Defiance (Significance, #3) by Shelly Crane

In the third installment of the Significance series, we begin with Maggie and Caleb in the clutches of a new enemy; the Virtuoso council. Not only do they have to deal with the consequences of taking the lives of the Watsons and the council attempting to take Maggie away to keep their precious Visionary safe, but they must deal with Marla as well. All are determined to undermine, control and use Caleb and Maggie's rare gifts for their own uses, some wish to destroy them entirely. Then Maggie's father and Bish are threatened but the council forbids the presense of humans. Peter and the family fight and stand beside them every step of the way to save Maggie's father, to keep Caleb and Maggie together when the corrupted council is so set on keeping them apart and to stop Marla and whatever she has up her sleeve. Then Maggie has the shock of her life when she discovers something about her real father. It may change everything for everyone. Stay tuned as the story continues.


This series keeps getting better and better! It’s amazing how Shelly keeps surprising me. You would think that with Maggie and Caleb’s relationship basically set in stone the series wouldn’t be as interesting as other books. I know there’s no one else for Maggie but Caleb and that’s one of the reasons why I adore this series so much. I absolutely love their moments together but what really caught my attention were the secondary characters. Like Maggie’s dad, brother and the rest of the Virtuoso clan. 

One thing was different with this book than with the rest of the Significance series. I didn’t finish Defiance in one sitting. I was so mad, no, I was furious with the council and the things that were happening to Maggie and her family that I had to take a breather before I smashed my iPad against the floor. I think is fantastic that Shelly’s writing evokes that kind of emotion in readers. You love these characters so much that you get angry if something bad happens to them. I can’t wait for you guys to read it! Defiance is full of surprises!

Amazon/Goodreads
 

A Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont Review, Interview and Dream Cast

Emma Townsend has always believed in stories—the ones she reads voraciously, and the ones she creates in her head. Perhaps it’s because she feels like an outsider at her exclusive prep school, or because her stepmother doesn’t come close to filling the void left by her mother’s death. And her only romantic prospect—apart from a crush on her English teacher—is Gray Newman, a long-time friend who just adds to Emma’s confusion. But escape soon arrives in an old leather-bound copy of Jane Eyre…

Reading of Jane’s isolation sparks a deep sense of kinship. Then fate takes things a leap further when a lightning storm catapults Emma right into Jane’s body and her nineteenth-century world. As governess at Thornfield, Emma has a sense of belonging she’s never known—and an attraction to the brooding Mr. Rochester. Now, moving between her two realities and uncovering secrets in both, Emma must decide whether her destiny lies in the pages of Jane’s story, or in the unwritten chapters of her own…


Whoa! I didn’t think I was going to love this book as much as I did. At the beginning of the book I thought it was an OK read. It felt to me like every other teen book with a boarding school and a shy girl. That was until BOOM, Emma gets sucked into Jane Eyre’s world, literally. Let me clarify that I haven’t read a classic novel in my life. Harry Potter is as classic as it gets for me. But Jane’s world was so beautifully written that I felt in love with it.

By this point I was a little concern because I thought Emma’s moments at Thornfield were going to overshadow the rest of the book. Once again I was surprised. Emma’s life in the real world started to get more and more interesting with every page I turned. Like Emma I was torn between two worlds. I won’t say anything else because I don’t want to ruin the book. I think any book that inspires me to read more is a keeper. A Breathe of Eyre will leave you breathless and wanting more of Emma and her world.

Amazon/Goodreads

Author Interview

The lovely author of A Breath of Eyre, Eve Marie Mont agreed to answer a few questions about the book. Thank you Eve for being AWESOME! Hope you guys enjoy!

How did you incorporate Jane’s voice in A BREATH OF EYRE without overpowering Emma’s character?

When Emma first arrives at Thornfield, she’s still herself, wondering how on earth a twenty-first century girl ended up in 1847. But when she loses her mother’s necklace—her only tie to her real life—I wanted her to “lose” her voice to Jane’s for a while so she would have to struggle to rediscover it. Having her travel back to her own world was a way of making sure she didn’t lose herself completely to Thornfield and Rochester (after all, she’s got Gray waiting for her at home!) but also to show her using the lessons of the past to change her present.

How long did it take you to write A BREATH OF EYRE?

It took me a little over a year, but the idea had been percolating for a long time before I ever started writing.

A BREATH OF EYRE is the first book in a series. Can you tell us a little bit about the sequel A TOUCH OF SCARLET?

In A Touch of Scarlet, Emma finds herself drawn to the woods behind her campus, where the 17th century is still alive and well. Moved by the tragic plight of a woman scorned by her society, Emma tries to help Hester Prynne and her daughter, only to find that secrets and scandal follow her back to her own time as well. Because each time Emma returns from Hester’s world, she is increasingly torn between remaining the good girl she’s always been and becoming the rebellious woman she longs to be.

If given the choice to get “sucked” into a book, which book would you choose and why?

Well, Jane Eyre, obviously. Aside from that, I’d love to get sucked into almost anything by Jane Austen and maybe The Great Gatsby. The 20’s fashions were so cool!

Do fish get thirsty?

No, they only get a little perched. *groan*

A Breath of Eyre Dream Cast

 

A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink

When her parents are murdered before her eyes, sixteen-year-old Helen Cartwright finds herself launched into an underground London where a mysterious organization called the Dictata controls the balance of good and evil. Helen learns that she is one of three remaining angelic descendants charged with protecting the world's past, present, and future. Unbeknownst to her, she has been trained her whole life to accept this responsibility. Now, as she finds herself torn between the angelic brothers protecting her and the devastatingly handsome childhood friend who wants to destroy her, she must prepare to be brave, to be hunted, and above all to be strong, because temptation will be hard to resist, even for an angel.

Michelle Zink masterfully weaves historical fantasy with paranormal romance to create a gripping tale of love and betrayal.


Dark and beautiful. Those are the perfect words to describe A Temptation of Angels. This is due to Zink’s amazing writing style. She has an incredible way with words. Zink’s writing captures you and lures you into the story. Hours pass and you don’t even notice how much time has gone by. That’s how talented this author is.

The setting of the story was amazing. At times I found myself wishing to be transported in time just to be part of this time in history. I would love to see this book made into a movie. It would be awesome to see the characters come to life. Everything about A Temptation of Angels was fantastic. I definitely recommend this read.

Amazon/Goodreads

Spring Cleaning Giveaway Hop

Spring Cleaning Giveaway Hop - March 20th to 25th Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer.

I'll be giving away a finished copy of Destined (A House of Night Novel) by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast. I'm giving it away because I don't own the previous books in the series and it'll be all by itself on my bookshelf. This giveaway is INT'l and don't forget to enter the other giveaways in the hop!

Zoey is finally home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side, and preparing to face off against Neferet—which would be a whole lot easier if the High Counsel saw the ex-High Priestess for what she really is. Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and, through Nyx’s gift of a human form, Rephaim and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together—if he can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father’s shadow... 

But there are new forces at work at the House of Night. An influx of humans, including Lenobia’s handsome horse whisperer, threatens their precarious stability. And then there’s the mysterious Aurox, a jaw-droppingly gorgeous teen boy who is actually more—or possibly less—than human. Only Neferet knows he was created to be her greatest weapon. But Zoey can sense the part of his soul that remains human, the compassion that wars with his Dark calling. And there’s something strangely familiar about him...

Will Neferet’s true nature be revealed before she succeeds in silencing them all? And will Zoey be able to touch Aurox’s humanity in time to protect him—and everyone—from his own fate? Find out what’s destined in the next thrilling chapter of the House of Night series.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Gone Reading: Fantabulous Tees and Other Stuff

For all readers out there who want to look awesome and help out our libraries at the same time, I've found the place for you! Gone Reading sells t-shirts and other bookish stuff and donates all of the after-tax profits to help fund libraries and reading-focused charities. To learn more click here and here. The cool thing is that if you enter the code: BOOKITTYBLOG25 you'll get 25 % off any purchase! 
Except bookends. This coupon expires 4/19. 


Here's the one I ordered! It's so geeky and oh so me!  To order "Take Me to Your Reader" click the pic.

Bookmarks

I also LOVE their bookmarks. They're awesome and really cute!

Gah!!! Look at that fishy! 

Here are some other bookish stuff you can buy at 
Gone Reading: 

book journals, bookplates, book lights, and games about books!

Things I Love Besides Books #2

This week was a busy one. The other day I was so tired I passed out at 7pm until the next day. This means I really didn't get any reading done:( . But I did find some cool stuff and I wanted to share them with you! Here they are:

Bookfessions

There's hundreds more where these confessions came from! Some are really really funny and others warm the cockles of my heart because I didn't know there are people out there that love books as much as I do. 

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Honey Badger Don't Care

Ok. This is not new. But whenever I feel frustrated, sad, tired etc.. I watch this video. It's just too funny! Warning! Adult Language. 

And that's it for this week hopefully next week will be an enjoyable one :)

PERFECTION Cover Reveal

The personification of Aryan purity, Ellyssa's spent her whole life under her creator's strict training and guidance; her purpose is to eradicate inferior beings. She was genetically engineered to be the perfect soldier: strong, intelligent, unemotional, and telepathic.

Only Ellyssa isn't perfect.

Ellyssa feels emotions--a fact she's spent her life concealing. Until she encounters the epitome of inferiority: a dark-haired boy raised among renegades hiding since the Nazis won the war a century ago. He speaks to her telepathically, pushing thoughts into her mind, despite the impossibility of such a substandard person having psychic abilities.

But he does.

His unspoken words and visions of a place she's never visited make Ellyssa question her creator. Confused and afraid her secret will be discovered, Ellyssa runs away, embarking on a journey where she discovers there is more to her than perfection.  


Title: Perfection
Author: J.L. Spelbring
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press (www.SpencerHillPress.com)
ISBN: 978-1-937053-34-5
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Formats: paper & e-book

Terrible Thursday #5: The Scorpio Races

Terrible Thursday is a weekly meme hosted and created by bookittyblog. Here I will feature one book that had a Terrible day. Either because it had a bunch of bad reviews and I loved it or everybody else loved it and I did not.


It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

I was really disappointed when I finished reading The Scorpio Races. I loved Maggie's previous work (the Wolves of Mercy Fall series) and thought that I was going to love this new book by her. When I first read the summary I was intrigued. Imagine how I felt when I got the ARC in the mail. But.... I didn't like it at all. I even finished it hoping to find anything to make me love it. Nope. That moment never came. The thing is that the book has a really good rating on Goodreads. But the people who gave it a "bad" review think the same as me. You either love it or hate. 

Have you read The Scorpio Races? Did you like or dislike it?


Amazon/Goodreads

"Waiting On" Wednesday: Onyx (Lux #2)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine. Here I will tell you of one upcoming book I can’t wait to read.

Expected publication: August 14th 2012 by Entangled Teen

Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…

Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarre connection. I’ve sworn him off even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But against all common sense, I’m falling for him. Hard.

Our relationship issues aren’t out biggest problem…

The Department of Defense is here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we’re linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And when a new boy shows up a school with a secret of his own, things get complicated fast. I need to choose between my own instincts and Daemon’s.

But then everything changes…

I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. Daemon’s never going to stop searching until gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies

Can NOT wait!!!

Goodreads/Amazon

Pick a Book from the List Giveaway

This month's giveaway will be a little different. 1 winner will get one book from the list below. This giveaway is going to be US only and it will end April 2nd, so 3 weeks from now. To enter just fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

                  



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Things I Love Besides Books #1

Like many book lovers, I spend 80% of my spare time reading. There's nothing like reading an amazing book and forget about everything around me, but sometimes I need a little break. I'm going to try to do a post every Sunday night telling you about what I did during the week with the rest of my free time. Hopefully you'll enjoy and discover new things to do while you are not reading. Here we go.

SourceFed

This guys are hilarious and once you watch a video you'll be hooked! 

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Smosh Pit

The thing with this page is that they post the stupidest, funniest things ever and once I go in, I lose track of time. Here you'll find stuff like:

The 20 Dumbest Guys On Facebook

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And.... I love doing my nails. This week I bought 2 nail polishes inspired by The Hunger Games movie, and they are amazing!! They are called: "Capitol Colours" by China Glaze. The ones I bought are : Harvest Moon and Electrify.

That's it guys. I think I spent my time wisely this week. That's what you call "being productive". ;) 

Quintana of Charyn (Lumatere Chronicles #3) by Melina Marchetta Cover Reveal

Here's the cover for Quintana of Charyn (Lumatere Chronicles #3) by Melina Marchetta. I can't wait to read this one!! Quintana will be out this Oct in Australia and I imagine in 2013 in the US. Isn't it amazing?? 

Goodreads

They look perfect together! These are the Aussie covers. Which I like better than the US ones (Finnikin and Froi. Quintana's US cover is not out yet). I'll post the links to Amazon and Goodreads for Finnikin and Froi below. If you haven't read them yet, you HAVE to like, right now! 

Finnikin of the Rock Amazon/Goodreads

Froi of the Exiles Amazon/Goodreads

US covers:

I like these covers too, but the Australian covers compliment each other better.

Terrible Thursday #4: Die For Me

Terrible Thursday is a weekly meme hosted and created by bookittyblog. Here I will feature one book that had a Terrible day. Either because it had a bunch of bad reviews and I loved it or everybody else loved it and I did not.

In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity. 

When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent. 

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

Before anything, I want to say that I love the cover. The red makes it stand out and the girl's dress is amazing.


I imagine you guys want to know why this book made it to the Terrible Thursday list. Well it wasn't because I read it and didn't like or because it has lots of bad reviews, (Goodreads rating 4.07. That’s pretty good rating). It’s here because of ONE review. I read this review on Amazon and after reading it I decided not to buy Die for Me. That one review, made me change my mind. I don’t know why maybe because the review seemed honest and it was kind of hilarious to read. 

Anyway, I would like to know what do you think of Die for Me. Is it just like Twilight but with zombies instead of vampires? Should I give it a try?

Amazon/Goodreads

Pure (Covenant #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

There is need. And then there is Fate...

Being destined to become some kind of supernatural electrical outlet isn't exactly awesome--especially when Alexandria's "other half" is everywhere she goes. Seth's in her training room, outside her classes, and keeps showing up in her bedroom--so not cool. Their connection does have some benefits, like staving off her nightmares of the tragic showdown with her mother, but it has no effect on what Alex feels for the forbidden, pure-blooded Aiden. Or what he will do--and sacrifice--for her.

When daimons infiltrate the Covenants and attack students, the gods send furies--lesser gods determined to eradicate any threat to the Covenants and to the gods, and that includes the Apollyon... and Alex. And if that and hordes of aether-sucking monsters didn't blow bad enough, a mysterious threat seems willing to do anything to neutralize Seth, even if that means forcing Alex into servitude... or killing her.

When the gods are involved, some decisions can never, ever be undone.


This is the problem with Armentrout's books, when you finish them you get this unsettling sensation in the pit of your stomach. It's almost like losing a limb (which I don't know how that feels BTW). I know I'm being a bit dramatic. I'm just saying it sucked to finish Pure and not having the next book in the series in my hands. This book is funny, full of witty comebacks and action packed. It was hard to finish it because I really didn’t want to part with it.

I love how Pure made me feel so many emotion. For example, my relationship with Alex was a little rocky at the beginning of the book (yes, I develop a relationship with fictional characters. I bet you do to, but won't accept it). I felt like shaking her a bit and asking her what the underworld was she thinking! She came off as selfish at times, but hey, it happens to the best of us. Her flaws make her more real to me and at the end of the book she over redeemed herself, so we are good now.

Now with the amazing Aiden and Seth. OMG!!! Props to Armentrout for writing 2 of the most swoon worthy YA characters out there. Both are amazing but at the end of the day, I'm team Aiden all the way. Seth still has a place in my “Character Crush” list. Tip to those out there that haven’t read Half-Blood. You need to read it first to fully enjoy Pure. Half-Blood was just as amazing as Pure and you don’t want to miss all that fun... Do you?
 

I won’t discuss any plot points. What I need you guys to know is that the writing is clever, the book is fast paced and you will fall in love with the characters.

Have you ever develop a relationship with a fictional character... if the answer is yes, with who?

Amazon/Goodreads