Review: Sweet Evil

Book: Sweet Evil

Author: Wendy Higgins

Series: N/A

Release Date: April 24, 2012

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pages: 445

Source: HarperCollins Canada (Thank you so much!)

Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon CA | The Book Depository | Chapters

Stars: 4/5

What if there were teens whose lives depended on being bad influences? This is life for sons and daughters of fallen angels in Sweet Evil.  

Tenderhearted Southern girl, Anna Whitt, was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage, and her will-power is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

A cross-country trip to meet her father forces Anna to face the reality that hope and love are not options for her kind. When she confronts her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns? 

(summary taken from Goodreads) 

MY THOUGHTS: 

This has to be one of the best angel books to ever hit the shelves! Not just because the angel lore was completely original or because there's a boy with an English accent, but because Wendy Higgins must be an angel in disguise since she writes them so well.

In Sweet Evil, the sole purpose of Nephilim is to be a bad influence to humans. But that's not as easy as it sounds when the angel hierarchy is so complicated. When we learn everything along with Anna in the beginning, it's hard not to say, "Wow!" because the lore is captivating. And the demon action, especially in the end? It will give you chills!

At first I didn't know what to think of Anna. She seemed too good and too sweet at times to be real. But she grew on me so fast and showed how even though she wasn't outwardly bad-ass, she was still one of the strongest, most determined heroines out there. She stood her ground when most girls wouldn't have, and I ended up adoring her completely.

Her romance with the English-accented Kaidan Rowe (son of the demon of Lust) may take front and center once they take off on a road trip together to find out more about Anna's past, but it's in no way overwhelming! ♥ It's the sweet, not-so-innocent pull between opposites that will make you grin. Along with the fantastic interactions with their demonic fathers and with their friends, Sweet Evil is filled with well-written relationships.

Both sweet and sensual, Sweet Evil is an angel book that will steal your breath, your heart, and maybe a little bit of your innocence at the exact same time. It took a few chapters to hook me in (although that may have to do with the fact I read it after a particularly epic book), but in the end, it was AWESOME and I'd definitely recommend it!

BUY or BORROW?: English boy fan? Buy it! Angel book fan? Buy it! All-books-in-general fan? Buy it! I think you know where I'm going with this... ;)

-Mimi

P.S. On a side note, if I was a Nephilim girl born from one of the twelve Dukes (for the seven deadly sins plus a few additional ones)... I'd probably be a glutton for books, if that's possible! x)

Mimi's Book Haul: Epic Edition!!

Hi, everyone! :)

Because of a few things that happened recently (which you can find out more about on Parajunkee'sView, Beautifully Invisible, and Grit & Glamour) I'm still not sure whether or not I'm going to continue supporting In My Mailbox hosted at The Story Siren anymore. I don't know what to think right now because I only just found out about it, but for now I think I'll try something different because I'm wholeheartedly against plagiarism.

I hope this change is okay, and I would still love to see what all of you have got in your mailboxes! If anyone else is starting a meme where we can share what books we've gotten over the past week, let me know and I'll link you up! :)

FOR REVIEW: 

Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult

Surrender by Elana Johnson

Envy by Elizabeth Giles

The Unnaturalists by Tiffany Trent

Burn For Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

All of these Simon & Schuster titles came as surprises, but they were surprises that I welcomed with open arms and the biggest bear hug you can imagine! I'm so giddy to get started on reading these, especially Burn For Burn since Jenny Han kind of rocks! ;)

Wake by Amanda Hocking

The Summer of No Regrets by Katherine Grace Bond

Spark by Amy Kathleen Ryan

This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

Storm by Brigid Kemmerer

The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova

Am I the only one who can't help but but gawk at this collection of gorgeously epic blues and whites?! They're all books I've been anticipating for FOREVER! (This Is Not a Test especially — the wonderful Crystal made my day by sending me her copy! ♥) At the moment I've only read Storm, but we're one for one on the LOVE scale so far. I'm going for six for six! 

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Revived by Cat Patrick

Purity by Jackson Pearce

I literally just re-watched the Peter Pan movie last weekend so I can't even express how ecstatic I am that I could get my hands on Tiger Lily!!!!! And if Revived and Purity are as amazing as my fellow bloggers tell me, then I'm probably going to love those too!

PURCHASED: 

Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross

This is my FAVOURITE book of 2012 so far! That might have to do with the fact that I've barely read any of these other awesome books yet (although Sarah Cross will be my idol anyways), but as of this moment, that statement holds totally true! :)

As you can tell, this week was a bundle of OH MY GOSH and HOLY WOW and crazy happy-dances about getting each and every one of them! Even as I write this post, I don't know how it became this epic. I could not be happier!

A million, gazillion, epic chocolate-coated THANK YOUs to Simon & Schuster Canada, Raincoast Books, Kensington Books, Sourcebooks Fire, HarperCollins Canada, Hachette Book Group Canada, and (as always) the most amazing publisher representatives for sending me all of these awesome books!

We're having all of our midterm summatives right now so I'm crazy busy, but I'm making it a priority to read and review all of these books first! Homework can wait, right? :') ♥

WHAT BOOKS DID YOU GET THIS WEEK? 

(I'd still love to check out what you have in your mailboxes, no matter what meme you're participating in!)

-Mimi

Masquerade Read-Along Week 4!

Hey, everybody! :)

I couldn't participate the past few times in the Masquerade Read-Along because I was scheduled for blog tours, but I'm ecstatic to be back. I just finished Masquerade by Cambria Hebert and loved it, so I hope you don't mind me jumping back in the bandwagon for this final week!

This read-along is hosted by Heidi @ Rainy Day Ramblings, Steph @ Five Alarm Book Reviews, Candace @ Candace's Book Blog,  Veronica @ Mostly Reviews and Cambria Hebert.

This week is hosted by Veronica @ Mostly Reviews:

________

Chapters 24 - 31

1. Heven develops a new "supernatural power". She remarks that it isn’t that exciting of a power. Is this a power you would like to have, if not what kind of supernatural power would you like to have? 

Asking me what kind of super power I'd want is like asking a little kid what kind of candy they want inside a candy store. As a girl who reads TONS of supernatural books, it makes it really hard to choose just one! 

I'm not sure if I'm supposed to spoil Heven's super power, so I'll just say that I think it's actually pretty cool as far as awesome goes! For my own power... I'm at a toss up between flying, teleportation, and being able to read really fast. The first two so I don't have to take the bus to school anymore; the last one so I could actually make a dent in my TBR pile instead of letting it expand every day. x)

2. Which character do you think makes the biggest internal change throughout the course of this book? Is there a situation in your life that you can reflect back on as an experience that changed your life for the better? 

I think that Heven went through the biggest internal change, and I loved that about her! (There's nothing worse that a static heroine.) She went from shy and embarrassed to being a better person, inside and out, and not just because she didn't have the scars anymore. She didn't duck her head and suppress herself but she wasn't overly confident either.

There are tons of moments that changed me for the better! Most of them have been mistakes that made me think, "Okay, I'm never doing that again!" or huge events that made me think, "Oh my gosh, I can't believe that happened! What can I do to prevent it next time?" or something like that. I can't remember many specifics right now, but I'm always changing, and I hope that it's for the better at least most of the time.

On a side note, always proceed with caution when going out into your backyard. You never know when you'll run into the screen door! (Not that this ever happened to me, of course...)

3. Who is your favorite character and why? 

Sam, hands down! Because he's awesome, and my favourite characters in books are almost always the love interest or the most swoon-worthy guy. ;)

4. When the book ends the reader has an idea of what the next book will involve. Do you think the book ended in the appropriate place? 

I'm just so happy that it didn't end on a cliffhanger! There have been so many of those in YA fiction lately that it's getting harder and harder to keep track of them (and not want to cry) as we wait for the next book. The ending of Masquerade isn't one of those, but it still leaves me wanting to know what's going to happen. And that's how they should be. :)

5. Do you have any predictions for the next book in the series, Charade? 

Besides things going horribly wrong, as stories in sequels usually do? Nope! I'm just going to go in hoping that Cambria will surprise me. :) I find that going in with expectations sometimes makes it easier for a book to disappoint me, so I'm keeping my mind open so I can love Charade hopefully as much as I loved Masquerade!

6. Did you enjoy participating in this read along? Will you join in future read-alongs? 

Yes, for sure! I LOVED participating in this read-along (even though I couldn't for a few weeks in between), and I'm definitely planning on participating more if I can. I had a blast finding out what other people thought of the same questions that I did, and there are some hilarious people out there!

It's sort of like a book club (which we don't have much of where I live) except online and with fellow awesome bloggers. How could I NOT want to participate in another? ;)

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And that's the end of the read-along! I'm kind of sad that it's over, but I'm glad that we still have the sequel to look forward to. (Maybe we'll have a read-along for that too?)

For everyone who has read this book before, I'd love to know what you thought of it! And for those of you who haven't yet, I'd still love to know what you thought of my answers. :)

Have a sparkly & fantastic day, everyone! ♥

-Mimi

Summer Lovin' Blog Tour: Guest Posts + GIVEAWAYS!

Aloha, everyone! :)

Are you ready for summer? Because I sure am! (I've heard that the whole world has been getting wacky weather, and it's not just us here in Canada.) The Summer Lovin' Bog Tour kicked off a few days ago and I'm so ecstatic to be a part of the blogging team. This tour features two super-sweet summer reads: While He Was Away by Karen Schreck and The Summer of No Regrets by Katherine Grace Bond.

While He Was Away focuses on a girl's life when her boyfriend is sent of to fight in the war, and she has to deal with the hardships and uncertainty of being an army girlfriend.

The Summer of No Regrets is about a girl who stumbles upon a boy she thinks is a celebrity in disguise and prepares for one brilliant, beautiful, and memorable summer full of Hollywood gossip and troublesome bad boys.

I have both authors here for guest posts and giveaways, so have fun! :)

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Guest post with Karen Schreck: 

Why YA Rocks My World

YA is hot.  

As in steamy, sultry, blazing, scathing, illuminating, fiery, incendiary, spicy, enlightening, searing, scorching.  A wildfire. A prairie burn.  An inferno of characters, settings, plots.  A refiner’s fire that draws out pure gold.

YA can also be cold.

As in chill, bitter, harsh, blustery, caustic, shivery, biting, hard-edged, cool.  A frigid wind that dips below zero.  A blizzardy drift of ideas and images.  One snowflake never like the next.  And once all hell freezes over, than YA can be the sharp-edged ax that breaks through the ice of your soul.

YA lit—good YA lit—is never, ever lukewarm.

Not in terms of content—the fearless stories told, the layers of meaning revealed.

Not in terms of character—these people live on the pages, and like most adolescents (or the adolescent in all of us, who lives on and on and on) their motivation frequently cuts to the quick:  they are desperately trying to figure out just who in God’s name they are.

And YA lit is never, ever lukewarm or tepid in terms of voice—which is so driven by character, setting, and plot, and which defines each YA novel—that distinct, one-of-a-kind voice that speaks a book into existence, that prods and goads and compels a writer—me—to tell the story.

This is just a little bit of why YA rocks my world—why I love writing and reading books for teens.  Or, supposedly for teens, since most street smart and literary savvy adults worth their salt know that Young Adult Fiction is among the best literature out and about today.

Don't you think that Karen Schreck is a wise, wise, woman? :')

Go Find Karen:

Goodreads | Blog | Sourcebooks

Add While He Was Away to your TBR pile HERE

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Guest post with Katherine Grace Bond: 

Why We Crave Fame

“Celebrity-in-Hiding.” When I first started writing THE SUMMER OF NO REGRETS, I didn’t want to admit how much that idea intrigued me. I’m a lot like my main character, Brigitta—all about finding the meaning of life, not fantasizing over whether the guy next door is a movie star. When I bought a National Enquirer, I explained to the grocery store clerk that it was for research— that I was writing a book (“Yes,” I told her modestly, “I am an author.”) I certainly didn’t normally read that sort of thing. Of course not. Well, okay, maybe the headlines. Occasionally. 

But as I read through stacks of People and Star and Us (which is a lot like eating sugar cubes all day long), and more stacks of celebrity biographies, I started to wonder what the deal is about fame. Why does it fascinate us? Why do we love the idea of either being famous or being connected to somebody famous? 

I think it’s because we’ve got some interesting ideas about “being known.” If I’m “known,” people know who I am, right? Lots of people. Those people will say I’m talented and beautiful and they’ll treat me with special respect. If I’m known, I get to wear amazing clothes and ride in limousines. People will do what I want just because I’m known. If I only eat the green M&M’s, someone will pick those out of the five-pound bag and put them into a crystal dish for me. If I’m known, I am important—more important than that boss who fired me, or the teacher who gave me a C and said “You ought to be ashamed of yourself,”  or the security guard who threw me out of a mall in Seattle for plugging my cellphone into a floor outlet (true story!) 

But is that really what being known is? Getting special treatment and being better than somebody else? Who really knows me when I’m known like that? What I crave, what I really crave, is to have a few people who will look into my eyes and know me—know how I wrinkle my nose when I laugh, and what my favorite show is, and why I’m afraid of guns. It’s what we all want, I think—people who will listen to us when we’re scared, and scream with us on the roller coaster, and trust us with their hurts. We want to know we matter. We want to have a few people we don’t have to hide ourselves from.  

So is Brigitta’s next-door-neighbor a secret superstar? We can talk about that later. I need to go to the grocery store and read some headlines.  

I'm not the kind of girl who strives for fame or anything, but even I have to admit that it would be kind of cool to have people know your name :)

Go Find Katherine:

Goodreads | Blog | Sourcebooks

Add The Summer of No Regrets to your TBR pile HERE

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The Giveaway

(From the wonderful people at Sourcebooks!)
-open to the US and Canada only
-ends May 2, 2012 at 12:01 a.m.
-2 winners

Review: Masque of the Red Death

Book: Masque of the Red Death
Author: Bethany Griffin
Series: Masque of the Red Death #1
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: 320
Source: HarperCollins Canada (Thank you so much!)
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon CA | The Book Depository | Chapters
Stars: 3.5/5

Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her.

(summary taken from Goodreads) 

MY THOUGHTS:  

Dark. Dangerous. Lyrical. Tragic. Poe would be so proud of this book! 

Set in a plagued city with danger around every corner, Masque of the Red Death is one of the most chilling yet captivating dystopians I've ever read. There's death wherever you turn; corpse collectors roam the dangerous streets. And everyone has to wear a porcelain mask outside to protect them from the plague, but only the rich can afford them. 

Araby is such a heartbroken and heartbreaking character. With the guilt of her twin brother's death hanging over her, she refuses to let herself to be happy, to experience anything he won't. While my heart goes out to Araby for what she goes through, this makes is a little harder to connect with her. I had the same problem with most of the other characters. We only skimmed the surface when I felt like there was so much more beneath their masks.  

The romance was twisted yet incredibly sweet — just like the two boys. There are secrets, sacrifices, and huge surprises you won't expect. Bethany Griffin knows how to write suspense! And even though I wish there was more of a punch to that build-up, it still left me craving to know how anything could possibly work out in this bleak world. 

Deliciously dark and hauntingly beautiful, Masque of the Red Death sits up there with Kelly Creagh's Nevermore on my list of coolest Poe-inspired books! It wasn't as mind-blowing as I'd hoped, but it still stuck with me and I can't wait to read the next. :)

BUY or BORROW?: Edgar Allan Poe fans, get ready to empty your wallets! Don't let the rating fool you — this book is definitely worth the read! Am I the only one hoping this will be turned into a movie? x) 

-Mimi

Review: Unraveling

Book: Unraveling
Author: Elizabeth Norris
Series: N/A (for now!)
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 445
Source: HarperCollins Canada (Thank you so much!)
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon CA | The Book Depository | Chapters
Stars: 5/5

Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she's opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn't possible, she knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.

But her revival, and Ben's possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI agent father's files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what's right in front of her: Everything that's happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben's sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she's going to need to uncover Ben's secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.

From debut author Elizabeth Norris comes this shattering novel of one girl's fight to save herself, her world, and the boy she never saw coming.

(summary taken from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS: 

Mind-blowing, gut-wrenching, original, exceptional... It's been over a week since I finished this book and I still can't stop thinking about it or find the words to describe it!  

Unraveling kicks off with a running start when Janelle dies — hit and killed by a speeding pickup truck — and is brought back to life by the most unlikely boy possible: Ben Michaels. As the smart, strong, and kick-ass daughter of an FBI agent, Janelle begins to unravel the strands of his secret all the while figuring out that there's something bigger happening, something exponentially more dangerous, and she has to find out what before it's too late.  

With shorter chapters that always start with an ominous countdown, saying this book is intense doesn't even begin to describe it! The concept is literally out of this world. There's not much I can say without being spoilery, but the sci-fi elements are so DIFFERENT from what you'd expect that I can't even put a single label on it. Except maybe amazing. And epic. 

Other than loving Janelle completely, I think that Elizabeth Norris created the perfect cast! They're real and anything but typical. And they swear—a lot, which I totally loved. Ben is 100% swoon-worthy while being so different from regular book boys; her best friend Alex isn't a love interest (there's actually no love triangle at all ♥) but I promise he'll steal your heart anyways; Elijah and Taylor Barclay make for unexpected awesome; and Janelle's FBI father and friends are complex as well.   

Unraveling isn't a fairytale. Like nothing I've ever read before, it's hardcore and intense and gripping and unique. It's also one of those rare gems that remind us how real life doesn't always close with a happy ending — the huge twist at the end knocked me off my feet! I wanted to cry and beg for a sequel at the exact same time.   

In short, Unraveling is one of the most brilliant and gut-wrenching debuts I've ever read! You have to read it —  it will blow your mind away! :)

BUY or BORROW?: For books like this one, this is such a pointless question! Buy it and love it, then please come tell me what you think after so we can cry together! :')  

-Mimi

COVER LOVE: Soft and Sweet Edition!

How long has it been since I've done a cover post? It feels like forever! But I've found a ton of them lately that have some of the softest and sweetest covers ever, so I really wanted to share them with you. :)

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Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Release Date: June 14, 2012
Links: Goodreads | The Book Depository | Amazon | Chapters

15 year old Tiger Lily, proud and fierce, wild and misunderstood, doesn't believe in love stories or happy endings. Then she meets the teenage Peter Pan in the forbidden woods of Neverland, and immediately falls under his spell. Peter is unlike anyone she's ever known. Impetuous and brave, big-hearted but hard to reach, he both scares and enthralls her. As the leader of the Lost Boys, the most fearsome of Neverland's inhabitants, Peter is an unthinkable match for Tiger Lily. Soon, she is risking everything - her family, her future - to be with the haunted, hunted, courageous boy who loves her. When - as a punishment for her rebellious ways - she is faced with marriage to a terrible man in her own tribe, she must choose between the life she's always known and running away to an uncertain future with Peter. With enemies threatening to tear them apart, the lovers seem doomed. But it's the arrival of Wendy Darling, an English girl who's everything Tiger Lily is not, that leads Tiger Lily to discover that the most dangerous enemies can live inside even the most loyal and loving heart.

From the New York Times bestselling author of PEACHES comes a magical and bewitching story of the romance between a fearless heroine and the boy who wouldn't grow up.

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Want by Stephanie Lawton
Release Date: June 7, 2012
Links: Goodreads

Julianne counts the days until she can pack her bags and leave her old-money, tradition-bound Southern town where appearance is everything and secrecy is a way of life. A piano virtuoso, she dreams of attending a prestigious music school in Boston. Failure is not an option, so she enlists the help of New England Conservatory graduate Isaac Laroche.

Julianne can’t understand why Isaac suddenly gave up Boston’s music scene to return to the South. He doesn’t know her life depends on escaping it before she inherits her mother’s madness. Isaac knows he must resist his attraction to a student ten years his junior, but loneliness and jealousy threaten his resolve.

Their indiscretion at a Mardi Gras ball—the pinnacle event for Mobile’s elite—forces their present wants and needs to collide with sins of the past.

Will Julianne accept the help she’s offered and get everything she ever wanted, or will she self-destruct and take Isaac down with her?

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The Breakaway by Michelle Davidson Argyle
Release Date: June 7, 2012
Links: Goodreads

When Naomi Jensen is kidnapped, it takes her parents two days to realize she’s missing. 

Escape isn’t high on her list of priorities when all she has to return to is an abusive boyfriend and parents who never paid much attention to her. For the first time in her life she’s part of a family—even if it is a family of criminals.

But she’s still a captive. In a desperate attempt to regain some control in her life, Naomi embarks on a dangerous plan to make one of her kidnappers think she’s falling in love with him. The plan works too well, and when faced with the chance to escape, Naomi isn’t sure she wants to take it.

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A Want So Wicked by Suzanne Young
Release Date: June 14, 2012
Links: Goodreads | The Book Depository | Amazon | Chapters

Elise is a normal seventeen-year-old girl until the day she wakes up in a desert park, with no idea who she is.

After that episode, her life takes a bizarre turn. She’s experiencing unexpected flashes of insight into people’s lives—people she’s never met before. Strangers frighten her with warnings about the approaching Shadows. And although Elise has never had a boyfriend, she suddenly finds herself torn between two handsome but very different young men: Abe, the charming bad boy whose affect on her both seduces and frightens her, and the mysterious Harlin, who’s new to town but with whom Elise feels an urgent, elemental connection—almost as if they are soul mates.

Now Elise begins to question everything about her life. Why do these guys both want her so desperately? What are the Shadows? Why does the name Charlotte inspire a terrifying familiarity? And who is Elise, really?

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And here are some other soft and sweet covers:
(Click on covers for links to Goodreads!)

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And those are some of the covers I'm crushing on this week! Aren't they all so pretty? :) Usually I like to add some epic commentary on these posts, but I just woke up since it's a PA day at school so I may be a little ditzy haha. x) Ignoring me, I hope you guys have an awesome weekend! ♥

What book are you most excited for?  

-Mimi

Guest Post & Excerpt: Kristy Berridge

HELLO, YOU BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE :) ♥  

Last week, I read and reviewed The Hunted by Kristy Berridge, which I thought was such a coolly dark take on vampires with a twist of snark and a cast of fun characters! (You can read my review here.) Today, I have Kristy on my blog to share a guest post on writing as well as a jam-packed excerpt from her book. I hope you enjoy it!
 

The Guest Post: Being a Writer

There’s no denying that being a writer is extremely hard work. There is an assumption that we sit at our computers all day, coffee in one hand, procrastination in the other. Well, I usually don’t have time to drink coffee because I’m too busy procrastinating.

Kidding.

Truthfully, when you’re not Stephanie Meyer or Anne Rice, you still have to go to work and pay your bills. I am no stranger to this, so I find that most of my writing is done before work, after work, and on the weekends. Thankfully I have a super, awesome husband that actually takes what I do seriously, so I have plenty of spare time to actually produce something for you to read!

Alas, The Hunted was born and hopefully will grace the bookshelves of every home in months to come. It’s all about world domination. I’m sneaking in via your Kindle and hopefully making your fingers itch to turn the pages of this kick-ass read. Can you say your own novel is kick-ass?

Kick-ass it is.

Anyway, I thought I’d give you an excerpt to whet your appetite – one of the action scenes between Elena and the Werewolves (Vânătors). And, with the release of The Damned coming in the next few months, you might want to get in soon and find out where all this goes. Let’s just say it’s nowhere you expect and no one is ever who they seem. Enjoy!

Kristy :)

Don't you just love it when you get to meet awesome authors like Kristy? That's another one of many reasons why I love blogging like I do! ♥ Hmm. If I ever finalize my dream of being a writer, I wonder if I'll end up being a waitress on the side... Haha I really don't know what else I love to do besides write! x) 

The Epic Excerpt

Before I had a second to think, he grabbed me fiercely by the neck and hoisted me off the ground, my feet kicking wildly in the air. I struggled; his grip on my throat was tight, but not enough to kill me. If he wasn’t going to kill me, the alpha obviously wanted to keep me alive, either to feed from me again or mate with me. Either prospect was unappealing.

I took a second and tried to calm myself. I balled my hands into fits and swung at the Vânător’s face as hard as I could in a one, two, three punch combination. I started from the left, then the right, finishing with one massive hit under the chin.

I watched as my first hit connected with his face, breaking his nose, the second practically exploding into his cheekbone. The third snapped his head backwards, knocking a few teeth out of his jaw. Blood started to spill down his decimated nose and pool around his mouth, dripping onto the floor.

He staggered backwards in surprise, releasing his grip on me so that I fell back clumsily onto the floor, gripping at the edge of the counter for support and rubbing at my sore gravelly throat.

He roared out in pain, the sound erupting from the pit of his stomach soon turning into a mighty howl that spat blood in every direction. His whole body began to quiver in front of me as his skin started to tear open, and thicker tufts of grey matted fur began to poke their way through.

His arms and legs began to grow, the bones shifting within them to allow for the transformation. His fingers and toes pushed through the end of his sneakers, disintegrated them with long black claws. The T-shirt he was wearing began to rip away from his body as he grew larger, the confines of the cotton no longer able to contain his growing form. I could hear and see the bones of his rib cage snapping and contorting painfully in his chest as the beast within released itself from the last of the flesh containing him.

Run, Elena!

This time I listened to the voice. I was not certain it wasn’t mine, but I followed the advice anyway. I swallowed hard and ran as fast as I could, ducking my way around him while his head was being warped by the beast inside of him. I had never seen anything like it, but I had no time to stop and observe. I needed to get out of there as fast as I could.

I ran through into the living room and past the bureau, backtracking momentarily to grab the car keys. The sound of ripping flesh and grunting was still coming from the kitchen. I shot through the front door in an instant, the darkness outside enveloping me completely.

Why hadn’t the sensor light come on?

I got my answer right away when my sneakers crushed the remainder of the light bulb. I didn’t have time to deliberate.

I ran for the Forester and fumbled around with the car keys until I found the right one, and shakily tried to push it into the lock. The darkness around me made it extremely difficult to see what I was doing, but on the second attempt I managed to get it in the keyhole. I quickly opened the door and got in. I was still inserting the keys into the ignition when the giant wolf appeared at the front door.

Shit!

He howled loudly before running full pelt at the car, slamming its body into my door, denting it heavily and pushing it into the cabin, the window fracturing and shattering into my lap.

I twisted the keys in the ignition, praying for the car to start as the beast rammed itself against the car for the second time. The sheer force of the impact lifted the entire driver’s side of the vehicle off the ground, only to crash heavily back onto the concrete driveway again, the rest of the windows shattering with the impact.

Do you believe me now when I say that Elena is one totally kick-butt heroine?? I don't know what I'd do when chased by a Vânător/Werewolf, but I probably wouldn't have managed to be anywhere near as awesome as Elena kicking butt! x)

So that's all we've got planned for today, everyone! What do you think? :) 

Here's to being glad that vampires aren't getting overrated!

-Mimi

Go Find Kristy

Goodreads | Blog | Website

Add The Hunted to your TBR pile HERE

You can find the rest of the tour HERE at Missy's Reads and Reviews. 

Waiting on Wednesday: My Life Next Door

Time for another amazing Wednesday! ♥ :)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by the awesome Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating! This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is: 

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

A gorgeous debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another

“One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time.”

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase's family makes Samantha one of their own. Then in an instant, the bottom drops out of her world and she is suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A dreamy summer read, full of characters who stay with you long after the story is over.


(summary taken from Goodreads)

Release Date: September 8, 2012
Series: N/A

I have a lot of different "Most Anticipated _____ Book of 2012"s, but this has to undoubtedly be one of my most anticipated contemporary books of the year! There's nothing better than a sweet-sounding novel about a boy next door that brings a girl out of her shell, right? ;) ♥

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU WAITING FOR? 

-Mimi

Guest Post & Interview with Jessica Shirvington + GIVEAWAY!

Hi, everybody! :)

Today I'm going to be a part of the long-running but still completely fun blog tour for Embrace by Jessica Shirvington! (You can read my review for it here.) And I just have to say that the main reason why this blog tour is still so much fun is because Jessica is a really sweet, genuine person. I hope you enjoy learning more about her as much as I did!

The Guest Post — Falling in Love at 17

Falling in love is easy. Staying in love … more complicated.

At 17, life is about new experiences. It is about self-discovery, friends, adventure, mistakes, career and university choices. And let’s be honest, there are not many 17 year olds out there that aren’t interested in falling in love.

But how many are truly interested in falling in love with THE ONE at 17?

I’m not sure I was. In fact, I probably wasn’t. I was planning to take the world by storm – solo. So when I met Matt, well, actually … it was pretty darn amazing. But it was a little frightening too.

When we first got together, it was sweet and young and … perfect. I was head over heels. But things became complicated quickly. He was an up and coming athletic star and I was working in hospitality. So basically he worked hard in the day, and I worked hard at night. His lifestyle demanded routine and healthy living, mine … not so much. But we were determined to make it work.

Falling in love so deeply at a young age made it difficult to be as reckless as our friends. We watched them coast in and out of short, fun, but meaningless relationships and it just seemed so different to what we had.

Writing the Embrace series has been an opportunity for me to pour some of the incredibly intense emotions of young love into Violet’s story. It has been important for me as a writer, and a person, to recognize that it’s completely realistic for someone at her young age to experience the full effect and heartbreak of love. Violet is one hundred percent invested with her heart. She makes bad choices, but we have to. She regrets many of her decisions, because we all do. And she fights for what she loves, because she is compelled to. Violet’s story is unique to her, I don’t pull on parallel scenarios from my own life, but I do pull on the emotion of intense love. Love that I think adults sometimes forget that 17 and 18 years-olds are very capable of feeling.

I often find one question helps a lot of adults, who maybe disagree with this view, to be more open minded: Do you remember you first true love? Do you ever wonder what your life would’ve been like if you had stayed together? For some, the answer is a resounding NOT INTERESTED, but for others … the pause says it all.

Matt and I celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary in March - I believe jewelry is in order ;)

Am I the only girl wishing I could be as lucky and blessed as Jessica?? I've still got two years left until my seventeenth birthday, but I think I know what to wish for until then! ;) Happy belated 11th anniversary, Jessica! ♥

The Interview of Awesome

(with an author of awesome)

1. Hi, Jessica! Hi, Mimi! Your series is about angels and it's probably one of the most original takes I've ever read! Thanks! Have you always believed in angels? Is that why you wrote this series about them? 

Angels haven't always played a big part in my belief system. I think I'm like a lot of people - I wonder about possibilities. I love mythology and often question where these stories have come from, and why some stories seem so similar and yet they come from different times and places. I also have a deep interest in the concepts of freewill and predetermined destiny. Many theories support one or the other - I wanted to explore the possibility that the two could exist together. Focusing on the existence of beings that supposedly have a governing interest over the universe, that seem to be able to influence will and circumstance was a great way to bring theses questions to the surface.

2. In Embrace, angels are given the free will to choose dark or light to keep the balance. If you were an angel, what would you choose: to be an angel or an exile? 

I would like to think I would choose to be an angel. Exiles are not well balanced beings (to put it mildly) and I dread to think what that could do to ones mind - even those that believe in a cause when they abandon the angel realm are not able to maintain sanity once they take a human body. It would be incredibly frightening.

3. One of my favourite things about Violet and Lincoln's relationship was how real it was. They were just a running trainer and a girl who got each other when no one else did. But that aside, do you believe in love at first sight? 

I believe in a connection a first sight. Lincoln and Violet have spent the two years, before the story of Embrace even starts, getting to know one another and learning each other's quirks. I believe it is that - the quirks - that develop the foundations of love. You have to see someone at their best and worst before you can be sure you can love them in every way. But I do believe there are some people in this world we connect to more than with others, and that when we meet them we are somehow drawn to them and know they are supposed to be in our lives.

4. The cast in your book was full of amazing characters! Thanks! Which character do you think you felt most connected with while you were writing? 

Violet. Embrace is written from her point of view so I really had to get inside her head and feel things from her point of view. I don't always agree with her decisions but I understand and sympathize with her reasoning, and her confusion. I can't wait to see her develop and become the person she is meant to be. I have to remind myself of this when I am writing her, that she is seventeen and on a steep learning curve - it is this time and these lessons that will shape her into the woman she will become.

I also adore Lincoln and Phoenix. I feel that although Embrace is written from Violet's point of view, both Lincoln and Phoenix are on just as an important journey as Violet and each for their own reason. I feel so lucky that I have discovered them.

5. Is being a published author different from what you thought it would be? 

Yes and no. I love writing stories. Like, really really love it. And when something becomes that important to you - then you tend to put everything into it. So ... I'm slightly obsessive compulsive. In a good way, I hope. But when I first started out I think my view was more along the lines of - well, if I get published and they want to make changes etc to the manuscript, sure, that will be fine. But it isn't like that. I am protective of my characters and their story and I want them to be the best they can be - sometimes that means taking advice and making changes and sometimes it means standing by what you have written. Luckily, publishers actually take that approach too (and I have amazing editors) and I've yet to hit a stumbling block in this department.

6. And because we're all avid readers and would love to know: Do you like to read in your spare time? If yes, what is a book that you've fallen in love with recently? 

I read a lot (unless I'm writing a first draft of one of my books - then I tend to stay in my own world).

I just read Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi and I thought it was a great story. I am going to read The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman next, I think. I'm also really enjoying books on magic at the moment. :)

Isn't she awesome? :) And because the people of Sourcebooks match Jessica's awesomeness, they've been kind enough to offer one gorgeous finished copy for one very lucky winner! It's only open to Canada and the US (I'm really sorry, international followers!), and it will close next Friday on the 27th of April.

The Gorgeous Giveaway

Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below:

Review: ReVamped

Book: ReVamped
Author: Ada Adams
Series: Angel Creek #1
Release Date: February 20, 2012
Publisher: Ada Adams
Pages: 300
Source: author (Thank you so much, Ada!!)
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Chapters
Stars: 4.5/5

A simple mission turned deadly.

Nineteen-year-old vampire Dawn has led a sheltered life within the confines of her father’s presidential headquarters. Upon being sent on a mission to revamp four goofy misfits into guardians of a peaceful little town of Angel Creek, Dawn believes that all her dreams have finally come true. What starts off as a simple task, turns into something unexpected, changing Dawn’s life forever and leading the action-loving, thrill-seeking vampire teen on a path of mystery, danger and intrigue.

When a human girl is kidnapped by a group of rogue vamps, Dawn discovers that there is more going on in Angel Creek than meets the eye. And it all connects to Ethan, the cute newcomer who seems too perfect to be true, Sebastian, the mysterious vampire with a turbulent past, and even Dawn herself. Dawn must not only succeed in revamping the troubled recruits, but must also prevent the vampire race from being overtaken by a malevolent villain who has a strange and obsessive fascination with her. As threat escalates, romance blooms, and ghosts from her past begin to surface, Dawn is sure of only one thing: her life will never be the same.

(summary taken from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS:  

Vampire books are usually bloody and dark and nightmare-inducing. But ReVamped focuses more on the fun side of vampires, which is one reason why I adored it so much!  

ReVamped takes place in a world where vampires coexist peacefully together with humans, who idolize vampires rather than fear them. There are TV shows like Next Vamp Idol and Transylvania Shore, as well as drinks like Blood Cola. They even have a Scarlet House for a vampire president next to the human one.

Dawn was so easy to love! As the Born vampire daughter of the Vampire President, she was raised and trained in near-isolation within the Scarlet House. While her training made her more kick-butt than most other vampires, her isolation made her adorably and realistically awkward around some — especially boys. She was far from shy and still had a snarky trademark, but Dawn didn't always know how to react to a boy's affection, which was so endearing! ♥  

Other characters, like sweet Ethan, brooding Sebastian, and the vampire misfits who Dawn was sent to whip up into shape, will put a smile on your face as well. My only wish is that we could've gotten to know the characters a bit better — dove beneath the polished surface more — but I guess there's always room for more development in future installments. 

With a fantastic cast of characters, a fun yet mysterious storyline, and vampires you'll wish lived in your world, ReVamped is a refreshing new take on the supernatural creatures we all know and love! I could never stop smiling at the vampire lore Ada Adams created. It was creative, fun, original, AWESOME. Definitely a novel you'll finish in one sitting! 

BUY or BORROW?: It's only 99 cents as an e-book right now — that's a total steal right there! You should definitely grab this book while you have the chance. It's more than just a pretty cover!

-Mimi

In My Mailbox #25

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren, where we spotlight the books that we've received for review, swapped, or purchased that week. It's a really great idea and I'm excited to take part!

WARNING: I'm in a VERY talkative mood today, so excuse me while I gush! :)

FOR REVIEW: 

While He Was Away by Karen Schrek

The gorgeous cover for this book is really makes me wish that I had a boyfriend who rides a motorcycle, but I'm pretty sure my mom would rather send me across the world on my own before letting me date that kind of guy... x) Anyways, thank you so much to Sourcebooks for sending me an ARC of this one!

ReVamped by Ada Adams

 YAY!! I literally squealed when this came in the mail since I've started to renew my love for vampires lately — and Ada is one of the sweetest authors I've ever talked to! She also surprised me with some gorgeous signed bookmarks too (which definitely beat out the paper scraps I'm so used to using). Review and excerpt posts to come really soon! :) 

 Ada also signed the book to me as well as the bookmarks, which made my day! Yes, that note says that she's also an awesome Canadian author. ;) A million hearts to you, Ada! ♥ Thank you thank you THANK YOU!

BORROWED: 

The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour

Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby

I love the library. No further comments needed. ;)

My mailbox may not be gigantic for the past week, but it's still filled with make-my-day awesomeness! :) Thank you so much again to Sourcebooks, Ada Adams, and the library for giving me a reason to procrastinate my homework a little bit more! ♥

WHAT'S IN YOUR MAILBOX? 

-Mimi

P.S. It's my mom's birthday tomorrow and we're celebrating it tonight with yummy cake and lots of food and presents that will hopefully make her smile. Happy Birthday, Mommy! I love you so much! :) ♥

Review: The Hunted

Book: The Hunted
Author: Kristy Berridge
Series: N/A
Release Date: April 30, 2011
Publisher: Sid Harta Publishers
Pages: 582
Source: author (Thank you so much, Kristy!!)
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository
Stars: 4/5

Elena Manory is by no means an ordinary teenage girl. Being born with the ability to heal herself from any injury, and with the knowledge that on her eighteenth birthday she will become a Vampire, Elena is aware that she is more than a little different from other girls her age. 

It isn’t until she meets William Granville, an alluring and impossibly handsome vampire, that she begins to question her destiny and what secrets the Institute of Magical Intervention and her adopted family have withheld—secrets that could change the fates of not only her own life, but of the lives of all the immortals. 

As events spiral out of control, William may be the only person Elena can place her trust in. He, and Elena’s magical family, must fight to save her, joining forces to defeat a common, deadly foe. For William, it is his chance to save the girl that he has searched eternity to find.

(summary taken from Goodreads) 

MY THOUGHTS:  

When it comes down to another vampire book, you'd think we've seen it all — but not until you've read The Hunted!  

In this world, the vampires are in a tense alliance with the Protectors (warriors who can wield magic) to fight against the vanators — also known as rabid, viscous, and bloodthirsty werewolves. Just like an awesome vampire story should be, it's different and bloody and intense and gruesome, but it also has moments of snark that relieve some of the tension.

As a stubborn, mouthy, and bad-ass born vampire, Elena is the kind of girl you admire in all situations! Even though she may be reckless sometimes, she still stays smart, focused, and completely realistic in a way that makes it easy to sympathize with her, even when she's kicking butt and leaving you in awe.  

But Elena isn't the only character you'll. There's her "adoptive" brother Lucas, who's so hilarious and brotherly that you just have to adore him. Each of the Protectors have their own personalities too, and so do the vampires. Especially William: tall, dark, and mysterious vamp extraordinaire. He may not suck your blood but he'll definitely take your heart! ♥ 

One of my favourite things about this book — besides its non-stop action and hilarious one-liners — has to be the way Elena interacts with her family. Even though they're not technically related, her banter with her Protector parents and brother is so fun and natural. They fight, argue, and pick on each other like real family, but in the end you can tell that they'd do anything to protect each other. 

This book is a little bit lengthy and has a few editing errors, but it's nothing that takes away from the awesomeness of this book. All in all, The Hunted is an original, action-packed, and engaging Aussie-based vampire story that you shouldn't miss! :)  

BUY or BORROW?: Love vampires? Love awesome heroines? This is the book for you! 

-Mimi

You can find the rest of the tour HERE at Missy's Reads and Reviews. Kristy Berridge will also be back next week for a guest post about writing with an excerpt from The Hunted, and you don't want to miss it! :)

Waiting on Wednesday: Silver

Time for another amazing Wednesday! ♥ :)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by the awesome Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating! This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is: 

Silver by Talia Vance

Beauty is pointless when no one's looking.

Brianna Paxton has been invisible to guys since the eighth grade. She’s pretty enough, it’s just that no one bothers to look. There’s almost nothing that can’t be explained with science, and Brianna has a theory: she’s missing the pheromone that attracts people to one another. Brianna’s theory is shot to hell in one frozen, silver moment, when time stops and Blake Williams not only sees her, he recognizes something inside her that she’s been hiding from even herself.

Before Brianna fully understands who and what she is, she accidentally binds her soul to Blake. Forced to find a way to reconcile forbidden love and her bloody heritage, Brianna discovers that there's nothing pointless about her, and Blake may be in the most danger of all.

(summary taken from Goodreads)

Release Date: September 8, 2012
Series: N/A

Another gorgeous book cover of 2012! I really think that they're starting to become a trend. The promise of forbidden love, soul-binding, and an original idea all seem to make an awesome book to me — I'm hoping that this book is as awesome as I want it to be! :)

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU WAITING FOR? 

-Mimi