April 2014 Reads + Monthly Recap

Hello! Last day of April and yes, we are already 1/3 done with 2014. Whew! A lot happened this month and so many great books were released! See my list here. I meant to post a review today but I was so caught up with the book I am currently reading that I don't want to put it down and think of other books even for a while, so I figured I'll just post my monthly wrap-up since it's the end of the month anyway. Since tomorrow is a holiday, maybe I'll have more time on my hands to write a review but you never know. The book I'm reading might leave me with a cliffhanger that would make me jump right into the next one without pause.

Quick recap of what I was up to:

April New Releases

Newly Released Books this April 2014

*cover image links to Goodreads*

The Ring and The Crown (The Ring and the Crown #1) by Melissa de la Cruz Published: April 1, 2014 The Book Depository Amazon __________ Princess Marie-Victoria, heir to the Lily Throne, and Aelwyn Myrddn, bastard daughter of the Mage of England, grew up together. But who will rule, and who will serve? Quiet and gentle, Marie has never lived up to the ambitions of her mother, Queen Eleanor the Second, Supreme Ruler of the Franco-British Empire. With the help of her Head Merlin, Emrys, Eleanor has maintained her stranglehold on the world's only source of magic. She rules the most powerful empire the world has ever seen. But even with the aid of Emrys' magic, Eleanor's extended lifespan is nearing its end. The princess must marry and produce an heir or the Empire will be vulnerable to its greatest enemy, Prussia. The two kingdoms must unite to end the war, and the only solution is a match between Marie and Prince Leopold VII, heir to the Prussian throne. But Marie has always loved Gill, her childhood friend and soldier of the Queen's Guard. Together, Marie and Aelwyn, a powerful magician in her own right, come up with a plan. Aelwyn will take on Marie's face, allowing the princess to escape with Gill and live the quiet life she's always wanted. And Aelwyn will get what she's always dreamed of--the chance to rule. But the court intrigue and hunger for power in Lenoran England run deeper than anyone could imagine. In the end, there is only rule that matters in Eleanor's court: trust no one.

Review: Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan

Immortal Beloved
(Immortal Beloved #1)
by Cate Tiernan
Published: September 7, 2010




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National Book Store

Nastasya has spent the last century living as a spoiled, drugged-out party girl. She feels nothing and cares for no one. But when she witnesses her best friend, a Dark Immortal, torture a human, she realizes something's got to change. She seeks refuge at a rehab for wayward immortals, where she meets the gorgeous, undeniably sexy Reyn, who seems inexplicably linked to her past.

Nastasya finally begins to deal with life, and even feels safe--until the night she learns that someone wants her dead.

Cate Tiernan, author of the popular Sweep series, returns with an engaging story of a timeless struggle and inescapable romance, the first book in a stunning new fantasy trilogy.

Review: Split Second by Kasie West

Split Second (Pivot Point #2)
by Kasie West
Published: February 11, 2014



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Life can change in a split second.

Addie hardly recognizes her life since her parents divorced. Her boyfriend used her. Her best friend betrayed her. She can’t believe this is the future she chose. On top of that, her ability is acting up. She’s always been able to Search the future when presented with a choice. Now she can manipulate and slow down time, too . . . but not without a price.

When Addie’s dad invites her to spend her winter break with him, she jumps at the chance to escape into the Norm world of Dallas, Texas. There she meets the handsome and achingly familiar Trevor. He’s a virtual stranger to her, so why does her heart do a funny flip every time she sees him? But after witnessing secrets that were supposed to stay hidden, Trevor quickly seems more suspicious of Addie than interested in her. And she has an inexplicable desire to change that.

Meanwhile, her best friend, Laila, has a secret of her own: she can restore Addie’s memories . . . once she learns how. But there are powerful people who don’t want to see this happen. Desperate, Laila tries to manipulate Connor, a brooding bad boy from school—but he seems to be the only boy in the Compound immune to her charms. And the only one who can help her.

As Addie and Laila frantically attempt to retrieve the lost memories, Addie must piece together a world she thought she knew before she loses the love she nearly forgot . . . and a future that could change everything.

Review: Pivot Point by Kasie West

Pivot Point (Pivot Point #1)
by Kasie West
Published: February 12, 2013




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Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.

Book-ish News and Updates

Well, hey, I'm back! I must admit.. blog's constantly silent this month. A lot of stuff has to be done so I didn't have much time to make a post or write a review. I also haven't read that many books and I'm so far behind my reading challenges but that's not the reason why I recently locked myself in my room with my TBR pile. I wasn't in a reading slump and I really badly want to pick up a book but school stuff can't be ignored eventhough it's summer.

I really, really miss reading one book after another and then here's this four day break from work and school - the perfect opportunity to just stay home and not go out for a minute or talk to people - I haven't done that in a long time. Sometimes it feels like I'm only home to sleep and shower (I do most of my blogging while hanging out at my mom's office). So I used that time to read nonstop. Not even to blog, afraid I'd break my binge. Not that an apocalypse can detach me from my book, really. I can't even be bothered to move myself and just check my emails. I keep saying, "Maybe later." until eventually it's "nevermind". That's how much I missed it. It's a great feeling.

So just a couple of news and updates:

Review: Talented by Sophie Davis

Talented (Talented #1)
by Sophie Davis
Published: January 11, 2012


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When Talia Lyons was just a child, her parents were murdered before her eyes. Offered a choice between accepting their fate and exacting revenge, Talia trains to become one of the country’s deadliest assassins in order to kill the man responsible for their deaths: Ian Crane. Luckily, Talia was born with a gift- the ability to read and influence the minds of others. At sixteen, Talia is poised to graduate from the McDonough School for the Talented, where she learned to control her abilities. Now there is only one obstacle standing between her and the retribution she craves... Talia herself.

Her greatest asset may also be her undoing; while a formidable weapon in the field, Talia’s talents prevent her from both shutting off the mental connection she shares with her questionable boyfriend and blocking out the thoughts of a beguiling fellow recruit. But Talia can’t afford to have the feelings and distractions of a normal teenage girl, when her life is far from normal.

She must regain the single-minded determination that has brought her this far, or it may cost Talia her life when she finally faces Crane. And even after being molded in to a weapon of war, she’ll still have to find the strength it takes to pull the trigger.

If James Bond and Sookie Stackhouse had a love child with a yearning for vengeance, her story would be TALENTED: an adventure about powerful teenagers who aren’t afraid to embrace their fears and fight for what they believe in.

SPOTLIGHT: Faery Realms Boxed Set Release

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Google Play

FAERY REALMS: TEN MAGICAL TITLES (Multi-Author Boxed Set, novels & novellas)

*Purchased individually, these books cost over $15 – List price $9.99 – Save 90% – Now on sale for only .99 cents!*

Enter the magical realms of Faery with these ten award-winning, bestselling fantasy authors. Each title in this sampler collection offers a new and different world full of mystery, love, and most of all, fae enchantment~

Over 1400 pages of stories, with *exclusive* titles from Alexia Purdy, Tara Maya, and Anthea Sharp! Together, these books have over 250 5-star reviews on Amazon and 150 5-star reviews on B&N.

Best for ages 13 and up~

Me and My Bookshelf (20): Collective Book Haul

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.

Heyhey! Technically, I didn't buy any books last month because I was saving for our Industrial Tour but I did get three for free (that rhymes). I saw pretty great books in the bargain section of my local bookstore so I decided maybe it's time I use my loyalty card e-purse because if I start pulling out some cash, I just might be tempted to pull a lot especially with new arrivals wagging their imaginary eyebrows at me.

Giveaway: Love and Other Games & A Titan for Christmas by Aria Kane

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Learn more about the books here:

Love and Other Games

A Titan for Christmas

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Review: Serial Hottie by Kelly Oram

Serial Hottie
by Kelly Oram
Published: July 10, 2012



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Hockey-obsessed tomboy Eleanor Westley has never been the object of a guy's affection before. So when the hottest boy she's ever seen moves in across the street and starts treating her like she's the center of his universe, naturally she's going to be a little skeptical. But everything starts to make sense when girls who look just like Ellie start dying all around the city. Obviously the new guy is the killer, and of course he only likes her because he wants to slice her into tiny pieces. Right? The more Ellie gets to know Seth the more she's convinced he's a psychopathic killer. Problem is, he's the sweetest psychopathic killer she's ever met. Not to mention he's brutally hot. No matter how hard she tries, she can't help but fall for him. Will Ellie find true love, or will her summer of firsts turn out to be a summer of lasts?

Nothing important. JUST GLAD TO BE BACK AND POSTING SOMETHING!!!!

I'm baaaaack! Did you miss me? 'Cause I certainly missed you and blogging so so much. I didn't get to finish scheduling all those post I promised for the week I was gone. The people at the electric company decided to cut-off electricity for the whole day before my trip and I had more packing to do. By the time it was back, I had to go to bed since I needed to wake up at 2 in the morning so..

But, yes! I had a really, really tiring but amazing week and I brought plenty of good books with me back home - I visited around 10 bookstores! Well, three bookstores and their different branches. I'll post it this Saturday so don't forget to check it out. I had a lot of things to do waiting for me when I got back so I'm going to put those out of the way first but hopefully I will be able to post a review tomorrow.