Saturday, December 31, 2011

Happy New Year!!!

Hey there everyone!
Soo, as you know (duh), it's the end of 2011, and this has been a special year for me, because I started this blog and I joined the wonderous world of books and fiction and writing and reading and it's been, let's face it, awesome.
There is a reason why I haven't blogged in a while, and I won't a bit more now, and I'll explain it all to you once I'm back in full force.
Anyway, let's all raise our glasses to the year of 2011 and all its wonderful books and let's welcome the year of 2012 and all its upcoming books, whether they are standalones, first in a series, second in a series or the last one (I will read you all - muahaha) :D

I wish you all lots of love, happiness, luck and fun!!
Happy New Year!

Monday, December 12, 2011

Cover reveal - Deity

Hi everyone!
Today, I have a cover to show you and it's for Deity - the third novel in the Covenant series.
You can find the series on Goodreads here: Covenant Series
Here are the blurbs for each of the novels:
For three years, Alexandria has lived among mortals—pretending to be like them and trying to forget the duty she'd been trained to fulfill as a child of a mortal and a demigod. At seventeen, she's pretty much accepted that she's a freak by mortal standards... and that she'll never be prepared for that duty. 
According to her mother, that’s a good thing. 
But as every descendant of the gods knows, Fate has a way of rearing her ugly head. A horrifying attack forces Alex to flee Miami and try to find her way back to the very place her mother had warned her she should never return—the Covenant. Every step that brings her closer to safety is one more step toward death… because she's being hunted by the very creatures she'd once trained to kill. 
The daimons have found her.




The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures.Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden.Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.


There is need. And then there is Fate... 
Being destined to become some kind of supernatural electrical outlet isn't exactly awesome--especially when Alexandria's "other half" is everywhere she goes. Seth's in her training room, outside her classes, and keeps showing up in her bedroom--so not cool. Their connection does have some benefits, like staving off her nightmares of the tragic showdown with her mother, but it has no effect on what Alex feels for the forbidden, pure-blooded Aiden. Or what he will do--and sacrifice--for her. 
When daimons infiltrate the Covenants and attack students, the gods send furies--lesser gods determined to eradicate any threat to the Covenants and to the gods, and that includes the Apollyon... and Alex. And if that and hordes of aether-sucking monsters didn't blow bad enough, a mysterious threat seems willing to do anything to neutralize Seth, even if that means forcing Alex into servitude... or killing her. 
When the gods are involved, some decisions can never, ever be undone.

Daimon is the prequel, Half-Blood is the first novel in the series, Pure is the second (out 2012), and now I get to show you the cover of Deity!!


BUT! First just one more reminder and a plead. You know that YA Heroine Tournament going on at YA Sisterhood? Well, today it's Alex's match against Nora from Hush Hush and if you like Alex better, go here:

and vooote :)



Now, here's the cover!





Isn't it so oh-my-gosh pretty?!

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Review: Shatter Me

Goodreads blurb:
Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. 

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color. 

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now. 

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior. 

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting asThe Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.




Personal opinion:



Short review: Go. Read. This. Book. NOW.


Long(er) review: I read Shatter Me from 9:10 to 11:56 pm. The whole novel. And maybe it's because I'm a fast reader, but the perfection of the novel had lots to do with it, so...


No amount of Oh my Gods would be enough to express how brilliant this book was.
Seriously. Tahereh Mafi, this is your first novel?!? 
She writes so unique, so magical, so poetic and emotional it was such a rush reading it. Once, I stopped reading and I realized my face literally had a pained expression, because I just felt so compassionate to Juliette and so sad for her.
When you're reading Shatter Me, every emotion is there, every. Plus, the writing makes you feel those emotions ten times stronger.


So, all in all, every expectation I had for Shatter Me was achieved, and I wasn't wrong when I thought this one would become one of my all-time favorite.


Rating standards, why only 5 stars? This one deserves a whole nightsky of stars.




Visit her website: http://www.taherehmafi.com/
Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/TaherehMafi

And lastly, buy Shatter Me. You won't regret it.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Onyx Cover Reveal

Hi, hi, all!

Today I have a real treat for ya and it's -maybe you guessed from the title- Onyx cover!
Onyx is the second novel in Jennifer L. Armentrout's Lux series, the first one is Obsidian, which is coming out tomorrow, but then I remember I think I read it's out already, so here are the links where you can purchase it.




<-- this is Obsidian cover in all its grateness and swooniness :)




Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Obsidian-Lux-Novel-Book-One/dp/1937044238/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1316387396&sr=1-1

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/obsidian-jennifer-l-armentrout/1105621066ean=9781937044237&itm=6&usri=jennifer%2bl%2barmentrout&workid=1033604979

The Book Depository (free shipping everyone): http://www.bookdepository.com/Obsidian-Jennifer-Armentrout/9781937044237

Also, if you need any more convincing to buy Obsidian, you can check out my review in which I gush about how I absolutelyfreakinglovedit! :)
http://tamarasbookramblings.blogspot.com/2011/11/review-obsidian.html


AND NOW.
THE COVER YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR:






Aaand, here's a little sneak peak at the official blurb:

                              No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies… 

Well it freaks me out a bit, but hey, I can't wait! :))

Let me know what you think of the cover in the comments! 

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Double review: Hunting Lila and The Sky is Everywhere

The Sky Is Everywhere
Goodreads blurb:


Lennie plays second clarinet in the school orchestra and has always happily been second fiddle to her charismatic older sister, Bailey. Then Bailey dies suddenly, and Lennie is left at sea without her anchor. Overcome by emotion, Lennie soon finds herself torn between two boys: Bailey's boyfriend, Toby, and Joe, the charming and musically gifted new boy in town. While Toby can't see her without seeing Bailey and Joe sees her only for herself, each offers Lennie something she desperately needs. But ultimately, it's up to Lennie to find her own way toward what she really needs-without Bailey. A remarkable debut novel perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Francesca Lia Block.


Personal opinion:
Have you ever read a book, that made you laugh and cry at the same time, that made you feel the happiest but the saddest person in the world? A book that gave you that special butterflies in stomach feeling? 

Well, I have. And the book is The Sky is Everywhere. 
And I think I just said more with three sentences than with a hundred. 

Definitely one of my new favorites, forever. If there was a ten star rating, this novel would deserve it. 

*Bat. Bat. Bat.*




Hunting Lila
Goodreads blurb:

17-year-old Lila has two secrets she's prepared to take to the grave. The first is that she can move things just by looking at them. The second is that she's been in love with her brother's best friend, Alex, since forever. Or thereabouts.After a mugging on the streets of South London goes horribly wrong and exposes her unique ability, Lila decides to run to the only people she can trust - her brother and Alex. They live in Southern California where they work for a secret organisation called The Unit, and Lila discovers that the two of them are hunting down the men who murdered her mother five years before. And that they've found them. Trying to uncover the truth of why her mother was killed, and the real remit of The Unit, Lila becomes a pawn in a dangerous game. Struggling to keep her secrets in a world where nothing and no one is quite as they seem, Lila quickly realises that she is not alone - there are others out there just like her - people with special powers -and her mother's killer is one of them...

Personal opinion:

Oh, this novel. So freakinglybrilliant. (yes, one word :P) 

For months now, I've been hearing all these things about Hunting Lila, and every one of them was positive, saying that it is such a good novel, you'd never say it's debut. And that is so very true! 

Sarah Alderson's got a way with words that will make you and then break you. 
Hunting Lila is full of suspense, adventures, lies, sercecy, romance, twists and turns that will make your head spin. 
And then there's Alex ;) 

I loved Lila, the main heroine, because she was fierce but vulnerable, and she was determined. 
Alex, oh Alex. He was soo swoon worthy. There was one scene where I was just awww-ing. You cannot not love him. 

BUT, that end was a KILLER. Made me curse a bit hah. Can't wait for Losing Lila! :) 

Big 5 stars

Review: Obsidian

*thank goodness for NetGalley - if it weren't for it, I'd have to wait till Dec 6th to read this one*

Goodreads blurb: 

Starting over sucks. 

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring…. until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up. 

And then he opened his mouth. 

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something…unexpected happens. 

The hot alien living next door marks me. 

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades. 

If I don’t kill him first, that is.

Perosonal opinion:

Seriously?
This just happened?
Daa-yum.
Okay, after reading first Daimon, then Half-Blood and now Obsidian, I can absolutely certainly say that Miss Jennifer L. Armentrout is a freakin genious!!
Obsidian is a fresh story, nothing like I've read before, filled with humor, butt-kicking, and hawt boys (well there's only one that mattered to me ;) ) and, mostly, it was a fun rollercoaster.
Ups, downs, more ups, more downs… this novel has action, which trough the second half of the novel becomes more and more present, and more dangerous and more exciting.
But, the thing I wanted to ramble about here is DAEMON. Come on, say it with me – Daemon.
A.K.A. total- uber- ultra- damn- hot- bad boy Daemon. That boy spells trouble with a capital T.
He was frustrating, rude, cocky, cold, hot, adorable, sexy. Perfect.
You could say he's a bad boy just like others, but you'd be wrong. Because he's not only a complete ass in the beginning, but stays like that the whole novel ;) But trust me, you want him to be your neighbor.

Next one up is the main character, Katy. 
4 reasons I loved her:
1.) Her snarkiness.
2.) She's bold (the cafeteria scene, anyone ;)?)
3.) She showed Daemon he's not the only one in charge
4.) She's a book-blogger - I mean, how awesome is that? She does Waiting On Wednesday, In My Mailbox,  gets comments on her reviews etc. And it's instantly easier to relate to her :D

To sum up, pick Obsidian up as soon as it's out!
Huuge shining 5 stars!

Review: The Scorpio Races

*first, a huuge thank you to Sarah and Rachel from Scholastic for sending me the novel to review*

Goodreads blurb:

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die. 

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them. 

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.





Personal opinion:

 Okay, so. When I finished reading The Scorpio Races, I was torn. Torn between loving this novel and hating it. Loving because it is, like all Maggie Stiefvater's novels, written so extraordinarily and beautifully. And hating it, because I just couldn't get into it. At first, at least. 

The pace was a bit slower, and there isn't much romance in the novel, so that, if you are not a fan of this kind of novels, might throw you off of reading it. And, at times, I felt like it would do the same to me.
But I stuck with it and finished it in matter of days, though it's a pretty thick novel. And, everything added up, I do not regret reading it.

The Scorpio Races is different. For one, Maggie's writing is something out-of-this-worldly. She has a way with words that will make you smile and cry at the same time. Little "tricks" she does, like repeating a word two or three times define the atmosphere and mood and it's a perfect touch.
Also, the novel is unlike any novel I've read, with its unusual plot and creatures.
The characters were unique, Puck in her brave and fearless, and Sean in his graceful and loveable way. When they are together, magic begins. 
They work so well together, just fit each other. And now, as I write this and remember the novel, I see more and more how love is in this novel, hidden behind a bush of roses, lurking in silence. But it is there.

So, overall, the good prevails by a lot and I must give The Scorpio Races five stars :)

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

The Broken Destiny Blog Tour

Hi there! Today, it's my stop at The Broken Destiny blog tour and I have not one, but two! excerpts from the novel for you!

But first, a bit something about The Broken Destiny:


Her Destiny is to Rise against the fall that threatens to take her soul. Her soul is the Key to unlocking a secret weapon.But to know her soul she has to hate it first, and then come back from that. Her Destiny starts with Betrayal.

It is written by Carlyle Labuschagne and it will be released in 2012, and it doesn't have a cover yet. (but I don't doubt it will be pretty)

Okay, now, excerpt number one: (both are from Chapter 9)



The Broken Destiny
Chapter 9
The Fall

The icy air stung my cheeks. Shivering, I pulled my legs in close to my chest, not taking my gaze off the ocean. I wondered about the creatures in the ocean and tried to imagine what swimming beside a school of fish would feel like. I wanted to touch the coral. It had seemed so beautiful in all the pictures I had seen of it. I drew in a deep breath of the crisp ocean air. Things are changing again. The return of the seasons is a sign, I mused. I attempted to steady my breathing and take control of all the emotions that were welling up inside of me. I was sad, angry, lonely, frustrated and hurt. It hurt that Sam could betray me like that. Then, all of a sudden, I smelt a putrid odor somewhere near me. I recognized it immediately. I should not have walked out so far, I scolded myself. Panic swept over me. I quickly looked behind me. The beach was deserted. I jumped down from the rock and scanned every inch of bush and searched behind every rock in the area. I crouched down beside the rocks, trembling. Think, think, think. There is no one here but you. My skin came alive with adrenalin. It began to burn and became sensitive to the fibers of the cotton shirt beneath my many layers of clothing. I could feel the vibration of the water pulling away from the coarse sand. I was on full alert. The sharp odor stung my nose and made me feel nauseous. He was nearby. I grabbed a piece of rock near my feet, the coldness of the stone stinging my palm. I jerked myself up again.
“Come and get me!” I yelled.
My knees were weak and trembling and my heart pounded against my chest. A sharp pain shot through my head, a white fire burned in my mind and the air blew out of my lungs. I was struggling to breathe, but I held my ground, squeezing down harder on the stone. The pain subsided for a moment and I drew in a deep breath, the air in my lungs very welcome and greatly comforting.
“Coward!” I screeched. “Come out and face me!” I yelled, although deep down inside I was hoping he wouldn’t. My throat pulled tight. I will not cry, I adamantly told myself.
The breeze twirled around the bushes beside me. The air was thick and stifled my lungs. The waves crashed gently. All else was silent.
“Just as I thought,” I murmured to myself.
I needed to make a run for it if I was going to get back to Arriana’s alive, but once again pain shot through my head like a rocket was taking off inside of me. He was toying with me. I fell down to my knees and compressed my head between my hands as hard as I could. The pain was insane. It felt like my head was about to burst open. There was nothing but the pain. It blocked out all my other senses. Using all my might, I tried my hardest to squeeze the white fire out of my brain.
“Help!” I yelled as loudly as I could, but I knew that it wasn’t loud enough for anyone to hear.
It was as if I was in one of my dreams where I kept calling out but no one could hear me. The sharp pain hit me once more, but this time it did not come alone. There in my mind was the white painted face. It taunted me with its big, jagged, yellow teeth and its hard black eyes. I have been here before and I have won before. I will win again, I tried to convince myself, but the doubt crawled back in. No one knows where I am, I started to panic again. I screamed as the pain shot into my chest. The white fire in my mind intensified and the face’s prominence tripled. I’m losing consciousness, I realized. I could feel my feet going numb and the sounds around me were disappearing. I’m dying.. A moment later I opened my eyes and frantically searched for the rock I had dropped. The potent odor still hung in the air around me. I noticed a pair of legs walking over to me. I knew it was him. The smell was settling in the sand before me. At first I didn’t register the a red bike was standing in the background. I lay coiled up on the cold sand, my hands still clamped over my head in an attempt to push the pain out. I drew on every shred of courage I had and swung myself up, fully ready to strike him with the rock in my hand. I hoped I could knock him down before I passed out from the pain. I tried to focus on the figure in front of me, but the white face was right in front of me, leering. Is it real, or is it still in my head? I wondered. Confused, I lunged forward, swinging wildly. I felt a warm hand encircle my wrist. As soon as I felt its warmth on my skin I let go. The white fire burned into my brain and the face, that horrid face, imprinted itself in my mind. I yelled out in frustration, or it might have been pain. I felt myself being lifted off the ground. I stopped resisting when I realized how easily my body cradled around his. It was Troy. I still couldn’t see his face, but I could smell his signature scent of sandalwood, the ocean and something sweet. I no longer fought for consciousness, but let myself drift away, and into him forever.


Aaand number two:



The Broken Destiny

Chapter 9
The Fall



He pushed me back onto the couch and kissed me fiercely. My head was spinning, my legs a cold fire. I grabbed him by his collar and held him away from me.
“No!”
“What now?”
He got off of me, sat next to me, put one of his long arms around my neck and gave me a wicked smile.
“Is this all I am to you?” I asked.
“I like you, Ava. I like you too much for my own good.” He pulled me closer.
“He’s no good for you, Ava.”
I turned my head to where Maya was leaning against the wall. Her arms were crossed over her chest. I hadn’t heard her approaching. I had been too distracted. I felt myself turn scarlet. I got up from the couch, glared at Enoch and walked over to Maya.
“Goodnight,” I said to both of them and retreated to Maya’s room.
I couldn’t sleep at first as excitement and anxiety built up inside of me every time I thought of Enoch and how wonderful it felt when he kissed me. I couldn’t imagine what Maya and him were discussing. I wondered if I would be asked to leave in the morning. I knew it had been wrong to do what I did, but I couldn’t figure out why, if it was wrong, it felt so good. I fell asleep before Maya climbed back into bed. I didn’t dream that night. It felt strange for me to not dream. It felt like I wasn’t breathing properly.


Weeks had passed without Enoch mentioning what he and Maya had said to one another that night. We had begun to live in a distinctive pattern. The warriors were gone most of the day. They spent their time training, or recruiting younger warriors. Arriana and Anaya ceased their usual village duties to intensively train Maya and me in the ways of mental focus. They taught us to build on our existing talents. Kronan brought small injured animals for Maya to practice on. At first she could only heal cuts and bruises, but she could eventually heal broken bones. I couldn’t harness my powers. I couldn’t do anything with my mind. Nothing had come to me yet. It was as if I had no powers at all. An important lesson we learned was that our actions had consequences. I didn’t see it at first. Maya tried to read my mind and I tried to read hers, but after numerous fails we guessed that our species didn’t have that ability. So far, healing was the only ability she possessed.
When Enoch came home from a day of training he was exhausted, battered and bruised. I used to tease him about getting old. We were seeing each other on the sly. He wouldn’t admit it, but I knew it. I denied it too after a while. I could feel passion in his kisses and in his touch. I was totally infatuated. When we were together nothing else mattered. The heat between us was self-explanatory. I mistook it for love. Even though he had never said it, I had assumed it. He became gentler and less angry with each passing moment we spent together. I mistook that for love too. For a while it felt like I was on top of the universe. I didn’t realize that I was about to fall.



Me - loves them! You? Tell me what you think about in the comments.
AND make sure you check out Carlyle's website:
http://www.carlylelabuschagne.com/

Follow her on twitter:



Add The Broken Destiny on Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12537426-the-broken-destiny-1-in-the-broken-series

And check out her FB page:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Carlyle-Labuschagne/189835811074342

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Review: Touch (Blog Tour)

Touch, by the lovely author Jus Accardo - you can find it on Goodreads here http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11882171-touch

(okay, so since it's very late here I have to make this quick, and I'll edit this post tomorrow. oh and I'm sorry for the lame review)

Review:
I loved this book. It was creepingly brilliant!
The tension, the action, the secrets, the rescue missions, the romance.. it was all in here.
I loved Deznee, her character is witty, but in a dark way. So, when she meets Kale, things get interesting.
Kale, on first hand, seems very odd. Later, we found out he has secrets and dark past of his own, but it wasn't his fault.
Also, Deznee finds out that her dad's law firm isn't quite so innocent and that she isn't quite so ordinary herself.

The relationship with Kale was strikingly haunting and awesome.
And Jus's writing has something special to it, with just the right balance and details and she just knows how to keep a reader intrigued :)
So, overall, 5 shiny stars!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

NaNoWriMo!

Hello everyone!
Before I start, I know I promised a huge giveaway and a winner announcment a few days ago, and I didn't do it. For that I apologize, but don't worry, that post will come during this week, and this time, I promise for real!

Second, yesterday I spontaniously decided to sign up for NaNoWriMo aka National Novel Writing Month. And due to that, I will not update the blog very frequently in the month of November.

Currently I am on chapter 4, and things are going so far so good! I'm really glad I'm doing this and I'm enjoying it because I really have strong fate in this novel...

So, if you are a NaNoWriMoer too, you can find me as Tamara28 and be sure to add me, I'll add back :)
Also, feel free to comment here which kind of novel you're writing and such..
I'm writing a YA contemporary, right now titled Incantation.

That's it from me for now, tty soon. Also, you can follow me on twitter if you want to see my progress...

Friday, October 28, 2011

The Day Has Come

It's Friday!
And it's my birthday!

So today I have a guest post by the lovely Chelsea Fine, the author of Sophie & Carter.
Enjoy!

My most memorable birthday....


The word memorable is usually translated into "best" or "craziest"...but today, I'm going to stick to its original meaning: "easiest to remember".

Now, my "best" birthday was probably my 21st, because my boyfriend (now my hubby) took me on the most romantic date ever.

And my "craziest" birthday was probably my 26th, because it started with me accidentally stepping into a can of bright blue paint (barefoot) and ended with me sliding down a giant yellow slide into an inflatable pool filled with mud. (Yep. I was an adult.)

But those are stories for another time. My most memorable birthday happened long before romance and yellow slides.

It was April. I was nine. And I had on a great pair of socks. (Isn't that how all good birthdays start? With a pair of killer socks? It sure would have helped with the blue paint thing.)

When you're nine, birthdays are mostly all about presents and frosting and more presents.

Rarely ever are they about dishwashers.

That's right, this is a story about a dishwasher.

It was the end of the day, after the party had ended and all the frosting had been licked off the cupcakes, and my mom decided to wash the dishes. She turned the dishwasher on, like normal, and left the kitchen. Little did she know I was about to get the coolest birthday present ever....

Did you know that when you put dish soap (not dishwasher detergent--dish soap) in the dishwasher, it will overflow with bubbles and seep out onto the floor, making your kitchen a giant foam party?

NEITHER DID I--Until my ninth birthday. :)

Because there was so much dish soap in the dishwasher, the suds didn't just overflow a few inches onto the tile. They FILLED UP our kitchen. A cloud of bubbles 4 feet high and 6 feet wide took form in the center of our kitchen and made the house smell like lemons.

My mother saw the bubble wall before I did. And she freaked out. Because that's what moms do. They look at a cloud of bubbles and think, "Oh no! My kitchen cabinets are going to get all wet and everything's going to be all slippery and sticky."

Nine-year-olds look at a cloud of bubbles and say, "Slip 'n' Slide time!!!!!"

So, that's what I did. I ran and skidded across my foaming kitchen floor, in my awesome socks, like an ice skater. Then I did it again, on my stomach. Then on my back. Then my feet again. It was AH-MAZING.

Being nine years old, I was only 4 feet tall, so the bubbles completely covered my head. It was like playing in an ACTUAL cloud. I felt like, at any minute, a Care Bear could show up and we could go rainbow-hopping together or something.

Sure, my mom whined and groaned about the "mess" and my soapy socks tracking bubble prints across the living room carpet. But did I care? Nope.

Because I was nine. And a mountain of bubbles was the best present I could have hoped for. :)


Thanks to Chelsea for the brilliant post (doesn't that b-day sound AWESOME?)

Find Chelsea on these sites:
www.ChelseaFineBooks.com
Twitter: @ChelseaFine
http://chelseafine.blogspot.com

Also, due to lack of time, there weren't any posts yesterday and the day before, but tomorrow I'm having a final giveaway (and it's gonna be a huge one)
Also, I'll announce the winner of Bridger.

Oh, and, don't forger to enter the giveaways that are currently open!
:)

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Vampires vs. Werewolves vs. Fairies vs. ...

Hi again! Okay, so.
This is still a part of my celebration week, but I also want to throw in some Halloween themes into it!

Today, I want to start a discussion.
Which one of the supernatural creatures is your favorite and why?

You can choose between vampires, werewolves, fairies, shape-shifters etc. etc. Think of anything you like. Also, you can tell me your fav literary vamp, were or whatever :)

While on topic, there is one series that has all types of supernatural beings and it is... Paranormalcy by Kiersten White!

And I'm giving away two! sets of pdf. copies of first two novels of the trilogy, Paranormalcy and Supernaturally :)




Birthday celebration week: Day 2

Hiya!
Today, I have a guest post from author Cara d'Bastian aka KS Augustin :)


Firstly, a huge thanks to Tamara for letting me rant at you today! Hi, my name's Cara and I write urban fantasy. Allow me to just jump right in....

Hubby and I had been moving around the world a bit. One of our children was born in the United States, for example, another in Australia. When we settled in south-east Asia four years ago, I felt a bit disconnected. You see, I was born in Malaysia but the person that had left Asia a long time ago was not the same one that returned and while everything seemed to look familiar on the surface, there were undercurrents and mores I realised I knew nothing about.

That sense of "not belonging", however, got me thinking about other people who, for one reason or another, feel like they don't belong either. And what happens if you feel that way in an environment where you should feel like one of the crowd?

This idea knocked around my head for a few years. In the meantime, I discovered Urban Fantasy. And I began reading a lot of UF books. And it struck me that the mythologies presented were overwhelmingly Anglo/Celtic. And I thought to myself, wouldn't it be interesting if I shared some knowledge of other mythologies? Of monks and jinn and demons and vampires, but not like any vampires you're probably used to.

That love of UF combined with the "on the outside, looking in" vibe to produce the first in an intended series of books about a quirky little Singaporean business called The Check Your Luck Agency. As our heroine, fish-out-of-water Ursula Formosa, points out, the business does exactly what it says it checks your luck, more often bad than good. After all, who questions good luck? ;)

It's bad enough that the world Ursula comes back to is more unfamiliar to her than she'd expected it to be, but then circumstances conspire to push her even further out of her comfort zone. There's a handsome, young ex-model she's been thrown into contact with, a witch doctor with kindly eyes, fraud, robbery, colonial-era history...and that's just in the first book!

THE CHECK YOUR LUCK AGENCY, while set in an exotic environment, is essentially about people. No matter the colour of our skin, we all have the same basic dreams and desires. The only difference is in how we try to make those dreams and desires come true. And, for Ursula, who just wants a quiet life, she's going to find that things are going to get much more excitable and dangerous for her before it gets any better. Much more dangerous.

THE CHECK YOUR LUCK AGENCY, Book 1 of the Check Your Luck series, is available from Amazon and other leading etailers.

Its page at Sandal Press is here.
You can read the full first chapter here at the Check Your Luck Agency website:
And I blog every Tuesday at http://caradbastian.blogspot.com


Okay, so, today I have TWO giveaways.

First one is for .pdf copy of THE CHECK YOUR LUCK AGENCY

The novel is labeled as Adult, but Cara told me that there is nothing in there that can't be read by a teenager. :)






And the next one is coming very, very soon. Little bit later today, that is :)

Monday, October 24, 2011

Birthday madness week is here!


Nice pic, eh? ;)

Okay! Welcome to my Birthday celebration madness!
This week is all about... well, a lot of things. Guest posts, my posts, GIVEAWAYS, and stuff.
Today I'm kicking it off with an important something. A guest post from Cyndi Tefft, author of Between. It's about piracy, and you should definitely read it.


Piracy Sucks!


Just last week, I learned that my YA paranormal romance, Between, had been pirated. That is, it’s been posted to a file sharing site for anyone and everyone to download as they wish. For free. And then it happened again. And again. At last count, seven places offer the illegal download of my book.

And there’s nothing I can really do about it.

Sure, some of the sites have procedures for contacting them to request the posts be removed. I’ve done that. One site’s email is defunct. Another site has no contact information at all.

Perhaps if I were a big corporation, I could try and sue the site. I’m not. I’m just an independent author with a book for sale. A book that costs 99 cents at that!

So I can’t stop them. But I can fight back in other ways. And you can, too.

Got a blog? Do a post speaking out against piracy.

Got a Facebook page? Post comments and links about this outrage.

Got a Twitter account? Tweet #PiracySucks and join the others who are taking a stand.

Got graphic design skills? Make a banner, an icon, a twibbon, an avatar, or more!

Got a few bucks? Host a giveaway like Two Chicks on Books and Unabridged Bookshelf are doing.

But most important of all? Support authors—both the ones you know and the ones you’re trying for the first time—by buying their books. And be sure to post your review to encourage others to read the book as well!

Maybe we can’t nuke the bad guys, but we can fight back by spreading the word that downloading a book from a file sharing site isn’t “sharing” or “lending” but stealing. That hurts the authors, which eventually hurts the readers, too.

So let’s keep the stories coming by saying no to piracy!



Cyndi Tefft’s debut novel, Between, is available for only 99 cents from Smashwords, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other sites. Pick up a copy today in support of Cyndi and others whose books have been pirated. Prefer print? Order a personalized copy from Cyndi directly at www.cynditefft.com.


Okay, today, due to the fact that's it's only the beginning of the week, there will be no special giveaways, but I will remind you that I have one on here that's running right now!
It's for e-copy of Bridger by Megan Curd. Bridger is a fun YA novel that involves fey and fairies, and I definitely recommend! Enter here: http://tamarasbookramblings.blogspot.com/2011/10/bridger-blog-tour.html

Okay, that's it for today, feel free to leave your thoughts about piracy in the comments and make sure you're following me on twitter, because I just might throw in a surprise giveaway here and there ;)
x Tamara

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Prepare for next week...

Why, you ask? Well, because...
It's my birthday! 'Big' 15. (and also, I reached 100 followers recently, so it's celebration of both)
And I'm doing this thing on the blog where the whole next week I will be having giveaways, author interviews and guest posts etc... :)
Soo, I hope you come back soon, I have to put some finishing touches on the whole plan and then we'll have some fun (me hopes)!

Read you soon ;)

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Bridger Blog Tour!

Hello there!
Today I'm posting the review of Bridger, by Megan Curd.
If you remember, I already posted it once, so I'm gonna do it again.

Goodreads blurb:

Ashlyn McVean doesn't believe in fairy tales. That is, until Ashlyn is thrown into the crosshairs of grudges her grandmother created long ago. After finding out she is one of two people able to cross between faerie realms, Ashlyn is faced with trying to understand her abilities, along with navigating a new relationship with her boyfriend, Liam. As if being on a centuries old hit list and dealing with crazed pixies isn't enough, her new abilities mean trouble for Liam. Knowing her new life puts everyone she loves in danger, Ashlyn must decide what's most important in her life between friends, family, love, and ultimately, realms.




Personal opinion:


From literally the first page you feel every emotion Ashlyn does. She is a good character, though blind sometimes (See, in order to see when or how you need to read this). I liked her character, especialy considering what she goes through. What I liked the most about her is the eye thing. I wish I could do that. *sigh*
I won't comment on Liam. If I do, this post will be filled with good adjectives and my sighes. Which I'm surue you don't want to read, so let's move on.
The world in this novel is not unknown, but M. Curd added a lot of new things and it came out as a very original and interesting world and story.
Near the end I was already getting nervous because I didn't know if this would be another cliffhanger book.
Well, it is and it isn't. Lot of questions left unanswered.

You know what else I liked about this one? All of the surprises. How unpredictable they were. It did fool me once or twice. Or more.
Anywaaay, 

5 stars :)


Now you go read it. Now.


Megan's site: http://www.megancurd.com/
Megan's twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/MeganCurd


Find the rest of the stops here http://www.ataleofmanyreviews.com/index.php/2011/08/bridger-book-blog-tour-sign-up/ and find the details how you can win the grand prize

And now for a giveaway:
I'm offering one e-copy of Bridger to one lucky winner.
Fill in the form:



Thursday, October 6, 2011

Lots and lots of short reviews

Hi! Okay, so you might know that I'm sick and spending time at home, so I figured I could write and post a few reviews while I'm here. So,

UNVEILED by Trisha Wolfe
Check it out on Goodreads here
My review:
Short, but fun and intense read. Actually surprised me how much of greatness fit into 30-ish pages! Loved the characters, the story and the kissing parts ;)
Now I'm eagerly awaiting the full novel with characters from Unveiled.
Thanks Trisha for offering me Unveiled to review! :)

5 stars 


SKID OUT (Heavy Influence novella) by Ann Marie Frohoff
Goodreads page
My review:
Okay, so. Jake and Alyssa's story is short, but a sweet one. It portraits love in a usual, but new way. It felt real. The characters, their emotions, the situations they were in. 
And I think you should give it a chance because I'm sure this was only the beginning and the trilogy will be awesome.
4.5 stars

SOPHIE & CARTER by Chelsea Fine
My review: 
"Our moment is over so I slowly release her. She moves away from me and a piece of me dies."

Oh boy *suffers from a total cuteness overload*
I got my copy of Sophie & Carter for review earlier today and started it immediately. *fast-forward a few hours* And here I am now, writing this review with a big happy smile on my face.
117 pages long, this novel had me aww-ing, smiling, feeling sad and sorry all in once.
Sophie and Carter, the two main characters and narratives, had been through hell of a life, dealing with family problems. They live next door, and they know each others' troubles more than their own. And that's what keeps them inseparable.
S&C is a cute, fast read, though I wouldn't say that it's very light, because it talks about some issues. Still, I savoured it quickly and I'm very glad I requested this novel, because it made me in love with love. :)

Definitely 5 stars and I cannot wait for the sequel!

SIX MOON SUMMER & ALL HALLOWS MOON by S. M. Reine
My review:
Oh this books. You know that feeling, when you finish a book and you're literally DYING for more? Yeah? Well, that's how I felt after reading Six Moon Summer.
I loved Riley's story, it captivated me from the beginning. S. M. Reine has that something in her writing that makes you long for more. Also, the parts where she writes the transformations were just... horrifyingly brilliant.
And then I reached the end of Book 1 and I was clicking franticly for more, but there wasn't more. UNTIL, I got All Hallows Moon.
And the sequel was even more heart-breaking and gritty than the first one!
And that's why I really, really love this series. They only get better and better. *Psst, I've found out there will be more books*
5 stars

PEARL by Jo Knowles
My review:
Loved it!
This is a story about Pearl or Bean, however you want to call her, and her not-so-perfect life.
I won't get into the plot, but I will say that PEARL is really a heart-breaking story of loss, friendship, family and love. It was captivating, and I maybe kinda cried a little... not that I would admit.
Anyways, I really liked the bond between Pearl and Henry, and their ways of deeling with some serious stuff.
Definitely a novel worth reading!
5 stars

Okay, this is it for round 1! I'll be posting more soon.
And stay tuned for blog tours and giveaways very soon! :)
Read on :)

Sunday, October 2, 2011

RAK October Edition

Hello there!
It's a new month, meaning it's a new opportunity for you to sign up for RAK and give out books (and get them)!




Rules:
• Sign up each month you'd like to participate in.

• Show off your participation! Grab one of the buttons available :)

• Create a wishlist and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.
{Post on your blog, Amazon, where ever as long as there's a link to it.}

• If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, check out their wishlist and contact that blogger for their address. 

• At the end of the month, SHOW US YOUR R.A.K!
{Make a post saying 'Thank You' to whoever granted one of your wishes :)

OPEN TO EVERYONE! 
Lets's keep our International bloggers in mind and in our hearts.
Remember, there's always the Book Depository and they offer FREE shipping!
Thank you Uniflame for pointing that out!! :P
Here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0As4fr55TjlOydEU5LTNYU3hsV3R1Sl90VlFFLVZMSkE#gid=0 you can find  a list of ppl that signed up (I'm no. 144, in case anyone's interested and it's my b-day on the 28th, if anyone cares *wink*)

Read on :)


Friday, September 30, 2011

Cover reveal - Enemy Within

Well hello there!
If you read Angeline Kace's novel Descended By Blood, you'd know that it is truly awesome book and it is the first in a trilogy. So today, I'm bringing you the blurb and the cover of the sequel, Enemy Within. :)


*WARNING: SPOILERS ahead, so if you want to avoid them, wait to read the synopsis until you have read book 1!* 

Half-vampire, Brooke Keller, rid the world of her worst enemy, only to find out the world's most powerful vampire wants her dead. And this time, she's not only fighting vampires, but a deadly disease that threatens to take her best friend's life.
Torn between Jaren and Mirko, Brooke struggles to convince her best friend to change over, keep her monster at bay, and learns her enemies are deeper within than she could have ever imagined.
Will love be enough to quell the darkness?
Does good really conquer evil?

AND now the fab cover: 


So, like it? Love it? The book will be out in 2012 :)

Until then, connect with Angeline over twitter: 
http://twitter.com/#!/Angeline_Kace and check out her website:  http://www.angelinekace.com/

Friday, September 23, 2011

Special quadruple review: The Iron Fey Series

Well hello there! Long time no write. Anyway, today I have a special treat for you. It is a review - but not just one review, or double, nor even triple review. But quadruple . That's right. I am reviewing the whole, entire The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa. The reason why I don't have a single review for each book is because I feel I can exprerss my opinion better like this. So, let's start.

Book 1:
The Iron King

Book 2:
The Iron Daughter

Book 3:
The Iron Queen

Book 4:
The Iron Knight


REVIEW:

Oh my.
That's the reaction I had after finishing this series. It was seriously brilliant.

The story follows the life of Meghan Chase, a 16-year-old (in the first book, at least) girl who leads a pretty typical life.

All until.

All until Meghan finds out that her best friend is actually Puck, yes, The Puck, her brother gets kidnapped by faeries, and everything falls apart.
But then Ash comes along. Along with ooh-s and ahh-s (from me, that is).
I'm getting off the subject. Anyway, this series is fun, fast-paced, but like seriously, one trouble after another, but it works out great! Also, the characters are well defined, some very loveable, some not-so-much. But all of them you just get, know what I mean?
Also, this series is filled with snarky lines - mostly from the hillarious Puck, who we love ;) Don't get me wrong, I'm Team Ash and all, but hey- you gotta give credits to Puck!

Then, Julie Kagawa just has a way of pulling you into the story in a way that you forget about the enemy at the beggining and then at the end, when the enemy reappears, you are left with a big OH. (again, at least that was me)

Next thing - romance. It was oh-so-sweet. Really. :)

Also, the first three books are written from Meghan's POV. And I really liked her as a protagonist, she was fierce, did looots of risky things to save her brother, and really grew to a brave leader.
So, originally, The Iron Fey was supposed to be a trilogy, but since book 3 ended up so mean- what a cliffy, really- Julie wrote a fourth book. Which hadn't come out yet, it will in October, but I read an e-ARC from NetGalley (thanks NetGalley!)

The Iron Knight is written from Ash's POV and it follows him on his journey. I really can't say much due to the spoilers, but I can say that this book was INTENSE.
It took a while to get used to Ash's POV, since I read the books back-to-back, but once in, you can't stop. We learn a lot about Ash, and understand him fully at last. Julie Kagawa completes the story perfectly, and there is sacrifice, love, friendship, and true values of life.
So, there were a few surprises, and at one point I was thinking what the hell until I realized what was happening.
Well, you probably already heard how it all ends, so I'll just say that the ending left me craving for more, but in a way that it was sooo GOOD I
wanted to read more and more.

Definitely one of the best series I've read!!

HUGE 5 stars!

Julie Kagawa's website: http://www.juliekagawa.com/
All The Iron Fey books on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/series/47329-iron-fey
Follow Julie on twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Jkagawa

You're more than welcome to leave a comment ;)
Hope you liked!
Read on :)