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March 31, 2012

Blog Tour: Whispering Hills by Taryn Browning Review + Giveaway




Title: Whispering Hills
Author: Taryn Browning

Publication date: March 19th, 2012
Publisher: Self Published
Challenges: Contemporary, A-Z title
Genre(s): Young Adult (Paranormal)
Source: Author
Format: E-book
Pages: 200
For as long as she can remember, 17-year-old Alexis Forbes can hear the thoughts of others. Most recently, she is disturbed by the dark, unfamiliar voice of a frightening killer: callous, cunning, charismatic…and dead.

She hears his every sinister thought. But she can’t tell anyone. No one would believe her. Alexis is suddenly being haunted by a terrifying past she doesn’t remember, and a ghost with a serious score to settle. Even Chance, the gorgeous new guy she’s falling for, has his own ghostly secret. He’s definitely not like any guy she’s ever met. Alexis soon discovers she has a connection to the dead and it runs much deeper than she could ever imagine. And if the sociopathic entity has his way, she’ll finally be sentenced to the fate she escaped thirteen years ago.
I was very excited to start "Whispering Hills", because I read Taryn Browning's other book, "Dark Seeker", and it was a really good book. Now "Whispering Hills" had a very different story to compared to "Dark Seeker", and the events that happened in the book, were never expected.
Alexis, the main protagonist, can hear people's thoughts. Even though that might sound cool to some people, she keeps hearing the thoughts of a particular person, a killer. She can't see the killer, but somehow she can hear his thoughts. Guess what? He's dead. As Alexis tried to figure out what she's hearing, a gorgeous new guy, Chance, transfers to her school. As she gets to know him more, she realizes that Chance might not be as normal as she thought. 
"Whispering Hills" was fun to read. I have to say, at some points, I just couldn't figure out what was happening. I didn't get the point of the dead guy killing people either. Aside from that, I really liked Alexis and Chance. They weren't annoying, and were very fun to read about. Overall, it was a great book to read, and I can't wait to read the sequel!
3.5 music notes


Now it's time for the giveaway! & YES it's International! Have fun and Good Luck!

March 30, 2012

Review: Interrupted by Rachel Coker - Juhina

Interrupted: Life Beyond Words
Title: Interrupted
Author: Rachel Coker

Publication date: February 14th, 2012
Publisher: Zondervan
Challenges: Contemporary, A-Z title
Genre(s): Young Adult (contemporary, historical)
Source: Publisher
Format: Finished Copy
Pages: 256
Can love really heal all things? If Sam Carroll hadn't shown up, she might have been able to get to her mother in time. Instead, Allie Everly finds herself at a funeral, mourning the loss of her beloved mother. She is dealt another blow when, a few hours later, she is sent from Tennessee to Maine to become the daughter of Miss Beatrice Lovell, a prim woman with a faith Allie cannot accept. Poetry and letters written to her mother become the only things keeping Allie's heart from hardening completely. But then Sam arrives for the summer, and with him comes many confusing emotions, both toward him and the people around her. As World War II looms, Allie will be forced to decide whether hanging on to the past is worth losing her chance to be loved.
I went into Interrupted by Rachel Coker with NO expectations whatsoever, I didn't even know it was historical fiction until I started it when I got "The Notebook" vibe and it was addicting! I loved how carefree and realistic it was, even though the protagonist, Allie loses her mother and gets adopted and taken away from her hometown the day after her mother's funeral. We deal with tragic and sad situations, but at the same time we do not lose the reality of things. 
The book is set in more than a 3 year period, jumping from when Allie gets adopted at 14, to how old she is now, which is 17. Even though Allie gets the best adoptee mother (Beatrice) I personally can think of, she is still closed off and can't seem to open herself up to Beatrice, who seems to also be lost and unable to get closer to Allie and show her that she truly does love her, and at the same time Allie can't understand WHY Beatrice WOULD love her. Allie did frustrate me in this aspect; I mean, you've been adopted by around 4 years and you've only been treated no less than a real daughter, so why would you still hold on to all these insecurities and mistrust? Don't humans, naturally need someone to depend on? no matter how 'independent' they say they are. Allie does grow, with the help of Sam, her childhood friend, or more like, the guy who followed her as a lost puppy for years. I adored Sam, he wasn't pushy, he gave Allie her own time and slowed down to her pace and basically tried everything he could to make her happy, even if it meant that he won't end up with her. 
Then enters the military enlistment. I liked, and disliked the addition of this idea, the like comes fro the phrase "Distance only makes the heart grow fonder" and disliked it for the fact that it sort of sprung up on me, I didn't have much time to adapt to the idea of Sam leaving, and I felt that Allie resolved her feelings a bit too fast because of it. However, even though the ending and resolution of the book felt a bit rushed, it was sweet, heartwarming, and just an overall feel good ending. I would recommend this book to any lover of realistic fiction, but beware, I couldn't put this book down! I am definitely excited for any new books by Rachel Coker and hoping for another brilliant realistic contemporary like Interrupted
4 musical notes!

March 29, 2012

Blog Tour Stop: Golden Blood by Melissa Pearl - Review

Golden Blood (Time Spirit Trilogy, #1)
Title: Golden Blood (Time Spirit Trilogy #1)
Author: Melissa Pearl
Publication date: November 4th, 2011
Genre(s): Young Adult (Paranormal)
Challenges: 
Source: Blog Tour
Format: 
Ebook
Pages: 260
Find on: Goodreads | Amazon
Gemma Hart never knows when her father is going to whisk her back in time. Her toes start tingling and she has a few minutes to find a secret haven where she can disintegrate and appear in another time and place. While “across the line,” her training and skills are put to the test as she completes a mission that will change history for the lucky few her father has selected.

Gemma's parents are adamant that secrecy is paramount to her family’s safety. If people knew what they were capable of, they could be "used and abused", as her mother always says. Afraid she might accidentally utter the truth and break the ancient oath of her people, Gemma spends her school days as a loner. Only one thing can throw her sheltered life askew... Harrison Granger.

Harrison never expected to talk to the strange Hart girl, but after a brief encounter he can't stop thinking about her. He begins a campaign to chisel away her icy veneer and is met with unexpected consequences. As he slowly wins this girl over, he enters a surreal world that has him fighting to keep his newfound love and his life.
Golden Blood wasn't what I was expecting, it was so much more. From the beginning of the book the writing was likable, the story sucked you in, even though it might have seemed a bit too generic at first. However as I continued reading, and the paranormal aspect of the story was revealed, I fell in love. 
Gemma, the protagonist, is a typical high school student. She struggles with the secret of her family, where they once had to move because she slipped the secret to one of her friends. When she meets Harrison Granger, really meets him, not ogling and fantasizing about him from afar, the struggle really begins. She doesn't know whether she should get close to him for she is endangering her family's secret and their existence. At the same time, she is falling hard for him, her sister's rule "keep it at fun and games" seemed to have worked... until it didn't. 
I found the time traveling aspect of the story and the usage of it very fascinating. Her twin older brother and sister were great secondary characters, and her and Harrison's relationship was uncomplicated and free of misunderstandings, exactly how I like it. Golden Blood is the first book in a trilogy, the second and third books Black Blood and Pure Blood have already been released. I personally can't wait to get my hands on them to get back to Gemma's world! 
5 musical notes!

The whole Time Spirit Trilogy

Find Melissa Pearl on

March 28, 2012

Review + Author Interview: Rock & A Hard Place by Angie Stanton - Farah


Title: Rock and a Hard Place
Author: Angie Stanton
Publisher: Vanguard Management 
Publication Date: May 3rd, 2011
Genre(s): Young Adult (Contemporary)
Challenges: SARC, Contemporary Challange, A-Z
Source: Author
Format: E-book
Pages: 288
One day while watching the Interstate exit for her dad’s long awaited return, Libby’s life is rocked when Peter Jamieson steps off his tour bus and into her life. After a couple chance meetings with Peter, Libby breaks away from her rule abiding behavior and her life changes course.

Peter longs for normalcy away from the screaming fans who know nothing about the real him. He is amazed to discover Libby has never heard of him or his band. Soon their friendship turns to love. While Peter battles his family's growing interference so he can spend time with Libby, she struggles with her eccentric aunt who turns more bizarre each day. 

    What inspired you to write Rock & A Hard Place?
This is a little long, I'll try to give you the short version. :)
My ideas always start with "what if?" Here's the back story. My daughter was really worried about a boy she went to high school with. The parents were divorced and he lived with his mother in Colorado. When he was 14, she died of cancer. He was sent here, to Wisconsin, to live with his dad. I don't know any of the circumstances, but from what I heard, the dad was abusive and alcoholic. He clearly didn't want his son and didn't know what to do with him. He even threw the kid out of the house a few times. This friendly, polite, good looking kid was 16. I couldn't stop thinking about him.

His story got me to thinking about all the kids who get a raw deal in life. Kids who do absolutely nothing to deserve the bad situation they're in. So I wondered, what if? What if a young girl was torn from her family and put with some eccentric relative? What if she were so grief stricken she couldn't pull herself out of it. What would happen? AND, what if the most unlikely of things happened and someone famous stepped into her life? That's how Libby and Peter came to life. :)
Do any of the characters resemble a person you know? 
The characters in this book aren't based off anyone specific. I didn't have a famous person in mind when I wrote them. However, I did for Dream Chaser, my next book, but that's another story.
How did you come up with the title? 
The title picked itself. I labored for a long time about it, but having Rock in the title seemed necessary, because Peter is in a rock band. And Libby is in a very hard place in her life. So Rock and a Hard Place felt right. It describes both characters lives. 
How would you compare Libby's personality to yours?
How would I compare Libby's personality to my own? Interesting question. I believe that most people go through difficult times when their kids. Some skate through unscathed, but many have some kind of issues or trauma they survived. I'm no different. There was a time in my life when I was shy and didn't speak up, so I guess you could say that part of Libby's personality was like mine. Now, as an adult, I'm pretty honest with my opinions. If I think something is wrong, I'll say so, and if I think a rule is stupid, I won't follow it.  Libby finally had to break rules to save herself. 
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My Review:
Rock and a Hard Place was definitely the contemporary novel I was looking for! It was fun, chill, and very interesting! The flow of the book was wonderful, and the story events were all great! Angie definitely wrote a book that many young adults would enjoy!
In this book, I loved how the main protagonist Libby, never felt sorry for herself. She didn't have a family, and had to live with her awful aunt who's always drinking. If it was me, i'd go crazy! Libby held through and went to school, got good grades, and just went on with her life!
When Libby meets Peter, it was magical. They instantly enjoy their time together, and not in an insta love way, but in a "wow your great to hang out with" way. Peter is in a band, and Libby doesn't have any electronics at home, so she has never heard of him. Peter feels normal around Libby, which seems totally realistic and believable. With all those fans after him, seeking normalcy is one thing he does. While no one showed kindness to Libby, she does feel safe and happy with him, which again just makes the whole concept real and cute.
The most thing I loved, is Angie's style of writing. She writes in all the character's points of views, and not in a way that mixes the readers up. I understood all the character's feelings and thoughts, which made me get to know them much better.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. If you haven't read it yet, you should totally go ahead and READ it! It will not disappoint, and will leave you closing the book with a smile!
4 music notes

  

March 27, 2012

Waiting On Wednesday (19) - Insurgent


Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Publication Date: May 1, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Find on: GoodreadsAmazonBook Depository
One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.
!!!!!! YES THIS IS HOW I FEEL ABOUT WAITING FOR THIS BOOK!! Divergent is one of my all time favorite books and words can't describe how much I am dying to read Insurgent!! I LOVE YOU VERONICA ROTH  - juhina

What are you waiting on this wednesday? 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that showcases upcoming releases that we are excited about. 

    

Streamline Launch Party!

Welcome to the launch party of STREAMLINE by Jennifer Lane! In this post we've got the gorgeous cover and synopsis, along with an excerpt and a chance to win some Streamline goodies! Make sure to check out this book and add it to your reading pile, because you really don't want to miss out on this novel that is:
"Part murder mystery, part tale of young love"


Seems like Leo Scott has it all: looks, brains, and athletic talent. He’s captain of his high school swim team with a bright future in college and beyond. But Leo has secrets. His mother’s crippling car accident has devastated his family and left Leo to deal with his father’s abuse, battered and alone.

Leo’s girlfriend Audrey Rose is poised for her own share of success. As one of Florida’s top high school swimmers, Audrey dreams of college swimming stardom. But there’s an obstacle to her glorious rise to the top. Her number-one supporter--her father--is in prison for murder.

Part murder mystery, part tale of young love in a military family, this gripping story takes readers on a journey from Pensacola to Annapolis. Leo and Audrey must band together to rise above the adversity they encounter and find their true selves in the process. When everything’s on the line . . . streamline.

Excerpt from Streamline! 

Seven stations into the weight circuit, Leo and Audrey did squats while Alex and Elaine worked their chests at the bench press station. Leo felt sweat slide down his legs as he lowered his body, clutching the weighted bar across the back of his neck.
“Good form, Leo,” Coach Matt called from across the room.
While Audrey took some plates off the bar before her turn, Leo watched teammates Elaine and Alex adding twenty-five pound plates to their bar. When Elaine flattened herself on the bench, Leo wrinkled his forehead. “Wait a minute. Does Elaine lift more than you, Alex?”
Assuming the spotting position behind the bar, Alex gave him a wounded look. “Shut up, Leo! Look at Laney’s biceps! I could never lift as much as her!”
Chuckling, Audrey heaved the squat bar up to her chest and then over her head, resting it on her neck and shoulders as she lowered into a squat. Her lean muscles strained against the burden.
“Audrey, keep your back straight,” Matt instructed. When she continued to struggle, he added, “Leo, help her with her form, will you?”
Leo nodded and came up behind Audrey, wrapping his hands around her hips to steady her. She seemed to shiver. Leo smiled and leaned in closer. “I think your form’s absolutely perfect,” he whispered.

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To make things easier for you guys, you only need to fill out the form below once from any of the participating blogs and you're entered to win! 

March 26, 2012

Review: Slide by Jill Hathaway - Farah


Title: Slide (Slide #1)
Author: Jill Hathaway

Publication date: March 27th, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins: Balzer + Bray
Challenges: TBR challenge, A-Z Title, Debut 
Genre(s): Young Adult (Paranormal, Mystery)
Source: Publisher
Format: ARC
Pages: 256
Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth—her sister’s friend Sophie didn’t kill herself. She was murdered.

Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed “friend” when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body.

Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can’t bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting off lately, more distant, especially now that she’s been spending more time with Zane. 
As I started reading SLIDE, I never expected to slide into a book full of a surprising and captivating storyline. SLIDE was definitely one of my most anticipated books of 2012, and I was so glad to get my hands on it. Jill Hathaway's writing was fun, and the flow of the book was good. I never felt bored, and always wanted to turn to the next page.
The main protagonist, Sylvia, known as Vee, has a special power. She slides into people when she passes out, and when she does, she see's the world through that person's eyes. One day, Vee slides into a person, and that person was holding a knife, standing over Sophie's dead body. Vee witnesses a murder. While everyone believed it's a suicide, Vee was determined to find out the killer. Vee is definitely one of my favorite protagonists. She's very unique, especially with her pink hair. Vee and her best friend, Rollins have officially occupied a place in my heart. I just love Rollins; He's awesome, and I loved how Jill protrayed their friendship. It felt realistic to me, where they had their fair share of fights and misunderstandings.
I love mystery novels, and one thing I look for in one is for it to surprise me, and SLIDE did a great job at that! I never expected the killer to be who it turned out to be, causing an induced mental slap but at the same time a huge smile on my face with how the book ended. Overall, I really enjoyed reading SLIDE. I especially loved the epilogue, and I just can't wait to get my hands on the next book of the SLIDE series! It is a mystery novel with a touch of paranormal that kept me hooked till the end! 
4 musical notes!

March 25, 2012

Blog Tour: Embrace by Jessica Shirvington review

Welcome to another stop on the Embrace blog tour! Today I have a review for you all! and also don't forget to enter the giveaway to win a paperback copy of Embrace Here
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Embrace (Embrace, #1)


Title: Embrace (Embrace #1)
Author: Jessica Shirvington
Publication date: March 6th, 2012
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire /  Sourcebooks
Genre(s): Young Adult (Paranormal, Angels)
Challenges: A-Z Title, Debut
Source: Publisher
Format: ARC
Pages: 367
Amazon | B&N | Goodreads
It starts with a whisper: “It’s time for you to know who you are…”

Violet Eden dreads her seventeenth birthday. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. As if that wasn’t enough, disturbing dreams haunt her sleep and leave her with very real injuries. There’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms that wasn’t there before.

Violet is determined to get some answers, but nothing could have prepared her for the truth. The guy she thought she could fall in love with has been keeping his identity a secret: he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her.

A centuries-old battle between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity has chosen its new warrior. It’s a fight Violet doesn’t want, but she lives her life by two rules: don’t run and don’t quit. When angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden… 
If you've been following the blog for a while you would know that I am known to have an odd relationship with paranormal novels, specifically angel books. Some angel novels I love to death, and others I can't seem to get through the full book. Now you're all wondering how I feel about Embrace? well it definitely is in the "I enjoyed it" pile! To break it down even more, I must say that I enjoyed the first half much more than the latter half. I went through the first half in ONE sitting, however I reached a bump in the middle and things slowed down in the book, which in turn made me lose a bit of interest in it. However, the book in the end was magnificent and I am SO excited to get my hands on the second book because i REALLY did get addicted to Violet's story in the end! 
Ok now let me explain a bit more. This novel has a love triangle. I often side with one of the sides immediately and stick to it till the end, but I am SO annoyed that as SOON as Violet gets with someone, I start liking the other! I mean sheesh, Violet, why couldn't we agree on one man? I was confused, so I understand why Violet went from one to the other and just didn't know where her heart belonged to. Throughout the book I found Violet to be a bit childish, and sometimes even straight out hateful because of how she treated Lincoln, and then Pheonix, the other guy of the love triangle. I just did not enjoy her indecisive mentality and that she assumes everyone should give her a break because she just found out she will never live a normal life. 
I really liked the plot, in that it was more dynamic, problems happen, they get solved, then more problems occur. It was centered around one problem, but it didn't suffocate the whole book, there was room for other implications, complications, and issues to arise. Also, towards the end, you discover things (even though you discover them before Violet does), that are so shocking that you just want to know WHY but you never get to that since the book ends. WHICH IS WHY I NEED to get my hands on the second book! which I can not wait to see its cover, if it is as gorgeous as the first one, then I'm a happy reader/book cover lover. 
3.5 musical notes!