaven and L.M. Augustine for allowing me to be a part of the Click to Subscribe tour. The book was wonderful and I loved every minute of it!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">Rating: 5 stars!</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HgmYsmEZxBk/UYKbHHsfSvI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/8o7UL4Fn6UU/s1600/5-Stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HgmYsmEZxBk/UYKbHHsfSvI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/8o7UL4Fn6UU/s1600/5-Stars.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.109375px;">All five baby! You deserve every one!</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 21.109375px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">Recommended reads based off of Click to Subscribe:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.109375px;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11913681-the-boyfriend-thief">The Boyfriend Thief</a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12294652-my-life-next-door">My Life Next Door</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04090281511556396009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723496422991139850.post-1016208963297596312013-05-14T11:50:00.001-05:002013-05-14T11:50:13.439-05:00Easy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A6R7pkC12wU/UZJi0o5ZzXI/AAAAAAAAAYc/Xt72mPE6oaE/s1600/Easy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A6R7pkC12wU/UZJi0o5ZzXI/AAAAAAAAAYc/Xt72mPE6oaE/s400/Easy.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Goodreads Summary:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup two months into sophomore year. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she's single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, and failing a class for the first time in her life.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Leaving a party alone, Jacqueline is assaulted by her ex's frat brother. Rescued by a stranger who seems to be in the right place at the right time, she wants nothing more than to forget the attack and that night - but her savior, Lucas, sits on the back row of her econ class, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. Her friends nominate him to be the perfect rebound.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">When her attacker turns stalker, Jacqueline has a choice: crumple in defeat or learn to fight back. Lucas remains protective, but he's hiding secrets of his own. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Mature Young Adult / New Adult</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Title: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14475552-easy">Easy</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Author: Tammara Webber</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Released: May 25th 2012</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Review:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Wow to the millionth power. This book dug deep, crushing my insides and ripping out pure emotion. The story held such beautiful design and the plot kept me going on, where I knew what was going to happen, but she had me convinced as the pages kept turning that it wouldn't only to rock me with more shockers. Seriously, get ready to cry, love, laugh, and grow stronger than you already are. This book helps you build, grow and gain acceptance of yourself, even if you didn't know you needed to gain any. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Jacqueline becomes a strong independent and self-assured woman right in front of your very eyes, with strong character development. She is a very relatable character, and her decisions keep you on the edge of your toes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Not to mention Lucas, the basis of which all men should be. He is the bad boy, with the smart boy flare, and feel free to throw in the damaged soul package too. I was amazed at his story and part in this novel. I couldn't help but prey that he would get his happy ending, lord knows he deserves it. I am ever more excited to find out that Webber will be writing a novella in Lucas's point of view, that will take place before the setting of Easy and have some overlap, but will not go beyond the story. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">One thing you will want from this book is more. Once the story is over, and all the pages are turned, it wont be enough. This is a stand-alone book for Webber, but the characters are so great you cannot help but want more from them. I am not the biggest fan of novels that become series with the supporting cast as the main characters in the next book and so on, but it would be so worth it for this book, if I got to see more of Jacqueline and Lucas. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">As a fan of Webber, I have to say, Easy by far outshines her Between the Lines series. There is no comparison. She touched deep emotions with this story and I give her a lot of credit for writing about such a serious subject and executing it so well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">With that said, this book is not for the tenderhearted. It could really upset you if you are </span><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">sensitive</span><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"> to a story about </span><span style="line-height: 21.109375px;">assault</span><span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"> and the terror that comes with it. If you are brave enough to weather this storm, you will not be disappointed. As I said earlier you become a better person and more aware just by reading. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.109375px;">Recommended reads based off of Easy:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.109375px;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10194514-pushing-the-limits">Pushing the Limits</a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16113791-the-coincidence-of-callie-and-kayden?origin=related_works">The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden</a></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04090281511556396009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723496422991139850.post-40531554444954755632013-05-10T00:00:00.000-05:002013-05-10T00:00:04.348-05:00Suddenly Royal<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-39vwqqvLFK4/UYkxG7SiJSI/AAAAAAAAAXk/G4hClVZkaa8/s1600/Suddenly+Royal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-39vwqqvLFK4/UYkxG7SiJSI/AAAAAAAAAXk/G4hClVZkaa8/s400/Suddenly+Royal.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
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Goodreads Summary:</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Samantha Rousseau is used to getting her hands dirty. Working toward a master’s degree in wildlife biology while helping take care of her sick father, she has no time for celebrity gossip, designer clothes, or lazy vacations. So when a duchess from the small country of Lilaria invites her to dinner, Samantha assumes it’s to discuss a donation for the program. The truth will change the course of her life in ways she never dreamed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Alex D’Lynsal is trying to keep his name clean. As crown prince of Lilaria, he’s had his share of scandalous headlines, but the latest pictures have sent him packing to America and forced him to swear off women—especially women in the public eye. That is, until he meets Samantha Rousseau. She’s stubborn, feisty, and incredibly sexy. Not to mention heiress to an estate in his country, which makes her everyone’s front-page news.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">While Sam tries to navigate the new world of politics and wealth, she will also have to dodge her growing feelings for Alex. Giving in to them means more than just falling in love; it would mean accepting the weight of an entire country on her shoulders.</span><br />
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Title: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16143323-suddenly-royal">Suddenly Royal</a><br />
Author: <a href="http://www.nicholechase.com/">Nichole Chase</a><br />
Published: April 23rd 2013<br />
Where to buy: <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/suddenly-royal-nichole-chase/1114988788?ean=9781483953298">Barnes and Noble</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Suddenly-Royal-Nichole-Chase/dp/1483953297/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367945902&sr=8-1&keywords=Suddenly+royal+nichole+chase">Amazon</a><br />
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Review:<br />
Suddenly Royal is sweet, charming and a bit predictable. I mean what can you expect from a fairy tale. The writing was good not great and definitely improved from the first third of the book to the end, bringing it from a solid three stars to four. Nichole Chase didn't focus on the petty aspects of love and jealousy. This was a real, simple and to the point love story. With reluctance of new love, and acceptance of a new role or chapter in life.<br />
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I love Chadwick and many other supporting characters. I thought I would hate Bert in the beginning, (because lets face it, who loves Bert but Ernie,) but in the end I found he was one of my favorite characters even though we only get to see him a few times in the novel. Jess was also a fantastic supporting character too, much better than Cathy.<br />
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While Prince Yummy aka Alex was a great male lead, that any woman that loves men would swoon for and I admit I did swoon a little, he was just too perfect for my taste. I mean he never put any pressure on Sam, which is great in our fantasy worlds where it rains candy, but because of that I lost some of my realism in the book and couldn't quite become as absorbed in the characters as I would have wanted. I wish I could have had more dramatics with him. He had the potential to be so much more than just Sam's love interest and future king with a big..."bath tub." <--- if you decide to read it you will understand. Also I was disappointed that none of the story is told from his POV. When I read the description and it talked about him, I assumed I would be reading a bit through his eyes, obviously not the case. The whole story is told through Samantha.<br />
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Sam, was a great character and since I found out this was a series I hope it still includes her because I would love to see what she does next. I want to believe she will be getting back to some of the life she lived in Minnesota before she became a Duchess, but in Suddenly Royal she was more focused on her new duties, so she didn't have time for it her normal routine and life. Which I understood, that was part of her sacrifice when she decided to take her title, but I still felt like she might have let becoming a duchess change her personality, instead of her being herself. Either way I enjoyed her character the MN grad student, and the Duchess of Rousseau from Lilaria. <br />
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Speaking of Minnesota, thank you Nichole Chase for writing the first novel I have ever read that makes me smile instead of cringe at the people from the state or the description of it. While you did not talk much about my beloved state of MN I loved every piece you did write about it, which is hard to do since I am naturally a very critical person! And thank you for adding nature. I love the necklace she was given and the tiara with the vines she wore. I wish I had both of those pieces!<br />
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Overall this is a good story that is worth the few hours that it takes to read. I was pleasantly happy. It is a new adult book so expect some more erotic scenes, but I am thankful that it wasn't an all out sex-book with dirty situations on every page. While that may disappoint some of you readers out there I thought it was brilliant, because it wasn't so involved in sex and spankings that it lacked in the actual story. If you are interested in the more naughty scenes I can tell you there are only a few but they are definitely hot and steamy.<br />
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I would recommend you read it. A nice light story, that you will laugh about, that gets hot and steamy and makes you cry your eyes out.<br />
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Recommended reading based off of Suddenly Royal:</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15744557-star-crossed?ac=1">Star Crossed</a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15810336-wide-awake?origin=related_works">Wide Awake</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04090281511556396009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723496422991139850.post-67847574365939599752013-05-08T00:00:00.000-05:002013-05-08T00:00:10.511-05:00Waiting on Wednesday (9)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wcgiXfdnv18/UYfNBldURLI/AAAAAAAAAXI/-jlFWaMN9qw/s1600/Waiting+On+Wednesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wcgiXfdnv18/UYfNBldURLI/AAAAAAAAAXI/-jlFWaMN9qw/s1600/Waiting+On+Wednesday.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px;">"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill of </span><a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Breaking the Spine</a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px;">, that spotlights<br /> upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This week I am waiting on...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15283043-the-distance-between-us">The Distance Between Us</a> by Kasie West</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3_hGwJwrtkc/UYfOaa0QeKI/AAAAAAAAAXU/moK7bwQhv-o/s1600/The+Distance+Between+Us.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3_hGwJwrtkc/UYfOaa0QeKI/AAAAAAAAAXU/moK7bwQhv-o/s1600/The+Distance+Between+Us.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Goodreads Summary:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she's beginning to enjoy his company.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about.</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Sounds like a wonderfully beautiful story that I cannot wait to get my hands on. A perfect summer read! Comes out June 2nd 2013!</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Leave me a link to your WoW's I love to see what I could potentially be waiting on next week. <-- Seeing as how <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15283043-the-distance-between-us">The Distance Between Us</a> was something someone else was waiting on last week when I decided I had to have it too!</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Happy Reading, </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.111112594604492px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 21.111112594604492px;">Kelley Lee</span></span></div>
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</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04090281511556396009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723496422991139850.post-25634254894369538482013-05-07T00:00:00.000-05:002013-05-07T00:00:05.160-05:00Teaser Tuesday (9)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fZ3Qu1D6MbM/UYfGT8yXvsI/AAAAAAAAAWw/tpZp-Ga31-I/s1600/Teaser+Tuesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fZ3Qu1D6MbM/UYfGT8yXvsI/AAAAAAAAAWw/tpZp-Ga31-I/s1600/Teaser+Tuesday.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong style="line-height: 18px;">Teaser Tuesdays</strong><span style="line-height: 18px;"> is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of </span><em style="line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration: none;">Should Be Reading</a></em><span style="line-height: 18px;">. Anyone can play along!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!</strong> (<em>make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!</em>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Share the <strong>title & author</strong>, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!</span></div>
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This weeks Teaser is from...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17285743-click-to-subscribe?ac=1">Click to Subscribe</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6906110.L_M_Augustine">L.M. Augustine</a> to be released May 9th! (only two days away!)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17285743-click-to-subscribe?ac=1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank" title="Add to Goodreads"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Get ready for the teasers...(insert drum roll sound here)...</span><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yS0m7j3L2ak/UYfIWRMTfyI/AAAAAAAAAW8/N5AKSHg3fco/s1600/Click+to+Subscribe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yS0m7j3L2ak/UYfIWRMTfyI/AAAAAAAAAW8/N5AKSHg3fco/s400/Click+to+Subscribe.jpg" width="240" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yeah I know. Falling in love with a girl over the internet. Welcome to my effed-up life. (My poor therapist.)<br /><i>Hey, what can I say?</i> she writes. <i>My avatar brings all the boys to the yard. </i> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">- Page 7 of 154 ebook (arc) </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I press my foot on the accelerator and speed down to the supermarket, because that's where all the true present-giving bad asses go. One red light, one downed stop sign, and two near-dead old ladies later (I'm still not entirely sure how I passed the driver's test...) I skid into the grocery store parking lot.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">- Page 126 of 154 ebook (arc) [Isn't that sooooo true! Food is the way to my birthday heart!]</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">[Just because I love you bloggers I am going to throw in one more ;)]</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Not about the kiss, not about any of this. Instead, we spend our time discussing Switzerland polotics, mostly about the political situation with Switzerland chocolate and how we might go about buying some more.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">- Page 136 of 154 ebook (arc) </span><br />
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<a href="http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k528/kelleylee1/addtogoodreads_zpsf4e5875e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Reading to Stay Alive" border="0" src="http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k528/kelleylee1/addtogoodreads_zpsf4e5875e.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This book was great and I am glad I can share a few teasers with you guys! If you like it too, add it to goodreads, click the pic ----------></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Leave me a link to your TT. I love to see what you are teasing me with this week!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy Reading,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Kelley Lee</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04090281511556396009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723496422991139850.post-66026779120386067552013-05-06T00:00:00.000-05:002013-05-06T00:00:09.824-05:00Meet the Author Behind the Novel - Teresa Orts<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today I would like to share with you all someone fabulous I have met. She is the Author of <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17667824-the-year-of-the-great-seventh?ac=1">The Year of the Great Seventh</a> (release date JULY 6th) So without further ado I introduce...(drumroll...) Teresa Orts!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Bio Story:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Unlike most authors, I didn’t start writing books when I was five years old. In fact, I’d never been too interested in reading or writing. Hanging out with friends in the small Spanish town where I grew up always seemed more appealing than anything a book could offer. It took about twenty-seven years and a global financial meltdown for me to discover the magic world of writing.</span><span style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">At the time, I was living in New York City, and one morning I discovered I was no longer expected at my sixty-hour-a-week investment banking job. Most of my friends had very demanding jobs, so I spent my days wandering around on my own.</span><span style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Like other unemployed people, I started living through the nights and sleeping through the days. New York is known as the city that never sleeps for a good reason! One night, tired of surfing the web and watching TV, I opened a Word document and started typing a short story, which I saved in my computer with little interest. That was the day Nate and Sophie were born.</span><span style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Days later, since the financial industry seemed to be going into a downward spiral, I decided to spend three months traveling through Southeast Asia and New Zealand. I thought, naïve me, that by the time I returned, the financial crisis would have come to an end.</span><span style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Something really strange happened to me during that trip. No matter where I went, I couldn’t stop thinking about the story. Nate and Sophie followed me everywhere. No matter how hard I tried to forget about them, they just wouldn’t go away. At the beginning, I thought I was losing my mind, but soon after, I realized I had to continue writing the story.</span><span style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When I came back to New York, I went right back into it, and that’s how <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17667824-the-year-of-the-great-seventh?ac=1">The Year of the Great Seventh</a></i> was created. Unfortunately, halfway through the novel, I received a letter from the immigration department informing me that, with no job, I was no longer welcome in the United States. Without much of a choice, my boyfriend and I decided to pack our lives, along with my half-drafted manuscript, and begin another exciting adventure in London, where we now live.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Interview Questions:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: purple; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;">First off, I believe congratulations are in order. For one you have conquered the mighty mountain that is writing your first novel, you were fortunate enough to travel to some beautiful places, and finally I hear you recently had a child! All amazing moments and they all happened within a year of one another! How are you going to top that for 2014? Any big plans for the near future?</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small; line-height: 22px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 22px;"> Oh dear! That’s going to be difficult to top when you put it like that, isn’t it? I prefer to think that 2014 will be just as exciting as 2013. I’m planning to write the sequel and continue to travel the world. I’ll probably go back to New Zealand and Australia.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: purple; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;">Writers always recommend writing what you know. Was this true for you, as an author of paranormal fiction? If so how did you incorporate what you know into the story?</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 22px;">I actually did half-and-half. I wrote half of the novel set in New York, a city I know very well, and I decided to have the other half set in L.A., a city I barely know at all. It was fun reading and learning about L.A. Same thing with Ancient Egypt; I truly enjoyed the research part!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: purple; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;">What is your ideal writing setting? Are you a coffee shop author that writes amongst the hustle and bustle of life around you, the quiet corner of your home author with no distractions so you can focus on your task ahead, or do you have a different style entirely?</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 22px;"> When I lived in New York, I used to go to the local library in the West Village. It inspired me to be sitting amongst other people who seemed to be so focused on reading or studying. Now, I write in my husband’s office (when he lets me use it…), and sometimes, when I’m feeling really lazy, I write in bed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"> <span style="color: purple;">What was your inspiration for Nate and Sophie? Was your original short story anything like <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17667824-the-year-of-the-great-seventh?ac=1">The Year of the Great Seventh</a></i>?</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 22px;">The short story was actually what it is now the first chapter. I didn’t really know where the story was going, so the intrigue kept me going. I wanted to know how it ended. Nate and Sophie’s characters developed with the passing of each page. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: purple; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;">You said you grew up in a small Spanish town, where are you from specifically? And is there anything from where you grew up that we can look forward to in your novel?</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 22px;">I grew up in a small town surrounded by orange farms in the Province of Valencia. Yes, exactly – where the Valencia oranges come from. It is a beautiful part of the world, but unfortunately, it is going to be difficult to find a storyline that brings kids from L.A. to Spain, but you never know!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: purple; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;">Your path of becoming an author is quite unique, is there any advice you can give other aspiring authors out there?</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 22px;">I don’t really consider myself an author—those are big shoes to fill. I don’t think I qualify as a proper author yet, so far I consider myself a storyteller. As per any advice for aspiring authors, like everything else I have experienced in my life, do what you love, enjoy the journey, and don’t obsess too much about the endgame. That way, no matter what happens, you got some pleasure out of it. Publishing a novel sounds fantastic, but the true joy comes from writing each page.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: purple; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;">This question is entirely driven by my own interests. I am not only and avid reader but I love to cook and bake, so I cannot resist asking what your favorite meal or dessert is?</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 22px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 22px;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 22px;">I love this question! I love sweets, so it is hard to pick one. However, if I have to choose a winner, I’d say banoffee pie. It is an English dessert made of banana and toffee. (Disclaimer: I don’t actually bake or cook – I lived in NYC for too long – but I love eating!)</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mjWvquLUxrw/UYKQDLG4LPI/AAAAAAAAAVo/gUlsxLqLsAA/s1600/The+Year+of+the+Great+Seventh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mjWvquLUxrw/UYKQDLG4LPI/AAAAAAAAAVo/gUlsxLqLsAA/s400/The+Year+of+the+Great+Seventh.jpg" width="262" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 22px;">Synopsis of <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17667824-the-year-of-the-great-seventh?ac=1">The Year of the Great Seventh</a> and a sneak peak of Teresa's favorite excerpt!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Sophie has always felt out of step—an outsider, even amongst friends in her high school with all the hype about celebrity culture. Her life in L.A. seems to have been already written for her, but when her junior year starts, it all takes a drastic turn. When she crosses paths with the school's heartthrob, Nate Werner, they fall for each other in a way neither can understand. What they don’t know is that by giving in to their desires, they are unlocking an ancient Egyptian prophecy that threatens to return Earth to the dark ages.<br /><br />To undo the curse, Nate and Sophie embark on an adventure that takes them across the country. But their quest is not only to save the</span><span style="line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">world as they know it. It is also a fight for their very survival. Behind the scenes, there are those that are counting on them to fail.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Teresa's Favorite Excerpt:</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Admitting I wasn’t going to fall asleep, I emerged from under the bed covers, went over to the windows, and sat on the floor. They say if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. Well, if the city lights were going to keep me awake, I might as well enjoy the view.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Crossing my legs in the lotus position, I admired the city skyline. The other glass tower across from us seemed to be private apartments. Most of the floors had their lights on. The energy of this city was captivating. Life continued on through the night in the city that never slept. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 18px;">It was starting to snow. The frosty flakes resembled white cotton candy. They seemed to be defying the laws of gravity as they were suspended on the air and then swirled up into the sky. It was probably due to the air current caused by the tall buildings. But as things stood in my life at the moment, anything seemed possible.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 18px;">The traffic was as dense as rush hour in downtown L.A. Cars jammed around Columbus Circle, and no one thought twice about leaning on the horn, even though it was past midnight. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In one of the apartments opposite, a man was sitting by the window, typing on a laptop. The room was dark, but the reflection of the computer screen lit up his face. I could see him clearly. It was as though we were sitting across from each other. I was sure he could see me, too. We were so close, but at the same time, so far. This must be the big city syndrome where you can feel so alone amongst so many people. And knowing that Nate was just across the wall only enhanced the feeling. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I had to start blocking any thoughts of Nate. I had to give myself a break or I was going to start losing my mind. Unfortunately, I was aware that ignoring a problem wasn’t likely to make it go away. I couldn’t believe Nate had planned to hide the stain on his back from me. How long did he think he could pretend everything was going to be fine? </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dad taught me to only believe what could be proved by science, but this lulled me into a state of denial. Nate was vanishing with the tick of the clock, and I had to help him. I wasn’t sure how yet, but I couldn’t fail him. I wanted to slap myself to throw myself into action. How could I be so passive when I was losing the only thing I wanted. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The man in the apartment across from me was drinking from a cup and flicking through the pages of a book that he had next to the laptop. After scanning a few more pages, he continued to type. I wondered what he was doing. I wanted to think he was writing a detective novel based in 1950s Manhattan. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The man stopped typing and stared openly at me, as if he also needed to share his secrets with a stranger. It was snowing hard, and thousands of snowflakes playfully spiraled up into the sky, proving reality had many dimensions. The simple stare from a distant stranger was appeasing that loneliness that was taking hold of me. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I couldn’t stop staring back. Here, sitting on the floor of this grandiose room, in the epicenter of the madness of this city, I just felt so small. How was I, this tiny, fragile girl, going to make the world change its course? </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The man with the computer—as if he could hear my thoughts—smiled at me and nodded. Without uttering a word, and with the power of our surroundings, this stranger confirmed that, yes, I could do whatever I gave myself to. It was probably a coincidence, but there were moments like this when the universe conspired to prove that life was full of magic moments. You just needed to learn to see past what was in front of you. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The man went back to typing on his computer, unconscious that with just one stare he’d provided me with the courage I lacked. I was beginning to fall in love, but in this case, with New York City. There was something about the anonymity of this city that brought us closer as humans.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cSzx-b5j97I/UYKUXXR7cHI/AAAAAAAAAV4/NSeZT9KiL-Q/s1600/Banoffee+Pie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cSzx-b5j97I/UYKUXXR7cHI/AAAAAAAAAV4/NSeZT9KiL-Q/s1600/Banoffee+Pie.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I know this was an abnormally long post for me but I think you will find it was well worth your time! If you want to learn more about Teresa visit her at her <a href="http://teresaorsts.com/">website</a>! Thank you so much for stopping by. And I believe I speak for all of us when I say thank you for introducing us to Banoffee Pie! --------------------------> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As good old Willy Wonka would say scrumdiddlyumptious</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As always, Happy Reading</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Kelley Lee</span></div>
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