{Audio Book Review} Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep

Series: Mythos Academy #1

Narrator: Tara Sands

Publication date: August 1st 2011

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

ISBN-13: 9781469283876

Synopsis  

Mom was a great cop, a strong woman that fought for justice and loved her family. Now she is gone, she left me and grandma behind and now thanks to an invitation to join Mythos academy now we can’t be together.

In the academy I am not like the others, here where Vikings, Spartans and descendants of other great warriors come to train and perfect their crafts I am still a freak. Call it a blessing, call it a curse but we see the story behind the things, they talk to us, share with us more than I would like to know. Don’t get me wrong it comes in handy here and there but it comes with a big side dish of  TMI.

Now in a school that loves to give classes about mythological history and trains younglings in the ways of the warriors a murder has happened, the place that was said to be the safest for us has been violated, the strange thing was that this person died while I lived, both of us in the library practically alone and only one of us made it out. Don’t get me wrong I am happy to be alive, but why her? Why me?

Review

First Frost had a Veronica Mars kind of feel to it, sadly the narrator took that a little too far, she limited the inflections of her voice to a smart-ass Veronica that kill my Genna Frost buzz at the beginning of the book, I am not going to lie it took a while to get over it.

Besides that, the story was fun and honestly I just couldn’t wait to see how Genna really fitted into this mythological world and the actual mythology. If you are in the market for some evil Loki then you might want to give touch of frost a go.

There were some things that were easy to decipher but there were others that gave me a good surprise and spiced up the story.

Character wise Genna had some good moments, but sadly there was a point in her grieving that got repetitive as we heard about the circumstances that lead to her mother’s demise, which she takes full blame but from the beginning, at least for me, it didn’t feel that she was guilty at all.

The secondary characters I would say that the author is giving us a shy approach in presenting them to us, you see who is important, but because Genna is an outcast she isn’t ready to open up to them and to let us get more time with them. Yet I am looking forward to the second book to explore more of the characters and hopefully Tara Sands will learn from her mistakes and put more life into the life of Genna Frost and the world of Mythos Academy.

Rating:

{Cover Wars} Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster

Hi guys and welcome to Cover Wars where covers aren’t afraid to cry for attention. Each week we have a new book title showcasing the different faces it’s had and each week we reveal last week’s winner. Last week we had The Affinity Bridge by George Mann you guys voted and now it’s time to reveal the grand winner.

Now that the winner has had its chance to gloat, let’s take a look this weeks contestant Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster and for all of us that we aren’t all that familiar with this book let’s take a look at the book blurb:

When Nowhere Is Safe

Most people avoid the dreaded Whitechapel district. For Honoria Todd, it's the last safe haven. But at what price?

Blade is known as the master of the rookeries—no one dares cross him. It's been said he faced down the Echelon's army single-handedly, that ever since being infected by the blood-craving he's been quicker, stronger, and almost immortal.

When Honoria shows up at his door, his tenuous control comes close to snapping. She's so...innocent. He doesn't see her backbone of steel—or that she could be the very salvation he's been seeking.

Now that we are all know a little about what this book is about shall we take a look at the covers that will be fighting for your affection.

First up we have the face known in most of the paperbacks, the one that isn’t afraid to show a little bit more of Honoria then ladies of the Victorian era would, especially while standing next to a man, specially a dangerous one like Blade.

Next up we have the a cover that shows a lady that likes to live more in the shadows, one that leaves you wanting to know the women that hides behind the hat and what secrets she hides, we have the audio book cover.

Well guys the covers have done their catwalk and now it’s time for you to pick your favorite, don’t worry they don’t mind just comment or vote and let us know which one you prefer and remember to check in next Wednesday to see which cover won.

{Blog Tour Review} The Outside by Laura Bickle

Series: The Hallow Ones #2

Publication date: September 3, 2013

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers

ISBN-13: 9780544000131

Synopsis

The world has ended, yet we survived.

Now we are forced to leave the holy land that helped us stay alive when most of the English men couldn’t, now I am banned from my community for helping a man in need, now I have no choice but to move forward.

No choice but to try and stay alive.

Review

Where do you start with a book that ended up being nothing like you expected? I guess I should start by not freaking you out and saying that this book may not have been what I expected but that is not a bad thing.

The Hallow Ones seems to be a two part series that marches at its out beat. From the first book we see that this is a different take on the end of the world. One that plays with notions deeper than the “will I live to see tomorrow?”

For those of you that like their books clerical-free, this may not be the book for you. Big emphasis in the may, you see it doesn’t feel like this book is trying to sell you a particular religion. No, this book is exploring the end of the world from the eyes of an Amish girl, or we could just call her a girl that as the end of the world comes she starts to question what she has been told about goodness and the right thing to do, while the leaders of her community tell her to do otherwise.

Laura Bickle plays yo-yo with your emotions making you doubt grow weary of the happy moments and bringing up equal amounts of hope and fear that it all will come crashing down.

 I am happy and grateful for having had the opportunity to read this duology, because it I thought it was the book I was looking for yet it turned out to be something different yet intriguing enough that I just couldn’t stay away. I can’t wait for this story to ran a little cold in my memory so that we it can surprise me again.

Rating:

{Trailer Sunday} Ultraviolet by R.J. Anderson

Series: Ultraviolet #1

Publication Date: January 1st, 2011

Publisher: Orchard

ISBN-13: 9781408312759

Synopsis
Once upon a time there was a girl who was special.
This is not her story.
Unless you count the part where I killed her. 

Sixteen-year-old Alison has been sectioned in a mental institute for teens, having murdered the most perfect and popular girl at school. But the case is a mystery: no body has been found, and Alison’s condition is proving difficult to diagnose. Alison herself can’t explain what happened: one minute she was fighting with Tori—the next she disintegrated. Into nothing. But that’s impossible. Right?

{Review} Biting Cold by Chloe Neill

Series: Chicagoland Vampires #6

Publication Date: August 7, 2012

Publisher: New American Library (Penguin)

ISBN-13: 9780451237019

Synopsis

So much has happened since Lake Michigan turned dark both politically and supernaturally, now with a quest pending and a promise in the air our favorite Cadogan vampires are out on a hunt in hopes of getting an extremely dangerous artifact back before supernaturals with much more destructive plans in mind get it.

Review

Where to start… Chicagoland Vampires is a series that in my opinion has found a great balance between action, attraction, romance, urban fantasy and a wonderful and quirky sense of humor. This is the Chloe Neill style I fell in love with.

Biting Cold puts all the before mentioned elements in action and makes the characters shine. This book will have you smirking before you read that, that is exactly the reaction the character gave, laughing, shacking with anticipation of what is to come, getting frustrated with the characters about the mystery’s and obstacles they face, blushing and don’t be surprised if you find yourself unable to leave this book until you finish it.

This book takes more twist and turns and is much more active than the previous to books have been. I wouldn’t call this book a fast read, it is more of an action packed read, and even if there is enough movement in the story to go around the supernatural world keeps expanding with the meeting of new characters and new sides to ones with think we knew.

If you haven’t jumped the Chicagoland Vampires I strongly suggest you hop on this vampires and other sups are great characters to read (they feel without a doubt real) adventures that put our beloved character to the test (both in strength and their relationships) and urban fantasy in continuous expansion just when you thought you knew everything about Chicago and the supernaturals that live in this world you find that there is more to learn.

Rating:

  

Cover Wars: Blood Warrior by H.D. Gordon

Welcome to another edition of Cover Wars!!!! Today's contestants is no other then H.D. Gordon's Blood Warrior who got a make over. For those of you that have never heard about Blood Warrior lets take a look at the book blurb

When her home is attacked by murderous vampires, 17-year-old Alexa is forced to leave her mother for dead in order to save her sister. She soon learns that she is the last known member of an elite race of supernatural Warriors, and is thrust into a world full of vampires and werewolves who all seem to regard her as some sort of savior. Meanwhile, Alexa battles a monster within herself that seeks to gain control; a monster that seeks blood.

The hidden city she finds herself in appears perfect, but Alexa's instincts tell her that all is not right within its walls. When she is asked to attend a school of fighters, whose exams consist of gladiator-style competitions, she must decide who she can trust among the smiling faces. And, when she meets Kayden, a vampire she feels undeniably drawn to, she must decide if she can trust herself.

Lets see the contestants shall we:

First off we have ther original cover, the first impression we ever had of Blood Warrior:

For all of those that don't believe in love at first sight Blood Warrior got a "book over"

What do you think? Love it? Hate it? Please tell us what you think. I've been really tempted to read this book but sadly haven't gotten around to it.

Trailer Sunday #9 Bad Girls Don't by Katie Alender

Alexis thought she led a typically dysfunctional high school existence. Dysfunctional like her parents' marriage; her doll-crazy twelve-year-old sister, Kasey; and even her own anti-social, anti-cheerleader attitude. When a family fight results in some tearful sisterly bonding, Alexis realizes that her life is creeping from dysfunction into danger. Kasey is acting stranger than ever: her blue eyes go green sometimes; she uses old-fashioned language; and she even loses track of chunks of time, claiming to know nothing about her strange behavior. Their old house is changing, too. Doors open and close by themselves; water boils on the unlit stove; and an unplugged air conditioner turns the house cold enough to see their breath in. 

Alexis wants to think that it's all in her head, but soon, what she liked to think of as silly parlor tricks are becoming life-threatening--to her, her family, and to her budding relationship with the class president. Alexis knows she's the only person who can stop Kasey -- but what if that green-eyed girl isn't even Kasey anymore?

Cover Wars: Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Hello boys and girls and welcome to another edition of cover wars today we have two contestants fighting for to be the best representation of the book in hand, Born Wicked, for those of you that do not know this story feel free to check out my review of it <Click Here For Born Wicked Review>

In this color enchanting you with her eyes we have the original cover, also known like the Hardcover edition:

In the other corner we have the new edition of the cover which we will refer to as the paperback cover:

Ready or not here I come, all of my cover love goes for the first cover, for someone that has read the book he/she knows that some of the most important parts happen in the garden so that is something that makes me reminisce every time I see this cover. Another thing that I love is the fonts that are used in to spell the name of the series, the book and the authors seem to live symbiotically with all the other elements in the cover. 

And last but not least we have the girl, who I presume is Cate, and I love the effect it has on it, if you see her facing down she looks strong and confident, but if you turn it around you start to see the doubt she was trying to hide and either way you are seeing it her eyes bewitch you and you don't want to avert your eyes from hers. Honestly I don't see the point on changing such a magnificent cover, I think it nails the whole idea behind this one has the book down to a T.

The new cover is beautiful I don't deny it, I just don't see the connection to the story, I think the moon represents the connection with the unknown and the witches, but I don't get the crows, what are they doing there and why is she holding one? If they represent the enemies or evil why is she holding it? the thing I love is the purple background and I admit the crows give it an interesting look. But the thing I just can't stop thinking is "This girl is sooo stuck up she wont even look at me in the eyes". I believe this cover is beautiful and maybe in some other book we could have hit it off, but as a substitute to a cover that I feel could be a work of art it just can't hold a candle to the Hardcover edition.

Now for the most important part, What do you think Hardcover or Paperback? and please tell us why.

Prowl by Amber Garza

Series: Prowel Trilogy #1

Publication Date: January 20th, 2012

Publisher: Createspace
ISBN-13: 9781467982177

Synopsis
Mackenzie finally gets a break from her life, she is to spend her summer at her grandmother's house, an opportunity to start fresh even if it's just for a little while.
After meeting Wesley her summer leaves all normalcy, he tell her everything she has been wondering about her past but her mother never dared tell her, but sometimes we don't choose the best companies.
By the time Mackenzie discovers Wesley's true identity she is in too deep and escape seems out of her reach, now Mackenzie will have to reach to a stronger power if she wants to stay alive.

Ifeel by Marissa Carmel

Series: Vis Veris Trilogy #1

Publication Date: August 11th, 2011

Publisher: Createspace 

ISBN-13: 9781463659615

Synopsis

All her life Liv thought she was crazy, leaving her house and finding refuge in her apartment and away from the voices that invade her, there where only a few that accepted her and her world starts to broaden one day while the life of a girl was lost and in the commotion she sees a guy that no one else saw.

She keeps meeting this stranger until she finds him in her apartment in the morning with a foggy memory of what happened last night, will she be able to believe him when he tells her that she is not mental, but magical?

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Series: The Cahill Witch Chronicles #1

Publication Date: February 7th, 2012

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

ISBN-13: 9780399257452

Synopsis
In a world where women where stripped of their status as equals and fear that one faithful day the brothers will take them away from their friend and family for being suspected to be witches, three sister try to leave they're life's as normal as they can.
In town they are known to be a little eccentric, and reclusive since their mother left this world. The eldest, Cate, was left with the responsibility of taking care of her two little sisters, guide them the best she can and keep the brothers from knowing the truth. All three sisters are witches.
Now with evil lurking everywhere and with no idea with whom they are to trust her mother's diary appears to guide them, but will they be able to locate the evil her mother is warning them from and can they change a future everyone thinks is theirs?  

Cover Reveal of Taste by Kate Evangelista

At Barinkoff Academy, there's only one rule: no students on campus after curfew. Phoenix McKay soon finds out why when she is left behind at sunset. A group calling themselves night students threaten to taste her flesh until she is saved by a mysterious, alluring boy. With his pale skin, dark eyes, and mesmerizing voice, Demitri is both irresistible and impenetrable. He warns her to stay away from his dangerous world of flesh eaters. Unfortunately, the gorgeous and playful Luka has other plans.

When Phoenix is caught between her physical and her emotional attraction, she becomes the keeper of a deadly secret that will rock the foundations of an ancient civilization living beneath Barinkoff Academy. Phoenix doesn’t realize until it is too late that the closer she gets to both Demitri and Luka the more she is plunging them all into a centuries old feud.

Taste is to be published by Crescent Moon Press and its release is slated for Fall 2012.

{ARC Review} Tooth and Nail by Jennifer Safrey

Publication Date: February 7, 2012

Publisher: Night Shade Books

ISBN-13: 9781597803922

Synopsis

Gemma's life wasn't always easy but now that she is happy with her boyfriend and everything seems to be falling into place life decides is a good time for Gemma to shake things up, she was a happy amateur boxer and settling on the idea of leaving her job temporarily to support her boyfriends political career, but life doesn't care and decided to reveal to Gemma the other side 
of her heritage, that she really is...... a tooth fairy.... well they prefer the term fae.
If the new identity crisis wasn't enough the fae have great expectations for Gemma who as a fae warrior must protect them from an evil threat, all while keeping her true identity away from her boyfriend, not pursuing the fireworks that spark every time she is with her new fae instructor and a certain journalist that seems to have a keen interest for Gemma and will stop at nothing to get the story he craves.

{Review} Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Series: Newsoul #1

Publication Date: January 31, 2012

Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books

ISBN-13: 9780062060754

Synopsis

In Range for millions of years souls have been reincarnated, everyone knows everybody and they all know one thing for certain, once they die they will come back. Everything is shattered when Ana is born, the little girl that came into this world when everyone was expecting Ciana reincarnation, but she never came back.

No soul, that's what Ana's been called her whole life, she's been told she isn't allowed to love, that the feeling she believes to feel aren't real, that she isn't even worthy of being alive.

That is what Ana has been led to believe her whole life, that because of her Ciana disappeared for ever  she is one with out a soul. 

Everything changes on Ana's eighteen birthday the day she is finally free from her mother Li and all her horrible cares, Ana embarks on a journey to find out who she is and why she is now part of this world.

{Review} Friday Night Bites by Chloe Neill

Series:Chicagoland Vampires #2

Publication Date: October 6th, 2009

Publisher: NAL Trade
ISBN-13: 9780451227935


Synopsis
After two months passed since the supernatural drama, that started when Merit was unwillfully turned into a vampire, things start to shake up again as vampires are elevated to star quality and paparazzi start to find their way to the houses, specially Cadogan.
But all this attention can turn bad at any time, specially when a threat to expose the Raves-mass feeding parties, a big no no for all of the houses, would make the lovely citizens of Chicago want to stop sending paparazzi and go more for a vampire hunting type of approach.
To stop this horrible thing from happening Merit must go back to the life she turned her back all her life, she must suck it up and make nice with her upper class family. Being forced to reunite with her father feels like punishment enough, but its a necessary evil to establish good relationships between humans and vampires. 
Coming back to her old life wasn't supposed to be easy, but Merit never expected to find some extra problems on her way, but, are they part of an old grudge or maybe part of a more recent one?

{Early Review} Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Publication Date: September 27, 2011

Publisher: Little, Brown & Company

ISBN-13: 9780316134026

Synopsis

Kaoru is an art student who is famous in her school for her bizarre art work, she paints creatures that seem out of this world, but are they? Kaoru is known for her quirkiness and for disappearing on mysterious "errands". The strangest thing is that she has never had the need to lie, her reality is so out of this world that no one would believe her anyway. Sometimes Kaoru feels like there is something missing about her, something else she should be doing or somewhere else she should be at and as much as she has tried she has never been able to shake away that feeling.

But everything changes once strange marks start appearing on doorways, and then meeting and being attaked by an angel. But there is something about that angel, Akiva, that she just can't put her finger on it. Could Akiva have answers about Kaorus strange feeling of being? and is it something she is ready to face?