Monday, September 30, 2013

Rain's Reviews: Prophecy Girl by Cecily White

Prophecy Girl by Cecily White

Prophecy Girl (Angel Academy, #1)

Amelie Bennett: Ending the world, one prophecy at a time.

I was born to slay Crossworld demons. 

Big black flappy ones, little green squirmy ones. Unfortunately, the only thing getting slain these days is my social life. With my high school under attack, combat classes intensifying, and Academy instructors dropping right and left, I can barely get my homework done, let alone score a bondmate before prom.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Rain's Reviews: This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen

This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen




When it comes to relationships, Remy doesn't mess around. After all, she's learned all there is to know from her mother, who's currently working on husband number five. But there's something about Dexter that seems to defy all of Remy's rules. He certainly doesn't seem like Mr. Right. For some reason, however, Remy just can't seem to shake him. Could it be that Remy's starting to understand what those love songs are all about?

~~~

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Release Day Blitz: The Pitcher by William Hazelgrove




pitcherThe Pitcher “I never knew I had an arm until this guy called out, “Hey you want to try and get a ball in the hole, sonny?” I was only nine, but mom said, “come on, let’s play.” This Carney guy with no teeth and a fuming cigarette hands me five blue rubber balls and says if I throw three in the hole we win a prize. He’s grinning, because he took mom’s five bucks and figures a sucker is born every minute. That really got me, because we didn’t have any money after Fernando took off, and he only comes back to beat up mom and steal our money. So I really wanted to get mom back something, you know, for her five bucks.” A boy with a golden arm but no money for lessons. A mother who wants to give her son his dream before she dies. A broken down World Series pitcher who cannot go on after the death of his wife. These are the elements of The Pitcher. A story of a man at the end of his dream and a boy whose dream is to make his high school baseball team. In the tradition of The Natural and The Field of Dreams, this is a mythic story about how a man and a boy meet in the crossroads of their life and find a way to go on. You will laugh and you will cry as The Pitcher and Ricky prepare for the ultimate try out of life.
  williamAuthor William Hazelgrove William Hazelgrove is the best selling author of five novels, Ripples, Tobacco Sticks Mica Highways and Rocket Man and The Pitcher His books have received starred reviews in Publisher Weekly, Book of the Month Selections, Junior Library Guild Selections, ALA Editors Choice Awards and optioned for the movies. He was the Ernest Hemingway Writer in Residence where he wrote in the attic of Ernest Hemingway’s birthplace. He has written articles and reviews for USA Today and other publications. His latest novel Rocket Man due out May 1, 2013 was chosen Book of the Year by Books and Authors.net. He runs a political cultural blog, The View From Hemingway’s Attic. A forthcoming novel, The Pitcher will be out Sept 1, 2013. He lives in Chicago.
pitcher tour

  BookBlast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 9/30/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, September 16, 2013

Rain's Reviews: Jordyn (A Daemon Hunter) by Tiffany King

Jordyn (A Daemon Hunter) by Tiffany King


Jordyn (A Daemon Hunter, #1)

Hand to hand combat training: Check Cardio and strength training: Check Daemon hunting: Check Anomaly: Check Check, check, check, check...That's all my life is. There's nothing ordinary about me. I'm "special." I know this because I'm reminded of it every stinking day. I can kick a Daemon's ass with both hands tied behind my back. I can run up a mountain without breaking a sweat. Know what I can't do? Get guys to notice me, or hang out with friends like normal people do. I can't just be ordinary because I have an Arch Angel for a mentor who is always breathing down my neck, and a family of angelic Guides and Protectors who scrutinize every little thing I do. Just for a day I want a life where I'm no longer some anomaly, where I don't have to feel like a lab rat. And then I met Emrys. Okay, so my mentor and family hate him, but probably for good reason. After-all, he is a Soul Trader, and they aren't the most trust worthy beings. But, he is sooo hot with his green eyes, leather jacket and the sexiest tattoo you've ever seen running down his back. And-he doesn't treat me like a project. I've got myself in quite a little quandary here. Choosing between my responsibilities and the Trader that holds my heart is something I didn't sign up for. Torn between two different worlds, I must now decide who to trust and who to walk away from. What's a girl to do? See what I mean? I am an anomaly. I am Jordyn.~ Goodreads

~~~

Oh, I’ve been waiting to read this book for months on end. I know its been out and Tiffany King is worth spending 2.99 on I just never did get around to buying it. So when I saw it was free on Amazon I bought it real quick like. Jordyn is the first in the series A Daemon Hunter.


I wonder what makes some demons be spelled Demon and others Daemon? Is it just writers choice like color and colour? Or does it have to do with context? hmm… if you know I’d love to hear the reason.


Jordyn has got to be the snarkiest and sassiest person(ish) I have ever read about. I mean really a remark to everything said. While it was funny most the time, it started to grate on my nerves. Jordyn is very cocky and though it is well earned confidence her need for a little humble pie was astonishing. But, it wasn’t so much so that it ruined the book. The mystery wasn’t the highlight of the book but the action and romance was. And let me tell you it was swoon worthy. But it did stay well in the young adult category.


Emrys, the rebellious, hot, and forbidden soul trader is Jordyn’s kind of guy. And while she doesn’t know much about him and her family and Haniel really don’t like him at all she just can’t stay away. But he isn’t what he seems. At first he acts like a huge player that doesn’t care but don’t let it fool you. And Jordyn can definitely take care of herself.


So I don’t know what to say really except, the climax came very near the end which though the whole story was great I don’t like drawn out build-up but, hey. It is what it is and I would recommend this book to the Saving Angel’s series fans and anyone who likes a romantic, action packed book with snark galore.
~Rain
~~~

~~~
Goodreads
Amazon
Tiffany King's Website

Friday, September 13, 2013

Release Day Blitz: Sacrifice of Love by Quinn Loftis

Sacrifice of Love Release Day Blitz 







Available today!
As one evil falls, another rises in its place.  The powerful witch, Desdemona, has finally been killed by an alliance of wolf, elf, and fae. But Reyaz, brother to Cypher the warlock king, has vowed retribution for a life that was taken from him. Now Cypher must decide not only how to protect his newfound mate and his people, but also how to destroy the only family he has left.
Meanwhile, Jen’s pregnancy progresses and the fateful due date draws ever nearer. The thought of losing Decebel’s child constantly threatens to overwhelm her. With each passing day, Decebel grows more distant, causing Jen to wonder what toll the impending loss of their child is taking on him. Unbeknownst to Jen, in an act of desperation to protect his unborn child and mate, Decebel strikes a deadly bargain with the Great Luna—his life in place of his child’s. There is only one way for that to happen; the bond between he and Jen must be broken.

Rains Reviews: Nobody's Secret by Michaela MacColl

Nobody's Secret by Michaela MacColl

Nobody's Secret
One day, fifteen-year-old Emily Dickinson meets a mysterious, handsome young man. Surprisingly, he doesn't seem to know who she or her family is. And even more surprisingly, he playfully refuses to divulge his name. Emily enjoys her secret flirtation with Mr. "Nobody" until he turns up dead in her family's pond. She's stricken with guilt. Only Emily can discover who this enigmatic stranger was before he's condemned to be buried in an anonymous grave. Her investigation takes her deep into town secrets, blossoming romance, and deadly danger. Exquisitely written and meticulously researched, this novel celebrates Emily Dickinson's intellect and spunk in a page-turner of a book that will excite fans of mystery, romance, and poetry alike.~Goodreads
~~~

Review


So I was iffy when I picked up this book. I liked the idea of it. And with the main character being Emily Dickinson was definitely intriguing. But since mysteries don’t always keep my attention and books/movie/shows set in the past have a hard time interesting me so when I say I enjoyed this book you know how hard it was for the author to accomplish that. 

The format of this book was very well done with lines of her relevant poetry strewn about in the story, and the storytelling (it was in third person) was very well done. 

Emily is a peculiar and very intelligent young girl that is much too curious for the times she lived in and the place she grew up. When an acquaintance of hers turns up dead the circumstance is much too convenient and with the lack of caring from the rest of the town it give Emily a sense of duty to find out who this man was and why he died. Though she insisted on sticking her nose where it didn't belong I couldn’t help but cheer her on in her quest for answers. 

The mystery is breath catching, and keeps you anxious for answers. There is a nice balance of answers and questions so there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. 
~Rain
~~~

Teaser

Not one stranger in a thousand would have understood why she wanted a bee to land on her nose. Or would see the humor in her ridiculous parents. Or agree that one could worship God anywhere. p. 50
~~~
Liberty Bay Books: Nobody's Secret

Monday, September 9, 2013

Blog Tour: Striking by Lila Felix and Rachel Higginson

Blog Tour: Striking by Lila Felix and Rachel Higginson



Striking


BLURB:

Can two hearts be forged into one?

Cami Montgomery stole a car and smashed it into the front of a building in upscale Beverly Hills after a lousy date with the epitome of sleaze balls. The worst part, her parents are following through on threats after this latest plea for attention. Banished from her L.A. paradise and plunged into the Appalachian Mountains with her industrious aunt and uncle, Cami is about to find out how precious life really is.

Stockton Wright has been thrust into a hard life. He sacrifices everything to give his family and community what they need. He’s exhausted from life and work—and he’s only twenty four. What he needs is some change, and some sunshine. Even he will agree to that. He just doesn’t expect to find it in a stuck up, pompous, entitled Californian.

Cami bursts into Stockton’s life like wildfire, consuming all his thoughts and tangling him in her web. What starts out as a contentious rivalry evolves into a desire neither of them expected. When hammer meets metal, will they crack under pressure or be forged as one?

Cami and Stockton might just end up being exactly what the other one needs, but first their love will have to be drawn out in fire.~Goodreads
~~~
Review:

Striking is perhaps one of the few times I understood the meaning of the connection between the two love interests. Lila Felix and Rachel Higginson did a wonderful job

demonstrating the connection between Stockton and Cami. I didn’t shake my haed at Cami when she talked about not being able to live without him. Because I understood. I think I fulle grasped what Stockton meant to Cami and vice versa.

Cami starts out as a self destructive cry-for-help self entitled brat. But is that what she really is? How much of that is to blame on her upbringing? You can’t blame a hamster for acting like a hamster. So though she wasn’t the most lovable person I found I had a bit of a soft spot for her. And she was so eager to please that you couldn’t stay mad at her for long.

Stockton is another story. He is sweet, protective, loving, caring. He wants nothing more than to provide for his family. And in the process he has had to grow up quickly and has carried around quite a lot of misplaced guilt. And somewhere in there he started to be a real jackmouth to certain blonde newcomers. And though he has made a 180 it took my a minute to fully warm up to him. But now that I have he is a great guy.

This book has some great secondary characters and some bad ones but they all serve a purpose so just keep trucking when the going gets tough. Willa in particular is awesome. The rest of the factors were good too, the writing style, the language. There were a lot of suggestive comments and innuendos that I could have lived without but overall, a good read.

~Rain
~~~


Lila Felix made the decision to write a book after being encouraged by friends. She is a stay at home mom to three wild children and three boisterous dogs and her high school sweetheart husband encourages her daily. Between writing books, she loves to read and watch sappy 80's movies. Favorite things: ice cream, anything purple, roller derby and any kind of music she can get her hands on. If you're looking for her, try looking in the swamp, she's probably duct taping something under the shade of a Cypress tree.

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLilaFelix

https://twitter.com/AuthorLilaFelix

http://authorlilafelix.blogspot.com/
 


Rachel Higginson was born and raised in Nebraska, but spent her college years traveling the world. She fell in love with Eastern Europe, Paris, Indian Food and the beautiful beaches of Sri Lanka. But came back home to marry her high school sweetheart and now spends her days raising her big family. In those few spare moments she has, she is either reading or writing Young Adult Fiction.





Rain's Reviews: The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle

The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle

The Beginning of After

Anyone who’s had something truly crappy happen to them will tell you: It’s all about Before and After. What I’m talking about here is the ka-pow, shake-you-to-your-core-and-turn-your-bones-to-plastic kind of crappy.

Sixteen-year-old Laurel’s world changes instantly when her parents and brother are killed in a terrible car accident. Behind the wheel is the father of her bad-boy neighbor, David Kaufman, whose mother is also killed. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Laurel navigates a new reality in which she and her best friend grow apart, boys may or may not be approaching her out of pity, overpowering memories lurk everywhere, and Mr. Kaufman is comatose but still very much alive. Through it all there is David, who swoops in and out of Laurel’s life and to whom she finds herself attracted against her better judgment. She will forever be connected to him by their mutual loss—a connection that will change them both in unexpected ways.

Jennifer Castle’s debut novel is a heart-wrenching, surprisingly witty testament to how drastically life can change in the span of a single moment.~Goodreads
~~~
If you know me, you would know that I have a love/hate relationship with all of her books. My biggest complaint and one of the things I like about her books is that they all move very slowly. I like that it provokes so much thought and really feels like literature and a book worth keeping instead of a real quick romance that you’ll forget about in a few weeks. And when I picked up The Beginning of After I had heard that Jennifer Castle was similar to Sarah Dessen. So needless to say I was really excited.

Laurel just lost her mother, father, and brother due to a terrible accident in a car that their neighbor was driving. Laurel has to deal with living in a house that holds countless reminders of her family, a friend that she feels is drifting away, and interacting with the guilty man’s son. I don’t know about you but I think I would hole myself up in my room for all eternity and not come out till judgement day. But that's not what she does. Laurel being the strong, brave and normal-seeking girl she is, jumps back into her life days after this horrible tragedy. Laurel loves animals, and beneath the sad and thoughtful exterior you see a girl that just wants to be “cool” and have her crush notice her. I think this little tidbit lessened the book for me. I mean your family has died you have all these things going on and you still want to be noticed by the snobs and get a guys attention? It made her feel a little shallow to me.

Daniel the guilty man’s son, and Joe her crush both pull at Laurel and gives this book a bona fide love triangle. Daniel deals with his grief by running. His mother died in that same car crash and the impact put his father into a coma. Joe the awkward guy that draws superheroes notices Laurel for the first time after she starts school again.  And don’t get me started with her best friend Meg. The whole situation seems doomed. Can a teenage girl-life long friend or not-  deal with kind of change in Laurel’s life? Can Meg and Laurel get through their own problems to see the other one is hurting and needs a hand? This situation demonstrates a persons selfishness and how, even though they don’t see it, they can be so absorbed in their own troubles not to notice someone elses. 

The Beginning of After is a study in grief and how life moves on. It showcases the most unlikely of romances without that being the sole purpose of the book. And I definitely recommend it to Sarah Dessen fans.

~Rain
~~~
“That's the whole thing about grieving... It's part of the deal: You get to be alive and to love, but in exchange you also have to put in some serious hurt time.” 

Goodreads
Amazon
Jennifer Castle's Website

Friday, September 6, 2013

Rain's Reviews: Gated by Amy Christine Parker

Gated by Amy Christine Parker

Gated
Do the gates keep the unchosen out or the chosen in?

In Mandrodage Meadows, life seems perfect. The members of this isolated suburban community have thrived under Pioneer, the charismatic leader who saved them from their sad, damaged lives. Lyla Hamilton and her parents are original members of the flock. They moved here following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, looking to escape the evil in the world. Now seventeen, Lyla knows certain facts are not to be questioned:

Pioneer is her leader.

Will is her Intended.

The end of the world is near.

Like Noah before him, Pioneer has been told of the imminent destruction of humanity. He says his chosen must arm themselves to fight off the unchosen people, who will surely seek refuge in the compound's underground fortress--the Silo.

Lyla loves her family and friends, but given the choice, she prefers painting to target practice. And lately she'd rather think about a certain boy outside the compound than plan for married life in the Silo with Will. But with the end of days drawing near, she will have to pick up a gun, take a side, and let everyone know where she stands.
~~~

Review

I have written this review twice.  This is my third time trying to come up with the words to illustrate the depth of this book. So when in doubt I will do what I always do, quote John Green.
“Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.”
― John Green, The Fault in Our Stars
This is how I feel about this book. The world cannot resume rotation, brownies cannot finish baking, nothing in this world can happen until the entire population read this book and take it to heart. I know- weird. 
“This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force.”
― Dorothy Parker, The Algonquin Wits
Sometimes you will just want to put the book in the freezer and take a breath and once you've regained your composure you will come back to it and start where you left off. But you can’t! That’s the thing about this book. There is no point in time that you have enough control over any part of your body than do anything but what it takes to complete this story while reading it. 

I feel odd not telling you a lot about the storyline, plot, romance or, anything but I went into this book blind and I think that is the best way to read it. I’ll tell you this- I really enjoyed Lyla, her character, and personality, and thoughts were so human, so intelligent, so real that is gives you a new view on cult members. You hear about cults like People’s Temple, or Heaven’s Gate and as people we automatically, whether subconsciously or not, think that they are incompetent, unintelligent people who don’t know left from right but that’s wrong. And to them we are the stupid ones. 

Gated is this.
“The greatest book is not the one whose message engraves itself on the brain, as a telegraphic message engraves itself on the ticker-tape, but the one whose vital impact opens up other viewpoints, and from writer to reader spreads the fire that is fed by the various essences, until it becomes a vast conflagration leaping from forest to forest.”
― Romain Rolland

~Rain
~~~

Teaser 

"For a brief moment I imagine us linking arms like the characters did in "The Wizard of Oz" when they were preparing to meet the wizard. I'm the Cowardly Lion for sure. I can practically hear my knees knocking together. Will's definitely the Scarecrow with his extra-long arms and legs; Marie, the ruby-lipped Dorothy; and Brian makes a perfect stiffly postured Tin Man. I wish we really were headed down that long hallway in Emerald City, but instead we're making uor way around the stables to the corral." p.100
Goodreads
Liberty Bay Books: Gated
~Prices are the same as Amazon, and I'm an affiliate with this wonderful bookstore, so please take a look :) ~

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday: Sacrifice of Love by Quinn Loftis

Waiting on Wednesday: Sacrifice of Love by Quinn Loftis 

Sacrifice of Love (The Grey Wolves, #7)
As one evil falls, another rises in its place. The powerful witch, Desdemona, has finally been killed by an alliance of wolf, elf, and fae. But Reyaz, brother to Cypher the warlock king, has vowed retribution for a life that was taken from him. Now Cypher must decide not only how to protect his newfound mate and his people, but also how to destroy the only family he has left.
Meanwhile, Jen’s pregnancy progresses and the fateful due date draws ever nearer. The thought of losing Decebel’s child constantly threatens to overwhelm her. With each passing day, Decebel grows more distant, causing Jen to wonder what toll the impending loss of their child is taking on him. Unbeknownst to Jen, in an act of desperation to protect his unborn child and mate, Decebel strikes a deadly bargain with the Great Luna—his life in place of his child’s. There is only one way for that to happen; the bond between he and Jen must be broken.
As Jen as Decebel struggle through their darkness, another kind of darkness is infiltrating Fane’s heart. Doubts and questions linger as he tries to cope with the emotions brought on in the aftermath of Desdemona’s curse. He knows what happened wasn’t real, but still he can’t rid himself of the terrible images seared into his memory. Jacque is his light, the one who keeps the darkness at bay, yet he won’t let her inside to do just that.
Sally continues to learn what it means to be a gypsy healer and Costin struggles to protect her as she runs full speed ahead to help her wolves, heedless of her own safety. She sees her best friends struggling, each enduring their own trials. She’s desperate to help them, but can she keep them safe?
With all of these things hanging heavy over the heads of the Serbia and Romania packs, their attention is divided. The wolves do not even realize a threat has slowly infiltrated their midst. Will they recognize the threat in time to save the lives that precariously hang in the balance?
Against this backdrop of darkness, choices will be made, fears will confronted, and the ultimate sacrifice will be made. Will the wolves stand together to defeat the threats arrayed against them, both from within and without? Will love conquer all? Or will the beleaguered wolves finally succumb to their demons?~Goodreads
~~~
Sacrifice of Love. The last of the series. Well not really but the next one is a prequel so-though I am looking forward to it- for all intents and purposes of this post its that last of the series. I am so sad! and excited! I honestly get so excited and jumpy when someone brings up this book! It is killing me to have to wait so long. But then I get sad, just thinking about how my journey with these characters that I have become so close to are about to end. Its bittersweet. But that doesn’t change the fact that I am buying this book the day it comes out and if you haven’t started this series- it is an absolute must.

Monday, September 2, 2013

Rain's Reviews: Tent City by Kelly Van Hull

Tent City by Kelly Van Hull

Tent City

After a devastating plague, introverted 17-year-old Dani Campbell and her family find themselves living in a very different America, one run by a cult-like leader, who forces children to move to "safety camps" designed to protect the human race. Encouraged to flee by her parents, Dani and her five-year-old brother seek refuge in the Black Hills of South Dakota. On the run with danger around every corner, Dani must fight to ensure their survival in this new world while trying to unmask the mystery of how it all came to be. ~Goodreads
~~~
Tent City is the book to read if you like post apocalyptic survival adventures. It’s a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat and you can’t stay away for long. It plunges you straight into the action and you don’t have hope of getting anything done while reading it.

Dani has watched the world fall apart. She watched life transition from normal to searching for rations and praying the council doesn’t kill you.  She is stuck in a world of poverty, concentration camps, and tyranny. Can she live through this as the insecure, unhappy, and unwildernessy girl she is? And What happens when through the dangerous events she gets herself into she starts to fall for two very different people? (Yes, there is a love triangle)

Bentley and Jack, the leader and the healer. They couldn’t be any more different and yet they are indispensable to the story.  Bentley, the fearless leader who is always ready for a fight and seeks revenge for lives lost. Jack the doctor who wants to just get through this and helps in anyway possible even if it costs his freedom.

Kit and Brody were great secondary characters. I just wish they weren’t so one- dimensional and I had a hard time getting a reading on Kit. The setting, story, characters, and writing all added up to a great book.  

~Rain
~~~

Sunday, September 1, 2013

I am an Affiliate!!

Hi, all! I am down right bouncy this week and I cannot wait to tell you why! I have  become an affiliate! With whom? you may ask. With what has got to be the best indie bookstore ever, Liberty Bay Books. Though you may not of heard of it before let me tell you, its pretty kick-butt. And I am so delighted to become an affiliate. So what that means is:


  • Every book you buy through my blog on http://libertybaybooks.com/ I get a percentage back.
  • And it means that I have yet another excuse to spend so much time blogging :). yay!!


And keep in mind, despite their indie status they have great prices. And I’m not just saying that;). 

So, I figured I would just give you, my lovely readers, a heads up and share this exciting news.