Monday, June 30, 2014

Cover Madness Giveaway Hop

I participated in this hop last year and had a ball! Pretty covers are just a blast aren't they?

So, without further ado, here are some pretty awesome covers I have found this month! The winner will get a choice between a pre-order of a print copy from the book depository or a pre-order of the ebook. Good luck!

Important: If a book below is part of a series, you can opt to win the first/second/third book instead!


a Rafflecopter giveaway
Rules 
You must be 13 or older 
No Cheating!
US & International
(As long as the book deposistory ships to your country)

-Emily :)
Now look through all the other awesome blogs participating! They all have epic books featured to win!


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Friday, June 27, 2014

Stacking the Shelves #27



Hosted by Tynga's Reviews!

My week's haul is huge and exciting! I've already read 6 of the books and they were were all amazing! I hope y'all had a great week :)


Bought:

17 First Kisses by Racheal Allen
Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kennealy
Heaven's Queen by Rachel Bach
Open Road Summer by Emery Lord
Broken Hearts, Fences, and 
Other Things to Mend by Katie Finn

Love Letters To The Dead by Ava Dellaira
Wither, Fever, Sever by Lauren DeStefano

Won/For Review:


Otherbound by Corrine Duyvis
The Jewel by Amy Ewing
#Scandal by Sarah Ockler

Happy Reading! Thanks For Stopping By!

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

The YA Prom


This event is hosted by Queen Ella Bee Reads and Alexa Loves Books! I'm so excited! If you aren't already familiar with the YA Prom check out this post!

So, of course, the first thing that needs to be sorted out is my date. So, the lucky guy will be *drum roll* Archer Cross from Hex Hall! (Sorry Sophie for stealing your boyfriend!)

Then, I need an amazing dress, obviously! I searched Pinterest until I found the perfect dress... this pink, misty one with an amazing skirt! Then, I'll add on some fun ear cuffs and an opal ring!

Also, I'm always hesitant about using unknown Pinterest pictures on my blog so I'll just leave the internet links! 

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/302726406173942143/- The Dress
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/302726406175279488/- The Ear Cuffs
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/127789708150489367/- Opal Ring

Have fun at Prom everyone! Tonight will be even more delightful than normal prom, because it is YA style!!!
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Review: Deep Blue



Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly
Publication Date: May 6th, 2014
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
The first in a series of four epic tales set in the depths of the ocean, where six mermaids seek to protect and save their hidden world.

Deep in the ocean, in a world not so different from our own, live the merpeople. Their communities are spread throughout the oceans, seas, and freshwaters all over the globe.

When Serafina, a mermaid of the Mediterranean Sea, awakens on the morning of her betrothal, her biggest worry should be winning the love of handsome Prince Mahdi. And yet Sera finds herself haunted by strange dreams that foretell the return of an ancient evil. Her dark premonitions are confirmed when an assassin's arrow poisons Sera's mother. Now, Serafina must embark on a quest to find the assassin's master and prevent a war between the Mer nations. Led only by her shadowy dreams, Sera searches for five other mermaid heroines who are scattered across the six seas. Together, they will form an unbreakable bond of sisterhood and uncover a conspiracy that threatens their world's very existence. 
*I received this book for free from the publisher. However, all thoughts and opinions in this review are completely my own.*

Deep Blue is a clever, vivid, and adventurous read! I can already tell that the Waterfire Saga is going to be an epic ride. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book to fellow book-lovers!

Going in, I expected to really enjoy the novel since I loved Jennifer Donnelly’s previous works. Fortunately, my expectations were met, although I have to say comparing A Northern Light to Deep Blue is quite hard. The characters, plot, setting, and even tones of these two novels are extremely different. However, both are blessed with Donnelly’s wonderful writing! I absolutely loved her descriptions of mermaid life and customs.

The mermaids in Deep Blue are diverse and a lot of fun! I adored all the strong female characters. All of them are wonderful! That said, my favorite character would have to be Neela, Serafina’s bioluminescent best friend! However, I also really liked Serafina, and, in the beginning, Serafina's mother. 

I liked how this first book had minimal (basically zero) romance. The book focuses on Serafina’s quest and introducing us to the undersea world of mermaids! On that note, since Deep Blue is the first book in the series, it is basically an introduction to the entire setting, plot, etc. As a result of Deep Blue being an intro, I felt I lacked a strong connection to the characters. However, as I read future books, I hope that the characters will experience more character growth and I’ll be more invested in their stories.

The number one thing I enjoyed about Deep Blue was Donnelly’s creativity. All the magic, singing, mermaid treats, river witches, and pretty ocean descriptions enthralled me. Also, I love all the fun mermaid words and exclamations such as merlfriend, currensea, and “Great Goddess Neria!”. 

Overall, Deep Blue was a fun book filled with strong female protagonists and awesome details about mermaid life under the sea! I would say this novel would entertain both YA and MG readers.


3.5/5 Stars (Rounded up to 4)

Happy Reading!
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Friday, June 20, 2014

Stacking the Shelves #26



Hosted by Tynga's Reviews!

My week's haul was small but VERY exciting! I practically threw a party when I received the package :)






How was your week in books? :D
Happy Reading!

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Thursday, June 19, 2014

The Book Blogger Test: Part Two

Hello lovely readers! Recently, I have been tagged to do The Book Book Blogger test by the amazing Ana @ Read Me Away! Read the first part of this tag right hereWithout further ado, let me answer some bookish questions!

What is your biggest reading secret?
I often DNF books! *Shh! Don't tell anyone!* Also, I am known to skim books just to get the end. I'm just too lazy to put energy into books that bore or frustrate me.

Name three books you recommend to everyone.
1. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
2. Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
3. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

What is your favorite snack while you're reading?
A granola bar is an easy snack that allows me to read books without fear of damage.  Sometimes, I also like to munch on dried cherries. 

Show us a picture of your favorite shelf on your bookcase.
 Only one shelf? I am officially a rulebreaker. Feast your eyes:




Write how much books mean to you in three words.
Books invade hearts.

I Shall Tag: 


Thanks for Reading! 


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Monday, June 16, 2014

The Book Blogger Test: Part One

Hello lovely readers! Recently, I have been tagged to do The Book Book Blogger test by the amazing Ana @ Read Me Away! Without further ado, let me answer some bookish questions!

What are your top three book pet hates?

  1. Mid-series cover changes that poison my pretty bookshelf organization. (See the Burn for Burn change below. *cringes*)
  2. Insta-love that makes me gag.
  3. Books that have the author or series's name bigger that the title!

Describe your perfect reading spot.

A quiet, private room where I can move around. I like to read upside down, in the splits, on the floor, flopped on the bed, on my dog... you get the picture. 

Tell us three bookish confessions.
  1. I dog-ear my books. *hides* Normally, I hate causing "damage" to my books. I never bend spines and generally treat books like glass. However, I like dog-earing and it never seems to bother me like it does other people :)
  2. I tend to buy books, read them, and then get rid of them! I actually REALLY like this way of keeping my shelves uncrowded! That said, I always feel ridiculous buying books only to sell them at Powells if I didn't enjoy them.
  3. I lose bookmarks all the time. Apparently, I have a magical gift at making bookmarks turn invisible.
When was the last time you cried during a book?

A few days ago, City of Heavenly Fire had me bawling! Before that, I cried during Plain Kate, Rose Under Fire, and Bunheads. What? I'm an emotional reader.


How many books are on your bedside table?

I don't have a bedside table so I'll just count the books laying about my room. There are three in total: Reborn, The Assassin's Blade, and Honor's Knight.


I'll tag some bloggers in part two which will go up Wednesday! :) Thanks for reading!!! 


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Monday, June 9, 2014

Review: What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick


What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Publication Date: April 15th, 2014
Genre: YA Contemporary
Amazon/Barnes and Noble
From the author of My Life Next Door comes a swoony summertime romance full of expectation and regret, humor and hard questions.

Gwen Castle's Biggest Mistake Ever, Cassidy Somers, is slumming it as a yard boy on her Nantucket-esque island this summer. He's a rich kid from across the bridge in Stony Bay, and she hails from a family of fishermen and housecleaners who keep the island's summer people happy. Gwen worries a life of cleaning houses will be her fate too, but just when it looks like she'll never escape her past—or the island—Gwen's dad gives her some shocking advice. Sparks fly and secret histories unspool as Gwen spends a gorgeous, restless summer struggling to resolve what she thought was true—about the place she lives, the people she loves, and even herself—with what really is.

What I Thought Was True was satisfying and I don’t regret reading Gwen's story. However, there were some issues I couldn’t overlook. After all the hype and rave reviews, it is no wonder that I was left a teensy bit disappointed. That said, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this wonderful novel!

To start off my review, I will tell you the two things I LOVED about Huntley Fitzpatrick’s novel. First of all, her characters are spot on. They are realistic teenagers figuring out who they, what they want in life, and, ultimately, discovering themselves. Also, this book focuses on so many character other than our main couple. Friends, employers, and dysfunctional families are a big part of the story. I loved the huge cast!

My first major problem with the book was the rough transitions to flashbacks. Normally, I love a good flashback or two. However, I feel like the book incorporates to many memories from the past. They are executed in awkward ways that confused many readers.

Also, in the middle, the book lagged. I definitely had issues with the paces, and I saw on Goodreads that a few others agree. This book could have been many pages less. In my opinion, most of the beginning and end was stellar. The middle, however, suffered. I have one last complaint. Ready? Well, it’s hard to admit it, but, I wasn’t a fan of the romance. I never grew to really like Cass. He felt very unrealistic to me, especially compared to the other wonderful characters such as Gwen, Nic, or Mrs. Elligton!

Despite my complaints, I really need to stress that this is a beautifully written and insightful novel that every teenager should read. What I Thought Wad True touches on family problems, upper and lower class division, the feelings of growing up, the reality of moving on, the terrible issue of slut-shaming, and relationships between friends.

Overall, this book is not a fluffy read, as the cover might suggest. The words contain wisdom and truth that is sometimes bitter. This book would have been absolutely amazing if it had been a few hundred pages shorter and had less disjointed flashbacks. Also, although the characters are wonderfully crafted, I felt a barrier between us at times. 

3.5/5 Stars
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Happy Reading!

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Twitter Giveaway!



Today, I cleaned out my bookshelves and decided to host an impromptu giveaway! To enter to win ARCs of Truth or Dare and The Murder Complex, follow my Twitter account and retweet my giveaway tweet!


Sorry for the bad lighting in the picture. Curse the night!
Link: https://twitter.com/Reader_Rising/status/476211382749499392
Happy Reading!

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Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Blog Tour: The Murder Complex



The Murder Complex (The Murder Complex #1)
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Release Date: June 10th 2014
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An action-packed, blood-soaked, futuristic debut thriller set in a world where the murder rate is higher than the birthrate. For fans of Moira Young’s Dust Lands series, La Femme Nikita, and the movie Hanna.

Meadow Woodson, a fifteen-year-old girl who has been trained by her father to fight, to kill, and to survive in any situation, lives with her family on a houseboat in Florida. The state is controlled by The Murder Complex, an organization that tracks the population with precision.

The plot starts to thicken when Meadow meets Zephyr James, who is—although he doesn’t know it—one of the MC’s programmed assassins. Is their meeting a coincidence? Destiny? Or part of a terrifying strategy? And will Zephyr keep Meadow from discovering the haunting truth about her family?
The Murder Complex is everything the synopsis promised. Lindsey Cummings has written a gory, thrilling story with a gripping world. The characters are very different and intriguing. I had a few problems, but, overall, I absolutely loved reading The Murder Complex!

Firstly, let me talk about the characters. Meadow and Zephyr, our two protagonists, are unique, very complex, and, understandably harsh and guarded. However, I feel like both of them have a different, perhaps softer, side, at least for Zephyr. Meadow, however, was my favorite of the two. Also, their interactions were interesting . My only complaint about the characters is the fact I never felt the special understanding or connection I crave while reading books.

The action and pace of this book was incredible. I was never bored because, frankly, there was never a dull moment. The book is filled of fights, shocking realizations, and other adventurous events. The world was absolutely terrrifing and dark. *shivers*

Often, I felt confused about the story, especially in the beginning. But I pushed through and was rewarded with awesome characters and action. Also, the writing in this book captivated me, and seemed to fit the dark tone of the book. The chapters and sentences were short, but very powerful. I really enjoyed this style.

Overall, I can’t wait for book two and I need to get my hands on The Fear Trials, the prequel to The Murder Complex. Also, I just found out a few seconds ago (Literally. Thank you Goodreads!) that Cummings has a middle grade series coming soon that sounds amazing! 


3.5/5 Stars (Rounded to 4 stars)



          



Follow the FFBC The Murder Complex + Fear Trials blog tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.


Lindsay Cummings is the 20-year-old author of THE MURDER COMPLEX, as well as its sequel, coming 2014 from Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins, and the MG trilogy THE BALANCE KEEPERS, coming Fall 2014 from Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins.

Lindsay deals with chronic fatigue, can’t get enough of her two pesky German Shepherds, wolf cub, and two horses. She's still waiting on her letter from Hogwarts--it was probably just lost in the mail. You can follow Lindsay on twitter @lindsaycwrites


Win (1) of (3) signed hardback of The Murder Complex + swag pack (US Only)

Tour organized by The Fantastic Flying Book Club (FFBC):


Fun Question: Do you think it'd be cool to be taught to fight and kill, or terrifying?


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