Wednesday 29 February 2012

Review: Dark of the Moon by Tracy Barrett

Source: Received an ARC from Thomas Allen and Sons for an honest review.
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Release Date: Already Released.
Number of Pages: 320 (Hardcover)

Blurb from Goodreads:

Ariadne is destined to become a goddess of the moon. She leads a lonely life, filled with hours of rigorous training by stern priestesses. Her former friends no longer dare to look at her, much less speak to her. All that she has left are her mother and her beloved, misshapen brother Asterion, who must be held captive below the palace for his own safety.

So when a ship arrives one spring day, bearing a tribute of slaves from Athens, Ariadne sneaks out to meet it. These newcomers don’t know the ways of Krete; perhaps they won’t be afraid of a girl who will someday be a powerful goddess. And indeed she meets Theseus, the son of the king of Athens. Ariadne finds herself drawn to the newcomer, and soon they form a friendship—one that could perhaps become something more.

Yet Theseus is doomed to die as an offering to the Minotaur, that monster beneath the palace—unless he can kill the beast first. And that "monster" is Ariadne’s brother . . .



The minotaur is probably one of the most well-known figures in mythology, and in Dark of the Moon, Tracy Barrett the myth of the minotaur and makes it her own. Knowing the myth, I expected it to go in certain ways, but Tracy kept me surprised throughout the book and I really enjoyed that. I also loved her little hints towards the original myth and the jokes that she made about them. The black sails in particular made me chuckle. :P

I really liked Ariadne and Theseus, but I could not stand Prokris...then again, I don't think I was supposed to. :P I expected there to be more of a romance angle in the story, but it focused more on the characters' striving for their freedom and survival, which I was okay with...although I do love me some romance. So, just a heads up...if you're looking for a romance, this isn't one, but it's still an interesting story. :)

My favourite aspect of the book was the way that things were misinterpreted, which kind of gave you the idea of how the myth could have evolved. For example, on his journey to Athens Theseus supposedly (in the myth) did all of these great feats, and in Dark of the Moon, nothing at all happened on his journey, at least nothing eventful. However, when he arrives in Athens he embellishes what happens and tells these incredible and pretty much impossible encounters, encounters that match up with the actual myth. This is just one example, and I loved that Tracy incorporated details of the myth into the story this way, it added an element of realism that you don't often see with mythological retellings.

Overall, I really liked Dark of the Moon. I would've liked more romance, but other than that everything was fantastic. I think that fans of mythology will like this one, especially if you enjoy thoughtful retellings that add a realistic feel to traditional myths. :)

Have you heard of the Minotaur myth??
Has anyone else read Dark of the Moon? Thoughts?
If you haven't, do retellings of myths, or even fairy tales, interest you? (I personally love 'em! :D)

Tuesday 28 February 2012

Review: Vanish (Firelight #2) by Sophie Jordan

 Source: Received an eGalley from NetGalley and HarperTeen.
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: Already Released.
Number of Pages: 304 (Hardcover)

Blurb from Goodreads:
To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?

In bestselling author Sophie Jordan’s dramatic follow-up to Firelight, forbidden love burns brighter than ever.



Vanish takes off right where Firelight ends, and I mean that literally...and let's just say, it's an intense moment! I have been wanting this book from the moment that I finished Firelight...and when it popped up on Netgalley, I freaked out a bit...and when I was accepted to review it, I freaked out even more...and when I started it...well, I think you get the picture. :P I absolutely loved Vanish. :D

The characters...oh the characters. I loved Jacinda in Firelight, and I still loved her in Vanish. She's so feisty...and she's a real fireball...okay, even I admit, that pun was pretty awful, but...it's true! She goes for what she wants, and while she may be a bit selfish by not taking her family in account when she does things, she's so passionate that I usually don't mind. :P Her sister, Tamra, has a much bigger role in Vanish, and it was interesting to see her and Jacinda pretty much switch places. Then the boys, oh Will and Cassian...this is one of those series where I struggle to choose. I really do, they're both so amazing, and I do not envy Jacinda having to decide between them. :P The one positive thing about me liking both boys is that I'll be satisfied with whichever ones she ends up with though. haha

Onto the story itself. Vanish is so intense. One of my favourite parts was getting to see Jacinda fly. I love the flight scenes of these books, they're so vivid, and I can almost imagine what it would be like...almost because let's face it, I don't have wings so it's a big harder to picture, but that doesn't stop it from being so amazing to experience through her. :D I'm not going to tell you too much because I think it's hard to describe a middle book without giving too much away, but I will say that if you loved Firelight...you will love Vanish! At least, I hope you will because personally, I absolutely loved it. :D

I recommend this series to anyone who loves dragons, especially if you're a fan of reinterpretations of paranormal beings. Firelight is an incredibly unique series, and it brings a fresh new brand of paranormal entities to the table. It will keep you on your toes, and leave you craving more to read. :D

Have you started this series yet?
Just Firelight? Vanish, too? Or is this the first time you're hearing about it?
Also, what are your thoughts on dragons, and on reinterpretations of traditional paranormal creatures?

Monday 27 February 2012

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? (67)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, is a bookish meme hosted by One Person's Journey Through a World of Books, where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It’s a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list. So hop on over to Journey and join in...and leave a comment here so I can check out what you are reading.


Books I Read Last Week:

I really liked this one. :) I've been wanting to read it for a while, so I'm glad I got to it during my reading week! It was a really quick read, and I liked the parallels between King Arthur's legends and this one. I also watched the made-for-tv movie version that Disney did and I didn't like it as much. It was still cute, but boy did they change a lot for the movie...and frankly, the changes made absolutely no sense! Just saying. :P But, the book was great, and it did make sense. ;P

I absolutely loved this one! Va-va-va-voom! Mick was super sexy, and I loved that his POV was in this along with Tara's...it was such a nice touch! Fabulous book, and if you're looking for some romance and you find athletes smoking hot, you'll love this one...even if you don't find them smoking hot, you probably will still love it because Mick was an all-around-awesome guy! :D

Fan-freaking-tastic! That's what this book was! My second experience with poetic verse is officially a success! Exposed was amazing. Such an intense story, and it was told in a remarkable way. I really enjoyed the parallels between the Liz's photography and the situation that surrounded her. It was really interesting, and so well done. I definitely recommend this one, especially if you want a quick, yet awesome read. I flew through this one in about 2-3 hours, it seriously just zooms by, and you will love it!

Another one I loved...if you can't tell, it's been an amazing book week for me! Love love loved Tripp...and Lexi, too. They were both amazing, and Tripp is quite the catch...tee hee I made a pun...you just won't know that until you read it! I'll be reviewing this one shortly, and I'm participating in the blog tour next month, too, so stay tuned for a cool giveaway! :D

Again...I loved this one! I started this one thinking I'd just read a bit...nope, read a bit before bed (bit being about a third of the book :P), and then devoured it as soon as I woke up...and I have to say....it...was....AMAZING! The best ending that I could have imagined for this trilogy. I'm still sad about the cover change, but when I get my finished copy, I'll definitely want to do a reread of the series! It's always nice for a series you love to end of a note that you're happy with! :D


Reading Now:

  • Emma by Jane Austen
We're actually covering this one in class now, so I'm back to focusing on it. I've read it before, so it's kind of interesting to see how my perspective has changed now that I know how things turn out. :P

I'm a few chapters into this one now and it's cute, definitely marketed at a younger audience, but with the characters being pretty mature. One thing that is driving me crazy right now though is the 14-year-old boy who is 6'2"...I don't know about anyone else but I've never known a 14-year-old boy to be that tall...so I'm curious, anyone know one?? Seriously...I really want to know, just so that I can be like, "okay, there are some that tall." :P Boys get taller later, that's why it's kind of driving me crazy, 16 I could believe, but at 14...not quite THAT tall! Small detail I know, but I'm really curious now. :P


*Also still reading Before I Fall, and Fallen in Love, but I don't want this section to get too big. :P

Books I Want to Read This Week:
I'm participating in a blog tour for this one, and it's coming up later in March, so I want to get on the ball and start it early. It sounds awesome though, so I'm really looking forward to it! :D


And what are you reading???

Check out One Person's Journey Through a World of Books to see what other people are reading. :)

Sunday 26 February 2012

I'm Guest Reviewing Today - Graveminder by Melissa Marr

I'm guest reviewing over at my friend, Zoë's blog today!

Thank you to Zoë for giving me her Graveminder ARC because I really enjoyed it. :)
And if you want to read my review you can find it on her blog, here: In the Next Room.

If you want to add Graveminder to your to-read list on Goodreads, here's it's link: Graveminder.

Don't forget to say "Hi" if you stop by Zoë's blog! :D

In My Mailbox (30)

In My Mailbox at The Story Siren

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren, and inspired by her friend, Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. It's a way to share the books that you've received over the past week. They could come from the bookstore, the library, a friend, your mailbox or wherever. It gives us all a chance to showcase the books that we've gotten, and maybe give others an idea for the book they want to read or buy next. :)

For Review:

Long Night Moon (Seasons of the Moon #3) by S.M. Reine (from the author for review)
 Trying to Score by Toni Aleo (from the author for the blog tour)
Rock On by Denise Vega (from Hachette Book Groupo Canada)
Across the Universe (Across the Universe #1) by Beth Revis (from Penguin Canada/Razorbill)
Playground by 50 Cent (from Penguin Canada/Razorbill)
Half World (Half World #1) by Hiromi Goto (from Penguin Canada/Razorbill)

I'm super excited for Long Night Moon, Trying to Score, and Rock On. :D I've already read and reviewed Across the Universe, so I'll be giving this copy away, and Playground and Half World I may give away, too. I haven't quite decided yet though. So, you can definitely expect a giveaway soon thanks to Razorbill and Penguin Canada, but it'll be a surprise as to which ones I decide to give away for sure. :P

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Bought:

Remembrance (Transcend Time #1) by Michelle Madow
Vengeance (Transcend Time #1.5) by Michelle Madow
The Hungry Mouth by Isaac Marion
The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen

Remembrance was on sale for Kindle this week, so I bought a copy, and picked up Vengeance at the same time. :) I actually got The Hungry Mouth last week in the mail, but since that was all I got I decided just to wait and post it with this week's stuff. I'm excited for it though, it sounds interesting. :P And my pre-ordered copy of The Fine Art of Truth or Dare showed up, too...yay! :D

----------------------------------------------

Thank you to S.M. Reine, Toni Aleo, AToMR Blog Tours, Hachette Book Group Canada, and Penguin Canada/Razorbill! :)

So, my mailbox was pretty good this week, how was yours? :)
Feel free to leave a link to your IMM in the comments.

Friday 24 February 2012

Review: Crossed (Matched #2) by Ally Condie

Source: Received an ARC from Penguin Canada for an honest review.
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Release Date: Already released.
Number of Pages: 384 (Hardcover)

Blurb from Goodreads:
The hotly awaited second book in the dystopian Matched trilogy

In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.



I absolutely loved the first book in this trilogy, Matched, and I loved Crossed, too. One of the things that I thought was most interesting about Crossed was how different it was from Matched. For example, Crossed has two different narrators instead of just Cassia. I won't ruin it and tell you who the second narrator is, but I'm sure you can guess who it is pretty easily. :P Crossed also takes place in the Outer Provinces...so in that respect it's very different.

I absolutely loved Cassia in this one. She's been through so much, and she's gotten so strong. It's also interesting to see little details from her past that fit in with the story that you just find out about in this one. Little details that involve both Ky and Xander. While Xander and Cassia are apart for most of this one I still felt like he was there. He may not be physically present, but he's on Cassia's mind a lot and that adds his presence to the story despite him actually being physically absent.

I really liked Ky in this one, too. He and Cassia both have major doubts, and second-guess themselves but they're also getting stronger throughout this trilogy, and I imagine they'll be even more sure of themselves in the next book. As far as Xander vs. Ky, I'm more of a Xander fan. I just love that they've been best friends for their whole lives, and I love that Xander is actually more mysterious than I thought he was. There's a lot about him that gets uncovered in Crossed that make you wonder just how well Cassia actually knows him. That being said, I do like Ky, too. Both guys are fantastic, and they've helped Cassia to realize that she doesn't have to just sit back and let the Society control everything...she can change things, and they've helped her realize that she actually wants to do that. I like that she's starting to make choices on her own rather than just basing them around boys, too. It shows a lot of growth.

I've loved both books in the Matched trilogy so far, and I can't wait until the third book...it can't come fast enough, and hopefully we'll know the name of it soon and get to see the completed cover! ;) For those who haven't started this series yet, it's a fine example of a dystopian based around a Society that controls pretty much everything, and destroys the things, or should I say people, that won't fit into their confines. It has fantastic characters, and if you're looking for a great dystopian to read, I thoroughly recommend it. :)

Have you started this trilogy yet??
Anyone else anxiously awaiting book 3??? :P

Thursday 23 February 2012

Review: The Iron Knight (The Iron Fey #4) by Julie Kagawa

Source: Received an eGalley from NetGalley and Harlequin Teen.
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: Already Released.
Number of Pages: 386 (Hardcover)

Blurb from Goodreads:
Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.

Unless he can earn a soul.


To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.

To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.

And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.



If you haven't read The Iron Queen yet don't even read the blurb...seriously, just don't read it! I'm going to try not to spoil anything with this review, but I might not be able to refrain from spoiling bits for the earlier books...I'll try though.

I think the biggest change between The Iron Queen and The Iron Knight is quite obvious...this one is NOT in Meghan's point of view, instead, it's in Ash's. I know lots of people were worried about Ash losing his mystery and all that, but honestly, I was never worried...Ash is even a mystery to himself ...seriously. haha I loved getting to read an entire book written in his POV. It only made me love Ash more. I loved getting to know his thoughts, and getting to see things from his side of the story. It was incredibly interesting and I think Ash managed to maintain his mystery...although I feel like I know his feelings for Meghan a lot better, which just made it even more awesome. Ash has always been able to make me swoon...honestly, I'll stop reading a sigh, no joke...so getting a whole book from his POV was a dream come true. Plus, I'm pretty glad that the story didn't actually end up being finished with The Iron Queen...as much as I loved that book, I think I would've been a bit upset if it ended there. :P

If you've read the other three books, you already know the characters, so you already know who you love and maybe some who you didn't love...but I'll mention them anyway. Ash, Puck, and Grimalkin, of course, are in The Iron Knight aplenty! The Big Bad Wolf and some other characters also pop up. The Wolf and Grim are hilarious together...seriously it's like Puck and Ash's banter, but they're animals...plus cat and dog jokes, that good stuff. I just mentioned Puck and Ash's banter...and I loved it in this one, I also loved getting to be inside Ash's head when he'd think about his past with Puck...or just think about Puck in general. It was interesting to get to see their relationship from the inside rather than just in passing through Meghan. Overall, the characters were fantastic in this one...as always, Julie always writes fantastic characters. :D

If you haven't started this series yet, then I'm just going to say right now that you should definitely go out and start it. If you're unsure, borrow the first book, The Iron King, from the library, and once you're hooked you can get your hands on the other books. :P

I'd recommend this one to fans of the series...although I'm sure by now most of you have read it already. :P And if you haven't started The Iron Fey series yet, then I recommend it to anyone who loves stories about the fey, stories with awesome heroines with some fabulous leading men, and anyone who's a fan of fabulous one-liners and banter....also, if you're a sucker for a forbidden (or even maybe impossible) romance you'll love this series. :)

Since this one's been out for a while, have you read The Iron Knight already??
If you have, thoughts?? Were you worried during some? (I was...I left it out of the review to avoid spoilers, but I was defintiely worried for a bit. :P)
If you haven't read this one, or even started this series yet, what's stopping you?
Or are you like me and have a monumental TBR list...and it's somewhere in there? :P

Wednesday 22 February 2012

Have you heard of RazOrbill yet?

Join Razorbill!

So, you might have heard of RazOrbill already, but just in case you haven't, I'm here to tell you about it. :)

First, here's a bit of information from the press release about RazOrbill.ca:
On January 17, Penguin Canada, a leader in young-adult fiction, launched Razorbill.ca, an online destination for the community, conversations and enthusiasm of today's expanding young-adult fiction audiences. Razorbill.ca gives young adults a forum to engage with contemporary authors and like-minded peers. Razorbill.ca is all about creating a unique experience for book enthusiasts. With exclusive access, members will be exposed to anticipated titles before they launch, be invited to live chats with critically acclaimed authors including Joseph Boyden, Hiromi Goto, Charles de Lint and Carrie Mac but most importantly, be part of an evolving community and conversation.



I joined it a few weeks ago, and so far I really like it. I was asked if I wanted to become an ambassador, and I agreed. You can design your profile, add friends, join groups, participate in discussions, and if you're Canadian you can even request some RazOrbill titles. Anyone can join the site, but to request books you do have to be Canadian. :)

There will also be opportunities to participate in chats, and there are already some Penguin authors on the site as members. It's a great way to communicate with other readers, bloggers, authors, and the publishers themselves.

You can also find RazOrbill on other social media sites:
Facebook | Twitter


I'm already on RazOrbill, so if you join or already have an account and want to add me as a friend, you can find my account HERE.

I look forward to chatting with you on RazOrbill. :)

Tuesday 21 February 2012

Review: Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott

Source: Bought/Personal Library
Challenge: 2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: Already Released.
Number of Pages: 307 (Paperback)

Description from Goodreads:
My name is Danielle. I'm eighteen. I've been stealing things for as long as I can remember.

Dani has been trained as a thief by the best--her mother. Together, they move from town to town, targeting wealthy homes and making a living by stealing antique silver. They never stay in one place long enough to make real connections, real friends--a real life

In the beach town of Heaven, though, everything changes. For the first time, Dani starts to feel at home. She's making friends and has even met a guy. But these people can never know the real Dani--because of who she is. When it turns out that her new friend lives in the house they've targeted for their next job and the cute guy is a cop, Dani must question where her loyalties lie: with the life she's always known--or the one she's always wanted.



I've read a few of Elizabeth Scott's books before reading Stealing Heaven, and they are always quick, addictive, and enjoyable reads. Stealing Heaven was no exception. I started it as something to read between my classes, and soon found myself unable to put it down.

Dani was a great main character, although the "character" of her mother was extremely questionable, I really enjoyed reading Dani's story. Her conscience more than made up for her mother's lack of one. Her mother and father were both thieves, and Dani grew up stealing things. She didn't go to school, she didn't have friends, and she didn't talk to cops...or at least she wasn't supposed to. :P

My favourite part of Stealing Heaven was Dani and Greg's relationship. :) A thief and a cop...it was priceless, and I loved how Dani just couldn't help but want to be around him because I wanted to be around him. He was such a nice guy, and he was so determined to know her...there's nothing like persistence and a sense of humour to make you like a character. :D

Pushing aside the fantabulous little romance, the dynamics between Dani and her mom were always entertaining. Most of the time Dani acted more like the parent, and I really liked getting to see her try and make decisions for herself. She wanted to go to school, to get a "normal" job (i.e. not as a thief), and I liked that she had different dreams for herself than what her mother wanted for her. Her mother wanted her to never have to work, although for Dani stealing as an alternative to work didn't really appeal. While it may have made her seem week, I actually liked that Dani didn't want to say no to her mom about robbing people...not because I wanted her to, but because it made me identify with her. She didn't want to disappoint her mother, and she felt indebted to her mom, because of her love and also because her mom hadn't abandoned her like her father had. I identified with that...because let's face it, who hasn't been afraid of disappointing their parents??? I certainly have.

So, in short, I'd recommend Stealing Heaven to anyone who wants a quick, fun read that makes you think, and also makes you wonder how some people get into the situations they're in. Are they born into them? Did some lure them into a certain lifestyle? Should we really judge others when we could have easily been born into a similar position? And, one of those great philosophical questions, nature or nurture? Are we born a certain way, or is the way we're raised what shapes us into who we are?

Okay, I'm done all my crazy questions, now for an easy one, have you read any of Elizabeth Scott's book before? And if you have, what'd you think? :)

Monday 20 February 2012

Surrender Cover and Blurb Reveal!

Surrender (Mimics of Rune #2) by Aimee Laine
Release Date: September 3, 2012
Target Reader: Adult


Book Description:

Face the past or look to the future? Both will hurt. One could kill her.

All her life, Lily Crane has suppressed her childhood memories, masking the signs of abuse with a variety of looks. From brunette to blonde, tall to short — as a Mimic, changing shape is her gift. Her right. Her Achilles heel.

It’s Lily’s latest likeness, chosen simply by accident, which threatens to repeat a history she’s desperate to forget. Worse, she must do so without the one man who takes all her pain away: Cael Aldridge.

Cael has no intention of leaving Lily on her own. He never has. Now, with the woman he loves in the hands of a predator who wants Lily for her genetics, Cael will do everything he can to bring her home.

Alive.

He can only pray he isn’t too late.
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Links: Visit Publisher Website | Goodreads Page

I absolutely loved Little White Lies, and I can't wait to read Surrender! I'm so excited to get to read Lily and Cael's story! :D

This cover definitely makes it look like this one is going to be full of suspense...and it looks like Lily's in for some serious trouble. The only thing I'm not a big fan of on this cover is the girl's pose, and the lighting she's been shot in. She looks like she's been knocked out or that she's passed out, yet she's all posed...and I just find that kind of awkward. I do like the idea of her being knocked out, but I'd prefer it if it looked more natural, as if she'd fallen into a position rather than been placed into one. That being said, I do like that automatically when I look at the cover I think that the girl is in trouble, and that seems to be what's going on in the book's description, too.

What about you, what do you think?
Have you already read Little White Lies, or is this the first time you've heard of the series?

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? (66)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, is a bookish meme hosted by One Person's Journey Through a World of Books, where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It’s a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list. So hop on over to Journey and join in...and leave a comment here so I can check out what you are reading.


Books I Read Last Week:
  I really liked Tracks. :) Robyn could be a bit whiny at times, but I found most of what she said hilarious, and I really enjoyed reading her story. I'm so glad that the last few books in my travel writing class have been ones I've enjoyed...especially after reading Dervla Murphy's Full Tilt....that one had me worried. :P

I expected to like this one more than I did, but I did still enjoy it. It's a beautifully written story, I just expected a lot more. One of the blurbs says that it "will scintillate and haunt you long after you close the cover and turn off the light" but once I finished this one, I kind of just moved on. I will say that it was beautifully written, but the story itself just didn't meet what I expected it to, especially since it does cover a more taboo topic, and I just never really got wrapped up enough in the story to cheer for the characters.


Reading Now:
I'm loving this one so far! I'm taking it nice and slow though because my friend Zoë and I are reading this one together. :)
Seriously just started this one, so I'm not very far at all, but I'm excited for it. :)


*I'm also still reading Emma and Fallen in Love, but I'm feeling lazy and I'll just mention them here. :P


Books I Want to Read This Week:
I borrowed this one from the library, and I'm excited to read it. As I mentioned after reading Taking Shots, I'm a sucker for stories with athletes. ;)

This one is in poetic verse, and I'm looking forward to it. I really enjoyed Triangles by Ellen Hopkins, and that was my first experience with poetic verse, so I hope I like this one, too! :D


And what are you reading???

Check out One Person's Journey Through a World of Books to see what other people are reading. :)

Tuesday 14 February 2012

Instinct Tour: Sean Interview and Giveaway!


In honour of Valentine’s Day today and for Instinct’s virtual tour, I have Sean Holloway here as my guest! I’ve asked him some burning questions, and I hope that you all enjoy them!



Well, any Holloway Pack fans who haven’t read Instinct yet might be surprised to know that it’s set centuries before Darkness and Light, so the Sean I’m interviewing today is from a time pretty different from our own...and he’s pretty different from the Sean we’re used to. :P So, Sean, how about you tell us a bit about your life?

Which part exactly? The part where I have to mingle with humans at my brother’s demand? Or the part where I am permitted to stay true to my nature and run free through the forest of Wild Woodington? I would much rather talk of the latter. After all, I no longer have a taste for the villagers. Not since meeting Jem. *smiles* She is more than capable of meeting all of my … needs.

You were quite the ladies man, but when Jem came along that all changed. What makes her so different from other women?

Yes, I have heard the ‘ladies man’ rumours. Of course, as rumours often go, they are far from true. Surely, to be considered a true ladies man, I would be adept at wooing and conversing with humans of the opposite sex. I had no need to talk. *arches eyebrow* I beckoned …. They came.
And as for what makes Jem different? *smiles* You would have to smell her the way I do to understand.

Since it’s Valentine’s Day today, how about you tell us how you usually would have celebrated it before you met Jem?

Valentine’s Day is a human tradition. *frowns* Human traditions leave me confused.
And....how has the way you celebrate today changed since Jem came along?

Should it have? Though, I hear tell that Valentine’s Day is a celebration between lovers. *shares a slow smile* Surely, that would make every day as such for Jem and I? And whilst I have gladly regaled my pack brothers in the past of tales of my seductions … what occurs between Jem and I is too sacred to impart.

Did you get her anything special or surprise her with anything today? Something you wouldn’t mind sharing with us anyway. :P

As in a gift? *frowns* I have never quite understood the human need for such trivialities. Although … every intimate moment with Jem leaves me surprised. I would imagine she is affected in the same way.

What about Jem? Did she do anything special for you today? :)

Jem has no need to pamper. She accepts me. Surely, that alone is special enough.

Finally, since I’m sure I’m not the only one anxious to know more....how are you and Jem doing?? Hopefully you can tell us a little bit without spoiling us for Eternal. :P

Jem struggled to accept my … actions to begin. However, she has since come to understand how little option I was left with. In the beginning, I merely yearned for a way to continue spending time with Jem. The life I have now—with Jem—is something I dared not have hoped for. It goes beyond even my ultimate dreams. Even more so with my pack brothers embracement of her presence.

Thank you so much for chatting with us today, Sean! Now hurry back to Jem or she’ll be jealous that you’re spending part of your Valentine’s Day with us. :P

There are many reasons to hurry back to Jem. Though, I very much doubt risk of jealousy to be one of them. *smiles* Thank you for your hospitable company, Ambur. Until next time.






GIVEAWAY
* International
* 1 Winner will get an Instinct ebook
* Ends on February 29th at 11:59 PM (MST.)
* An extra entry can be received by tweeting or sharing the giveaway. Make sure to leave links.
* You can also receive extra entries for following J.A. Belfield on Facebook or Twitter .
Links:  Twitter | Facebook
Tweet link:

* Winner will be chosen using Random.org

To enter just fill out this FORM

***GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Good luck to everyone who enters! I hope that you enjoyed Sean's interview, too...he's quite the
charmer. ;)

Monday 13 February 2012

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? (65)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, is a bookish meme hosted by One Person's Journey Through a World of Books, where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It’s a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list. So hop on over to Journey and join in...and leave a comment here so I can check out what you are reading.


Books I Read Last Week:
 This boook kind of make me want to go to Antarctica...I may just spend a Canadian winter down there....they have 24 hours of sunlight and warmer temperatures there then than there are in Canada. Also, my favourite fact that I'm going to share with you all...they've found fossil records in Antarctica of penguins that are up to 6 feet tall...isn't that insane?! Can you imagine those birds? It kind of scares me to think of a penguin that tall, and it must have been even harder for them to walk at that height...poor things.
I'm participating in the blog tour for this one, and for it's sequel later on. I figured I'd get a jump start on it and start it now, but my review won't be up for a couple of months, but at least I'll be ahead for something. :P It's a cute story. I really like reading stories where the athlete is the love interest, and this one was pretty adorable. I loved Shea. :D Elli annoyed me sometimes because she second-guessed herself so many times...to the point where it got to be like third-or-fourth-guessing herself, but I liked her the rest of the time...just not when she kept circling the same idea in her head. She and Shea were awesome together though, so cute. :) Also, it's a pretty quick read, but be warned, you don't really want to stop reading once you start. :P


Reading Now:
I'm almost finished this one....yay! It's not a bad book. I actually like it, but I'll be glad once it's finished since it means I'll have time read something of my choosing rather than a book for school. :P In this one, Robyn has decided to go across Australia on her own with only her dog and four camels...sometimes it seems like she'd be better off with the camels to be honest. Although they seem like quite the characters those camels. :P


***Also, this isn't the only book I'm reading right now, but I'm getting sick of mentioning the same ones over and over, so I'm skipping them for now. Hopefully you'll see 'em pop up in the finished section soon.


Books I Want to Read This Week:
 I heard about this one a while ago, and I got it from the library. It's nice and short, so hopefully I can finish it this week. I know it's a more serious read though, so we'll see if it's a quick one or not.

Going to start reading this one along with Zoe! I can't wait! Hopefully our read-a-long with each other works out nicely. :)

And what are you reading???

Check out One Person's Journey Through a World of Books to see what other people are reading. :)

Sunday 12 February 2012

In My Mailbox (29)

In My Mailbox at The Story Siren

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren, and inspired by her friend, Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. It's a way to share the books that you've received over the past week. They could come from the bookstore, the library, a friend, your mailbox or wherever. It gives us all a chance to showcase the books that we've gotten, and maybe give others an idea for the book they want to read or buy next. :)

For Review:

 What Boys Really Want by Pete Hautman (from Scholastic Canada)
  The Boy Project by Kami Kinard (from Scholastic Canada)
  Jessica Rules the Dark Side (Jessica #2) by Beth Fantaskey (from Thomas Allen)
 Taking Shots (Assassins #1) by Toni Aleo (from author for Blog Tour with A Tale of Many Reviews)
  Hunted by Cheryl Rainfield (from author for Blog Tour with A Book Outing)

Taking Shots, and Hunted are both for blog tours. I've already read Taking Shots, and I really enjoyed it. I'm a sucker for romance stories with athletes. :P The other three books were all ones that surprised me in the mail this week, but I have been meaning to start Beth Fantaskey's Jessica series, and I wanted to read What Boys Really Want, so I'm looking forward to that one.

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Won:

 Dreaming Anastasia (Dreaming Anastasia #1) by Joy Preble (won from Confessions of a Bookaholic)

I've been looking forward to this one coming in the mail. Ever since I watched the animated movie Anastasia when I was younger, I've been fascinated by her story, so this series sounds awesome to me.

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 Bought:

 Rock and a Hard Place by Angie Stanton (Amazon Kindle Store)
 An Abundance of Katherines by John Green (Chapters)
 Jane by April Lindner (Amazon Kindle Store)

I found An Abundance of Katherines for really cheap at Chapters this week, and I snagged it up as fast as I could. I can't wait tor read it. :)

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So, that's what I got in my mailbox this week. What about you guys? What did you get this week? Feel free to leave a link to your IMM in the comments.

Saturday 11 February 2012

Somnium Giveaway Winner!

 The winner of Somnium is 

Yadira Alonzo

Congrats Yadira! You have 48 hours to claim your prize before a new winner is drawn. I'll be emailing you soon, but if you don't receive an email you can contact me at ambiepie_6@hotmail.com

Thank you to everyone who entered, and everyone who shared the giveaway!

Wednesday 8 February 2012

Long Night Moon Cover Reveal!

Oh man...I have been waiting anxiously to see this cover, and it's finally here! Yay! :D 

Long Night Moon, the third book in the Seasons of the Moon Series releases in a few short months on March 2nd, and today I finally get to reveal the cover of it to you all! :D

Add to Goodreads: Long Night Moon

*****Note, if you haven't started this series yet, you might want to skip the blurb!*****


And here's the book's blurb:
Something is killing innocent people around Rylie Gresham's town. The police think it's a wild animal, but she has other suspicions. There are new kids at school, and they have a lot in common with her: gold eyes, super strength, and a habit of turning furry. It seems Rylie's not the only werewolf around anymore.

It's up to Rylie and her werewolf-hunting boyfriend, Seth, to stop the killings. But saving lives doesn't come naturally to a monster, and territory battles could risk the life of her sickly aunt--not to mention her own. Rylie has no choice but to stand her ground, protect her home, and stop the murderers before anyone else gets hurt.

Just in case you haven't seen the new covers for Six Moon Summer and All Hallows' Moon yet, here they are: 


Goodreads Links: Six Moon Summer | All Hallows' Moon

I'm a big fan of the new covers. :) I loved the old ones, too, but these new ones are so clean and I love the constancy between the covers. With SM's name at the bottom and the cool outline. :) Also I love way the seasons and the settings are represented in the covers...and the wolf and the girl are so fitting. I especially love that the girl is blonde, that was the one thing that confused me when I read SMS, I remember seeing the cover and thinking that Rylie would be a brunette because of the girl on the cover, but she was blonde in the book, so her being blonde on the covers now makes it a lot more clear. :)

And about Long Night Moon's cover...I love it so much! :D It's gorgeous! I love the winter background, the full moon, the girl on the cover (i.e. Rylie), and the fact that there are multiple wolves on this one hints at the fact that Rylie doesn't seem to be the only wolf in this one. :P

What about you, what do you think?
Do you prefer the old covers, the new ones, or are you like me, and you like them both?
Anyone else anxiously awaiting Long Night Moon's release? ....I know I sure am!

Monday 6 February 2012

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? (64)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, is a bookish meme hosted by One Person's Journey Through a World of Books, where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It’s a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list. So hop on over to Journey and join in...and leave a comment here so I can check out what you are reading.


Books I Read Last Week:

This was my favourite book from my travel writing class so far. It was amazing....and I still can't believe that this poor guy went through all that stuff. It's such an intense and suspenseful book. If I'm ever going to recommend a book from the travel writing genre or non fiction, this would be it.

A sweet, quick read, which I definitely needed last week.

Finally finished this one for class. The ending just went on...and on...and on....and, you guessed it!...on! If you're planning on read a classic, I'd say skip this one. It's not terrible, but there are much better ones out there.


Reading Now:
Just started this one, and I'm not very far in yet though. It's for my British Lit class.

This is the next book I'm reading for my travel writing class, and so far I like it. I like the author's voice a lot better than Dervla Murphy's, which is a very good sign.



Books I Want to Read This Week:
Another one for my travel class. I have to do a presentation for this one, so I wanna start it a bit earlier.

My fun book for the week...I hope I actually get to it.


And what are you reading???

Check out One Person's Journey Through a World of Books to see what other people are reading. :)