Claire Reads: 250 Follower Giveaway!

http://clairelouisereads.blogspot.in/2012/03/250-follower-giveaway.html  

I have reached 250 followers! It is absolutely amazing to see the numbers grow so fast! I feel like celebrating with all my followers to say thank you!

I'm going to pick one winner for hitting the 250 mark. If we make it to 300 before the giveaway ends, I'll add another winner. I'll keep adding a winner for each 50 mark we hit! As for prizes, I have compiled 4 prize packs which consist of 3 books each! The winner(s) will then pick which pack they want the most! EASY!

Darkest London #1 Firelight

Its the medieval London and its a gothic retelling of the classic Beauty & the Beast....and its beautifully done. Presenting Darkest London #1 Firelight by Kristen Callihan.

Here is the summary of the book:

London, 1881. Once the flames are ignited . . . 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.

Its Gothic London and its a new retelling of the classic Beauty & The Beast, giving it new dynamic and a new meaning in a different period of time. Miranda Ellis, a woman of deep secrets must marry Lord Benjamin Archer, the masked mystery, why because three years prior when was going to kill her father for his sins, she had awoken something within him that he had never felt before. And he makes good of his plans.

Miranda agrees to marry Lord Archer because she feels she is the sole reason of the misfortune that had befallen her father. So with her head held high and a firm step forward, Miranda agrees to marry the mysterious Lord and thereby enters a world, not her own. A world full of deceit, power, lust and darkness. It does not take her long to see that behind the mask adorned day after day, there is lonely man inside but strange things are going around in the aristocrat circle, prominent members of well known aristocratic families are being murdered and Archer finds himself in the center of the action leading Miranda into doubting his innocence. But deep down she knows things are much worse than they appear to be. It is now upto Miranda to see what lays beneath the mask and Archer to make himself feel the things that he had long since forbidden himself to feel and save himself from his impending doom.

An exceptional star cast, the perfect Gothic London and the mysterious dark element surrounding it all. Kristen Callihan has done an exceptional job. Miranda is a force to be reckoned with, a strong female who has a big curiosity streak and an exceptional beauty. Archer is the big mysterious behind the mask whoever he has ever laid eyes on has disliked him. The plot itself is nail biting and makes you sit on the edges anticipating about what happens next. There is enough happening in here that you definitely won't be distracted for once.

Miranda and Archer complement each other in their own ways. Miranda is strong and very curious while Archer is many more layers hidden underneath the mask that he caters around. At first Miranda is weary of Archer but she soon finds out that the rumors about him were unfounded to a large extent and comes to care for him, even love him. The one thing I appreciate about this book is that the author weaved such a prose that it is enough to imagine the gothic London and the scenes of the book materializing in front of us, making us interested to know the welfare of Archer and Miranda.

"Archer and Miranda are sure going to leave you very hot and bothered"

Genre :      Adult Fiction, Gothic


Publisher: Grand Central Publishing


My Copy: Publisher and netgalley


Rate:              5/5 (It was Awesome)

The Chemical Garden #2 Fever

They escaped, and land themselves in trouble but can't seem to evade the in-laws at all. Presenting my views of Chemical Garden #2 Fever by Lauren DeStefano.

Here is the summary of the book:

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind. Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness. The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary. In the sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price - now that she has more to lose than ever.


So Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion and are out in the real world but while the mansion had its own problem and troubles, there are worst in the outside world. In the mansion Rhine had to only worry about her psychotic father-in-law doing whatever mad things he did in the basement and being sister wives in what was like a prison to her. But out and about in the real world away from the comfort of the mansion, one not only are they falling into one trouble after another but her psychotic father-in-law is also not far behind.

All Rhine wants is to find her twin Rowan but its not that easy, once they are out of the mansion they fall headlong into a big trap of a carnival which has more to it that just giant spinning wheels and bright big light, and another problem begins, Rhine starts to feel ill. In that condition they escape the carnival with help and journey through to Manhattan, where her brother lives. But her illness is taking a toll on her and her conditions are also deteriorating and Gabriel is seriously questioning their decisions so far.

Book 2 is by far an improvement over the first, the one thing I like about the series is the world building and the concept of dystopia woven perfectly together. While Rhine life in Linden's mansion was an odyssey but so is her journey in the outside world with Gabriel. The outside world is not safe, there is too much at stake. The hardships they go through getting to Manhattan is very empowering and makes the book worthwhile. All Rhine wants is not to be tied down in a sort of a prison as a sister wife and definitely not give her creepy father-in-law Vaughn the chance to butcher her body after she dies for his insane experiments of finding the cure.

But even then she can't seem to forget Linden at all. That was actually the one thing that didn't sit well with me, Rhine claims Gabriel is her true love but what I actually felt was just a sort of an obligation between them, while Gabriel appears to really care for Rhine but there is not much chemistry between them whereas she may have come to love Linden but Wither had majority of scenes with Linden and Rhine together and in Fever Rhine can't seem to forget Linden at all, maybe she is actually supposed to be with Linden and not Gabriel. So that didn't really sit well with me. Vaughn proved again the best antagonist so far. And the ending proved just the icing needed. Lauren DeStefano has woven a wonderful storyline in this book with just the perfect setting and the perfect characters needed.

"A beautiful cover and a compelling storyline"

Genre :      Young Adult, Dystopia


Publisher: Simon & Schuester 


Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

In My Mailbox #4 [March]

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme run by The Story Siren which explores the books that have been delivered to our mailbox. Let us know what looks good to you and leave us a link so we can check out what you got over the week.

This will be my fourth IMM post and it will be for the month of March, 2012. Click the name of the books to access their goodreads descriptions.

For Review

Netgalley

Artemis Fowl #1 Artemis Fowl - Eoin Colfer

Artemis Fowl #2 The Arctic Incident - Eoin Colfer

Steampunk Chronicles #2 The Girl in the Clockwork Collar - Kady Cross

Blood of Eden #1 The Immortal Rules - Julie Kagawa

Nightwatchers #1 Dark Kiss - Michelle Rowen

Bought

Steampunk Chronicles #0.5 The Strange Case of Finley Jayne - Kady Cross

Steampunk Chronicles #1 The Girl in the Steel Corset - Kady Cross

The Cahill Witch Chronicles #1 Born Wicked - Jessica Spotswood

Goddess Hunt #1.5 The Goddess Hunt - Aimee Carter

Stefan's Diaries #5 The Asylum - Kevin Williamson, Julie Plec, L.J. Smith

Spellbound #2 Spellcaster

One enemy defeated and another rises to the occasion, can Brendan and Emma brave this storm and come out unscathed...Presenting Spellbound #2 Spellcaster by Cara Lynn Shultz.

Here is the summary of the book:

Finding your eternal soulmate - easy. Stopping a true-love-hungry evil - not so much… After breaking a centuries-old romantic curse, Emma Connor is (almost) glad to get back to normal problems. Although...it's not easy dealing with the jealous cliques and gossip that rule her exclusive Upper East Side prep, even for a sixteen-year-old newbie witch. Having the most-wanted boy in school as her eternal soul mate sure helps ease the pain-especially since wealthy, rocker-hot Brendan Salinger is very good at staying irresistibly close....But something dark and hungry is using Emma and Brendan's deepest fears to reveal damaging secrets and destroy their trust in each other. And Emma's crash course in über-spells may not be enough to keep them safe…or to stop an inhuman force bent on making their unsuspected power its own.

They had braved one storm but can they do it again when the enemy is more more powerful than the previous one and from the past none the less. Brendan and Emma are blissfully in love and trying to brave high school. There is a new enemy on the horizon threatening once again the peace and their love, an enemy that has roots in both Brendan and Angelique's life. An enemy (sorry i'm not naming the person) who would stop at nothing to seize power and would stop at nothing to make Emma bleed for it. 

An enemy with the blackest of hearts and viola another of Emma and Brendan's past lives comes to play their part in their present lives. This battle will take every ounce of power from both Brendan and Emma. What matters the most now is trust, trust and trust.....and a lot of love too. (ohh for the note I've tried to keep it spoiler free since the book is not out yet but if you guys read thoroughly you'll find subtle spoiler alerts here and there)

Spellcaster is a much needed improvement, we finally have a worthy and a mysterious antagonist, Emma finally comes into her own and Brendan becomes more protective and both of them are nauseatingly in love than ever and Angelique helps in every way she can. The narrative this time is much more powerful than before and much more attuned than ever. The conclusion of the book is a very fitting and a beautiful scene.

"Cara Lynn has delivered another spellbinding read with Spellcaster"

Genre :      Young Adult, Urban Fantasy


Publisher: Harlequin Teen


My Copy: Publisher and netgalley


Rate:              5/5 (It was Awesome)

Spellbound #1 Spellbound

Again like goddess test series i'd like to thank netgalley for the wake up call to read these wonderful books beforehand and not disappointed at all...*swoon*. Anyways presenting Spellbound #1 Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz.

Here is the summary of the book:

What's a girl to do when meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death? Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Connor, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight. But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.

Emma Connor comes to live with her aunt Christine after getting into an awful accident with her very drunk step father, finally deciding enough was enough and no mom or twin brother left tying her to Keansburg, New Jersey. So off to New York, she goes. Her aunt enters her to Vincent Academy. The school is for the lack of a better word a place to flaunt their money under the plaid school uniform. Emma feels the odd one out but she is not alone, she finds herself a few friends in the form of the exuberant Cisco, the reluctant friend Jenn and the witch-chic Angelique (seriously she is a real witch..not the wand waving one but the Salem-esque type) and something more too, Brendan Salinger, her boyfriend. Not just that but her true love, soulmate in the purest and the truest senses. And a centuries old necklace that connects them both in more ways than one.

Spellbound is different in more ways than one from any books that I have read before. The setting for the plot is very simple, its everyday life at its fullest where the supernatural runs amok. Both Emma and Brendan have a marvelous chemistry. Emma comes from a small town and has got a pretty high loser radar while Brendan comes from a rich socialite family, rolling in the riches, rightly the opposites do attract. But the one thing they have in common is that they are impossibly and irrevocably Spellbound with each other, in love and would do anything for each other even if it involves cliff jumping to save their better half's life. The narrative is also pretty simple and very regal, kudos to Cara Lynn for coming up with such a beautiful and simple plot. Stay tuned for the review for the next book coming up next.

"Spellbinding and elegant, the love that Emma and Brendan share will definitely draw you in"

Genre :      Young Adult, Urban Fantasy


Publisher: Harlequin Teen


My Copy: Publisher and netgalley


Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

Revenants #1 Die For Me

An eye-catching and an attractive cover, definitely not like twilight at all....read on I'll explain what I'm saying. Presenting Revenants #1 Die For Me by Amy Plum.

Here is the summary of the book:

In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity. When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent. Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

This was sitting on my to-be-read pile since it came out but I though why not just buy it and see what the deal was because a lot of reviewers said that it was a twilight rip-off and frankly i'm sick of those sparkly vampires....so now that I have read it I can tell you all it definitely is not like Twilight at all....read on why and how.

Kate and her sister Georgina lost both their parents in a car accident and have moved to Paris with their grandparents, for a much needed change of air and also to try and move on from their griefs. Loosing their parents and coping is proving a bit difficult for Kate who has closed off herself completely from the world but there in she finds her distraction in the form of tall, dark and handsome Vincent.While his antics and his Paris-y romantic attitude proves a great distraction and Kate definitely can't seem to not think about him but there is something else about his demeanor, underneath all the cheery attitude lies a big secret that he is hiding. Will Kate still love him when she finds out about what he is or will she rationalize it and stay away. There is one thing for sure Paris definitely proved to be a distraction for her.

Die for Me proved to be a very easy read, I actually finished it in one sitting. The characters are definitely well laid out and believable. Kate with her grief and the burgeoning love for Vincent who is a revenant (one who come back after they die...no not vampires or zombies); and Vincent with his impulses to save people's life form an unlikely and a very lovable pair....there chemistry is very palpable. The plot is also well layered and precise (again not like Twilight where a single thing needs to be explained in hundreds of pages). The only problem I had was with the revenant laws which were a bit confusing to say the least but it all pays well with a fitting battles and a beautiful conclusion. Great job by Amy Plum. I am definitely on board for this next book.

"Like Twilight - Definitely not!"

Genre :      Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance


Publisher: HarperTeen


Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

His Fair Assassin #1 Grave Mercy

A million thank yous to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for putting it up for 2 days promotion on netgalley, you made my day. Presenting my views of the much anticipated book, His Fair Assassin #1 Grave Mercy by Robin L. LaFevers.

Here is the summary of the book:

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf? Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others. Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

We are born in this world for a reason; a purpose that must be seen through. No one comes here to get wasted. Some are born to lead, some to follow orders while some are to carry out the almighty's will. Centered around this fact is the series His Fair Assassin. Of death's own hand-maidens, looking for his marquee and met out his will.

Based in 1485 circa, Brittany, young Ismae is rescued from a heartless and cruel life; raised from the cellar door and taken in by the convent of St. Mortain and trained in the arts of being an assassin, carrying out the will of Mortain, death himself. Ismae is well on her path to take the final vows when she is given the final test, to go to the royal court and root out the treachery abound, protect her lordship, the Duchess and prevent another war with the French. With her only in this ordeal, the closest adviser of the Duchess, Lord Duval, Ismae plays her role perfectly but all of Ismae's training proves to be wisp of smoke in the face of the cut throat life of court but can she protect heart in this extraordinary test... Maybe St. Mortain is with mercy and not vengeance after all.

Narrative of a period dialect and the grace of the french tongue, Robin LaFevers delivers a tantalizing masterpiece. There is treachery, there is deceit, there is vengeance, but there is also love and mercy. It is but how we interpret the ways of the lord that matters not what people tell us about them. The plot is well layered and extremely well textured, the characters fleshed out, very believable and easy to connect with and the conclusion satisfying. Ismae, Duval, the Duchess, Beast, De Lorney and the lot offer us every spices of life and the chemistry between Ismae and Duval is very attractive and sure enough we find ourselves rooting for them both till the end.

"Grave Mercy is but the beginning - a powerful beginning at that - leaving us hungry for more" 

Genre :      Historical Fiction, Romance


Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt


My Copy: Publisher and netgalley


Rate:              5/5 (It was Awesome)

Fallen #3.5 Fallen In Love

There are many kinds of love in the world, present in all shapes and forms, present all around us. A toast to the day celebrating love, aka Valentin'e Day; presenting this short Fallen #3.5 Fallen in Love by Lauren Kate.

Here is the summary of the book:

Unexpected. Unrequited. Forbidden. Eternal. Everyone has their own love story. And in a twist of fate, four extraordinary love stories combine over the course of a romantic Valentine's Day in Medieval England. Miles and Shelby find love where they least expect it. Roland learns a painful lesson about finding-and losing love. Arianne pays the price for a love so fierce it burns. And for the first -and last- time, Daniel and Luce will spend a night together like none other. Lauren Kate's FALLEN IN LOVE is filled with love stories . . . the ones everyone has been waiting for. True love never says goodbye. . .  

The final book of the Fallen series is about to come out and its time for a little love fest (well Valentine's Day is already gone for the year but so what..) in this short featuring our favorite characters Miles, Shelby, Rowland, Cam, Arianne, Tess and of course the main couple Daniel and Lucinda.

This short happens just around the end of the third book, Passion when Daniel sends Miles and Shelby back to their own time in the announcer but something goes wrong and instead they wound up in another era and on Valentine's day to be exact, a prehistoric version of the fest and another incarnation of Lucinda awaiting to spend this day with Daniel. To make this happen, so that they at least are able to spend one and only Valentine's Day together, the others help remembering snippets of their own loves and of loves lost and gained in that era.

Fallen in Love, is an ode to love, one of the most basic of emotions in whether mortals, angels or demons. Lauren Kate's narrative is as beautiful, fluid and tranquil as ever, making us readers feel what the characters are feeling along. Love can be of any kind; friendship, of the same sex, between parents and their children, requited, unrequited, or the kind of love transcending through time that Daniel and Lucinda share between them. That little surprise called the excerpt from Rapture at the end of the book just marks the cake finishing...so excited to know the end.

"Fallen in Love, is an ode to love"

Genre :      Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance


Publisher: Delacorte Press Books


Rate:              4/5 (Really Liked It)

Across The Universe #2 A Million Suns

God I hate my long pile of to-be-read books...made me wait to read this wonderful book for so long. My views for the wonderfully written sequel, Across the Universe #2 A Million Suns by Beth Revis.

Here is the summary of the book:

Godspeed was once fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos. It’s been three months. In that time, Amy has learned to hide who she is. Elder is trying to be the leader he’s always wanted to be. But as the ship gets more and more out of control, only one thing is certain: They have to get off the ship.

Godspeed is fueled by lies but now its chaos. Things are deteriorating. Since Eldest died and Elder took control of the ship, he discontinued the use of Phydus and gave back free will to the people on board. Resulting in the crew on board moving towards a constant state of entropy without any checks. Rebellion, constant fights, food shortage, work force strike, stampedes have become the order of the day.

Amidst  all this Amy and Elder race to uncover the truth that had been hidden since the plague elder more precisely since the Elder system began and uncover the truth hidden deep with the many layers of the ship. Also try to find the reasons as to why Godspeed hasn't reached Centauri-Earth yet and why the engines aren't working properly. But most importantly why had Orion left all these clues littered about and why call Amy his contingency plan. Maybe it is time they break free of the bondage that is Godspeed and search the million suns for answers.

The character development is marvelous. We see Elder truly struggling with his duties. Since the plague the people have been under the effects of Phydus and taking them off it in an instant and not getting them transitioned slowly to it and you can't just expect the people to listen pertaining to the paradigm shift, and hope that they would go with it.  

Amy is facing problems of her own. Out of all the interracial dark skinned inhabitants of the ship she is the odd one out, the freak as they had labelled her. Orion has left her clues to the mystery that is Godspeed. Also the narrative of the plot is well placed, with every chapter alternating between Amy and Elder's POVs, spring twists after twists upon us anticipating readers as one by one the deep layers of Godspeed are unveiled and Amy and decide that they must get off that ship if they ever want to get to their destination.

It is said that book 2s in a series are a way to bridge the gap between the first book and the epic finales but here it is not so. Beth Revis delivers a powerfully compact next chapter in the life of Amy and Elder on the ship that brought them together.

Now, i'm sure you all remember I had an interview with Beth Revis last year (don't remember? Click Here), and she mentioned two mistakes that shape this book, now I have to read book one again to make a head or tail of it. But what a sequel it was...oh I need SHADES OF EARTH and I need it now....GOD THIS WAIT WOULD BE AGONY.

"Best sequel ever!"

Genre :      Sci-fi, Dystopia


Publisher: Razorbill


My Copy: Courtesy of a giveaway hosted at FicBookReviews


Rate:              5/5 (It was Awesome)

The Wardstone Chronicles #7 The Spook's Nightmare

Presenting The Wardstone Chronicles #7 The Spook's Nightmare by Joseph Delaney.

Here is the summary of the book:

The Spook, Tom and Alice return from Greece to find the County under siege - and the Spook's home burnt to the ground. With his precious library of knowledge destroyed, they seek refuge on the nearby island of Mona. But with Mona in the thrall of a twisted Shaman there is little respite from hostility or denizens of the dark. And as Alice dodges the ever-tightening net of the island's witch hunters, a more deadly enemy emerges... Bony Lizzie, freshly-escaped from the Spook's bonds, has grand ambitions: to take for herself the throne of isle. She has harnessed the services of a tunnel-dwelling buggane, an evil creature which thrives on stealing the animas, or life force, from its unsuspecting victims. With the buggane as her secret weapon can she become an all-powerful Witch Queen?

Its a complete and utter nightmare, the invading army has gotten deeper into the County, plungging and looting everything in their way. The Spook's Chippenden house is also not spared, everything was burnt to ashes, the roof gone...with the roof the Boggart protecting the house is also gone. Time's are hard, people are fleeing the County, leaving everything behind to evade being taken prisoner. 

The distraught Spook, Tom and Alice have no choice but to flee. They hire a boat and sail to the nearest island of Mona but there their troubles take on their own different forms, in the name of Bony Lizzie, Alice's mother who had escaped from the pit after the Spook's Chippenden house was pillaged, looted and burned and why is Tom having nightmares of the Goddess Morrigan telling him not to come to Ireland? Weird but let's focus on Lizzy, the Buggane and that Shaman here, we can focus on Morrigan in the next book.....

As of the previous Wardstone Chronicles books, this one too is packed with action and the perfect hair raising narrative , fit to be read around Hallows eve but a change is in site, with the lose of all the books in his library, we see a certain change in the Spook, a depression. He knows he is getting old but he is also going through his own version of nightmare, all his collections are lost, his library that accumulated knowledge of a generations of Spooks can never be replaced(as a book junkie I can relate). For Alice and Tom, sorry no change at all but it was the encounter with things of the dark that was the most gripping parts of the book. So definitely excited to start the next book and hope the movie of the first book called 'The Seventh Son' with Ben Barnes and Jeff Bridges comes out beautifully with the touch of the Spooky.

"The Spook faces his worst nightmare ever in this hair-raising next book of the Wardstone Chronicles"

Genre :      Young Adult, Fantasy


Publisher: Red Fox


Rate:              3/5 (Liked It)

My Fourth Blog Award: One Lovely Blog Award

I have been awarded the "One Lovely Blog Award" by Debdutta @BooK ReviewS!!!

This is my third blog award literally but this is my fourth blog Award(check my awards here to two what I mean)

So Now I Gotta:

1. Link back to the person that bestowed the award upon you.
2. Follow the person that bestowed the award upon you.
3. Pass along to 15 Lovely Bloggers!


And The Lovely Blog Award goes to:

1. ***Singing and Reading in the Rain***

2. -Love of Books-

3. .Xpresso Reads.

4. .Ya-Aholic.

5. A Librarian's Library

6. A Backwards Story

7. A Book Between

8. A book from Snowy River

9. A Night's Dream of Books

10. A Spark Of Interest-Books for Teens

11. Alison Can Read

12. All about me...

13. Baggins's Book Blabber

14. Better Read than Dead

15. Bibliophile's Corner

Goddess Test #2 Goddess Interrupted

Before I begin I'd like to say thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin for providing an e-galley and being the wake up to start reading Goddess Test series. Marriage changes things a lot...read on....presenting my views of Goddess Test #2 Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter.

Here is the summary of the book:

Kate Winters has won immortality. But if she wants a life in the Underworld with Henry, she’ll have to fight for it. Becoming immortal wasn’t supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she’s as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he’s becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate’s coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans. As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future. Henry’s first wife, Persephone.

Marriage is big change for mortals as well as immortals. Kate Winters has married Henry, aka Hades, aka the Lord of the Underworld; meaning she passed the test, set up by the council and thwarted all the attempts on her life by Calliope, one of the members of the council, aka Hera. Why Calliope killed all the previous girls and did all she could to prevent Kate from succeeding....she felt cheated by the husband (Walter/Zeus) and felt she and Henry were kindred spirits; she loves Henry and because of that won't let anybody near him....epic fail Calliope because Kate passed and Henry cares maybe even loves her and he'll never be yours.

So back to the story Kate married Henry, is now immortal and as agreed she is to spend 6 months with Henry in the underworld and the other 6 on the surface. For the first six she spends it in Greece with James/Hermes (no scandal there, they went as friends). Now she is back and about to be crowned the Queen of the Underworld, and Henry is back in his gruff and emotionless shell and Kate can't find the Henry with whom she had spent time on the surface. But trouble is also not far behind. Disaster strikes as she is about to say yes....one that begins with 'Cal' and ends with 'ope'. She is back for revenge and this time she has all the time in the world...got the hint??Not Yet?? Well Calliope runs to daddy to help get what she wants.

The council does everything but at the end are incapacitated. So its upto Kate, Ava and James to help but even they need help to access parts of the underworld that even James can't breech. The only one who can do that is Henry's first wife Persephone, the cause of Henry's loneliness and broken heart.

If you though the first book was different then this definitely tops it off. Things are very different now. Kate finally realizes the true meaning of marriage and being immortal. She wants to heal the loneliness and pain Henry's first wife had caused him centuries ago but here's the thing that Kate need to know, him and Persephone have been together for centuries. While Persephone may not have loved Henry like he did but that long a time can't be forgotten in the blink of an eye, add to that Henry has been alone for far too long...all he needs is time and Kate needs to give it to him and maybe even a big wake up to get him to see that Kate loves with all her being and wants to spend eternity with him not leave him alone.

Aimee Carter hats off to you for creating such a beautiful story and giving it such a huge turn with the second book. The narrative is impeccable. The characters have even more added layers that we get to unearth as we flip through the pages and Persephone was a joy to read about. Henry becomes much more closer to our hearts after reading about his life and the reasons for his present self from the culprit herself and that big cliffhanger...Ms. Carter you're killing us with anticipation for the finale.

"The true meaning of life and love become clearer...will Kate give him time or will it be too late"

Genre :      Young Adult, Mythology


Publisher: Harlequin Teen


My Copy: Netgalley and publisher


Rate:              5/5 (It was Awesome)

Goddess Test #1 The Goddess Test

You know mythology and have a wonderful twist to add in your mind that doesn't distort the original, then you are good to go. Its beautiful, its serene and its my new favorite Goddess Test #1 The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter.

Here is the summary of the book:

In a modern-day take on the myth of Persephone, 18-year-old Kate Winters is thrust into a mythical world, where she must pass seven impossible tests and outsmart a spiteful god in order to save the life of not just her mother but of her captor as well.

Kate Winters and her mom move from New York to Eden. Kate's mother is on her death bed and she wants to spend the last days of her life in Eden where she grew up. There in Eden she meets a lot of interesting characters who unbeknownst to her are going to shape her future.Maybe it was destiny or maybe it was preordained by some higher power that we could only imagine but she ends up in that big old Eden Mansion, vying to buy her mother some time on the Earth before she dies because she had seen the things that the master of the mansion, Henry could do and he had already promised her he would help.....but there is a catch he wants her to read up Persephone's myth....(weird!)

Now Kate is inside the Eden Mansion waiting to get tested to become the handsome and brooding Henry's wife....that was the catch so that Kate's new friends Ava and James are not harmed. These important test...well neither she nor the one's in her vicinity know what and how they are going to be done so precautions are taken as there have been many err.... accidents in the past.

Kate's life is in a turmoil, she is not even of age and is suddenly asked to marry a guy who she doesn't even know anything about. To be frank he actually scares her little bit but as she spends more and more time around him, she starts to see this nice and charming guy underneath all those heavy layers of seriousness, he has just been lonely and heartbroken for so long that he had turned off his emotions and retreated so far within himself. Going even far to say she has actually come to love him very much and actually see a possible future for both. But then reality crashed....she still needs to pass those nefarious tests to become his wife and there is a murderer on the loose....

The Goddess Test is a beautiful rendition by Aimee Carter without changing even one detail of the original mythology, Greek Mythology, she has delivered a marvelous composition. Every mythologies character is true to their original tale...just modernized (and a little name change). Kate and Henry's chemistry is off the charts, they complement each other so well, the parts of the book with their interactions was the best of the whole lot. The narrative is very simple and up to date, the plot build up is also done wonderfully....so I'm still swoony over Kate and Henry they make the perfect pair...

"Its beautiful - its swoon-worthy - its serene....Aimee Carter has added a new perspective to the Greek Mythology"

Genre :      Young Adult, Mythology


Publisher: Harlequin Teen


Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

Bookfever ♥: **March giveaway**

Bookfever ♥: **March giveaway**: <img src="http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x...

The Violet Eden Chapters #1: Embrace

Good old Angels, Bible and a little bit of a twist to add to the mix. Presenting The Violet Eden Chapters #1 Embrace by Jessica Shirvington.

Here is the summary of book:

It starts with a whisper: “It’s time for you to know who you are…” Violet Eden dreads her seventeenth birthday. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. As if that wasn’t enough, disturbing dreams haunt her sleep and leave her with very real injuries. There’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms that wasn’t there before. Violet is determined to get some answers, but nothing could have prepared her for the truth. The guy she thought she could fall in love with has been keeping his identity a secret: he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her. A centuries-old battle between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity has chosen its new warrior. It’s a fight Violet doesn’t want, but she lives her life by two rules: don’t run and don’t quit. When angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden… Look for the sequels ENTICED in September 2012 and EMBLAZE in March 2013!


Embrace tells us the story of a girl about to turn 17, Violet Eden. Whose only care is - how to tell her hunky trainer, Lincoln that she has feelings for him. But things seem to never go as planned, on her 17th birthday she finds out that she is a Grigori, half-angel, half-human and to make matters worse Lincoln is one too and her partner (well Grigori partners) and had been withholding this information from her, waiting for her to come off age. Note being Grigori partners makes it impossible for Violet and Lincoln to be together (as their calling says).


Now she has some serious decision making to do. She can either continue her human existence or embrace her Grigori destiny. That's not all there is to Violet's love life, you can add the dark and mysterious exile Angel Phoenix and viola...a love triangle! Now exiles of any category, dark or light (exiles are the angels who have abandoned the angel realm) are supposed to be dire enemies of the Grigori but Phoenix somehow seems to guiding Violet in making her decisions.... but is it all there is or is there an ulterior motive to it all and can Violet come out of this unscathed or will she be tainted forever.


Embrace is one book you don't wanna miss. Packed with strong characters - a strong heroine who is not at all behind in stating her views, then there is Lincoln, who is the hunky trainer, he clearly has strong feelings for Violet but then being Grigori partners stops him from acting on his feelings and finally there is the third wheel in this seductive love triangle, the exile angel Phoenix, who defends Violet but at the same time is very creepy. Miss Shirvington has done a great job in building these characters and OMG the chemistry they share is just so life like and real.


Aside from the swoon-worthy love triangle, Embrace is an action packed novel, a brilliant start to the Violet Eden Chapters (to think I actually finished this book in one sitting). This just portrays that with the right mind and a brilliant plot you can do wonders. Embrace is a fabolous page turner, compelling, mysterious, dynamic and Jessica Shirvington, we bow to you...you have added a new and a strong dimension to the angel lore.

"Its compelling and seductive - the chemistry between Violet, Lincoln and Phoenix is just phenomenal and ....so HOT...."

Genre :      Fiction, Romance, Paranormal


Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire


My Copy: Via Hollow Readers for mass review (check other review links here)


Rate:              5/5 (It was Awesome)