Valia Lind's Blog, page 27

Book Haul & Bloopers (watch at your own risk)

Hello lovelies,
So just like I mentioned in the video, I don't know if this middle of the night vlogging is a good idea. Am I scary?
Anyway, enjoy all the goodies I got!




People I mentioned:

http://www.youtube.com/user/thereadables
Amber - http://www.youtube.com/user/AmberPepper
Appraising Pages - http://appraisingpages.com

IF you're still with me, leave me suggestions below! 

What did you get in your mailbox? 

Hugs and Happy reading!!! 
Valia

Book Spotlight: Defiance by C.J. Redwine

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.
From Goodreads.com


       I read this book in March. I was the lucky winner of the first ever ARC and I couldn't wait to read it. The story sounds so amazing and I couldn't wait to hear what happens.
       So now I’m writing a review of Defiance. Oh My Goodness!!!! 
I devoured this book. *Jumps up and down in happiness* It's soooo good! A total win!
Thank you for sharing my enthusiasm! :)(Sorry, I just had to take a moment and freak out a little bit. )
Rachel is so broken and real and powerful. I loved reading her struggle to keep herself from losing all that she is and discovering what makes her the kind of person she needs and wants to be. C.J. describes her journey very well. I loved the action scenes! She's definitely kick butt kind of a girl! Logan is *swoons* *faints* *passes out from awesome*
        LOGAN!!!! (by the way, I adore that name).
 I’m sorry I just can’t help myself. His voice is so raw and beautiful! I loved his character, his mind, his everything.  Their relationship is officially one of my favorites. 
Sometimes I feel there are too many "love at first sight" "omw he's so cute, I just met him but he's my soulmate" kind of relationships. Not that I don’t appreciate those once in a while, but Rachel and Logan are not prince and princess, they're real, powerful, blow your mind characters that have the chemistry that will pull you in and won’t let you go. The world C.J. created is full of beautiful real people struggling to survive. They live behind walls, protecting themselves not only from the harsh rulers but the creatures threatening to destroy their existence. The story is full of twists and turns, and characters who will grip your heart and leave you breathless.   This book comes out September of 2012 and I can’t wait for you all to read it! I’ll definitely be reposting this review closer to the release date just so you can ooh and aww over it and run and buy the book! 

So Many Emotions!!! I can't handle it!!!!
        Much love,  Valia 

Book Spotlight: Heaven by Alexandra Ardornetto

DISCLAIMER: THIS IS BOOK 3! IT WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!!

Bethany, an angel sent to Earth, and her mortal boyfriend, Xavier, have been to Hell and back. But now their love will be put to its highest test yet, as they defy Heavenly law and marry. They don’t tell Beth’s archangel siblings, Gabriel and Ivy, but the angels know soon enough, and punishment comes in a terrifying form: the Sevens, who are rogue angels bent on keeping Beth and Xavier apart, destroying Gabriel and Ivy, and darkening angelic power in the heavens.

The only way Bethany and Xavier can elude the Sevens is to hide in the open, and blend in with other mortals their own age. Gabriel and Ivy set them up at college, where they can’t reveal their relationship, and where there is still danger around each corner. Will Bethany be called back to Heaven – forever – and face leaving the love of her life?

From goodreads.com
Thanks ATWAT for the book!


Heaven picks up where Hades left off. Xavier and Bethany are deeply in love, and Xavier proposes. The world around Bethany and Xavier’s relationship begins to fall apart because of the decision they made and they have to go into hiding. Now married, they go to a college where they have to pretend to be brother and sister to stay safe. The characters from previous books make appearances along side of the Seven, the new “force to be reckoned with.” Bethany and Xavier have to overcome the odds in order to stay together.   Let me start out by saying that I enjoyed Halo greatly. I thought it was a sweet story, and I had my favorite characters for sure. Heaven is the third and final book of the Halo series and I was excited to get my hands on it! I’m sad to say it didn’t live up to my expectations.  I always hate writing reviews that come from books that have disappointed me, but it wouldn’t be right for me not to share with you exactly what I think. I felt like nothing happened in Heaven. Bethany, as a character, seemed to go the opposite way of developing. She acted like a kid at times, disregarding everything she believes in just to have her way. Xavier was one of my favorites from the beginning. I really enjoyed his character in Halo, but in Heaven it seemed like he was just a presence. I don’t know if that makes sense, but that’s how I felt reading it.   For me, Seven weren’t the scary force trying to keep Bethany and Xavier apart. Jake was far better villain than the Seven and that’s kind of sad in itself. While I liked having a book that brought out some Christian values, Heaven wasn’t the best example of that. At least not to me. Xavier was a better example of a Christian than Bethany and that’s sad all on its own. She was the one to drag him down and I didn't like that. In the end, there was no resolution. Gabriel and Ivy, who I enjoyed throughout the books, were just mentioned as a second thought in the end. It was as if the author forgot about them and had to throw them in. Also, some of the timing in the scenes were off and a lot of conversations were repeated unnecessarily.  I read Heaven because I needed to have closure for this series. In the end, I ended up with more questions then answers. It saddens me to say so, but I try to be an honest reviewer because I would want the same for my books. If you’ve read Heaven, let me know what you think! Happy reading,  Valia 

Book Haul of Diversity (& Tiredness)

Hello lovely people,
Here's a book haul for you! I know, it's a video and everything! Although, be afraid, be very afraid. I'm a rambler in this one. And as you'll see (and hear) I'm tired so I have an excuse! Enjoy!





Special thanks to: 
ATWA Tours 
Tor books 
http:///minaburrows.blogspot.com 
Brenda Pandos - http://brendapandos.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Laurens - http://jenniferlaurens.com/


What's in your mailbox??? 


Happy reading, 
Valia

Book Spotlight: Rootless by Chris Howard

Seventeen-year-old Banyan is a tree builder. Using scrap metal and salvaged junk, he creates forests for rich patrons who seek a reprieve from the desolate landscape. Although Banyan’s never seen a real tree—they were destroyed more than a century ago—his father used to tell him stories about the Old World. But that was before his father was taken . . .

Everything changes when Banyan meets a mysterious woman with a strange tattoo—a clue to the whereabouts of the last living trees on earth, and he sets off across a wasteland from which few return. Those who make it past the pirates and poachers can’t escape the locusts—the locusts that now feed on human flesh.

But Banyan isn't the only one looking for the trees, and he’s running out of time. Unsure of whom to trust, he’s forced to make an uneasy alliance with Alpha, an alluring, dangerous pirate with an agenda of her own. As they race towards a promised land that might only be a myth, Banyan makes shocking discoveries about his family, his past, and how far people will go to bring back the trees.

In this dazzling debut, Howard presents a disturbing world with some uncanny similarities to our own. Like the forests Banyan seeks to rebuild, this visionary novel is both beautiful and haunting—full of stunning images that will take permanent root in your mind . . . and forever change the way you think about nature.
From Goodreads.com



The book starts out with Banyan getting hired to build a forest for a wealthy man. The world has been torn apart by Darkness, and trees are something of the past. The landscape is destroyed, the locusts eat humans, and the constant dust storms make it hard to breathe. That is the world that Banyan lives in. His father was taken a year ago, and now Banyan is on his own. He’s a skilled builder, able to survive on the hard work he does. This seemed like a routine assignment, but it wasn’t. Banyan didn’t expect to meet a mysterious woman with a strange tattoo, or her daughter. Now it’s Banyan’s mission to find the place where the last trees exist and that’s where the fun begins. 
This whole book was one big mess of crazy! And I mean that in a good way. Banyan is a great character, a surviver, who makes decisions much better than I would’ve expected. I honestly didn’t know what to expect from this book. Every page had me guessing on what’s going to happen next. I like watching Banyan grow as a character and he really had to do that in this book.  I also really enjoyed Alpha. Although, I swear, every page I felt like she was going to die. Everyone around Banyan just seem to and I kind of wanted her to survive (You’re going to have to read the book to find out what happened). She was definitely a kick butt kind of a girl, who didn’t take any crap from anyone. I liked her chemistry with Banyan, how she balanced him.  Howard paints a picture of a world that is so realistic it makes you think twice about the one outside your own window. Every page is full of imagination and description that leaps out of the story. It did take me a little bit to get into it, I just wasn’t sure about the whole idea at first. But once I got through the beginning, the story takes off. Rootless comes out November 1st, 2012. I’d love to hear your thoughts! Happy reading,  Valia  

What Olympics Mean to Me

Just like any sport loving individual, I’ve been watching the Olympics. A lot. Seriously, I didn’t know it was possible to have the TV on for 10 hours a day and not have your brain explode. I’m not much for TV watching these days, so it’s definitely a unique experience for me.  Olympics is an amazing event. I love seeing all of the athletes come out and compete in events I didn’t know even existed on an Olympic level. My favorite part is finding out about athletes. I love cheering for someone, then getting on Youtube and watching their story unfold. The before, the training, the tears and sweat that goes into every event. I feel so proud of these individuals, like they’re my friends who are out there competing, not strangers. 
I love seeing people succeed. I love cheering them on, holding my breath as they race to that finishing line. (GO TEAM RYAN!) :) Sorry, had to throw that in.
I think this is partly why I love the book and blogging community so much. We are all cheerleaders here, pushing each other to do better, to be better. Sure, my family and friends are here to keep me motivated. I couldn’t be more thankful for the support they provide. But there are also those who I’ve never met in “real” life that take the time to cheer me on.  Authors are rockstars. Bloggers are rockstars. These are the people that keep me going, that take the time to stop by and read a review or answer a tweet. It’s like we’re our own Olympics team, pushing each other to win that gold medal of success. For that, I am thankful to be part of this community. I try my best to be the support others and I thank you for doing the same to me!  You all deserve gold medals for awesomeness! *Hands out medals* 
Hugs,  Valia 

Book Spotlight: Burning Blue by Paul Griffin

How far would you go for love, beauty, and jealousy? 
When Nicole Castro, the most beautiful girl in her wealthy New Jersey high school, is splashed with acid on the left side of her perfect face, the whole world takes notice. But quiet loner Jay Nazarro does more than that--he decides to find out who did it. Jay understands how it feels to be treated like a freak, and he also has a secret: He's a brilliant hacker. But the deeper he digs, the more danger he's in--and the more he falls for Nicole. Too bad everyone is turning into a suspect, including Nicole herself. 
Award-winning author Paul Griffin has written a high-stakes, soulful mystery about the meaning--and dangers--of love and beauty.
From goodreads.com
Thanks ATWAT for the copy!

The book starts out with Nicole's attack. She’s at school, trying to get to a class, when someone steps out in front of her and sprays her face with acid. In that moment, the beauty queen’s life changes forever. Jay is an outsider at school, plagued by his own problems, but when Nicole is attacked, Jay can’t just sit by and do nothing. Nicole and Jay become friends, and Jay becomes determined to find out what really happened to Nicole. This is the beginning of their story. 
This was my first Paul Griffin book and I have to be honest, it did not disappoint. I’m always cautious when reading new to me authors, but I’m also cautious when it comes to these types of mysteries. For me, it’s either hit or miss, there’s no in between when it comes to these stories. Well, Burning Blue is a definite hit! Jay is a strong complicated character, who has a lot of problems in his life. Despite everything, he stands true to his convictions and fights for those who can’t fight for themselves. I loved Jay because he was so dysfunctional! I know it sounds funny, but whatever problems he had, he didn’t let them define him and that’s what I loved about him. He pushed through his own insecurities, his own mishaps, to help someone he didn’t really know. In my eyes, that makes him a great hero. Nicole was an interesting character as well. I loved that she wasn’t just some airhead beauty queen who had her beauty taken from her and THEN she discovers who she truly is. No, Nicole has always had a soft heart, and she’s been searching for her own identity long before the attack. Nicole was a steady character throughout the book, growing just like a real person would, fighting through the adversaries of life.  Jay and Nicole’s relationship was sweet and up front. I loved how real their interactions were, how personal their growth seemed. These characters leaped off the pages and spoke to you.  Paul created an emotional, raw and real story folded in the pages of mystery. I had a few things figured out but some took me by surprise. I love when that happens in a book! I flew through this book and I’d recommend it to everyone, even if you’re not big on contemporary! Burning Blue comes out October 25th, 2012! Buy it, read it, love it!  Happy reading,  Valia 

Book Spotlight: Innocent Darkness by Suzanne Lazear

Noli Braddock and her best friend V’s incident with a flying auto have landed them in a heap of trouble. And when Noli is sent to a spirit-squelching reform school in San Francisco, she’s sure that her rebellious adventures are over.
Meanwhile, Kevighn Silver has been ordered by the Faerie Queen to bring a mortal girl back to the Otherworld. The magic requires a blood sacrifice every seven years, and only a mortal girl who shines with the Spark—a girl like Noli—will keep the Otherworld from complete destruction.
When an ill-timed wish sends Noli tumbling into the Otherworld, she’s more homesick than ever . . . until V arrives to save her from an untimely demise. But who exactly is V? And if he helps Noli escape, who will save the realm of Faerie from utter annihilation?


From Amazon.com


Thanks ATWAT for the book!



Innocent Darkness is a story about a girl named Noli, who is nothing like the proper lady of her time. She is rebellious, fun seeker, who rather tinker under a flying car than wear pretty dresses. Despite her social status she is best friends with Steven Darrow, otherwise known as V and she constantly gets him in trouble. When a joyride is caught by the police Noli is sent to a boarding school to “fix” her ways. Separated from her best friend and her mother, Noli must fight the pressures of the boarding school and discover for herself who she truly is. The boarding school is not what it seems and for Noli that’s where the adventure begins.  There is so much to say about this book. I’m still in the beginning stages of loving steampunk and I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this book but I really wanted to give it a try. I wasn’t disappointed!!!  I loved Noli as a character. She has a lot of growing to do, and she constantly has to prove to the world that staying true to herself is the best option. She goes through many changes throughout the book but she continues to portray her strength and never giving up. It takes her a while to figure out her feelings on some matters which in itself is sweet and realistic. Speaking of feelings, there’s V.  I adore V’s character to pieces! From the beginning, I knew there was something about him that’s going to capture my heart. Sure, I felt for Kevighn at times but V has truly won my heart. He is such a sweet, unexpected hero that it makes me squee with happiness anytime he comes across the pages. I love his friendship with Noli and how he makes her a better version of herself.  The ending took me by surprise! I literally grunted at some things in the last pages. The aspects of Noli that I loved so much are taken to the highest test and I’m really curious to see how book two and three are going to play out. Nervous? Yes. Excited? Most definitely! Suzanne creates a world that is so real it could be the one we read about in history books. Full of memorable characters, fascinating plots, and flying contraptions (yes, I had to throw that in) Innocent Darkness is a beautiful debut! It comes out August 8th, 2012! I would love to hear your thoughts! Happy reading,  Valia

"Much Anticipated Books" - Book Haul!

Hello darlings,
      So I wasn't going to do a book haul this week because I simply ran out of time to film a video, but then I thought about it and realized that I really need to. These books need to be shown off in all of their wonderful glory so here they are!!! (No video this week. I know you're sad, but it's okay. *hug* Now, isn't that better? :)





      I've finished Innocent Darkness and reading Burning Blue at the moment!!! Make sure to look for reviews soon because I'm seriously loving these books!!! Thanks so much to ATWAT for letting me be part of the tours and sending me these awesome goodies!! Now, 


What's in your mailbox? 


Happy reading, 
Valia 

Book Spotlight: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Mass

DISCLAIMER: PLEASE PROCEED WITH CAUTION. FULL ON FANGIRLING AHEAD! (also, probably the longest review I've ever written because I simply couldn't shut up about it)
After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men—thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the kings council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she’ll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she’s bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it’s the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.
From Goodreads.com

This book takes off from the first pages. We are introduced to Celaena, an eighteen year old assassin who has been in prison within the salt mines of Endovier. The crown prince Dorian comes to give her the freedom she so desperately needs in exchange for becoming his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. She travels to the Castle of Glass with prince and captain of the guard Westfall. The castle becomes a battleground, with random killings and people out to see Celaena fail. There her new life begins and what an adventure it is.  I cannot even tell you how amazing this book truly is! Honestly, I’ve been wondering on how to write this review without being all mushy and spoilery for months! There is so much to the story, and it’s written in such an excellent way that it keeps you up at night, begging you to turn just one more page.  Celaena is a wonderful, complex character who works hard at becoming the best version of herself. She is thrown into the den of the wolves so to speak when she comes face to face with the men - “thieves, assassins, and warriors” - to battle. I loved watching her grow as an individual, discovering parts of herself that made her who she is. She is most definitely a kick butt kind of a character that movies are made about (*nudge nudge*).  On the other side of Celaena are Prince Dorian and Captain Westfall. Both are there to help her grown and train so that she can win the battle. However, both are also there to teach her things about herself she didn’t think she was capable of feeling. Both Prince Dorian and Captain Westfall are exquisite characters that I loved to pieces (maybe Captain Westfall a bit more) :-D I am partial to Captain (can I get one somewhere please?) because I feel like I can relate to him more, and I loved seeing his character a lot more (please let there be more of him in the coming books) than Dorian (although Dorian is plenty interesting as well).  The battle scenes and the training in this book were amazing! I loved how well Sarah writes these, almost making it seem like you’re watching a movie! The scenes are so smooth, so realistic, they made ma gasp a few times, worried that one of my beloved characters will get hurt! Celaena can kick some serious butt though! I especially loved Celaena and Westfall dynamic in training and the final battle! Aww, Westfall! :-D What I’m trying to say with all of these ramblings is that August 7th should be the day everyone, and I mean everyone, goes to the closes bookstore and buys this book! Throne of Glass has rekindled my love for fantasy and I cannot thank Sarah enough for that. She has created a world so full of wonder, complexity, and self discovery I don’t know how you cannot love this book! Throne of Glass is a full ride, filled with action, adventure, and characters you dream about at night!  Happy reading,  Valia