Cursed by Jennifer Armentrout

Cursed
by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Dying sucks--and high school senior Ember McWilliams knows firsthand. After a fatal car accident, her gifted little sister brought her back. Now anything Ember touches dies. And that, well, really blows.
Ember operates on a no-touch policy with all living things--including boys. When Hayden Cromwell shows up, quoting Oscar Wilde and claiming her curse is a gift, she thinks he's a crazed cutie. But when he tells her he can help control it, she's more than interested. There's just one catch: Ember has to trust Hayden's adopted father, a man she's sure has sinister reasons for collecting children whose abilities even weird her out. However, she's willing to do anything to hold her sister's hand again. And hell, she'd also like to be able to kiss Hayden. Who wouldn't?
But when Ember learns the accident that turned her into a freak may not've been an accident at all, she's not sure who to trust. Someone wanted her dead, and the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she is to losing not only her heart, but her life. For real this time.

 

Jennifer Armentrout is an Author that won my heart the moment I opened Obsidian ( Book #1 in the Lux series ) I then went on to read EVERY book I could find of hers. And loved them all. They were all so unique, and full of ideas I hadn't really touched on much in YA.

That was a bit of what let me down with Cursed :/ The "touch of death" theme is something I have seen multiple times. There were a few unique aspects to the story that I enjoyed and held me through, but in the back of my head I kept thinking " read it, read it, read it. "

Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed Cursed. 3 stars is NOT a bad rating. It just wasn't as amazing as I wanted.

Things that I liked about Cursed were:

The characters! Ember was such a strong character and person. Having gone what she has, and SURVIVING, holding on and still fighting for a good life for her and her sister, it's a trait I love to see in YA books.

Her sister Oliva was freaking ADORABLE. I mean really.. I feel for Ember..How do you say " no, you can't raise your dead hampster Squeaky back from the dead." to a face like that!
- I was heartbroken that Oliva wasn't more present in the story. She was always in the background, and topic of conversation, But I feel like she wasn't actually ACTIVE in the story as much as I would have liked. 

Then there was Hayden ... ooh Hayden >.<  I feel like I was able to feel Ember's emotions right along with her. You can't help but fall for Hayden.. but there is always a little bit of.. hesitation. With good reason!

I also really enjoyed the pacing in this story, starts out light, and gradually grows to an explosive ending!

My only real problem was that I couldn't get over the " read it " feeling. But not everyone may feel that way! I do recommend Cursed, as I would recommend ANY Jennifer Armentrout books. I would just say if you have already read some "touch of death" stories, be a bit wary.. but if it interests you? GO FOR IT.

Rating 3.5/5

 

Cover Reveal - Everlost by Brenda Pandos

COVER REVEAL!!!!!

 *drum roll please * ********************

Everlost, book #3 of Mer Tales
Publisher: Obsidian Mountain Publishing
Release Date: 2/28/2013
Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16937694-
everlost

Synopsis:
With one kiss, Tatiana has discovered a love for a man
she’d hated—the prince of Natatoria. Through the
botched rescue attempt by her father against this union,
an army of rebels has revealed their identity and
intentions—treason. When the King is fatally injured,
Azor takes things into his own hands. No one is safe as
mers are forced to choose sides. Betamers take the
blame, including Tatiana’s family’s closest friend,
Badger, and the punishment is death.
Caught between the bond and her true feelings, Tatiana, the future Queen, must
overcome the promise to fight for what’s right and uncover the truths of the past or all will
become Everlost.

 Want to know more?
Check out Brenda’s blog at: http://brendapandos.blogspot.com

Brenda’s Links:
Brenda Pandos’ Website: http://www.brendapandos.com/
Blog: http://brendapandos.blogspot.com
Goodreads Page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3449368
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/brendapandos
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/brendapandos

 

Author Bio:
Brenda Pandos lives in California with her husband and two boys. She attempts to balance her
busy life filled with writing, being a mother and wife, and spending time with friends and family.
Working formerly as an I.T. Administrator, she never believed her imagination would be put to
good use. After her son was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder her life completely
changed. Writing paranormal romance became something she could do at home while tending to
the new needs of her family, household, and herself.
Three years later, Brenda now has five books published, The Talisman Trilogy: The Emerald
Talisman, The Sapphire Talisman, and The Onyx Talisman, and Mer Tales: Everblue and
Evergreen. 

She is currently working on the third book of Mer Tales, Everlost, coming February 2013.

The Pledge ( Blast from the past review)

 Blast from the past Review 
* Re-Visiting Reviews from my early blogging days !

 ( This Review was previously published in Dec 2011, It is now considered one of my favorite books. I wanted to re-post it because in 2011 Blogging was just for me, I didn't really have followers. But now I have all of you! And I wanted to share it again and get the book some more of the publicity it deserves! )

In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed.

Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

" Language became a tool, a way to complete that division. It became illegal to speak- or even acknowledge - another class's language. It was a way to keep secrets, a way to exact power and control over those who were... less." 

First off.. I must say how much I love this cover, it's going to be attracting some serious attention. We all know the quote " Don't judge a book by it's cover." But come on. We all know we do it to some extent. And in the case of The Pledge by Kimberly Derting : The greatness of the cover, matches the greatness of the book. 

When I first started reading The Pledge ( having not reading too many reviews to avoid spoilers ) I felt it was going to be historical.

Nope. 

Set in a Future that is disturbingly similar to our past. Ruled by a Queen - older than anyone would think to imagine- the people have been reverted back to classes. Royal, Vendor, Servant, ect... Each class has their own language, and it is against the law to learn a language above your class. We also learn that most children are now named in remembrance of the old cities : Brooklyn, Carlton, Charlotte.. you get the picture. 

So what did I love about this book?

Oh So much 

1. First off, I loved the idea that our future may not be filled with spaceships and technological advances to boggle the mind, that it just might go backwards. Ok. let me correct myself. I don't Love this possibility, I love the interesting concept! :) 

2. The Queen - oh how you will love to hate her. * shivers *  While she is the antagonist, we don't really read too much about her. But it doesn't take much for her presence to be known! - Though I do wish there was a couple more examples of her previous lives. The one in the Prologue was creepy and interesting, I would love to learn more. 

3. No love triangle! Though there are hints - and I started to think " uh oh.. here we go." Charlie is not one to be wishy washy on how she feels :) 

4. The Romance was not "whirlwind" It didn't feel like - Oh hi! I just met you, and now I love and trust you completely. - The love grows, it has it's faults, it felt real. 

5. Charlie is a girl with faults. There are times you will want to shake her and be like, make smarter decisions! But hey, real people make mistakes. 

Sigh. I just loved this book. It was not action packed, it was not filled to the brim with fluttering romance. It simply held me. Intriguing, thought provoking, fast paced and fantastically written. 

For fans of strong dystopians, historical ficion, and fantasy worlds. This has a bit of each. 

 

Rating 5/5 

For a preview of the book, Click HERE and use the Google preview option :)

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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/