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Thursday, October 31, 2013

Cat Thursday #21



Welcome to the weekly meme that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s) and then link up at the host's site: The True Book Addict. It's all for the love of cats!
 
In the spirit of Halloween here's some random pictures of cats in costumes!
 
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Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday #86

 
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine and is where we can talk about books we are looking forward to being released.
 
A Breath of Frost (The Lovegrove Legacy, #1)
 
Summary:
 
In 1814, three cousins-Gretchen, Emma, and Penelope-discover their unknown family lineage of witchcraft. Beyond the familiar manicured gardens and ballrooms of Regency London, a dangerous, alluring new underworld visible only to those with power is now open to the cousins.
But unbeknownst to them, by claiming their power, the three cousins have inadvertently opened the gates to the Underworld.
Now the dead, ghouls, hellhounds-and the most terrifying of all: the spirits of dark witches known as the Greymalkin Sisters-are hunting and killing young debutante witches for their powers.
And, somehow, Emma is connected to the murders...because she keeps finding the bodies.
Can the cousins unravel the clues and mystery behind their heritage and power before their gifts are stripped away ...or even worse, another witch is killed?
Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 496 pages (Hardcover)
Expected Publication Date: January 7th 2014 by Walker Childrens
 
Why I'm Waiting:
 
This one is one that I saw on NetGalley and immediately caught my eye. I've heard of the author before but haven't read her previous novels but I've been aware of her for ages and I'm looking forward to not only give her published books a try but I want to give this one a try because it sounds excellent.
 
The Almost Girl
 
Summary:
 
Seventeen-year-old Riven is as tough as they come. Coming from a world ravaged by a devastating android war, she has to be. There’s no room for softness, no room for emotion, no room for mistakes. A Legion General, she is the right hand of the young Prince of Neospes, a parallel universe to Earth. In Neospes, she has everything: rank, responsibility and respect. But when Prince Cale sends her away to find his long-lost brother, Caden, who has been spirited back to modern day Earth, Riven finds herself in uncharted territory.

Thrown out of her comfort zone but with the mindset of a soldier, Riven has to learn how to be a girl in a realm that is the opposite of what she knows. Riven isn’t prepared for the beauty of a world that is unlike her own in so many ways. Nor is she prepared to feel something more than indifference for the very target she seeks. Caden is nothing like Cale, but he makes something in her come alive, igniting a spark deep down that goes against every cell in her body. For the first time in her life, Riven isn’t sure about her purpose, about her calling. Torn between duty and desire, she must decide whether Caden is simply a target or whether he is something more.

Faced with hideous reanimated Vector soldiers from her own world with agendas of their own, as well as an unexpected reunion with a sister who despises her, it is a race against time to bring Caden back to Neospes. But things aren’t always as they seem, and Riven will have to search for truth. Family betrayals and royal coups are only the tip of the iceberg. Will Riven be able to find the strength to defy her very nature? Or will she become the monstrous soldier she was designed to be?
Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Length: N/A
Expected Publication Date: January 7th 2014 by Strange Chemistry            
 
Why I'm Waiting:
 
I love the cover for this one and I love the sci-fi aspect of this one. It sounds like it's going to be a real thriller.
 
What are YOU waiting for this Wednesday?

 

 

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

*[Blog Tour Review & Tourwide Giveaway] The Devil's Tattoo (Devil's Tattoo #1) by Nicole R. Taylor

The Devil's Tattoo
 
 
Summary:
 
The Highway to Hell or the Stairway to Heaven?

Zoe Granger picked up her first guitar the day her heart was smashed into a billion pieces. It was a way to keep her mind off her inevitable downward spiral, but music soon became her escape. She's been burned too many times to tell and is just happy to coast through life, never putting herself out there. That's until her best friend Dee suggests they start a band and suddenly she finds herself not just a part of it, but fronting the whole outfit.

They call themselves The Devil's Tattoo and when they release their debut EP, it rockets to the top of the charts and it's like an overnight fairytale. Contracts, photo shoots, royalties and interviews are heaped onto the shy Zoe and it's like she's finally found her place. Then comes the phone call that changes everything. They've been asked to co-headline a tour with one of the hottest bands of the moment, The Stabs and Zoe will never be the same again.

Will Strickland is one fourth of the hottest indie rock band to ever grace the airwaves. He's the bass player in The Stabs, hot as hell and could have his pick of any girl that flings herself at him. But he's only got eyes for Zoe and she has no idea why he'd bother. She's got one hell of a trust issue and an attitude to boot and Will seems to be the one who wants to tame her, but is he game enough?

The Devil's Tattoo and The Stabs go on the road and it's either going to be a highway to hell or a stairway to heaven. Only time will tell who will come out on top and Zoe's determined to do it without getting her heart broken… again.
Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 325 pages (Kindle)
Source: Review Copy
Available Formats: Print/E-book
Publication Date: September 1st 2013   
 
I'm going to say right off the bat that I'm still not convinced by the New Adult genre, but I have to admit that along with The Devil's Tattoo there are some great indie authors out there writing in the genre and I'm so glad I was able to review The Devil's Tattoo for it's blog tour stop today.
 
Back in the beginning of August I participated in the cover reveal for this book and that's what first sparked my interest. Reading the blurbs and seeing the author discuss it put this one on my watch list. Then the tour invite came around and even though I was burned by the NA reads that I read prior to this one I still wanted to give it a go and it was so worth doing.
 
I thought that The Devil's Tattoo was so well written. Nicole R. Taylor did a fabulous job in constructing all of her characters and not just with Zoe and Will but with the side characters as well which I enjoyed seeing. It was nice to read a book from the genre where while the main characters were the focus of the book the side characters weren't used as props and that they themselves had their own little back stories going on and Dee (Zoe's best friend) was great!
 
Usually, I'm not much for characters who are in bands but the way that the author wrote that aspect into the story was very well done and I didn't think it was too over the top and in my face about the whole music industry thing. Yes it was important but that was not the over all main focus of the story. That part was all Will and Zoe.
 
Zoe was a great heroine. She had her demons like we all do but she was fighting them. True she got a bit too whiny here and there through out the story but hey, we all get whiny in our lives and trust me she had her reasons to be insecure. I liked her overall attitude about things most of all and I'd totally be friends with her if she were real and I don't say that about just any character.
 
Will was a good character too. He seemed more real and down to earth than the typical lead guy in this genre so I thought he was really refreshing. Plus he was sweet, understanding, an ass at times but he along with Zoe just seemed so real and I love when an author can make me feel as if their characters are real people.
 
The book though was a total roller coaster of emotion. I honestly had no idea where things would be going. I'd be laughing one minute, feeling sad the next and then I'd be angry at something one of the characters said but overall the book was a fun read. Serious in parts but funny as well and I love the author's sense of humour.
 
Overall, I enjoyed The Devil's Tattoo a lot. I had a great time reading the book and I'm glad I have a new series to read (Nicole any updates on book two yet? Not that I'm eager or anything...) and I'm really looking forward to giving her other series a try while I wait for the next installment in the series.
 
I would recommend this to fans of the New Adult genre who want to read a book that for once isn't set in the USA (YAY FOR AUSTRALIAN AUTHORS AND BOOKS!). Zoe and Will were a great couple to read about and I can't recommend it enough.


*I received a  free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

I read this book for the following reading challenges:
 
2013 150+ Reading Challenge
2013 New Adult Reading Challenge


Loved it!
★★★★★

To "Like" Nicole on Facebook CLICK HERE
To "Follow" Nicole on Twitter  CLICK HERE
To become a "Fan" Nicole on Goodreads CLICK HERE
To visit Nicole's Website CLICK HERE
To purchase the book via Amazon CLICK HERE
 
 
Giveaway
 
 
1 x Swag Pack - inc. The Devil's Tattoo band t-shirt (choice of size/either vest, men's tee or womans fitted tee), tote bag, badge, signed postcards and sticker
2 x Signed Postcard Pack and The Devil's Tattoo Band Sticker
5 x Ebook Copies of The Devil's Tattoo (mobi or epub)


Teaser Tuesday #21

   
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
 
• Grab your current read• Open to a random page
• 
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
 
Cemetery Dance (Pendergast, #9)
 
Summary:
 
Pendergast-the world's most enigmatic FBI Special Agent-returns to New York City to investigate a murderous cult.

William Smithback Jr., a prominent New York Times reporter, was killed in a brutal attack in his Upper West Side apartment His wife, Nora Kelly, an archeologist at the Museum of Natural History, was injured a well. Multiple eyewitness identified the assailant as a neighbor n the building, Colin Fearing: a m an who, but all reports, dead and buried ten days ago.

While Captain Laura Hayward leads the official investigation, Pendergast and Lieutenant Vincent D'Agosta undertake their own private-and decidedly unorthodox-quest for the truth. Their serpentine journey takes them to an enclave of Manhattan they never imagined could exist: a secretive, reclusive cult of Obeah and voodoo which no outsiders have ever survived.
Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 435 pages (Hardcover)
Publication Date: May 12th 2009 by Grand Central Publishing            
 
My Teaser:
Pg. 119
 
"No." D'Agosta sat back in the plush leather seat, musing that sometimes it was better to leave Pendergast to his own thoughts than to try to force the issue.
 
 
What's your teaser this Tuesday?
 
 

Top Ten Tuesday #43

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!
 
 Top Ten Scary Book Covers
*Note I have not read these
 
Krampus: The Yule LordThe Devouring (The Devouring, #1)BerserkHouse of BonesThey ThirstThe WolfenThe RuinsDwellerThe Lost
Swamp Monster Massacre
 

Monday, October 28, 2013

*[Book Blast & Giveaway] Summerset Abbey by T.J. Brown

Summerset Abbey (Summerset Abbey, #1)
 
 
Summary:
 
Reminiscent of Downton Abbey, this first novel in a new series follows two sisters and their maid as they are suddenly separated by the rigid class divisions within a sprawling aristocratic estate and thrust into an uncertain world on the brink of WWI…
Rowena and Victoria, daughters to the second son of the Earl of Summerset, have always treated their governess’s daughter, Prudence, like a sister. But when their father dies and they move in with their uncle’s family in a much more traditional household, Prudence is relegated to the maids’ quarters, much to the girls’ shock and dismay. The impending war offers each girl hope for a more modern future, but the ever-present specter of class expectations makes it difficult for Prudence to maintain a foot in both worlds.
Vividly evoking both time and place and filled with authentic dialogue and richly detailed atmosphere, Summerset Abbey is a charming and timeless historical debut.
 
Excerpt:

A lump rose in her throat as she caught sight of the ornate casket, draped with a full spray of lilies, carnations, and palm fronds. The only reason she was here, clutching Rowena’s and Victoria’s hands in hers instead of shrinking into the background with the other servants, was the kindness of the man who lay inside. After Prudence’s father had died, her mother, who had worked at Sir Philip’s estate as a girl, had been sent to attend to Rowena and Victoria’s ailing mother. When his wife died, Sir Philip asked her to stay on to help raise the girls, and Prudence, exactly between his daughters in age, became part of the family. Prudence, who volunteered her time at several different poorhouses in the city, knew exactly what happened to young girls left alone in the world. She would forever be grateful to Sir Philip for not allowing that to happen to her.

She blinked away her tears and occupied herself by looking at the rest of the congregation. Only a few looked familiar. Among them were Rupert Brooke, the high-strung and handsome young poet; Ben Tillett, the iron-jawed union leader; and Roger Fry, the controversial artist responsible for bringing London’s shocked attention to postimpressionism some years prior. These were some of Sir Philip’s friends, a motley collection of artists, intellectuals, and misfits.

Because the Earl had arranged the funeral, most of the people in attendance were his peers, men from the House of Lords and others from the cream of London society.

Sir Philip would have hated it.

The beautiful gold arches and polished marble of St. Bride’s Church gleamed, just as they had the few times the family had attended church. Sir Philip had chosen St. Bride’s because, as he used to say, “Sir Christopher Wren built the kind of church that God might actually enjoy.”

Gradually, Prudence became aware of a young man staring at her from across the aisle. Her eyes darted in his direction, then away. Moments later, unable to help herself, she glanced back to see whether he was still looking at her. He was. She turned slightly and stared fixedly at the bronze candelabra to the left of him, her cheeks burning.

Victoria leaned around her to whisper to Rowena. “Look, Lord Billingsly has noticed our Prudence.”

“I’m right here,” Prudence whispered, and gave both their hands a hard squeeze for emphasis.

She didn’t look his way again.

Once the service started, Prudence sank into a well of grief that threatened to drown her. The waves of it lapped at her from all sides, covered her head, and made sight almost impossible. Inside, her heart broke and a waterfall of sorrow poured from the cracks. On one side, Victoria sobbed quietly, while Rowena’s stiff resolve buoyed her from the other. She clung to their hands as the service passed in a blur of speeches.

They remained that way until it was time to get into the ornate black and gold funeral carriages that would take them back to their home in Mayfair for the reception. Behind the carriages stood a line of motorcars; most of the wealthy guests had long given up their carriages for the convenience and speed of automobiles. The Earl himself had several, and Sir Philip’s sleek Eton-blue Belsize sat idle in the carriage house, but the Earl insisted on traditional horse-drawn carriages.

“Miss Tate will ride in the staff carriage.” The Earl’s voice brooked no opposition and his square jaw firmed. Prudence knew that look. Rowena’s pretty face held the same expression when she got all stubborn about something.

Victoria’s eyes widened. “Prudence rides with us.”

“Nonsense. The Duke of Plymouth wishes to join us and there isn’t enough room.”

Prudence placed her hands on Victoria’s shoulders. Tension vibrated through the young girl’s slender body and Prudence’s stomach knotted, sure that Victoria was going to throw a fit, the kind she used to throw when the family still called her baby and she wanted the biggest sweet in the shop. Even at eighteen, Victoria wasn’t above a tantrum or two if she thought the situation warranted it. But her waiflike face suddenly fell and her lower lip trembled.

“It’ll be all right,” Prudence whispered. “I’ll go back with the staff and meet you at home.”

Author Bio


TJ Brown is proud of her two children but coming in a close second is the fact that she parachuted out of a plane and beat the original Legend of Zelda video game. Her young adult historical about Harry Houdini’s illegitimate daughter came out in June from Balzer+Bray. She also writes adult historicals under TJ Brown. She resides with her husband and way too many pets in Portlandia

Author Links:

 
Giveaway

 

*[Blog Tour Review] Relative Danger (Cealie Gunther Mystery #1) by June Shaw

Relative Danger (A Cealie Gunther Mystery, #1)
 
Summary:
 
Spunky widowed Cealie Gunther shows up early for her granddaughter Kat's graduation--only to learn graduation might not take place unless a custodian's death--accidental--or murder--is solved. With a deathbed promise to Kat's mother to watch Kat cross the stage for her diploma, Cealie becomes a substitute teacher there and finds fierce students and teachers. And someone aiming for her grandchild.
Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 256 pages (Kindle)
Source: Review Copy
Available Formats: Print/E-book/Audio
Publication Date: July 19th 2013 by Untreed Reads (first published 2006)            
 
Isn't Fall (along with winter) the perfect time of year to read cozy mysteries? I certainly think so which is why I signed up for June Shaw's Relative Danger blog tour.
 
Cealie was a really great character. I usually prefer my main characters in cozy mysteries to be closer to my age (23) when I'm reading this genre but Cealie was just so charming and spunky I thought she was a hoot. She reminded me a lot of a friend of mine's grandma when we were growing up in terms of her attitude she was such a smart, warm person you could totally see that she adored her granddaughter.
 
I liked the premise of the novel most of all though because it was very well put together. The whole idea of Cealie becoming a substitute teacher at her granddaughter's school was a new one for me but I do love when sleuths go undercover to solve a mystery. The mystery in this case of course was the death of a custodian ad Kat's school which is ultimately the reason behind why Kat may not make it to the point of getting her diploma after the custodian dies.
 
Relative Danger had a really well thought out story line and there were lots of twists and turns that kept me reading this one. I also really enjoyed the fact that that while I read this book over the period of a few weeks that I was able to pick up exactly where I left off, remembering everything because the story was just so memorable. The characters were really well thought out as well because they actually stayed with me and seemed a little more developed than I would usually find in a cozy mystery and I enjoyed seeing the different dynamics between them as well which added to the overall story.
 
All in all, I thought Relative Danger was a really good read. It was a cozy mystery but it was one that made me use my brain as well because I didn't see how the mystery was going to be solved until it was solved. With great characters, a complex plot and a solid writing style I can't wait to read the next book in the Cealie Gunther series.
 
I would highly recommend this book to fans of the cozy mystery genre who want something a little stronger than the usual fluff without getting too intense. If novels with plot lines that are both equally plot and character driven than this might just be the next series you should start.
 
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.
 
I read this book for the following reading challenges:
 
2013 150+ Reading Challenge
2013 Mystery/Crime Reading Challenge


Really Liked It!
★★★★

To "Friend" June on Facebook CLICK HERE
To "Like" June on Twitter  CLICK HERE
To become a "Fan" of June on Goodreads CLICK HERE
To visit June's Website CLICK HERE
To purchase the book via Amazon CLICK HERE

To purchase the book via Kobo  CLICK HERE
To purchase the book via Barnes & Noble  CLICK HERE
 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #74



It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a meme hosted by Book Journey and is a great way for others to find out what you are planning to read this week and, best of all, see what others are reading.


Read Last Week:
 
Relative DangerThe Devil's TattooBrimstone (Pendergast, #5/Diogenes, #1)The MammyTo My Hero: A Blog of Our Journey TogetherDance of DeathThe Book of the Dead (Pendergast, #7/Diogenes, #3)The Wheel of Darkness (Pendergast, #8)
 
 
Currently Reading:
 
Cemetery Dance (Pendergast, #9)The ChisellersA Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire, #3)
 
Up Next:
 
The GrannyFever Dream (Pendergast, #10)Cold Vengeance (Pendergast #11)Christmas Where She Belongs
 
 
What are YOU reading this week?