November wrap-up

Yeah, so this is late.  It was supposed to be up yesterday.  BUT, I had this medical thing I had to ENDURE on Friday and it seems that I also had the pukefest that has been going around. Figured that out when other peeps in the family ended up with the same thing.  So not a lot got done at my house for 48 hours.  Starting to feel better now.

For 2012, I accepted 3 blogging challenges and am still participating in 2. 

Here's what I accomplished for November.

Audiobook Challenge hosted by Jen at A Book and a Latte 

Not so much...fail! BUT I am listening to one now! Yay me!

2012 TBR Challenge hosted by lots and lots of peeps

Alight by K.C. Neal

Other reviews:

Flukes by Nichol Chase

Dizzy by Nyrae Dawn & Jolene B Perry

The Unloved by Jennifer Snyder

Commencement by Paige Cuccaro

Conjure by Lea Nolan

Temptation by Jamie Canosa

Yes it is less than I normally read and on purpose.  In an effort to make sure I don't burn out and stop blogging, I've slowed my pace.  I've slowed the number of tours I accept and the number of review books I accept.  I've adopted the philosophy that if I want to read it, I will.  If I don't, then I'm not accepting it.

So with that in mine, I only read 7 books last month.  There actually were a couple more but the reviews don't post till this week, so I'll include them in December.

What about you?  How did yo do for December?

September Wrap-up

For 2012, I accepted 3 blogging challenges and am still participating in 2. 

Here's what I accomplished for September.

Audiobook Challenge hosted by Jen at A Book and a Latte 

None this month.

2012 TBR Challenge hosted by lots and lots of peeps

None this month.

Books for review.

Measuring Up by Nyrae Dawn

Send by Patty Blount

Empty Net by Toni Aleo

Breaking Lauren by Jordan Deen

Spark by Bridget Kemmerer

Lucky Break by Kelley Vitollo

Better Than Chocolate by Sheila Roberts

Down To You by M. Leighton

Unlikely Allies by Tiffany King

I must admit that 9 is a low for me, but the start of the school year always slows me down as a blogger.  It is what it is.

What about you?  How did September go for you?

August Wrap-up

For 2012, I accepted 3 blogging challenges and am still participating in 2. 

Here's what I accomplished for August.

Audiobook Challenge hosted by Jen at A Book and a Latte 

Delirium 
The Fault In Our Stars

2012 TBR Challenge hosted by lots and lots of peeps

Delirium 
The Fault In Our Stars

Other reviews this month

Deep Autumn Heat
The Jelly Bean Crisis 
The Wild Ones
Ciao
Painted Blind
Inbetween
Fearless
Leif
Karma Bites

That makes 11 books this month despite starting back to school! Yay me!!

What about you? How'd you do in August.

July wrap-up

For 2012, I accepted 3 blogging challenges and am still participating in 2. 

Here's what I accomplished for July.

Audiobook Challenge hosted by Jen at A Book and a Latte 

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

2012 TBR Challenge hosted by lots and lots of peeps

Unlovable by Sherry Gammon
Storm by Brigid Kemmerer

Other reviews from July

While It Lasts by Abbi Glines

Frost by Kate Avery Ellison
Freeing Carter by Nyrae Dawn
The Accidental Movie Star by Emily Evans
The One by Heather Self
Lonely Souls by Karice Bolton
Dante's Girl by Courtney Cole
Alibi by Annie Miles, John Byrne, Isabel Echersley, and Sorrel Provola
Pushing The Limits by Katie McGarry
Inhale by Kendall Grey

That makes 13 books in July. YAY me.

June reading wrap-up

For 2012, I accepted 3 blogging challenges and am still participating in 2. 

Here's what I accomplished for June.

Audiobook Challenge hosted by Jen at A Book and a Latte 

Yeah okay so I've been a slacker when it comes to audiobooks.  I blame it on school being out.  Normally, I listen to books while I'm grading papers.  No papers so audiobooks. 

I have one going now though and it will be done for July. 

2012 TBR Challenge hosted by lots and lots of peeps

So I did manage to read a TBR book this month.

Never Cry Werewolf by Heather Davis

Yay me!

Yeah that's it really.  I did read 12 books this month but the rest were new releases.

Well see what July brings.

How'd you do in June?

May Wrap-up

For 2012, I accepted 3 blogging challenges and am still participating in 2. 

Here's what I accomplished for May.

Audiobook Challenge hosted by Jen at A Book and a Latte 

None

2012 TBR Challenge hosted by lots and lots of peeps

Queen of the Dead

2012 Debut Author - I've read

None

Yeah, I pretty much sucked this month, BUT I did read 11 books- just not ones that worked for the challenges.  AND it was the last month of school.  I have been pretty much useless.  Now that schools out, I plan to work more on the two challenges.  Just haven't been in the mood for aduiobooks - not sure why.

Anyways, how'd you do on your reading goals in May?

Tempting the Best Man by J. Lynn ~ Review

Source: Purchased eBook for Kindle

This is 18+ adult fiction.

My Summary:

Madison not looking forward to her brothers up coming wedding.  Not because she doesn't love the bride and groom but because she really can't stand the thought of spending time around Chase - the best man.  As the maid of honor, she will have to spend time with him.  It might have worked since they grew up friends but four years ago something almost happened between them and well it's pretty awkward now.  That awkwardness intensives when an overbooking forces her sleeping arrangements to change.  But she will hold her head up and get through this and then go back to the city and stay away from him.  Yeah, that's gonna work just fine.


My Thoughts:




5 stars - Seriously yummy!

I've noticed since I've been on twitter that sometimes people say something meaning one thing and it's taken a totally different way.  Maybe the lack of body language and tone of voice has a high impact on our interpretation of what people mean.  Maybe it's the lack of a real fluid conversation that makes it happen.  But I do know one thing, it's exactly what happens between Madison and Chase in Tempting the Best Man.  In this case, I think it's the way men think verse the way women think but I loved the comparison as I read this book.  I kept wanting to shake both of them and say wait - did you hear what you just said? Now I had the advantage of being in both of their heads and so I knew what was really going on but I still wanted to educate them.

Under a different name but still the writing that I love, J. Lynn (JLA to the YA world) creates a seriously yummy book that I ate up in an afternoon. Her characters are fabulous as usual.  I love Madison.  The kid sister who fell for her brothers best friend, but grew up enough to not throw herself at him when his words tell her no.  I love Chase.  Growing up seeing his dad cheat on his mom, he's determined not to be his dad.  And he is so not his dad, uniformity the harder he tries not to be like his dad the more he ends up being like him.  Both of these characters needed to do some growing and the wedding setting was the perfect place for that to happen.

The story was fast passed with so much passion, it was impossible to put down.  It's a good thing I started it on a Sunday afternoon because only the house burning down was gonna get my attention away from this book.

If you love JLA and fabulous adult contemporary romance, then this one needs to move to the top of your TBR list.

J. Lynn | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

April Challenge Wrap-up

For 2012, I accepted 3 blogging challenges. 

There is some books that apply for more than one challenge.  Here's what I accomplished for April.

(Note:  After much thought, I've decided to remove myself from the Debut Author Challenge.  I will still report the debut books I read but I will not be part of the challenge.  The resent blog drama made this decision for me.)

Audiobook Challenge hosted by Jen at A Book and a Latte 

Juliette Immortal

2012 TBR Challenge hosted by lots and lots of peeps

Juliette Immortal

Debut Authors read - removed from challenge

Of Poseidon

Okay, I know it was a slow month for challenges but dang I had a lot going on!  I read nine books and finished out the Pure tour.  It was craziness! Don't know if May will be much better.  I'm doing some beta reading and a bunch of tour books.  But summer is coming and hopefully I can make a dent in the challenges then.

What about you?  What did you get done in May?

Wishing for Someday Soon by Tiffany King

Source:  Purchased eBook

My Summary:

Katelyn is waiting to turn eighteen but not for the reasons most teens would.  Katelyn needs to get away from her mom and take her brother with her.  Moving around every few months, sometimes homeless and almost always hungry, Katelyn is used to changing schools and keeping her personal life hidden.  When she arrives in Montana during her senior year, it's just one more school as she waits for someday soon.  What she doesn't expect is how comfortable Max is to be around or how quickly her heart becomes involved.  She can't risk a relationship with him, even if he's as hot as they come and only has eyes for her.  She has to stay away as much for him as for her.  But will Max agree?
 
My Thoughts:




5 stars - Wow this book rocks!

This is my first Tiffany King book but I won't be the last.  Damn girl, this book rocks!  There are some heavy topics in the book and I my heart was tore apart for Katelyn and her brother Kevin.  Their lives suck big time and I am amazed at how much their suffering causes both of them to grow up well before their time.  Katelyn is strong and she protects her brother at great cost to herself.  You have to admire her for that.  Katelyn is awesome.  Then she meets Max.  I love Max.  He sees her for who she is from the start.  He doesn't care that she's poor and he really wants to protect her.  As Katelyn fights against the relationship, the tension between them builds and I don't mean anger here!  The chemistry just gets hotter and hotter.  But Max is determined and patient, which I love about him.   

This is a fast read that will have you cheering and sometimes crying but it's never depressing because Katelyn won't let it be.  If you like YA contemporary, then this is a must read!

I must say that as a teacher, this is a hard story for me.  I feel like Katelyn's teachers let her down through the years.  I'm glad that current laws require me to report immediately if I suspect anything like this happening.  I don't ever want to let a Katelyn down.

Tiffany King | Twitter | FB | Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Stay tuned because this book will have a Character Interview & Giveaway coming up soon! 

Juliette Immortal by Stacey Jay

Source: bought audiobook from audible
Length: 9 hours 20 minutes long
Narrator: Justine Eyre

My Summary:

That story Shakespeare wrote about that tragic young couple may not of been exactly accurate.  Romeo and Juliet didn't end in that tomb so long ago, no they are both here now fighting against each other in an eternal struggle for/against love.  Juliet died at the hand of her beloved Romeo but was granted immortality and joined the Ambassadors of Light to help protect the same tragic outcome from happening to other soul mates.  Romeo is trying to find her and kill her for good this time.  Or is he?  What could have caused Romeo to do such a thing in the first place?  And after 700 years of this battle, are both of them tired of the fight? 


My Thoughts:




3 1/2 stars - Lots to like in this one

So I'm starting with the narrator for this book since I listened to it.  I've listened to this narrator before.  She's not my favorite.  Narrators are such a personal thing that I always recommend you listen to the sample before you buy the book.  Of course I never follow that rule myself.  If I had, I probably would have read the book instead.  Not that she's a bad narrator, I just don't care for her voice.

Now the book.  I'm totally torn between 3 and 4 stars which means it's a solid 3 1/2! Let me explain why I'm torn.  First, I loved the idea of this story.  While Shakespeare has always intrigued me, I just couldn't get into the tragedy thing.  I'm more of a happily ever after or at least most people are still alive kind of girl.  But using that tragedy with a little paranormal thrown in the mix is an epic idea!  I may have struggled with Romeo doing what he did in this version to get them where they are but I guess I can sorta of understand why he did it.

I loved some of the characters a lot.  Especially Ben.  Adorable and totally misunderstood as a bad boy, Ben is the perfect guy to step in and help Juliet (playing Ariel).  Totally cute, Ben is Hispanic and  he sometimes throws in some Spanish which I loved.  He is protective and loyal to his friends and the stranger on the side of the road who's in trouble.  Love that about him.

The story has some twists and turns that make it interesting and had my total attention.  I figured out a few things, which is normal for me.  The ending was a little bit of a surprise.  Really wasn't expecting that's how it would end.  I like the ending.

Now, there was one thing that kept this book from being a 4 star book for me.  Juliet's internal banter with herself over the state of love in the world, or love in her life , or love from her mom, or love with Romeo, or love with Ben got a little old for me.  If I could have edited some of that out, this book would have rocked for me.  I choose to overlook it as much as I could and just keep going because I loved the story itself.

If you enjoy YA paranormal romance, then this book is a good one to pick up.   

Stacey Jay | Twitter | Goodreads 

Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Check out the trailer

Onyx by Jennifer L Armentrout Early Review

Available August 2012 

Source:  Received eBook from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Warning:  Spoilers if you haven't read Obsidian (Lux #1)

My Summary:

Katy may have survived the attack from Baruck but she's not the same Katy as before.  She's connected to that jerk of an alien living next door.  And Daemon's trying to convince her his feeling for her aren't about them being linked.  She's not buying it - not after the way he treated her for months.  But some bizarre connection with Daemon isn't even the problem when the Department of Defense is lurking around watching.  The risk of them finding out about Katy and Daemon's connections puts them all at risk, again.  Then there are the Arum making a appearances.  But a new boy shows up at school hiding his own secrets and Katy has to decide who to trust.  Everything she has believed about this new life she fell into is about to change and when it does which side of the fence is she gonna be on?  Where does that leave her and Daemon?

My Thoughts:





5 stars - Incredible romance & intense action

How does one review such an awesome book four months early without spoiling things for others?  I've thought about this a lot.  Here's what I decided.  I'm giving you a couple quotes from the end of Obsidian that are telling for what to expect in Onyx.

He placed his hand over mine and squeezed.  "But it's not too bad.  I mean, I'm pretty sure I morphed you into something and this whole heart thing proves we must be connected."  He grinned.  "Could be worse."  Page 295 Obsidian

He placed his hands on my hips and tugged me forward carefully.  His breath stirred the hair around my temple.  "If I wanted to be with...." he started, his hands tightening.  "If I wanted to be with you, you'd make it hard wouldn't you?"

I lifted my head.  "You don't want to be with me."

His lips twitched into a smile.  "I'm thinking I kind of do." Page 299 Obsidian

So there's your hints for what's important in Onyx.  AND make sure you have read Shadows because.... well.... I loved the..... um..... just read Shadows first - trust me.  Now you have an idea of what to expect in Onyx BUT then add a bunch of twists that changes everything!  Jennifer is brilliant at sending the reader down a path believing one thing and then BAM something changes and everything you believed 5 minutes ago about the story just did a 180.  Gonna enjoy this roller coaster ride.

Of course, I LOVED the characters.  Katy is like a friend.  She runs a book blog and there are some fabulous lines linked to blogging that I loved.  One scene that I can talk about without spoiling anything is the making of her IMM in vlog form.  Daemon helped!  It was so funny - him handing her books and making comments.  Better yet was when she got so many comments the next day on the post mostly talking about the HAWT guy sitting next to her.  I thought I'd die laughing it was soooooooo good.  But more than the fun of Katy, I love that she didn't roll over and accept all the jerkiness that was Daemon in Obsidian.  He can't treat her that way and then expect her to just fall into his arms.  You GO Girl!

And while I'm talking about Daemon, he is the most swoon worthy male character I've read in like forever.  I could compare him to Will from Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare but better.  What I LOVE even more in Onyx is that we get to see the sweet side of Daemon.  The Daemon who wants to make up for being a douchbag before.  A Daemon that shows his feelings and yet he is still that self-assured very MALE character that had me swooning in Obsidian.  If you didn't read my Swoon Thursday last week, check it out here.  Daemon knows how to kiss a girl that's for sure.

Every book I read of Jennifer's seems to get better and better.  I find myself needing to create a new level of awesominess for her books.  Five stars just doesn't seem like enough to describe how absolutely fabulous Onyx is.

So peeps, here's the deal on Onyx.  PRE-ORDER it NOW!  You will not want to wait one day longer than necessary before you get this scorching hot book in your hands.

Haven't started the Lux series?  START! 

Read Shadows (Dawson's story - Lux #0.5)  

and Obsidian (Lux #1) before August so you can be on board for Onyx (Lux #2)!

And the ending of Onyx?  Well, let's just say, bring on Opal (Lux #3)

Jennifer L Armentrout | Twitter | FB | Goodreads 

Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Rumor has it that a book trailer is in the works for Onyx! Cannot wait to see that for sure.

More rumor has it that Jennifer will NOT be alone on her book tour.  She has said that there will be more than one person with her!  YEEP My bet is on Pepe - the model playing Daemon on the cover of the books. *sigh* A girl can hope, right????

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Source:  Won book in a giveaway and bought audiobook from Audible

Audio book info:
Narrator:  Bernadette Dunne Flagler 
Listening time: 9 hours 39 minutes

My Sumamry:

Aria hasn't spoken to her mother in more than a week, totally strange in Reverie where distance is easy to overcome in the realms.  Worried and desperate for information, Aria follows Soren into Ag 6.  She never expected to meet an Outsider or that the trip would get her exiled from Reverie and her mother.  Thrown into the death shop that is the world outside the pods, Aria expects to die amongst the aether storms.  But when that stranger she saw in Ag 6 finds her an uneasy alliance is formed.  He needs her as much as she needs him but the quiet Perry is a salvage.  Can she really trust him?  Does she even have a choice?

My Thoughts:




5 stars - a must read

Damn, are you sure this is a debut novel?  Talk about fabulous world building, an intricate plot, unexpected twists, kick-butt characters and some awesome romance.

The world was fresh and so dystopian.  I was so impressed with the genetics that changed the outsiders into some pretty incredible characters.  Scires and auds that make everything just a little more interesting.  Can't hide your emotions from a scrie or any sound from an aud.  It's one of my favorite types of paranormal - when the vulnerability of characters can't be hidden.  Loved that about this book.

Then there was the plot.  Little details that were carefully scattered in the pages became very important as the story develops.  Skilled authors sometimes struggle with this ability but to have a debut author do it so masterfully is incredible.  I would compare Veronica's attention to details as good as Cassandra Clare - and that's one hell of a compliment.

Another amazing aspect of this book is the twists and turns the story takes.  The reader is traveling down a road believing one thing and then wham - everything you thought you knew about what's happening changes.  This happened at least twice in this book for me.  Most authors can't catch me off guard twice in one book but Veronica did it.

I absolutely LOVE Perry - Peregrine.  He's an scire and a seer, twice gifted and very strong.  Of course he's also a hot guy.  He's quiet and brooding but with good reasons.  Trying to fix the wrongs he believes are his fault, he barrels into situations shooting arrows and throwing punches.  Angry at Aria, he nonetheless needs her.  So he helps her.  She's terrified of him who she sees as a savage.  Weak and ignorant of his world, she shows her own inner strength as she helps him in return.  They go from hating each other to sort of being friends to hating each other again.  No love at first sight problems here.  But when the feeling come, they are strong and true.  The romance between them is satisfying in a way that left me aching for more time with them.

So the ending left me wanting just one more little scene.  No worries, I just imaged it for myself. No cliffhanger, thank goodness, but plenty of room for book two.

If you read YA, then this one is a MUST read.  Pick it up and don't put it off a day.  You won't regret it. 

Veronica Rossi | Twitter | FB | Goodreads

 Amazon | Audible | B&N | Book Depository

Check out the trailer