So you know the drill, follow StuckInBooks and fill out the rafflecopter below for your chance to win.
There will be 4 winners. The first name I draw will get their pick of the four books. The second will pick from what's left and so forth until they are all gone.
Spencer Hill is re-releasing Betrayed with a new cover. Check it out.
BETRAYED
Lil isn't just an average teenager. She's one of the Nephilim--the descendants of humans and angels--which gives her some serious psi skills and a mission for redemption. Just when Lil thinks she's found a balance between her normal life with human friends and her training to become a Guardian, she's warned that someone close to her will betray her. When the boy she loves starts acting strangely and one of her human friends acquires a supernatural ability, Lil begins to realize that someone is manipulating the people she loves... and won't stop until she's been lured to the dark side.
"Do you dare to face your fears? Turn down the lights, turn up your speakers, and answer the multiple choice questions to find out what you're really afraid of. Stuck in Books and Patrick Carman present the Dark Eden Fear Test."
How did I do on the test? Well, it seems that I fear DEATH!
I don't like not knowing what will happen next.
Recommendation: Visit Fort Eden
My opinion: The cure may be worse than the disease. But for sure visit Fort Eden by reading the book!
Halloween is just around the corner and to celebrate the publication of Dark Eden, available everywhere November 1st, this month author Patrick Carmean will be visiting blogs to share spooky guest posts and sneak peeks form his brand new book and app.
Today on StuckInBooks, I have a review and a GIVEAWAY for you.
Source: I received this book from Harper Teen in exchange for a fair and honest review. Book Description: "When Will Besting approaches Fort Eden for the first time, he knows something isn't right. With more terrifying secrets at every turn he discovers a hidden fear deep inside himself, a dark mystery a thousand years in the making, and the unexpected girl of his dreams. But can he save everyone from the dangers of Fort Eden before it's too late?"
My thoughts:
5 stars - a must read
I haven't read anything by Patrick Carman before. I need to fix that because this book was great. I was quickly interested in the world that he created for Will. It seemed so normal but there is definitely something going on that's not normal. I willing walked down the paths that Patrick created and he fooled me quite a few times. Not an easy task. I really enjoyed the mystery of this book. I loved how we only saw things from Will's world and how the scenes we saw added to the mystery. Will Besting is a fabulous character that I quickly liked. He has a fear and while I think I know what it is, it takes a while to know for sure. The other six fifteen-year-olds that go to Fort Eden with him also have fears. I love how we found out about their fears. The whole experience was this exciting puzzle set in a very different way. It's really perfect for the app world that now exists. I started talking to my students about this book. The boys seem very interested in it. If you like the paranormal world and a bit of mystery, then this book is a must.
I am not compensated for any of the links in this post.
GIVEAWAY
Take the fear test and leave a blog post telling me your results. Follow StuckInBooks and fill out the rafflecopter below for a chance to win an ARC copy + the swag pack.
So before I start the review, I have to tell you that I have a character interview coming up for this book as part of the official blog tour. I'm interviewing Eros! I'm so excited about it. The interview will post the day of the book release, November 17th. Make sure you stop back by for that, it's going to be fabulous! Plus there will be another chance to win a ebook of Destined from the author.
Source: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
My Summary:
Psyche knows the Greek Gods are real, after all she has one visiting her. Aphrodite has some plans for the most beautiful girl in all of Greece but Psyche may not go for those plans. What’s a girl to do after you seriously tick off the Goddess of Love. Umm, where can you hide from a Goddess? Psyche’s perfect life is in serious ruins and the oracles prophecy tells her just how bad it can get. But when Psyche feels herself actually falling for the creature she is fated to love and thus fulfilling the prophecy, she realizes that she really is powerless to fight what’s destined.
My Thoughts:
5 stars - a must read
Can I just say that the cover is gorgeous and perfect for this book.
Destined is a retelling of Cupid (Eros) and Psyche’s myth. I’ve only ever read one other version of this story and it was just okay. So really this was new to me. The world that Jessie creates is so fun. It’s ancient Greece but with modern vocabulary and spunk. Psyche makes some very teenage mistakes and then tries to fix things. In the process, she falls in love with the guy she never thought she could. I love the twist of fate there. As a matter of fact, there were lots of twists that I really enjoyed in this book. I will admit that I figured one big one out but it really made me happy so I didn’t care. There were even a couple of trials in this one. Very Greek! I have come to really enjoy the books based on some aspect of Greek mythology and this one was no exception.
The characters are fabulous. We meet so many Greek big names, all of them perfect. I loved Aphrodite. She wasn’t the silly love sick Goddess that has shown up in other books. No she was full of surprises. I loved her spunk! Speaking of spunk, Psyche was fabulous. That girl didn’t just have a pretty face. When things got tough, she worked her butt off for the guy she loved. She wasn’t a cute little thing looking for someone to save her. And Eros, I love Eros. Is it okay to have a crush on the Goddess of Love’s son? Hmm, could get me in trouble in lots of ways. Anyway, he wasn’t perfect by any means. He has quite the temper but he has this incredible heart. I was cheering for him all the way.
So if you’re looking for that really good book that you can pick up and read quickly then this is the book for you. Sometimes, I just need something that is fun and romantic to pick up my mood. This is the perfect choice.
If you like Greek mythology, then this is a must.
If you like romance, then this is a must.
If you love a great read, then this is a must.
Pick this one up, you won’t regret it.
According to Jessie's website, Psyche and Eros' song is Crack the Shutters by Snow Patrol. I love this song and have for a while. I was so happy about this choice. It's perfect for Psyche and Eros. If you don't know it, check it out here. For sure, buy it! (Please don't pirate music - it sucks for the artist.)
So I just can't bring myself to give away my signed ARC of Destined. This is a perfect book to share with my students and I just can't let it go. But I do want to share, so I'm giving away a finished copy from Amazon. This is US only since Book Depository doesn't have this book yet. Normal rules apply. Follow StuckInBooks and fill out the rafflecopter to enter.
Source: A special thanks to Katie from Katie's Book Blog for loaning me the ARC of this book.
My summary:
Safe for now, Tessa is trying to help Charlotte find the Magister in a race to keep the London Institute from falling into the Lightwoods hands. But tracking the Magister is proving a difficult task. He always seems one step ahead of them. Helped by Jem and Will, Tessa sets out to find what the past may tell them about why the Magister hates shadowhunters so much. But the past is not only giving them insight into the Magister but into Tessa and Will as well. All the while, Will’s protective wall is developing cracks; Jem and Tessa are growing closer; there may be a traitor among them; and time is running out to prove to the clave that Charlotte should remain in charge of the London Institute. Will they find the Magister in time? What is the secret that Will protects so fiercely? Will Tessa unravel how she feels about the two shadowhunters in her life?
My thoughts:
5 stars – a must read
How does one begin to write about such a brilliant book? I’ve waited a couple of days since I finished it to try and get my thoughts together but I’m not sure it helped. I love the shadowhunter world that Cassie has created and I have from the first book I read in the TMI series. I love that the world is dynamic and rich enough that it has spanned time back to the eighteen century. From the ruins to the technology to the family heritage, the two series are connected. I love that.
Cassie’s writing is fabulous. I love how she leaves little hints that develop into wonderful twists that I never seem to see coming. Now that may be normal for some, but I am very used to figuring it all out before the end of the book. Not with Cassie’s books. I must say too that I’ve never had the struggle to choose a team before in a love triangle. While I am firmly STILL team Will, I must say that I love Jem and if he wins Tessa’s heart in the end, I will be happy. I don’t think I have EVER been able to say that about a love triangle. I am always so passionately on one side and totally against the other side. I think what makes this so hard and real is that both boys are loved by Tessa. There is no clear winner in her eyes. While the boys are different, they both love her. It could go either way – I still believe that even after reading this book. Some may say that the trial is over, I disagree. This is Cassandra Clare we are talking about, and nothing is finished until the very last page of the very last book.
The characters are so real to me. My heart broke for Will in this book. When I finally understood his secret, I wanted to hold him and cry. I’m sure that would have horrified him, considering the secret but I would do it anyway. I love Jem more in this book as well. He is truly kind and dear. Charlotte continued to impress me as one kick-ass kinda girl. Love that. And I was so happy about her scenes with Henry. It was so sweet.
As for the plot, I was never bored. It was fast paced and action packed. At five hundred pages, it’s a long book but I was through it in two days. And now I begin the long wait until book 3. If you haven’t started this series and you love paranormal, you MUST check out this series and this book. Fabulous read!
This is a weekly bookish meme is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.
To participate you:
* 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!
I missed last weeks TT because there was so much going on with my blog. But I'm back this week with a fabulous teaser for you.
The book is Destined by Jessie Harrell. This book releases November 17th and I'm part of the official book tour. I have finished the book and the review will post on Thursday. I have a character interview coming up as part of the tour. Two different giveaways too! This one's good.
Eros's fingers clasped around my wrist, sending a tiny charge racing through my body. When his eyes briefly widened, I was sure he felt it too. Our stares locked, only inches apart. I could even feel his breath tickle across my lips as he worked to slow his breathing. page 24
So what ya think? Told you it was good! Can't wait to share more.
Come back Thursday for my review and a chance to win a finished copy.
Come back November 17th for a character interview with Eros and a chance to win a ebook copy from the author.
Leave me thoughts in the comments and a link to your teaser!
If you want to pre-order this one - check it out below.
When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRÃs.
But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction.
The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures.Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden.Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.
I know they are impossible choices, but what can you do. Leave me a comment telling me which one you would choose for an extra entry. Follow StuckInBooks and follow fill out the rafflecopter below. International as long as Book Depository ships to you.
This is the UK version of book 2 from Amy Plum. I LOVED Die for Me and am very excited about Until I Die. I hope the US cover is just as gorgeous as this one - or just use this one because it Rocks!
Source: I received an advanced copy from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
My Summary:
Ashton met the Vincent Boys young. Running wild with Beau, she was just as much a terror as he was. Beau was her best friend and Sawyer was his cousin always getting them out of trouble. Then they became teenagers. Sawyer made his move on Ashton and they became a couple at age 13. The couple grew closer and Beau drifted away from Ashton. She never stopped noticing him. She never stopped reacting to his comments or his looks. But Sawyer was the prince of the school and Ashton tried to live up to his image. She became the good little girl, living to make Sawyer happy. Then the summer before her senior year, Sawyer leaves for a few weeks for a family camping trip. Left without the person she spent most of her time with, Ashton was lonely and possibly tired of playing the good girl. Circumstances bring Beau back into her life and Ashton can’t get enough of his company. Their friendship quickly returns, perhaps a little more than friendship. But they both love Sawyer and could never break his heart, could they?
Caution: This is for older teens for sexual content
My thoughts:
4 stars – a great read
So I’ve been reading so many paranormal books lately that when I had the chance to sneak in The Vincent Boys, I jumped at it. This book is a fast pasted fun read. It was just what I needed. I made the mistake of starting it late one night before bed. Why do I do things like that? Well, let’s just say that I read too late. I didn’t finish it but I did the next day after I spend a miserable day at working wishing I was reading.
The setting is a small town where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Ashton is the preacher’s daughter trying to live up to a standard she doesn’t quite feel. She struggles to do what everyone expects her to do all the time wishing she could be something different. Not that she’s a bad girl, really, it’s just that she doesn’t want to be perfect. Who is perfect anyway? No one I know. What I love is that Beau knows this about her and he loves her for who she is. He’s loved her forever but out of respect for Sawyer he’s stayed away. But once Ashton shows an interest in him, he can no longer stand back and watch Sawyer have his girl. Now you may think you know what’s going to happen in this story and I would say you probably don’t. There were some twists that I was surprised by. That made it fun.
I love that this book is a struggle to be true to yourself. Everyone has to figure out who they are and what makes them happy. Pretending to be something you are not will not bring you happiness or peace. This book explored that idea and I really enjoyed it.
If contemporary romance is your thing, then give this book a look. It’s a great read.
Um, I was at the Dark Days Author event in Boulder last Saturday and well B&N had run out of Kiersten White's books. Oops. To make it up to us, she read from the first chapter of book 3, Endlessly! I'm sharing but shh... no telling.
To end the week celebrating the release of Half-Blood, I have another review from one of my 8th grade honors math students. She is totally in love with this book. She's on her second time through it in less than a week.
Student Review By Cora
Half Blood was amazing. I loved the playful/flirty banter between Alex and Aiden. One of my favorite parts was this one:
Aiden cracked his neck. "I turn twenty-one in October."
"Huh." I shook the bottle. "So have you always been so...mature?"
His brows furrowed. "Mature?"
"Yeah, you sound like a dad!" I deepened my voice and tried to look stern. "Don't look at me that way, or else."
Aiden blinked slowly. "I don't sound like that and I didn't say 'or else'."
"But if you had, what would the 'or else' be? " I hid my grin with the bottle.
He glanced to the side, frowning. "Can you just not talk through this?"
That was one of my favorite parts because it shows Alex's personality and how she and Aiden interact throughout the book. My favorite character would have to be Aiden cause, come on, doesn't he sound like a good piece of eye candy? I also like the way he doesn't care who's a half and who's a pure. He treats them equally.
The second I opened the book, I was very intrigued. It took me two days to read the book. I read all the twilight books within a week but I have to say Half-Blood is better. And, Aiden, he can train me anytime.
Nice job, Cora. Thanks for sharing another review on my blog.
It's been a fun week with lots of Half-Blood. If you missed any of it, here's the recap.
StuckInBooks is very excited to bring you three character interviews from Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout.
Monday, I talked to Seth. Tuesday I talked to Aiden and today I'm talking to Alex. All of this the release of Half-Blood.
I have Alex from Half-Blood here with me today. We’re here in the garden on campus. Thanks for coming and talking to me.
"No problem. I kinda of miss talking to mortals if you can believe that."
When you were seven, you met the Minister. You two didn’t really hit it off so well. Can you tell us how you feel about that now?
She laughs.
"I feel pretty much the same thing I did then. I don't like it when people think they can just touch me. Violating space, much? I might not kick a minister today if one pinched me, but ... probably depends on my mood."
I love that you don’t take grief off of anyone. Where do you think you get your passion from?
A thoughtful expression crosses her face.
"I don't know. My mom ... well, she was really gentle and soft spoken. I guess I got it from my father--that and my lack of height-- whoever he is. I was just born with this mouth much to everyone's dismay. Well, besides Caleb. He's finds it hilarious when I get all riled up about something. Aiden, on the other hand, looks like he wants to put a muzzle on me."
Your first crush was with a pure-breed guy. How do you feel about the no pure/half relationships?
"It's really stupid."
Is it possible to every completely get over that first crush?
"No. Yes? I don't know."
She slumps back against the bench, staring at the nightshade bush.
"I don't think I did. How lame is that?"
Can you tell us about your first kiss?
"Wet. Sloppy. Traumatizing. Mainly because my first kiss was also Caleb's first kiss. We were kids and we saw two teenagers doing it and we were bored. Yeah, it scarred us both."
She shudders.
"It was like kissing your brother but worse. We'd starred at each other and then swore that would never, ever happen again."
If you could go on a date with Aiden or Seth (not both – definitely not both), what would you like to do? (Politics and rules aside)
"Yeah, going out with both of them would surely turn into a royal rumble. Both of them are like peacocks, fluffing their feathers at one another. It's ridiculous."
Alex hops up from the bench.
"If I went out on a date with Seth, the night would end with one of us killing the other, I'm sure. He takes douche baggery to a whole new level. But with Aiden?"
She sighs.
"Yeah, that's not even fair to dream about. That's all I can say."
What were your first impressions of Seth?
She snorts.
"At first, I was like holy daimon butt, he's hot. I mean, you can't help but notice that. Then I realized what he is and I had the misfortune of talking to him, and it totally ruined the whole physical thing he's got going for him."
Do you remember the first time you saw Aiden? What was that like?
"I saw him before I left here, several times, while he was training. Even then, he was magnificent to watch."
Her cheeks turn a bright red.
"I can't believe I used the word 'magnificent'. Next question."
Can you describe Seth in three words? What about Aiden?
"How about four words for Seth? 'Pain in my ass.' And for Aiden? 'He's my hero.' Seriously."
When you look at a guy for the first time, where are you looking?
"Their eyes."
Anything else you’d like to tell our readers?
"Not all pures are the same. I mean, most of them are giant a-holes, but not all of them. Some of them actually care about... us. And yeah, don't let Seth fill your head with his delusions of grandeur."
Randomness:
M&Ms or skittles?Both? Steak or Burger?Both again. I like to eat. Movies or DVD?DVDs. iPod or radio?iPod. Diamonds or pearls?Neither. I'm not a jewelry type of girl. Silver or green eyes?Silver. And yeah, I know what you're getting at. Blond or dark hair?Dark hair.
Thanks so much for the time Alex. You have such a strong spirit, I’m rooting for you.
"Thanks for having me. I gotta run. It's Alex-getting-her-butt-kicked-time. See you around? Er, no we probably will never see each other again. Peace out, home skillet."
I absolutely fell in love with Alex in the prequel, Daimon. It's available as a PDF here or as a ePub here.