Review: Forged by Fate by Reese Monroe

Forged by Fate (Bound by Hades, #1)
by Reese Monroe
Published by Entangled Embrace
Ebook (received for exchange of review)
NA, paranormal, romance

He’s waited more than 900 years to love her…

Being the Gatekeeper to Hades is no small feat, and waiting almost a millennia to meet your mate is damn near impossible. But Theo Bradford’s mark has finally surfaced on his intended. Now all he has to do is find her and convince her to embrace her supernatural heritage.

Young genius, Sadie Nowland, has got life figured out. Graduating college at the age of eighteen and accepting a six-figure job is just what she needs to prove she’s made something of herself. But when a strange tattoo mysteriously appears on her shoulder and Theo starts talking about Mates, it catapults her neatly laid out life into chaos.

Somehow a vicious demon banished to Hades defies Theo’s vanquish and returns, setting his target on Sadie, and she is thrust into the volatile world of Shomrei warriors and a connection to Theo her brain can’t comprehend and her body can’t deny. That primal bond proves more imperative to their survival than either could have ever imagined—and just may be the key to the world’s survival.

This far I've loved every Entangled Embrace story that I've read, but sadly I must say that this one was a huge disappointment in many ways. Biggest disappointment was the whole subject. The name, synopsis, it all threw word Hades and demons around, and honestly, I was so sure it was going to be great story about Hades and all Underworld things. Maybe I just should have researched about the story more, because the book was more about angels than Hades. Angels. I confess that when they mentioned the Great One and angels first time, it was so close - I almost put the book down. But I promised a review so I continued reading. Also, there's not many New Adult paranormal stories so I was curious.

 

I couldn't connect with the main characters. Sadie had mood swings, major ones, and Theo was almost creeper at times. They both were so unrealistic, especially Sadie as she was almost too perfect character and Theo way too overprotective. The supporting characters were intriguing and more realistic, like Theo's brother Justin, Halena and Dasha. I enjoyed Justin's banter, Halena's whole character and personality, and Dasha's wit. Side characters pretty much kept me interested on the story as I couldn't care less about the main ones.

 

Another problem was that there happened too much. I like action but it seemed random and there was no time to breath - and there was over three hundred pages so I'd think there would be more time to just stop, deal with the situation and let the characters breathe for a moment.

 

For a debut novel, Forged by Fate wasn't disaster. The writing was good enough, side characters had real personality and the overall plot was okay. Major reason for me not warming up for this story was the main characters who I couldn't connect with. The whole journey with this book would have been better if Theo and Sadie would have been less perfect and better developed.

 

Not my cup of tea, but if you like New Adult, paranormal romance and angels, then I think this can be for you.

 

2 of 5 stars.

Forged by Fate on Goodreads.

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

Book Blitz + Giveaway: Hidden by M. Lathan

 

 

Hidden (Hidden, #1)

by M. Lathan

Published November 12th 2012

YA, fantasy, paranormal

 



Sixteen-year-old Leah Grant has given up on being normal. She’d settle for stopping the voices in her head, intrusive visions of the future, and better odds of making it to her seventeenth birthday.

That’s the thing about pretending to be human in a world where magic used to exist – at any moment, her cover could be blown and she’ll be burned to death like the rest of the witches.

Everything changes when she loses control of her powers and flees the orphanage she grew up in. She desperately wants to be invisible but finds her face plastered on every news channel as humans panic over the possible resurgence of her kind. And now the hunters won’t give up until they find her.

Making friends for the first time in her life and falling in love with one of them drives her to discover why she is unlike any being she’s ever met – human or otherwise. The dangerous powers inside of her that would repel Nathan, her new, handsome reason for living, are priceless to some. The locked up forever kind of priceless. And to others, they are too dangerous to allow her to live.

Let’s hope she can stay hidden.

Hidden on Goodreads.

 

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Author bio

M. Lathan lives in San Antonio with her husband and mini-schnauzer. She enjoys writing and has a B.S. in Psych and a Masters in Counseling. Her passion is a blend of her two interests - creating new worlds and stocking them with crazy people. She enjoys reading anything with interesting characters and writing in front of a window while asking rhetorical questions ... like her idol Carrie Bradshaw.

Website
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Stacking the Shelves (11)

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

 

 

The Merman and the Barbarian Pirate by Kay Berrisford

The Maze Runner (film tie-in) by James Dashner

The Boy Who Sneaks In My Bedroom Window by Kirsty Moseley

For review
 

 

Ice Massacre by Tiana Warner

 

I did it! I have managed not to request any review copies during the last week. Ice Massacre I requested last week but got it this week, so I don't count it. And seriously, mermaids and mermans. I want to read all the books with people under the sea.

 

After finishing reading the review copy, I had to have my own, physical copy of The Merman and the Barbarian Pirate and it finally arrived yesterday. I don't normally get film-tie ins when it comes to books because I like originals better but I had to have The Maze Runner one because the fan sticker and the pictures of the film and all that. So now I own two copies of The Maze Runner (but you can never own too many copies of your favourite books, right?). The Boy Who Sneaks In My Bedroom Window, well, I've had my eyes on it for a some time but I couldn't get it so I jumped a chance. It's those kind of books that seems divide people either liking it or hating it, so let's see what I like it. Have you read it?

DNF: Abandon by Meg Cabot

Abandon (Abandon, #1)
by Meg Cabot
Published by Macmillian Children's Books
Paperback (borrowed from library)
YA, fantasy, paranormal

Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid.

Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away . . . especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld.

First did-not-finish book for me and I did ponder for some time whether finish Abandon or not. However, I have many books for review and for fun waiting for me and I couldn't get myself reading a story that didn't do anything for me.

 

Abandon started like I expected: there was all the elements I expected there to be. There was new life for the main character, NAME, and flashbacks with the Underworld and escaping from death. Thrilling, exciting and just like I had hoped it to be. Then the story hit the wall. Nothing really happened besides quite boring high school stuff and even that didn't happen much because there was flashbacks and then there was useless information that were just throwed there. Like, hey, you've read over hundred pages and now I can tell you this new character trait that do not sit well with the storyline. I lost my interest. I wanted the paranormal stuff, the Underwolrd and the mystery of it but instead I got boring high school drama.

 

There was potential and there was some promising-ish things when I stopped reading (around 142 pages) but the story didn't hold my attention. Maybe some day I'll pick this up and finish it, but definitely not now.

 

And even because I didn't warm up with the high school stuff that doesn't mean anyone else wouldn't. If you like paranormal stories within high school, then I say, go for this! Not my cup of tea but might be yours. There wasn't anything wrong with the writing itself, so if it sounds intriguing for you, grap it and give it a  go.

 

No rating because I didn't finish.

 

Abandon on Goodreads.

Book Tour + Giveaway: Kill Devil Hills by Sarah Darlington

 

KILL DEVIL HILLS

Author: Sarah Darlington

Genre: New Adult Romance

More info: Goodreads

Synopsis:
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?

LINKS TO BUY (99c for release week only!!): Amazon I Amazon UK I Barnes and Noble I Kobo

 

Playlist for Kill Devil Hills

 

 

 

About the Author:

Darlington lives in Virginia with her husband and crazy-active 2-year-old son. She's a former flight attendant, day-dreamer, traveler, and wannabe photographer. Her debut novel He Belongs With Me, a standalone, was released March 2014. Kill Devil Hills will be the first book of a three book series. Each novel in this new series will feature a different couple's story. 


Stay connected with Sarah:
Goodreads I Twitter I Facebook I Sarah's Website I Instagram

Also by Sarah: HE BELONGS WITH ME {Amazon I Amazon UK}


GIVEAWAY:

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Feature & Follow Friday #5

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:

 

Social Share! What is your favourite social network and leave us a link so we can join you!

 

 Oh boy. I do use social media lot, I think, but my favourite? That's hard. Hmm. Probably twitter (@hmrroar). I like it and I use it daily even though I might not post something every day. I have my streaks with twitter, some days I tweet a lot and some days not. Instagram (@hmrroar) is newest social media for me and I do like it but same what goes with twitter, goes with instagram.

 

 

 

Or you can add me on Google+.

 

I will always follow back.

Book Tour, Review + Giveaway: No Apologies by Sybil Bartel

No Apologies
by Sybil Bartel
Published by Carina Press (HQN)
Ebook (received from Xpresso Book Tours)
NA, contemporary, romance

Never apologize

Hard-edged rocker Graham Allen has it all. He's flush with cash from playing bass in a band by night and restoring classic cars by day. And there are plenty of women willing to share his bed for a night, complication-free. Perfect, because if there's anything he learned from his past, it was to never get attached—to anything. So when bartender Carly Sullivan flashes her innocent smile, Graham isn't prepared for what happens next.

Never fall in love

Two rules, that's all Graham has—never apologize and never fall in love. He knows Carly is everything he should avoid. Cheerful and sweet, she has "relationship" written all over her. But Graham can't stay away from her probing questions and concerned blue eyes.

When Graham discovers Carly is hiding a crushing secret, he's prepared to risk it all. Until in one single moment, everything changes and Graham's past threatens to collide with his future. His life is crumbling down around him, and soon no apology in the world can save him.

He should've known to walk away.

Review
No Apologies was raw and honest story about Graham who life had not treated well during his tentative years. He grew up and swore himself off loving anyone, especially women. Now he's twenty-four, plays bass on a band, owns a classic car repair shop, has many tattoos and can't resist Carly, the local bartender. But being with Carly is out of question because it would break Graham's two simple rules for life.

 

The story seemed a little bit messy at times but I'm all for it. Life isn't simple and straightforward and it doesn't follow some plot line which makes it real and confusing. No Apologies wasn't confusing but it felt real and I liked it. What made it stand out on other books by same genre, was that there was so much more than the romance. The story focused on Graham and his life, not Graham and Carly's forming relationship. I loved how there was many elements that had nothing to do with Carly and it was truly enjoyable to see what Graham's life was wholly - and how Carly didn't consume all of his time. No, Graham had the band gigs, his work at the repair shop and his personal dealings. It was fresh because most of contemporary romance's seems to evolve only around the main pairing.

Bartel got Graham's voice strong and quite unique, and it was easy to read and enjoy. There's also this interesting twist around half way of the book that changed lots of things for Graham - and it wasn't any of those usual contemporary romance twist and I truly loved it and Graham's reaction of the situations. It definitely made everything in the book more interesting and I devoured rest of the story.

No Apologies was good, entertaining, raw and honest story about Graham and his life and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I warmly recommend it to everyone who liked contemporary romance!

 

4 of 5 stars.

Purchase
Amazon
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No Apologies on Goodreads.

Author bio

Sybil grew up in Northern California with her head in a book and her feet in the sand. She used to dream of becoming a painter but the heady scent of libraries with their shelves full of books about wistful summer days and first loves drew her into the world of storytelling. Her true literary love is the New Adult genre but really, any story about a love so desperately wrong and impossibly beautiful, makes her swoon.

Sybil now resides in Southern Florida and while she doesn't get to read as much as she likes, she still buries her toes in the sand. If she's not writing or fighting to contain the banana plantation in her backyard, you can find her spending time with her handsomely tattooed husband, her brilliantly practical son and a mischievous miniature boxer who stole her heart.

 

You can find Sybil on
Twitter
Website
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(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)


Waiting on Wednesday #14

"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 Body Electric by Beth Revis!

 

The Body Electric

by Beth Revis

Expected publication: October 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?

 

Look at that cover. It's gorgeous and so detailed. I love it! I've also read the first two books on Across the Universe trilogy by Beth Revis so I know she can create great stories - and the synopsis of The Body Electric truly got me. So really, there's no reason why I wouldn't be waiting for this one.

 

The Body Electric on Goodreads.

Cover Reveal: Krymzyn by BC Powell

Krymzyn (The Journals of Krymzyn, #1)

by BC Powell 
Publication date: October 4th 2014

NA, fantasy, science fiction

 

Chase was twelve the first time he arrived in a strange land where dark, ominous clouds never move, ancient trees violently spring to life during Darkness, and people seem to live without emotion. Doctors tell him they’re hallucinations, but he knows his visits are real. She’s there-Sash-and she’s more real than anyone he’s ever known.

His visits stop but, as years pass, the memories haunt Chase. Without warning, the young man suddenly finds himself again in a world called Krymzyn. Arriving during Darkness, he’s rescued from death by the extraordinary, beautiful but terrifying young woman he first met when he was twelve.

When Chase is thrust into the war of balance against vile creatures who threaten all who live there, Sash helps him understand his purpose in Krymzyn. A dark secret from the beginning of time reveals he might be able to stay there forever. To prove he belongs in Krymzyn and be with the only woman he can ever love, Chase will have to risk his own life in the ultimate battle.

Krymzyn on Goodreads.

 

Author Bio

BC Powell is a fantasy author from Los Angeles, CA. His debut science fiction fantasy novel "Krymzyn" will be released October 4, 2014. "The Infinite Expanse", the second book in "The Journals of Krymzyn" series, is scheduled for publication in February, 2015.

Powell has a diverse background, having held several creative positions in the entertainment industry, including executive roles at ABC-TV and Technicolor. In recent years, he's authored several non-fiction works, primarily educational books and training programs for trading the financial markets. He dual majored in journalism and philosophy at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.

Writing fiction has been his lifelong passion and goal. “Krymzyn” is his first published novel and represents, in his words, “finally finding the story I want to tell with characters that are able to bring that story to life.” He's an avid reader and lists Ernest Hemingway, Frank L. Herbert, Stephen King, Jane Austen, and Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. as his favorite authors.

Brad, as he prefers to go by in personal communication, lives with his longtime girlfriend, three sons from a previous marriage, and their rescue dog and cat. He enjoys hiking, ocean kayaking, spending time at Southern California beaches, movies, and reading.

 

Goodreads

Website

Facebook



Top Ten Tuesday: Books I'd Give To Readers Who Have Never Read LGBT books

 

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!

 

There's a lot of reasons why I chose this topic. For starters, there's never too many good LGBT books, especially if we're talking about YA and NA. There's own LGBT adult romance community and oh do I love all the LGBT publishers for that but there's a great lack of YA and NA books of that genre. Especially YA ones. YA is supposed to be for young adults and more than often they're about experiences whether it's paranormal, dystopia or just contemporary adventures. It's about learning about life and finding who you are. Naturally (for me at least) it's to ask, why there's so few YA books about minor sexuality? We all have to discover who we are and what we like, and diversity should be nurtured and celebrated. Okay, I'm kind of rambling passionately but it's important and there will not be a day when I won't advertise LGBT. So I chose it for my topic on this matter.

 

Also, why the heck no? I love them.

 

1. Rush by Nyrae Dawn: New adult and perfect canditate. I loved it (my review), not only because talented writing but how Dawn faced the topic: accepting oneself and coming out to the world. Especially since this was about two boys, more men than boys actually, and they were still struggling with themselves and society's norms even though they were in college. Life won't get easier once you're done with being a teenager. Perfect LGBT themed book, definitely a must read.

 

2. Hushed by Kelley York: This one's new adult too, but dark and twisted. Not for the most delicate but I still see this as a must read, especially since the main character is bisexual. Exceptional and captivating story and for me, Kelley York is royalty in LGBT books - mostly because her characters sexuality doesn't define them, no it's just part of who they are. Just like in reality. (my review)

 

3. With or Without You by Brian Farrey: It's such a good story about growing up, struggling with own sexuality and accepting yourself. It's also so much more and I cried while I read this one - and I don't cry often when reading books. This one's a young adult novel and it's good. Definitely a must read in LGBT books.

 

4. Made of Stars by Kelley York: Just like with Hushed, it's more about the story than sexuality, and Made of Stars is absolutely stunning. Heartbreaking, truly, and this one left me bleeding. But it's also one of those books that you need to experience. (my review)

 

5. Arrival by Chris O'Guinn: Actually, other than acknowledging the main characters sexuality there was no romance or things like that in Arrival. For me, however, it's important to have LGBT themed stories that doesn't only have the struggle with character's sexuality. Sexuality doesn't define who we are. Arrival is a great story, fast paced YA sci-fi and I'd gadly give it to readers who have never read LGBT books. (my review)

 

6. The Merman and the Barbarian Pirate: Mermans, pirates, adventures - it's fantasy and LGBT and it's like a perfect fairy tale with a twist, kind of. My review will probably be more helpful than my rambling now, but it's a good story and I haven't read a book like that with LGBT themes before.

 

7. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde: It's classic in many ways. I recommend it because it's classic and I did like it. Complex characters and while it was slow paced on some points, it was still good and with all the trouble the book got Wilde I can't ignore it during this list.

 

8. Obscura Burning by Suzanne van Rooyen: Darker story, in a way like Hushed had but that's only a good thing. Life isn't easy and sometimes, bad things happen and sometimes life's just dark. Obscura Burning wasn't hopeless and it gives a great represation for LGBT. (my review)

 

9. The Beast of Callaire by Saruuh Kelsey: Because we need represation for the 'L' part of LGBT. Fantasy, mythology and lesbian main character? It was so good and shows yet again that it's not sexuality that makes us what we are. (my review)

 

10. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan: Is there any lists without John Green in it? Probably not. Cute story, cute characters and interesting points made. Very enjoyable and yes, for those who haven't read LGBT books (and for those who have read).

 

+ Bonus

 

Proxy by Alex London

I'm currently reading this one and this far I've loved it. And one of the main characters, Syd, is gay. Cheers for that. Diversity AND this far stunning writing and captivating story.

 

Is there any LGBT themes books you'd recommend?