Review: Mary Hades by Sarah Dalton

Mary Hades (Mary Hades, #1)
by Sarah Dalton
Self-published
Ebook (received from Xpresso Tours for review, thank you!)
YA, fantasy, paranormal

Not many seventeen year old girls have a best friend who’s a ghost, but then Mary Hades isn’t your average teenager.

Scarred physically and mentally from a fire, her parents decide a holiday to an idyllic village in North Yorkshire will help her recover. Nestled in the middle of five moors, Mary expects to have a boring week stuck in a caravan with her parents. Little does she know, evil lurks in the campsite…

Seth Lockwood—a local fairground worker with a dark secret—might be the key to uncovering the murky history that has blighted Nettleby. But Mary is drawn to him in a way that has her questioning her judgement.

Helped by her dead best friend and a quirky gay Goth couple, Mary must stop the unusual deaths occurring in Nettleby. But can she prevent her heart from being broken?

I was really happy when I got review copy of Mary Hades - it sounded so good and even though I'm not big fan of ghost stories, it still intrigued me. However, when I started reading the story, I felt disappointed. The Things - how unimagine and boring name and there could have been so many cooler and intriguing names to call them but Dalton chose Things which is pretty boring. Overall at first the book wasn't that good, a little dull even but sometime around 30% in it went from dull to intriguing and downright fantastic. I was so relieved when the story picked pace up and I actually started to care about characters and what happened to them. There was nothing boring or dull after that.

Characters were great, especially when introduced Seth, Neil, Lemarr and Igor. There was great variety and I loved how diversity the characters was but how it was not mentioned in every sentence. So, Neil and Lemarr were gay? Cool, they're also goths but hey, let's instead go a ghost hunt. Dalton really did justice to her characters. Mary and Lacey were also intriguing, well, after the first part of the book. Lacey was witty and oh how much I loved her. Mary was a good, strong main character which is always a huge plus.

There was a romance in Mary Hades. But it was unique, especially how dealt with it at the end of the book - perfect. I don't want to spoil anyone but it was so different from all other YA stories and it was fresh, unique and truthfully, the reason why I liked the end so much. I'm definitely picking up the sequel and any other stories in this series.
 

After a rough start the book was really good, unique even, and I can highly recommend it to everyone who likes paranormal stories. There was so many good notions and quitable moments! Dalton knows how to write a good, strong story with intriguing points. Read Mary Hades, because it's not waste of your reading time.

4 of 5 stars.

 

Mary Hades on Goodreads.

(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)

Movie Release Day Spotlight & Exclusive Giveaway: The Calling by Inger Ash Wolfe

To coincide with the theatrical release of the breathtaking thriller The Calling, author Inger Ash Wolfe is donating three signed copies of the book (signed by the author and members of the film's cast and crew).

The Calling releases in theatres on August 29th.

UK Release Date: October 10th, 2014.

Who's in it:

Susan Sarandon, Gil Bellows, Ellen Burstyn, Topher Grace, Donald Sutherland

What's it all about (book blurb from Goodreads):

There were thirteen crime-scene pictures. Dead faces set in grimaces and shouts. Faces howling, whistling, moaning, crying, hissing. Hazel pinned them to the wall and stood back. It was a silent opera of ghosts.

Detective Inspector Hazel Micallef has lived all her days in the small town of Port Dundas and is now making her way toward retirement with something less than grace. Hobbled by a bad back and a dependence on painkillers, and feeling blindsided by divorce after nearly four decades of marriage, sixty-one-year-old Hazel has only the constructive criticism of her old goat of a mother and her own sharp tongue to buoy her. But when a terminally ill Port Dundas woman is gruesomely murdered in her own home, Hazel and her understaffed department must spring to life. And as one terminally ill victim after another is found—their bodies drained of blood, their mouths sculpted into strange shapes—Hazel finds herself tracking a truly terrifying serial killer across the country while everything she was barely holding together begins to spin out of control.

Through the cacophony of her bickering staff, her unsupportive superiors, a clamoring press, the town’s rumor mill, and her own nagging doubts, Hazel can sense the dead trying to call out. But what secret do they have to share? And will she hear it before it’s too late?

In The Calling, Inger Ash Wolfe brings a compelling new voice and an irresistible new heroine to the mystery world.

The Calling Official Trailer #1

About the Author
Inger Ash Wolfe is the pseudonym of the Canadian fiction writer Michael Redhill.

Michael Redhill is an American-born Canadian poet, playwright and novelist.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Redhill was raised in the metropolitan Toronto, Ontario area. He pursued one year of study at Indiana University, and then returned to Canada, completing his education at York University and the University of Toronto. He was on the editorial board of Coach House Press from 1993 to 1996, and is currently the publisher and editor of the Canadian literary magazine Brick. His first novel, Martin Sloane (2001), won the Books in Canada First Novel Award, the Commonwealth Writer’s Prize, and was also nominated for the Giller Prize, the City of Toronto Book Award, and the Trillium Book Award. His most recent novel, Consolation (2006), won the City of Toronto Book Award and was also longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. He has acted as an editorial board member for Coach House Press, and is one of the editors, and former publisher, of Brick Magazine.

His play, Building Jerusalem, depicts a meeting between Karl Pearson, Augusta Stowe-Gullen, Adelaide Hoodless, and Silas Tertius Rand on New Year's Eve night just prior to the 20th century. The play garnered him the Dora Award, the Chalmers Award, and a nomination for the Governor General’s award.

***GIVEAWAY***

3 SIGNED copies of The Calling up for grabs (signed by author and cast and crew members).

Bloggers who participate in hosting this giveaway on their blogs will be placed in a separate

poll to receive 1 of the 3 signed books on offer.

Ends September 19th (Midnight GMT).

International giveaway.

Contest is void where prohibited. Entrants must be 13 or else have parent or guardian’s permission to enter. Winners will be contacted via email within seven days after the contest ends. Winners will have 48 hours to respond or the prize will go to another entrant.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Event Organised by:

Stacking the Shelves (14)

 

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, and is all about sharing the book you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

 

For review (via NetGalley)

 

Gabriel's City by Laylah Hunter
The Circus of the Damned by Cornelia Grey

 

Freebies

 

Clarity by Loretta Lost

Collide by Shelly Crane

Everflame by Dylan Lee Peters

From the Ashes by Daisy Harris

Pieces of Me by Kira Adams

Second Chances by Nate Tanner

Sparrow Man by M.R. Pritchard

Through A Tangled Wood by Sarah Dalton, Jamie Campbell, Katie French, Ariele Sieling, Marijon Braden, H.S. Stone, Zoe Cannon

One night I really went crazy with all those Amazon freebies. Damn. But they all sound interesting so I'm waiting for reading them! The Circus of the Damned and Gabriel's City I requested when I finished reading and reviewing my previous NetGalley ARCs.

What did you haul this week?

#FundTheWandering (there's still time!)

Free books, that can be heard often, and I confess I'm a little bit cynical - nothing is free. Except when it is, and in this particular case, it truly is. Saruuh Kelsey is wonderful person and she wants to give everyone chance to read her books, even if they don't have any money for books. So she writes this magical story with great characters called the Lux Guardians. First book, The Forgotten, was released summer 2013 and you can get it various places online plus Saruuh has waiting list - and get this - she sents paperbacks for free. Absolutely free, I'm not kidding you. I have my own copy and it's so beautiful.

 

The sequel, The Wandering, will be published September 23rd. During August Saruuh has run funding campaign for The Wandering - printing and sending them all over world isn't cheap and she has asked donations to help with printing costs. The more she can raise money, the more books she can send for people. And get this, there's various things you can get! Even for one pound. There's so cool things like you can get character named after you (or you can name one character any way you want), you can get awesome swag (and Saruuh's swag is high quality) or even more free books. It's awesome!

 

The campaign will run until the end of August (Sunday 31st). There's still time to donate! Donate and get awesome things while helping Saruuh to spread awesomes and kindness.

 

DONATE HERE.

 

Here's Saruuh's original post, more details can be found there.

 

Also, there's only one day left to sign up for The Forgotten waiting list until the list closes. Don't miss it! Sign up here.

 

 

(the banner is Saruuh's, of course, I'm just loaning it for this post)

Feature & Follow Friday #8

Feature and Follow Friday is hosted by two different hosts, Parajunkee and Alison Can Read! This meme is here for bloggers to gain new blogger friends and followers.

 

This weeks topic:

Tell us about a book character you'd trade places with.

There's so many choices. I'd love all those adventures book characters faces from book to book. But I'm going to say Bryn from Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. I've only read a little over hundred pages but I would be so much more grateful of living with pack of wolves than Bryn is.

Because I haven't finished Raised by Wolves yet, I'm also going to say Brooke from Under the Never Sky. Why Brooke? I wouldn't change a bit from Aria and Perry's or Roar's story so that's why not them. But as Brooke I would do some things differently and I'd just love to live in that dystopian world, and Tides. It would be awesome!

Or you can add me on Google+.

I will always follow back!

Review: Proxy by Alex London

Proxy (Proxy, #1)
by Alex London
Published by Speak
Paperback (bought)
YA, sci-fi, dystopia, LGBT

“A life for a life. All debts have to be repaid.”

Knox was born into one of the City’s wealthiest families. A Patron, he has everything a boy could possibly want—the latest tech, the coolest clothes, and a Proxy to take all his punishments. When Knox breaks a vase, Syd is beaten. When Knox plays a practical joke, Syd is forced to haul rocks. And when Knox crashes a car, killing one of his friends, Syd is branded and sentenced to death.

Syd is a Proxy. His life is not his own.

Then again, neither is Knox’s. Knox and Syd have more in common than either would guess. So when Knox and Syd realize that the only way to beat the system is to save each other, they flee. Yet Knox’s father is no ordinary Patron, and Syd is no ordinary Proxy. The ensuing cross-country chase will uncover a secret society of rebels, test both boys’ resolve, and shine a blinding light onto a world of those who owe and those who pay. Some debts, it turns out, cannot be repaid.

 

 

Proxy blew my mind. Diverse main character? Stunning world-building? Fast-paced, gripping action? Captivating, can't put it down once start? Proxy has it all, and more.

Proxy is a must read, you don't want to miss it. But be warned, do not finish this one before you have sequel at hands - the end will let you craving for more, needing it more than anything else. Proxy has it all that humanity have faced before: whipping boy system but with a twist of technology, biotechnology especially. It's history mixed with future, as all good dystopians are - and Proxy is one of the best.

First of all, London has created multilayered and stunningly real characters, and there's so many different personas. Syd and Knox are the main characters and they couldn't be different: Syd is orphan, in debt and proxy for a patron, and Knox is that patron, son of the wilthy rich CEO who has seemingly limitless influence over their world. While the main focus is on Syd and Knox's stories and how their lives will collide, there's plenty of intriguing supporting characters as Syd's friend Egan, Mr. Baram, and even Marie, though mainly represented all those female leads who usually narratives YA dystopian stories. The way the characters stayed true to themselves, especially Knox, was amazing, because there also was lots of character developement and revelations of themselves. London truly knows not only how the create characters but how to developed them - that way the story becomes even more realistic as the characters change with the story. Also, let's mention that Syd is not only person of colour, he's also gay, and it's so fresh to see character like him as the main character - especially since Syd doesn't want to be a hero, he just wants to save himself. It's also wonderful how Syd's skin colour or sexuality doesn't define him as a character.

The plot is unbelievably good. There's lots of twists and turns, scheming and trying to save oneself - and how all of it tangles together as revelations are made and how the story develops from there. Proxy isn't good just because of its characters, or writing style (which was flowing and truly enjoyable), or world building, or plot alone. No, it's the whole story within its characters, storyline, idea and how it was presented. Simply stunning, the whole package. Proxy is what I look for a dystopian novel. Also, there's so many quites out there, so many accurate observations.

Proxy is one of those books one need to read to understand how it's builded from bottom to top to be a perfect story of flawed society, rebellion and two boys who just wanted to be themselves. I recommend Proxy to everyone: this is the story you simply need to experience.

 

5 of 5 stars (and everything else I can give)

 

“Guilt. That might have been the only purely human feeling Knox had left.”

Proxy on Goodreads.

ARC Review: A Suitable Replacement by Megan Derr

A Suitable Replacement (Deceived, #5)
by Megan Derr
Published by Less Than Three Press
Ebook (received from publisher via NetGalley, thank you!)
Adult, LGBT, romance, fantasy

After three years abroad on an arduous expedition, Maximilian is happy to be home, where he can pursue his private studies in peace and enjoy not living in a dusty tent. He is also glad he has arrived in time to attend his twin sister's wedding in a few months, and to finally meet her fiancé, Kelcey.

Instead he arrives home to be accosted by his sister's furious fiancé, who wants to know where she has run off to and why. When they confirm the wedding is most definitely canceled, Max has no choice but to fulfill the runaway clause in the marriage contract: he must find Kelcey a new spouse.

But the more time passes, the more he wishes he could offer himself up as replacement, no matter how unsuitable an arrangement he knows that would be.

A Suitable Replacement was nothing like I expected - but that doesn't mean it was anything but good. Synopsis gives a good overview for the idea behind the story but the book has so many other aspects alongside looking for replacement. For one, the main characters Max and Kelcey aren't what I expected when I picked this up. Max was intriguing and multilayered character and I love how even in his thirties he had a little of child's mind left - and that didn't make him childish, more like gave him new side. I liked Max and his sister's, Mavin's, banter and teasing because it reminded me how siblings can sometimes tease each other relentlessly. Although Mavin's character was otherwise quite annoying, mostly because she did not own her own mistakes rather than letting Max deal with the fallouts. Kelcey, however, was great character. A little shady and mysterious but still lovable and I loved how he was diverse character, and how that wasn't big deal. Derr sure knows how to write intriguing and diverse characters!

Looking for a replacement wasn't only aspect on the plot. I don't want to spoil anyone but there was eloping, marriages, road trip of sort, highwaymen and past colliding with the present. I liked the road trip and sadly it was very overall told and I would have enjoyed the story even more if the journey would have been descriped with more details. A lot happened in the story but it wasn't overwhelming and rushed because there was room for quiet moments and, of course, some sexy times.

A Suitable Replacement was well written story, maybe more contemporary than fantasy even though there was a lot talking about magic theory which Max scientifically studied and goblin wars. It's interesting mix but Derr made it work really well and the story was enjoyable, unique and intriguing. I especially liked the historical feeling the story had, it's always a huge plus. However, I felt that the story lacked something on some points especially when it came to Max's sister, Mavin. She and her husband didn't face consequences of their actions and Mavin didn't feel genuine on her apology. Derr could have easily focused a little bit more on that aspect of the story.

A Suitable Replacement was truly enjoyable, and I recommend it to everyone who likes diverse characters, romance and unique mix of fantasy and contemporary with side of historical feeling.

 

4 of 5 stars.

Thank you, Less Than Three Press, for giving me a chance to review A Suitable Replacement!

 

A Suitable Replacement on Goodreads.

(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Really Want To Read But Don't Own Yet

 

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week participating bloggers can create lists of topic given by the host, and share them with others!

 

1. The Lovely and the Lost by Page Morgan: I read The Beautiful and the Cursed a week ago and I yearn for the sequel but sadly, my library doesn't have it and I'm trying not to buy books at least for next couple of weeks.

 

2. Memory of Water by Emmi Itäranta: I saw this a lot on bookstores last summer but I didn't want to read it in Finnish, so yeah, and of course library doesn't have a copy of it in English. When it comes to books, I truly dislike living in Finland - or at least library's selection of available books.

 

3. Dirty London by Kelley York: It's Kelley York and that's all I need. Dirty London was published, maybe last week if I remember correctly, and I yearn for it.

 

4. Evertrue by Brodi Ashton: I loved Everneath and liked Everbound enough even though Nikki started to annoy me but yeah. I need more Cole, and I want to know how the series ends.

 

5. Fragments by Dan Wells: I loved Partials, it was so awesome. It's over a year when I read it and I really should get this especially now that Ruins are available, too.

 

6. Blood Red Road by Moira Young: I almost purchased this one when I was in London back in 2012 but for some reason I ended up selecting other books. And I regret it. Mostly because I really want to read it and when it was translated in Finnish, well, now it's impossible to get it in bookstores in English (another problem with books in Finland).

 

7. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas: Everyone's talking about the third book of this series, Heir of Fire, and I truly need to read this - and I want to, the synopsis sounds irresistable.

 

8. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin: Friend recommend this to me and I actually reserved it on library but there's like three persons before me so it could easily be January before I get my hands on it. But I'll try to be patient.

 

9. The Eye of Minds by James Dashner: It's James Dashner, of course I want to read it. The Maze Runner is one of my favourites and The Eye of Minds sounds intriguing.

 

10. Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge: You got me on the Beauty and the Beast retelling. It's my favourite fairytale, I'm sucker for misunderstood and bad guys and if there's anything resemble for the Beast, I'm in.

 

What books do you want to read but don't own yet? :)

Review: Survive by Alex Morel

Survive
by Alex Morel
Published by Electric Monkey Books
Paperback (bought)
YA, contemporary, adventure

"And, frankly, I'm not a genious myself but I am a very good liar."

When Jane steps on to the plane her plan is clear - Go to the bathroom. Take the pills. End it all.

The plane crash changes all that.

Jane wakes in the mountains, surrounded b wreckage, with just one other survivor. Together, they must fight their way through the blizzards, and back to civilization.

Now, more than anything, she wants to live.

Survive is a lyrical story about Jane who doesn't want to live anymore, not since her dad killed himself, and she has a plan because she's a planner: to board a plane to take her home for Christmas, except according to her plan, she's going to kill herself on the bathroom during the flight. However, Jane's plan goes all wrong as the plane crashes into the wilderness. Jane and only one other passanger, Paul, survives the crash. And now it's up to them to get back to the civilization - alive, since Jane doesn't want to die anymore.

 

Survive is fast-paced, fast to read because you don't want to put it down. The writing is lyrical, intriguing and Morel sure knows how to use the words to make story truly become alive. There's sentences that left me breathless because of their pure genious - and all those heartbreaking feelings and hope for Jane and Paul to survive their trials. Oh, and what a characters Morel created - Jane and Paul are different, flawed, intriguing and still full of hope even when their journey seems to be hopeless.

 

Survive is a standalone which was one of the reasons alongside the synopsis why I picked it up. I'm so glad I did it, because Survive took me on a journey that wrenched my heart, and made me love every moment - made me devour the story on a few sitting. It's a gripping, captivating and emotional journey from the start right until the last sentence.

 

I highly recommend Survive to everyone. It's a wonderful, poignant and truly heartbreaking story. I even recommend it to everyone who doesn't like contemporary that much because this story is worth of everyone's time. Survive is probably the best contemporary, realistic fiction book I've read.

 

Prepare yourself for an emotional ride and dive in.

 

5 of 5 stars and everything else I can give.

 

Survive on Goodreads.

Stacking the Shelves (13)

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, and is all about sharing the book you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

 

Purchaised

 Guardian by Alex London
Earth Flight by Janet Edwards
Darker Days by Jus Accardo
Marco's Story by Page Morgan

I ordered Guardian right after I finished with Proxy (review coming soon!) and it came this week. I started it but it just doesn't have the same kind of rush that Proxy gave me. With the same order came Earth Flight. I know I haven't read the second book in the series, Earth Star, but I loved Earth Girl so much - and now I can marathon the second and third one, so yay!

After finishing with The Beautiful and the Cursed (review coming soon) I had to know more and therefore I purchased Marco's Story. Darker Days, well, it was ridicilously cheap and I love Jus Accardo's books so why not.

What did you get this week?
 

Feature & Follow Friday #7

Feature and Follow Friday is hosted by two different hosts, Parajunkee and Alison Can Read! This meme is here for bloggers to gain new blogger friends and followers.

 

This weeks topic:

What book/series do you think would make a better TV show than a movie?

Hard question. I haven't watched that much movie or TV adaptions mostly because the ones I've seen haven't been that good. Book is always better option for me, especially if casting goes wrong. However, I wait for The Maze Runner movie and I believe it's better fit as a movie rather than a TV show. It has the movie vibe. Though, I'd rather see Fallen (by Lauren Kate) as a TV show than as a movie as it'll come out next year. There's four books on the series and I think they could do better justice to it as an TV show.

 

 

 

Or you can add me on Google+.

 

I will always follow back!

 

Waiting on Wednesday #16

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's cannot-wait book is:

The Devil's Intern by Donna Hosie!

 

The Devil's Intern (The Devil's, #1)

by Donna Hosie

Expected publication: October 1st 2014

 

 

Seventeen-year-old Mitchell discovers a time-travel device that will allow him to escape his internship in Hell's accounting office and return to Earth, but his plans to alter the circumstances of his own death take an unexpected turn when his three closest friends in Hell insist on accompanying him back to the land of the living.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It sounds so interesting and I'm definitely waiting for this. I love the cover, the red colour and the edges, and how simple it is without being too simple or boring.

 

The Devil's Intern on Goodreads.

Out now: Bliss by Lisa Henry & Heidi Belleau

Bliss
by Lisa Henry & Heidi Belleau
Published by Riptide Publishing
Adult, LGBT, sci-fi, dystopia, romance

They're always happy.

Rory James has worked hard all his life to become a citizen of the idyllic city-state of Beulah. Like every other kid born in the neighboring country of Tophet, he’s heard the stories: No crime or pollution. A house and food for everyone. It’s perfect, and Rory is finally getting a piece of it.

So is Tate Patterson. He’s from Tophet, too, but he’s not a legal immigrant; he snuck in as a thief. A city without crime seems like an easy score, until he crashes into Rory during a getaway and is arrested for assaulting a citizen. Instead of jail, Tate is enrolled in Beulah’s Rehabilitation through Restitution program. By living with and serving his victim for seven years, Tate will learn the human face of his crimes.

If it seems too good to be true, that’s because it is. Tate is fitted with a behavior-modifying chip that leaves him unable to disobey orders—any orders, no matter how dehumanizing. Worse, the chip prevents him from telling Rory, the one man in all of Beulah who might care about him, the truth: in a country without prisons, Tate is locked inside his own mind.

Bliss is out right now! I was lucky to get a chance to read and review ARC of this. You can find my review here and see how much I loved the story. This story is exceptional but dark, so I may give a little warning: this might not be for the most delicate persons. More about it you can find on my review.

 

You can purchase the book several places, including
Riptide Publishing's site

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Book Depository

Bliss on Goodreads.

ARC Review: Kill Devil Hills by Sarah Darlington

Kill Devil Hills (Kill Devil Hills, #1)
by Sarah Darlington
Self-published
Ebook (received from author, thank you!)
NA, contemporary, romance

He’s twenty-four. She’s eighteen.

His life is exactly the way he’s always wanted it to be...stable.
She’s quite possibly the very definition of unstable.

Noah saved her.
Georgina never wanted to be saved.

Growing up, Noah Clark was passed from one relative to the next until he finally ended up living with his abusive, alcoholic uncle in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. Thanks in part to the unwavering love and support of his best friend, Ellie Turner, Noah survived those years, escaped his uncle, and grew into the man he is today. Now he runs his own business and lives a pretty normal, no-nonsense life—one where he maintains a high level of control.

Georgina is Ellie’s younger sister. Four months ago, Noah saved Georgie’s life, but he thought that was where his involvement with his friend’s sister would end. Now Georgie has returned home from the recovery facility her parents sent her away to and Noah, still haunted by the night that connects them, can’t stop himself from continuously trying to protect this girl he barely knows. But is he willing to give up all of the control he’s worked so hard to build in his life and risk everything for her? Even more importantly, would she do the same for him?

Kill Devil Hills was quite well written story about Georgina who tried to commit suicide but was saved by her big sister's friend, Noah. After spending four months in a place for troubled young adults, Georgina comes back home to face consequences and start her life again. Twenty-four-year-old Noah feels protective and wants to get to know Georgina better. There's no avoiding pudding romance between the two of them.

 

Kill Devil Hills wasn't bad, per say, but it wasn't for me either. There was some aspects in the story that I couldn't get past and the way some things were dealt felt rushed. It felt like Georgina's attempt to take her life was brushed off a little. It was mentioned, she did go this place but I felt like there should have be more discussing about it, more deep meaning to all of it. It felt like it was too short jump for suicide attempt to all the romance that there was. Also, the lack of condom, or more like forgetting it was huge turn off for me. I'm all for safe sex in books (and everywhere else), and even though later was revealed that Georgina was on pills, it was weeks after they had sex. It was irresponsible and for people in their age, they should have discussed these things before they had sex or right after it.

 

I couldn't connect with the characters. There was lots of information about both Noah and Georgina, but it felt like the author just gave all the facts but left dealing with them out of the story. There was also no space for reader to figure out anything paced on how characters acted via the whole information dump that was given. I was disappointed because I wanted to connect with Noah and Georgina, I wanted to feel giddy for them, excited and everything they felt but instead I just read what happened and I couldn't get myself to care. Not connecting with the characters is a huge deal for me, and I think that might be the main reason why I was unable to enjoy Kill Devil Hills as much as I wanted to enjoy it.

 

I'm not saying that Kill Devil Hills is a bad story - all I'm saying is that it wasn't story for me. Not my cup of tea, but that doesn't mean anyone else can't enjoy and love the story. If you like contemporary romance then there's a huge chance that you'll be able to connect with the characters and enjoy the story. There was some great things in the story, some diverse characters and things like that. This story isn't for me, but it could be one for you.

 

2 of 5 stars.

Kill Devil Hills on Goodreads.

(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)

Stacking the Shelves (12)

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, and is all about sharing the book you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Gifts

Sweet Oblivion by Bailey Ardisone

Sweet Escape by Bailey Ardisone

 

Won

 

 

Powerless by Tony Cooper

 

Freebies

 

 

The Blemished by Sarah Dalton

Hidden by M. Lathan
Nor Iron Bars A Cage by Kaje Harper
Sworn To Raise by Terah Edun

I moved this week to the campus since my studies started, more or less. So that's why I had no time to scroll around bookstores or even have much money to buy any books this week. However, I won Goodreads giveaway at the end of July and the book arrived this week: Powerless by Tony Cooper. I'm so excited to read it! Also, Bailey Ardisone was so sweet and kind that she gave away copies of her books Sweet Oblivion and Sweet Escape for an exchange of a review. They're personalized copies and I'm just so happy to have them! I'll start reading them soon, so there's reviews to come. Hidden, The Blemished, Sworn To Raise and Nor Iron Bars A Cage are freebies from Amazon and yeah, I was intrigued by them hence getting them.

What did you get this week?
 

ARC Review: Queen of Someday by Sherry D. Ficklin

Queen of Someday (Stolen Empire, #1)
by Sherry D. Ficklin
Published by Clean Teen Publishing
Ebook (received from publisher via NetGalley, thank you!)
YA, historical fiction, romance

"One girl will bring an empire to its knees..."

Before she can become the greatest empress in history, fifteen-year-old Sophie will have to survive her social-climbing mother’s quest to put her on the throne of Russia—at any cost.

Imperial Court holds dangers like nothing Sophie has ever faced before. In the heart of St. Petersburg, surviving means navigating the political, romantic, and religious demands of the bitter Empress Elizabeth and her handsome, but sadistic nephew, Peter. Determined to save her impoverished family—and herself—Sophie vows to do whatever is necessary to thrive in her new surroundings. But an attempt on her life and an unexpected attraction threatens to derail her plans.

Alone in a new and dangerous world, learning who to trust and who to charm may mean the difference between becoming queen and being sent home in shame to marry her lecherous uncle. With traitors and murderers lurking around every corner, her very life hangs in the balance. Betrothed to one man but falling in love with another, Sophie will need to decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice in order to become the empress she is destined to be. 

In a battle for the soul of a nation, will love or destiny reign supreme?

Publication October 7th 2014

 

When I saw this, I was immedialy sold. I study history and therefore royals, kingdoms and monarchy has always been a huge interest of mine. So, russian court and royals, I was sold.

Queen of Someday didn't disappoint me. The story started strong and it continued to build a strong, intriguing story with colourful characters and heart-wreching twists. Ficklin managed to create historical air, so to speak, around the story - character's talked formally and all the old, royal way that made reader truly believe the time and customs. I was pleased to notice how there was no place for misunderstanding on what language the characters spoke as it was mentioned clearly that they mainly spoke German (due Sophie being from Prussia and Peter preferring Germany over Russia) and Russian as Sophie studied it. It made the book even more historical, and it would have felt so pretentious and fake if the characters would have spoken English. So, historically the book was surprisingly correct even though it's probably more alternative history than anything else. Not that it's bad thing at all.

Characters, oh the characters. I liked all of them, mostly because I liked how Ficklin developed them. I believe it must be challenging with characters who are based on real, historical persons but Ficklin did fine job with both introducing them and developing their character and relationships with other characters. Sophie changed maybe the most and it was intriguing to see how she changed, how her character grew. Peter was intriguing, his fancies changing and yes, he was a little mysterious especially with his intentions. It was fascinated to discover what made him tick and what his true intentions were. There was so many characters, and everyone of them was so well developed, so different from the next character that I could talk about them for hours. Empress Elizabeth, Alexander, Rina, Elizavetta and especially, Sergei. Sergei was one of my favourites, his intentions not quite clear but him still always being there. Ah, Sergei was truly intriguing character and I'd love to learn more about him!

Queen of Someday was well-written, clever and it delieved what the synopsis promised: Russian court, royals and all the scheming, false promises and unclear intentions that was wrapped in a captivating story. There was also romance but it wasn't all consuming which was perfect it its way. I warmly recommend Queen of Someday for all of those who likes YA and even tiniest pit of historical aspects - or romance.

Now I'm left to wait for the sequel.

 

4 of 5 stars.

Thank you, Clean Teen Publishing for giving me a chance to review Queen of Someday!

 

Queen of Someday on Goodreads.



(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)

Feature & Follow Friday #6

Feature and Follow Friday is hosted by two different hosts, Parajunkee and Alison Can Read! This meme is here for bloggers to gain new blogger friends and followers.

 

This weeks topic:

Suggest a question! We need questions of the week for future FFs. Any ideas?

Which kind of books you prefer: physical copies or ebooks? Paperbacks or hardcovers? Why?

 

Characters, sometimes our favorites, die during books. If you'd get to choose, who would you bring back?

 

Or you can add me on Google+.

 

I will always follow back!

 

Waiting on Wednesday #15

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's cannot-wait book is:

Reborn by Jennifer Rush!
 

 

Reborn (Altered, #3)

by Jennifer Rush

Expected publication: January 6th 2015

 

The Branch is in shambles, but Anna, Sam, Cas, and Nick can't rest easy. Remnants of the organization lurk unseen and the flashbacks to their old lives are only getting stronger--especially Nick's.

Following scattered memories and clues from his Branch file, Nick sets off alone in search of answers and in search of the girl who haunts his dreams. But the sleepy town where she lives in full of secrets and Nick soon learns that uncovering their shared past may have deadly consequences.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do I really need reasons why? I loved Altered, continued loving Erased and promised book from Nick's point of view? Heck yeah, give it to me now. January can't be soon enough, I need copy of this alongside Altered and Erased, they're going to be so pretty side by side. Reborn's cover is also gorgeous. I love blue and I have to say, this one's maybe more gorgeous than the other two and they were amazing.

 

Reborn on Goodreads.