STEEL LILY Book Tour: Excerpt

Hello dearies!
I've been gone lately, but I'm here today to bring you an excerpt from Steel Lily, a new novel by the amazing Megan Curd!



Here's what you need to know about Steel Lily!

Title: Steel Lily

Author: Megan Curd

Genre: Dystopian

Blurb:

AVERY PIKE is a commodity. No, more than a commodity. Her existence is guarded at all costs.

She’s a water Elementalist, the strongest of her dwindling kind. She creates steam to provide energy to fuel Dome Three: the only thing standing between humanity and an earth ravaged by World War III. No steam, no Dome. No Dome, no life.

Or so she thinks.

That is, until a mysterious man offers her a way out of having to donate steam. A way to escape the corrupt government of Dome Three. While the offer seems too good to be true, Avery is intrigued.

But when she arrives to her new home, she realizes the grass isn’t any less dead on this side of the fence. Instead, the lies are just hidden better.

…Which means digging deeper.

When Avery enlists the help of her friends to uncover the truth, it may make her wonder if she was better off being a government tool than searching for freedom.

Some secrets are better left concealed, but humankind was never meant to live in a cage. And when you can control the most sought after resource, you can learn to control anything…including the fate of your world.

Doesn't it sound awesome?

You can check it out on GR here: 

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17828413-steel-lily

And now here's what you need to know about Megan Curd:

Megan Curd is a graduate of Northwestern College in St. Paul, Minnesota. While having always enjoyed reading any books she could get her hands on, Megan didn’t begin writing until a friend encouraged her to do so while in college.

When not writing, Megan enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She loves to snowboard and travel to new places, and doesn’t turn down the opportunity to play xBox with her brother and friends when it presents itself.

Megan currently resides in Stanton, Kentucky with her husband, son, and Great Dane named Dozer.

(Also, Dozer is a cool name!)

You can find and contact Megan here:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

TWITTER

FACEBOOK

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

*insert my announcment voice* And now, the excerpt you've been all waiting for... *drumrolls*

I was moving double time to keep up with his long strides. He seemed so sure of himself, so in control of his destiny, even in this place, where he claimed we were imprisoned. I didn’t have a shred of doubt that what Jaxon wanted, Jaxon got. He owned his life. I so desperately wanted to own mine as well. Could he help me take control of it, or would he cause it to crash around my feet? For some reason, it felt like either option would be exhilarating if he were involved.

Exhilarating and dangerous.

The back of his shirt was soaked. The small “v” of muscles at the base of his spine flexed as he craned his neck to make sure I was still behind him. Why did that give me butterflies?

He turned and smiled. “Are you even listening to me? You’re way past your ogling allotment.”

“I’m not ogling you.”

“Trust me, I’ve experienced enough ogling to know it when I see it. If you’d prefer to ogle in peace, I’ll turn around again. There have been contests where my ass took first place in squeezability.”

“You must have been the only person in the running.”

He grinned mischievously. “And the only one to vote, but a win is still a win, right?”

This is the part where I say that I already like Jaxon *wink*

Okay, so, thanks for stopping by and make sure to check out the other today's stops, where reviews, more excerpts, and giveaways await you!

You can find the links on Tess Watson's twitter (she organized the tour brilliantly) here!

Thanks again for stopping by! Enjoy the day!

Tammy

In which I have a new blog

Hey everyone!
I just wanted to let you know that I've created a new blog, which will be more focused on me as a writer, so if you could check it out and maybe follow, I would be very happy.

Ramblings of a teenage writer

Thanks! :)
Tammy

It's been a while.. (Plus some important news)

Hey everyone!

Firstly, I realize I owe you a huuuge apology. I know I've been MIA a very long time, but if I start to explain why exactly, it would take me about seven months.
So, what you need to know is things have been happening, both negative and positive (ain't that always the case) and I can't promise the moon and the stars, BUT I do promise I will try to upload the blog as much as I can and as often as I can. Pinkie swear.

Next, I have news!
If you follow me on Twitter or if you have me as a friend on Facebook, you'll know that a couple of months ago I ran across a blogpost by my dear author friend Katie M. John, in which she said that Little Bird Publishing House is looking for submissions for an anthology of YA stories called 'Dark Heart'. And if you know me, you know that two of my greatest passions are reading and writing. So when I saw the post, it was like a ray of sunlight falling over me. I just knew- this could be my big chance.

So I mauled over things, and this idea I've been having came back to me, and a lot of scribbling (in and out of class) later, a story called 'Wicked Games' was born.

I sent it to Katie and the publishers, and then I patiently waited. Okay, I'm lying. I am not a patient person, so I checked my mail about twenty times a day, ha!

And then finally one day, actually I know the date but nevermind, I got the mail stating they loved my story and they would like to include it as a part of the anthology. So I pretty much all but screamed and jumped across the classroom (since it was a recess), and the excitement still hasn't worn out.

So. What I'm telling you is I'm going to be a published author!
And considering I'm only sixteen, this has got to count for something, right? It's like all of my dreams coming true.

'Dark Heart' Volume 1 is out January 30th, by Little Bird Publishing House.

You can visit their website here
You can visit the blog where you can find posts about the other awesome authors working on the anthology and other up to date news here


And this is the fab final cover!  *has an omigosh my name is on the cover! moment*

To recap, the anthology is in print now, is will be available from Wednesday, Jan 30th, and it's seven YA stories, all based on paranormal folkore. (I think you'll love it *wink*) For all the other info, visit the links above.

Lastly, I want to take a moment to say a huuuge thank you to firstly, Katie John and everyone in LBPH for giving me this mind-blowing opportunity, secondly, to all of the authors out there- I learned something new from each of you.
And of course, the biggest thanks goes to every single person I made friends with since I joined the reading and writing community, to every single person who believed in me from the start and who kept telling me I'd make it one day. Well, the day has come a bit earlier than I expected.

THANK YOU.
I wish I could give you all a huge hug in person. But then again, maybe one day I'll see you at one of my signings, eh? :)

I'll keep you posted on blog tours, and giveaways, and all things cool as soon as I know them.

Till next time,

Tammy

Daemon Invasion is coming...

Hello my dear readers!

I have joined Daemon Invasion, and I can promise you it is going to ROCK!

Now, sadly I cannot give out more information, but you will find out more very very soon ;)

Oh, if you're not familiar with what Daemon Invasion is, you can go here, http://jenniferarmentrout.blogspot.com/2012/04/daemon-invasion-is-here.html and check it out a bit.. this is a very fun and awesome and super cool and exciting little thing related to Daemon (and generally the novels) from the Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout, which, if you haven't yet, you must read now! MUST ;)

Soo, this is pretty much it, stay tuned for more info.. and one more teaser.. it is going to be... Daemon-ic ;)

Blog Tour: Pure - Review

Hi everyone!

Today, I am participating in a blog tour for Pure, which is the second novel in the Covenant series written by the awesome Jennifer L. Armentrout.
You can see the rest of the blog schedule here: http://www.stuckinbooks.com/p/pure-blog-tour.html

Now, just to remind you, you can see my reviews for Daimon - a prequel novella, and Half-Blood, the first novel, here: http://tamarasbookramblings.blogspot.com/2011/07/my-first-review-daimon-by-jennifer-l.html
                  http://tamarasbookramblings.blogspot.com/2011/09/review-half-blood.html

And now, before I start the review, I would just like to say a huuuuuuge thank you to Kate and the rest of the guys over at Spencer Hill Press for sending out an Advance Readers Copy of Pure to me. Thankyouthankyouthankyou! :)

Goodreads blurb:
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.


Personal opinion:
Oh boy! Words cannot express how much I am addicted to this series (along with anything else Jennifer writes).
As much as I liked Daimon and loved Half-Blood, Pure was even better. Sometimes novels have that second-book-syndrom or whatever it's called, when the sequel just isn't as good as the first book, but boy oh boy Pure doesn't suffer from it.
In this compelling sequel, Alex is faced with even more danger, new threats and heartbreaking loss, but still she remains brave and kick-ass, with even more snarky feedback.
She is, most definitely, one heck of a main character!

Now, there are, per usual, scenes that make you want to scream till your voice is totally gone, and scenes that will make you almost cry and scenes that you will laugh out loud, but there is something, or rather someone, else I would like to talk here.

Aiden. And Seth.

Aiden, the former love of my life. In Half-Blood I absolutely looooved him. I mean, how could you not like him?

But.
There came Seth. He appears in Half-Blood, and isn't a minor character, but in HB he just doesn't stand out next to Aiden.
But in Pure, he's there. And he's HOT. And I really really love him.
To be clear, I didn't stop loving Aiden, but Team Seth is the team I'm currently on :)

So, to sum up. I adore this series, and it has some of the most gorgeous covers ever, and I seriously can't wait for the third novel, Deity, out later this year.

5 stars

ARC review: The Savage Grace

I won an ARC of The Savage Grace on Bree's blog in October, if I'm correct. Bree received them in November, and from then I waited patiently. Around middle of December I started to panic that it got lost somewhere and that it would never arrive, which made me want to sob. But then, after Christmas, on 27th or 28th Dec, it finally arrived. I was  e-c-s-t-a-t-i-c. And not even the condition of the poor book made my happiness any less (and I gotta tell you, it was obvious the book had been through a lot on the journey overseas).
So here's my review, to hold you over until March 13th when it is released.


Goodreads blurb:
A troubled soul. An impossible choice. A final battle. 

Wrestling with the werewolf curse pulsing deep inside of her, Grace Divine was finally able to find her brother, but it nearly cost her everything. 

With her boyfriend, Daniel, stuck in wolf form and Sirhan's death approaching, time is running out for Grace to stop Caleb Kalbi and his gang of demons. If she fails, her family and hometown will perish. Everything rests on Grace's shoulders. 

The final installment in The Dark Divine trilogy brings Daniel and Grace's love story to a breathtaking conclusion.


Personal opinion:
Soo. This book was pretty much awesome. 
My copy has 488 pages and each and every one was filled with action, suspense, swoony moments and that feeling of not wanting to let it go. (also, there was this one cool typo, but nevermind heh)
And, those 488 pages seemed like a hundred when I was reading. I just kept flipping to the next, and before I realized what had happened, I was on the last chapter, last page, last sentence. 
And it was all over. 
And I wanted to cry. 

Because, reading TSG I realized how much I love Daniel. Realized how strong and fierce Grace is, realized how awful Calbi is, and realized that Talbot is (highlight for spoiler) lying son of a you-know-what
Well, since I don't know what else to write, I'll just say that this is a great ending, and though there are a question or two left unfinished, you get that feeling of finishing a series after reading it. 
And I really think that fans of The Dark Divine are going to be happy with how Bree wrapped it all up.
Soo, as soon as it's out, GO PICK IT UP :D


You can check out Bree's blog (oh, and if you do, there is a contest there, you can vote for your favorite fanfiction - my entry is there too, it's the first of written entries (it's on the second page, scroll a bit down), soo if you like *blink blink* there are prizes for voting ;) )
Make sure to follow her on Twitter
And check out her Goodreads page

Review: Angelina's Secret

Hello everyone! It has been such a long time since I posted, and I feel v-e-e-e-r-y bad about it (one of my New year resolutions is to be a better blogger, so yeah...) Anyway, from now on I will do my best to post at least two reviews every two weeks. And from June to September, I will be blogging full time since I will be on summer vacation then, but till then, I can't blog more than once a week, if even that much.
Today, I have a review of Angelina's Secret written by Lisa Rogers.




Goodreads blurb:

As a child, Angelina spent years in counseling learning that Josie, her imaginary friend, wasn't real, but it turns out her childhood friend wasn't imaginary after all.Now Angelina has to accept she's either (A) crazy or (B) able to see ghosts. Wanting to believe in her sanity, she chooses (B) and welcomes Josie back into her life. But even Josie can't help her deal with Shelly, the spirit of a confused teenager, and things go very, very wrong.When Angelina finds herself in a psychiatric hospital, she faces a choice: she can spend the rest of her life pretending to be someone she isn't, or she can embrace who she is and take a chance that she may never get to go home.

Personal opinion:
Okay, so.
When I signed up for an ARC of Angelina's Secret, I had no idea what to expect, honestly.
And when it arrived, I was anxious to read it.

Angelina is not your typical high-school cheerleader.
She sees and talks to ghosts. Well, either that or she's crazy.

And you know what? You don't quite know which one it is until the very end.
At the beginning, I wasn't hooked to this novel, but I kept going, and to tell you the truth, I'm glad I did.
It was actually a fresh read,with a subject I didn't come across a lot in another novels, and I can honestly say I liked it.
The story hooks you in, makes you flip the pages to finally know what's going on, it's full of surprises, and it makes you relate with Angelina at least a bit (or maybe that was just me).

Plus, the cover is creepy-cool!

Soo, all in all, when Lisa Rogers publishes her next novel, I will definitely make sure to check it out!

5 stars

*thanks to Spencer Hill Press and Kate Kaynak for sending me an ARC*

You can befriend Lisa on Goodreads
Visit her page on Spencer Hill Press site

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!

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:

http://ya-sisterhood.blogspot.com/2011/12/match-11-nora-seed-10-vs-alex-seed-23.html

and vooote :)

Now, here's the cover!

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

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.

Find Tahereh on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4637539.Tahereh_Mafi

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.

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! 

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 :)

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.
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http://www.carlylelabuschagne.com/

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