2015 Most Anticipated

It's almost 2015 and here we are with yet another storm hitting our place that will last until the New Year. And here I am, still in a freaking reading slump and buried in school projects. But it's hard not to get excited. New Year! I can't believe the year is almost over. To be honest, this year feels like the fastest to fly by. Anyway, here are the things that I am most excited about in 2015.

Books:

Burn 

(The Rephaim #4)

by Paula Weston

Top 10 of 2014

I only read 136 books this 2014. My original goal was 150 but I didn't get to that before the year was over. Technically, I've read way more than 136 books. I've been in a lot of reading slumps this year and I always reread favorite books when I'm not in the mood to start a new one but I don't include them in my reading challenge so there you go.

Just last week, for instance, I reread Shimmer by Paula Weston twice, and then reread Haze after that, then Shimmer again (I love rereading if you haven't noticed that yet). And then agonized over Christmas dinner of the sequel's release.

So out of those 136 I've given 5 stars to - what a coincidence - exactly 10 books.

Top 10 books of 2014:

Review: James Games by L.A. Rose

James Games
by L.A Rose
Published: September 30, 2014



Buy from Amazon

Every year, the girls of Phi Delta Chi, Fiona Arlett’s dream sorority, hold a competition.

The prize?

James Reid, king size bar of eye candy and famous actor turned haughty undergrad.

The rules?

No girl but the winner can touch him.

The problem?

Fiona miiight have unknowingly banged his brains out last week.

Losing the competition may mean wearing a chicken suit to the sexiest Halloween costume contest, but she’d rather have feathers up her butt than let the truth out.

Unfortunately, she and James have lots in common and more chemistry than the science wing. Soon they’re sneaking around behind the backs of UCSD’s hottest and most vengeful girls.

If they find out?

Fiona’s screwed.

Review: Adrian Lessons by L.A. Rose

Adrian Lessons
by L.A. Rose
Published: August 25, 2014



Buy from Amazon

If there’s one thing Cleo Reynolds knows, it’s that she’s not into Adrian King.

The son of a model with the looks to prove it, the experienced author of her school newspaper’s sex advice column, the cocky playboy with a hint of darkness. That Adrian King.

Nope. Nuh-uh. No way.

The problem is, he’s very into her.

After accidentally flashing him, and slightly-less-accidentally-but-still-totally-unintentionally making out with him in front of the whole class, she expects to be called crazy. Instead, he asks her out.

Cleo’s determined not to end up as another notch on his bedpost. Except she hasn’t done…you know…it in a while. (Read: ever.) And as a girl who pays her tuition by writing all the sex scenes in her roommate’s bestselling romance series, the lack of inspiration has served up a fat slice of writer’s block.

Until her roommate proposes that Cleo and Adrian act out all the steamy scenes in her book.

It’s just research. No feelings involved.

Nope. Nuh-uh.

No way.

Me and My Bookshelf (26): More Signed Books

This is where I feature the books I received, bought, gifted or won that are newly added in my physical shelf, which means no e-books and the like, and recount epic book hauling stories. It is usually posted on Saturdays.

Well, it's not Saturday but I was busy studying all weekend. Yesterday was the worst exam of my life. Four of my hardest subjects all in one day, from 9AM to 7PM straight (I had a 15-minute lunch, of course). The first one made my jaw drop as soon as I got my exam paper, wondering if I enrolled in the same class this semester. The second made my head spin with all the variables and computations (a combination of Advanced Math, Circuits, Calculus and whatevertheheckelse) the entire two hours of it which would never ever be enough and in the end nearly made my hands fall off. The next one is yet another computation only this time it's all costs and benefits and net worth, blah, blah, blah. I almost didn't want to take my next exam. But I survived! Barely. I'm dreading midterm exams already.

Anyway, here I am with the second part of my November book haul and these are the books I got in the mail.

[BLOG TOUR] Excerpt + Giveaway: Icy Pretty Love by L.A. Rose

ICY PRETTY LOVE
Genre: NA Romance
Author: L.A. Rose
Release Date: November 15th, 2014

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Synopsis:

Glass-doll beauty. A shy, proper smile. Georgette Montgomery is the perfect billionaire’s fiancé.

Or she would be, if she existed.

A dark past. A smile that hides everything. At nineteen, Rae Grove escapes her disaster life by pretending to be other people—specifically, whoever the man paying her that night wants her to be.

Until she’s offered enough money for a one-way ticket to a better life. All she has to do is fly to Paris and pretend to be the fiancé of young business tycoon Cohen Ashworth for one month. Within an hour of meeting Cohen, Rae knows three things about him:

1. He hates everyone and everything.

2. He has abundant wit and a knife-sharp tongue.

3. He uses 2 to make everyone aware of 1.

Before long, Rae’s determined to crack open his unbreakable shell. Cohen’s determined to stay unbroken.

But no one escapes unscathed when two opposite worlds collide.

CEBU WEEKEND GETAWAY PART 1: Marie Lu Signing + City "TOUR?"

Last, last... last Saturday I went to Marie Lu's signing event. There have been plenty of authors who went here in our country for signings I badly wanted to be a part of. Unfortunately, both venues are too far from where I live and the closest of the two are usually during Sundays and I can't have that because of school. The first time I went, it was Gayle Forman's and that's because there's no way I'm not attending. Lucky for me, we didn't have class that Monday. Not so lucky for me, there was a storm (that was more than a couple of months after Typhoon Haiyan and in the same vicinity) and ALL trips were cancelled. I was stuck at the terminal for two freakin' days and was only able to go home Tuesday morning so yeah, at least I was only absent for one day instead of two.

Me and My Bookshelf (25): November Haul Part 1 - Marie Lu Signed Edition

This is where I feature the books I received, bought, gifted or won that are newly added in my physical shelf, which means no e-books and the like, and recount epic book hauling stories. It is usually posted on Saturdays.

I've accumulated a heaping 27 books this past month from books I bought in-store to review copies I received in the mail to online buys. Yep, let's hear it: whatever happened to no more? Actually, I only just bought 2 books and 1 boxed set last November. The rest are purchased a few months ago only they took a long time to arrive in my country.

Since I'm pretty sure this would end up to be a very long post if I put them all here at once, I'm going to divide the haul into parts. I'm certain this is going to be my last haul of the year, anyway. Not counting if I receive more review copies.

[AUDIOBOOK TEASER] Endsinger by Jay Kristoff

Endsinger
(The Lotus War #3)
by Jay Kristoff
Published: November 25, 2014



A TREMBLING EARTH
The flames of civil war sweep across the Shima Imperium. With their plans to renew the Kazumitsu dynasty foiled, the Lotus Guild unleash their deadliest creation—a mechanical goliath known as the Earthcrusher, intended to unite the shattered Empire under a yoke of fear. With the Tiger Clan and their puppet Daimyo Hiro in tow, the Guild marches toward a battle for absolute dominion over the Isles.

A BROKEN REBELLION
Yukiko and Buruu are forced to take leadership of the Kagé rebellion, gathering new allies and old friends in an effort to unite the country against the chi-mongers. But the ghosts of Buruu’s past stand between them and the army they need, and Kin’s betrayal has destroyed all trust among their allies. When a new foe joins the war tearing the Imperium apart, it will be all the pair can do to muster the strength to fight, let alone win.

A FINAL BATTLE
The traitor Kin walks the halls of Guild power, his destiny only a bloody knife-stroke away. Hana and Yoshi struggle to find their place in a world now looking to them as heroes. Secret cabals within the Lotus Guild claw and struggle; one toward darkness, the other toward light. And as the earth splits asunder, as armies destroy each other for rule over an empire of lifeless ash and the final secret about blood lotus is revealed, the people of Shima will learn one last, horrifying truth.

There is nothing a mother won't do to keep her children by her side.

Nothing.

November 2014 Reads + Monthly Recap

Oh, gods. I'm not sure if this blogging month is even worth recapping. Long story short, I've been busy. I had high hopes at the start of November especially with my reading pace since I was able to read a few books during my semestral break and I really thought I would be able to catch up to my reading challenge! I was only 3 books behind then before school started but now? I'm 9 freaking books behind. Ugh.

Books I read this month:

November New Releases

New Book Releases this November 2014

*cover image links to Goodreads*

The Retribution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #3) by Michelle Hodkin Published: November 4, 2014 The Book Depository ___________ Mara Dyer wants to believe there's more to the lies she’s been told. There is. She doesn’t stop to think about where her quest for the truth might lead. She should. She never had to imagine how far she would go for vengeance. She will now. Loyalties are betrayed, guilt and innocence tangle, and fate and chance collide in this shocking conclusion to Mara Dyer’s story. Retribution has arrived.

[FREE Audiobook] THE IRON TRAITOR by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Traitor 

(The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #2)

by Julie Kagawa

Narrated by Jake Lewis

Summary:

In the real world, when you vanish into thin air for a week, people tend to notice.

After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for-his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.

But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all.

Read my review HERE.

TROUBLE TUESDAY

So.. my class schedule today is like this:

                                    10:30am - 12:00nn             Control Systems (Lab)
                                    12:00nn  - 1:30pm              Database Management System (Lab)
                                      1:30pm - 3:00pm              Microprocessor Systems (Lab)
                                      3:00pm - 4:30pm              System Analysis and Design (Lab)

At first I was like:

And then I thought, "You know, I've always wanted to be on a diet but I just can't seem to step away from food like that. Now's the time."

October 2014 Reads + Monthly Recap

Well, this is sad. For one, another month is over, this time with seven blog posts published and I’m no closer to actually making progress for the following days or months (I’m working on it). Two, break is over: first day back to school. Three: this post was already a few days late but when I made it yesterday GR was acting up and I couldn't load some of the links. Four: Just because.

HALLOWEEN Reads

I’ve been procrastinating. Can you tell? Bwahahahaha. But can you blame me? My precious days of sleeping in(?) are dwindling. School starts next week! Speaking of which, I’m almost done with enrollment – almost. There are just a few conflicts in schedule to settle and if everything works out, I’m gonna be taking 11 classes this semester. ELEVEN! Le sigh.

Anyway, I’m going back to my hometown for the weekend to visit my relatives (I only get to visit maybe two or three times a year) and I’m bringing flowers to my grandpa and great grandpa’s grave. Also, the food. So I’m leaving you a few books you might want to read this Halloween season.

[BLOG TOUR] Review + Giveaway: Cinder & Ella by Kelly Oram

Hello! Welcome to my stop on the Cinder & Ella Blog Tour. Pretty soon you'll be hearing me rave about it and there's an international giveaway at the end of this post. Check out the other stops HERE.

October New Releases

New Book Releases this October 2014

*cover image links to Goodreads*

The Body Electric by Beth Revis Published: October 6, 2014 __________ The future world is at peace. Ella Shepherd has dedicated her life to using her unique gift—the ability to enter people’s dreams and memories using technology developed by her mother—to help others relive their happy memories. But not all is at it seems. Ella starts seeing impossible things—images of her dead father, warnings of who she cannot trust. Her government recruits her to spy on a rebel group, using her ability to experience—and influence—the memories of traitors. But the leader of the rebels claims they used to be in love—even though Ella’s never met him before in her life. Which can only mean one thing… Someone’s altered her memory. Ella’s gift is enough to overthrow a corrupt government or crush a growing rebel group. She is the key to stopping a war she didn’t even know was happening. But if someone else has been inside Ella’s head, she cannot trust her own memories, thoughts, or feelings. So who can she trust?

SEMBREAK TBR Pile

I am blogging. I AM BLOGGIIIING!!!! 

Forgive me. I am that excited. Up until yesterday I was seriously dreading the fact that we were still going back to school and doing projects when semestral break had supposedly started the previous week. Finals wasn't that hard compared to others I've taken before. Of course, there was the hardest exam it couldn't compare to all my other exams combined, there was also one you could take wasted and pass, there's another that was just 'Meh. Whatever', one was cancelled and one I was exempted to take. Projects, though... Argh! Right after we finished our last exam, we all went out to celebrate because eff yeah we survived another semester! But the day after that was back to school stuff. I've been reading a few books since exams ended but with projects in the way I didn't have all my time focused on that. And also, I've been sleeping a lot. Gotta compensate, ya know ;) I mean, we only get more or less - definitely less - than two weeks of break including holidays and enrollment which could take forever just so we can have the most convenient schedule for our classes (and that's next week already!). So it was kind of a downer thinking that I wouldn't be able to read ten books, write plenty of reviews and blog, after all.

QUOTABLE QUOTES

SO. Last night I woke around 11PM, ate my dinner (yeah, my schedule is messed up) and wondered what to do next, still in a post-sleep haze. I was about to find something to read when I got sidetracked by the quotes I have in my computer so yeah. Blog post. Why not?

These aren't all deep or thoughtful or the best quote ever or something. But they made me smile or remember a certain part I really liked in the book. I love to go over them sometimes and just enjoy. These are randomly picked since I have A LOT of them in my laptop. Here are some for you to enjoy as well.

Rafa glances at me as we walk. His hair looks fairer out here in the sunlight. Right now I’d like to run my fingers through it, get a good handful, and smack his head into the brick wall we’re passing.
Haze by Paula Weston

‘You believe what he’s saying—that they’re demons?’
Simon nods.
‘Like, from hell?’
‘No,’ Rafa says, ‘from Comic-Con.’ He shakes his head. ‘Yes, from hell.’
Haze by Paula Weston

September 2014 Reads + Monthly Recap

THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY! Two more weeks and this semester is no more. That also means I only have one week left to finish my projects and then finals but whatever. I am so looking forward to break. And then maybe I'll have more time to read and catch-up to my reading challenges because, holy molly, we only have three months left until 2015 and I am oh so behind. Right now I'm happy with the number of books I've read so far but it would be fantastic if I achieve my goal of reading 150 books this year. Also, I'm just dying to be able to read without interruptions. It's been a long time since I was able to do that. Anyway, this September I read 11 books which was a surprise since it's not often that I find the time to sit and read these days except - occasionally - for an hour or two before I sleep (provided I'm not too exhausted to fall asleep in the middle of it) but I guess I did.

September Reads:

September New Releases: Part 2

New Book Releases this September 2014

*cover image links to Goodreads*

The Infinite Sea (The Fifth Wave #2) by Rick Yancey Published: September 16, 2014 The Book Depository Amazon ____________ How do you rid the Earth of seven billion humans? Rid the humans of their humanity. Surviving the first four waves was nearly impossible. Now Cassie Sullivan finds herself in a new world, a world in which the fundamental trust that binds us together is gone. As the 5th Wave rolls across the landscape, Cassie, Ben, and Ringer are forced to confront the Others’ ultimate goal: the extermination of the human race. Cassie and her friends haven’t seen the depths to which the Others will sink, nor have the Others seen the heights to which humanity will rise, in the ultimate battle between life and death, hope and despair, love and hate.

[RELEASE DAY BLITZ] Excerpt: James Games by L.A. Rose

Title: JAMES GAMES

Genre: NA Romance

Author: L.A. Rose

Release Date: September 30th, 2014

Buy on Amazon now!

Me and My Bookshelf (24)

This is where I feature the books I received, bought, gifted or won that are newly added in my physical shelf, which means no e-books and the like, and recount epic book hauling stories. It is usually posted on Saturdays.

Well, here's me catching up. I meant to do this - and more - during the weekend but I got really sick. Nothing I can do about it except rest which my body is begging me to do forever anyway.

Before I proceed to my September book haul, I got one book left I wasn't able to include in my August haul post and that is:

MOVIE REVIEW: The Maze Runner

Saturday morning I got a text from my friend asking me to watch The Maze Runner together with my high school buddies. Unfortunately, I already saw it the previous night because I couldn't wait when I REMEMBERED - at around 5pm! - that: "Wait, The Maze Runner is showing TODAY?" 

Yep, after the events of that week - and the weeks before that - I totally forgot. I was too excited to watch it that it didn't really matter if I haven't read the book yet which I told myself that I would before seeing the movie. I texted my sister immediately, waited for her classes to finish and dragged her to the mall. It took her so long that we had no choice but to watch the 9pm showing.

COVER REVEALED: The Wondrous and the Wicked by Page Morgan

This cover has been out for a while but I didn't know that. I just saw it a minute ago. Cover looove.

The Wondrous and the Wicked 
(The Dispossessed #3)

by Page Morgan
Expected publication: April 14, 2015

Review: Crushed by Eliza Crewe

Crushed
(Soul Eaters #2)
by Eliza Crewe
Published: August 25, 2014




Meda Melange has officially hung up her monstrous mantle and planted her feet firmly on the holy and righteous path of a Crusader-in-training. Or, at least, she’s willing to give it a shot. It helps that the Crusaders are the only thing standing between her and the demon hordes who want her dead.

The problem is, the only people less convinced than Meda of her new-found role as Good Girl are the very Crusaders she’s trying to join. So when a devilishly handsome half-demon boy offers escape, how’s a girl supposed to say “no?”

After all, everyone knows a good girl’s greatest weakness is a bad boy.

[BLOG TOUR] Excerpt + Giveaway: Adrian Lessons by L.A. Rose

Adrian Lessons
by L.A Rose
Published: August 25, 2014



If there’s one thing Cleo Reynolds knows, it’s that she’s not into Adrian King.

The son of a model with the looks to prove it, the experienced author of her school newspaper’s sex advice column, the cocky playboy with a hint of darkness. That Adrian King.

Nope. Nuh-uh. No way.

The problem is, he’s very into her.

After accidentally flashing him, and slightly-less-accidentally-but-still-totally-unintentionally making out with him in front of the whole class, she expects to be called crazy. Instead, he asks her out.

Cleo’s determined not to end up as another notch on his bedpost. Except she hasn’t done…you know…it in a while. (Read: ever.) And as a girl who pays her tuition by writing all the sex scenes in her roommate’s bestselling romance series, the lack of inspiration has served up a fat slice of writer’s block.

Until her roommate proposes that Cleo and Adrian act out all the steamy scenes in her book.

It’s just research. No feelings involved.

Nope. Nuh-uh.

No way.

September New Releases

New Book Releases this September 2014

*cover image links to Goodreads*

Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3) by Sarah J. Maas Published: September 2, 2014 The Book Depository Amazon ___________ Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien’s only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan’s Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn. Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King’s Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan’s biggest threat – and his own toughest enemy. While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love?

HEY, HEY

Ten years later aaaand.. I’m here. So how’s life? Well. After 12 hours straight of much needed sleep after yesterday’s events, my head hurts, I feel like throwing up, my eyes feel bloated, I’m still sleepy and I think I’m coming down with something.

CURRENTLY READING:

The Scorpio Races

by Maggie Stiefvater

Published: October 18, 2011

Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository

Music and Lyrics (16)

These are some of the songs I love and will love for the rest of my life because of their lyrics:

TAGGED: 10 Books That Affected Me in Some Way

I was tagged by Joel of Lord Humungosaur's Library (go check out his blog and see his list HERE) and Hazel on Facebook to do this tag.

Rules: Don't take more than a few minutes and do not think too hard. They don't have to be the "right" books or great works of literature, just ones that have affected you in some way.

The list I came up with are in no particular order. I wouldn't say they are my best books of all time but they are part of it and they sure did left a mark in my life. How else am I gonna make a list this fast and without thinking too hard? That's because when I read the phrase "affected you in some way", these are the first things that came to mind. Obviously, they are all favorites. And not just because they are good or entertaining or awesome or hilarious or romantic but I got something more than the feeling of being so happy every time I read books.

August 2014 Reads + Monthly Recap

August was freaking exhausting especially this last week. I had an epic Friday after-exam-week night out of town with my 5th year class and I’m still tired from it but since midterm exams are OVER then I am going to have time for my blog. My poor blog. Anyway, the weekend was an awesome break from studying. It felt like we did the ice bucket challenge the whole time because we stayed at a mountain resort and it was effin’ cold, especially the pool water, but we still decided to swim at, like, 10 in the evening so there was no one else there but us and the guys thought it would be awesome to bring a dipper, shout “ice bucket challenge!”, and chuck the contents to ANYONE. Like this:

Source: KapusoMoJessicaSoho @KM_Jessica_Soho

LOL. That's not us. But back to the main topic.. this month I only read 8 books and 1 novella. Not so bad considering the busy month I had and some of it took me longer to finish than usual because of the number of pages. I'm really hoping to catch up this September because I am still behind on my reading challenges.

August New Releases

New Book Releases this August 2014

*cover image links to Goodreads*

Gates of Thread and Stone (Gates of Thread and Stone #1) by Lori M. Lee Published: August 5, 2014 The Book Depository Amazon __________ In the Labyrinth, we had a saying: keep silent, keep still, keep safe. In a city of walls and secrets, where only one man is supposed to possess magic, seventeen-year-old Kai struggles to keep hidden her own secret—she can manipulate the threads of time. When Kai was eight, she was found by Reev on the riverbank, and her “brother” has taken care of her ever since. Kai doesn’t know where her ability comes from—or where she came from. All that matters is that she and Reev stay together, and maybe one day move out of the freight container they call home, away from the metal walls of the Labyrinth. Kai’s only friend is Avan, the shopkeeper’s son with the scandalous reputation that both frightens and intrigues her. Then Reev disappears. When keeping silent and safe means losing him forever, Kai vows to do whatever it takes to find him. She will leave the only home she’s ever known and risk getting caught up in a revolution centuries in the making. But to save Reev, Kai must unravel the threads of her past and face shocking truths about her brother, her friendship with Avan, and her unique power.

Review: Cracked by Eliza Crewe

Cracked
(Soul Eaters #1)
by Eliza Crewe
Published: November 5, 2013




Meet Meda. She eats people.

Well, technically, she eats their soul. But she totally promises to only go for people who deserve it. She’s special. It’s not her fault she enjoys it. She can’t help being a bad guy. Besides, what else can she do? Her mother was killed and it’s not like there are any other “soul-eaters” around to show her how to be different. That is, until the three men in suits show up.

They can do what she can do. They’re like her. Meda might finally have a chance to figure out what she is. The problem? They kind of want to kill her. Before they get the chance Meda is rescued by crusaders, members of an elite group dedicated to wiping out Meda’s kind. This is her chance! Play along with the “good guys” and she’ll finally figure out what, exactly, her ‘kind’ is.

Be careful what you wish for. Playing capture the flag with her mortal enemies, babysitting a teenage boy with a hero complex, and trying to keep one step ahead of a too-clever girl are bad enough. But the Hunger is gaining on her.

The more she learns, the worse it gets. And when Meda uncovers a shocking secret about her mother, her past, and her destiny… she may finally give into it.

Me and My Bookshelf (23): Warehouse Sale Edition

This is where I feature the books I received, bought, gifted or won that are newly added in my physical shelf, which means no e-books and the like, and recount epic book hauling stories. It is usually posted on Saturdays.

I didn't expect to have a book haul post this soon. I thought my next one would be two months from now when all my online orders are arriving -- book buying ban, remember? But then this happened:

So here are the books I got this week. Or rather, in the last two days. But first..

RECOMMENDATIONS

So once again, my cousin asked me for another good read. I told her to try Kelly Oram's Jamie Baker series because I'm pretty sure she would like it.

Read my review HERE.

 

She loved it. So much so that she recommended it to our classmate and we ended up talking about it during one of our 2-hour breaks. Mainly about Ryan and how that guy is sooo different from other guys. Book or otherwise ;) And also our thoughts about that freaking ending! We are all dying to read Remember Jamie Baker and we are all suffering from the unfairness of it all because... RYAN!

Review: Caged by Sophie Davis

Caged
(Talented #2)
by Sophie Davis
Published: April 26, 2012



Buy from Amazon

After her brush with death at Ian Crane’s compound, Talia Lyons feels like a prisoner, confined in her childhood home. Plagued with seizures- the result of an unidentified drug injected in her neck by Crane’s men- Talia must put her dream of becoming a Hunter on hold.

When Agency Director McDonough asks Talia to go undercover at the School for the Talented, to find the spy who set the trap for her in Nevada, Talia jumps at the opportunity.

Soon she learns that her newfound freedom comes with a price- working with Donavon on a daily basis. As if that isn’t awkward enough, her former teammate, Erik, also shows up at the School. But at least Talia has the unexpected company of her best friend Penny; to not only assist her in uncovering the spy, but also to deal with the complications that the guys create.

As Talia becomes more entrenched in her assignment, she quickly learns the lengths that the Agency and Mac will go in the name of war. With Crane’s influence spreading, Talia learns that there are few Operatives without ties to the Coalition. Forced to face hard truths and dangerous conclusions, Talia realizes that it is those closest to her who are hiding the biggest secrets. As the task of finding the traitor becomes more problematic, desperation and frustration rule Talia’s world. It becomes clear that Talia can’t do this alone. But who can she trust, when everyone around her is lying?

July 2014 Reads + Monthly Recap

Well, there isn't a lot to put here. A few days ago, I didn't even realize July was about to end. I haven't posted much on my blog! I can't say I'll be able to make up to it now - school has been crazy and even my reading time is getting shorter and shorter. No matter what, though, I am still posting here if I can find enough time. Possibly on Wednesdays and Fridays (or Saturdays) since I have a lot of free time those days. Never mind Tuesdays and Thursdays - they're torture!

July Reads

July New Releases

New Book Releases this July 2014

*cover image links to Goodreads*

On the Fence by Kasie West Published: July 1, 2014 The Book Depository Amazon __________ She's a tomboy. He's the boy next door… Charlie Reynolds can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn't know the first thing about anything. So when she starts working at a chichi boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she finds herself in a strange new world. To cope with the stress of her new reality, Charlie takes to spending nights chatting with her neighbor Braden through the fence between their yards. As she grows to depend on their nightly Fence Chats, she realizes she's got a bigger problem than speeding tickets-she's falling for Braden. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high. Fun, original, and endearing, On the Fence is a romantic comedy about finding yourself and finding love where you least expect.

Guys Reading Books (1)

I know plenty of guys who read books, personally. But the idea sometimes come as a really surprising one when you associate it to someone who you can't picture ever doing it [reading] on occasions other than in a school setting. Or work. Also, it's not unheard of that plenty of men, guys and boys don't really like to read. And it makes me happy inside to be surprised when it comes to guys being interested in books I do like.

Review: The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

The Queen of the Tearling
(The Queen of the Tearling #1)
by Erika Johansen
Published: July 17, 2014




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Kelsea Glynn is the sole heir to the throne of Tearling but has been raised in secret by foster parents after her mother - Queen Elyssa, as vain as she was stupid - was murdered for ruining her kingdom. For 18 years, the Tearling has been ruled by Kelsea's uncle in the role of Regent however he is but the debauched puppet of the Red Queen, the sorceress-tyrant of neighbouring realm of Mortmesme. On Kelsea's 19th birthday, the tattered remnants of her mother's guard - each pledged to defend the queen to the death - arrive to bring this most un-regal young woman out of hiding...

And so begins her journey back to her kingdom's heart, to claim the throne, earn the loyalty of her people, overturn her mother's legacy and redeem the Tearling from the forces of corruption and dark magic that are threatening to destroy it. But Kelsea's story is not just about her learning the true nature of her inheritance - it's about a heroine who must learn to acknowledge and live with the realities of coming of age in all its insecurities and attractions, alongside the ethical dilemmas of ruling justly and fairly while simply trying to stay alive..

2014 Reading Challenges Update

I. AM. SLACKING. In reading? Nope. Not really. Going strong here. No slump. Just a bit busy with school. In blogging? Bwahahahaha. Definitely.

Anyway. This year I joined four reading challenges and one of them ended last week so I'm going to put in here what books I read for that challenge. And since I'm on it already, might as well give updates on how well I'm doing with my other challenges.

2014 Don't Let It End Reading Challenge hosted by Fiktshun

Me and My Bookshelf (22)

This is where I feature the books I received, bought, gifted or won that are newly added in my physical shelf, which means no e-books and the like, and recount epic book hauling stories. It is usually posted on Saturdays.

Review: In the End by Demitria Lunetta

In the End
(In the After #2)
by Demitria Lunetta
Published: June 24, 2014




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The thrilling conclusion to In the After, the survival story of Amy and Baby, set in a near future where Earth has been overrun by vicious, predatory creatures.

It’s been three months since Amy escaped New Hope, and she’s been surviving on her own, like she did in the After. Until one day, her former fellow Guardian’s voice rings out in her earpiece. And in a desperate tone, Kay utters the four words Amy had hoped she would never hear: Dr. Reynolds has Baby.

Now it’s a race against time, for Baby is in imminent danger, her life threatened by the malevolent doctor who had helped start the end of the world. In order to save Baby, Amy must make her way to Fort Black, a prison-turned-survivor-colony, where she will need to find Ken, Kay’s brother. He alone holds the key to Baby’s survival.

One small slip-up on this quest could spark a downward spiral that would not only cost Baby and Amy their lives, but threaten the very survival of the people in the After.