Showing posts with label mystery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mystery. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

.Waiting On Wednesday: Reawakended A #OUAT Tale & The Sound by @sarahalderson


Hosted by








One of my WOW's today features my favorite TV show on television, Once Upon A Time. OUAT features Grimm Fairy Tale re-tellings and I can't get enough of the show, so I'm hoping the book version is just as good. My second WOW is The Sound, by Sarah Alderson, the same author who penned Hunting Lila. The Sound, sounds (no pun intended) like a great beachy read. It seems filled with a great mystery of sorts as well. Since the setting of both of these  books is in New England, I already have a special liking to them.

So what's holding court on your WOW post? Link me, so I can visit.







Reawakened (Once Upon a Time, #1)
A Once Upon A Time Tale
Reawakened
Expected publication: May 4th 2013 by Disney Hyperion Books
Goodreads 

Emma Swan's life has been anything but a fairy tale. She's been on her own since she was abandoned as a baby--that is, until the night of her twenty-eighth birthday, when Henry, a ten-year-old boy, shows up on her doorstep. He's the son Emma gave up for adoption, and this surprise visit turns her life upside down.
Henry takes Emma back to his home in Storybrooke, Maine, where, Henry claims, all the residents are actually fairy tale characters who can't remember their true identities. And if Henry's right, that means that his sweet-natured, lonely schoolteacher Mary Margaret Blanchard is really Snow White, the iconic princess ... and also Emma's long-lost mother.
In Fairy Tale Land, we meet Snow White as a bandit on the run, forced into exile by her stepmother, the Evil Queen. Snow's a young woman learning to become a hero, who will do anything to live happily ever after with her one true love, Prince Charming.
The closer Emma comes to Henry in Storybrooke, the harder it is for her to ignore the dark curse that haunts this small New England town and binds her to Mary Margaret. If Emma can learn to accept her destiny as Storybrooke's savior and break the curse, she just might get the family reunion she's dreamed about her entire life.
ABC's "ONCE UPON A TIME" is a modern adventure with thrilling twists and hints of darkness, brimming with wonder, and filled with the magic of our most beloved fairy tales






The Sound
The Sound
by



When aspiring music journalist Ren Kingston takes a job nannying for a wealthy family on the exclusive island of Nantucket, playground for Boston's elite, she's hoping for a low-key summer reading books and blogging about bands. Boys are firmly off the agenda.

What she doesn't count on is falling in with a bunch of party-loving private school kids who are hiding some dark secrets, falling (possibly) in love with the local bad boy, and falling out with a dangerous serial killer...

The gripping new stand-alone novel from the author of Hunting Lila. Out August 2013


















Saturday, March 16, 2013

.Book Tour #Review #Giveaway Strength by @CarrieAButler

Welcome to my stop for the Stength tour, hosted by Xpresso Book Tours. I have a review and Giveaway, so check it out! Oh, and stop drooling over the cover, kay, I know it will be hard to look away from it ;) Oh, and check out the Book Trailer, I have included below! 






Strength 
by Carrie Butler 

Series: Mark of Nexus #1
Publication: March 7th 2013
by Sapphire Star Publishing
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance


When college student Rena Collins finds herself nose-to-chest with the campus outcast, her rumor-laced notions are shattered. Handsome, considerate, and seemingly sane, Wallace Blake doesn’t look like he spends his nights alone, screaming and banging on the walls of his dorm room. Hell, he doesn’t look like he spends his nights alone, period.
Too curious for her own good, Rena vows to uncover the truth behind Wallace’s madman reputation--and how two seconds of contact had left her with bruises. Of course, there are a few setbacks along the way: guilt, admiration, feelings of the warm and fuzzy variety…
Not to mention the unwanted attention of Wallace's powerful, supernaturally-gifted family.
They’re a bloodline divided by opposing ideals, two soon-to-be warring factions that live in secret among us. When Rena ends up caught in their crossfire, Wallace has no choice but to save her by using his powers. Now they’re really in trouble. With war on the horizon and Rena’s life in the balance, he needs to put some distance between them. But Rena won’t let go. If fighting is what it takes to prove her own strength and keep Wallace in her life, then that’s what she’ll do--even if it means risking a whole lot more than her heart.


Goodreads

PURCHASE: 
--Barnes & Noble


 

AUTHOR BIO
Carrie daydreamed her way through college—until they thrust a marketing degree into her hands, slapped a summa cum laude seal on the corner, and booted her out into a less-than-stellar job market. Instead of panicking at the prospect of unemployment, she used her Midwestern logic to steer into the skid and point her life in the direction she really wanted to go: writing out those daydreams.










 With a great cast of characters, a slow build-up to the mysteries of the paranormal aspects, with a mix of smexiness and a ton of humor we have a winner, and I'm looking forward to reading more from Miss Butler!




Wallace, is a hulking stud. He's new to the college campus and is some what quiet, until he freaks out almost nightly in his dorm and scares everyone around him, with his detrimental screaming. Everyone thinks he's a crazy freak, and everyone is afraid of him. After, a run in with said freak, our main character Rena learns there is more to this "beast" then meets the eye. She finds herself drawn to him and learns why he pitches a fit every night, and learns that rumors almost prevented her from losing out on knowing Wallace. But he does have one secret, he may not be human!

Rena, is in college, sharing  a room with Gabby, her sex-crazed, rich roommate is trying at times. They have a system worked out, when there is a scrunchie hanging from the door, Rena knows Gaby is getting her groove on, so that leaves Rena running to find a place to crash, almost nightly!
 Mostly, she hangs with her, nerdy buddy, Aiden, who just so happens to be Wallace's neighbor, and is scared of Wallace, big time! Yes, she encounters Wallace's fit one night, but it doesn't deter her from meeting him, and eventually friending him. As they share there past with each other and slowly build-up a relationship of sorts. Rena learns more about this secretive guy, and likes what she sees, but Wallace seems to be harboring secrets that may just prevent them from continuing there friendship/relationship.



This book read like two halves a story. The first half was a slow build-up to finding out how these two characters became close to one another. The second half was more of a paranormal, action filled, twist, filled with mystery. Although, not heavy on the romance department, it did have it's subtle moments.
I liked the characters and the dynamics of this book, especially the secondary characters, whom came off as annoying sometimes they always seemed to be laced with humor.
I like Rena and the way she sticks up for herself, having been through trying times in her past she learns not to let that ruin her future.
Wallace was sweet, and protective, and a beast all at the same time!
Gabby, the sex-crazed roomie had an annoyance about her, but you could accept it as her being her. She was no-holds barred, but she was funny.
Cole, Wallace's twin equally as studly, but a jerk at times. He was like a bad-boy who showed little restraint, but I liked him and what he brought to the story.
He also had some great one-liners, and I think I giggled quite a few times at all the humor, and snark laced between the pages.

Overall, I would recommend this book to all, especially fans of paranormal romance fans who like their reads infused with humor, and mystery


  

4/5 Fun filled Roses! 


  




Her jaw dropped. “You went back to his lair? What were you thinking? Did he hurt you?”
“He killed me,” I replied in a sarcastic tone. “This is my disembodied spirit.”


I buckled my seatbelt while he walked around the truck. The seat’s chill was already starting to seep through my skirt, but it didn’t matter. With us being on our way to church, it was probably best to ice downstairs anyway.


Gabby rolled her eyes. “Are you still stuck on that madman business? Stop bein’ such a pussy.” “I’m not a p-pansy,” Aiden stuttered, tripping over the last word. Vulgar terminology didn’t exist in his vocabulary. Whenever he tried to push the envelope, he choked in the cutest way possible. “I said pussy,” she emphasized. He went red from the neck up. “I heard you!

“See, this is what I like,” Cole interjected with a laugh, dusting himself off. “One second she’s all timid and then reeoowr! Hellcat.















a Rafflecopter giveaway







Wednesday, October 17, 2012

.Waiting On Wednesday #15



Jill @ Breaking The Spine


My Wow this week features two books that are both YA, that are set to be released in 2013. Both are filled with Demons, Paranormal, Mystery, Fantasy so I'm definitely game for these two!
Leave a link to your wow and I'll come by and see what your waiting for. Thanks for stopping by!







Pretty Dark Nothing
By: Heather L. Reid

Pretty Dark NothingIt’s been twenty three days since Quinn has slept for more than minutes at a time. Demons have invaded her dreams, stalking her, and whispering of her death. The lack of sleep and crippling fear are ruining her life. Energy drinks and caffeine pills don’t make a dent. When Quinn dozes off in the school hallway, Aaron, an amnesiac with a psychic ability, accidentally enters her nightmare. The demons are determined to keep them apart, and Aaron from discovering the secret locked away in his memory. Together, they could banish the darkness back to the underworld for good. That is, unless the demons kill them first...


Expected publication: April 2013 by Month9Books








Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
By: April Genevieve Tucholke

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Violet’s grandmother had warned her about the Devil, had talked about him often, as though he were a best friend, or an old lover. But she never told Violet that the Devil could be real. She never told Violet that the Devil could be a dark-haired boy in vintage clothes who takes naps in the sun and likes old movies and vigilante justice.

River West is the seventeen-year old stranger renting the guesthouse behind the rotting mansion on the sea, where Violet lives. And as eerie things start happening in Violet’s town, she begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling, coffee-loving liar with rascally eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something else? Something...evil?

Violet’s already so knee-deep in love she can’t see straight.

And that’s just how River likes it.

Expected publication: August 2013 by Dial/Penguin





Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Waiting On Wednesday #10







Hosted By

Jill @ Breaking The Spine








This weeks WOW pick is a steampunk, YA, filled with adventure, set in Victorian London.
This sounds interesting and mysterious.


 

Legacy of the Clockwork Key (The Secret Order, #1)
Legacy of the Clockwork Key (The Secret Order #1)
By: 
Expected publication: March 2013 by Simon Pulse





























A teen girl unravels the mysteries of a secret society and their most dangerous invention in this adventure-swept romance set in Victorian London.

When a fire consumes Meg's home, killing her parents and destroying both her fortune and her future, all she has left is the tarnished pocket watch she rescued from the ashes. But this is no ordinary timepiece. The clock turns out to be a mechanical key-a key only Meg can use- that unlocks a series of deadly secrets and intricate clues that Meg has no choice but to follow. She has uncovered evidence of an elite secret society and a dangerous invention that some will stop at nothing to protect, and that Meg alone can destroy. Together with the handsome stable hand she barely knows but hopes she can trust, Meg will be swept into a hidden world of deception, betrayal, and revenge. The clockwork key has unlocked her destiny.






Monday, June 11, 2012

Review: Shaedes Of Gray by Amanda Bonilla


Shaedes of Gray (Shaede Assassin, #1)

Amanda Bonilla
Paperback 317pgs.
Published Dec. 6, 11 by Signet
ISBN 0451235290 (ISBN13: 9780451235299
Shaede Of Assassin #1
Borrow from library
Urban Fantasy, Paranormal









In the shadows of the night, Darian has lived alone for almost a century. Made and abandoned by her former love, Darian is the last of her kind—an immortal Shaede who can slip into darkness as easily as breathing. With no one else to rely on, she has taught herself how to survive, using her unique skills to become a deadly assassin.

When Darian's next mark turns out to be Xander Peck, King of the Shaede Nation, her whole worldview is thrown into question. Darian begins to wonder if she's taken on more than her conscience will allow. But a good assassin never leaves a job unfinished...



Review    


Darian Gray is an assassin, a shade,who was created not born. Shaedes can hide in the shadows and blend into them. Preferring darkness over light. Darian's job is basically that of a hired killer, she gets paid to kill with no questions asked. Her connection to these "jobs" is Tyler. Tyler adores Darian and you learn that right from the start, more about him and his mysterious ways later.

Darien is created by a Azriel a former lover, and Shaede who basically abandons her after teaching her the ways of the Shaede. He tells her there are no others like them and she basically is living a life feeling abandoned and a little lost at first, but things quickly change as Darian is hired for a new job and learns that maybe she's just a little naive about being the only Shaede in exstiance.

Now, I really liked the mystery and action of this book. We get to learn right along with Darian the secrets as they become unraveled, and boy there are a ton of them. Tyler being the biggest one, as Darian trully believes he's nothing more than human and basically fragile. He loves Darian, although he has been hiding his secret from her for over five years. Darian always had felt feelings for Tyler, but she always felt like he was just human, and she really didn't want to ruin their friendship.
What we learn about Tyler is that he's so much more, and he has tied himself with Darian as her genie, basically her wish is his command.

Like I said Darian is left in the dark for most of this book.
She slowly learns more about all the mysteries that surround her and has found herself hired by the king, Xander. Xander is another mystery who shows a great interest in Darian, as he too wants to pursue her. A love triangle of sorts is set throughout the story.
 Darian is trained by other members of her race, that work for Xander. She, being the only one that may be able to save her race, and the people she has grown to care for.
 
This book has mystery, action, and surprises.
But, I must say that I wasn't a big Darian fan until toward the ending when her strengths finally shone through, and she became more confidant in her battles.
 Although, I can easily see why it took her so long to finally become a powerful Shaede. I just wished she showed a little more I don't know, anger maybe. I mean being lied to from Tyler and almost everyone else who are hiding secrets from her should of pushed her to become angrier than the way she was shown. Other than that I really liked this book and will be reviewing the next book, very soon.
4/5 Stars
 
 
 
 

 







The second book in the series is a continuation of the first and sets off with Darian in search of the ones that have wronged her from the first book.




Blood Before Sunrise (Shaede Assassin, #2)




Shaede Assassin #2
Release date:  July 3rd 2012 by NAL/Signet Eclipse
ARC-Reading soon


Monday, May 7, 2012

The Shapeshifter's Secret Book Tour: Review





The Shapeshifter's Secret
Author: Heather Olster
Paperback, 1st Edition, 328 pages
Expected publication: June 12th 2012 by Cedar Fort













Julia is finally discovering what–not who–she is.

Like any sixteen-year-old, Julia's used to dealing with problems. From her overprotective father to her absent mother to a teacher who definitely has it in for her. But everything changes when Julia's reactions become oddly vicious and angry---more animal than human. This action-packed adventure has it all: humor, romance, and a plot that will keep you guessing to the very last page



Author Website: http://www.heatherostler.com/

Author blog:
http://heatherostler.blogspot.com/

Publisher Blog
http://www.cedarfortbooks.com/

Publisher Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/cedarfortbooks

Publisher Twitter
http://twitter.com/#!/cedarfortbooks












Review -


The Shapeshifter's Secret started off well for me. A young girl who has a difficult time controlling her anger, finds out everything about her life is not what it seems, sounds great so far.
 Julia the young girl, is your typical teenager, but finds her father is acting stranger than norm. He puts bars on her windows to keep from sneaky out. Really, Dad that's a little much! But, there are reasons behind his actions and all finally is come to light and Julia finds out all about a different world that parallels her own. She is thrust into this world and is slowly revealed bits and pieces about her past.


Sounds awesome so far, and I didn't even tell you about the shapeshifting creatures, yet.


But, after this part of the book, things started to go at a little slower paced as Julia finds out she must learn everything she can about her Shapeshifting abilities and all there is to know about life in her new school, and all the dangers that surround her.


I found the part of the school to be very reminiscent of the Harry Potter books. I'm sure the author drew her inspiration from JK Rowling's books.
Julia makes new friends, learns secrets about the school and the teachers and has to learn all she can about the people of Ossai and the government. She's also in danger and being hunted down, by her own estranged mother!
 She must find out what role she plays in this new world. She also has a love interest two guys she likes. One, she secretly likes the other is someone she enjoys being with, and is slowly building a relationship with.


Caleb is someone I can totally see with Julie, but after the first half of the book we hardly hear about him. I mean what we find out about him is not the best news, for Julia. She finds out so many secrets all at once, once she is thrust into Ossai. She starts to lean on Caleb and trusts him, but feels betrayed when she finds out he has a girlfriend..Aww, so sad for her!
Terrence, the second love interest seems mysterious, though he likes Julia, something never actually sat right in my mind about him. He comes on strong, and like Caleb, he is a Solider trying to protect her and keeping up his duties.


As, Julia learns more about her past, she uncovers more about her mother. The woman who basically turned her back on Julia, and is now hunting her! Julia uncovers more secrets and by the end we are left with questions which hopefully will be answered in the next book.


This book had me wondering what would happen next, it had mystery, and it built my curiosity to see whom Julia would end up with. I would also be interested to see the history of her family and the Ossai people. I would also like to see more  shapeshifting abilities, between the shapeshifters.
This book would be best suited for pre-teens / teens.







                                                                                                                                                                                         

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Review: Croak by Gina Damico

Croak (Croak, #1)
Title  Croak
Author: Gina Damico
Series: Croak #1
Format: Paperback 311pgs/e-book
Publisher:  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt(March 20th 2012)
ISBN: 9780547608327
Language: English
Genre: Fantasy, Supernatural, Mystery, young adult
Review Copy: Borrowed from Library



Sixteen-year-old Lex Bartleby has sucker-punched her last classmate. Fed up with her punkish, wild behavior, her parents ship her off to upstate New York to live with her Uncle Mort for the summer, hoping that a few months of dirty farm work will whip her back into shape. But Uncle Mort’s true occupation is much dirtier than that of shoveling manure.

He’s a Grim Reaper. And he’s going to teach her the family business.

Lex quickly assimilates into the peculiar world of Croak, a town populated entirely by reapers who deliver souls from this life to the next. Along with her infuriating yet intriguing partner Driggs and a rockstar crew of fellow Grim apprentices, Lex is soon zapping her Targets like a natural born Killer
.

Yet her innate ability morphs into an unchecked desire for justice—or is it vengeance?—whenever she’s forced to Kill a murder victim, craving to stop the attackers before they can strike again. So when people start to die—that is, people who aren’t supposed to be dying, people who have committed grievous crimes against the innocent—Lex’s curiosity is piqued. Her obsession grows as the bodies pile up, and a troubling question begins to swirl through her mind: if she succeeds in tracking down the murderer, will she stop the carnage—or will she ditch Croak and join in?


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Review~ Good book for young adults, meh, for Adults


Reading this book as an adult and parent, I find I can relate with, and pity the main character's parents.
Lex is a mother's dream turned teenage nightmare. Lex is mean, temperamental, and a bully! She's sixteen and finds it difficult to suppress her moods and anger, sounds average, right?...I'm not looking forward to those years...
So, being like any parent at the end of their rope, they decide to send Lex away for the summer. They send her to her Uncle Mort, a bachelor whom she barely knows. This being the first time Lex will be away from her parents and twin "good" sister Cordy, she of course has reservations about going.
Lex arrives to Uncle Mort's house in a town called "Croak", where everything seems normal, but is far from it. 

Lex learns she is a reaper. She doesn't kill people literally, she just helps the dying get to their final resting place, with just a touch of her finger. She works with a partner, Driggs who is a Culler. Culler's capture souls. Drigg's sounds cute and may turn out to be someone Lex may grow to like.
Sounds interesting so far and I loved the concept and mystery of the storyline. I kind of got bored in the middle, and found it to be dragged out at times. Though, I can say the author did peak my interest enough to continue  reading the book, to find out the reasons behind certain deaths, that were mysteriously happening. I knew who the "bad guy" was right from the start, but I was surprised at a death, in the hands of Lex at the end of the book. I don't want to give too much away, but I will say "I didn't see that one coming".

I'm on the fence on rating this book. I want to give it a 4 star rating but find it lacking and thought the author should of turned the story in the direction of Lex going after the "evil" in our world. The concept was there, but wasn't executed in the way I would of liked to see it go in.
Overall I'm giving it  3.5 stars. While the writing style was enjoyable, I just wanted more, more action and more interaction between Lex and Driggs.




3.5/5 stars
                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                         
                                                  

Monday, March 26, 2012

Vampire Vacation by C.J. Ellisson *Review*



Vampire Vacation (The V V Inn, #1)

Paperback
Published October 10th 2010 by RH Publishing (first published September 23rd 2010)
ISBN13
9780982661000
edition language
English




Meet Vivian. She's a 580-year-old vampire who exudes sex, has a talent for drama, and is passionate about two things: her human husband, Rafe, and their resort for the undead. Her ability to project physical illusions has created the perfect vacation spot a dark, isolated Alaskan hideaway where visitors can have their wildest fantasies come true. Vivian knows the best performance requires perfect timing, but the powerful vamp is put to the test when she discovers a corpse in a locked guestroom minutes before the next arrivals. Always cool-headed, Rafe hides the body, convinced he and Vivian can find the culprit without disturbing their guests.

Juggling the increasingly outrageous demands of their customers while tracking a killer isn't easy. Will their poking and prodding give them the answers they need, or will it uncover secrets Vivian would kill to protect?


*Warning: This story contains some explicit sex scenes and is not intended for readers under 18

                                                                                                      

My Review


Vivian an uber powerful vamp, owns VV Inn along with her human husband Rafe. An Inn like no other. Where Vamps come to enjoy extreme pleasures of erotica, in thanks to Vivian's powers.
She can seduce people into thinking or doing whatever she please's. She is sexy, powerful, and shows heart. She and her husband share a special bound together and a loving relationship.

In the heart of all things that go on, on a daily basis at the VV Inn a body is found and the who done it(s) questions arise.
More problems arise, and now Viv needs to find this killer before he kills again.

I really liked this book. The characters were intriguing and the story was well written. I felt the author carried the story well and will continue on to the next book in the series.






                                   



Wednesday, March 7, 2012

FIRELIGHT/ KRISTEN CALLIHAN/ MY REVIEW


                                                                              

 London, 1881
Once the flames are ignited...

.


Firelight (Darkest London, #1)

Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.
They will burn for eternity...
  
Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.~goodreads

                                                                                                                   



My Review~
*Page-turning, mysterious, intriguing, new debut author, must read 2012

Kristen Callihan's debut, Firelight, had me enthralled from the start.


Miranda Ellis is a young woman, with a unique quality, she can provoke and control fire at her will.  Not many know, of her power as she has tried to learn to control and conceal it. But, when needed it proves to be a deadly force, and has ruined her family's fortune. Her father thinks it's time for her to marry and a suitor has called for her.
Lord Benjamin Archer, a mysterious, man of wealth, who is feared amongst  people due to his face, that he hides behind a mask. He is also dangerous and stealthy.


With Lord Archers face comes many secrets that are slowly unfolded throughout the story. As Lord Archer tries his best to conceal himself from Miranda, his new bride, she inturn tries her best to unveil his deep, dark, secret, and goes to great lengths to finally uncover the face behind the mask. Of course finding out the truth does not come without peril, as danger and mystery hides behind every shadow and person Miranda meets. As Miranda tries her best to uncover the truth, her new groom does his best to hide the truth and tries his best to look for a means out of his demise...




*The mystery of the face behind the mask proves to be an enjoyable read. As well as their heated passion that will slowly build throughout the book.
Callihan has a way of writing that will have you turning pages and have you engrossed into the story of what is hidden behind the mask. The build up of the passion these two feel for each other is erotic and lovely all at the same time.


My only gripe with the story, I wished, Callihan could of used her her great story telling skills and put them to use with Miranda's skill and power. I felt the action scenes involving Miranda to be lacking in the imagination department, and felt they were rushed at times. Miranda has confidence, and power, and I felt her strength in the first few chapters in this book, to be exciting! But as chapters wained on, she seemed to lose her confidence and seemed to be weak, at times, and unsure of herself. Her powers could of been used in so many more scenes and they could of been exciting and fierce.  


Maybe it's just my love of action and powerful characters, that I felt this way. Do not let my thoughts deter you from reading this must read of 2012!    4 stars





                                           


*I received this book as an arc, in exchange for a truthful review.