Thursday, October 31, 2013

Arc Review: My Name is Rapunzel by K.C. Hilton

Title: My Name is Rapunzel
Author: K.C. Hilton
Publication: December 1st 2013
Genre: Young Adult ~ Fairytale Retelling
Format: e-book
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Cover Rating: 5/5
Overall Rating: 3/5


Review copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review.

   
My tale has been told again and again, and I’ve heard each one. Except for my hair, I barely recognize the pitiful renditions. Muddled versions, crafted to entertain laughing children…but the children wouldn’t have laughed if they’d known the real story. It wasn't their fault. They didn't know the truth. Nobody did.

My name is Rapunzel. I will tell you my story. I will tell you the truth.


~My Thoughts:

My Name is Rapunzel by K.C. Hilton is a beautifully written fairytale retold by a great author who knows how to keep her readers on edge.

I liked this book a lot. I felt like I stepped into the time of fairytales, dragons and witches myself. It was so imaginative! 
I loved the way the author wrote the main character, Rapunzel over the centuries and you can definitely see a change in her. At the end, she definitely wasn't the girl we met at the beginning of this book. Great character building!
I also liked a lot of the other characters. There were quite a few but I do have to say I loved John and I'm glad in the end he got what he wanted, which was to fly. I was really touched by that turn of events, which brings me to the topic of the ending of this book. A lot was happening and I kept reading page after page to see how it was going to turn out and I must say, one of the best ending I have ever read. I was really glad by the outcome of it all and how everything fit together. 

In the first part of this story, though, I had a little difficulty getting into the story because everything seemed to go so very slow. I wanted things to start happening and picking up but that has probably more to do with my personal likings than the author's writing. I did love the second half of the book when things began fitting together more and more and when we came to the year 2013, modern times and all that. 

Overall this book was very likable and quite funny, too. And doesn't everyone loves a good fairytale every now and then? Especially when it's retold in the way K.C. Hilton did it. I'm so glad and honored I got the chance to read the arc and hopefully provide good feedback. 
I would recommend this book to readers of fairytale retellings no matter what age. And even if you don't usually read those kinds of books I would recommend it anyway because I loved the author's writing so much. It really was something!





Favorite Quote:
"Rapunzel. Rapunzel," John said the words slowly, like if he spoke fast he would lose his grip on the vines. "Throw down..."
"Don't you dare say it!"


About The Author:
Born and raised in Aurora, Illinois I spent my childhood climbing trees and playing street games with the neighborhood kids. I was a proud tomboy, until the day I didn’t want to hike the land to an old graveyard. From that point forward I was considered a “girl”.

At the age of seventeen I moved to Kentucky and eventually began to raise a family of my own. Having worn several “hats” my life has been an adventure all on its own. Still, to this day, I yearns to be a mechanic and own a pink toolbox with pink tools.

I can usually be found updating my website, reading great books, watching awesome movies or creating videos for my YouTube channel. Most days I craves Diet Coke, pizza and chocolate, in no particular order.

I don’t read scary books or watch horror movies… I’m way too scared! Lol.




Review: What's a Witch to Do by Jennifer Harlow


Title: What's a Witch to Do?
Author: Jennifer Harlow
Series: A Midnight Magic Mystery #1
Publication: March 8th 2013 by Midnight Ink
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Mystery
Format: Paperback, 323 pages
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Kobo
Cover Rating: 5/5
Overall Rating: 5/5


   
A suspenseful brew with a dash of passion.

High Priestess might sound like an ’80s hair band, but its Mona McGregor’s life. She runs the Midnight Magic shop in Goodnight, Virginia, and leads a large coven. She’s also raising two nieces and hasn’t been with a man for fifteen years…until a handsome doctor takes an interest in her. But Mona’s life really heats up when Adam Blue, a sexy werewolf, arrives at her door. Adam informs her that someone wants her dead and he is there to protect her. Hell’s bells! When a demon begins stalking her, Mona has to suspect her coven members, and even her family.

With two handsome men and a determined demon after her, Mona teams up with Adam to find out who really wants her dead . . . and who really wants her.


~My Thoughts: 

I loved this book! Sure, I love all books by Jennifer Harlow but What's a Witch to Do is definitely one of my favorites from her.

What's a Witch to Do follows witch Mona McGregor, who's the high priestess of her cover. When werewolf Adam Blue shows up beating bloody, claiming that someone  wants to kill her, she's forced to suspect friends and family. Together with the sexy werewolf at her side, Mona starts investigating...

Jennifer Harlow really did a great job with this book. I adore her FREAKS book and What's a Witch to Do being in the same world as FREAKS was such a great surprise since I didn't know that. Especially when characters from that series came in this book and a certain vampire got mentioned. Hee Hee.

The story (as always) was very entertaining, with fun and witty dialogue + an intriguing mystery that I, just like Mona, wanted to solve.
As for Mona as a character... I really liked her and the lists she made were so awesome. Also it's amazing how she could keep it together the way she did with everything going on like trying to find out who's trying to kill her, trying not to doe by the hands of a demon and raising two little girls on top of that + a whole lot of other things... I also loved her relationship with Adam and how it didn't really came out of the blue (pun not intended). They did know each other for almost two years, although didn't see each other a lot but at least there was the connection. Adam was an amazing hero. I love, love, love, LOVE werewolves and he was just so swoon-worthy and too darn cute with those little girls. 

Overall, What's a Witch to Do by Jennifer Harlow for me was like the love child of Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld and Kim Harrison's The Hollows series. A great urban fantasy/mystery that definitely fits with them. I enjoyed reading it so much and never got bored. And I'm definitely looking forward to more in this series and by this author.






About the author:
Jennifer HarlowJennifer Harlow spent her restless childhood fighting with her three brothers and scaring the heck out of herself with horror movies and books. She grew up to earn a degree at the University of Virginia which she put to use as a radio DJ, crisis hotline volunteer, bookseller, lab assistant, wedding coordinator, and government investigator. Currently she calls Northern Virgina home but that restless itch is ever present. In her free time she continues to scare the beejepers out of herself watching scary movies and opening her credit card bills.




Best of the Bunch ~ October 2013

Best of the Bunch is a monthly meme hosted by Always Lost in Stories on the last day of every month. The aim of this meme is to share the best book that we have read in that month and give it our Best of the Bunch award.




October Reads:

Blood Entangled (Blood Vine #2) by Amber Belldene ~ 5 Stars ~ My Review
Mirror (Luke #1) by Cassia Leo ~ 3 Stars 
Memory (Luke #2) by Cassia Leo ~ 2 Stars 


Saying Goodbye to Warsaw by Michael Cargill ~ 4 Stars ~ My Review
What's a Witch to Do? (a Midnight Magic Mystery #1) by Jennifer Harlow ~ 5 Stars ~ Review to come!
Anyone But You (Twisted Lit #3) by Kim Askew & Amy Helmes ~ 4 Stars ~ Review to come!


Her Mad Hatter (Kingdom #1) by Marie Hall ~ 4 Stars ~ My Review
Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky #1) by Veronica Rossi ~ 5 Stars ~ Review to come!
Linked (Luke #3) by Cassia Leo ~ 2 Stars


The Moth in the Mirror (Splintered #1.5) by A.G. Howard ~ 4 Stars ~ My Review
Charming (Pax Arcana #1) by Elliott James ~ 4 Stars ~ My Review
The Fall of the Hotel Dumort (The Bane Chronicles #7) by Cassandra Clare and Maureen Johnson ~ 4 Stars ~ My Review


Daughter of the Sky by Michelle Diener ~ 5 Stars ~ Review to come!
The Renaissance: The Best One-Hour History by Robert Freeman ~ 5 Stars ~ Review to come!
Bewitching the Werewolf by Caroline Hanson ~ 3 Stars 




And the Best of the Bunch winner of October 2013 is...


Daughter of the Sky by Michelle Diener
Paperback, 340 pages
Published March 1st 2013
The Victorian Empire has declared war on the Zulus if they don't accede to their outrageous demands. The clock is ticking down to the appointed hour. With no idea why the British are marching three massive columns of men and guns towards them, one Zulu general is prepared to take an impossible risk. But the life he's gambling with isn't his own . . .

The sole survivor of a shipwreck off the Zululand coast, 15 year-old Elizabeth Jones is taken in by the Zulus, the people of the sky. Six years later, her white skin becomes useful to the Zulu army as they try to work out why the Victorian Empire has pointed their war-machine at the Zulu nation. Elizabeth is suddenly Zululand's most important spy.

While infiltrating the British camp, Elizabeth's disguise as a young soldier is uncovered almost immediately by Captain Jack Burdell. However, he believes the tale she spins of searching for a missing brother and shields her from discovery, allowing her to bunk in his tent and giving her a job as his batman. Burdell is war-weary and disillusioned - no longer willing to follow regulations at all costs.

But as Elizabeth and Jack explore their growing attraction to each other, the two armies move towards their inevitable clash. Elizabeth is torn between the guilt of betrayal and her fierce loyalty to her Zulu family, and when Zulu and British meet on the battlefield, both she and Jack find their hearts and their lives caught in the crossfire




October was a pretty kick-ass month when it came to books. I read a lot really good books but Daughter of the Sky was definitely the best. I can't even begin to describe how amazing it was. Review will come!


Honorable mentions go to:

Blood Entangled by Amber Belldene
In September I read the first book, which was the one that actually won best of the bunch last month, so I couldn't wait to start the second one. It was just as good!

What's a Witch to Do? by Jennifer Harlow
I love all of Jennifer Harlow's books and What's a Witch to Do is definitely one of my favorites. I'll be reading the second book hopefully in November!

Her Mad Hatter by Marie Hall
I loooove fairytales so this one was definitely a hit for me. Can't wait to read the other books!

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Such an amazing book. I'm so curious to see how the story will continue!

Charming by Elliott James
Finally a great urban fantasy by a male author in a male point of view! squeee!

As far as nonfictions go, I loved this one. Very interesting!




What was the best book you read this month?
Leave me links to your Best of the Bunch post if you participate in it.


Throwback Thursday #10

Throwback Thursday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by me and Christina @ Booksane where we feature books that we've read in the past but are still crazy about. It could be a book you read as a child and still remember and love or maybe just a book that you haven't read in a long time and want to show your love for.
Each week we'll be featuring a new random question to answer!



My Throwback pick of the week:


The Gathering (Darkness Rising #1) by Kelley Armstrong
Paperback, 359 pages
Published April 12th 2011 by ATOM
5 Stars!


An ordinary town . . . full of deadly secrets

Strange things have been happening in sixteen-year-old Maya's small Vancouver Island community--from the mountain lions that have been constantly approaching her to her best friend's hidden talent for "feeling" out people and situations. There's also a sexy new bad boy who makes Maya feel . . . "different." Combine that with a few unexplained deaths and a mystery involving Maya's biological parents and it's easy to suspect that this town might have more than its share of skeletons in its closet.





Although I have read the two other books in this series, I did love this one. I love Kelley Armstrong's books and definitely in this series. It wasn't as good as The Darkest Powers, I remember, but still very good. 




Quote from The Gathering:
Rafe grinned. "So we are dating?"
"No. You have to pass the parental exam first. It'll take you awhile to compile the data. They'd like it in triplicate." I turned to my parents. "We have Kenji. We have my cell phone. Since we aren't officially dating, I'm sure you'll agree that's all the protection we need."
Dad chocked on his coffee.



Question of this week:

What is the first book you remember loving?



These books are the first that I remember loving. I can't quite remember which came first so I'm featuring them both. The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis was an amazing book about Afghanistan. Of course back then I read it in Dutch but I wouldn't mind rereading it in English sometime. Tinka by Ed Franck is a Flemish book that's also about war. Really sad but amazing too. I both read these books when we would go to the library with our class. I used to love that so much.




How about you?
Answer in the comment section!

--

If you'd like to participate in Throwback Thursday you can add your post to the linky below. Feel free to add a favorite quote of the book you're spotlighting as well in your post. :)








Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Waiting On Wednesday: Hexed by Michelle Krys


Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.




My WOW pick of this week:


Hexed (The Witch Hunter #1) by Michelle Krys
Hardcover, 369 pages
Expected publication: June 10th 2014 by Delacorte Press/Random House Children's Books
If high school is all about social status, Indigo Blackwood has it made. Sure, her quirky mom owns an occult shop, and a nerd just won’t stop trying to be her friend, but Indie is a popular cheerleader with a football-star boyfriend and a social circle powerful enough to ruin everyone at school. Who wouldn’t want to be her?

Then a guy dies right before her eyes. And the dusty old family Bible her mom is freakishly possessive of is stolen. But it’s when a frustratingly sexy stranger named Bishop enters Indie’s world that she learns her destiny involves a lot more than pom-poms and parties. If she doesn’t get the Bible back, every witch on the planet will die. And that’s seriously bad news for Indie, because according to Bishop, she’s a witch too.

Suddenly forced into a centuries-old war between witches and sorcerers, Indie’s about to uncover the many dark truths about her life—and a future unlike any she ever imagined on top of the cheer pyramid.




I saw Hexed a few weeks back featured on someone's blog and immediately loved the synopsis and cover of this book. I love to read abou twitches so squeeee can't wait! :D


Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Teaser Tuesdays: Daughter of the Sky by Michelle Diener

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB @ Should Be Reading.




My Teaser:
A man could go along, and go along, generally unhappy, getting closer to the edge, and then suddenly, he was there. Right there, able to fell either way, and frankly the dark shadowy side was by far more tempting.

—25%, Kindle


Daughter of the Sky by Michelle Diener
Kindle Edition, 342 pages
Published March 1st 2013 
The Victorian Empire has declared war on the Zulus if they don't accede to their outrageous demands. The clock is ticking down to the appointed hour. With no idea why the British are marching three massive columns of men and guns towards them, one Zulu general is prepared to take an impossible risk. But the life he's gambling with isn't his own . . .

The sole survivor of a shipwreck off the Zululand coast, 15 year-old Elizabeth Jones is taken in by the Zulus, the people of the sky. Six years later, her white skin becomes useful to the Zulu army as they try to work out why the Victorian Empire has pointed their war-machine at the Zulu nation. Elizabeth is suddenly Zululand's most important spy.

While infiltrating the British camp, Elizabeth's disguise as a young soldier is uncovered almost immediately by Captain Jack Burdell. However, he believes the tale she spins of searching for a missing brother and shields her from discovery, allowing her to bunk in his tent and giving her a job as his batman. Burdell is war-weary and disillusioned - no longer willing to follow regulations at all costs.

But as Elizabeth and Jack explore their growing attraction to each other, the two armies move towards their inevitable clash. Elizabeth is torn between the guilt of betrayal and her fierce loyalty to her Zulu family, and when Zulu and British meet on the battlefield, both she and Jack find their hearts and their lives caught in the crossfire.


I'm almost done with this book but, wow, it's amazing. One of the best books I've read lately!




What do you think of the teaser?
Leave me links to yours!



Anyone can participate in Teaser Tuesdays. Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!



Top Ten Tuesday: Best Books To Read For Halloween

Top Ten Tuesdays is a meme hosted by The Broke and Bookish that features a new topic each week where we have to put down our top ten of it.




This week's topic:
Top Ten Best Books To Read For Halloween


~In no particular order~




Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison
This series has witches (duh) but also a lot of other paranormal creatures that you may love or fear.


Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
I think this book is going to be on a lot of lists this week.


The Harvesters by Ashley Hill
This is a typical horror story and perfect for Halloween!


Faefever by Karen Marie Moning
 I picked this Fever book in the series because in this one Halloween comes actually in it.


Nevermore by Kelly Creagh
Of course can't forget to put Nevermore in this list.


Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
And what would Halloween be without vampires?


Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey
This is one of my favorite books and I think very good for Halloween with all the ghosts and everything.


Mind Over Monsters by Jennifer Harlow
Another favorite of mine. And, yes, you see right... zombies!


Poe. 'nuff said.


Bitten by Kelley Armstrong
And last but not least, gotta have werewolves on Halloween, right? 




What's your top ten?
Leave me links to your posts!