Waiting on Wednesday (#43) A Breath of Frost

This is a weekly meme 'Waiting on Wednesday' that I take part in, it is hosted by Breaking the Spine

It is a meme where you post about a yet-to-be-released book that you are looking forward to reading. Here is a book I have been highly anticipating:

A Breath of Frost

(Lovegrove  Legacy #1)
by Alyxandra Harvey

Publication date:

January 7th, 2014

Description (from Goodreads):

In 1814, three cousins—Gretchen, Emma, and Penelope—discover their family lineage of witchcraft when a binding spell is broken, allowing their individual magical powers to manifest. 
Now, beyond the manicured gardens and ballrooms of Regency London, an alluring underworld available only to those with power is revealed to the cousins. By claiming their power, the three cousins have accidentally opened the gates to the underworld. Now ghouls, hellhounds—and most terrifying of all, the spirits of dark witches known as the Greymalkin Sisters—are hunting and killing young debutante witches for their powers. And, somehow, Emma is connected to the murders…because she keeps finding the bodies. 
Can the cousins seal the gates before another witch is killed…or even worse, before their new gifts are stripped away?

Blog Tour: DUST by Devon Ashley

DUST
Author: Devon Ashley
Series: Of Dust and Darkness (#1)
Publication date: September 18th, 2012
Publisher: - 
Number of pages: 344
Date read: December , 2013
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Source: ARC from AToMR Tours
Format: Ebook
Add on Goodreads



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(Description source: Goodreads)

4. The number of times my delicate wings have been broken and clamped behind my back. 

68. The number inked upon my skin, marking me the sixty-eighth pixie to be stolen.

87. The number of days I’ve been wrongfully imprisoned.

88. The first day the faeries will regret stealing me.

Healthy. Cheery. Vivacious. 

All traits Rosalie has before becoming enslaved by the faeries to make an endless supply of pixie dust. Now that Rosalie has been traumatized by slave labor, extreme desolate conditions and multiple deaths, this hardened pixie is anything but. When this rebellious teenager attempts an escape, she’s isolated in cramped quarters until she learns her place. 

Just as she begins to let go of all that hope, she finds an unlikely friend in Jack, the faerie assigned to guard her. Interspecies dating is forbidden in the fae world, so their growing attraction is unacceptable. And even if Jack can find a way to free her, they know the prison is the only place they can truly be together.

Clean YA Fantasy.

Buy Dust on: Amazon, B&N, Kobo 

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The further I read, the more I grew to love Dust (I finished reading Dust in one stting), and I am so beyond glad that I had the opportunity to read this novel, books two and three are now residents on my to-read list!

Rosalie is happy within the community of her Hollow, even if she prefers her own company whilst hanging out in nature, to being around others, she's never considered leaving.

Sadly, leaving is not her choice, when she is kidnapped by faeries and forced into being a slave and labouring to make pixie dust for the faeries whilst under guard.

They try to reduce her to a number, try to break her spirit with deplorable living conditions, but Rosalie is not bound to give in. After a failed escape attempt, she is isolated in a desolate prison where they will do anything they can to break her, and they just might have, if Jack (a faerie) hadn't been assigned to guard her...

Escape may be the only way that Rosalie will survive intact, but escaping means not being around Jack anymore...

Rosalie is a curious and bright pixie who loves nature and was happy with the simplicity of her life before she was snatched away from everything she knew.

Rosalie has to deal with so many things that have broken others before her, yet she is determined to stay true to herself and not give in to despair, she has low points but still takes any opportunity she can to fight back. She is considerate of others, set in her mind with what is right and wrong, and absolutely refuses to give in and relinquish her will to survive or her identity. Her actions and feeling inspire you to feel utter compassion for her and root for her to prevail and get a happily ever after.

Jack has a rocky start but soon enough his true disposition shows through and you can't help but love him in his kindness. Jack is kind, smart and most definitely very sarcastic, but he is also incredibly gorgeous to say the least.

The interactions between Rosalie and Jack, and the way their relationship develops was amazing to see, beautiful, sweet and heartfelt.
Relationships between faeries and pixies are not accepted and it's kind of heart-breaking to be in Rosalie's head, knowing how she's feeling and how she sees no way that it can work between her and Jack.

Dust was amazingly well-written, intensely provocative in regards to emotions, Devon perfectly describes slavery and the harsh cruelty of it in her writing, without underplaying it - the way she wrote it was brilliantly realistic and harrowing.

The writing style is beautifully descriptive in a way that allows you to easily imagine each and every scene, and I love how the novels cover is so accurate to the story.

A phenomenal novel, Dust is a book you want to spend time getting immersed in, and it has a very strong and admirable ending - I can't wait for book two Stardust!

I rate Dust Five out of Five!!!

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 Tour Schedule! 

About the Author 

I’m a mom, wife, a lover and a fighter, coffee addict, wicked knitster, Microbiologist, baker of fine yummy treats, and someone who will fight you to death for that last twinkie bag of M&Ms during the zombie-apocalypse. Seriously, my addiction is that important to me. Oh yeah, and writing is cool too!

 Blog  /  GoodReads  /  Facebook 

Tour Giveaway:

(2) Signed Print copies of Dust - International 

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 Tour organised by AToMR Tours 

  

Book Blitz: Camp Christmas

This is my stop during the book blitz for Camp Christmas (Camp Boyfriend #1.5) by JK Rock, Camp Christmas is a novella which is part of the Camp Boyfriend series and is free to download on the publisher website . While it is part of the Camp Boyfriend series it can also be read as a stand alone. This book blitz is organized by Lola's Blog Tours . The book blitz runs from 17 December till 21 December, you can view the complete tour schedule on the website of Lola’s Blog Tours. So far this series contains 3 book: Camp Kiss (Camp Boyfriend #0.5), Camp Boyfriend (camp Boyfriend #1) and Camp Christmas (Camp Boyfriend #1.5).



Camp Christmas (Camp Boyfriend #1.5)

by JK Rock

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Age Category: Young Adult

Release date: 17 December 2013

Blurb:

Hannah never meant to be a mean girl – at Camp Juniper Point or at her high school. It just sort of happened during one painful year when her parents split and her life fell apart. Who knew being mad at the world would catapult her to popularity? But since changing the status quo would make her some serious enemies, she’s prepared to ride out her time until graduation. That is, until a camp friend calls her on the act during their school ski trip. Will Julian out her to her friends? Or will the guy she once accused of being King of the Nerds make her wish she was a whole lot more like him?

You can find Camp Christmas on Goodreads



Earlier books in this series:

Camp Kiss (Camp Boyfriend #0.5)

by JK Rock

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Age Category: Young Adult

Blurb:

The Camp Kiss That Started It All…



Lauren Carlson, a fourteen-year-old expert on the cosmos, superheroes, and science fiction trivia has a crush on her longtime camp friend, Seth. Last summer she’d dreamed about upgrading their relationship to BF/GF status and this year she has a plan… if only her well-meaning cabin mates wouldn’t interfere before she’s ready. She hasn’t even adjusted to her new braces yet, let alone imagined kissing Seth with them. When a dare pushes her out of her comfort zone, will she and Seth rocket out of the friendzone at last? There’s only one way to find out…

You can find Camp Kiss on Goodreads. It is free to download on the Spencer Hill Contemporary website or you can buy it on Amazon .



Camp Boyfriend (Camp Boyfriend #1)

by JK Rock

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Age Category: Young Adult

Blurb:

The summer of her dreams is about to get a reality check.



They said it couldn't be done, but geeky sophomore Lauren Carlson transformed herself into a popular girl after moving to a new school halfway across the country. Amazing what losing her braces and going out for cheerleading will do. Only trouble is, the popular crowd is wearing on Lauren's nerves and she can't wait to return to summer camp where she's valued for her brain instead of her handsprings. She misses her old friends and most of all, her long time camp-only boyfriend, Seth. This year she intends to upgrade their relationship to year-round status once she's broken up with her new, jock boyfriend, Matt. He doesn't even begin to know the real her, a girl fascinated by the night sky who dreams of discovering new planets and galaxies.



But Matt isn't giving her up without a fight. As he makes his case to stay together, Lauren begins to realize his feelings run deeper than she ever would have guessed. What if the guy she thought she was meant to be with forever isn't really The One? Returning to Camp Juniper Point was supposed to ground her uprooted life, but she's more adrift than ever. Everything feels different and soon Lauren's friends are turning on her and both guys question what she really wants. As summer tensions escalate, Lauren wonders if she's changed more than she thought. Will her first big discovery be herself?

You can find Camp Boyfriend on Goodreads



You can buy Camp Boyfriend here:

- Amazon (kindle)

- Amazon (paperback)

- B&N

- Kobo

- The Bookdepository



About the Authors:

Sisters in law Joanne and Karen Rock write Young Adult books under the pseudonym J.K. Rock. They bonded on a set of bleachers, watching their respective Rock boyfriends play baseball, and later, as young wives married into the same big family. Today, they have fun reliving teen drama on the pages of their YA books in their ongoing Camp Boyfriend series, which reviewers have noted for its authentic treatment of navigating relationships and self-identity. Individually, Joanne and Karen write adult romance books for Harlequin. Joanne is a three-time RITA Award nominee and Golden Heart winner. Her books have been reprinted in twenty-six countries and translated into twenty different languages. Karen's debut romance, WISH ME TOMORROW, has garnered critical acclaim for its sensitive portrayal of a cancer survivor's journey. You can learn more about their upcoming projects and previous releases at http://jkrock.net



You can find JK Rock here:

- Website

- Series website

- Joanne’s Twitter

- Karen’s Twitter

- Facebook

- Pinterest

- Goodreads



There are two blitz wide giveaways!

One of the giveaways is US Only, here is what you can win: signed copies of J. Lynn's FRIGID, Kimberly Sabatini's TOUCHING THE SURFACE, J.K. Rock's CAMP BOYFRIEND, journal, chinese lantern, pen, stickers, assorted bookmarks, friendship bracelets, Camp Boyfriend pen and mini-flashlight and Bath and Body Works Triple Moisture Cream in Aruba Coconut.



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The other giveaway is open international and is for a 25$ gift card. You can enter the rafflecopter below:

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Waiting on Wednesday (#42) Prince of Shadows

This is a weekly meme 'Waiting on Wednesday' that I take part in, it is hosted by Breaking the Spine

It is a meme where you post about a yet-to-be-released book that you are looking forward to reading. Here is a book I have been highly anticipating:

Prince of Shadows

by Rachel Caine

Publication date:

February 4th, 2014

Description (from Goodreads):

A standalone built around the character of Benvolio, from Romeo and Juliet. The novel will be told from the point of view of Benvolio, who is Romeo’s cousin and, in Shakespeare’s play, attempts to get the lovelorn Montague interested in other girls after it’s discovered that Juliet is a member of the clan his family despises: the Capulets. Caine’s novel, her agent said, explores a scenario in which Romeo and Juliet are not the only couple to fall into dire romantic straits and is “a tale of intrigue, betrayal, hatred, and tragedy,” about “lovers lost, and lovers found.” (From Publisher's Weekly

Top Ten Tuesday! (#8) Top Ten New to Me Authors I Read in 2013

 

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme is all about list-making, with a new topic each week.

This weeks Topic:

Top Ten New to Me Authors I Read in 2013

10. Piper Shelly - author of the Grover Beach Team series

9. Emily Evans - author of The Boarding School Experiment

8. Angeline Kace - author of Wicked Thing

7. M. Malone - author of The Alexanders series

6. Emily Godwin - author of the Mutilated series

5. Elizabeth Norris - author of the Unravelling series

4. Marie Lu - author of the Legend trilogy

3. Jenn Cooksey - author of the Grab Your Pole series

2. Nikki Godwin - author of American Girl on Saturn and Drenaline Surf series

1. Tellulah Darling - author of the Blooming Goddess trilogy

Adult Review: CHRISTMAS WITH THE ALEXANDERS by M. Malone

CHRISTMAS WITH THE ALEXANDERS
Author: M. Malone
Series: The Alexanders
Publicaion date: November 6th, 2013
Publisher: CrushStar Romance
Number of pages: 75
Date read: November 20th, 2013
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Source: free off Amazon
Format: Ebook
Add on Goodreads


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(Description source: Goodreads)

Elliott Alexander's security business is booming and he's finally in the position to come home for good. But home brings bittersweet memories and puts him in the path of a woman who makes him feel things he isn't ready for.

Kaylee Wilhelm knows what she wants for Christmas, for Elliott Alexander to notice she's alive. Unfortunately he doesn't seem to like her much so she's spending the holidays with her disapproving parents, both of whom think she's screwing up her life. 

When Kay's car skids out of control on Christmas Eve, she's forced to reach out to the only man she trusts to save her.

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This novella, Christmas With the Alexanders, is exactly the fix that fans of the series need to last them until book four is released!

Kaylee has wanted Elliott for quite a long while, despite his seeming dislike of her. 

So she decides that visiting with her parents will be the plan for Christmas.

Elliott can't stop thinking about Kay whilst spending Christmas with his family and when he gets a call from her asking for help because her car skidded off the road, he doesn't hesitate to drive to her rescue.

Told mostly in Kay's and Elliott's view points,  we get to learn more about these two characters. Kay is very self-conscious about herself, especially in regard to her weight and curvier figure, and is used to receiving criticism for many perceived mistakes.

Elliott is very protective of those in his care, but he's always been careful to keep his distance from Kay because of the feelings she evokes in him, this Christmas they are much harder to ignore, but there still seems to be something holding him back.

This novella serves as a great introduction into what Kay and Elliott's novel will be about, but this novella is about the rest of the Alexander family too, readers getting to see how the other couples are going and there is a really sweet development that takes place within this story.

I do wish Christmas With the Alexanders could have been longer, but it was still just awesome to get to see what the characters were doing and gt a taste of what is coming next in the series.

I rate Christmas With the Alexanders Four out of Five!!!

Blog Tour: NORTH POLE REFORM SCHOOL by Jaimie Admans

NORTH POLE REFORM SCHOOL
Author: Jaimie Admans
Standalone
Publication date: November 6th, 2013
Publisher: - 
Number of pages: 234
Date read: December , 2013
Genre: Young Adult, Romance
Source: ARC from Oops I Read Tours
Format: Ebook
Add on Goodreads
Amazon


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(Description source: Goodreads)

Mistletoe Bell hates Christmas. So would you if you had a name like hers. Her Christmas-mad parents make the festive season last all year, and with another Christmas looming, Mis doesn’t think she can take any more. After her carelessness causes an accident at school, it seems like things can’t get any worse.

Then she wakes up to find The Ghost of Christmases Ruined in her bedroom.

She is taken to the North Pole, to a reform school run by elves determined to make her love Christmas. Stuck in a misfit group of fellow Christmas-haters with a motley crew of the weird and even weirder, watched over by elves day and night, she doesn’t expect to meet cute and funny Luke, who is hiding a vulnerable side beneath his sarcastic exterior. She doesn’t expect to fall in love with him.

But all is not as it should be at the North Pole. A certain Mr Claus is making the elves’ lives a misery, and pretty soon Mistletoe and Luke are doing more than just learning to like Christmas.

A YA romantic comedy in which Santa is the bad guy, teaching reindeer to fly is on the curriculum, and zombies have a fondness for Christmas music.

-

Suitable for older teens and upwards due to bad language.

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I well and truly LOVED this story and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to read this book!

Mistletoe Bell is accused of ruining Christmas after an accident at her school, her punishment is that she now has to go to the North Pole Reform School. Waking up in the North Pole is unbelievable enough, but now she's stuck with four others who also hate Christmas and has to do chores as a means of learning to appreciate Christmas.

One of the other reform students is Luke, a cute guy with a shield of sarcasm and an unusual family and Mistletoe soon finds herself falling for him. However, all is not as you'd expect, Santa is is far from jolly and loving, and doesn't seem to care too much for the elves, and this kind of attitude causes all kinds of difficulties...

Mistletoe is a very likable character, she may hate Christmas but she learns quickly and genuinely cares about other people. She's quietly sarcastic, but isn't afraid to speak her mind.

Luke is gorgeous, and not just in the looks department. He cares a lot more than he tries to let on and definitely uses sarcasm as a shield, but the more you get to know his character, the more he melts your heart.

Jingle, Garland and Winter are totally my favourite elves, while Tinsel and Navi are kind of parental in their behaviour.

North Pole Reform School is absolutely brilliant, the concept is completely unique and so well-written. There is wit and sarcasm, along with an important message delivered to readers. 

Jaimie takes Christmas and spins a whole new story unlike anything you've seen before - a not-so-nice Santa, hilarious elves, grudging reindeers and zombie - an amazing combination that definitely works.

Definitely a new Christmas favourite, North Pole Reform School will have you laughing, have your heart breaking, and will most definitely leave a gigantic grin on your faces.

I rate North Pole Reform School Five out of Five!!!

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Tour Schedule!

About Jaimie Admans

Jaimie is a 28-year-old English-sounding Welsh girl with an awkward-to-spell name. She lives in South Wales and enjoys writing, gardening, drinking tea and watching horror movies. She hates spiders and cheese & onion crisps. She has been writing for years but has never before plucked up the courage to tell people. Afterlife Academy is her third novel and she hopes you enjoy it. There are plenty more on the way!

Website: http://www.jaimieadmans.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/be_the_spark

Facebook: http://facebook.com/jaimieadmansbooks

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/oDXZj

Giveaway: 

$25 Amazon GC

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Waiting on Wednesday (#41) Ignite Me

This is a weekly meme 'Waiting on Wednesday' that I take part in, it is hosted by Breaking the Spine

It is a meme where you post about a yet-to-be-released book that you are looking forward to reading. Here is a book I have been highly anticipating:

 

Ignite Me

(Shatter Me #3)
by Tahereh Mafi

Publication date:

February 4th, 2014

Description (from Goodreads):

Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she'll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew-about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam-was wrong.

In Shatter Me, Tahereh Mafi created a captivating and original story that combined the best of dystopian and paranormal and was praised by Publishers Weekly as "a gripping read from an author who's not afraid to take risks." The sequel, Unravel Me, blew readers away with heart-racing twists and turns, and New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia said it was "dangerous, sexy, romantic, and intense." Now this final book brings the series to a shocking and climactic end.

Blog Tour: ELEMENTAL INFERNO by A.J. Locke

ELEMENTAL INFERNO
Author: A.J. Locke
Standalone
Publication date: 2013
Publisher: - 
Number of pages: 92
Date read: December , 2013
Genre: Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Source: ARC from Itching For Books Tours
Format: Ebook
Add on Goodreads



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(Description source: Goodreads)

Rielle is a Winter Aura who for the past hundred years has held the job of controlling winter weather in her assigned area. During the non-winter months she can live as she pleases, as long as she doesn’t do anything that would make her lose control of herself, which could unleash her power and have it snowing in July. Therefore, sex outside of winter is a big no-no, because what could make her lose control of herself more? 

If Rielle is unable to keep her winter magic dormant during her off seasons, she will be forced to Sleep by the Aura Elders. 

For Auras, it’s a fate worse than death.

When the Summer Aura for her area winds up mysteriously dead, summer weather spirals out of control until another Summer Aura arrives in the nick of time and brings things back to order. Aden is as gorgeous and alluring as they come, and before Rielle knows it, she finds herself with a roommate at the urging of the Elders, who seem uneasy about Aden, and want an eye kept on him. 

Rielle and Aden have a magnetic attraction to each other, and for the first time Rielle is afraid of losing control. However, Aden is much more than he seems, and when he shows Rielle a way to indulge their passions without repercussions, it seems too good to be true.

But Aden’s secrets are ones the Elders fear, and can’t ignore. 

As they close in on him with deadly force in mind, Rielle will have to decide if Aden is in fact too dangerous, or if it’s worth going up against the Elders to save the man she’s losing her body, and heart to.

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Elemental Inferno sounded sexy and intriguing when I read the description, and that much is most definitely true.

Elemental Inferno focuses on Rielle, a Winter Aura - a being who controls the temperature and weather pattern during her designated season, but who must remain completely in control during her off-season which is three quarters of the year. Keeping control means no sex, which was difficult enough to manage before she met Aden...

Summer temperatures rise to insane heights when the Summer Aura suddenly dies, but there is a quick and surprising replacement when Aden shows up. But the Elders don't seem to trust him which results in Rielle gaining him as a roommate for a while, a very, very tempting roommate. Things however, are conspiring against the both of them, with the Elders wanting to take action against Aden for reasons only they and he know...

Rielle is a straight forward character who is bluntly honest and is determined to be grateful for the life she has been given as an Aura - despite its many rules, she would, however, love to be able to indulge during her off-season, but never has due to her fear of losing control.

Rielle is very fearful of losing control and being put to Sleep. It is a lot easier to understand Rielle, at least I found, after learning her back story.

Aden (no pun intended) is smolderingly hot, he is also mysterious due to the pull he seems to have over people and the secrets he keeps. He is sweet and flirty, and instantly has Rielle on edge for the way he makes her feel.

The interactions between Rielle and Aden are at first mistrustful (Rielle knows there is something more about Aden) but soon turn flirty and scorchingly sexy.

For a novella, Elemental Inferno does well to fit in a story that includes characters' back stories, a well thought out plot that makes sense and will fascinate reader, but also builds a world that interest and sometimes enchants as it is depicted in an easy to visualise way.

I rate Elemental Inferno Four out of Five!!!

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Tour Schedule!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A.J. Locke is a writer of Urban Fantasy, as well as an avid reader. She loves reading both YA and adult novels, and also enjoys post-modern Japanese fiction. A.J. is also an artist, and enjoys drawing, painting, and graphic design. Affairs of the Dead is her debut novel and is available now from Etopia Press.

iqurae.blogspot.com | twitter.com/maqueripe

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