Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays

Here are the rules:
 
1. Grab your current read      
2. Open to a page
3. Pick out 2 lines that are SPOILER FREE
4. Name the title, author, etc

"A fog was descending on my brain. Then everything faded to blackness, and my legs went limp underneath me, despite my demands that they swim on." Kindle loc. 21%*


*Quote comes from ARC, therefore it and its location are not final.

TITLE: Ice Kissed
AUTHOR: Amanda Hocking
PUBLISHER: St. Martin's Press
GENRE: Fantasy YA
RELEASE DATE: May 5, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list  that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

This week's topic is: Ten Books You Recently Added To Your To-Be-Read List

*in no particular order

1. Dreamfire by Kit Alloway--seeing this one around recently, so I already placed an order over the weekend!

2. Earth & Sky by Megan Crewe--was curious about this one and after I read a review I was sold! Just need to get it!

3. Alienated by Melissa Landers--another one I was hesitant about, but then, again, another recent review convinced me I need to get it asap!

4. Shadows by Paula Weston--have seen this series around lately, and suddenly curious to try it out!!

5. A Shade of Blood by Bella Forrest--I read the first in this series so long ago! I really need to get to the rest of this series! It's still going strong too!

6. Dream a Little Dream by Kerstin Gier--I still need to read her Ruby Red trilogy but seeing this one around a bit lately and once again, find myself intrigued with the author and her books!

7. Garden of Dreams and Desires by Kirsten Painter--one that I just added this past week! Need to get to it soon too!

8. Midnight Crossroad by Charlaine Harris--another one that I literally added to the pile last week! It was offered to me for review, so I went for it!

9. Welcome to the Dark House by Laurie Faria Stolarz--yet another one that was legitimately added to the pile! Cannot wait to read this one! Plus her other series I have yet to start!

10. The Glass Arrow by Kristen Simmons--another recent addition to the TBR Mountain of Doom! Read too many good reviews on this, so I kind of went on binge shopping spree the past few weeks!

Review--Frostfire by Amanda Hocking

Bryn Aven is an outcast among the Kanin, the most powerful of the troll tribes.

Set apart by her heritage and her past, Bryn is a tracker who's determined to become a respected part of her world. She has just one goal: become a member of the elite King’s Guard to protect the royal family. She's not going to let anything stand in her way, not even a forbidden romance with her boss Ridley Dresden.

But all her plans for the future are put on hold when Konstantin– a fallen hero she once loved – begins kidnapping changelings. Bryn is sent in to help stop him, but will she lose her heart in the process?

Amanda Hocking returns to the world of Trylle, but this time she ventures to another "kingdom", the Kanin. Frostfire is the first in the new trilogy that continues the world of trolls, shapeshifters, and the like but this story is different. For our heroine, Bryn is already a member of the Kanin, though an outcast, and is used to the world she grew up in.

Bryn is a tracker, but wants to be apart of the most elite guard, which was a name I couldn't spell from memory. She's a bit of an outcast based on her heritage. Her mother is a Skojare and her father is Kanin, and it's left her a halfbreed, and her abilities are not fully Kanin. But she gets by and has her friends, her own set of dreams and way of life.

Her mission in life though has been to find Kostantin and kill him. Four years ago, he attempted to murder her father and Bryn's intervention saved his life, but Kostantin got away. Until he showed up when she was tracking a changeling in order to bring him home. And so the story truly begins. Kostantin is back and is going after the changelings, but why? There's no clear cut reasoning. Besides that, Bryn has a few interactions with him, that makes you wonder...is Kostantin the villain or not?

Joining her in her quest is Ridley, her boss. There's no doubt about the attraction between these two. But Ridley always has some girl on his arm or in his bed. A relationship with him wouldn't be possible, that and the fact that he's her boss and a relationship wouldn't be acceptable. But the tension running between the two of them is thick. I can't say for certain if we're entering a love triangle yet with Kostantin. It'd be unlikely because he's the "enemy", but that niggling little feeling that says there is more going on then there appears to be, makes me wonder about Kostantin and his motives. I can't say I'm Team Kostantin though. There's not enough evidence yet for me to claim a "team" yet. Besides that, we had nothing going on between Ridley and Bryn besides a lot of tension and almost moments.

The story gets more intriguing with the disappearance of the Skojare Queen. Bryn is among the few to investigate and that presents more mysteries and puzzles as well. Just what exactly is going on here? There's too much to say. I'm still a bit confused as well. But I think we're supposed to be at this point. All we know for sure is that something hinky is going on.

I was also pleased to see some familiar Trylle faces. While none were our hero and heroine, there were other familiar faces. Ember, Finn's sister, is also around a lot since this is where she moved to. I initially thought this series would be about her, but it's a new heroine entirely. But I was glad to see Ember is friends with Bryn.

Frostfire was an exciting start to a new series in a familiar world. I wouldn't say you had to read the Trylle trilogy before reading this one, but it helps. There were times I found myself thinking poorly of the Kanins because of how they saw the Trylle. And it just felt wrong, because, obviously, they thought they were better or some such thing. It was little nuisances like that that had me ripped away from complete enjoyment. But otherwise, I did really enjoy this one and cannot wait to see where things go! Luckily, Ice Kissed is up next on my reading queue. I just hope that that ending won't kill me in my wait for the final book.


Overall Rating 4.5/5 stars

ARC Review--Vengeance of the Demon by Diana Rowland

Demon summoner Kara Gillian is on the wrong side of the law, and there's evidence to prove it. Too bad the courts don't accept "fighting demonic forces" as justification for murder and mayhem.

Yet Kara has problems that go way beyond her legal woes. When the enemy demonic lords spur their human accomplices into high gear, master summoner Katashi aggressively pursues their goal to establish a permanent gate between Earth and the demon realm. To hell with the consequences for humanity.

The line between ally and enemy blurs as Kara gathers the remnants of her posse to prevent a devastating demonic incursion, but a shattered trust may cost them the war and put Kara behind bars. With treachery rife, and her loved ones in danger, Kara must call upon the essence of who she truly is in order to rally back from a crushing loss.

And if she can't, the world is going straight to hell.

I received this eARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, I was in no way compensated for this review.


Kara Gillian's story continues in Diana Rowland's Vengeance of the Demon and wow. This series is only 7 books in, and yet soooooo much has happened! Kara has transformed into a completely different person! And again, sooooo much has happened! So much, that I seriously cannot remember it all or remember all the characters. That's probably one of the biggest struggles I had with this book. There was so much name dropping, I couldn't remember who half of them were! And at times, I wasn't sure if they were demon or not, or enemy or not! It was pretty stressful.

Pushing all that aside, it was still a very entertaining and spin gripping story! Although, as I am letting things sink in, I struggle to explain what went on in vague, spoiler-free terms. Some of it I might have missed or recalled wrong, because of all the struggling I did with trying to remember who was who and what was who...and yeah, see that there, I can't even make sense! LOL!

What surprised me the most in this installment was Pellini's role! The cop who was probably one of the biggest asses to Kara while she was on the force, is surprisingly a pretty decent guy! And oohhh how I adored Sammy, his dog! Yeah, my dogs may drive me critically insane, but I still like dogs! Anyway, Pellini ends up having more in common with Kara than we least expected, but not the fullest extent.

Kara works with Pellini, Bryce, Idris and a few others in trying to put the valves around in the city to working order. But Kara is also dealing with a cop hot on her tail wanting to pin her to the disaster of the Farouche incident. Then there's also Jill's baby ready to pop, and Zack suddenly goes AWOL with Ryan, and Kara is still missing on Mzatal as well. So basically, things are chaotic!

Jill's pregnancy is what finally clued me in with the cover art! Took starting the book to remember that detail, but again, I read too much and can't remember everything on call! 

Kara is in quite a pickle in this book! So much damage, and yet, I still find myself with so many questions regarding this series! I adored Ryan and Zack, their demon counterparts included since they are apart of the men. But they were absent in this book and it left me struggling to understand if they are still on Kara's side in the midst of things. I think this is where the character overload gets to me. So many names attached to all these characters, some dual personality like, like Zack and Ryan. Then there are all the demon names and words. There is a glossary in back, but reading as a Kindle ARC, I didn't know until the end and besides that, flipping to reference it every now and then gets tedious.

Overall, the read was good. I liked it, though a lot of things started to get muddied for me. So much has happened since the beginning, I struggle to connect all the dots anymore. I will likely still continue reading the series out of loyalty, because amidst my confusion, there are times I enjoyed things as well.


Overall Rating 3/5 stars


Vengeance of the Demon releases April 7, 2015

It's Monday! What are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. It's a fun meme where we gather to share what we've read last week and our reading plans for this week.

Last Week I Read:

Ascend by Amanda Hocking (4.5 stars)

The Ruby Circle by Richelle Mead (5 stars)

Reviews That Were Posted:

A Ghostly Grave by Tonya Kappes (ARC) (3 stars)

Sisters of Blood and Spirit by Kady Cross (ARC) (5 stars)

Currently Reading:

Frostfire by Amanda Hocking

What I Plan to Read this Week:

Ice Kissed by Amanda Hocking (ARC)

Other Posts of Interest:

Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays

Waiting on Wednesday

Random Thursday

Follow Friday 

MIA

Top 5 Sundays

Stacking the Shelves 

 

Stacking the Shelves

This weekly meme is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Stacking The Shelves is all about the books we are adding to our shelves each week, sharing with you our excitement for our newest titles and maybe have you discover a new book in the process!

Well, it was an awkward week. I didn't get too much, but I did order some books that should be in next week! All good in my book!

First for review from the publisher, I received:

Garden of Dreams and Desires by Kristen Painter (ARC)

THANK YOU Oribt & Netgalley!

Then a trip to Half Priced Books led me to acquire:

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand--UK edition! And of course I find this one a month after the signing I attended! Oh well! :)

Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier--I had this one in ARC format, now I have the pretty hardcover so that it matched my first two! Now to start the trilogy!

Then from B&N I bought:

Alienated by Melissa Landers

Then I also won Lexxie's, from (un)Conventional Bookviews, Birthday Contest and received a $25 gift card to Amazon! And yes! I spent it already on some preorders!!

THANK YOU Lexxie!!

And then a few items I picked up while in Naperville because I couldn't resist:

a bookmark that says: A good book is a wonderful journey

a magnet that says: Keep Calm and Read Books--much different than the Keep Calm and Read On bookmark that I already have! ;)

 

Top 5 Sundays

Top 5 Sundays is a weekly blog meme created by Larissa at Larissa and Friends' Bookish Life.

Every Sunday I will post a TOP 5 list on the blog. It can be about anything and every week I'll have a new theme {You can vote on next week’s theme on my left sidebar!} and I will ad the Mr.Linky bellow the post so you can do a list with the theme and add you link to it.

Rules:
1 - Write a post listing your TOP 5 choices within the theme I chose (or was chosen on a poll) for the week.
2 - Mention this Blog on the post and link back to it.
3 - Feel free to use the Feature's image (there is a smaller size version of it bellow)
4 - After you've finished your post, add you link (of the post, not your blog's main page) to the Mr.Linky at the end of that week's post.
5 – If you don’t have a blog to post, just leave your list in the comments =)

This week's topic is: Favorite Paranormal Romance Authors!

*in no particular order

CHRISTINE WARREN

I'm still trying to make my way through her Others series! And then start her new gargoyle one! I am enjoying her books, particularly the factoid that they were published out of series order. I find that intriguing!

NALINI SINGH

Loooove Nalini's Guild Hunter series! I'm still behind by 1 book but I hope to get caught back up before the next one releases!

ERIN KELLISON

Erin's books are awesome! They have a fantasy twist added to the paranormal one. At least I think so! Though lately she's been writing a novella series. It's still incredibly exciting but more modern/future-ish. So a different blend of things, but still amazing storytelling!

KAREN MARIE MONING

Perhaps her books might be considered more Urban Fantasy, but you know I've always been terrible at defining genres! Definitely LOVE her Fever series and still need to read Burned. Kinda scared because I have been hearing things about the new direction she's taking the books.

KRISTEN CALLIHAN

Loooove Kristen's books!! They're definitely paranormal romance, but throw in a mix of historical fiction too since the setting tends to be in 1800s or so! But they're incredible reads! And I think they are almost done! 1 book left if what I heard is right. :(

MIA

Going to be MIA today! Attending the Richelle Mead signing up in Naperville! She didn't come to RT last year, and I can't go this year (SOB!!!), so I'm going up to Naperville instead!! I'll be back late tonight, but I'll be MIA for the day!

If anyone else plans to attend tweet me (@aGREATreader) and let me know! I'll look for you at the signing! 

Follow Friday

This is a weekly blog meme hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read.

Here are the general rules to Follow Friday:

1. Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts and any one else you want to follow on the list  

2. Follow our Featured Bloggers
3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can
6. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
7. If you want to show the link list, just follow the link below the entries and copy and paste it within your post!
8. If your new to the follow Friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

This week's question is: Have you ever been to BEA? If not, what's stopping you? If you have, what was your best experience there? - Suggested by The Paperback Princess

MY ANSWER: Oh I wish I have been!!! But sadly no. What's stopped me in the past was that it's in NY. I don't think I could handle NY on my own. I've tried getting a friend or someone to come with me, but no one ever commits. :(

Of course this year I can't do much of anything because I have no job. But I am hoping to go in 2016, possibly, because it's in Chicago!! I can totally handle Chicago on my own! Though of course I won't turn away a travel buddy!

So if things start to turn around this year--and it's sure taking a hella long time to do so--I might be going to BEA next year! Of course it will also depend on what kind of vacation time I have, because my family is also planning a Florida trip next year! So yeah, lots of "it depends on..." kind of situations for next year, but I am hoping to make it happen!

 

Random Thursday

So moving right along with the Disney factoids, the next movie I have info on is another favorite of mine, Aladdin!

• Whenever Aladdin lies, you'll notice the feather on his turban falls in his face--I remember this especially after the Whole New World number!
• Patrick Stewart was originally offered the rile of Jafar, but had to turn it down because he was filming Star Trek: The Next Generation--that would've been weird...but I bet he would've made a great Jafar!
• Aladdin originally had a mother who was going to appear in the film, but her character was deleted to streamline the story. There was even a song called "Proud of Your Boy" sung by Aladdin about his mother--guess Disney characters are just meant to be motherless.
• Aladdin was modeled after Tom Cruise, but was originally supposed to be modeled after Michael J. Fox--I remembered the Tom Cruise bit, but not the Michael part!

Review--The Ruby Circle by Richelle Mead

The epic conclusion to Richelle Mead's New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series is finally here...

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

After their secret romance is exposed, Sydney and Adrian find themselves facing the wrath of both the Alchemists and the Moroi in this electrifying conclusion to Richelle Mead’s New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series. When the life of someone they both love is put on the line, Sydney risks everything to hunt down a deadly former nemesis. Meanwhile, Adrian becomes enmeshed in a puzzle that could hold the key to a shocking secret about spirit magic, a secret that could shake the entire Moroi world.

I just finished reading Richelle Mead's conclusion to her epic Bloodlines Series, The Ruby Circle, and I legit had a smile on my face and said, "that was perfect!" And it was!! This was an incredibly amazing read and I absolutely loved its conclusion!! I am sad to say goodbye to this world yet again, but there's still plenty of characters we can get to know, so maybe Richelle isn't completely done with things! Only time will tell...

Things are still pretty tense for Sydney and Adrian. Jill is still missing and they are still hold up in Court staying with Adrian's mother, as the Alchemists are still out to drag Sydney back to be re-educated. But then something happens, Sydney gets a note that leads to a possible clue as to Jill's whereabouts and then she and Eddie are off to follow the clues while Adrian remains behind to keep up appearances. 

Meanwhile, Adrian is approached by Nina who needs his help in getting to talk to her sister Olive, who is also missing. Nina is slowly getting crazy with her spirit abilities and Adrian wants to help her anyway because he feels bad for their situation. And when they get in contact with Olive, Adrian realizes the reason why she ran.

Things are INTENSE in this one!! I didn't truly guess the enemy who was luring Sydney on a wild goose chase, though it was someone from her past. There's been too much time between reading the books and you know how details get lost or forgotten, but I was able to slightly recall said character once they were revealed (and yes, that's kind of a crappy sentence calling one person "they" but it's how I roll when it comes to spoilers! ;) ).

It isn't long before Adrian and Sydney are reunited and working together, which was truly awesome! I did not like the time apart they had in The Fiery Heart, nope, not at all. So the togetherness was very endearing! And once again, I just love seeing Rose and Dimitri again! I still gush over Sydney and Adrian of course, but just seeing familiar faces, and even Lissa and Christian again, always brings a smile to my face! I love seeing our well loved characters again in this spinoff, but yet, still getting a new set of characters to love and gush over!

This was quite the heart-pounding read! There's so much danger for both Sydney and Adrian. The Alchemists are after Sydney and leaving Court was a risky move, and then there's Adrian who is still trying to deal with his own spirit abilities. Plus, he still hears the voice of his dead aunt. Things are just intense! Then the clock starts ticking on when they have to find Jill or lose her forever and that's when the game gets rolling!

Richelle Mead is pure gold! She is the author who brought me back to YA books. I remember my friends online at an old discussion group told me I HAD to read Vampire Academy. This was probably a year or two after it published because I binged the first three books and had that ungodly wait for Blood Promise, and I totally fell in love with the world and characters! This was the kind o f read I NEEDED as a teenager! I just didn't get it until I was like 18 or 19, still a teen I guess, but on the verge on 20. Richelle's books will always hold a special place in my heart and I am pretty much addicted to her work now!

The Ruby Circle brings a nice conclusion to the Bloodlines series. There were some unexpected surprises and some you could happily see coming while reading. I really love how things ended. There's just a nice sense of resolution. Sure, I found myself wondering about one or two things...but it's one of those things where you kind of know what will happen, there's just no confirmation. I can live without that confirmation in this sense! 

If you have yet to enter the world of Vampire Academy, I highly recommend it! It's kind of important to read that series before Bloodlines, not just for spoiler purposes, but it's nice to see how far both Sydney and Adrian have come! After meeting them in the Vampire Academy series, I would have never thought I'd see them where they are now at the end of their series and I am in awe of their growth. They have become such wonderful and re-memorable characters to me, it's seriously like making new friends every time I read these books! There are no words really. Just read both series and prepare for the reads of a lifetime!


Overall Rating 5/5 stars