Book Highlight: The Forgotten Ones by Laura Howard

Title: The Forgotten Ones
Author: Laura Howard
Genre: New Adult Fantasy
Series: The Danaan Trilogy #1
Published: April 28, 2013

Allison O'Malley's plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she's been in love with for as long as she can remember.

What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison's mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn't trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother's sanity.

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Laura Howard lives in New Hampshire with her husband and four children. Her obsession with books began at the age of 6 when she got her first library card. Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High and other girly novels were routinely devoured in single sittings. Books took a backseat to diapers when she had her first child. It wasn’t until the release of a little novel called Twilight, 8 years later, that she rediscovered her love of fiction. Soon after, her own characters began to make themselves known. The Forgotten Ones is her first published novel.

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2014 Bookish Resolutions

Hey people! I hope you had a fantastic Christmas and that Santa brought you all the goodies you wished for.

So, we all make New Year's resolutions. I tell myself every year I will not, but the last week of December starts and I'm back to planning stuff for next year. I don't know, maybe I'm just bored or something, but I keep making them. I thought that instead of making resolutions for my personal and/or professional life (those resolutions are a tad boring and they get so repetitive) I'd stick to bookish resolutions this year.

• Read from the TBR pile more

Since I decided not to make any more requests for ARCs, this should be doable. I plan on making a dent in my 1000+ mountain of TBR next year. Hopefully, it will count for something, though I believe that list is a descendant of Hydra.

• Lower thy expectations

This one is a bit harder to keep, but I've noticed the bigger the hype around a book and the more a book is loved by most of my fellow bloggers, the higher my expectations. I will try in 2014 to not let my expectations get so big.

• Write down reviews as soon as I finish reading a book

This is something that I never do and while most of the times it's not problematic and I can remember most of what happened during the book I'm trying to review, I've had some problems recently. Granted, I've been under a lot of stress what with my exams and my dissertation, but I still want to make a habit of writing the review right after I finish the book.

• Schedule posts more often

I know, I'm terrible with this, but I promise I'll get better. I swear!

• Read the books I already own before buying new ones

Actually, this could go hand in hand with the first resolution. I figure the first step in making a dent in my TBR pile would be to actually read the books I've already bought, the ones that are patiently waiting on my shelves and that are silently begging me to read them. So I'll do that this year.

• While reading, take notes that actually make sense

I have found that taking notes during reading helps me write better reviews. I didn't think it was possible, at first, but I've tried it and it actually works. HOWEVER. I actually need to take notes that make sense. I scheduled a review for a book I read a few weeks ago and I found it rather difficult to understand what the hell I was talking about when I wrote certain things down. So maybe I'll get a notebook and use it and write down something that is easy to understand. Maybe even write down page number, start of the paragraph, stuff like that.

This is the list that I came up with and I want to meet every goal I for myself, so I'll keep my fingers crossed. What about you? Did you make any resolutions for 2014? I'd love to hear about them.

Book Highlight: Astrid, The Dragonslayer's Blacksmith: a mini novel by Resa Nelson

Blurb:

Astrid constantly worries about her place in the village of Guell. She loves being the apprentice of Guell’s blacksmith, Temple. But Temple bought her from a childseller many years ago, which means Astrid has no blood kin in Guell. If anything should happen to Temple she’s likely to lose her home, her work, and her sweetheart, DiStephan, the dragonslayer’s son.

One day Astrid’s worst fear comes true when Temple and DiStephan fail to return from a short journey to a nearby village. A teenage boy named Finehurst arrives in Guell, claiming to be Temple’s nephew and rightful heir – and insisting that he saw Temple and DiStephan killed by a dragon. The villagers are divided in their opinion of Finehurst, but Astrid is soon thrown out of her own home, desperate to find a way to regain it. Before the dragonslayer goes in search of his missing son DiStephan and Astrid’s mentor Temple, he sets forth a challenge for Finehurst and Astrid to prove their blacksmithing skills by forging a dagger. Normally, Astrid would be confident, but the village’s iron supplies are so low that she doesn’t know how she can possibly make a dagger that can prove her worth.

Astrid, The Dragonslayer’s Blacksmith is an all new mini novel that takes place in Resa Nelson’s Dragonslayer world (the 4-book series includes The Dragonslayer’s Sword, The Iron Maiden, The Stone of Darkness, and The Dragon’s Egg). Appropriate for adults and teens, ages 14 and up.

Buy it: Amazon
Author Pages: Twitter | Website


Hey guys! I've been obsessed with this awesome series for almost two years now and I was soooo excited to hear there's a new story in this world!! And because Resa is sooo fantastic, she is giving this book for free on Amazon. That's right, FREE!! So, click here and get it right now!! And hurry up, it will only be free until December 27th.

End of Year Book Survey 2013

Hey everyone! I'm back! I decided this year I was going to do the "End of Year Book Survey" hosted by the awesome Jamie from Perpetual Page Turner. Here we go!

BEST IN BOOKS 2013

1. Best Book You Read In 2013? (If you have to cheat — you can break it down by genre if you want or 2013 release vs. backlist)

While I've read a lot of awesome books, I have to say none of them tops Styxx by Sherrilyn Kenyon.

2. Book You Were Excited About &  Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

There are two books that fit here. One of them is Partials by Dan Wells. The other one I haven't finished reading yet (which is why I won't mention the title), but from what I've read so far I feel like I'm definitely missing something, because almost all the reviews I've read are more than just glowing and positive. I will finish reading it, but so far I don't seem to click with this book.

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2013?

Mad World: Epidemic by Samarie Provost. I wasn't expecting to like a zombie book. Granted, the zombies are the bad guys, but still, it was surprising.

4. Book you read in 2013 that you recommended to people most in 2013?

Errr...Hmmm. I am ashamed to say I can't think of any book I've recommended this year. I mean, I did do some book pimping, but not with books I've read this year. Oops.

5. Best series you discovered in 2013?

Lux by Jennifer L. Armentrout.

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2013?

Jennifer L. Armentrout, Veronica Roth, Debra Driza and I'm sure I'm forgetting a few other awesome authors out there.

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

The Mad World series by Samaire Provost was a new one for me. Like I said before, I've never read about zombies, but I liked it :D

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2013?

Right now it's a tie between Larissa Ione's Reaver and Sherrilyn Kenyon's Styxx. Both are simply amazing.

9. Book You Read In 2013 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

Ha! I like this question. So besides the by now obvious Reaver and Styxx (because those two need to be read at least two or three times) I can't wait to re-read Let The Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2013?

11. Most memorable character in 2013?

Four from Divergent *swoon*.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2013?

Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland.

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2013?

If we're talking book hangover then definitely Styxx. I couldn't touch another book for about a week or so.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2013 to finally read?

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout. I kept mentally smacking myself for not picking this up earlier.

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2013?

This is one of the funniest I could think of and if you've read the Dark Hunter series, you know all about Artemis and her vocabulary problems :D And before you ask, yes, this is from Styxx.

Artemis smiled. “Yes, well, payback’s a cat.”
Acheron sighed and rubbed his head. “I absolutely give up.” 

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2013?

I'm not sure about the shortest book, but the longest is Styxx by Sherrilyn Kenyon, with 836 pages.

17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!

Okay, I'm going to sound like a broken record here, I know. After I read Styxx I had this massive book hangover. During it I decided to stick with Sherrilyn Kenyon and I sort of re-read the latest installment in Chronicles of Nick, Inferno. There's one scene there that ties Chronicles of Nick and Styxx and I won't talk about it because of major spoilers. But it left me wide eyed and half confused because I have no idea what to do with that information.

There was another book that had a WTF moment and it's in Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout and it involves two characters that were previously thought to be dead.

18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2013 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).

Lottie and Zan from Deeper We Fall by Chelsea M. Cameron have a very strange relationship. Yes, it eventually turns into a romantic one, but their pasts are so painful that it makes their story very unique.

19. Favorite Book You Read in 2013 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead was fantastic.

20. Best Book You Read In 2013 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else

The Assassin's Curse  by Cassandra Rose Clarke. I joined the Book Buddies group on BookBlogging and Anya from On Starships and Dragons wanted to read the second book in the series. We buddied up to read it, but I had to read the first one as well. I really enjoyed the book and I'm halfway through the second book now. I enjoy the world in this series a lot and I hope there will be more to follow :)

21. Genre You Read The Most From in 2013

This is a hard one to answer. Definitely fantasy, but I couldn't tell you the sub-genre very well. I am sure, however, that I didn't read as many contemporaries as usual.

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2013?

Four from Divergent is my newest obsession.

23. Best 2013 debut you read?

Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza was pretty awesome. Also The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett.

24. Most vivid world/imagery in a book you read in 2013?

Let The Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger, The Assassin's Curse.

25. Book That Was The Most Fun To Read in 2013?

I can't choose a book for this, because I have fun reading any book. I don't have a scale for how much fun I have reading a book. If I did, then all would be at a 10.

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2013?

I cried like a baby reading Styxx. I tear up just remembering certain scenes.

27. Book You Read in 2013 That You Think Got Overlooked This Year Or When It Came Out?

Errr...I am ashamed to say I have no idea. I usually don't pay attention to how much a book is talked about unless it's way to obvious and the hype is inescapable (think Twilight).

Book Highlight: The Crescent by Jordan Deen

The Crescent by Jordan Deen
Young Adult, Paranormal
190 pages; published January 14th, 2010

Becoming a werewolf is not an option for seventeen-year-old Lacey Quinn, but death can be a strong motivator.

Lacey is so focused on her future that everyday life has passed her by. Counting down the days to her eighteenth birthday, Lacey is almost home free. But when she falls for the mysterious Alex Morris, she lands in the middle of an ancient war between two enemy wolf packs. Tempting dreams, tantalizing lies and a dangerous love triangle ensues leaving Lacey heartbroken and confused.

Lacey's fate rests in the hands of Alex and Brandon, but both are pulling her strings for their own agendas. Even as she slips further into the dark world of werewolves, Lacey struggles to find the truth and save the only family she's ever known.

Amazon

A cool breeze shook Mom’s rose bushes and the few hedges that surrounded one side of the patio. But when the wind stopped, the bushes didn’t. I froze staring into the darkness trying to see the threat that was waiting just to the side of my family home. I held my breath trying to decide whether or not to make a run for it. I couldn’t hesitate much longer. Rising slowly from the swing, I lingered again trying to judge the distance between the swings and the safety of the kitchen door.

Can I make it before it gets me? IT! Coming outside again tonight was a bad idea.

 Jordan Deen is an Award-Winning Young Adult and New Adult Author from East St. Louis, Illinois. Her debut novel, THE CRESCENT was a 2010 Reader's Favorite Award Winner. Her second novel, HALF MOON released in 2011. BREAKING LAUREN is her third novel and was a finalist in the Texas Literary Awards. The sequel, LOSING LAUREN will be released on 12/5/2013.

She can usually be found curled up in her favorite chair with a book or her laptop. She is the proud mother of one crazy little boy and an even crazier teacup Yorkie.

Jordan is Indie published, as well as traditionally published with Black Rose Writing.
'Life is about the journey...'

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Blog Tour Book Review: Mad World Desperation by Samaire Provost

Author: Samaire Provost
Series: Mad World #3
Publisher: Black Raven Books
Release Date: October 4th 2013
My Rating: 4.5 cups
Source: review copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review
Blurb (from Goodreads):

“Forget what you thought you knew about this story, because everything is about to change.
With Alyssa near death, Luke, Jacob and their companions make a desperate attempt to reach Boston with the final ingredient needed for the plague antidote. They must travel through the Canadian wilderness, some of the roughest country in North America. Along the way they are joined by new friends and old as they fight to reach their destination and save Alyssa. What they don’t know is that something is hunting them.
Something evil is lurking, waiting to strike when they least expect it.
After years of fighting courageously against the living plague, they’d thought they knew their enemy. They’d believed their wits, bravery and strength would be enough to win this fight against the threat that had overrun so much of the world they once knew. But they were wrong.
Now Luke, Risa, Jacob, DeAndre and Jonathan face their most dangerous trials yet as they battle the ever-present zombie threat, along with a new challenge they never saw coming. How many ways can this plague try to kill them? Find out, in the latest installment of the Mad World series.”

I have been waiting for this book for so long! I was actually a bit scared to start it at first, because of the huge cliffhanger at the end of the previous book and I seriously hoped nothing bad would happen to the characters I've grown to love.

The book is everything I expected it to be. The action is very fast paced and it kept me on the edge the whole time. There were a few big surprises that I did not expect along the way. The first one is that this book is told not from Alyssa's POV, like I was used to, but from Luke's, her son. It was a good surprise and a good change. It really is a great thing to see the events told from someone else's perspective. There where other things that I didn't expect, but they were all positive. I can't really talk about them, because of spoilers, but trust me when I say that they don't disappoint.

There were some scenes that are very creepy and very detailed. They weren't necessarily as gross as I was expecting them to be, or at least not all of them, but there were some that were pretty terrifying. There were some other scenes that just blew my mind. A few of them made me extremely sad and the amazing thing is that they were about the zombies, the "bad" guys.

We also get to see someone from the past that I never thought we'd see. He was a nice surprise and I do hope we get to see more of him. In a very weird way, this guy kind of grew on me. We also get to meet new people and there are some new developments in this world that I think will be very interesting to discover in the next book.

There were some moments where certain scenes felt a bit too rushed, but all in all I really, really loved this book. I can't wait to see what happens next with the characters and if the plague will finally be stopped.

Author Bio: 
Samaire Provost is a novelist living in California. Author of the Mad World trilogy: EPIDEMIC ~ SANCTUARY ~ DESPERATION. Her upcoming work is a vampire thriller slated to be released in early 2014.

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