Monday, May 26, 2014

Book Review: Look Behid You by Sibel Hodge


Release Date: April 15th, 2014

       This book keeps you guessing the whole way through.  In the beginning, you'll have the whole thing figured out.  Then you second guess yourself.  By the middle of the book, you'll know you the murderer is, but doubt will start to crept in. At some point you'll finally give up, continue reading and just enjoy the story.  This isn't an action packed book but a slow and suspenseful mystery, filled with hold-your-breathe type of moments.

       Look Behind You starts off with Chloe escaping an underground room, afraid that she was left there to die.  She escapes, runs through the woods to a nearby road, and is rescued by someone driving by.  Chloe is taken to the hospital and discovers that the last thing she remembers had happened seven weeks ago.  She tells the doctors what happened, that someone had left her for dead, but they don't believe her tall-tale.  They tell her that 4 weeks ago, she came to them with a similar story:  She had been depressed and they believe she had a bad psychotic reaction to her anti-depressants.  She hadn't let it go so they had carted her off to a psychiatric ward for a week until her anti-depressants had a chance to make it out of her system.
       She may have had a bad reaction to her meds then but she knows what just happened to her was real, she has the scratches and bruises to prove it.  Still, Chloe begins to doubt herself.  The doctors, her husband, her boss- they all believe that she is having another psychotic reaction.  No one believes her, except for her very good-looking coworker.  She starts looking for clues, proof, anything to help her find out the truth.  Was it all in her mind?  Was she really bound by rope in an underground room?  Can she tell what's real anymore?
       As well as trying to solve her own near-murder, Chloe is also dealing with her protective husband.  After what has supposedly happened to Chloe, he is being more protective than normal, trying to keep tabs on her and keep her safe.

"I lie there, staring into the darkness, one thought chasing another.  Round and round I go, My head in tortuous turmoil."  -Chapter 13

" 'I didn't try to kill myself, Theresa,' I say with as much conviction as I can.  I feel like I've become invisible.  I'm talking, but no one is actually listening to what I'm saying."  -Chapter 20

       Like I said, this isn't a super faced-paced book but it was absolutely not boring.  The characters and Chloe's thought process are very well built and put together.  It makes for a great psychological thriller and I like it even more because it's not the scary-type of thriller but suspenseful... I don't do scary well.  I really enjoyed it and would read it again in the future.  I ESPECIALLY love that this book takes place in England!  Sometimes I would forget that, read a part about the husband travelling 400 miles to Scotland, and think 'what?!'.  Being from the USA, it always took me a couple seconds to remember where the characters are living.  I especially loved the words that are used, that are common in England but not everyday words here in America (or Oregon, at least):
                   a row = a fight
                   a biro = a ball point pen
                   a mobile = a cell phone
                   rubbish = garbage
                   the bin = garbage can
                   hire a car = rent a car
                   bedclothes = bed sheets
                   handbag = purse
                   tablets = pills
                    **WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITES? Comment :o)

*This book was provided by NetGalley.com in return for an honest review.

Book Review: Some Fine Day by Kat Ross


Release Date: July 1st, 2014
Publisher: Strange Chemistry

"More than once, a society has been seen to give way before the wind which is let loose upon mankind; history is full of the shipwrecks of nations and empires; manners, customs, laws, religions- and some fine day, that unknown force, the hurricane, passes by and bears them all away."
                -Victor Hugo

This book took me by surprise, I'm glad I didn't give up on it.  Kat Ross has a superbly creative imagination and gave birth to some pretty outstanding ideas.

When I first started reading it, I was a bit confused.  Granted they live in the future with different technology and names for things, so it took a few chapters for understanding to sink in.  The beginning starts off slow but that doesn't last long.  Towards the middle, things really start to pick up... a lot! The excitement and action really take a turn and doesn't stop until the last page.  Jansin is in a race against time in regards to surviving, rescuing, running, discovering, and escaping.  Kat Ross keeps you in this adrenaline-rushed state-of-mind.  The book continues to get more exciting and suspenseful the more you read, as well as answers questions and creates them along the way.

Then, oh man, you read the last paragraph in the book and, really, it should end with a "dot-dot-dot" because I literally have no idea what happened!  Which can only lead me to believe, and hope, that there is a sequel.  It's as if the author forgot to add the last 10 pages of the book.  When I finished it, I went inside my house to rant and rave to my grandma about how cruel and unfair book cliffhangers are (says all readers everywhere).

This is a pretty great read: Some Fine Day is different than all the dystopian tales out there.  The story takes place in the future, after a set of 5 hyper-hurricanes take over the earth, as big as continents.  Earth is no longer inhabitable; no one can survive or escape the Hypercanes.  Humans have prepared a life for many (but not enough) in the underground world they have built.  Jansin is in school at the Academy, a military school where she has been the past eight years of her life, since she was eight years old.  Her father is high up in the military and is able to pull strings to get his family and Jansin's boyfriend, Jake, a short vacation to the surface during a break in the storms.  Once Jansin is up there, once she's gotten a taste of real sunshine and fresh air, she doesn't want to leave.  Their stay is short-lived when they are attacked by a band of humans... but where did they come from?  Surely they don't live here, it's not possible to outrun and outlive the storms.  What do they eat? Nothing can survive on the surface.  Life is about to change for Jansin.  She is captured by the attackers and soon discovers that not everything she's grown up knowing has been true.


Here is a GREAT book trailer video... Check it! --> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-zTuafY9bc#t=96

P.S. If you enjoyed this review, see more at my book blog: http://book-etlist.blogspot.com/   :o)
*This book was provided to me by NetGalley.com in return for an honest review.

Saturday, May 17, 2014

BOOK TEASER: Of River And Raynn by Rebecca Ethington

Oh my sakes, folks!  I am incredibly stoked to read this book!  I've had it on my to-read list and on my book-release calendar for a good long while, now.  Yeay!  Rebecca Ethington's books just blow my mind; they are amazing & intense & beautifully tragic.  If you haven't read her Imdalind series (Kiss Of Fire) then you need to get your butts in gear, or rather, on the couch and take part in this incredible journey.  It will leave you breathless and heartbroken.

http://www.rebeccaethington.com/2014/05/13/tuesday-teaser-4/

(photo courtesy of Rececca Ethington's website)

From BOB - Back Of Book:
They found me when I was five; a little girl sitting on a bench in Grand Central Station, soaking wet, asking about the rain.

I remembered nothing about how I got there, or who my parents were. I couldn’t even remember my name. I was tagged, labeled and doomed to cycle through state care for the next twelve years; moving from one family to another. They all rejected me as the dreams began to come, the memories began to return, and things around me began to explode.

Now my mind is full of a world of shadows, things that my heart pleads with me to be true, that I hope are only fantasy. That the disturbing past I see is not mine.

When I sleep I hear whispers of magic, and of evil queens, and a world that exists alongside our own. Things that could never be. But, there is one thing I know to be true. That there was a boy who was torn from me. A boy that I know means more to me than a brother, or than a lover. But what he is to me, I am not sure. I hear him cry for me in my dreams, I hear people call him The Catalyst.

I know I need to find him.

I wouldn’t have tried, if I would have known that finding River, would have made all my dreams turn into a haunting reality.

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Book Review: Elfin by Quinn Loftis

       Holy macaroni and cheese!  I reread Elfin so that I could read the sequel that came out in December, Rapture , and I COMPLETELY forgot how jaw-dropping and belly-achingly funny it is!!!  Quinn Loftis does it again in an epic fantasy tale about friendship, love, and saving the world, one sarcastic joke at a time.  Basically, this book rocked my fuzzy socks... As in, I'm not even wearing socks now because this book just blew them away!  Yes, it's that good.
       The story happens a little fast but you never get bored.  Some of the love is sappy and gushy but all the crazy sexual tension, jokes, and sarcasm (without the sex, thank goodness) make up for it and keep you blushing right along with Cassie.

SUMMARY:
       Cassie and her best friend, Elora, are your average high school students, whose only worries are about passing classes and what costume to wear for Halloween.  On one particular afternoon, Cassie is going about her day, helping her dad at his work building, when she passes a room filled with beyond-beautiful looking men talking about things she doesn’t have a clue about.  They notice her watching them and she runs to hid in the next room.  After locking the door, the last thing she expected was her life to change.  She turns around and stares into the most handsome and breathtaking face she has ever seen. And that is where our story begins folks!
       Trik is a dark elf.  Not only that, but he is in the service of the Dark King: best spy and assassin in both the human realm and the elvin realm.  He is merciless in his missions and enjoys the hunt of his victims.  When it come to skeletons in the closet, his past is full of them, figuratively and literally.  When he sees Cassie, time stops.  He's heard of this happening once before but never thought it could happen to him, never thought he would be given a Chosen, and a human at that.
       As the story continues, Cassie is in for a roller-coaster ride of information: the centuries-long war between the light and dark elves, Elora's prior knowledge about the elves, and Trik's dark past: it is a bloody one.  She is his Chosen, she is his other half, the one his soul cries out for.  She has to make a choice: is love really all it takes to forgive someone of their past sins?  Will her love and encouragement help him to become the man he was meant to be? Is love strong enough to fight away the darkness in his heart and the guilt that starts to eat away at him?  Is he ready to accept her love and forgiveness that he doesn't deserve?
Trik has a hard time dealing with finding his chosen.  His soul longs for her because they were made for each other and it is physically painful for them both when they are apart unwillingly.  He doesn't want to want her.  He believes that his past is too dark and full of death for anyone to ever chose to love him.  Who could love a killer?  His struggle is with forgiving himself and learning to accept Cassie's live for him as a gift... because gifts are something that we don't deserve but that are given out of love.
The story is full of life lessons and good words of wisdom from the Forest Lords (you'll see soon enough).  It is a story about accepting ourselves, forgiving ourselves, and looking beyond who we've been so that we can hope for a future where we can begin again and become a better person... there is hope for every person, not just the ones who've been good.  Hope is usually the strongest when we are at our worst (not weakest).

(Please forgive my rambling!)
 
CHARACTERS:
       The characters are some of my favorite ever!  Cassie is a sweet thing, but don't let that fool you.  She's got some bite to her, especially when it comes to her friends and family.
       ELORA IS MY FAVORITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  LET THE WORLD KNOW IT!  She is bold, blunt, speaks her mind, sarcastic to a "T", spunky, a little naughty (or a lot), hilarious, and never forgets to get in the last word.  Personally, I think she rocks the whole book, though her part plays more of a role (a huge role, yeay!) in the second book.  She says things that everyone wishes they could say and get away with.  I would love to be a bit like her but know that my personality just couldn't handle it... it'd be like shakin' up the soda can before you open it!

Book Review: Wander & Roam by Anna Kyss

       WOW.  There are hardly words to describe what a beautiful and breath-taking story this is.  I feel so honored to have gotten the chance to be a part of Abby and Sage's lives.  The vulnerability and raw emotion in this book is thick enough to swallow.  Get you tissues ready, friends, because you will definitely be getting a case of the feels in this book!  If you need more convincing, know that I finished this book in a single day, complete with mac & cheese and chocolate.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am definitely adding it to my re-readable-worthy bookshelf.
       Abby is running from her past, trying to escape the consequences of her not being able to let go.  She is grasping onto her past so hard that it's hurting her.  She tries to heal on her own, shutting out the world by isolating herself.  Here, it's safe.  But she's unable to move on. She doesn't want to let go, doesn't want to forget.  Sage is running from his future, trying to push it far enough away that he won't catch up to it.  Both of them venture to Australia to get away from it all, to be in a place where no one knows them and no one will ask questions.  It is a place where they each can find a few weeks of contentment.  Australia was something they chose, something they could control.

       ~~"But do I have control over anything?
I couldn't control when Robbie left, after all.
I'm failing to control my attraction to Sage.
I cannot even control the tidal wave of
emotions trying to wipe me out. Maybe it
would be better just to go along with my life
and see where it takes me, instead of fighting
it every step of the way."  (Chapter 6)

       ~~"Holding onto Robbie for so long has been
 destructive. ...By refusing to let go, I nearly lost
 myself." (Chapter 19)

       I completely fell head-over-pillow for this book!  It is told from Abby's POV (point of view) and we get a glimpse into her thoughts and inner dialogue.  Overall the book is pretty clean, which I love!!!  I don't remember any swear words and, though there's plenty of times where I blushed right along with Abby, there are no detailed details that derail the beauty of their relationship.  You get what I'm saying?  You buying what I'm sellin'?  There's plenty of smoochin' but everything is hush-hush and stays PG.  A lot of times authors add intimate moments that don't really need to be read about; a book can be plenty romantic without all the naughties.
       Sage is one heck of a cutie!  I mean, how could Abby NOT fall for him.  Since her and Sage are the only two volunteers on the green farm in Australia, they are also sharing a hut, I mean, a yurt.  I know it's unthinkable that they start to fall for each other, after all, it's not like they're spending 24 hours a day together for a few weeks.  Sage has such a great outlook on life: he lives for the moment and concentrates on making the world a better place, in the little ways that he can.  Here's a little taste of his swoon-worthiness.  ;o)

       ~~"Good morning sleeping beauty."
Sage hands me a tin cup full of steaming coffee.
"Two sugars, no cream, if I remember right."
He took the time to memorize my coffee likes.
To hide my smile, I raise the cup and sip.
The hot liquid nearly scalds my mouth.
"Careful, I plan on using those later."
He traces my lips with one finger.
"Try not to burn them."  (Chapter 17)

       Sage and Abby's story is filled with overcoming personal tragedies, budding friendships, and hilarious conversations and witty banter.  But mostly their story is about growing and healing: healing by accepting the things you cannot change or control, healing by learning not to carry all of your burdens alone, and healing by letting go and losing yourself in the 'now'.
       The past and future don't define you... You cannot alter the past, neither is the future written in stone.  The best thing to do is to make memories of the life you are living right now.
Live in the present.
Live in the moment.
Live in the 'now'.

       ~~"You can't get more in the 'now' than that,"
Sage whispers in my ear. "Abandoning your fears to the
 pleasures of the moment? Wicked hot."  (Chapter 13)
 
**P.S. Look for the next book in the Wander series in late 2014!

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Obsidian by JLA -- original first chapter

Well here's something you don't see everyday: Jennifer L. Armentrout loves us fans so much that she is letting us read her original work that she wrote for the first chapter in Obsidian.  EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEccck!! Sorry for my fangirling. ;) Not really, though, let's be real.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/219278606/Chapter-1

UtopYA 2014 Book Awards!

Don't forget to vote in this years Third Annual UtopYA Awards!  There are some pretty fantastical books and authors up for nominations this year, including Chanda Hahn, Quinn Loftis, Chelsea Fine, Tiffany King, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and many more!

Voting goes through May 16th. UtopYA Awards will be on June 21st in Nashville, TN.
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

http://freeonlinesurveys.com/app/rendersurvey.asp?sid=hb5h93mwt837wb8465723&refer

HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY!!!



May 6th is going to be a stupendous, fantastical, awesomesauce day!  Five great book releases today:
1. The City Of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare
2. Misunderstandings by Tiffany King
3. The One by Kiera Cass
4. After The End by Amy Plum
5. *The Dark King by C.J. Abedi --> BOOK REVIEW COMING TODAY!










Monday, May 5, 2014

THIS JUST IN:

Hot off the press: I just learned that the much-anticipated book, Burning Falls by Laura Kreitzer, will be out in 1-2 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  WHAT!?!?!?!?!  I know, right?  I'm pretty stoked, proven by all the happy dancing I did around my house, I don't even want to know what the neighbors are thinking. HA!!  I'm going to reread her first 2 books in 9 days, perfect timing people.  Who's with me?  Book discussion group?  Let me know!

Saturday, May 3, 2014

READING MATERIAL: This should last me at least a week ;o)

I love Powell's Bookstore!!! Here are a few of my treasures and half of them were only $5, I love that even more!