Touch Of Death

Touch of Death (Touch of Death #1)

by Kelly Hashway 

Expected publication: January 15th 2013 by Spencer Hill Press

 Jodi Marshall isn’t sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she’s in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she’s being stalked by some guy no one seems to know.

After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he’s not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she’s part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendents of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned blood writhing in their veins.

Jodi’s deadly to the living and even more deadly to the deceased. She has to leave her old, normal life behind before she hurts the people she loves. As if that isn’t difficult enough, Jodi discovers she’s the chosen one who has to save the rest of her kind from perishing at the hands of Hades. If she can’t figure out how to control her power, history will repeat itself, and her race will become extinct.

Touch of Death was not what I was expecting. I mean.. who really expects to read about Zombified Waiters and Cooks! It was a touch of everything I was wanting, and more.  Horror, Action, Romance and comedy. I couldn't get enough of the quirks found in this book!

In the beginning of the story I was a bit put off. Everything happened so fast and it didn't feel natural. I felt like Jodi ( the MC ) should have hesitated a bit more, not believed everything right off the bat. the other thing that bothered me was simply.. how seriously accident prone the MC was. I'm a clutz, a major one. So I can understand it to a point. But it was as if every two seconds she was hurting herself, and there for bleeding on, and bringing everything around her back to life! It felt like a but much.

However, as soon as the setting changed, and we got to the "school"  for Medusa's ancestors, I was HOOKED. I really enjoyed the twist on the well known mythology of Medusa, While it was hard for me to think of Medusa as "good" Author Kelly Hashway spun the tale in just the right way and made it fit. Creating a perfect blend of characters, Ones readers will hate, ones they will love, and ones they won't understand right away. Kelly created a story that had me itching to turn the page!

Touch of Death will appeal to a plethora of readers, and may even encourage others to branch out and try new genres! 

Rating : 4/5 

 

ReAwakened (Angel Creek #2)

by Ada Adams

Paperback, 540pages

Published November 27th 2012 

  Becoming a vampire guardian was Dawn Fairchild’s ticket out of the Scarlet House. Fresh off a successful mission, life in Angel Creek should have been great. But when her sort-of-maybe-boyfriend, Sebastian, disappears on a quest to help a beautiful vampire from his past, Dawn finds herself amidst a web of danger, lies, and deceit.

Joining forces with Razor, an enigmatic rebel lacking both a verbal and a physical filter, and her band of Misfits—Brooke, Sophie, Hunter, and Seth—Dawn is thrust into a race against the clock to solve the mystery surrounding brutal Born kidnappings and come to terms with the sudden discovery of her own unique powers. With time ticking away and Born vampires’ lives in jeopardy, it quickly becomes evident that someone—or something—desperately wants Dawn and is willing to shed any amount of blood to get her.

Dawn has only one chance to face her demons and overcome all obstacles standing in her way as she embarks on the biggest mission of her life—one that threatens a deadly outcome for all involved.

Haven't read Book #1 ReVamped yet? Check out my Review of it HERE

ReAwakened did not disappoint! Full of Action, Intrigue and romance, with the perfect blend of sarcasm and wit! Ada Adams created a story that had my emotions rolling!

In ReAwaked, readers get a change to learn the backstories of the misfits and a few other characters. It was wonderful to learn their histories and see how it affected them after they were turned! The new character Ada brought in will have readers swooning and laughing at the same time. She has a knack for creating characters with quirky personalities that you cannot help but fall in love with!  

" Team Sebastian " better watch out! Seb has some competition for both Dawn and Readers hearts!

I dare to say that I loved ReAwakened even MORE than ReVamped ! And if any of you recall my fangirling over book #1.. you will understand that that is a bold statement ;) 

ReAwakened is going to surprise readers. It's going to bring their hopes up, then slam them down. It's going to have them laughing one moment, and crying the next. 

If you have read and loved ReVamped.... you need to get ReAwakened... YESTERDAY! And if you haven't read ReVamped? ........ Move away from the blog... and get to shopping! :D 



 
Interested in another version of the book other than Kindle!? It will soon be available at Barnes and Nobel! Until then simply contact the author herself! http://www.revampedbook.com/

Summer in Salem Blog tour stop ( Review )

Summer In Salem (Electi #1) 

by Brina Courtney

 Teagen’s summer has been turned upside down by a body, a pentagram necklace, and an old flame.

Nine months ago, Teagan Matthews' boyfriend disappeared and took her sense of stability with him. But when the opportunity to live with her aging grandmother in Salem arises, she decides it's time to get on with her life. A new home, new job and new friends are adding up to a beautiful summer...

...until a young girl's body shows up one night in town, wearing a necklace exactly like Teagan's.

Now a guy looking remarkably like her missing boyfriend has arrived in Salem along with a mysterious stranger who may have some answers that Teagan has desperately been searching for. Teagan must now decide who to trust. It's a matter of life... and her death.

Reading Summer in Salem was like drinking a cup of hot cocoa on a drizzley winter morning ; A bit sad, but comforting. 

I found myself relating well to the MC Teagan ( and also being completely envious of her name ;) , her artistic aspirations, and her near inability to move on from the past.. even when a gorgeous future is standing right in front of her. But also her abolity to realize that sometimes.. even if it's uncomfortable or scary, you need to stand up straight, and be responsible if it means making a difference. 

I enjoyed how the story was so firmly set in a non magical world, and then the magic slowly slithered its' way in at a comfortable pace. Letting readers learn about it right alongside Teagan. The side characters were likeable, even if they were few.. and I wish I had gotten to learn a little more about them! Lark was a favorite of mine and I can't wait to see how Author Brina Courtney grows her character more in book #2. 

There were a few moments where it felt like Teagan was a little too accepting of everything that was getting thrown at her. I think I would have questioned more. But at the same time I was reminded now and again how she was born into magic, and felt a natural connection to it, even if she wasn't entirely sure if she believed at all. That made it feel more believable for me. 

Brina Courtney has a way of creating characters and stories that I cannot help but latch on to. Simple, Elegant and intriguing. I think many readers will end up like me.. holding the book open in their hands, mouth agape.. wishing there was even .. just.. one more chapter to read...

Rating : 4/5

Can also be purchased form Barnes and Nobel HERE

Ashen Winter ( Ashfall #2 )

Hardcover, 576 pages

Expected publication: October 16th 2012
by Tanglewood Press

http://www.ashenwinter.com

Series : Ashfall #2

Setting: Illinois (United States) Iowa

 It’s been over six months since the eruption of the Yellowstone supervolcano. Alex and Darla have been staying with Alex’s relatives, trying to cope with the new reality of the primitive world so vividly portrayed in Ashfall, the first book in this series. It’s also been six months of waiting for Alex’s parents to return from Iowa. Alex and Darla decide they can wait no longer and must retrace their journey into Iowa to find and bring back Alex’s parents to the tenuous safety of Illinois. But the landscape they cross is even more perilous than before, with life-and-death battles for food and power between the remaining communities. When the unthinkable happens, Alex must find new reserves of strength and determination to survive...

 

Not for the faint of heart, but definitely for  readers who like an intense story. Book #2 has a bit less romance, more near death experiences and new characters that are seriously diverse and interesting.

The story continues and life gets more and more harsh. I love how Mike Mullen does not hold back! Dark, gritty, and heartbreaking. Ashen Winter made me...Uncomfortable. In an amazingly realistic way. 

I would definitely recommend this series for more Upper YA readers, not younger. Some of the content is VERY mature. ( Extreme violence, rape, and Cannibalism ) This is not me trying to tell younger readers " Don't read this!" I just know that if I myself get uncomfortable reading it, some younger readers and parents might be uncomfortable as well. 

One of the truly interesting things about the Ashfall series is it's possibility for reality, and not just in the distant future. All of the events that occur in this story could really happen in real life! The super volcano erupting, slave trades, cannibalism and so much more. But my FAVORITE thing about this story is one of the characters that Mike Mullen brought in for book #2. Ben. Ben and Alyssa are a brother and sister that Alex meets along his travels and they are a unique duo. Ben is a high functioning autistic teen. A character trait which I have yet to find in other YA books I have read. Ben is a wonderful character. Sharing not only his quirky and sometimes dangerous autistic traits, but also the amazing ones that help save not only his life, but the lives of many others in this extreme post-eruption world! 

All in all. If you liked book # 1 Ashfall, you will LOVE Ashen Winter. And if you haven't read Ashfall I highly recommend it! 

Rating: 5/5

Here is a link to my review of Book #1 Ashfall! : Ashfall Review

Mailbox Monday

Ahhh the wonderful and terrifying feeling that comes with adding books to my TBR shelf :)

 Let's see what I have gathered shall we?

Purchased

I snagged up these lovelies from a trade with Braun Books ! Just in time for the Tiger's Destiny Release party! I have already read both and LOVED THEM! 

Borrowing

Shelly over at Tsk Tsk What to Read was super nice and lent me her ARC copy of Tiger's Destiny since I was unable to get a finished copy just yet. Too bad the ending is not included >.<

Traded/Borrowing

A couple of members of Novels, News and Notes from your Northwest Neighbors got together before the Tiger's Destiny Party and traded Books! I am super excited for these! Thanks a bunch to Sarah over at Novel Novice and Mel from Shot InThe Arm !

Gifted

HUGE thanks to Benji over at The Non Reluctant Reader !!! I have already finished this one and my rave review will be up in a day or so!! 

NetGalley 

  Oh my GOSH I am so excited!!!!!!

Nook Freebies

 They all looked interesting! ... And I horde free nook books >.< Lol

.. I think I may have overdone it .... wait.. No I didn't!! I LOVE BOOKS ! haha 

Feel free to leave comments! Have you read any these? Want to? 

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- Happy Reading!