Sunday, December 29, 2013

Showcase Sunday (#40)


Welcome to Showcase Sunday, hosted by Books, Biscuits and Tea. The aim of this event is to showcase our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed form the libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders this week (it's becoming more of a monthly thing for me, though lol). For more information about how this feature works and to join in, click here.

Here is what I got in the last 2 weeks or so (I always forget to do this post, lol):

Friday, December 27, 2013

Top 10 Books I’m looking forward to in 2014


This is the second time I join this event and I absolutely LOVE it! It basically showcases my reading year in a nutshell... even though it's tough choosing ONLY 10 books, lol.

Here is the complete schedule of what will be coming up this week:

Monday, December 23rd: Best Books I’ve Read in 2013
Tuesday, December 24th: Best Book Covers of 2013
Wednesday, December 25th: Best Novellas, Debuts, & NA Books of 2013
Thursday, December 26th: Best Book Boyfriends of 2013
*Friday, December 27th: Top 10 Books I’m looking forward to in 2014*


Thursday, December 26, 2013

Top 10 of 2013: Best Book Boyfriends of 2013


This is the second time I join this event and I absolutely LOVE it! It basically showcases my reading year in a nutshell... even though it's tough choosing ONLY 10 books, lol.

Here is the complete schedule of what will be coming up this week:

Monday, December 23rd: Best Books I’ve Read in 2013
Tuesday, December 24th: Best Book Covers of 2013
Wednesday, December 25th: Best Novellas, Debuts, & NA Books of 2013
*Thursday, December 26th: Best Book Boyfriends of 2013*
Friday, December 27th: Top 10 Books I’m looking forward to in 2014


Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Top 10 of 2013: Best Novellas, Debuts, & NA Books of 2013


This is the second time I join this event and I absolutely LOVE it! It basically showcases my reading year in a nutshell... even though it's tough choosing ONLY 10 books, lol.

Here is the complete schedule of what will be coming up this week:

Monday, December 23rd: Best Books I’ve Read in 2013
Tuesday, December 24th: Best Book Covers of 2013
*Wednesday, December 25th: Best Novellas, Debuts, & NA Books of 2013 (Readers/Bloggers choice.)*
Thursday, December 26th: Best Book Boyfriends of 2013
Friday, December 27th: Top 10 Books I’m looking forward to in 2014


Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Top 10 of 2013: Best Book Covers of 2013


This is the second time I join this event and I absolutely LOVE it! It basically showcases my reading year in a nutshell... even though it's tough choosing ONLY 10 books, lol.

Here is the complete schedule of what will be coming up this week:

Monday, December 23rd: Best Books I’ve Read in 2013
*Tuesday, December 24th: Best Book Covers of 2013*
Wednesday, December 25th: Best ________ Of 2013 (Readers/Bloggers choice.)
Thursday, December 26th: Best Book Boyfriends of 2013
Friday, December 27th: Top 10 Books I’m looking forward to in 2014


Monday, December 23, 2013

Top 10 of 2013: Best Books I've Read in 2013


This is the second time I join this event and I absolutely LOVE it! It basically showcases my reading year in a nutshell... even though it's tough choosing ONLY 10 books, lol.

Here is the complete schedule of what will be coming up this week:

*Monday, December 23rd: Best Books I’ve Read in 2013*
Tuesday, December 24th: Best Book Covers of 2013
Wednesday, December 25th: Best ________ Of 2013 (Readers/Bloggers choice.)
Thursday, December 26th: Best Book Boyfriends of 2013
Friday, December 27th: Top 10 Books I’m looking forward to in 2014


Thursday, December 19, 2013

Review: Loki's Wolves (The Blackwell Pages #1) by K.L. Armstrong & M.A. Marr

Loki's Wolves (The Blackwell Pages, #1)
Title: Loki's Wolves

Series: The Blackwell Pages #1

Author: K.L. Armstrong (AKA Kelley Armstrong) & M.A. Marr (AKA Melissa Marr)

Publication date: May 2013

Published by: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Source: Won ARC in giveaway

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

In Viking times, Norse myths predicted the end of the world, an event called Ragnarok, that only the gods can stop. When this apocalypse happens, the gods must battle the monsters--wolves the size of the sun, serpents that span the seabeds, all bent on destroying the world.

The gods died a long time ago.

Matt Thorsen knows every Norse myth, saga, and god as if it was family history--because it is family history. Most people in the modern-day town of Blackwell, South Dakota, in fact, are direct descendants of either Thor or Loki, including Matt's classmates Fen and Laurie Brekke.

However, knowing the legends and completely believing them are two different things. When the rune readers reveal that Ragnarok is coming and kids--led by Matt--will stand in for the gods in the final battle, he can hardly believe it. Matt, Laurie, and Fen's lives will never be the same as they race to put together an unstoppable team to prevent the end of the world.

My rating: ★★★★★

I absolutely LOVED this book! I was so excited when I found out about it... I have not read any of Melissa's books, but I love Kelley's Darkest Powers and Darkness Rising series, AND I love mythology! Right then I knew I HAD to read this book! So, imagine my excitement when I got home from school one day and found an ARC waiting for me! Apparently, I won it in a giveaway and I didn't even have a clue about it! It totally made my day :)

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Book Blast $50 Giveaway: The Offering (The Pledge #3) by Kimberly Derting



offeringThe Offering (The Pledge #3) by Kimberly Derting

True love—and world war—is at stake in the conclusion to The Pledge trilogy, a dark and romantic blend of dystopia and fantasy.

Charlie, otherwise known as Queen Charlaina of Ludania, has become comfortable as a leader and a ruler. She’s done admirable work to restore Ludania’s broken communications systems with other Queendoms, and she’s mastered the art of ignoring Sabara, the evil former queen whose Essence is alive within Charlie. Or so she thinks.

When the negotiation of a peace agreement with the Queendom of Astonia goes awry, Charlie receives a brutal message that threatens Ludania, and it seems her only option is to sacrifice herself in exchange for Ludanian freedom.

But things aren’t always as they seem. Charlie is walking into a trap—one set by Sabara, who is determined to reclaim the Queendoms at any cost.

Find The Offering here: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Praise for The Offering

"This was a truly epic ending to the series." --Crystal Perkins, Goodreads Review

"The final book in Kimberly Derting’s Pledge trilogy is a thrilling conclusion. I was immediately swept up into it and powered right through. It was pretty much what I wanted with a few surprises along the way." --Krys at Bibliopunkk Reads

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Review: The Son of Sobek (Percy Jackson & Kane Chronicles Crossover #1) by Rick Riordan

The Son of Sobek
Title: The Son of Sobek

Series: Percy Jackson & Kane Chronicles Crossover #1 | Percy Jackson and the Olympians | The Heroes of Olympus | The Kane Chronicles

Author: Rick Riordan

Publication date: June 18, 2013

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Own e-book

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis:

In this e-book short story by Rick Riordan, Carter Kane is investigating rumored sightings of a monster on Long Island when he runs into something else: a mysterious boy named Percy Jackson. And their meeting isn't exactly friendly. . . . Includes a sneak peek chapter from HOUSE OF HADES, Book Four in the Heroes of Olympus series.

My rating: ★★★★★

Percy AND Carter? YAY!! Rick basically answered our prayers of a cross over and the result was pure freakin' awesomeness! I absolutely loved everything about it! And if you've got no idea what I am talking about, Percy Jackson from "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" and "Heroes of Olympus" AND Carter Kane from "The Kane Chronicles" meet in this clash of mythologies!

Monday, December 16, 2013

Blog Tour: Interview + Giveaway- Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter series by Nikki Jefford


Hi guys! Welcome to my stop on the Aurora Sky Blog Tour! You know, I've known Nikki for a while now, and I realized that I have never interviewed her in the whole time I have known her! So, today on my stop, I have an interview plus an awesome giveaway!

Cover Reveal: Stakeout (Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter #2.5) by Nikki Jefford


I've got a stunning, very winter-y cover for you guys today! It is the cover for Nikki Jefford's upcoming novella in the Aurora Sky series, Stakeout. And let me tell you one thing, I cannot wait to read it! After what happened in Northern Bites... I need to know more! lol. Anyway, take a look:

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Blog Tour- Review + Giveaway: Mercy's Magic (Mercedes Cruz #1) by P.J. Day & Elizabeth Basque


 Mercy's Magic
Title: Mercy's Magic

Series: Mercedes Cruz #1

Authors: P.J. Day & Elizabeth Basque

Publication date: September 18th 2013

Published by: P.J. Day

Source: For review for blog tour

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis:

Mercedes Cruz is a Bruja--or Witch, in Spanish. Just like many first generation sons and daughters of immigrant parents, Mercy has embraced America, its culture, and its customs in their entirety. But Brujeria or Mexican Witchcraft is deeply tied with Mercy's heritage and her family's past, and because she's neglected such a large chunk of her identity, Mercy now stands a stunted witch in her 30's.

Mercy, also a single mother of five year old Terra, who may also share her attributes, has decided to start her own private investigation firm in the heart of Orange County, California. She's decided to use her budding talents to recruit business, solve challenging cases, and help those in the community who lack a voice and who may be too afraid to report crimes due to their legal status --leaving criminals to freely exploit those who choose to live in the shadows.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

Mercy Cruz has just started her own Private Investigator business when she is asked to work on a case the hits close to home. Oh, and she is also a witch! When Mercy realizes that is case may or may not have some supernatural stuff involved, she pulls out the big guns to help her out: brujeria. Unfortunately, things don't go as planned and the magical mess that's she made might just get her in trouble.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Showcase Sunday (#39)


Welcome to Showcase Sunday, hosted by Books, Biscuits and Tea. The aim of this event is to showcase our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed form the libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders this week (it's becoming more of a monthly thing for me, though lol). For more information about how this feature works and to join in, click here.

Man, I haven't done one of these in a while! I feel procrastination coming on so I'll write up this post instead of studying for my exam tomorrow :) lol

Here is what I've gotten over the last couple of weeks:

Friday, December 6, 2013

Review: The Son of Neptune (The Heroes of Olympus #2) by Rick Riordan

The Son of Neptune (The Heroes of Olympus, #2)
Title: The Son of Neptune

Series: The Heroes of Olympus #2

Previous Book in this Series: The Lost Hero

Author: Rick Riordan

Publication date: October 2011

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Own Hardcover

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,
To storm or fire the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.


Percy is confused. When he awoke from his long sleep, he didn't know much more than his name. His brain fuzz is lingering, even after the wolf Lupa told him he is a demigod and trained him to fight with the pen/sword in his pocket. Somehow Percy manages to make it to a camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he has to keep killing monsters along the way. But the camp doesn't ring any bells with him. The only thing he can recall from his past is another name: Annabeth

Hazel is supposed to be dead. When she lived before, she didn't do a very good job of it. Sure, she was an obedient daughter, even when her mother was possessed by greed. But that was the problem — when the Voice took over her mother and commanded Hazel to use her "gift" for an evil purpose, Hazel couldn't say no. Now because of her mistake, the future of the world is at risk. Hazel wished she could ride away from it all on the stallion that appears in her dreams.

Frank is a klutz. His grandmother says he is descended from heroes and can be anything he wants to be, but he doesn't see it. He doesn't even know who his father is. He keeps hoping Apollo will claim him, because the only thing he is good at is archery — although not good enough to win camp war games. His bulky physique makes him feel like an ox, especially infront of Hazel, his closest friend at camp. He trusts her completely — enough to share the secret he holds close to his heart.

Beginning at the "other" camp for half-bloods and extending as far as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment of the Heroes of Olympus series introduces new demigods, revives fearsome monsters, and features other remarkable creatures, all destined to play a part in the Prophesy of Seven.

My rating: ★★★★★

PERCY IS BACK!!! YAY!!! And now with that out of my system, lets get to the review... :)

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Launch Day Excerpt + Giveaway: Proxy (Avalon #0.5) by Mindee Arnett



Title: Proxy

Series: Avalon #0.5

Author: Mindee Arnett

Publication date: Dec. 3rd, 2013 (TODAY!)

Published by: HarperTeen Impulse

Genres: YA | Sci-Fi

Blurb: If you need something stolen from any star system in the Confederation, you need look no further than the Shades. Jeth Seagrave and his band of teenage mercenaries have been making a name for themselves for being able to steal anything—and for disappearing before anyone is the wiser.

Their latest job, a jewel heist on Grakkus, should be no different. But when Jeth's boss replaces a key member of his crew just before takeoff, and Jeth discovers a betrayal within his own ranks, he begins to suspect that not everyone is going to be coming back from his job alive.

Proxy is an action-packed introduction to a world like nothing readers have seen before.

Find Proxy here: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Book Blitz: PSS Chronicles by Ripley Patton


The PSS Chronicles consist of 2 books so far Ghost Hand (PSS Chronicles #1) and Ghost Hold (PSS Chronicles #2). To celebrate the one year anniversary of Ghost Hand, Ghost Hand will be free and Ghost Hold will be for sale for $0.99.

Monday, November 25, 2013

Blog Tour - Review + Giveaway: Death is but a Dream (Elysium Legacies #1) by Erin Hayes


I am so happy to be part of this blog tour! First of all, this book was AMAZING! Second of all, GREEK MYTHOLOGY! I heart it! And third, we have an epic giveaway for you guys! make sure you enter! :)

Death is but a Dream
Title: Death is but a Dream

Series: Elysium Legacies #1

Author: Erin Hayes

Publication date: Fall 2013

Published by: Erin Hayes

Source: To review for blog tour

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | B&N

Synopsis:

Caught between life and death, all Callie wants is to live again.

Homicide detective Callie Saunders knows that death isn’t all pearly gates and angels. After being hit by a bus, she finds that it's the ancient gods and goddesses of Greek mythology who are in charge of everything.

So when Hades offers her a deal, she accepts. If she wants to be brought back to life, she’ll have to figure out who is trying to kill his son. But if she fails, both her soul and the world will be destroyed.

With the odds mounting against her, it’ll take everything she has within her to wake up from death. But the rules are constantly changing. And someone wants her to stay dead.

My rating: ★★★★★

Holy Hades, this book was amazing! I'm sorry, I just had to say that ;) lol

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Book Spotlight: Sia by Josh Grayson



Sia
Title: Sia

Author: Josh Grayson

Publication date: November 20th, 2013

Published by:Josh Grayson

Genre: YA | Romance

Blurb: When seventeen-year-old Sia wakes up on a park bench, she has no idea who or where she is. Yet after a week of being homeless, she’s reunited with her family. At school, she’s powerful and popular. At home, she’s wealthy beyond her dreams. But she quickly realizes her perfect life is a lie. Her family is falling apart and her friends are snobby, cruel and plastic. Worse yet, she discovers she was the cruelest one. Mortified by her past, she embarks on a journey of redemption and falls for Kyle, the “geek” she once tormented. Yet all the time she wonders if, when her memories return, she’ll become the bully she was before…and if she’ll lose Kyle.

Find Sia here: Goodreads

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Review: The Throne of Fire (The Kane Chronicles #2) by Rick Riordan

The Throne of Fire (Kane Chronicles, #2)
Title: The Throne of Fire

Series: The Kane Chronicles #2

Previous book in this series: The Red Pyramid

Author: Rick Riordan

Publication date: May 2011

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Own Hardcover

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

Ever since the gods of Ancient Egypt were unleashed in the modern world, Carter Kane and his sister Sadie have been in trouble. As descendants of the House of Life, the Kanes have some powers at their command, but the devious gods haven't given them much time to master their skills at Brooklyn House, which has become a training ground for young magicians.

And now their most threatening enemy yet - the chaos snake Apophis - is rising. If they don't prevent him from breaking free in a few days' time, the world will come to an end. In other words, it's a typical week for the Kane family.

To have any chance of battling the Forces of Chaos, the Kanes must revive the sun god Ra. But that would be a feat more powerful than any magician has ever accomplished.

First they have to search the world for the three sections of the Book of Ra, then they have to learn how to chant its spells. Oh, and did we mention that no one knows where Ra is exactly?

Narrated in two different wisecracking voices, featuring a large cast of new and unforgettable characters, and with adventures spanning the globe, this second installment in the Kane Chronicles is nothing short of a thrill ride.

My rating: ★★★★★

So, after the craziness that happened in The Red Pyramid, Carter and Sadie set out to ding the 3 books of Ra in order to awaken him. This is the only chance they have of defeating Apophis (Chaos). Along the way, Carter decides that he wants to go find Zia, which I was not liking the idea of (and Sadie agreed with me!) All this while trying some newbie magicians! Yay! New characters!

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Book Spotlight- Cake: A Fairy Tale by Dina Keratsis



Cake: A Fairy Tale
Title: Cake: A Fairy Tale

Author: Dina Keratsis

Publication date: July 24, 2013

Published by: Dina Keratsis

Genre: Fantasy | Romance

Blurb: She has nothing left to lose... When Breena stumbles into the enchanted borderland of Cake, she is given the choice to return to her world or face the unknown. Unable to bear returning to her empty life, she embraces the challenge, much to the annoyance of the handsome, brooding Rune. He wants redemption... Long ago, Rune failed in his duty to guard the Queen Likely and vowed never again to let desire rule him. Then he meets Breena, the last Likely, and least likely, to succeed. Sworn to protect her from the killer who seeks to destroy Cake, Rune is forced to face his awakening desire for the one woman he can never have. Together, they embark on a magical journey to save Cake and while Rune abandons his heart, Breena discovers that she has everything to lose.

Find Cake: A Fairy Tale here: Goodreads | Amazon (on sale for $0.99 on Kindle!) | Book Depository

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Review: The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles #1) by Rick Riordan

The Red Pyramid (Kane Chronicles, #1)
Title: The Red Pyramid

Series: The Kane Chronicles #1

Author: Rick Riordan

Publication date: May 2010

Published by: Disney Hyperion

Source: Own Hardcover

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

Since their mother's death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane.

One night, Dr. Kane brings the siblings together for a "research experiment" at the British Museum, where he hopes to set things right for his family. Instead, he unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes him to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives.

Soon, Sadie and Carter discover that the gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of them — Set — has his sights on the Kanes. To stop him, the siblings embark on a dangerous journey across the globe - a quest that brings them ever closer to the truth about their family and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs.

My rating: ★★★★★

Carter Kane is always on the move with his Egyptologist dad, never in the same place for too long, while his younger sister, Sadie, lives with their grandparents in England. On one of their rare visits, Carter and his dad visit Sadie in England and they go to a museum on a normal "outing." Carter is not impressed, he is always going to museums with his dad. Then their dad starts acting weird, other weird stuff starts happening at the museum, this leads to that and Sadie and Carter suddenly find themselves running for their lives and thrust into a world where Egyptian mythology in not just mythology-- it's very real!

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Cover Reveal: Stone of Destiny (The Danaan Trilogy #2) by Laura Howard


I've got a super gorgeous cover reveal for you guys today: Laura Howard's second book in The Danaan Trilogy, Stone of Destiny! Check it out:

Monday, November 4, 2013

Blog Tour- Review + Giveaway: Unchosen (The Reaper Diaries #2) by Michele Vail


Hey guys! Welcome to my stop on this awesome Blog tour! I am so happy to be part of it because I absolutely LOVE this series! Check out my review below, and enter the giveaway!

Unchosen (The Reaper Diaries, #2)
Title: Unchosen

Series: The Reaper Diaries #2

Previous Book in this series: Undeadly

Author: Michele Vail

Publication date: October 29th 2013

Published by: Freeman Publication

Source: For review for blog tour

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon

Blurb:

I thought the worst of my reaper training was behind me… turns out I was wrong. Dead wrong.

Molly Bartolucci has done a lot of growing up but after being accused of using illegal magic at her school for necromancers, reaper-in-training Molly is treading lightly. As the destined leader of Anubis’s Chosen, she needs to study hard, train harder, and stay out of trouble.

Uh, right.

It doesn’t help that she’s feeling more than academic about her melt-your-bones hot reaping instructor, Rath. And if her relationship drama isn’t enough to drive her over the edge, she has to deal with mother issues, nosy little sisters, suspicious friends, and an unnamed force stalking her at school.

Then her family is attacked, and her bio-dad ends up comatose in the hospital. Now, Molly has to uncover who’s trying to hurt her loved ones—and all without the help of Anubis.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I absolutely loved Undeadly, so I was very excited to read this book! I just love the concept if the story... Two of my favorite things (reapers and Egyptian mythology!) rolled into one? Yes please! The idea of reapers getting they're powers from the Egyptian god Anubis is just brilliant!

Friday, November 1, 2013

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Book Spotlight: The Unseen by J.L. Bryan



The Unseen
Title: The Unseen

Author: J.L. Bryan

Publication date: October 31st, 2013

Friday, October 25, 2013

Review: Stirring Up Trouble by Juli Alexander

Stirring Up Trouble (Stirring Up Trouble, #1)
Title: Stirring Up Trouble

Series: Stirring Up Trouble Trilogy #1

Short story in this same world: Camp Cauldron

Author: Juli Alexander

Publication date: Jan. 2012

Published by: Juli Alexander

Source: The author via Netgalley (Thank you!)

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

Zoe Miller is a 15-year-old witch with a talent for potions. She's working hard to find a substitute for toad slime. Since fat-free margarine has been found to be a substitute for dead man's toe, she's hopeful that she'll find one.

Then there's all the so-called normal stuff. Like high school, her annoyingly selfish "friend" Anya, and her crush on Anya's ex-boyfriend Jake.

Now, Zoe's dad is dating Jake's mom, and things are getting more and more complicated. If only Zoe could brew a potion or two and set everything straight. Zoe can't. If she brews a self-serving potion, bad things will happen to her appearance. Like a crooked nose, giant wart, green skin, rotting teeth--the whole ugly witch stereotype.

Zoe's tired of fate interfering so cruelly in her life. Can you really blame her for putting her potions to not-so-good use and stirring up trouble?

My rating: ★★★★★

This book... I just loved it SO much! There are so many great things about it that I just need to tell you!!

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Review: Dial 'M' for Morna (The Dead Kid Detective Agency #2) by Evan Munday

Dial M for Morna (The Dead Kid Detective Agency, #2)
Title: Dial 'M' for Morna

Series: The Dead Kid Detective Agency #2

Previous book in this series: The Dead Kid Detective Agency

Author: Evan Munday

Publication date: October 1st, 2013

Published by: ECW Press

Source: The publishers via Netgalley (thank you!)

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

As the Dead Kid Detective Agency embarks on its second (mis)adventure, October Schwartz and her five deadest friends are back, turning over metaphoric rocks and finding the centipedes underneath. In this latest volume, set against a backdrop of yuletide pandemonium, they discover dark supernatural forces at work in Sticksville and sleuth their way through a mystery involving a blizzard of suffragettes, ice skating disasters, anti-Asian sentiment, and the Titanic. Although the holiday season has descended upon the town like an eggnog rainstorm, October has no time for candy canes or mistletoe. She’s busy dealing with an oddly pleasant new history teacher, her two living friends’ new roles as high school radio DJs, and mysteries to be solved before the year end. October and her ghost friends are hot on the trail of those responsible for Morna MacIsaac’s death in 1914—or as hot as one can be on a 100-year-old trail—when Yumi becomes the target of a sinister harassment campaign at school. Solving dual concurrent mysteries at once won’t be easy, but the intrepid heroine in black eyeliner loves a challenge.

My rating: ★★★★☆

In "Dial 'M' For Morna," we've got a double mystery for The Dead Kid Detective Agency! First we try to find out who killed Morna. Second, October, Yumi, and Stacey are victims of a hate crime, and the question is... Who dunit? And oh my gods, there is a connection between both mysteries, believe it or not! It really surprised me.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Review: The Narrowing Path (Bowe Bellanger #1) by David J. Normoyle

The Narrowing Path
Title: The Narrowing Path

Series: Bowe Bellanger #1

Author: David J. Normoyle

Publication date: April 2013

Published by: Fiction Addiction

Source: From author for review (thanks!)

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis:

Only the strongest, smartest and most ruthless will survive.

Every six years, the world draws nearer to the sun. In Arcandis, those who want to live must claim the limited places in the Refuge, a series of underground caverns cooled by the sea.

The teenage boys of noble birth are sent out into the city to demonstrate their wits and strength. Some prove themselves in combat, others display their empire building skills, still others attempt to kill off their rivals. Out of over a hundred, only six will be selected by the leaders of the great families and allowed a place in the Refuge. The rest will perish, one way or another.

Not only is thirteen-year-old Bowe younger and weaker than most of the other boys, he has no family to support him. He is expected to die on the very first day of the narrowing path. Instead he begins a journey no one could have anticipated.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

This action-packed dystopian was about boys proving to society their worth by surviving the cruel world they are thrown into. And when I say cruel I mean CRUEL! Brutal stuff, I tell ya. The people in this world, the royals, are just ruthless without an ounce of compassion whatsoever, killing anyone they desire/think is in their way. Man...

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Review: Ghost Hold (The PSS Chronicles #2) by Ripley Patton

Ghost Hold (The PSS Chronicles, #2)
Title: Ghost Hold

Series: The PSS Chronicles #2

Previous book in this series: Ghost Hand

Author: Ripley Patton

Publication date: September 2013

Published by: Ripley Patton

Source: For review from author

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis:

Olivia Black is back.

Only this time she's not the one in need of rescue.

Samantha James, rich, popular, and an award-winning composer at age seventeen, is the next target on the CAMFers' list. In order to convince Samantha to come with them, Olivia and Passion must pose as cousins, blend into the most affluent high school in Indianapolis, and infiltrate a mysterious cult known as The Hold.

Olivia doesn't expect it to be easy, even with the PSS guys backing them up. But what she discovers over the course of the mission will call into question everything she ever believed about herself, her family, and especially about Marcus, the guy she is undoubtedly falling in love with.

My rating: ★★★★☆

So, in Ghost Hold, Olivia and the rest of the crew head out to rescue the next person on the CAMFERs list, and holy shi- *ahem* ;) Ripley really played with my feels in this one! I still cannot get over that ending! I don't know what to think anymore!

Monday, October 21, 2013

Review: Demigods and Monsters edited by Rick Riordan

Demigods and Monsters: Your Favorite Authors on Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series
Title: Demigods and Monsters

Contributors: Leah Wilson, Elizabeth M. Rees, Nigel Rodgers, Ellen Steiber, Elizabeth Wein, Kathy Appelt, Rosemary Clement-Moore, Cameron Dokey, Sarah Beth Durst, Jenny Han, Carolyn MacCullough, Sophie Masson, Hilary Wagner, Paul Collins.

Editor: Rick Riordan

Publication date: July 2013 (Revised Edition)

Published by: Smart Pop

Source: From publishers via Netgalley (thanks!)

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

The #1 New York Times bestselling Percy Jackson series-including The Lightning Thief, The Sea of Monsters, The Titan's Curse, and The Battle of the Labyrinth-features a twelve-year-old dyslexic boy who discovers he is the son of a Greek god, the target of mythical Greek monsters and the center of a prophecy that could change the balance of power in the world forever. In Demigods and Monsters, YA authors take on Greek gods, monsters and prophecy, to add insight and even more fun to Riordan's page-turner series. Its fresh, funny essays include:

• The pros and cons of having a god as a parent • Why Dionysus might actually be the best director Camp Half-Blood could have • What it takes to be one of Artemis's Hunters • How to tell a monster when you see one • Why even if we aren't facing manticores and minotaurs, reading myths can still help us deal with the scary things in our own lives • Why so many monsters go into retail-and why they're never selling anything a demigod really wants

The book also includes an introduction by Percy Jackson series author Rick Riordan, that gives further insight into the series and its creation, and a glossary of ancient Greek myth, with plenty of information on the places, monsters, gods and heroes that appear in the series.

My rating: ★★★★☆

Okay so I LOVE Percy Jackson and anything Rick Riordan writes because, well, he is just awesome like that. So when I saw this I knew I had to have it!

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Saturday Book Swag Giveaway! (#4)


Hey everyone! So, I decided to post these giveaways every other Saturday (and yes, I realize I posted this one very late Saturday night), so there will be lots of chances to win! Again, here is what is up for grabs:

Some of them are SIGNED!

Lots to choose from! This time I don't have separate swag packs, I'll just make you a...

Surprise pack!

Of course, if you see something you like from the picture above, let me know in the comments! This will make it SO much easier for me to build your swag pack ;) And yes, I realize it's not really a surprise with your input ;) Onto the giveaway!

The Rules and Other-Important-Stuff-You-Should-Probably-Read:
  • This giveaway is International.
  • The winner(s) will be notified by e-mail on Nov. 1st and will have 48 hours to claim the prize, otherwise a new winner will be chosen. (So please, when you sign in to the Rafflecopter form, use an e-mail you check often and double check that it is correct.)
  • Must be 13 or older to enter or have parent's permission.
  • 1 entry per person. Duplicate entries will be deleted and participant will be disqualified from this giveaway. The only exception is the "once a day" entries.
  • All entries will be verified. If any are falsified, all entries for that participant will be deleted, and the participant will be disqualified from this giveaway.
  • Giveaway details are subject to change without notice.
  • Lili Lost in a Book is not responsible for any lost items in the mail.
  • Void where prohibited by law.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Some of the featured Books:

Onyx (Lux, #2)Half-Blood (Covenant, #1)Wait for You (Wait for You, #1)CursedThe Body Finder (The Body Finder, #1)
Touch of Frost (Mythos Academy, #1)The Way We Fall (Fallen World, #1)Breaking GlassMy Super Sweet Sixteenth Century (My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century, #1)The Dark Between
Mistwood (Mistwood, #1)The Rules (Project Paper Doll, #1)Transfusion (Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter, #1)Entangled (Spellbound #1)Innocent Darkness (The Aether Chronicles, #1)