Showing posts with label review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label review. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

BOOK REVIEW: Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Publication Date: August 30, 2011
Synopsis (Goodreads):
Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story...
Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.
So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father’s mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.
When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn’t expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he’s never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.
And she, for whatever reason, spares his life


______________________________

Review:

I’ve been busy for the past few weeks so I had to squeeze minutes everyday  just to read a book. And this time it’s harder because it’s a horror book. Even when I'm not yet sleepy, I quit my reading at night because my imagination was too wild, making myself scared for no reason.

Anyway, I just have to say..Whew! That was one mind thrilling read! I was expecting that because I've heard a lot about the book so when I had the chance when I won a book giveaway, I chose the book. Thanks Melissa of Book Nerd Reviews

The book is about Cas, a ghost hunter and his adventures. When his father died, he took over the job and he's been driven to find who's responsible for his father's death. With his mother, they go to different places just to find those bad ghosts for him to kill and gain experience until he's ready to fight the one he's been wanting to kill for so long. Then he meets Anna dressed in blood, and his plan changes.

I like that the book is narrated from a guy's POV. It's just different because you're in a guys head. It's breathtakingly fresh and good. I like Cas very much. Not just because it's his POV, but because he has a very cool persona. I like how he's so confident about himself, that it's not annoying. Having the kind of job he has, he has a hard time trusting other people. He's afraid of attachment, thus it's just him and his mom. I like how  he learned to trust and love people or a ghost in his case.

I liked all the supporting characters especially Thomas. Love his geekiness! I love how they affected Cas in a good way and make him change his perspective in life. 

I liked how the story flowed. There was never a dull moment. It's either scary, terrifying, sad, funny or sweet. It's an emotional ride so if you haven't read it yet, give this a try! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!


Rating:

Memorable Quotes:

“I’ve seen most of what there is to be afraid of in this world, and to tell you the truth, the worst of them are the ones that make you afraid in the light. The things that your eyes see plainly and can’t forget are worse than huddled black figures left to the imagination. Imagination has a poor memory; it slinks away and goes blurry. Eyes remember for much longer.” 

Monday, January 14, 2013

BLOG TOUR: Evie's Knight by Kimberly Krey (Review and Giveaway)

On tour with Prism Book Tours
Up For Grabs? $50 Amazon Gift card, book swag, and much more!


About Evie’s Knight:


When Evie falls in love with Calvin Knight, their young, virtuous romance conjures a truly wicked spell.



Evie always thought her eighteenth year would be magical, but so far it's not what she hoped for. Her best friend has gone wild, her love life is void, and she misses her mom more than ever. But life for Evie is about to change. Calvin Knight, the object of her fascination, is about to fall madly in love with her. Just one problem: Their love conjures a murderous woman from beyond the grave who wants Evie dead. The same demon who has haunted the Knight men for over four generations. Soon Calvin is forced to make a choice: Set Evie free and hope to evade the wrath of The Raven- haired Ghost, or use his newly gifted strengths to fight against her. If he chooses to fight and wins, Calvin will free the Knight men of this demonic witch. If he loses, Evie will become her next victim.




Review:

The first thing that came to my mind when I saw the cover is Sleeping Beauty. Do I need to explain why? Because of that, I became interested with the book. When I read the blurb, I thought it's a bit similar with fairytales because of the "curse" thing.  So I decided to read this and participate in the blog tour. I want to know what it's all about and how they'll be able to break the curse. 

Evie is just a normal teenager who falls in love with Calvin Knight. Their relationship should be fun, not until a curse comes into picture.

I liked how the book started strong. It instantly caught my attention by giving me a preview of how the curse was made. Basically, the story revolves around the curse and the course of Evie and Calvin's romance. 

Evie has a very likable personality. She just has some abandonment issues because of her mom and past relationship. It's understandable how she reacts and having some insecurities. On the other hand, Calvin is your typical good guy. He's beautiful, a responsible brother and genuinely kind and loving. I can't help but love him too. There's just some parts where he made bad decisions which made me hate him a bit. 

For the story, the falling in love part was fast, which is expected. But I would've liked it more if there's more to it than the two instantly having some attraction to each other. How the book progresses was a bit slow. I'm a fast-paced reader so I was bored at some parts that I almost skipped it. The good thing is that little by little, the author gives you a picture of how the evil witch will be defeated, but as it goes on, you still don't know what will happen. 

Overall it was a good romance fantasy. It was fun, sweet and something new I've read. For those who likes such genre, you may give this a chance. 


Rating:

Memorable Quotes:

"No one is so important that your life depends on them,Evie. No one." 

"People come and go Eve. It's a part of life. You have to live yours so it doesn't revolve around someone else. So that your happiness isn't dependent upon them, their actions, or even their love."

"I also remember not knowing what to do with the hurt once I was done. I had opened up all these wounds, and suddenly they were almost impossible to ignore. "

______________________________



Launching the Tour with Kimberly Krey - 

So I have to say that I absolutely love my original cover. I do. It’s my dream cover for Evie’s Knight. But there came a time when I had to take a second look at it and make a few changes.

Why?

The colorless, thumbnail-sized image didn’t stand out as much as I’d hoped when compared to the others on Amazon. And there’s another reason too. We were missing something. Someone, actually.

We were missing... *drum roll, please* … OUR MAN!!!

I really felt like Calvin needed to be on the front of the novel, more than our Raven-haired Ghost. Calvin Knight, our strong, masculine, and ever so hunky hero deserves to be front and center. And personally, I’m thrilled with the change.

So there we have it kids – a splash of color, our handsome Knight, and a new cover I think represents Evie’s Knight beautifully!

Original Cover      Our Shiny New Cover

(Also new in this edition, is an epilogue which wasn’t included in the original.)

Get Your Copy:

Amazon: ebook just $2.99 for a limited time.



Author, Kimberly Krey:

Writing Romance That’s Clean Without Losing the Steam!

I’m a reader of good, clean romance, a lover of family time and Diet Coke, and the ultimate hater of laundry.
I’m not patient enough to enjoy a yoga class, or tall enough to be great at basketball, but I do love to run – anywhere but on a treadmill. I love the sound of a rainstorm when I have no place to go, the feel of Soft Lips chap Stick on my lips, and the first peek of blue water as we round the mountains toward our favorite getaway in Bear Lake.

Find & Follow Kimberly Krey:



Super Swag-a-licious Giveaway.


Grand Prize: $50 Amazon gift card, a signed paperback of Evie's Knight, SoftLips chapstick, recipe cards, E.K. calendar card, postcard of The Storm, and bookmark.

2nd Prize: $25 Amazon gift card, a signed paperback of Evie's Knight, SoftLips chapstick, recipe cards, E.K. calendar card, postcard of The Storm, and bookmark.

3rd Prize: $10 Amazon gift card, a signed paperback of Evie's Knight, SoftLips chapstick, recipe cards, E.K. calendar card, postcard of The Storm, and bookmark.

Five more winners will receive an ebook version of Evie’s Knight!
Paperback winners may choose between old cover (shown below) or the new cover, featuring Calvin Knight (shown above).

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced on Colorimetry & Rafflecopter as well as emailed to winners who will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Laura, Burgandy Ice, @ www.burgandyice.blogspot.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Catch the Tour:
1 - Min Reads and Reviews – Blast!
1 - Passion and Life – Blast!! – English/Spanish
1 – Kelly Fox – Goodreads Review
1 – I Am A Reader, Not A WriterClean Romance I
2 – Monique Morgan – All You Need is Love I
2 - Letters to the Cosmos – Review
3 – Getting Your Read On – Review - Clean Romance II
3 – Reading with Anacrasia - Interview
4 - Christy’s Cozy Corners – Review
6 – Passion and LifePeaches Recipe & Excerpt – English/Spanish
6 - Paulette’s Papers – All You Need is Love II
7 - Bookworm Lisa – Review - Clean Romance III
7 – Pages of Forbidden Love – Review
8 - Proud Book Nerd – Review
8 - Vanessa Morgan – All You Need is Love III
9 - Kari’s Crowded Bookshelf – Review - 
10 - Geo Librarian – Review
10 - The Literary Forest - Review, Exerpt
11 - InfectedLoser – Review
14 – One A Day YADrafts Guest Post
14 - Little Miss Bookworm – Review
15 – Musings of a Reader Happy – ART excerpt Raven-haired Ghost
15 -  Magical Manuscripts – Review 
16 – Proud Book Nerd – Ultimate Grilled Cheese
17 - Book Sake – Review
18 - Kari’s Crowded Bookshelf – Aromatic Noodles Recipe
20 - A Life Bound by Books – Excerpt I
22 - A Backwards Story – Review, Excerpt III
22 - Passion and Life – Review – English/Spanish
23 - Framed In WordsART Guest Post
23 - Colorimetry – ART Guest Post
24 – Unputdownable BooksART Guest Post
24 - Living a Goddess LifeCrepe Cake
25 – icultgen – Review, ART Guest Post
25 – Pieces of Whimsy - Review
27 – The Reading Diaries – Review
27 - Icefairy’s Treasure ChestExcerpt
28 – Stressed Rach – Review
28 - Literally Jen – Review
29 – Min Reads and Reviews – Review
29 – Colorimetry – Grand Finale, WINNERS drawn


Monday, December 31, 2012

Guest Post by Jackson Keene and eARC Review of Sarah Quanli

Guest Post by Jackson Keene, author of Sara Quanli

Having earned undergrad and grad degrees in history, plus having spent a year toward a doctorate in same, I’ve always had a healthy fascination with long ago events and individuals (whether common folk or famous personages), with major trends and traditions, and how such evolved through time.  It’s interesting to dig deep into how people carried on – how they managed – during the great epochs of past; how they lived, loved, survived, overcome, left legacies and lineages to carry on their name and bloodline.  How each generation is beholden to the last, but still tasked with creating its personal stamp for the next generation to come.
I’ve loved the sport of basketball since childhood.  I greatly like Chinese people and China as a country.  In fact, I have several Chinese friends with whom I play pick-up basketball games most every week.  In addition, I’m an evangelical Christian.  I love action and adventure, both in movies and in reading.  I’m a very passionate (romantic) person.  So it almost seems natural I would write an historical novel with romance and danger that combines all these things into a unified story.
In some ways, the saga of SARAH QUANLI has elements of both The Good Earth and East of Eden.  It’s all about the lives and loves of several generations of a Chinese family, begun when a handsome Scottish missionary marries a beautiful Chinese girl.  The newly published Book One covers the time period from the birth of David Adam MacDougall in 1882 to the birth of his first child, a daughter, named Sarah Quanli MacDougall in 1916.  Books Two, Three, and Four – still to come – will take the reader through the brutality and turmoil of strife-torn twentieth century China, and later, concurrently, through the social upheaval of the 1960s and beyond in golden California.      _____________________________


Publication Date: October 26, 2012
Synopsis: The beautiful yet deceitful Rossalyn McDonald had twisted the knife deep in David Adam MacDougall’s big heart. He was extraordinarily handsome: chiseled muscles, kindly soul, thoughtful personality, and totally faithful. Any other lass in his Scottish Highlands village would have cheated her own sister to become his bride.
Now David’s entire being felt broken into a thousand pieces. Now he only wanted to reach the faraway city of Beiping China where he was called to be a missionary. But before arriving in that mysterious mistress of the orient, he would face uncertain dangers.
The year is 1904. The bloody Boxer Rebellion is only four years past. Much of northern China still seethes with undercurrents of resentment and hatred of all things Western. If David can just make it to the ancient city with body and soul intact, if he can just survive, there he’ll find his new purpose, his new home, and his new people.
There, he’ll meet the woman he comes to believe is the love of his life. The lithe, athletic, saucy, highly intelligent and equally independent Xiu Li!


Review:

It's my first time to read a Historical Romance book so it took time for me to adjust to the writing style of the author.

Basically, the book is about David McDougall's journey from childhood to a grown up man. The book thoroughly narrated his experiences as a child and that explained who how he became to be a wonderful, kind and gorgeous man. Someone who seems to have it all- a great family, friends and love of his life; didn't guarantee a problem-free life. He was betrayed by his fiance and he was badly hurt. So he decided to take a journey to fulfill his calling in Beiping, China. 

Let's start with the positive side of the book. I started to like the book when David made his journey to Beiping. It was definitely a long one but still there were entertaining and full of action scenes. The main character is totally likable. I can't see any flaws about him, which can be a positive or a negative trait but I'll consider it a positive one. I also liked how the title came from. I was having doubts as to who Sarah Quanli was, and then boom!NO SPOILERS! 

Then let's go to the "not so" positive sides. First, there are a lot of supporting characters that made me confused at times. I don't know if that's a part of it because it's a historical book. Anyway,there were also a lot of side stories that I think are mostly unnecessary. I would have liked it better if the flow is organized. 

The book talks more about David's life and his religious journey, which made the romance part cut short. Since this is a Historical Romance, I would really liked it if the romance part is the focus of the book.

Nevertheless, I still enjoyed the book! I had fun with it, for the most parts. So if you're a fan of Historical genre, you may give this a chance.

*Disclaimer: The book has been provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. My views and opinions on the book are all my own.*

Rating:

Memorable Quote:

"God is so real. His words are so real. His plan and Purpose for your life is so real. Reach out to him. Reach out, and he will meet you more than halfway, I assure you."





Monday, December 10, 2012

BOOK REVIEW: Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1) by Rachel Mead


Publication Date: August 16, 2007
Synopsis (Goodreads):
St. Vladimir's Academy isn't just any boarding school-it's a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They've been on the run, but now they're being dragged back to St. Vladimir's-the very place where they're most in danger. . . . Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy's ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi-the world's fiercest and most dangerous vampires-make Lissa one of them forever.




______________________________

Review:


Before I go to the review proper, I just want to say, now I know why they compared Pure by Jennifer Armentrout to Vampire Academy. If you haven't read Pure yet, I must warn you. This part may contain some spoilers. 
Basically, Pure is not about Vampires but the construction of characters and storyline are similar. Both main characters have gone away from the academy and when they got back, they were given punishment and had to train with someone. That someone, as the story went on, is their love interest. Also, both characters have the same personality- stubborn,strong-willed and protective of those important to them. One thing that sets them apart is the reason of the main character's existence. Both books are good but I liked Pure better. I don't know if it's because I read it first or maybe just because the flow of the story for Pure was better. 

Anyway,let's go back to the REVIEW part.

______________________________


Rose, the main character is most of the time annoying but there are times when I start to like her then she goes back to being annoyingly stubborn again. She's overprotective of Lissa so she had the tendency to be bad and push people away. What I like about her over protectiveness is that she's being selfless and thinks about Lissa more than herself. I like her strong-willed and outgoing character.

Lissa,a Moroi Vampire Princess and Rose's bestfriend, is kind, beautiful and fragile. It seems she's always the one needs saving but in the latter part of the story, she realizes she also has the power to protect the ones she loves. 

The characters are good but I had the hard time connecting with them. I may have liked them at some parts but I wasn't really into them.

I was a bit confused on the first parts of the book because some terms,like Strigoi or Moroi were not defined as it was first mentioned. I just realized who they are as the story went on. I haven't read the blurb, I just went straight to reading the book so I had no idea. Again, my mistake. 

It has a slow start but as the story went on it caught up with the pace I liked. The story itself is very intriguing and there are tidbits of unpredictability which is good. It wasn't entirely focused on romance so I'm glad. The romance parts are cute and lovely. They made me smile.

Overall, I liked and enjoyed the book despite some issues. I'll definitely read the next book. If you want to read a vampire book which isn't just about the good looks, read this one!

Rating:




Memorable Quotes:

“If I let myself love you, I won't throw myself in front of her. I'll throw myself in front of you.” 

“Taking a deep breathe, I made one of the hardest decisions of my life.
I walked away.” 


Saturday, November 17, 2012

BOOK REVIEW: Reflected in You by Sylvia Day (Crossfire #2)

Publication Date: October 2, 2012
Synopsis (Goodreads):
Gideon Cross. As beautiful and flawless on the outside as he was damaged and tormented on the inside. He was a bright, scorching flame that singed me with the darkest of pleasures. I couldn’t stay away. I didn’t want to. He was my addiction… my every desire… mine.


My past was as violent as his, and I was just as broken. We’d never work. It was too hard, too painful… except when it was perfect. Those moments when the driving hunger and desperate love were the most exquisite insanity.

We were bound by our need. And our passion would take us beyond our limits to the sweetest, sharpest edge of obsession…

______________________________

Review:
Here's the thing. I really liked the first book of the series so I was so excited to read the sequel. And after reading it, I was speechless! Sorry to say, but I'm speechless in a not so good way. I'm one of the few who didn't like this book as much as the first one.

If you have read the first one already, you'll know that both Gideon and Eva have their own dark pasts. So their relationship- physical and emotional- is complicated. I was expecting that for this second book, I will be enlightened more on their past especially Gideon's. To tell you the truth, I expected A LOT from the book and it's my mistake for doing that.

I was totally disappointed. :( 

If it's about the sex and hot scenes, there's definitely a bunch of them. It's an erotica book so that's a given. But I would have appreciated it more if it was focused more on the storyline rather than the sex parts. It was a bit lacking for me. I don't know how to explain but I weren't satisfied with how it was written and on how the story flowed. The push and pull relationship they have is quite tiring. I really want to like the book but there's just too much was going on. 

Maybe the saving grace of the book was the last parts when I finally understood what was happening. Other positive side that I like is that both characters were able to grow a little bit although I won't even notice that, if it wasn't mentioned in the book.

If you ask me if I would read the third book,my answer is YES! I still want to know the real story behind Gideon's personality and I want to believe it'll get better. But this book definitely tuned down my excitement for the next one. 

Recommended? Not really. 
If you read the first book and liked it, maybe you should read this book and see it for yourself.


Rating:
SORRY. NO GOOD for me.


Memorable Quotes:

"Sometimes love isn't enough. And if it's not enough, what good is it?"

Gideon: "Where do we go from here?"
Eva: "Wherever this takes us. Together."