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Thursday, October 29, 2015

Want a book that goes with you costume?


AHHH. BOO.

Hehehe.

Did I scare you? Oh, I so totally scared you.

I love this time of year because it has the best books, and there's bowls of chocolate in my teacher's rooms instead of jolly ranchers. Not that I have anything against those candies, but chocolate is just so much better.

I made a chocolate sandwich the other day. Oh, yes.


Looks amazing, right? 

Anyways. We're not here about chocolate. No. (sad face) We are here about costumes. AND I WILL HELP YOU. Or I'll show you where to go. Because I'm awesome like that. 



PenguinTeen put together this awesome little quiz. And I kind of love it. It has all their #WickedReads lovelies as well as others. Of course I made a book look for one of them. BUT YOU SHOULD TAKE THE QUIZ, YOU SPOOKY HUMAN, YOU. 

Here is the link. Comment what you get if you choose to take it. 



Monday, October 26, 2015

A List For the Lovers of the Creepy...some #WickedReads





HAPPY IT'S SORT OF ALMOST HALLOWEEN! Wow. Where in the world did this year go? I remember when I was back to school shopping. And beginning to apply to colleges. And wondering what to eat while my best friend shouted different recipes. SPOILER: I chose none of what she suggested.

I love the creepy. Like, darling, you don't understand. The creepier, the better. Usually, I'm let down on the creepy aspect. I did this twisted romance recommendation back in May that got a bunch of hits, so I figured I might as well give you a few more to read. With a flash light in the dark while munching of chocolate covered potato chips, of course. Is there really another way?

Onto the list. Because I know that's what you're really anticipating.

THE TRADITIONAL CREEPY 



Oooooh. Children of the Corn meets Romeo and Juliet? I loooved this one! I like the idea of carving your heart out and throwing it into the ocean. Possession and skin carving. A little (fine, a whole love) of black magic. Hot guys. Hot guys with secrets. Death. Corn being very not corn-like. Cults. A little bit of romance (okay, a lot). 

That first sentence told me it was everything I've ever dreamed of. Everything. And more; I won't lie.

"The dead girl hung upside down over our kitchen table" (ARC).

I can't wait for Kim's next book.


Amazon // B&N // Goodreads

So this book, although I love it (particularly beginning and the end), it wasn't always creepy. It was more erie. Like the next traditional recommendation will be. More than anything, I love that Gavriel (the evil + hot vampire who I am totally in love with) is an actual vampire. Like he is savage and bloody and brutal. And I love it. I love him. I love him from beginning to end.

I totally get it. You don't get why I love him. Well. Me being the prepared maniac I am, I have a quote. And I hope you love it as much as I do.

"I am used to girls screaming, and your screams- your screams will be sweeter than another's cries of love" (ARC).

*shudders* I love him. And I think you will too. Because he is actually evil.


Amazon // B&N // Goodreads

There's not going to be a big long rant for this one. BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA is gorgeous. And I want April's newest coming novel (Wink Poppy Midnight) like crazy. Her writing is erie. It isn't creepy. It catches you like a spider in a web.

It sucks you dry after your caught. And you can't get out.

Liars and Lovers and Secrets. This one is a definite October-worthy read.


THE NON-TRADITIONAL CREEPY 



OFF WITH HER HANDS, THE CRAZY PROPHET SAID! And so went her hands, now on the ground. And she- left with bloody stumps. And there- her bones cloaked in silver, now resting upon the prophets mantel. Like a trophy. 

Granted, those are my words, not the lovely words composed by Stephanie. But you get the point. And the kicker? The kicker is who actually cut off her hands. *gags* Sorry, babe. But I ain't the forgiving type. Cults, man. Cults.

. . . others that'll have you shakin' in your boots


Goodreads // Amazon

“There are no ghosts; only the dust in the light, our breath and the wind in the quiet, and the feeling that something, or a lot of somethings, are watching us. So maybe there are ghosts after all.”

Why don't we have a little love mixed with everything that could go wrong?
Bones breaking.
Skin tearing.
Bruises blooming.

It's madness, y'all. Of the most lovely sort.

(This lovely is a #WickedRead! Thanks so much for Penguin for allowing me to review a copy--review to come! And for contacting me to be on the Wicked Reads tour!)


Goodreads // Amazon

It's not killing, my lovely little darling. Don't say that or heads will indeed roll.
It's culling. And off with your head, the moth mother said. Let me drink your blood.
No. Wait.
How about your soul?

----

What are some spooky recs for me? And what do you think of the list? 

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Strong Females in YA with S. Usher Evans

Thanks to Jackie for letting me hang out today! I'm really excited to write a guest blog about something near and dear to my heart - favorite strong female protags.

A strong female, or really, a strong character in general, is one that faces an insurmountable problem and deals with it. Perhaps they dally a bit and make a few mistakes, but they don't shy away from their responsibilities (at the end, anyway). They don't rely on anyone else to solve The Problem (though they get help). They just Do.

And often times, my favorites do it with more than a healthy bit of sass. So without further ado, here's my top list of gals:

Meda

Soul Eater Series Eliza Crewe

Meda is hands-down one of my favorite characters. The author captures such a fun and devilish voice with her and the book is hard to put down. She's a half-demon, so her strength is resisting that evil side of her, the one that hungers for souls. Temptation is everywhere, and while she doesn't always make the right call, when the real hard stuff is on the line, she does. Watching her struggle to remain good in the face of pure evil is delightful, and I just can't say enough about these books.
Buy on Amazon

Lizzie Bennett


Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen

Let's talk about my never-not-reread book, Pride and Prejudice. First of all, Lizzie takes your patriarchy and tells you to shove it. She's not interested in marrying for money (however ill-advised for a woman in 19th century England that may be). She's also not interested in your shade, Mr. Darcy nor your drama, Caroline Bingley. She will do what she's going to do and that's that.

Lauren Dailey




Sorry, had to stick one of mine in here. It might surprise you that I chose Lauren over Lyssa, as the latter is a pirate butt-kicking bounty hunter. Lauren is the epitome of what I consider strength, because she legit has none at the beginning of the book. She is drowning in her own depression but is too scared to let anyone know. She'd prefer that a man come in and solve all her problems, and one very handsome guy does. But what she learns is that unless she, herself, takes charge and deals with her problems, they will never go away. And buried problems, like dragons in mountains, will always resurface.
Buy on Amazon

Elisa


Fire and Thorns Series Rae Carson

Elisa is another girl who starts off not-so-strong, but finds it. She's pudgy, she's whiny, and in the opening scenes, she's off to marry a king that she doesn't know. But one kidnapping and trudge through the desert later, she suddenly realizes that you find strength when it's all you have. The series continues as she grows and struggles with political infighting and wars. She doesn't always make the right call, but she learns from it. And at the end of the series, she's basically all, "I'm in charge. Deal with it." Girl after my own heart.
Buy on Amazon

Jesse Sullivan


Jessie Sullivan Series Kory M. Shrum

Yet another girl who takes none of your nonsense. Jesse will die so you don't have to, then she wakes up a few hours later and you continue on your lovely life. Yes, she has actually died 67 times--and she's more perturbed that she keeps losing her shoes when she wakes up later. Throw in a heck of a lot more intrigue, religious implications, and more than enough snark. Jesse's got a bit of an "eff it" attitude, but she also does the right thing when it counts. I'm dying for the rest of this series...pun intended.
Buy on Amazon

About the Author



S. Usher Evans is an author, blogger, and witty banter aficionado. Born in Pensacola, Florida, she left the sleepy town behind for the fast-paced world of Washington, D.C.. There, she somehow landed jobs with BBC, Discovery Channel, and National Geographic Television before finally settling into a “real job” as an IT consultant. After a quarter life crisis at age 27, she decided consulting was for the birds and rekindled a childhood passion for writing novels. She sold everything she owned and moved back to Pensacola, where she currently resides with her two dogs, Zoe and Mr. Biscuit. Evans is the author of the Razia series and Empath, both published by Sun’s Golden Ray Publishing.
Be sure to check her out on the below social media sites:
 





Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Wendy Higgins talks with me about THE GREAT HUNT and swoons

AHHHHHHH! Wendy has a new book coming out and I CAN'T HANDLE IT. 

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH. 

And she answered my probing questions about Grimm and the book and hot characters. Isn't that exciting? 

Find it on goodreads!

Kill the beast. Win the girl.

A strange beast stirs fear in the kingdom of Lochlanach, terrorizing towns with its brutality and hunger. In an act of desperation, a proclamation is sent to all of Eurona—kill the creature and win the ultimate prize: the daughter of King Lochson’s hand in marriage.

Princess Aerity understands her duty to the kingdom though it pains her to imagine marrying a stranger. It would be foolish to set her sights on any particular man in the great hunt, but when a brooding local hunter, Paxton Seabolt, catches her attention, there’s no denying the unspoken lure between them…or his mysterious resentment.

Paxton is not keen on marriage. Nor does he care much for spoiled royals and their arcane laws. He’s determined to keep his focus on the task at hand—ridding the kingdom of the beast and protecting his family—yet Princess Aerity continues to challenge his notions with her unpredictability and charm. But as past secrets collide with present desires, dire choices threaten everything Paxton holds dear.

Inspired by the Grimm Brothers’ tale, “The Singing Bone,” New York Times bestselling author Wendy Higgins delivers a dark fantasy filled with rugged hunters, romantic tension, outlawed magic, and a princess willing to risk all to save her people.





Kill the beast. . .Win the girl. . .



Hello! First off, how are you doing on this lovely summer day? And if you could be eating anything (while sitting on the porch of a beach house looking out at the crystal clear ocean) what would it be?

~ I’m doing well, thank you! Covered in mosquito bites, but feeling happy. J As far as what I would eat, I know I should say something healthy but my answer is pizza. Peperoni and pineapple pizza. *sigh*

Okay, darling, let’s chat about books. Everyone I know has known, loved, and staked claim on Kai. I mean, come on. He’s not at all perfect. But that’s what makes him so freaking appealing. Well, that and the drums. *swoons all the swoons* Is he your favorite out of all the love interests you’ve written? Or is that too much like making you choose between children?

~ He’s my favorite. If it’s wrong to say that, then so be it. I do love my other book boys, but Kai will always hold a very special “first love” sort of place in my heart.

Okay- I tried! I really did. Not to ask, I mean. But, please tell me the level of swoon and kick-butt we’ll get from THE GREAT HUNT. I’ve read the Grimm Brother’s tale The Singing Bone, of which your upcoming book is based and I AM SO INTRIGUED. IS THERE A BONE THAT SINGS?

~ I have to be honest. The Grimm Brothers freak me out. I am too wimpy for their stories. It was only the first couple paragraphs of “The Singing Bone” that caught my attention and made my mind start whirling—the part about the beast and the King’s proclamation to give his daughter to any hunter who killed it—that made me stop and go Whoa. The rest of the story was disturbing in a way I wasn’t down with, so I closed the book and promptly forgot whether or not there was a signing bone or not.
The Great Hunt will have plenty of swoon factor and several hunters who had me nibbling my bottom lip and grinning while I was writing. Plus a heroine who, while not being a kickbutt warrior type, is mentally strong and has some unique talents.

What other Grimm tales have you read? Do you have a favorite? And which one would you least like to live?

~ Over the years I have tried to read and appreciate the Grimm tales. I wanted to be that cool, dark girl who loved that kind of stuff, but I’m just not. Most of those stories leave me with a horrible look on my face.

Now let’s chat about the less bookish. Let’s talk music! My next favorite subject. Do you have a favorite artist?

~ I love a lot of music genres. I’m a Taylor Swift girl. I also love Imagine Dragons and old school hiphop.

Do any of your books have a theme song?

~My theme song while I was writing Sweet Evil was “The Motions” by Matthew West, which is actually a Christian Rock song, but the lyrics…oh my gosh. Very powerful.

If you could choose one song to describe your 2015 summer, what would it be? And what’s one thing you wish you could change?

~Is there a song about being busy, busy, busy, and exhausted, but with a smile on your face??? Lol. I wouldn’t change a thing.

FUN STUFF TIME!

You’re stuck in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, okay? Think giant mosquitoes and crazy monkeys and snakes. Giant snakes. What would you build your abode out of? And if you could take ONE of these three things with you, which one would you take: Mango scented candle (no matches), an Encyclopedia, or a pillow pet (not the light up ones)?


~ I would make myself a hammock out of vines high up in a tree, and get myself a spiky stick to try and protect myself. If I’m being honest I’d be promptly eaten by a giant snake. Le sigh. And I would take a unicorn pillow pet.



Saturday, October 17, 2015

Excerpt: See Me by Nicholas Sparks {Giveaway- 2 Winners)

Buy it now! Barnes and Nobel 

See me just as I see you . . .

Colin Hancock is giving his second chance his best shot. With a history of violence and bad decisions behind him and the threat of prison dogging his every step, he's determined to walk a straight line. To Colin, that means applying himself single-mindedly toward his teaching degree and avoiding everything that proved destructive in his earlier life. Reminding himself daily of his hard-earned lessons, the last thing he is looking for is a serious relationship.

Maria Sanchez, the hardworking daughter of Mexican immigrants, is the picture of conventional success. With a degree from Duke Law School and a job at a prestigious firm in Wilmington, she is a dark-haired beauty with a seemingly flawless professional track record. And yet Maria has a traumatic history of her own, one that compelled her to return to her hometown and left her questioning so much of what she once believed.

A chance encounter on a rain-swept road will alter the course of both Colin and Maria's lives, challenging deeply held assumptions about each other and ultimately, themselves. As love unexpectedly takes hold between them, they dare to envision what a future together could possibly look like . . . until menacing reminders of events in Maria's past begin to surface.

As a series of threatening incidents wreaks chaos in Maria's life, Maria and Colin will be tested in increasingly terrifying ways. Will demons from their past destroy the tenuous relationship they've begun to build, or will their love protect them, even in the darkest hour?

I'm checking all the entries! So please actually do what you say you're doing.
This ends OCTOBER 30 at midnight.
Reply to the email with in 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen.
This giveaway is fulfilled by Grand Central Publishing. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Colin was leaning against the side of his car as she pulled in behind him, and when he waved, all she could do was stare. He wore a gray T‑shirt that clung from his sculpted shoulders all the way down to his narrow waist. The sleeves could barely contain his well-​defined arms, and even from a distance, the deep blue-​gray color of his eyes was visible, set off by his sharp cheekbones.

As improbable as it seemed, her first thought was that he was getting more handsome by the day. When he pushed away from the car and smiled, she felt something jump inside her while a little voice whispered, If I’m not careful, I could get in serious trouble with this guy.

Forcing the thought away, she waved from inside the car, then took a deep breath as she shut the engine down. When she opened the door, the heat assailed her almost immediately. Thankfully, the humidity was minimal and a slight breeze stirred the air, making it a bit more bearable.

“Hey there,” she called out. “You’re right on time.”

She saw that he had brought a backpack, a small cooler, and a pair of towels. He leaned over, picking up the backpack and flinging it over his shoulder. “I got here early,” he said. “I wasn’t sure that I was parking in the right place. There aren’t any other cars around.”

“It’s always quieter on the tip of the island,” she said. “People don’t like to feed the meters, which is good, since it means we don’t have so far to walk.” She shaded her eyes. “How did sparring go?”

“It was a little more intense than usual, but no bruising or broken noses.”

“I can tell,” she said with a smile. “How about the other guys? You didn’t hurt them, did you?”

“They’re fine.” He squinted into the glare. “Your turn. How was brunch with your family?”

“No broken noses or bruising, either,” she teased, and when she heard him laugh, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, reminding herself not to get too carried away. “On a more serious note, though, I should probably warn you that I told Serena we were going out on the water today. In case she hunts you down after class and asks you for lots of personal details.”

“Will she do that?”

For sure, Maria thought. “Probably.”

“Why doesn’t she ask you?”

“I’m sure she’ll be calling me later. She considers it her duty to be heavily involved in my personal life.”

“Okay.” He grinned. “You look beautiful, by the way.”

She felt a flash of heat in her cheeks. “Thank you,” she said. Then, trying to keep things light, she added, “You ready for today?”

“I can’t wait.”

With over 100 million copies of his books sold, Nicholas Sparks is one of the world's most beloved storytellers. His novels include 12 #1 New York Times bestsellers. All his books have been New York Times and international bestsellers, and were translated into more than 50 languages. Ten Sparks novels have been adapted into major motion pictures, with The Choice coming in February 2016.
This may contain confidential material. If you are not an intended recipient, please notify the sender, delete immediately, and understand that no disclosure or reliance on the information herein is permitted. Hachette Book Group may monitor email to and from our network.
Website //


Thursday, October 15, 2015

Review: The Oppertunist by Tarryn Fisher

Published November 14, 2011 // Goodreads 

Olivia Kaspen has just discovered that her ex-boyfriend, Caleb Drake, has lost his memory. With an already lousy reputation for taking advantage of situations, Olivia must decide how far she is willing to go to get Caleb back. Wrestling to keep her true identity and their sordid past under wraps, Olivia’s greatest obstacle is Caleb’s wicked, new girlfriend; Leah Smith. It is a race to the finish as these two vipers engage in a vicious tug of war to possess a man who no longer remembers them. But, soon enough Olivia must face the consequences of her lies, and in the process discover that sometimes love falls short of redemption.









“You can only give your heart away once, after that, everything else will chase your first love” 

I am going to be completely honest here. One, because this is my blog or my goodreads and these are my words. Two, because I really don’t understand. I don’t’ understand why everyone is saying that Olivia is bad. In all honestly. I really don’t. The other reviews say that she is un-redeemable. That she is destined for misery. That she is the sole cause for missing out on Caleb—but why is there not a review that says that Caleb missed out on her? Honestly (there the word is again) someone tell me why they love him? He has aspects that I admire, sure. I mean, yes- he didn’t force her into anything, he didn’t make her feel bad when she said no. And the good lord knows that wins mega points with me. But, why the hell is he so dang loveable to everyone? He’s mad because she can’t say I Love You. With her past? I’m surprised that she knows how to trust.


That boy frustrated me. I wanted to like him, mostly because everyone else saw him as this swoon-inducing hero that loved her for her. For just being Olivia. BUT HE DID SO MANY THINGS THAT FRUSTRATED ME. From the first meeting to the end of the book. Like, hello? In college, yeah- THAT. Uhm, how about hell no? That’s not the appropriate way to react? Amnesia, the party. . .the list goes on. Olivia did some bad thing, I UNDERSTAND. But what part of her is actually evil? The fact she can’t say the words? The drive to the clinic? The sex (or lack there of)? The lies? The lies that I don’t consider to be lies?

Maybe I just need someone to talk to because I need to discuss spoiler-y things that make me angry. I don’t see how she’s a bad person.

Okay, enough with those two. Let’s talk a little about my love for Cammie. I really like her. She deserves gold stars. Lots of them. I’ll give her a few sheets of those things if I ever happen to run into her.

The plot. It was good. It was up and down and one-sit-read worthy. Which totally happens. Even though I don’t’ understand obvious thing, I overall, REALLY LIKED the book. I mean, I love Tarryn Fisher. She’s my favorite. Have you read MUD VEIN? It’s sob worthy. And while THE OPPERTUNIST isn’t sob-inducing, it’s definitely something. Whether that’s good or bad or simply IS. Not sure. But I liked the book overall so.


*claps*