Bout of Books 8.0

Read. Read. Read More. Oh, yeah!

  It is about time for me to participate in a Read-a-thon! So, when I saw Bout of Books 8.0 was just around the corner, I decided to sign up! (albeit at the last minute)

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 19th and runs through Sunday, August 25th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 8.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

I am so excited! The low-pressure read-a-thon sounds like a great way to begin my first EVER week of read-a-thon-ing!

The Books I plan to Read:

I will be adding more books along the way!

The Books I plan to Review:

TO COME

Also, next Read-a-thon I plan to do a lot social things. However, I am easing myself in... for now.


Monday
Books: Grave Mercy, Fangirl
Pages: 952 

Tuesday
Books: Shadowland
Pages: 172

Wednesday
Books: Shadowland
Pages: 156

Thursday
Books: Unravel Me, Atone
Pages: 561

Friday
Books: Six Months Later 
Pages: 325

So, have you participated in a Read-a-thon before? What did you think? Also, any tips are GREATLY appreciated. 

-Emily 

Review: Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend

I really enjoyed this second book in the Confessions series. Have you read the series? Do you want to? What do you think? Yeah, I am full of questions. Sorry!

Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend by Louise Rozett

Series: Confessions #2
Genre: Contemporary
Source: Firstreads, this is still a 100% honest review
Amazon/Barnes and Noble

Rose Zarelli 2.0 here--2.0, as in, innovative...superior...improved. 
Improved how? Glad you asked. This year, I will not: 

1. Do things just because other people want me to. 
2. Randomly shoot off my mouth. 
3. Worry about whether I'm someone's girlfriend--or not. 

So, what will I do this year? 


1. Find my thing and be who I want to be. 
2. Learn when to speak up--and when to shut up. 
3. Tell off Jamie Forta and move on. 

I'm older and smarter now--I can totally pull this off. How hard can it be? 

Review

Wow...I just... wow. I think I liked this book in the series even more than the first. The characters just keep getting more and more dimensional through the pages! By the end I was amazed at the story and people Rozett created.

Let's start with Rose. She is a complex character that I couldn't help but root for in the end. However, there were times when I wanted to smack her. In anger or frustration, she often shoots off her mouth, and ends up severely hurting other's feelings. And along with the times I wanted to shoot off my own mouth at her, I wanted to just hug her. Overall, Rose is one of the most realistic contemporary heroines I have come across.

The one character I am very curious to find out more about is Jamie. What will his part be in the next book? I am very conflicted in what I feel for him now, but I think he is overall a good guy. He just needs a little bit of help. Also, I am pretty sure the Rose/Jamie thing won't work out. There are just to many secrets that got in the way. (If you read the first or this book, where do think about where the relationship is headed?) I still kind of want them together though, after all the drama in the first two books. As long as they are happy, I am happy, I guess. 

The end of the book... the very last page basically, really touched my heart. Angelo, Jamie's friend, is one of my favorite characters and I love the way he gave Rose confidence through out the book, and at the end. He never fails to be there for her. I won't say more... no spoilers. Maybe they will get together? That would be pretty awesome!

Also, there are those family problems presented between Rose and her mother, and her brother. Everything is quite strained in her household. Thankfully, I think things might be healing a bit. Who knows? We are also presented with some problems with the family Jamie grew up with, I'm not saying anymore. However, these parts made me a little depressed and sad. They were done so well though! Rozett knows how to handle heavy ideas.

Overall, this was an amazing installment in the Confessions series. I can't wait to read more about Rose and company whenever the next book comes out!

4/5 Stars

Sorry about the missing graphic... there is a new one in progress!

Thanks for reading!

Felicite Found: Excerpt + Giveaway

Félicité Found by Julia King

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Release Date: August 12th, 2013

Seventeen-year-old Pierre Rousseaux witnesses a young girl take a near fatal plunge off Pont Neuf Bridge into the freezing water of the River Seine in Paris, France. After diving into the racing river himself, he is able to rescue her from a watery death, but only after her head is bashed into the river wall. Upon reviving her from unconsciousness, Pierre realizes she doesn’t remember her past at all.

The girl struggles to recall anything from before she may have tried to commit suicide, not only once but possibly twice. The few glimpses into her life are discovered through dreams that can only suggest her past was horrific and jaded by intense anger.

Her memories may force her to lose everything she has grown to adore, especially the boy she loves more than anything in the world: Pierre.

The girl, Félicité Moreau, must decide if the life she desires is enough to make things from her past right. Pierre struggles to resolve if Félicité means enough to him that he will fight for her, regardless of her past and despite his own personal demons.

With a paranormal twist, Félicité Found is Julia King’s debut Young Adult novel—a horrific love story.

The Excerpt:

“A rush of sweet warmth flooded Félicité for having remembered something about her past. The heaviness in her mind and heart seeped free from her as though it pushed itself from all of her pores. She knew that eventually everything—her memories and knowledge—would come back.

She ached for Pierre and Hélène to know her name. As fast as her legs could carry her, she sped into the living room. Pierre was sound asleep, chest rising and falling in a rhythm that followed his thunderous snores. He was so loud she found it difficult to remember why she had come to see him. However, she couldn’t bear to wake him.

She observed that the light shining through the gap of the curtains came from only the moon. It must be the middle of the night. It was difficult for her to believe that she had slept all day and into the night.

Gazing at Pierre, she noted how handsome he was even in his thunderous slumber. She wanted to touch his skin and the rough stubble of hair growth on his face. His hand that fell from the couch beckoned her to him. She resisted the urge to take it into hers, feel it, relish its rough texture, and press it to her face. Again, she felt as if she had known him for a long time.

Should she wake him to hear his welcoming, deep and vibrating voice?

No, she thought as her euphoria faded. All that was left was a lump in her throat.

Her happy news would have to wait until morning. With one last look at the most kind- natured and loving person in the world, she shuffled her feet back to bed. However, before she fell asleep, she distinctly heard her father’s voice in the room telling her, “Félicité, my daughter, I love you. I love you so much.”

She bounded out of bed like an animal pouncing on its prey and flipped the light switch. Scanning the room, she saw no one in there. She was alone.”

About Julia King

Julia King grew up in a town in the happiest county in Utah. She enjoys reading, music (especially U2), the outdoors, and traveling. She appreciates a good television show. She has quite the sweet tooth. It is common for her to squeal up a storm when she sees a dog. Her favorite breed is beagles, and she longs for the day when she can have one of these furry, adorable friends of her own. And she loves conjuring up stories that swirl sweetly in her mind. Well, until they come to life on the page.

Author Links:

  

Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz organized by:

What did you think of the excerpt?

-Emily

Waiting on Wednesday #20

Hosted by Breaking the Spine

This Week I am Waiting On...

Burn Out by Kristi Helvig

Publication Date: April 8th, 2014
Genre: Science Fiction
Amazon/Barnes and Noble

A futuristic blend of Beth Revis's Across the Universe and Lenore Appelhans's Level 2, Burn Out will satisfy the growing desire for science fiction with a thrilling story of survival, intrigue, and adventure. 

Most people want to save the world; seventeen-year-old Tora Reynolds just wants to get the hell off of it. One of the last survivors in Earth's final years, Tora yearns to escape the wasteland her planet has become after the sun turns "red giant," but discovers her fellow survivors are even more deadly than the hostile environment.

Holed up in an underground shelter, Tora is alone--her brilliant scientist father murdered, her mother and sister burned to death. She dreams of living on a planet with oceans, plants, and animals. Unfortunately, the oceans dried out ages ago, the only plants are giant cacti with deadly spines, and her pet, Trigger, is a gun--one of the bio-energetic weapons her father created for the government before his conscience kicked in. 

When family friend, Markus, arrives with mercenaries to take the weapons by force, Tora's fury turns to fear when government ships descend in an attempt to kill them all. She forges an unlikely alliance with Markus and his rag-tag group of raiders, including a smart but quiet soldier named James. 

She is shocked when James accidentally fires one of her father's bio-weapons--weapons designed to work only for her. She'd felt a strange pull to James from the start, but the odds of someone sharing her energy vibration are statistically miniscule. Tora must quickly figure out who she can trust, as she must choose between saving herself by giving up the guns or honoring her father's request to save humanity from the most lethal weapons in existence.

Two words: Me. Want.

Okay, seriously, doesn't this sound amazing? I love the science fiction and survival aspects!

What are you Waiting On?

Top Ten Tuesday #18

Top Ten Favorite Books With X Setting

So, my "X" setting is going to be... "School" settings. 

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Excerpt: Dawn of the Apocalypse

Dawn of the Apocalypse by E.S.P. 

Release Date: 08/09/13
Genre: Apocalyptic
Series: 

January 1, 2000.
May 21, 2011.
December 21, 2012

These are just a few of the days humans prophesied as bringing catastrophic events that would end the world. We predicted nuclear warfare. Drastic climate change. A call from God.

We were wrong.

Cue the gargoyle invasion—laboratory bred mutants designed to slaughter humans. When the government goes AWOL and gargoyles are swarming by the hundreds, it's up to the citizens of the United States to regroup and save themselves.

Meet Cliff Matthews, a teenage boy separated from his entire family with the exception of his younger sister, whom he is desperate to keep alive. Along the quest to save their lives, he encounters people who aren't all that they seem. Everyday's a battle, but if he can't trust his own species, where does that leave his family?

And we can't forget the man who may be willing to sacrifice Cliff's life, if it means world domination.

In terms of doomsday, no one could've seen this coming. The dawn of the apocalypse…

The Excerpt:

Cliff jumped as an ear-shattering scream erupted from the woman behind him. He turned around. The woman's mouth was quivering, her eyes wide with terror. He followed her shaking finger. There was an arm in the middle of the street. 

A real human arm, made of human flesh and bone. 

Cliff tasted bile in his throat as a huge roar came from behind him. When he looked, he saw the body of the male volunteer who was just speaking before him. If it wasn’t for the vest still attached to him, Cliff would’ve never recognized the blood drenched form bleeding on the concrete. 

"Don’t look, Andy." He said with a voice that threatened to crack with a scream or tears. He shielded her eyes with his hand.

"LOOK OUT!!" the women screamed again. 

There was another roar. He snapped his head around. A grotesque looking animal stood behind the body of the man. It was the size of a small horse, standing on two legs, its back hunched like a bridge. The figure’s skin was an olive green tone. It looked scaly, like it was dripped in oil. 

And the teeth. The teeth hung from his mouth, looking as sharp as daggers. They were at least three inches long, dripping the blood of the volunteer who was just trying to help out. 

Another roar was heard as four more monsters joined the original one. 

Another blood curdling scream rung in his ears. 

The scream was his own. 

About the Author

Being the daughter of an accomplished author, E.S.P. grew up listening to stories and telling her own to classmates. After writing for several years and even publishing some short works, she finally decided to take the plunge to write (plus finish!)a full length novel. Thus, Dawn of the Apocalypse was born. When she's not writing, she's either reading books, blogging at whoistheserialreader.blogspot.com, or watching eighties movies.

   

Time for a Giveaway!

E-book copy of Dawn of the Apocalypse and $10 Amazon Gift Card (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz hosted by:

I hope you enjoyed the excerpt! What did you think?

-Emily

Blog Tours: Yay or Nay?

Personally, I love participating in blog tours. They are so awesome! You can post excerpts, give author interviews, and review hopefully awesome books! However, I know that if I sign up for too many tours I end up stressed... I aim for a maximum of two a week, if that. I also enjoy following any current blog tours for books I can't wait to get my hands on.

So, what is your opinion on Blog Tours?



(Sorry this was such a short post!)

News of Importance here at Reader Rising:

1. I am heading off to vacation soon. Don't worry, I'll still blog my heart out while I am there!

2. I reached 399 bloglovin' followers. I am nearly at 400! I am so excited and still amazed at how I managed to end up with any followers at all.

3. I just downloaded a new blogger template. Do you like the new look?

As always, thanks for reading. And, if you want, answer the BLI answer in the comments!

Emily