RAK: May 2012 Wrap-Up

RAK was sooo much fun this month! Here is what went down:

I Gave:

Pic right before it went bye-bye

An ARC of Tempest by Julie Cross to Curtina @sheppardcurtina

And I Received:

 

Thanks to Emily at Doodle's Book Blog for Asphodel by Lauren Hammond!

Thanks to Robert Gray for Eve Hollows And The Book Of Shrieks  by Robert Gray!

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Thank you all so much for your awesomeness! And also thanks to Isalys and Vanessa at Book Soulmates for hosting this!!

Monthly Round Up: May 2012

Guess who failed again...ME! lol

I had hoped to read at least 4 books this month...I ended up reading only 3...which is not so bad...at least I read something :P And yes, school is still taking up most of my time. BUT here are the good news: I'm almost done! I've got tomorrow, all of next week, and the week after I have class on Monday and Tuesday (I have Wednesday off) and then my finals are on Thursday and then I'll be free from Human Anatomy and Physiology! Woot Woot! Man, this class is exhausting (just took an exam on the muscles today and have a paper due tomorrow)!

Anyway, I'm sure you don't care, lol. Here are the 3 books I read this month:

  

Bonds of Fenris S.J. Bell

If I Die (Soul Screamers #5) by Rachel Vincent

Blood Ties (Blood Coven Vampire #6)

I really liked all these books! But if you're wondering which was my favorite, check out my Book of the Month!

Also, here are the books I reviewed this month:

Bonds of Fenris by S.J. Bell

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

The Goddess Hunt (Goddess Test #1.5) by Aimee Carter

Goddess Interrupted (Goddess Test #2) by Aimee Carter

Kiss of Frost (Mythos Academy #2) by Jennifer Estep

Dark Frost (Mythos Academy #3) by Jennifer Estep

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Spellcaster (Spellbound #2) by Cara Lynn Shultz

And some other random posts:

Book Trailers: Spellbound Series by Nikki Jefford

The Summer Wrap-Up Read-A-Thon

 In June I will do much better in the reading department...I can feel it!

 What reading goals did you accomplish for the month of May?? Leave me a link and I'll go check it out!

Book of the Month: May 2012

"Book of the Month" is a monthly event hosted by Book Whales YA Reviews. This is done to highlight one of the books that you have read in the previous month.

 This will enable us to comment from one blog to another. Books you recommend for others to read. Hope you guys will join us. We would love to see your favorite book of the month!

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For the month of May, I only read 3 books...so I don't have a lot to choose from, and I really liked them all! This is the problem for me every month...I don't know which book was the best! I liked them all! But this month was a tiny bit easier. If I had to choose one of the 3 books I read, I would definitely choose.....

If I Die (Soul Screamers #5) by Rachel Vincent

If I Die was Epic! It was amazing, and great, and emotional-roller-coaster-y, and TOD! Oh, I love me some Tod! ;) Souls Screamers is definitely one of my fave series! I seriously cannot wait to see what happens next in Before I Wake!

What was your favorite book this month?

Review: Spellcaster (Spellbound #2) by Cara Lynn Shultz

Title: Spellcaster

Series: Spellbound #2

Previous Book in this series: Spellbound

Author: Cara Lynn Shultz

Genre: YA, paranormal romance

Publication date: March 27, 2012

Published by: Harlequin Teen

Source: The publishers via Netgalley

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

Finding your eternal soulmate--easy.

Stopping a true-love-hungry evil--not so much…

After breaking a centuries-old romantic curse, Emma Connor is (almost) glad to get back to normal problems. Although...it's not easy dealing with the jealous cliques and gossip that rule her exclusive Upper East Side prep, even for a sixteen-year-old newbie witch. Having the most-wanted boy in school as her eternal soul mate sure helps ease the pain-especially since wealthy, rocker-hot Brendan Salinger is very good at staying irresistibly close....

But something dark and hungry is using Emma and Brendan's deepest fears to reveal damaging secrets and destroy their trust in each other. And Emma's crash course in über-spells may not be enough to keep them safe…or to stop an inhuman force bent on making their unsuspected power its own.

My rating: ★★★★★
I love anything with magic and witches! So yes, I loved Spellcaster...I loved it, I loved it, I loved it! And Brendan...totally swoon-worthy! *swoons* <<< See! ;)

Showcase Sunday (#5) + FREE e-books!

Welcome to Showcase Sunday, hosted by Books, Biscuits and Tea. The aim of this event is to showcase our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed form the libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders this week. For more information about how this feature works and to join in, click here.

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This is what I got this week...

For review (from the authors, respectively):

 

Duplicity (Spellbound #2) by Nikki Jefford

The Mine by John A. Heldt

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And I got this one for FREE on Amazon (Make sure you check it out, it will only be free TODAY):

Guardian (Creepy Hollow #1) by Rachel Morgan

Also, I already have this next one, but I thought you should know that this one will also be FREE only TODAY on Amazon! Go get it! It's AWESOME!

*Entangled (Spellbound #1) by Nikki Jefford

*More info on Entangled, including my review; Entangled and Duplicity book trailers.

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What books did you get this week?? Leave me a link and I'll go check them out :)

Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Title: Everneath

Series: Everneath #1

Author: Brodi Ashton

Genre: YA, paranormal romance, Greek mythology

Publication date: January 24, 2012

Published by: Balzer + Bray

Source: The publishers via Netgalley

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon| Book Depository

Synopsis:

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

My rating: ★★★★☆
I love my mythology, and I have to say, this was an interesting take on the Underworld. A bit on the odd side, but still interesting :)

I think I saw a little Orpheus/Eurydice twist in there (Nikki and Jack), I thought that was very sweet...that Greek story is really moving. Nikki felt a bit empty in the beginning, but I think that was the point. Cole...Cole I thought was a very complicated character. Sometimes I hated him so much I wished he would just go back and stay in the Underworld (AKA the Everneath) forever! Other times he was very sweet and charming and making me swoon like a fangirl...then he would be a jerk again, making me want to smash that guitar of his over his head! Speaking of Cole, I still don't fully understand what the heck he is!! I know he isn't a god...hmm...maybe I'll get more info in the next book?

Anyway, I thought the story was really interesting. I really liked the flashback type things...I thought they were really insightful. And even though it had a terribly sad ending (I still can't believe that happened!), I thought it was a great book overall and I can't wait for the next one to come out!

P.S. I love the cover! It's beautiful!

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think about it? If not, what do you think? Does it sound like something you might want to read? Leave me a comment! :)

Review: Dark Frost (Mythos Academy #3) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Dark Frost

Series: Mythos Academy #3

Previous books in this series: Touch of Frost (#1) | Kiss of Frost (#2)

Author: Jennifer Estep

Genre: YA, urban fantasy, Greek mythology, Norse mythology

Publication date: May 29, 2012

Published by: Kensington, K-Teen

Source: the Publishers via Netgalley (thanks!)

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon| Book Depository

Synopsis:

I’ve seen so many freaky things since I started attending Mythos Academy last fall. I know I’m supposed to be a fearless warrior, but most of the time, I feel like I’m just waiting for the next Bad, Bad Thing to happen. Like someone trying to kill me—again.

Everyone at Mythos Academy knows me as Gwen Frost, the Gypsy girl who uses her psychometry magic to find lost objects—and who just may be dating Logan Quinn, the hottest guy in school. But I’m also the girl the Reapers of Chaos want dead in the worst way. The Reapers are the baddest of the bad, the people who murdered my mom. So why do they have it in for me?

It turns out my mom hid a powerful artifact called the Helheim Dagger before she died. Now, the Reapers will do anything to get it back. They think I know where the dagger is hidden, but this is one thing I can’t use my magic to find. All I do know is that the Reapers are coming for me—and I’m in for the fight of my life.

My rating: ★★★★★
So, in this Mythos Academy novel, Gwen looks for the Helheim Dagger that her mother hid. She must find it before the Reapers get their evil hands on it, and his it again in a more secure place. Will she be able to find it before the Reapers do? And most importantly: will she be able to do it without getting killed??

Review: Kiss of Frost (Mythos Academy #2) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Kiss of Frost

Series: Mythos Academy #2

Previous book in this series: Touch of Frost

Author: Jennifer Estep

Genre: YA, urban fantasy, Greek mythology, Norse mythology

Publication date: November 2011

Published by:  Kensington, K-Teen

Source: Borrowed from public library

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon| Book Depository

Synopsis:

I’m Gwen Frost, a second-year warrior-in-training at Mythos Acad­emy, and I have no idea how I’m going to sur­vive the rest of the semes­ter. One day, I’m get­ting schooled in sword­play by the guy who broke my heart—the drop-dead gor­geous Logan who slays me every time. Then, an invis­i­ble archer in the Library of Antiq­ui­ties decides to use me for tar­get prac­tice. And now, I find out that some­one at the acad­emy is really a Reaper bad guy who wants me dead. I’m afraid if I don’t learn how to live by the sword—with Logan’s help—I just might die by the sword...

My rating: ★★★★★
In this installment of Mythos Academy, the whole academy goes to a ski resort for winter break. But fun soon turns to horror when "accidents" start happening...accidents that clearly want Gwen dead. It's obviously a Reaper, but with so many students at the ski resort, finding out who wants to kill Gwen is virtually impossible...or is it?

Review: Goddess Interrupted (Goddess Test #2) by Aimee Carter

Title: Goddess Interrupted

Series: Goddess Test #2

Previous book in this series: The Goddess Test (#1) | The Goddess Hunt (#1.5)

Author: Aimee Carter

Genre: YA, paranormal romance, Greek mythology

Publication date: March 27, 2012

Published by: Harlequin Teen

Source: The publishers via Netgalley (Thanks!)

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon| Book Depository

Synopsis:

Kate Winters has won immortality. But if she wants a life with Henry in the Underworld, she'll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans. As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future. Henry's first wife, Persephone.

My rating: ★★★★★
I LOVED THIS BOOK! It was so awesome! And the ending was incredibly shocking!

Review: The Goddess Hunt (Goddess Test #1.5) by Aimee Carter

Title: The Goddess Hunt

Series: Goddess Test #1.5

Previous book in this series: The Goddess Test

Author: Aimee Carter

Genre: YA, paranormal romance, Greek mythology

Publication date: March 1st, 2012

Published by: Harlequin Teen

Source: Own Kindle E-Book

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis:

A vacation in Greece sounds like the perfect way for Kate Winters to spend her first sabbatical away from the Underworld...until she gets caught up in an immortal feud going back millennia. Castor and Pollux have been on the run from Zeus and Hades's wrath for centuries, hiding from the gods who hunt them. The last person they trust is Kate, the new Queen of the Underworld. Nevertheless, she is determined to help their cause. But when it comes to dealing with immortals, Kate still has a lot to learn....

My rating: ★★★★★
Loved, loved, LOVED!

Review: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Title: The Goddess Test

Series: Goddess Test #1

Author: Aimee Carter

Genre: YA, paranormal romance, Greek mythology

Publication date: April 2011

Published by: Harlequin Teen

Source: Own Paperback

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon| Book Depository

Synopsis:

EVERY GIRL WHO HAS TAKEN THE TEST HAS DIED.

NOW IT'S KATE'S TURN.

It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

My rating: ★★★★☆
Anyone who knows me knows that I am IN LOVE with mythology! Any mythology: Norse, Roman, Egyptian, etc. But my favorite is Greek mythology! I cannot emphasize that enough! I just find it really interesting! So when I found this book I was like, "Yes, this book I HAVE to get!" And I really, really liked it! I loved the mythology behind it (duh), and I actually liked Aphrodite in this book! Let's just say that Aphrodite is not one of my favorite goddesses, but I really like her in The Goddess Test. This was a surprise to me, lol.

Review: Bonds of Fenris by S.J. Bell

Title: Bonds on Fenris

Author: S.J. Bell

Genre: YA, paranormal

Publication date: May 7th, 2012

Published by: S.J. Bell

Source: E-book form the author (Thanks!), for review

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis:

Talia Thornwood's life ended one year ago, when she became a werewolf. She survived the attack, and the horrifying transformation a month later, but the life she has now is barely worth living. She lurks about in a filthy, run-down house, with too many werewolves crammed into too small a space. Every day is a struggle against the stress of human contact, the romantic prodding of her obnoxious packmate Pierce, and the gnawing hunger for flesh in her soul.

She's all but resigned herself to a dreary existence on the margins of society when she meets Corwin. Corwin is a werewolf like none other. He walks among humans as if it was nothing, and can keep his wolf under control even when the moon is full. Talia's mind is suddenly opened to the possibilities before her, and the realization of how little she really knows about lycanthropy.

Corwin claims that he can teach her how to cope as he does, even how to transcend her affliction. But it will not be easy. It is a hard education that requires her to question everything her pack taught her, and confront exactly what she has become. And, more amazingly, what she never stopped being.

My rating: ★★★★☆
I have not read many werewolf books, and maybe they're not really my thing, but I am so glad I had the chance to read this book! It was so deep and emotional...beautifully written! Definitely one of the best werewolf books I have read! The internal conflicts in this book were just intriguing! And I have to admit, what 1st caught my attention was the title, and let me tell you why. You see, I thought the title had to do with the Fenrir wolf, a creature from Norse mythology, and you know me and my love for mythology ;) But it doesn't have to do with mythology at all. Although I have to say, the title fits perfectly!

The Summer Wrap-Up Read-A-Thon

 I have decided to join Jude and Jennifer (our lovely hosts) on this Summer read-a-thon. I am very excited for this because this is exactly what I needed! Because I am focusing on school right now, I have fallen behind on my reading, and this challenge is the exact thing I needed to get me back on track this summer!

The read-a-thon will take place August 4th-August 12th. It will provide some motivation to finish up all the reading you were hoping to get done over the summer. You can read whatever you want and as much or little as you want. If you can only participate during a few days of the read-a-thon that is okay too.

They're going to have challenges and giveaways, so that's a plus! For more information, and to sign up, head on over to either of the hosts blogs, here or here...You only have to visit one. So, will you be participating in this event?? 

Showcase Sunday (#4)

Welcome to Showcase Sunday, hosted by Books, Biscuits and Tea. The aim of this event is to showcase our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed form the libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders this week. For more information about how this feature works and to join in, click here.

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On my Kindle:

  

Under The Never Sky (Under The Never Sky #1) by Veronica Rossi

Havoc (Deviants #2) by Jeff Sampson

Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1) by Tahereh Mafi

The Mind Readers (Mind Readers #1) by Lori Brighton (this last one I got for free on Amazon, so make sure you check it out! I don't know how long it will be free for)

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This next one I won in a giveaway that was held by one of my favorite authors, Tera Lynn Childs...Thank You Tera!!

 

Mermaid: A Twist On The Classic Tale by Carolyn Turgeon (Signed! :D)

I also got all these cool bookmarks from both Tera and Carolyn:

  

Front and back

 This one is also front and back^^^

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 I also got some signed bookmarks and a signed bookplate from Megan Miranda...thanks Megan!

The double sided bookmarks: Fracture signed by Megan Miranda and Slide signed by Jill Hathaway + the signed bookplate for Fracture...all I have to do now is actually get Fracture to put the bookplate in, LOL

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From the library:

Spell Bound (Hex Hall #3) by Rachel Hawkins

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And lastly, from Netgalley I got:

The Goddess Legacy (Goddess Test #2.5) by Aimee Carter