April TBR

April TBR Pile ! 

Working through some Netgalley books This month :) hopefully mixing in some others as well

Will I actually get through 7 books in April ? I sure am hoping so!  

Have you read or are you looking forward to any of the books on my TBR pile? Share in the comments

A look back at March

Reviewed: 

Whipering Hills by Taryn Browning - Read my review HERE

White Witch by Trish Milburn - Read my review HERE

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows - Read my review HERE

Ashfall by Mike Mullen - Read my review HERE

I did read more books in March, their reviews are just forming themselves in my mind >.< March was a bit odd for me. I'm going to work hard to get my blog on track ! 

Please don't forget, if you found a book from my blog and are interested in buying it, consider going through one of the Affiliates! Links for Amazon and The Book Depository can be found on the left side of the blog :) A small percentage comes back to the blog with no extra cost to you when you use the affiliate links! ANY earnings will go right back to the blog for Giveaways :D

Whispering Hills Tour stop

For as long as she can remember, 17-year-old Alexis Forbes can hear the thoughts of others. Most recently, she is disturbed by the dark, unfamiliar voice of a frightening killer: callous, cunning, charismatic…and dead.

She hears his every sinister thought. But she can’t tell anyone. No one would believe her. Alexis is suddenly being haunted by a terrifying past she doesn’t remember, and a ghost with a serious score to settle. Even Chance, the gorgeous new guy she’s falling for, has his own ghostly secret. He’s definitely not like any guy she’s ever met. Alexis soon discovers she has a connection to the dead and it runs much deeper than she could ever imagine. And if the sociopathic entity has his way, she’ll finally be sentenced to the fate she escaped thirteen years ago.

Cover Love

Let's talk about the cover a bit shall we? Cause I kinda love it. I enjoy the simplicity and the "soft" feel of it. How it slowly changes from a more sharp image down to a softer/fuzzier one if that makes sense. I also love that the model on the image is not , BAM in your face with her beauty. It feels more realistic to me. My only real negative is that her outfit doesn't seem to match with the story for me... but that's just me being picky. I also love the quote at the top of the cover! It ties in really well with the huge theme of opposites in the book! Many smaller titles/ indie books have covers that feel "blah" to me. To unoriginal or simple. This one feels like more effort was put into it! Just because we maybe shouldn't "Judge a book by it's cover" , that doesn't mean it shouldn't have a rockin one!

What do you think? Does this cover help draw you into the story? What do you like or dislike about it? Share in the comments below!

Review


Whispering Hills was definitely not what I expected. I started in thinking I was going to get a romance with a little bit of a ghostly back story and ended up reading a haunting mystery that that had me wondering which way was up! What guy was good, what move was right!?


While I am still not a huge fan of mysteries, this story had just enough paranormal aspects and romance to it to hold my attention. It took me a little while to connect with Alexis, and even longer to connect with Chance. But they grew on me and I began to root and fear for them. However in this story it was definitely the antagonist and the side character/ friend that kept me moving forward. Gabriel was creepy and terrifying and intense and .. hmm what other words to describe and evil guy can I use! I love me a good bad guy lol. Summer was quirky and fun though a bit sterotypical when it came down to "I'm a teenage witch so I am going to wear goth clothes and appear all broody." She breaks out of it and becomes an awesome character! 


I gotta say I hope that Taryn Browning brings more Witchcraft into future books, I loved the "witchy" scenes in Whispering Hills and really feel that it is something she could focus on and write a kick ass story!


This story had alot of twists and turns that kept me guessing, always wondering what was around the corner for the characters and if what they were doing was really in their best interest. I look forward to seeing what else Taryn Browing has to offer and will be checking out her other books for sure! 


Don't forget to check out the list below and drop by the other stops! 
Tons of giveaways and some great reviews !


gTour Dates -

MARCH

March 12 - Love of Books *Excerpt & Giveaway*Tour Kick-Off*
March 13 - Flipping Through the Pages - *Review & Giveaway*
March 14 - Book Briefs *Review & Giveaway*
March 15th - The Reading Geek *Review & Guest Post*
Creative Reads - *Review & This or That Interview & Giveaway*
March 16 - The I Love Books Club *Review & This or That Interview*
March 18 - Girls on YA Books - *Review & Giveaway*
March 19 - Nata ArtistaDonna *Review & Interview & Giveaway*
A Life Pixelated *Review*
March 20 - Sweet Southern Home *Promo Stop & Guest Post*
A Life Pixelated *Guest Post & Giveaway*
March 21 - Synchronized Reading *Guest Post and Excerpt*
March 22 - This is From My Heart *Interview & Giveaway*
March 23 - Book Loving Mom - *Review & Guest Post*
March 24 - Books to the Sky *Review & Excerpt*
Following the Reader *Review
March 25 - The Autumn Review *Excerpt Promo Stop
March 26 - Doodle's Book Blog *Review & Giveaway*
Waiting on Sunday to Drown *Review & Giveaway*
March 27 - Unabridged Bookshelf *Review & Giveaway*
March 28 - Teen Librarian's Toolbox *Review & Giveaway*
Books 4 Juliet *Guest Post & Giveaway*
March 29 - The Passionate Bookworm *Review & Cover Post*
March 30 - An Avid Readers Musings *Review & Guest Post*
March 31 - Once Upon A Twilight *

APRIL

April 1 - MajiBookshelf *Review & Giveaway
April 2 - YA-Aholic *Review & Interview*
Addicted to Books *Review & Guest Post & Giveaway*
April 3 - Sim-Sational Books *Review*
April 4 - Lovey Dovey Books *Review & Giveaway*
Better Read Than Dead *Review & Guest Post & Giveaway*
April 5 - Chapter x Chapter *Review & Excerpt & Giveaway*
Shirleyy's Bookshelf *Review & Giveaway*
April 6 - The Life of Fiction *Review & Giveaway*
April 7 - Shadow Kisses Book Reviews *mini review & Giveaway
April 8 - Escaping... One Book @ a Time *Review & Giveaway
April 9 - The Bookish Babes *Guest Post
Letters Inside Out *Review & Giveaway*
Kindling the Fire *Review & Giveaway
April 10 - Bookish Brunette *Guest Post & Promo Post*
Novels On The Run *Review
April 11 - My Cute Bookshelf *Promo Post & Giveaway*
Obsession with Books *Review & Guest Post*
April 12 - Good Choice Reading *Promo Post*
April 12 - SupaGurl Books *Tour Wrap-Up* Review & BIG GIVEAWAY

Trendsetters: Headless/Nearly Headless

Trendsetters is a meme inspired by a couple different blogs, but most dominantly YA Bookie Monster ! Where I point out Cover trends I have noticed in YA Books ! 

Up this week: Headless/ Nearly Headless

You may be thinking:

Check out the cover I found below and share your thoughts! 

 

All the covers above were found on a 2012 YA releases list on Goodreads :) if you can think of more ( 2012 releases ) that I have missed please let me know! Have you spotted other trends? Share in the comments!

Waiting On Wednesday

Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she's opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn't possible, she knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.

But her revival, and Ben's possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI agent father's files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what's right in front of her: Everything that's happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben's sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she's going to need to uncover Ben's secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.

From debut author Elizabeth Norris comes this shattering novel of one girl's fight to save herself, her world, and the boy she never saw coming.

Expected Publication April 24th 

And of course I just loaned out my copy.. and now i'm dying to read it. Always happens lol. But that just means I will be ready to jump right in when i get it back!

What are you waiting on?

White Witch

188 pages

Published March 1st 2012 by Bell Bridge Books

I received this book as a review copy from the Publisher through Netgalley !

Witchcraft Is Her Family’s Business.No One Quits The Family And Lives To Tell About It. “Jax” Pherson has power, enough power to know her future will end in service to the dark coven her father controls. Unless she can stay hidden in a small community in the mountains of North Carolina. She must find a way to live without magic and deny the darkness she feels welling up inside her—the same dark power that fuels the covens around the world.
All she wants is a normal life. A boyfriend. Friends. Some place to belong, but all too soon Jax’s barely begun new life hangs in the balance when she discovers that the boy she’s attracted to is sworn to kill her kind. He’s a hunter with good reason to kill everything that goes bump in the night. Even the most fleeting use of her power is tantamount to signing her death warrant and will bring both hunter and coven down on her. But can she walk away when her friends are threatened by an old evil? Something created by the magic of witches? Jax’s only hope of survival is to convince the boy she loves to forget everything he’s ever been taught and help her find a way to fight the covens. To believe there is some good in her

This is one of those amazing books, that I put off reading because the cover did not draw me in enough. ( Yes, I am guilty of judging books by their covers! ) While it is seriously striking and intense. To me it looks like the cover to a graphic novel ( Don't get me wrong, I love graphic novels and manga ) and that just wasn't the feel I was looking for at the time. I am so glad I took the time to sit down and read this story! I finished it in just a few hours, never taking a break. 

White Witch by Trish Milburn is a story that kept me hooked with it's quirky characters and fast paced plot. Filled with geekery and fun, I will always give kudos to authors who bring Joss Whedon into their books >.<  ( Buffy fan and proud! ) 

Jax was an easy character for me to get attached to, a strong female MC not afraid to step out of the "norms" of her life and do what she feels is right. While at the same time feeling honest and real and having faults - Falling for your enemy.. not the smartest choice >.< 

Keller .. Wonderful Keller. The Witch and the Witch hunter. The lion fell in love with the... lion? lol Seriously. It was such an interesting relationship that gradually grew. Insta attraction does not always have to mean insta love! 

And Toni - Keller's cousin and Jax's spunky new friend. There is no way I could not mention her. She helped make this book for me. A drummer with pink stripes in her hair and a love of all things Joss Whedon - This girl is my new Book best friend! I loved the relationship that Trish Milburn created between Toni and Jax.  As well as the swoon worthy interest she well deservedly gets!  I truly hope we see ALOT more of Toni in book #2

Fast paced, fun and full of action and romance White Witch is a book and series that is bound to get some love and fans! 

There were only a few things that held this book back from getting a 5 star review from me.

1: It ended too soon! Since I know there are more to come in the series I kind of wish book 1 and 2 were combined. While I loved that it was a story I could finish in one sitting, at the same time I was left wanting. 

2: Jax is described as incredibly beautiful, and this fact is pointed out much in the book. Guys love her, Girls hate her for her beauty. It is said that it is all in the Genes, the magic gives the coven their beauty. But I feel this not explained well enough. While eventually it dies down, I feel like it was focused on too much in the first half of the story without enough explanation. 

That being said I still Loved this story and am anxiously awaiting book 2 to see what happens next! 

I hope some of you run out and get this book and share with me your thoughts! I would love to laugh and swoon over it with you :) 

Rating : 4/5

If interested in purchasing your own copy of White Witch by Trish Milburn don't forget The Passionate Bookworm is an affiliate of The Book Depository ! They offer great deals and free International shipping! - The blog receives a small commission for any book purchased though the affiliate page HERE  ( at NO extra charge to you ) or by using the search bar found on left side of blog :) ANY commission earned will go towards giveaways. 

Trendsetters ( Facing Away )

Trendsetters : Facing away 


Trendsetters is Inspired by a meme I found over at YA Bookie Monster. If she responds to me with a go ahead I will be doing more features soon as I LOVE spotting these trends

So what do you think? Does this tend of Characters facing away/ walking away do anything for you? Does it help draw you in and want to read the book? Tell me if you love/hate it in the comments and why!


I personally love it! Sometimes when I see a full of face of a cover model it throws me, because it never feels exactly like I think the character looks like. This trend leaves more to the imagination :) 


While your here you should drop by some of my reviews and give them some love! Also up is a International giveaway of Life as we knew it By Susan Beth Pfeffer HERE

Life as we knew it - International Giveaway

Well guys.. I have been sick... and busy :( and my blog fell too the side a bit. BUT I am feeling better now and am determined to keep on track ! I am so thankful for all of you who stick with me and my little blog and look : 300 Followers! <3 As I get back on track I want to share a little of my joy by having a .... 

* pause for dramatic effect*..... 

International Giveaway!!!

In the last few weeks I have caught up a bit on my reading , and one of the books I read was Ashfall by Mike Mullen - you can read my review HERE. And this book made me remember another book that had me seriously freaking.. out! 

Miranda’s disbelief turns to fear in a split second when a meteor knocks the moon closer to the earth. How should her family prepare for the future when worldwide tsunamis wipe out the coasts, earthquakes rock the continents, and volcanic ash blocks out the sun? As summer turns to Arctic winter, Miranda, her two brothers, and their mother retreat to the unexpected safe haven of their sunroom, where they subsist on stockpiled food and limited water in the warmth of a wood-burning stove.

Told in journal entries, this is the heart-pounding story of Miranda’s struggle to hold on to the most important resource of all--hope--in an increasingly desperate and unfamiliar world.

The more I remember it the happier I am that I am finally sharing it with you all!! 

This contest will be international - so long as Book Depository ships to your country :) 

Must be 13 years or older to enter

Complete each entry entirely. - entries not completed correctly will be removed. 

Incarnate

Hardcover, 384 pages
Published January 31st 2012 by Katherine Tegen Books

ISBN: 0062060759 (ISBN13: 9780062060754)

Edition language: English

Original title: Erin Incarnate

http://www.jodimeadows.com/?page_id=12

Series Newsoul #1




New soul

Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

No soul

Even Ana's own mother thinks she's a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she'll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

Heart

Sam believes Ana's new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana's enemies--human and creature alike--let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else's life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?


After reading so many rave reviews, chatting with the very charming Jodi Meadows, and fan-girling over the amazing cover... this book had ALOT to live up to.

It did better than just not disappointing me. It blew me away.

The Thing that I found most interesting and original about this story was the fact that not only are the people of Heart ( The main "town" ) reincarnated over and over again, but they retain all their memories from each previous life! This concept throughout the book really made me think. Some of the reincarnated simply choose to perfect their skills in each reincarnated life, others branch out more and try a new thing every life. I would be the later.

Then it gets a bit complicated. What if the love of your life, was reincarnated years after you were born? You may already be 20 when they are born. OR, your husband one life, may be reincarnated into the body of a woman in the next life. How would you handle such events!? Jodi Meadows creates an intriguing world that kept me thinking about how I would handle things If I were reincarnated. She also does not hold back on the harshness, or awkwardness that this lifestyle may create. Though it's not a huge part of the story you should be aware there is mention of Suicide as well as gay marriage. I applaud Jodi Meadows for pulling both ideas into the story in a way that fit in seamlessly and added to the stories overall greatness for me!

Anna was a character that I couldn't help but adore. Her life until recently was a very secluded one, and her Mother did nothing to help, calling her a NoSoul and lying to her about the ways of their world. When Anna meets Sam she begins to take her first true steps into the real world as she learns not only about it, but about herself. 

“Who am I?" My first spoken words.
"No one," she said. "Nosoul.” 

― Jodi Meadows, Incarnate

Sam.. oh Sam. Though he is Years, and years, and YEARS my elder.. *Swoon* I did , and you will too! A wonderful character who helps to show Anna believe that she is not just a "NoSoul" But A NewSoul who has much to live for. Sam Had me laughing, crying and swooning all over the place. Yes, if you think too hard about it.. there is a bit of a weird factor over the fact that he has been reincarnated so many times over and Anna has not, but I think overall it simply led me to the feeling that "love knows no bounds".

Full of Romance, intrigue , adventure and beauty this book had me hooked till the last page. I closed the cover, leaned back against my pillow, And just smiled.

Did I mention Jodie is a 2012 Debut Author!? Seriously, watch out for her, she is gonna be big!! 

Rating: 5/5 <3

In My Mailbox

1st I have to say , look at the awesome new IMM image Vintage Bookworm Designs found for me! ( If I had a mail slot like that it would be me, freaking out the UPS man >.< ) On that note, Amanda at Vintage bookworm designs also redid my whole blog design! I love it! - What are your thoughts? :)

Now, Onto what I snagged up this week!

Purchased

 Now.. I was supposed to be on a book buying ban.. BUT I saw this at Walmart and it said " Only sold at Walmart" Plus it was cheap :) So.. I talked my boyfriend into buying it.. 

therefor I technically did not break my ban hahah.

Gifted

Katie- over at Katie's Book Blog was super awesome and sent these to me! Needless to say I have been waiting Forever to read A million suns! and Forbidden looks great as well !

Won

The author : Lisa Desrochers was having a twitter contest and I was lucky enough to snag this awesomeness! She must have guessed I love swag cause she sent some awesome signed bookmarks as well! Now, I haven't read the 1st book, But I managed to find a copy at library and will be flipping through its pages soon! 

 YAY :) my Goodies from Cate Masters got here way sooner than expected! Won though an awesome blog hop! Can't wait to read!
She also sent a beautiful bookmark! AND look! adorable polar bears! >.<

From Publisher

My first offical book from a publisher! AND it's a finished copy! So excited :) Now I have read this book before - but that was before I had my blog - So I will be rereading in order to review it properly :) And they have promised to send me the ARC of book #2 when it's ready! Thank you Simon and Schuster!

And last, but not least! : 

From Netgalley

I know the 2nd cover has been floating around too :) 

So I just put both up in case there was confusion :) 

 I am SO excited for all of these - man.. I just need to read faster!!!

So that's my IMM ! I smiled alot this week :) What did you get? Leave links to your IMM post if you have one and I will be sure to visit back !

Ashfall

Hardcover, 466 pages

Published October 11th 2011 by Tanglewood Press 

Edition language: English

url: http://www.ashfallbook.com

series: Ashfall #1

setting: Iowa

Illinois (United States)

Under the bubbling hot springs and geysers of Yellowstone National Park is a supervolcano. Most people don't know it's there. The caldera is so large that it can only be seen from a plane or satellite. It just could be overdue for an eruption, which would change the landscape and climate of our planet. 

Ashfall is the story of Alex, a teenage boy left alone for the weekend while his parents visit relatives. When the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts unexpectedly, Alex is determined to reach his parents. He must travel over a hundred miles in a landscape transformed by a foot of ash and the destruction of every modern convenience that he has ever known, and through a new world in which disaster has brought out both the best and worst in people desperate for food, water, and warmth. With a combination of nonstop action, a little romance, and very real science, this is a story that is difficult to stop reading and even more difficult to forget.

We all have our weird little quirks right? Me? I Love books and movies about Natural disasters. examples: books- Life as we knew it series by Susan Beth Pfeffer, Movies- Dante's peak and Twister. Funny thing is.. they terrify me. Like seriously, I still have nightmares about Dante's peak which I watched about .. 9 years ago for the first time? I guess I love them because they really make me think.. and freak out. Possible scenarios scare me much more than horror movies and books about vampires and werewolves *though I love those as well. * 

Ashfall is now added to my love/hate list. 

I was hesitant at first. You start out learning about Alex - A giant geek, World of warcraft addict and sci fy fan. I didn't see him surviving this world well. But he came into his own and really surprised me! And when he meets Darla ? It was fun to watch the banter and interactions :) 

This is told from Alex's perspective, so it was a little harder for me to connect with him as an MC, simply because I am not used to male MC's. While at times I found it interesting, other times when he was thinking.. certain male thoughts.. I couldn't help but think " ew TMI " haha. But at the same time that helped keep the reality feel to it. You have to expect some of that stuff in the thoughts of a Teenage boy. 

The world Mike Mullen created was dark, and intense, and full of harsh realities. Food is scarce, people will do just about Anything to survive, and when it all comes down to it, there is no way of knowing who will live and who will die. 

A little bit of light humor, some real feeling teenage romance ( as romantic as you can get when covered in Ash and day old dirt, grime and sweat. ) and an intensity that held my attention. Ashfall was just what I needed to help me get out of my book slump. 

Keep in mind I do not recommend this for young teens. There are some gory scenes that had even me cringing, and some sexual references that made me blush a bit >.<  But it's not over the top. 

Be prepared to feel an urge to run out to the store and stock up on nonperishable foods, and a plethora of survival gear! ( Including Ski's ) :D 

If you are looking for a book that feels real, and will make you think I highly recommend this one! ( as well as the series I will share below ) 

My only real negative is that at times the pace was a bit too slow, I had to remember that SOMETHING was going to happen soon.

Rating : 4.5/5 

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