Vacation/Break

     I have decided to take a brief vacation from blogging. I'm hopelessly behind and haven't had a lot of time to catch up lately. I had a schedule change that is taking awhile to adjust to, which has left me super tired so instead of blogging I sleep. Luckily I'm still reading though, I just haven't had the time or energy to write the corresponding reviews.

     I'm going to try and catch up while I'm taking some time off so that I'll have something to post when I come back. I'm only going to take about a week off. I should be back soon posting my semi- rational reviews and weekly meme's.

Hope everyone is having a great summer! See you soon:)

Teaser Tuesday (21)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should be Reading. Anyone can join in. Here's what you need to do.

♥Grab your current read.

♥Open to a random page.

♥Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

♥Be careful not to include spoilers! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others.)

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

Here is my teaser for this week:

"What are they doing there? Throwing a hellacious slumber party? When no one said anything I added, ' Get it? Hellacious? Because they're all...Forget it"

Rachel Hawkins, Spell Bound( Hex Hall #3), pg 106

Swoon Thursdays (41)

The ladies at YA Bound have created a hot and fun new meme called SWOON #YABound. If you want to join in here's what you need to do.

All you need to do is pick up the book you are currently reading or just finished reading. Find what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding and your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering. Then shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag  #YABound, post in the comments, or grab the awesome button from YA Bound (above) and share it on your blog!

My Swoon this week is from Scorched Skies (Fire Spirits #2) by Samantha Young.

"She trailed her hands over his hard chest, contemplating ripping the buttons off as he left her lips to trail devastating kisses down her neck. His large hands squeezed her hips hard and then brushed softly against her back before sliding chills up her spine. It was like he wanted to touch her everywhere all at once and Ari was only too happy to let him. Ari whimpered into his ear as he bit gently at her bare shoulder and Jai growled at the sound, his hand tangling through her hair as he grasped her head, cupping it back like she was an offering." SWOON #YABound

What do you think? If you have a swoon leave me a link so I can check it out.

Teaser Tuesdays (20)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should be Reading. Anyone can join in. Here's what you need to do.

♥Grab your current read.

♥Open to a random page.

♥Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

♥Be careful not to include spoilers! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others.)

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

Here is my teaser for this week:

"And with a small smile at the unmasked fear in Ari’s eyes, her father stepped back into the Peripatos just as the bathroom door blew open. Jai rushed in, his face dark with determination and violence."

 Samantha Young, Scorched Skies(Fire Spirits #2), kindle pg 184

That's what I found this week. If you have a teaser leave a link so I can check it out.

Kaidan's Match--YA Crush Tournament!!

Happy Friday the 13th. 

If you don't have any plans today you could head over to The YA Sisterhood's blog to vote in the YA Crush Tournament. Might I suggest that you vote for the extremely HOTT Kaidan Rowe. It's his first match and since he's my top pick I would love it if he made it through his first round. As it is he is falling behind and could us all the votes he can get. Just click on the link above and it will take you directly to the match:) 

His advocate  Tara @ Tater's Tall Tails has made a strong case for him so head over so she can explain why Kaidan deserves your vote. I'll leave you with a a couple steamy scenes to help showcase Kaidan's hotness.

"His mouth found mine in the dark, fiery and rough. I gave a tiny whimper before melting into him and pulling his face down to mine even harder. In that kiss we spoke all of the things we couldn't say. He kissed me with an urgency born of strong, unstable emotion: fury. Was he angry because of how I made him feel? Angry that he was powerless to change tonight's outcome? I didn't know, but I welcomed it" 

"My hands we in his thick hair. He kissed down my upper body to my belly button, keeping his hands under my back, concentrating on my skin. I was gasping for short breaths now, unable to control myself as his lips burned a trail down to the edge of my shorts. He flicked open the button and licked the sensitive skin there. I gasped, and he made a masculine growling sound at me before he spoke."

Very steamy, yes? Get those votes in while you can.

Swoon Thursdays (40)

The ladies at YA Bound have created a hot and fun new meme called SWOON #YABound. If you want to join in here's what you need to do.

All you need to do is pick up the book you are currently reading or just finished reading. Find what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding and your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering. Then shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag  #YABound, post in the comments, or grab the awesome button from YA Bound (above) and share it on your blog!

This week my swoon comes from the final installment of the Warriors of Ankh, Shades of Blood, by Samantha Young.

"Eden clambered across the space between them, bracing her knees on either side of Noah’s thighs, pressing her body into his. His breath caught and Eden trembled at the sound, easing out of the ferociousness of the kiss, the burning flames dying down to flickers as their kisses grew deeper, wetter, slower. Noah groaned, one strong hand sliding up under her shirt." SWOON #YABound

That's what I found this week. If you have a SWOON, share the link so I can check it out. If my crappy internet decides to work. But I'll do my best:)

Teaser Tuesday (19)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should be Reading. Anyone can join in. Here's what you need to do.

♥Grab your current read.

♥Open to a random page.

♥Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

♥Be careful not to include spoilers! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others.)

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

My teaser comes from Blood Will Tell, by Samantha Young. This is actually a re-read. I want to read the last book in the trilogy but I need to brush up on what happened in the two previous books. Not like I really mind re-reading these books, they are so good and very addictive.

Eden shrugged and headed towards Noah. Stupid. She shook her head. Stupid, stupid. Sometimes it was hard not to act naturally. Naturally to her involved super fast reflexes, super strength, and the ability to compel humans.

Samantha Young, Blood Will Tell, ebook pg 9

Review: Sweep V by Cate Tiernan

Sweep Volume V (Reckoning, Full Circle, Night's Child)

Cate Tiernan

Publication Date: December 8, 2011

Publisher: Speak 

Paperback 697 pgs

Summary:

    This volume contains the last three books in the Sweep series Reckoning, Full Circle, and Night's Child. Reckoning is told from Alisa Soto's POV. Alisa connects with her mother's past which includes the family her mother left behind. She learns more about herself more than she thought she ever would. Full Circle, focuses on Morgan and Hunter and is told alternately from thier POV's. They are once again facing an unknown danger. But together and with the help of others they are willing to face the danger that threatens them. Night's Child is the culmination of the Sweep series. It is told from two POV's as well. We get to see how things conclude for Morgan and her friends.

Review:

     I was a little sad to read this book knowing that it would be the end of Morgan's story. I feel as though I have been reading this series forever but I guess it had to end sometime. I liked that we were able to get more of Alisa's story as well as some of her family history. It was interesting to learn about her family's past. Of course we get more of Morgan in Full Circle, she continues to grow up and learn more about her magick. Once again evil threatens her life and she has to use all she has learned thus far to try and survive. Meanwhile, Hunter is struggling to figure out what direction he wants his life to take. We get to see him use some of the skills he has learned as a seeker to help a coven that's in trouble. I did like how Hunter and Morgan continue to grow and get stronger not only individually but as a couple. In the last book we jump ahead to see how Morgan's life has turned out. We get glimpses of what has happened in between then and now which helps readers to understand how Morgan ended up where she is. 

     Overall, I enjoyed the conclusion of this series. I did have a few issues. In Full Circle and Night's Child the alternating POV's were a little confusing. It took me some time to get back into the characters head. I'm not sure why Alisa got her own book. It was great information but I felt it took away from learning about the main character, Morgan. I felt that the other books that were from another's perspective added needed information on either Morgan or the dark wave that threatened her life. I didn't think that Reckoning did that. With that being said I still enjoyed this book and thought it was a great end to the story. 

Cover:

     I really like this cover it fits in with the others quite nicely but is definitely different from the other four. I love the color as well as the design in the center with all the swirls surrounding it. 

Review: "Dark Kiss" by Michelle Rowen

Dark Kiss (Nightwatchers #1)

Michelle Rowen

Publication Date: May 29, 2012

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Paperback 348 pgs 

Summary:

     Samantha Day feels different after getting kissed by her crush. Now she feels hungry all the time, a hunger that isn't satisfied by food. What exactly did that kiss do to her? Then Samantha runs into Bishop, a slightly confused boy that she feels the need to help. This mysterious boy may be the only one who can help her deal with her never ending hunger. They also come to realize that they need each other. Can Samantha and Bishop stop the darkness that is drawing near?

Review:

     Dark Kiss was one of those books That had my attention from the very 1st page. I especially liked how Michelle Rowen created these evil creatures then added in angels and demons to fight them. I thought that the story was quite original as well as very engaging. It was a really great read.

     The main character Samantha has been hurt in the past so when she gets a chance to talk to her crush she's hesitant but excited. Their encounter changes Sam's life forever and not in a good way. While walking home Sam meets a boy who she thinks is a street kid, Bishop. She decides to help him out since she feels bad for him. After meeting Bishop her life becomes even more complicated. Samantha is introduced to a world that she didn't know existed and is very reluctant to believe is real. But as the evidence starts to add up Sam can no longer deny the truth. Sam is an ordinary girl but she's also strong, and brave, willing to do what's right even if it's difficult. 

     Bishop is on a mission to rid the town of Trinity of evil before it can spread. He's not working alone either, there are angels and demons working together to combat the evil that threatens everyone, including them. Bishop comes to realize that there is something special about Samantha and he needs her more than he want to. I thought Bishop was an interesting character. He's funny, charming, and extremely protective but not possessive. He's struggling on his mission but he's determined to do what he was sent to do even if it's proving to be harder than he ever imagined. 

     I loved the story Michelle Rowen created in Dark Kiss. It was compelling as well as very entertaining. I became invested in the characters, I wanted them to succeed at what they were trying to accomplish. I also liked that I wasn't quite sure what was going on until the information was revealed. The suspense kept up throughout the book which is always a plus. I can't wait to read Wicked Kiss. I'm definitely looking forward to finding out more about these characters and their world.  

Cover:

     I love this cover!! The blue background as well as the city behind the angel with his massive black wings looks amazing. Plus I love how the cover model is brooding. 

Swoon Thursday (39)

The ladies at YA Bound have created a hot and fun new meme called SWOON #YABound. If you want to join in here's what you need to do.

All you need to do is pick up the book you are currently reading or just finished reading. Find what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding and your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering. Then shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag  #YABound, post in the comments, or grab the awesome button from YA Bound (above) and share it on your blog!

This week I choose a swoon from The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa. Actually I have to thank my sister, Amber for picking this weeks swoon. I haven't gotten a chance to read much of this book, yet so she choose one for me since she just finished the book. 

"I reached for his hand, but he suddenly leaned in, and his fingers brushed my check. Warmth flooded my skin, and I froze, waiting for him to pull back. He didn't. The tips of his fingers lingered on my check for a moment. Then, very slowly his hand slipped forward, the palm brushing my skin. Frozen, I stared at him, watching his face as his fingers moved from my check to my forehead to my chin, like a blind man tracing someone's features to see them in his mind." SWOON #YABound

That's what I have this week. What about you?

Review: "Dark Frost" by Jennifer Estep

Dark Frost (Mythos Academy #3)

Jennifer Estep
Publication Date: May 29, 2012
Publisher: Kensington
Paperback 352 pgs

Summary:

     Gwen is on a mission to find The Helheim Dagger, a dagger, her mother hid before she was murdered by the Reapers of Choas. She has to find it before it falls into the wrong hands. The Reapers are ruthless and willing to do whatever it takes to get thier hands on the dagger. Meanwhile, Gwen isn't quite sure where she stands with the deadly hot Spartan, Logan. While she tries to figure out her complicated love life, she's out to find the dagger as well as the Reaper who killed her mother.  The stakes are upped in the thrilling 3rd installment of the Mythos Academy.

Review:

     Gwen Frost is back to battle for the Panthean against the Reaper of Chaos. Gwen is on a quest not only to find the hidden dagger but also the reaper who killed her mother. One of my favorite aspects of this series is seeing Gwen's powers progress. She's far more powerful than she originally thought, which helps her on her mission against the reapers. I also like how we are able to get a glimpse into the powers of the reapers, especially Loki's champion. In each book I have noticed that a new mythological creature is introduced.  It's an interesting idea. Not only do we get introduced to new characters but new mythological creatures as well.  We get to see all of the enemies Gwen is up against. We adds to the excitement of reading each new book.

     Along with her quest Gwen is trying to figure out where she stands with Logan.  As seen in previous books the two have a connection but Logan is afraid of what Gwen might see about him with her psychometry magic. Logan continues to train Gwen so the two are forced to spend time together which does nothing to help Gwen sort through her complicated relationship with Logan.

     The danger is definitely upped in this installment, which of course I loved. We see a darker book in this series as the reapers are close to their goal of freeing Loki.  I'm a huge fan of the series and I can't wait to see what happens next in Crimson Frost.

Cover:

     I like that the girl has remained the same for the last three covers. I also like the sword that is used for the t in frost. But I think there is too much going on with the cover, it's slightly distracting. I'm not sure whee to look first.

Teaser Tuesday (18)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should be Reading. Anyone can join in. Here's what you need to do.

♥Grab your current read.

♥Open to a random page.

♥Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

♥Be careful not to include spoilers! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others.)

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

"Your body will shrivel, until you are nothing but an empty husk wandering around, very much like the rabids. And you will attack any living creature you come across, because the Hunger will take over." 

Julie Kagawa, The Immortal Rules, page 95

Review: "Dark Companion" by Marta Acosta

Dark Companion

Marta Acosta

Expected Publication Date: July 3, 2012

Publisher: Tor Teen

ARC 356 pgs

Summary:

     Jane Williams has spent the majority of her life in foster homes after the death of her mother. When she gets the chance to attend the prestigious Birch Grove Academy she accepts, more than willing to leave her desoulte life behind. While at the academy Jane makes friends who help her navigate her way through a world she's never experienced. Jane also meets the incrediably attractive Lucian, the headmistress's son, as well as his infruiting brother, Jacob. She soon comes to realize that life at Birch Grove is not what it seems. What is really going on at the academy and what does it have to do with Jane?

Review:

     Dark Companion is dark and gritty. The main character, Jane's life has been about surviving in a harsh environment. Many of those around her have succumbed to doing whatever it takes to survive, including dealing drugs and prostitution. After a tragic incident Jane decides to turn her life around through pure determination. She studies hard gets good grades which allow her to get accepted into the prominent Birch Grove Academy. Life at Birch Grove is as different from her former life as one can expect.

     Jane is a very determined girl who is both street and book smart but a little socially awkward. She's cautious because of the way that she grew up, though she does come out of her shell as she begins to get comfortable at life at the academy. At times I was annoyed by some of her choices. She seemed too easily swayed by a pretty face. One of my favorie characters is one of the girls Jane meets at the academy, Mary Violet (MV). She's funny, caring, and totally dramatic. I looked forward to her scenes wondering what she would say next. She made the book really enjoyable for me.  Lucian (Lucky) and Jacob (Jack)  are brothers who are very different from one another. Lucky is the guy that every girl wants and he definitely knows it. Jack on the other hand is sarcastic and does whatever he wants which happens to include annoying Jane. Each boy plays a part in Jane's new life. There are a ton of other characters that inhabit the world created by Marta Acosta.

     Everything wrapped up nicely but I could see another book about Jane and Birch Grove Academy. I loved that it took awhile for me to figure out what was going on at the academy. There were several plot twists that made this book exciting. I don't like it when a book is too predictable and you know what's going to happen before it does. I also like there is a mystery that the main character ends up trying to solve. Overall, Dark Companion is a pretty good book and if there was another book about these characters I would definitely read it. 

Cover:

     I love that the girl is only shown from the back. She's facing an eerie forest which makes me wonder if she's going in to face the danger that may be waiting there. Very pretty!