Cover Reveal: Omega by Jus Accardo

Omega (The Infinity Division, #2)

by Jus Accardo

Published by Entangled Teen

Release date: August 1, 2017

One mistake can change everything. Ashlyn Calvert finds that out the hard way when a bad decision leads to the death of her best friend, Noah Anderson.

Only Noah isn’t really gone. Thanks to his parents’ company, the Infinity Division, there is a version of him skipping from one dimension to another, set on revenge for the death of his sister, Kori. When a chance encounter brings him face-to-face with Ash, he’s determined to resist the magnetic pull he’s felt for her time and time again. Because falling for Ash puts his mission—and their lives—in danger.

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Author bio

JUS ACCARDO spent her childhood reading and learning to cook. Determined to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps as a chef, she applied and was accepted to the Culinary Institute of America. But at the last minute, she realized her true path lay with fiction, not food.

Jus is the bestselling author of the popular Denazen series from Entangled publishing, as well as the Darker Agency series, and the New Adult series, The Eternal Balance. A native New Yorker, she lives in the middle of nowhere with her husband, three dogs, and sometimes guard bear, Oswald.

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Release Day Blitz: Hard Wired by Megan Erickson & Santino Hassell

Hard Wired

Megan Erickson & Santino Hassell

Release Blitz

The Reading Habits Tag

I saw Helene Jeppesen's video of the Reading Habits Tag, and it looked nice so I decided to do it!

1) Do you have a certain place at home for reading?

Not really. I either read on my cozy chair, on my desktop chair, or on my bed. Basically anywhere except on the floor. I used to be very picky where I read a couple of years ago but now I read wherever the mood strikes me (or where I can).

2) Bookmark or random piece of paper?

Definitely a bookmark. I own a lot of bookmarks and I use them every time I read physical books.

This is my main pile of bookmarks, some of are in use but this shows a little bit just how many I own.

3) Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop after a chapter/a certain amount of pages?

I have to finish the chapter I'm reading before I can finish. The only exception is commuting by train, especially to uni when I have limited time to read. But if given a choice, I can't just stop reading; I have to finish the chapter.

4) Do you eat or drink while reading?

I might drink but I don't eat because I don't want to ruin my books with stains. And usually I even put the book down while drinking.

However, since I got Kindle, I sometimes read while eating breakfast because I don't have to hold the e-reader in my hands while reading/eating.

5) Multitasking: Music or TV while reading?

I used to listen music while reading but nowadays no. I need quiet when I read - even while commuting I usually have my earphones on even if there's no music, just to drown the noise around me.

6) One book at a time or several at once?
I am a book bigamist, which means that I have several at once. Usually I focus on one or two books at the time but I have several currently reading ones that I switch between (or sometimes the book is on my currently reading pile way too long because it takes me time to pick it up again).

Actually, I once made a confessional post about being a book bigamist.

7) Reading at home or everywhere?
Mostly at home but since I started commuting to uni by train, I read a lot on trains and train stations.

8) Reading out loud or silently in your head?
Definitely silently in my head. I never read out loud unless it's picture books for my cousins.

9) Do you read ahead or even skip pages?
Sometimes my gaze wanders to next page before I'm actually there, but I always go back and read what I almost missed.

10) Breaking the spine or keeping it like new?
Keeping it like new! I hate broken spines, it's a pet peeve of mine, and for instance, I won't buy a book I want in the second hand store if the spine isn't intact.

11) Do you write in your books?
No. I like my books to be pristine. If I want to remember some quote or such, I'll use post-it notes.

12) Who do you tag?
Anyone who wants to do this!

Stacking the Shelves (56)

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!

Purchased

 

(I'm finally getting around of purchasing the physical copies of Cyberlove series, starting with my favourite Fast Connection.)

Review copies

 

I feel so lucky with these ARCs, especially since I already read and loved Peter Darling and Insight - I hope the rest are as good!

Review: Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, #1)
by Rick Riordan
Published by Puffin
Paperback (purchased)
Young Adult, fantasy, mythology

Magnus Chase has always been a troubled kid. Since his mother's mysterious death, he's lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant officers.

One day, he's tracked down by an uncle he's never met - a man his mother claimed was dangerous. His uncle tells him an impossible secret: Magnus is the son of a Norse god.

The Viking myths are true. The gods of Asgard are preparing for war. Trolls, giants and worse monsters are stirring for doomsday. To prevent Ragnarok, Magnus must search the Nine Worlds for a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years.

When an attack by fire giants forces him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents, Magnus makes a fatal decision.

Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die . . .

The Sword of Summer was one of the most hilarious books I've ever read - it had so many funny moments and the chapter titles are the best ever. I shouldn't have been surprised because it's Riordan, who always deliveries hilarious lines and sarcastic characters. This time, however, he outdid himself.

Magnus was my favourite character; he's sarcastic and funny and armed with comebacks that are golden. Blitz and Hearth were so Magnus's homeless friends (sort of) and they were so funny and cute and nice, and I just really liked them. And true Riordan style the gods were absolutely hilarious and had weird obsessions. Thor especially was so funny. Sam was the only one I didn't really connect with but that's not to say that she was a bad character.

Basically, the book is everything that Percy Jackson series is and then some. It's no surprise that I loved it, Riordan's books are genius and brilliant and so hilarious. I definitely recommend this to everyone!

5 of 5 stars

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ARC Review: Peter Darling by Austin Chant

Peter Darling
by Austin Chant
Published by Less Than Three Press
Ebook (received via NetGalley)
LGBT, fantasy, retelling, romance

Ten years ago, Peter Pan left Neverland to grow up, leaving behind his adolescent dreams of boyhood and resigning himself to life as Wendy Darling. Growing up, however, has only made him realize how inescapable his identity as a man is.

But when he returns to Neverland, everything has changed: the Lost Boys have become men, and the war games they once played are now real and deadly. Even more shocking is the attraction Peter never knew he could feel for his old rival, Captain Hook—and the realization that he no longer knows which of them is the real villain.

Peter Pan is one of my favourite fairytales, and Captain Hook certainly is my favourite villain ever, so when I heard there was a retelling of Peter Pan as a transgender and possible relationship with Captain Hook, I wouldn't have missed it by any chance. Peter Darling did more than meet my high expectations as I fell irrevocably in love with this story.

For one, Chant's writing style and world-building was perfect for the fairytale setting, especially for a retelling of Peter Pan; it gave the feeling of mystical, a little bit whimsical, and a bit vicious Neverland, a land made of dreams, lost boys, and fairies. And seriously, the description of Hook's clothes and hair were perfection (and I couldn't get enough of those). Of course, there's adventures and lots of fighting especially in the beginning when Peter goes back to Neverland and naturally he and Hook get back to fighting their war.

It was all good, until it became brilliant. The main characters went through a huge character development around the halfway mark of the story, and at this point I really fell in love with the story - and more importantly, with Peter and Hook. Okay, I loved Hook from the beginning but not necessarily Peter. I liked him and felt for him in the flashbacks that contained gender dysphoria as Peter was often misgendered. However, before the character growth, Peter was quite boyish and a bit naively vicious but I loved how he started to realize that world is not as black and white, and that Hook is not necessarily the villain he had made him to be. There were also a few secondary characters worth mentioning, as I really liked Ernest and Tinker Bell.

Overall, Peter Darling was touching and beautiful story that did not let me down. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down as I devoured every page. My only complain is that the book could have been longer as I couldn't get enough of it! Magnificent story, truly. All the diversity that got representation was fantastic. I just really fell in love with the story! And yes, I ship Peter and Hook with all my heart.

I highly recommend this to everyone. It's simply a must read.

5 of 5 stars.

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Thank you, Less Than Three Press, for giving me a chance to read and review Peter Darling!

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

Waiting on Wednesday #43

"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 Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Aliré Saenz!

The Inexplicable Logic of My Life

by Benjamin Aliré Saenz

Published by Clarion Books

Expected publication: 7th March, 2017

Young Adult, LGBT, contemporary

From the multi-award-winning author of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe comes a gorgeous new story about love, identity, and families lost and found.

Sal used to know his place with his adoptive gay father, their loving Mexican-American family, and his best friend, Samantha. But it’s senior year, and suddenly Sal is throwing punches, questioning everything, and realizing he no longer knows himself. If Sal’s not who he thought he was, who is he? 

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ARC Review: Trailer Trash by Marie Sexton

Trailer Trash
by Marie Sexton
Published by Riptide Publishing
Ebook (received via NetGalley)
YA, LGBT, romance, contemporary

It’s 1986, and what should have been the greatest summer of Nate Bradford’s life goes sour when his parents suddenly divorce. Now, instead of spending his senior year in his hometown of Austin, Texas, he’s living with his father in Warren, Wyoming, population 2,833 (and Nate thinks that might be a generous estimate). There’s no swimming pool, no tennis team, no mall—not even any MTV. The entire school’s smaller than his graduating class back home, and in a town where the top teen pastimes are sex and drugs, Nate just doesn’t fit in.

Then Nate meets Cody Lawrence. Cody’s dirt-poor, from a broken family, and definitely lives on the wrong side of the tracks. Nate’s dad says Cody’s bad news. The other kids say he’s trash. But Nate knows Cody’s a good kid who’s been dealt a lousy hand. In fact, he’s beginning to think his feelings for Cody go beyond friendship.

Admitting he might be gay is hard enough, but between small-town prejudices and the growing AIDS epidemic dominating the headlines, a town like Warren, Wyoming, is no place for two young men to fall in love.

Trailer Trash was one of my favourite reads of 2016. I absolutely fell in love with it, which is why it has been so hard to write a cohesive review of it.

First of all, Trailer Trash was one of the most authentic books I've read; it felt so real, the small town life in the middle of nowhere at the end of the 1980's. Which tells a lot about Sexton's writing skills as I've never lived in a small town in the middle of nowhere nor was I born in the 1980's. It just felt so real, I could imagine Warren and all its inhabitants. The story really takes you back in time.

The characters were perfection because of all their flaws. Nate was a sweetheart and I adored him, but he still had flaws; he was a bit obvious of certain things and times which caused some trouble. But he always meant well, and was determined to do what he felt was the right thing, and especially in the beginning Nate didn't care what people thought about him in Warren, or his friendship with Cody who no one seemed to like. And Cody, oh boy, he needed all the hugs. I absolutely loved him, and I kept wishing all the happiness for him. Cody was the scapegoat of the town because he was poor and because he was different in the way that wasn't acceptable at the time. Still, he was strong and refused to care that majority of the town thought that he wasn't worth anything.

It was also a great thing, that the story explored Nate's relationship with his newly divorced father, and with his mother who stayed in Texas. Cody's relationship and family dynamic with his mother was also equally explored, which I think made the story even more well fleshed - it wasn't just about Nate and Cody and how they found each other and learned how to stay in each other's lives when people were against it. No, the story was about so much more than simply that. It was about Nate growing up and learning how to live in a situation where his parents were divorced, when he was dragged to a town where he knew no one and couldn't find his place - and it was about Nate finding out who he was and what kind of man he wanted grow up to be. It was about Cody struggling to fight the odds and taking control of the direction where his life was going - to Cody finally reach for what he truly wanted. It was story about self-discovery and courage and love and acceptance.

Trailer Trash was brilliant. It was a stunning story which captivated me and I couldn't put it down until I reached the very end. It was a story so full of feels that even now, few months after finishing it, I still feel them. I love the story, and it'll stay with me a long time.

I highly recommend this to everyone.

5 of 5 stars.

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Thank you, Riptide Publishing, for giving me a chance to read and review Trailer Trash!

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

Blog Tour + Giveaway: In A Gilded Cage by Mia Kerick

In a Gilded Cage
Mia Kerick
(Evernight Publishing)
Publication date: October 21st 2016
Genres: LGBTQ+, New Adult, Romance

Lucci Grimley is indeed alluring—crowned with a mane of long blond hair, and blessed with an enchanting musical talent that draws a brave rescuer to a high tower hidden in the forest.

However, this modern-day Rapunzel is a young man, sold as a child to the wealthy and childless Damien Gotham for the price of a fast car and a pile of cash. And Lucci’s heroic prince is William “Prin” Prinzing, a handsome college student and star soccer player, hired to care for the grounds of the lavish Tower Estate. Prin climbs an extension ladder rather than a long golden braid to gain access to Lucci’s second floor bedroom window, ultimately penetrating the secrecy surrounding the cloistered young man.

Friendship, and soon romance, blooms. The tower captive eagerly gives his loving innocence to his brave rescuer, which sends the strict and reclusive Gotham into a frenzy of jealous rage. With Prin, Lucci gets a taste of real life, and he wants more. Together, the young men must face Gotham’s ruthlessness and pay the price of liberating Lucci.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

Author Bio:

Mia Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children—all named after saints—and five nonpedigreed cats—all named after the next best thing to saints, Boston Red Sox players. Her husband of twenty years has been told by many that he has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about that, as it is a sensitive subject.

Mia focuses her stories on the emotional growth of troubled young men and their relationships, and she believes that sex has a place in a love story, but not until it is firmly established as a love story. As a teen, Mia filled spiral-bound notebooks with romantic tales of tortured heroes (most of whom happened to strongly resemble lead vocalists of 1980s big-hair bands) and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping. She is thankful to Dreamspinner Press for providing her with an alternate place to stash her stories.

Mia is proud of her involvement with the Human Rights Campaign and cheers for each and every victory made in the name of marital equality. Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

MY REVIEW

In A Gilded Cage was hauntingly beautiful story about Lucci, who had been abused for years by his father figure Damien Gotham, and Prin, who's very ambitious jock. Prin was so knightly character, loved his courage and gentleman manners, although at the beginning of the story, Prin was very focused in his studies and getting the internship he yearned for. However, he learned that sometimes there are more important things than studies and internships when it comes to life. Lucci was adorable and such a poor boy who deserved so much better than what he had to endure! I really felt for Lucci and his situation, and kept rooting for him. Damien Gotham was creepy and definitely the villain and gods I hated him. The only thing I missed at the end was actual motive for what Gotham did, but it was never really clarified.

The romance was nicely done, and I liked how adorable Lucci and Prin were together, and I wished all the happiness for them from the very beginning. I just wished a little more happy scenes for them at the end but overall I'm happy about the storyline.

Writing style left the story a bit more telling and not showing which made the story a bit distant. However, that was the only minus, and I liked the drama and hurt and the journey to liberate Lucci of all his prisons. The story actually felt and read like a modern day fairytale, which was really nice.

3 of 5 stars,

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Wrapping the Month: January

What's greater way to start new month than taking a look at previous one?

January was all around nice. I read a bit, blogged some more, exercised, saw family and friends, and also started to get back of my studies by the end of the month. I'm starting to feel good about how I handle scheduling and fitting everything I want in my daily life. I've gotten back to the habit of writing reviews and doing posts like that, and for February there's even going to be two blog tours that I'm really excited about!

I'm really happy of all the books I got in January, and I'm excited the read them all (or re-read in the case of The Song of Achilles). Besides these gorgeous paperbacks I got ten ebooks (some for review, some for free and some purchased) because it seems that I'm on the roll with my new Kindle e-reader, which I finally got and fell in love with.

January's reviews:

The Perks of Being A Wallflower (5 stars)

Omega Enslaved (4 stars)

This Savage Song (4 stars)

Omega Untamed (4 stars)

Fast Connection (5 stars)

Leo Loves Aries (5 stars)

Reading wise January was a bit slow; of the five books I read, two were actually short novellas. Then again, I spend the beginning of the month with family in Finland and after that studies kicked on again. In the end, I'm pleased that I read five books (and started way too many, which I hope to finish in February).

 

I've seen my schedule for uni for the next two months and all the assignments that I need to do by the end of March, so we'll see how much I can actually read and blog. I think that I have gotten some drive to blog more back, and I'll try my best to keep steady pace for all aspects of my life.

Hugs,

Henna

(I got inspiration from Saruuh @ Dust Jacket Reviews to display the covers of books I read instead of listing them. So all the credit for her for inspiring me.