L.H. Nicole's Blog, page 10
April 9, 2014
H for Huntress
Day 8 of the A to Z Challenge. Today's offering:
H is for Huntress by L.J. Smith
BOOK BLURB:Jez Redfern is unique. She's a vampire hunter... who's half vampire. Raised in the Redfern family, the girl with fiery hair and silvery-blue eyes was the undisputed leader of a gang of vampire raiders. Then came the discovery that shattered her life-- her mother was a human. Now, Jez hunts her former friends, protecting humans from the Night World.But when Circle Daybreak sends her on a search for one of the legendary Wild Powers, Jez has to rejoin her old gang. They want her back-- especially Morgead, the gorgeous green-eyed vampire who used to be her second-in-command. Jez wants to stay faithful to Hugh Davis, the human she loves. But Morgead swears he's her soulmate and he'll do anything to lure her back to the old ways. With danger and temptation around, Jez finds herself irresistibly drawn to him. And she's afraid that if she tastes blood again, she'll become the evil huntress she once was..COVER RATING: On a scale of 1-9
This cover I totally old school, and such a wonderfully under used AND completely unique style of cover. Those are what earned this book such a high rating!
MY THOUGHTS:So monday and today are my dedication to L.J. Smith. She is one of my heroes! I loved her books since the first time I picked one up. Coincidently it was this book Huntress, part of her Night World Series. I find it funny that the Vampire Diaries was the hit TV shoe because it was my least favorite of all her series that she wrote. The Night World series is a vast one, and in recent years was rereleased in compilation format, similar to what was done with the Daughters of the Moon series.
This whole series is based in one big world, centered around a group called Circle Daybreak, but each book is the story of different characters rooted in action, drama, teen romance, and fantastical characters. All the things I need to really hook into a book. What was truly amazing was that not al the books had the typical happily ever after ending. And I love these books all the more for it.
Jez thought she was a full-blooded vamp, but not so. She’s half human and when she learns that she runs away to live with the human side of her family. But the Circle draws her back in to fight her worst enemy, best friend, and soulmate, Morgead Blackthorn, for the Wild Power. Turns out he doesn’t have it, and after several misleads, Jez finds out that she has the Wild Power and their enemy Lily will kill to have it! NO spoilers, but you really should go check out this book and all the books of the Night World Series!
There you go, come back tomorrow for day 9!Later lovelies!<3 L.H.
Find out more about the April A to Z blog challenge , and check out the other participants!a Rafflecopter giveaway
H is for Huntress by L.J. Smith
BOOK BLURB:Jez Redfern is unique. She's a vampire hunter... who's half vampire. Raised in the Redfern family, the girl with fiery hair and silvery-blue eyes was the undisputed leader of a gang of vampire raiders. Then came the discovery that shattered her life-- her mother was a human. Now, Jez hunts her former friends, protecting humans from the Night World.But when Circle Daybreak sends her on a search for one of the legendary Wild Powers, Jez has to rejoin her old gang. They want her back-- especially Morgead, the gorgeous green-eyed vampire who used to be her second-in-command. Jez wants to stay faithful to Hugh Davis, the human she loves. But Morgead swears he's her soulmate and he'll do anything to lure her back to the old ways. With danger and temptation around, Jez finds herself irresistibly drawn to him. And she's afraid that if she tastes blood again, she'll become the evil huntress she once was..COVER RATING: On a scale of 1-9
This cover I totally old school, and such a wonderfully under used AND completely unique style of cover. Those are what earned this book such a high rating!MY THOUGHTS:So monday and today are my dedication to L.J. Smith. She is one of my heroes! I loved her books since the first time I picked one up. Coincidently it was this book Huntress, part of her Night World Series. I find it funny that the Vampire Diaries was the hit TV shoe because it was my least favorite of all her series that she wrote. The Night World series is a vast one, and in recent years was rereleased in compilation format, similar to what was done with the Daughters of the Moon series.
This whole series is based in one big world, centered around a group called Circle Daybreak, but each book is the story of different characters rooted in action, drama, teen romance, and fantastical characters. All the things I need to really hook into a book. What was truly amazing was that not al the books had the typical happily ever after ending. And I love these books all the more for it.
Jez thought she was a full-blooded vamp, but not so. She’s half human and when she learns that she runs away to live with the human side of her family. But the Circle draws her back in to fight her worst enemy, best friend, and soulmate, Morgead Blackthorn, for the Wild Power. Turns out he doesn’t have it, and after several misleads, Jez finds out that she has the Wild Power and their enemy Lily will kill to have it! NO spoilers, but you really should go check out this book and all the books of the Night World Series!
There you go, come back tomorrow for day 9!Later lovelies!<3 L.H.
Find out more about the April A to Z blog challenge , and check out the other participants!a Rafflecopter giveaway
April 8, 2014
G for Gifted Touch
Day 7 of the A to Z Challenge. Today's offering:
G is for Gifted Touch (Fingerprints Series) by Melinda Metz
BOOK BLURB:Sometimes, when I touch things, words fill my head. Words that feel like thoughts--thoughts that are inside of me...but not mine.I used to think I was crazy. Used to.I'm starting to wonder if there's a reason for all the voices that tangle together in my mind. And if I'm right, then it's not my sanity I'm worried about--it's my life.COVER RATING: On a scale of 1-9
This cover gets the rating it does because while eye catching- and I mean slap you in the face and then do it again when you go back for a second look. It’s just a little too….yellow for me. But hey, it was the early 00’s.
MY THOUGHTS: So this is another series I read back in the day aka high school and really liked. Not as much as some others I’m offering up, but still. I think what I like best about this series is that yes it’s a paranormal, its not really. It’s a paranormal because of her psychic ability- the power to touch a person’s fingerprint and pick up the thought they were having a that moment. Now it’s time for DynoMoon to rejoin us and tell us her thoughts on this book.
DynoMoon's series review:
Like LH, I read this book series when it came out over ten years ago and attached myself to it. Though I don’t think I was as into it as I wanted to be, it was still good.
Gifted Touch is the first in a book series called Fingerprints, and is about a 15 year old high school girl, Rae Voight, who develops a psychic ability. She touches a fingerprintand she can "hear" the thought of the person whose print she is touching. Poor Rae thinks she’s going nuts, and she’s terrified of being diagnosed insane, like her mother was. She finally returns to school but her old boyfriend had moved on and her old friends all treat her very differently, like she’s contagious or something. Poor girl. She meets some new people in her “therapy group” and then she discovers someone out to kill her. Oh boy. Now she has to find the facts about a certain past to protect herself. And she’s only got her friends Anthony, who knows about her mysterious abilities, and Yana, who doesn't ask awkward questions, to help her through it. I admit I got a little frustrated because it took Rae so long to figure out what the heck was happening to her, and really it was another character that put it all together for her. Rae’s definitely not he strongest of female leads, but I still liked her and was able to relate to her. Now all that’s said I like this series a lot. The whole premise is a paranormal mystery, though I stress the mystery more than the paranormal part, and it took me a long while to figure out whom the bad guy really was. Which is a good thing. This series has 7 books in it so if you choose to dive in, I suggest you make sure you’ve got your psychic mystery solving diving gear on tight!
There you go, come back tomorrow for day 8!Later lovelies!<3 L.H.
Find out more about the April A to Z blog challenge , and check out the other participants!a Rafflecopter giveaway
G is for Gifted Touch (Fingerprints Series) by Melinda Metz
BOOK BLURB:Sometimes, when I touch things, words fill my head. Words that feel like thoughts--thoughts that are inside of me...but not mine.I used to think I was crazy. Used to.I'm starting to wonder if there's a reason for all the voices that tangle together in my mind. And if I'm right, then it's not my sanity I'm worried about--it's my life.COVER RATING: On a scale of 1-9
This cover gets the rating it does because while eye catching- and I mean slap you in the face and then do it again when you go back for a second look. It’s just a little too….yellow for me. But hey, it was the early 00’s.MY THOUGHTS: So this is another series I read back in the day aka high school and really liked. Not as much as some others I’m offering up, but still. I think what I like best about this series is that yes it’s a paranormal, its not really. It’s a paranormal because of her psychic ability- the power to touch a person’s fingerprint and pick up the thought they were having a that moment. Now it’s time for DynoMoon to rejoin us and tell us her thoughts on this book.
DynoMoon's series review:
Like LH, I read this book series when it came out over ten years ago and attached myself to it. Though I don’t think I was as into it as I wanted to be, it was still good.
Gifted Touch is the first in a book series called Fingerprints, and is about a 15 year old high school girl, Rae Voight, who develops a psychic ability. She touches a fingerprintand she can "hear" the thought of the person whose print she is touching. Poor Rae thinks she’s going nuts, and she’s terrified of being diagnosed insane, like her mother was. She finally returns to school but her old boyfriend had moved on and her old friends all treat her very differently, like she’s contagious or something. Poor girl. She meets some new people in her “therapy group” and then she discovers someone out to kill her. Oh boy. Now she has to find the facts about a certain past to protect herself. And she’s only got her friends Anthony, who knows about her mysterious abilities, and Yana, who doesn't ask awkward questions, to help her through it. I admit I got a little frustrated because it took Rae so long to figure out what the heck was happening to her, and really it was another character that put it all together for her. Rae’s definitely not he strongest of female leads, but I still liked her and was able to relate to her. Now all that’s said I like this series a lot. The whole premise is a paranormal mystery, though I stress the mystery more than the paranormal part, and it took me a long while to figure out whom the bad guy really was. Which is a good thing. This series has 7 books in it so if you choose to dive in, I suggest you make sure you’ve got your psychic mystery solving diving gear on tight!
There you go, come back tomorrow for day 8!Later lovelies!<3 L.H.
Find out more about the April A to Z blog challenge , and check out the other participants!a Rafflecopter giveaway
April 7, 2014
F for Forbidden Game
Day 6 of the A to Z Challenge. Today's offering:
F is for The Forbidden Game by L.J. Smith
BOOK BLURB:When Jenny buys a game for her boyfriend, Tom, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to the guy behind the counter. There is something mysteriously alluring about Julian's pale eyes and bleached-blond hair. And when he places the Game into her hands, she knows their connection is comething deeper.
But as Jenny and her six friends begin to play the Game at Tom's birthday celebration, a night of friends and fun quickly turns into a night of terror and obsessive love. Because the Game isn't just a game - it's the seven friends' new reality, where Julian reigns as the Prince of the Shadows.
One by one the friends must confront their phobias to win the Game. To lose the Game is to lose their lives. And that is only the beginning..
COVER RATING: On a scale of 1-9
What’s not to love about this cover? Though it is not my favorite of the 3 book series, it’s still great and follows along with the spirit of LJ’s other works.
MY THOUGHTS:Today is the first of two days that I am offering up books by my hero author L.J. Smith. And next to the Night World Series, The Forbidden Game series is my ABSOLUTE favorite series of all time! –Though I can say that about several others too……LOL.Anyways, This series is often likened to the book and movie Labyrinth (the movie version starred David Bowie and Jennifer Connley, and David’s character and even Julian’s were a big inspiration for my character Mordrid, in Legendary)
This series is so wonderfully wound together over the three books, and I love how each of the protags have to face their worst fears and over come them, and realize just how strong they truly are. But not all of this is fun and games, and not everyone survives. Again, this book features a love triangle, but we’ve already discussed that I like them, as long as they are well done. Like the series, this love triangle is one of my all time favorites. Jenny, Julian and Tom.
This series starts out safely enough, they gang, including her hot boyfriend Tom, gets together for Jenny’s B-day where they decide to play this game that Jenny found in a creepy store earlier that day. That’s when things start going terribly wrong and all of them are pulled into Julian’s world, inside the board game.Sigh…..Julian………such and intense hunky bad guy. Sigh…..And I’m done, putting the laptop aside to go reread this series again! ;P I suggest those who haven’t go get a copy STAT!
There you go, come back tomorrow for day 7!Later lovelies!<3 L.H.Find out more about the April A to Z blog challenge , and check out the other participants!a Rafflecopter giveaway
F is for The Forbidden Game by L.J. Smith
BOOK BLURB:When Jenny buys a game for her boyfriend, Tom, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to the guy behind the counter. There is something mysteriously alluring about Julian's pale eyes and bleached-blond hair. And when he places the Game into her hands, she knows their connection is comething deeper.
But as Jenny and her six friends begin to play the Game at Tom's birthday celebration, a night of friends and fun quickly turns into a night of terror and obsessive love. Because the Game isn't just a game - it's the seven friends' new reality, where Julian reigns as the Prince of the Shadows.
One by one the friends must confront their phobias to win the Game. To lose the Game is to lose their lives. And that is only the beginning..
COVER RATING: On a scale of 1-9
What’s not to love about this cover? Though it is not my favorite of the 3 book series, it’s still great and follows along with the spirit of LJ’s other works.MY THOUGHTS:Today is the first of two days that I am offering up books by my hero author L.J. Smith. And next to the Night World Series, The Forbidden Game series is my ABSOLUTE favorite series of all time! –Though I can say that about several others too……LOL.Anyways, This series is often likened to the book and movie Labyrinth (the movie version starred David Bowie and Jennifer Connley, and David’s character and even Julian’s were a big inspiration for my character Mordrid, in Legendary)
This series is so wonderfully wound together over the three books, and I love how each of the protags have to face their worst fears and over come them, and realize just how strong they truly are. But not all of this is fun and games, and not everyone survives. Again, this book features a love triangle, but we’ve already discussed that I like them, as long as they are well done. Like the series, this love triangle is one of my all time favorites. Jenny, Julian and Tom.
This series starts out safely enough, they gang, including her hot boyfriend Tom, gets together for Jenny’s B-day where they decide to play this game that Jenny found in a creepy store earlier that day. That’s when things start going terribly wrong and all of them are pulled into Julian’s world, inside the board game.Sigh…..Julian………such and intense hunky bad guy. Sigh…..And I’m done, putting the laptop aside to go reread this series again! ;P I suggest those who haven’t go get a copy STAT!
There you go, come back tomorrow for day 7!Later lovelies!<3 L.H.Find out more about the April A to Z blog challenge , and check out the other participants!a Rafflecopter giveaway
April 5, 2014
E for Existance
Day 5 of the A to Z blog challenge. Today's offering:
E is for Existence by Abbi Glines
BOOK BLURB:What happens when you're stalked by Death? You fall in love with him, of course.
Pagan Moore doesn't cheat Death, but instead, falls in love with him.
Seventeen year old Pagan Moore has seen souls her entire life. Once she realized the strangers she often saw walking through walls were not visible to anyone else, she started ignoring them. If she didn't let them know she could see them, then they left her alone. Until she stepped out of her car the first day of school and saw an incredibly sexy guy lounging on a picnic table, watching her with an amused smirk on his face. Problem is, she knows he's dead.
Not only does he not go away when she ignores him, but he does something none of the others have ever done. He speaks. Pagan is fascinated by the soul. What she doesn't realize is that her appointed time to die is drawing near and the wickedly beautiful soul she is falling in love with is not a soul at all.
He is Death and he's about to break all the rules.
COVER RATING: On a scale of 1-9
I only gave this cover a 5 because, while it stuck with me for months before I finally caved and bought the book, it doesn’t quite make me drool with artist envy like others in this challenge do.
MY THOUGHTS:
I have no problem admitting I am not the biggest fan of Abbi's books. Not because they are bad- that’s not the case at all! But I am an admitted non-contemporary loving girl. There are few that I have found that I actually like. And my bestie DynoMoon agrees, as you’ll see below. That said I am a HUGE paranormal junkie, and the concept of this book……OMG. I want Dank Walker to fall in love with me! I mean having Death himself fall so crazy in love with you that he’s willing to go against the big man upstairs for you…… wow. And the tension and romance between them is amazing.
DynoMoon's series review:
As you read in the book blurb, and in LH’s thoughts this book’s hero is Dank Walker or Dankmar- Death himself. He knows when people are to die and he and his Transporters free the sould from the dead bodies and send them on their way. Either to the place downstairs or on to their next life.
This book also has a kind of love triangle. What that you ask? Well that is where there is a second guy vying for the girl’s attention, but she only has eyes for the one. I don’t want to give away too much of the story, but the “other boy” has his own crazy past that he keeps well hidden, but you’ll need to read book two to find out the whole story.
I loved how Dank interacted with the real world and all his amazing abilities that come with his job, for lack of a better term. Now Pagan is your typical high school girl, trying to get over her ex-boyfriend that left for college, and deal with her writer mom and super excitable best friend. But falling for death, and having him fall for you, is not without its own consequences. Something that becomes evident when Pagan lands in a mental institution after several attempts are made on her life. And that’s where things get really interesting, and admittingly, hard to read because this was the one point of the book that I was like…really?.....I just don’t get it and I kinda hate it.
The book didn’t get good again until she arrived home and learned that a girl she had befriended was another sent to take her life. But Death will never let Pagan’s life be stolen from him and he goes to spectacular lengths to protect her. But in the end it’s Pagan that really saves them both.
Kudos to Abbi for building such an amazing world and wonderfully intense characters, but there were flaws with this book, but they were minor enough for me to get over or just skip past, aka the mental hospital chapters. I still enjoy the series, have bookmarked my favorite parts, and go back every now and then to reread them. Now if only I could like Abbi’s other books this much. I’ve tried……but just no. My “boss” MLBA did a review of the Fallen Too Far series a while ago that pretty much sums up my whole thoughts on the other Abbi books I’ve tried reading.
There you go, come back tomorrow for day 6!Later lovelies!<3 L.H.
Find out more about the April A to Z blog challenge , and check out the other participants!a Rafflecopter giveaway
E is for Existence by Abbi Glines
BOOK BLURB:What happens when you're stalked by Death? You fall in love with him, of course.
Pagan Moore doesn't cheat Death, but instead, falls in love with him.
Seventeen year old Pagan Moore has seen souls her entire life. Once she realized the strangers she often saw walking through walls were not visible to anyone else, she started ignoring them. If she didn't let them know she could see them, then they left her alone. Until she stepped out of her car the first day of school and saw an incredibly sexy guy lounging on a picnic table, watching her with an amused smirk on his face. Problem is, she knows he's dead.
Not only does he not go away when she ignores him, but he does something none of the others have ever done. He speaks. Pagan is fascinated by the soul. What she doesn't realize is that her appointed time to die is drawing near and the wickedly beautiful soul she is falling in love with is not a soul at all.
He is Death and he's about to break all the rules.
COVER RATING: On a scale of 1-9
I only gave this cover a 5 because, while it stuck with me for months before I finally caved and bought the book, it doesn’t quite make me drool with artist envy like others in this challenge do.MY THOUGHTS:
I have no problem admitting I am not the biggest fan of Abbi's books. Not because they are bad- that’s not the case at all! But I am an admitted non-contemporary loving girl. There are few that I have found that I actually like. And my bestie DynoMoon agrees, as you’ll see below. That said I am a HUGE paranormal junkie, and the concept of this book……OMG. I want Dank Walker to fall in love with me! I mean having Death himself fall so crazy in love with you that he’s willing to go against the big man upstairs for you…… wow. And the tension and romance between them is amazing.
DynoMoon's series review:As you read in the book blurb, and in LH’s thoughts this book’s hero is Dank Walker or Dankmar- Death himself. He knows when people are to die and he and his Transporters free the sould from the dead bodies and send them on their way. Either to the place downstairs or on to their next life.
This book also has a kind of love triangle. What that you ask? Well that is where there is a second guy vying for the girl’s attention, but she only has eyes for the one. I don’t want to give away too much of the story, but the “other boy” has his own crazy past that he keeps well hidden, but you’ll need to read book two to find out the whole story.
I loved how Dank interacted with the real world and all his amazing abilities that come with his job, for lack of a better term. Now Pagan is your typical high school girl, trying to get over her ex-boyfriend that left for college, and deal with her writer mom and super excitable best friend. But falling for death, and having him fall for you, is not without its own consequences. Something that becomes evident when Pagan lands in a mental institution after several attempts are made on her life. And that’s where things get really interesting, and admittingly, hard to read because this was the one point of the book that I was like…really?.....I just don’t get it and I kinda hate it.
The book didn’t get good again until she arrived home and learned that a girl she had befriended was another sent to take her life. But Death will never let Pagan’s life be stolen from him and he goes to spectacular lengths to protect her. But in the end it’s Pagan that really saves them both.
Kudos to Abbi for building such an amazing world and wonderfully intense characters, but there were flaws with this book, but they were minor enough for me to get over or just skip past, aka the mental hospital chapters. I still enjoy the series, have bookmarked my favorite parts, and go back every now and then to reread them. Now if only I could like Abbi’s other books this much. I’ve tried……but just no. My “boss” MLBA did a review of the Fallen Too Far series a while ago that pretty much sums up my whole thoughts on the other Abbi books I’ve tried reading.
There you go, come back tomorrow for day 6!Later lovelies!<3 L.H.
Find out more about the April A to Z blog challenge , and check out the other participants!a Rafflecopter giveaway
April 4, 2014
D for Daughters of the Moon
Day 4 of the A to Z blog challenge. Today's offering:
D is for Daughters of the Moon by Lynne Ewing
BOOK BLURB:They seem like ordinary girls living in Los Angeles. But the truth is far from ordinary. Vanessa can become invisible. Catty travels back in time. Serena reads minds, and Jimena has premonitions. What separates them from other bands them together as Daughters of the Moon.
book 4: The Secret Scroll
Catty goes into the past to discover her true identity. Not only does she meet her birth mother, but she also inherits a secret scroll that that is the key to destroying the evil Atrox once and for all.
book 5: The Sacrifice
Stanton, a Follower of Atrox, is torn between his love for Serena and his desire to destroy her by turning her over to the dark forces.
book6: The Lost One
A girl wakes up one day not knowing where—and more importantly, who—she is. Soon she realizes that she has the power to move things with her mind. What is her connection to the Daughters of the Moon?
COVER RATING: On a scale of 1-9
This score is more for the original covers of these books rather than the one I used up top. Here is a graphic of all the original covers. GEORGOUSE!!!
MY THOUGHTS:
You’ll notice, as this blog challenge goes on, that a lot of the books I chose to spotlight were published several years ago. The reason I chose those books is because they are what inspired me and helped me survive the torture that High school was. But we’re not here to discuss that. We’re here to learn more about great books and this series, the Daughters of the Moon is an amazing one for sure.
DynoMoon's series review:This series follows a cast of 4 leading ladies- with a 5thjoining the party about half way through- who are mortal goddesses who fight against their big bad Atrox. It gets even bigger when the girls turn 17 they have to make a choice, stay on earth and live their lives minus their powers and their memories of all that has happened, or become guardian spirits and live trough eternity as something much more than who they are. I LOVE this series so hard for so many reasons, but the biggest is because each book is focused on a different girl. The series follows a pattern in which each girl gets their own spotlight for a book then the next is another girl, and so on until we reach book thirteen. And that’s great because it lets a reader get a real, bone deep connection to all the girls and the loves in their lives! All these girls go through so many different experiences and survive crazy challenges that would push most normal people past their breaking point. Yet they all manage to keep themselves sane and pull together to do everything they must to save the world!Serena and Catty were my personal fav’s, but It’ll take me way to long to list all the reasons why. Needless to say, they had the best romances and the best endings. Plus Serena was just so kick ass and Catty was sooooo strong! All the girls were, and so were the guys they fought against and cared for. This whole series is addicting, fun, jam packed with action and drama ,funny in certain places and intensely wonderful in all the right spots. Like most YA books published before Harry Potter took off, the books themselves are smaller word counts than the books that come out today. But that’s better because Lynne packs so much into such a small amount of pages. Talk about knowing how to make the most of what you’ve got! LOL. If you want a series that will thrill and drag you under—and have an amazing big bad—this is the one for you! And the books are now grouped together so it’s even more goodness all at once.
There you go, come back tomorrow for day 5!Later lovelies!<3 L.H.
Find out more about the April A to Z blog challenge , and check out the other participants!a Rafflecopter giveaway
D is for Daughters of the Moon by Lynne Ewing
BOOK BLURB:They seem like ordinary girls living in Los Angeles. But the truth is far from ordinary. Vanessa can become invisible. Catty travels back in time. Serena reads minds, and Jimena has premonitions. What separates them from other bands them together as Daughters of the Moon.
book 4: The Secret Scroll
Catty goes into the past to discover her true identity. Not only does she meet her birth mother, but she also inherits a secret scroll that that is the key to destroying the evil Atrox once and for all.
book 5: The Sacrifice
Stanton, a Follower of Atrox, is torn between his love for Serena and his desire to destroy her by turning her over to the dark forces.
book6: The Lost One
A girl wakes up one day not knowing where—and more importantly, who—she is. Soon she realizes that she has the power to move things with her mind. What is her connection to the Daughters of the Moon?
COVER RATING: On a scale of 1-9
This score is more for the original covers of these books rather than the one I used up top. Here is a graphic of all the original covers. GEORGOUSE!!!
MY THOUGHTS: You’ll notice, as this blog challenge goes on, that a lot of the books I chose to spotlight were published several years ago. The reason I chose those books is because they are what inspired me and helped me survive the torture that High school was. But we’re not here to discuss that. We’re here to learn more about great books and this series, the Daughters of the Moon is an amazing one for sure.
DynoMoon's series review:This series follows a cast of 4 leading ladies- with a 5thjoining the party about half way through- who are mortal goddesses who fight against their big bad Atrox. It gets even bigger when the girls turn 17 they have to make a choice, stay on earth and live their lives minus their powers and their memories of all that has happened, or become guardian spirits and live trough eternity as something much more than who they are. I LOVE this series so hard for so many reasons, but the biggest is because each book is focused on a different girl. The series follows a pattern in which each girl gets their own spotlight for a book then the next is another girl, and so on until we reach book thirteen. And that’s great because it lets a reader get a real, bone deep connection to all the girls and the loves in their lives! All these girls go through so many different experiences and survive crazy challenges that would push most normal people past their breaking point. Yet they all manage to keep themselves sane and pull together to do everything they must to save the world!Serena and Catty were my personal fav’s, but It’ll take me way to long to list all the reasons why. Needless to say, they had the best romances and the best endings. Plus Serena was just so kick ass and Catty was sooooo strong! All the girls were, and so were the guys they fought against and cared for. This whole series is addicting, fun, jam packed with action and drama ,funny in certain places and intensely wonderful in all the right spots. Like most YA books published before Harry Potter took off, the books themselves are smaller word counts than the books that come out today. But that’s better because Lynne packs so much into such a small amount of pages. Talk about knowing how to make the most of what you’ve got! LOL. If you want a series that will thrill and drag you under—and have an amazing big bad—this is the one for you! And the books are now grouped together so it’s even more goodness all at once.There you go, come back tomorrow for day 5!Later lovelies!<3 L.H.
Find out more about the April A to Z blog challenge , and check out the other participants!a Rafflecopter giveaway
April 3, 2014
C for Clockwork Scarab
Day 3 of the A to Z blog challenge. Today's offering:
C is for The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason
BOOK BLURB:Evaline Stoker and Mina Holmes never meant to get into the family business. But when you’re the sister of Bram and the niece of Sherlock, vampire hunting and mystery solving are in your blood. And when two society girls go missing, there’s no one more qualified to investigate.
Now fierce Evaline and logical Mina must resolve their rivalry, navigate the advances of not just one but three mysterious gentlemen, and solve murder with only one clue: a strange Egyptian scarab. The stakes are high. If Stoker and Holmes don’t unravel why the belles of London society are in such danger, they’ll become the next victims.COVER RATING:
This book pulls an 8 because it did what no other steam punk book has fro me, caught my attention and held it
MY THOUGHTS:I will be the first to admit that I may be a little....picky.... about what books I read, but I think everyone is to a certain point.I personally love paranormal, romance, fairy tale retelling, fantasy and urban fantasy. But I am not adverse to reading other genre's, just cautious. I have found several contemporaries and mysteries and thrillers that I have liked..... They just have to catch my eye first.You'll notice Steampunk was not one of the genre's I listed above, that's because I normally have a difficult time getting my head around the descriptions of the cool gadgets and steampunkie ideas as well as the Victorian language.HOWEVER, at long last, I have found one that has grabbed and held on to me!Pretty much any thing with Sherlock Holmes or Bram Stroker will be a sure fire way to catch my attention. This goes to the next level by not starring the great characters or their children, but the sister of Bram and the niece of Sherlock. Points for originality!I also appreciate that while there was a bit of romance in this story, it wasn't all about the romance. Don't get me wrong, I'm a sucker for a great romance in my books, but it was nice to have a YA that wasn't all about it; there was just enough romantic tension to keep me going.
I would highly recommend this book for those who are just getting into steampunk, love a good mystery with a healthy dose of time travel and magic, and love Sherlock Holmes and Bram Stroker.
There you go, come back tomorrow for day 4!Later lovelies!
<3 L.H.
Find out more about the April A to Z blog challenge , and check out the other participants!a Rafflecopter giveaway
C is for The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason
BOOK BLURB:Evaline Stoker and Mina Holmes never meant to get into the family business. But when you’re the sister of Bram and the niece of Sherlock, vampire hunting and mystery solving are in your blood. And when two society girls go missing, there’s no one more qualified to investigate.
Now fierce Evaline and logical Mina must resolve their rivalry, navigate the advances of not just one but three mysterious gentlemen, and solve murder with only one clue: a strange Egyptian scarab. The stakes are high. If Stoker and Holmes don’t unravel why the belles of London society are in such danger, they’ll become the next victims.COVER RATING:
This book pulls an 8 because it did what no other steam punk book has fro me, caught my attention and held itMY THOUGHTS:I will be the first to admit that I may be a little....picky.... about what books I read, but I think everyone is to a certain point.I personally love paranormal, romance, fairy tale retelling, fantasy and urban fantasy. But I am not adverse to reading other genre's, just cautious. I have found several contemporaries and mysteries and thrillers that I have liked..... They just have to catch my eye first.You'll notice Steampunk was not one of the genre's I listed above, that's because I normally have a difficult time getting my head around the descriptions of the cool gadgets and steampunkie ideas as well as the Victorian language.HOWEVER, at long last, I have found one that has grabbed and held on to me!Pretty much any thing with Sherlock Holmes or Bram Stroker will be a sure fire way to catch my attention. This goes to the next level by not starring the great characters or their children, but the sister of Bram and the niece of Sherlock. Points for originality!I also appreciate that while there was a bit of romance in this story, it wasn't all about the romance. Don't get me wrong, I'm a sucker for a great romance in my books, but it was nice to have a YA that wasn't all about it; there was just enough romantic tension to keep me going.
I would highly recommend this book for those who are just getting into steampunk, love a good mystery with a healthy dose of time travel and magic, and love Sherlock Holmes and Bram Stroker.
There you go, come back tomorrow for day 4!Later lovelies!
<3 L.H.
Find out more about the April A to Z blog challenge , and check out the other participants!a Rafflecopter giveaway
April 2, 2014
B for Breath of Yesterday
Day 2 of the A to Z blog challenge. Today's offering:
B is for Breath of Yeasterday (The Curse series) by Emily Bold
BOOK BLURB:This second volume in Emily Bold's mystical series about Samantha Watts and Payton McLean, a cursed Scotsman from another era, takes listeners on a thrilling journey across time. After winning the battle to break a centuries-old curse, Samantha and Payton thought nothing could stand in the way of their happiness. But all too soon they learn the horrifying truth: Their struggle to keep Payton alive has only just begun. Samantha ventures into the past, back to eighteenth-century Scotland where it all began, and back into the arms of Payton, the handsome young Highlander who stole her heart. Will they unlock the secret to the legend of the five sisters in time to make their dreams come true?
COVER RATING: On a scale of 1-9
I gave this cover the score I did because it is eyes catching, beautiful, and the two covers blend so darn well together! And those eyes. Yeish!
MY THOUGHTS:First thing I must say about this book: 20ISH YEAR OLD HIGHLANDERS! AAAhhhhh- Yes please with a side of calorie free ice cream. LOLOkay, seriously, this is the second book of this series. The first is Touch of Eternity: The Curse. Emily Bold is an author who lives in Germany and only recently had her series published over here in the states, and boy can I say how happy I am it was. I said up top....highlanders.....but they are not all just hot hulking he-men. No, no, one of them is kinda a flirty nerd, others are still very much stuck in the past, but our hero has all the qualities I love in the thought of a Highlander. (Yes I am a TOTAL fan of the Highlander movies and especially the TV series, starring Adrian Paul. YUMMY with an extra drizzle of passion fruit sauce!) Peyton and Sam are an amazing couple. Sam is an American girl with a lineage that traces back to Peyton’s past, centuries ago in Scotland, and to his clan. Ye there is a small amount of sex and references to it in this book, but they are tastefully done and sooooo romantic! I also love that this book, and the first one, had me thinking the whole time, trying to figure out what the author was doing with the plot and her cast of characters. I can’t pick which of the two books I like the best, there are so many great things about both, but I think I chose this one because of the time travel part of this book. I’ve read a few of them in the past and I have never been able to really enjoy them because I find the loopholes in the author’s planning. NOT THE CASE with Breath of Yesterday. Emily did a fantastic weaving everything together so brilliantly. I totally recommend this book for those who love hot guys, spunky, never say die teen girls and a little bit of ancient mystery! It’s an easy read and will hold your attention! When I finished this book I remember calling my blogger bestie MissLittlebookAddict and gabbing her ear off about how much I loved these two books.
There you go, come back tomorrow for day 3!Later lovelies!<3 L.H.a Rafflecopter giveaway
B is for Breath of Yeasterday (The Curse series) by Emily Bold
BOOK BLURB:This second volume in Emily Bold's mystical series about Samantha Watts and Payton McLean, a cursed Scotsman from another era, takes listeners on a thrilling journey across time. After winning the battle to break a centuries-old curse, Samantha and Payton thought nothing could stand in the way of their happiness. But all too soon they learn the horrifying truth: Their struggle to keep Payton alive has only just begun. Samantha ventures into the past, back to eighteenth-century Scotland where it all began, and back into the arms of Payton, the handsome young Highlander who stole her heart. Will they unlock the secret to the legend of the five sisters in time to make their dreams come true?
COVER RATING: On a scale of 1-9
I gave this cover the score I did because it is eyes catching, beautiful, and the two covers blend so darn well together! And those eyes. Yeish! MY THOUGHTS:First thing I must say about this book: 20ISH YEAR OLD HIGHLANDERS! AAAhhhhh- Yes please with a side of calorie free ice cream. LOLOkay, seriously, this is the second book of this series. The first is Touch of Eternity: The Curse. Emily Bold is an author who lives in Germany and only recently had her series published over here in the states, and boy can I say how happy I am it was. I said up top....highlanders.....but they are not all just hot hulking he-men. No, no, one of them is kinda a flirty nerd, others are still very much stuck in the past, but our hero has all the qualities I love in the thought of a Highlander. (Yes I am a TOTAL fan of the Highlander movies and especially the TV series, starring Adrian Paul. YUMMY with an extra drizzle of passion fruit sauce!) Peyton and Sam are an amazing couple. Sam is an American girl with a lineage that traces back to Peyton’s past, centuries ago in Scotland, and to his clan. Ye there is a small amount of sex and references to it in this book, but they are tastefully done and sooooo romantic! I also love that this book, and the first one, had me thinking the whole time, trying to figure out what the author was doing with the plot and her cast of characters. I can’t pick which of the two books I like the best, there are so many great things about both, but I think I chose this one because of the time travel part of this book. I’ve read a few of them in the past and I have never been able to really enjoy them because I find the loopholes in the author’s planning. NOT THE CASE with Breath of Yesterday. Emily did a fantastic weaving everything together so brilliantly. I totally recommend this book for those who love hot guys, spunky, never say die teen girls and a little bit of ancient mystery! It’s an easy read and will hold your attention! When I finished this book I remember calling my blogger bestie MissLittlebookAddict and gabbing her ear off about how much I loved these two books.
There you go, come back tomorrow for day 3!Later lovelies!<3 L.H.a Rafflecopter giveaway
April 1, 2014
A for Awake at Dawn
Day 1 of the A to Z blog tour. Today's offering:
A is for Awake at Dawn by C.C. Hunter
BOOK BLURB:
Step into the world of Shadow Falls, a camp that helps teens tap into their special…talents. Once you visit, you’ll never forget it—and you’ll never, ever be the same.
From the moment Kylie Galen arrived at Shadow Falls Camp, she’s had one burning question: What am I? Surrounded by vampires, werewolves, shape-shifters, fairies and witches, Kylie longs to figure out her own supernatural identity…and what her burgeoning powers mean. And now she’ll need them more than ever, because she’s being haunted by a new spirit who insists that someone Kylie knows—and loves—will die before the end of the summer. If only she only knew who she was supposed to save. And how…
But giving Kylie the most trouble is her aching heart. Gorgeous werewolf Lucas left camp with another girl, but he’s still visiting Kylie in her dreams. And Derek, a sexy half Fae who’s always been there for her when she needed him, is pushing to get more serious—and growing impatient, especially when Lucas returns. Kylie knows she needs to decide between the boys, and it’s tearing her up inside.
Yet romance will have to wait, because something from the dark side of the supernatural world is hiding in Shadow Falls. It’s about to threaten everything she holds dear…and bring her closer to her destiny.
COVER RATING: On a scale of 1-9
The only reason I gave this a 6 is because, while the entire series of book covers are a perfect series. BUT book two is not my favorite of the covers. It’s still good, just not my fav.
MY THOUGHTS:Awake at Dawn is the second book in the Shadow Falls series by C.C. Hunter. Why did I choose the second book in the series, you ask. Well, the answer is I like the second book best of the whole series. This series has a total of six amazing books! It is 10 pounds of amazingly constructed mix of creatures in a 5 pound bag. Yes this book has Vampires and Werewolves, but it also had shape shivers, healers, fae, chameleons, ghosts and witches! Kylie is one of my favorite heroines in a YA book for several reasons. She starts out meal and confused, trying to figure out who AND WHAT she is. She can see ghost, heal, shape shift, use magic and.....okay now I'm giving away to much, but the biggest thing is that she's what the paranormal people call a "Protector".Now besides intrigue, mysteries, adventure, danger and finding out about her real family, there is also a heaping load of romance loaded into his series. Yes, there is a love triangle, BUT I like love triangles, if they are done right. And C.C. managed to hit this one out of the park! Derek and Lucas are frickin-amaze-hot male leads. Both are very great for different reasons, but they both have a habit of acting like teenage boys and doing stupid stuff.There is just so much amazing things to say about this book and the series. I can't say how much I recommend this book to anyone who likes fun, spunky, thrilling, hilarious but still serious and intense at the right moments, and purely unique story lines and plot twists!And now I want to go read the series all over again. LOL GO out and GET THIS SERIES! Born at Midnight is the first up in this great series. And the greatest news for fans of this series- Delia is getting her own spin off series! Can't wait.
There you go, come back tomorrow for day 2's offerings!Later lovelies!
<3 L.H.a Rafflecopter giveaway
A is for Awake at Dawn by C.C. Hunter
BOOK BLURB:
Step into the world of Shadow Falls, a camp that helps teens tap into their special…talents. Once you visit, you’ll never forget it—and you’ll never, ever be the same.
From the moment Kylie Galen arrived at Shadow Falls Camp, she’s had one burning question: What am I? Surrounded by vampires, werewolves, shape-shifters, fairies and witches, Kylie longs to figure out her own supernatural identity…and what her burgeoning powers mean. And now she’ll need them more than ever, because she’s being haunted by a new spirit who insists that someone Kylie knows—and loves—will die before the end of the summer. If only she only knew who she was supposed to save. And how…
But giving Kylie the most trouble is her aching heart. Gorgeous werewolf Lucas left camp with another girl, but he’s still visiting Kylie in her dreams. And Derek, a sexy half Fae who’s always been there for her when she needed him, is pushing to get more serious—and growing impatient, especially when Lucas returns. Kylie knows she needs to decide between the boys, and it’s tearing her up inside.
Yet romance will have to wait, because something from the dark side of the supernatural world is hiding in Shadow Falls. It’s about to threaten everything she holds dear…and bring her closer to her destiny.
COVER RATING: On a scale of 1-9
The only reason I gave this a 6 is because, while the entire series of book covers are a perfect series. BUT book two is not my favorite of the covers. It’s still good, just not my fav.MY THOUGHTS:Awake at Dawn is the second book in the Shadow Falls series by C.C. Hunter. Why did I choose the second book in the series, you ask. Well, the answer is I like the second book best of the whole series. This series has a total of six amazing books! It is 10 pounds of amazingly constructed mix of creatures in a 5 pound bag. Yes this book has Vampires and Werewolves, but it also had shape shivers, healers, fae, chameleons, ghosts and witches! Kylie is one of my favorite heroines in a YA book for several reasons. She starts out meal and confused, trying to figure out who AND WHAT she is. She can see ghost, heal, shape shift, use magic and.....okay now I'm giving away to much, but the biggest thing is that she's what the paranormal people call a "Protector".Now besides intrigue, mysteries, adventure, danger and finding out about her real family, there is also a heaping load of romance loaded into his series. Yes, there is a love triangle, BUT I like love triangles, if they are done right. And C.C. managed to hit this one out of the park! Derek and Lucas are frickin-amaze-hot male leads. Both are very great for different reasons, but they both have a habit of acting like teenage boys and doing stupid stuff.There is just so much amazing things to say about this book and the series. I can't say how much I recommend this book to anyone who likes fun, spunky, thrilling, hilarious but still serious and intense at the right moments, and purely unique story lines and plot twists!And now I want to go read the series all over again. LOL GO out and GET THIS SERIES! Born at Midnight is the first up in this great series. And the greatest news for fans of this series- Delia is getting her own spin off series! Can't wait.
There you go, come back tomorrow for day 2's offerings!Later lovelies!
<3 L.H.a Rafflecopter giveaway
March 31, 2014
A to Z blog challenge 2014 set up
Hey lovelies! I am so excited to get started on the A to Z blog challenge but I want to set up the "outline" if you will, of how I'm setting up my daily blogs. Since I am hitting 26 different and great YA books, I know I can't do "reviews" of all of all of them. Partially because I'm not sure anyone has that much available time, and second, several of the books I chose are in my TBR pile.
So, each of the posts will have the following:
My cover rating- done on a scale of 1-9, 9 begin the best.Book blurs and links to Goodreads and Author pagesMy brief thoughts
After all of the above I will add in some extras based on the book its self. If it is in my TBR pile, I'll tell you why it is. Some of the books will have reviews done by my new YA book review blogger buddy DynoMoon. Some will have fan art tributes and music that makes me think of those books. Some will have a longer bit of "my opinions"- and I say that because I am not a reviewer. I will never give a review of a book because I don't think I can be truly fair because I'm an author. I can however tell you what I liked and didn't.
In addition to the blog I am also going to be running two contests for the entire month of April. One on my goodreads page for 2 signed paper copies of Legendary and another on this blog site with several eBooks on offer and an Amazon gift card. Several copies of Legendary will be up for grabs, along with over 4 dozen books up for grabs gifted to me by some fabulous, and spectacular author friends who love their readers and finding new ones! Just like me :D
So without further a due check back tomorrow for Day 1's offering! Here is the schedule I have planned for this tour.
A for Awake at DawnB for Breath of YesterdayC for Clockwork Scarab D for Daughters of the Moon E for Existance F for Forbidden Game G for Gifted Touch H for Huntress I for Illuminate J for The Juliet Club K for Killer Frost L for Legendary M for The Mark of Athena N for Name of the Star O for Oh My Gods P for The Princess Diaries Q for Queen B R for Reckoning (Sweep Series) S for Shadow of the Mark T for True U for Unearth V for Venom W for When Lightning Strikes X for X-men Misfits Y for Young Sherlock Holmes-Death Cloud Z for Zombie vs Unicorn
See you later lovelies!<3 LH
If you can't wait to read Legendary you can go buy it here!And here are the four amazing books up for grabs in my giveaway--along with Legendary of course ;P Click on the beautiful covers to see the book blurs and learn more about the amazing authors who wrote these stories!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
March 30, 2014
LEGENDARY BLOG TOUR GIVEAWAY WINNERS!
Hello my lovelies! In honor of my first blog tour I ran a raffle copter giveaway with several great prizes up for grabs. Now that it is over, and my “real world” job has stopped kicking my very cute backside, here are the winners!
Beverly Keogh Nickelson, Natasha Donohoo, and Erin Dougherty Osterhout all won ecopies of LegendaryVeronica has won both an e copy of Shades of Atlantis and LegendaryMaelin Cheung won the $25 amazon gift cardKelleyMae Helfrich won the Legendary prize pack including a signed copy of Legendary!
Congratulations to the winners! Now please contact me and send me your email addresses so we can get the prizes handed out. You can contact me through my blogger page, message me on facebook or twitter or email me through my author website.
For those who didn’t win this time, come back in April and you can enter in the month long giveaway I will be running in honor of the A to Z blogger challenge.
<3 always LH
