About Me

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Scotland, United Kingdom
Hi! My name is Kendall, I'm 28, a Media Graduate and I'm from Scotland. I'm a Reader, Reviewer, and Blogger.

Friday 31 August 2012

Song of the Day!

Every day I will be posting a song which has been my favourite all day or has been in my head all day and sometimes I may post a song along with a book review. I hope you enjoy the songs and enjoy listening to them.

Today's song is ♪ The Script - Man Who Can't Be Moved ♪



Review: Rhythm In Blue by tfc Parks!

Publication date: 24th March 2011
Paperback edition: -
Source: Kindle
Rating: 3 and a half stars
Synopsis: After running away from an abusive, alcoholic father at the age of fifteen, Rick Rowland has overcome his past and made a name for himself as the bassist for the popular 70’s rock band, Smoke n’ Mirrors. With his choice of beautiful women, and a party-all-the-time lifestyle, Rick knows he’s got it made. Then he meets someone who makes him question who he really is, and makes him wonder if he ran far enough away from his past. - goodreads.com

Please be aware that this is an adult book!

I wasn't really sure if I was going to like this book as it was told from a male point of view but I was asked by the author if I could write a review for her and I said yes! I thought that the book went at a good pace most of the time and it was the first time that I had ever read something like it! I have to say though that sometimes Rhythm In Blue sometimes went a bit slow and I felt myself losing interest but then something would happen that would draw me right back in! The main character is Rick Rowland and I have to say that I did like Rick and I thought that he was a good main character. I really liked Shelby who is the romantic interest of Rick and I thought that underneath the cracks she was a really nice person. Rick is in a band called Smokes n' Mirrors and he goes with his band, Devon, Randy and Keith to his sister, Erin's wedding in Greece which is where he meets Shelby who is only 15 while Rick is 28. I honestly though that the age difference was surprising and that Shelby acted a lot older than 15. Rick leaves Greece and Shelby with his band and he gets in a car crash which he has to recover from. It was sad to see this happen to Rick but he recovered brilliantly with the help of his friends. Drugs also play a big part in this book as Rick takes them and he has an overdose. Rick's band and Julia take him to a treatment center to get him help for his drug addiction which I thought was absolutely necessary as he was going to end up killing himself. Rick starts other relationships with other women to try and forget Shelby but it doesn't work. The ending of this book was sad but so good! Big thank you to tfc Parks for a copy of her book!

Thursday 30 August 2012

Song of the Day!

Every day I will be posting a song which has been my favourite all day or has been in my head all day and sometimes I may post a song along with a book review. I hope you enjoy the songs and enjoy listening to them.

Today's song is ♪ David Archuleta - Crush ♪



Review: Dante's Girl [The Paradise Diaries 01] by Courtney Cole!

Publication date: 24th June 2012
Paperback edition: 356 pages
Source: Kindle
Rating: 4 stars
Synopsis: I have spent every summer since I was ten years old with my father in London. Every summer, since I was ten years old, has been uneventful and boring.
Until this year.

And this year, after a freak volcanic eruption strands me far from home, I have learned these things:

1. I can make do with one outfit for three days before I buy new clothes.
2. If I hear the phrase, “You’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto,” even one more time, I might become a homicidal maniac.
3. I am horribly and embarrassingly allergic to jellyfish.
4. I am in love with Dante Giliberti, who just happens to be the beautiful, sophisticated son of the Prime Minister of a Mediterranean paradise.
5. See number four above. Because it brings with it a whole slew of problems and I’ve learned something from every one of them.

Let’s start with the fact that Dante’s world is five light-years away from mine. He goes to black-tie functions and knows the Prime Minister of England on a first name basis. I was born and raised on a farm in Kansas and wear cut-off jeans paired with cowboy boots. See the difference?

But hearts don’t care about differences. Hearts want what they want. And mine just wants to be Dante’s girl.

My heart just might be crazy. - goodreads.com

Favourite quote: “Life is full of kinks. And the great thing about kinks? They eventually work themselves out.” 

This book wasn't really what I was expecting but I still enjoyed it! I loved the beginning and I loved the character developments. I was not expecting how Reece and Dante were going to meet and go to Dante's county, Caberra but I loved it as it was unexpected! Reece is the main character in Dante's Girl and I really liked her as she was funny and realistic! It was great to see Reece get along with the people from Caberra as she seemed like a genuine person. I felt really sorry for her when she kept thinking that she wasn't good enough for Dante as another girl, Elena who Dante has known since they were children was trying to go out with Dante. Dante is of course the love interest of Reece and of course Dante is hot but he is also the Prime Minister of Caberra's son! I really liked the secondery characters in this book as they brought so much to the story! Nate was so nasty when he hurt Reece but it showed the reader how much Dante loved Reece at this point as he stood up for her and tried to fight Nate and then Vincent was so sneaky and just downright mean for what he did to Dante! Dante and Reece grow so much as characters through this book and I loved their transformations and their romance! There were so many tense scenes in this book and they literally had me on the edge of my seat! The suspenceful scene at the end had me nearly crying and Dante and Reece's relationship actually nearly had me in tears and at the end all I could do was smile! The cover for this book represents so much about what happens in the book! Big thank you to Lakehouse Press and Netgalley for the copy of Dante's Girl!

Wednesday 29 August 2012

Waiting on The Secret of Ella and Micha by Jessica Sorensen!



Every Wednesday I will post a book which I cannot wait to be released and it is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

The Secret of Ella and Micha
By Jessica Sorensen
Paperback edition: -
To be released: October 2012
Synopsis: Ella and Micha have been best friends since they were kids. But one tragic night shatters their friendship and their lives forever.

Ella used to be a rule-breaker with fiery attitude who wore her heart on her sleeve. But she left everything behind when she went to college and transformed into someone that follows the rules, keeps everything together, and hides all her problems. But now its summer break and she has nowhere else to go but home.

Ella fears everything she worked so hard to bury might resurface, especially with Micha living right next door. If Micha tries to tempt the old her back, she knows that it will be hard to resist.

Micha is sexy, smart, confident, and can get under Ella’s skin like no one else can. He knows everything about her, including her darkest secrets. And he’s determined to bring his best friend, and the girl he loves back, no matter what it takes.
- goodreads.com



Interview with Jessica Sorensen!

Hey guys! I am a major Jessica Sorensen fan so when she agreed to do an interview I was ecstatic! I have spoke to Jessica on numerous occasions and she is so nice!
 
Congratulations on The Fallen Star Series being made into a Web Series!! You must be really excited! What I really want to know is, are you going to be taking a big role in the process of helping your books be made into a Web Series?

Absolutely. I’ll be helping with the screenplays, casting, and I’ll be there for some of the filming.

Are you surprised by how well The Fallen Star Series, Darkness Falls Series and The Lost Souls Series have taken off?

When I decided to go Indie, I made sure to go into it not expecting a lot. That way if I sold just a few books, I’d be happy. So I was surprised when The Fallen Star surpassed a few sales.

What book are you currently writing? and could you maybe tell us a bit about that book?

The current book I’m working on is The Secret of Ella and Micha, set to release at the end of September. It is a Mature Young Adult/ New Adult Contemporary book about Ella, a girl who ran away from her tragic past and her best friend Micha, who’s secretly in love with her and wants her back in his life. So when Ella returns home from college for the summer, Micha does everything he can to win her over and convince her to be the girl he used to know.

Here’s the description:

Ella and Micha have been best friends since they were kids. But one tragic night shatters their friendship and their lives forever.

Ella used to be a rule-breaker with fiery attitude who wore her heart on her sleeve. But she left everything behind when she went to college and transformed into someone that follows the rules, keeps everything together, and hides all her problems. But now it’s summer break and she has nowhere else to go but home.

Ella fears everything she worked so hard to bury might resurface, especially with Micha living right next door. If Micha tries to tempt the old her back, she knows that it will be hard to resist.

Micha is sexy, smart, confident, and can get under Ella’s skin like no one else can. He knows everything about her, including her darkest secrets. And he’s determined to bring his best friend, and the girl he loves back, no matter what it takes.
What would you say is your favorite thing about being an author?

There are quite a few things, but one of my favorites is creating worlds and characters exactly how I want them.

Which has been your favorite series to write?

Series wise Ember is my favorite so far. I know the book isn’t out yet, but I enjoyed writing it more than my others series. There is just something about Ember and her story that I’m drawn to.

Who designed the covers?

All my current covers were designed by Regina at http://www.maeidesign.com/. And she does really amazing work.

Are you characters normally based on anyone in your life? past experiences?

I think each character holds a little piece of someone I know, and a small part of my past. Some of the sarcasm and humor in the Fallen Star Series is based on the attitudes of a few of my family members.

Why/How did you chose to write paranormal books?

I chose the genre because when I began writing novels, this was the genre I mostly read. I also find it fun to create crazy stories full of characters with powers I secretly wish I had.

Do you ever experience writers block?
 
Yes and when I run into it, I usually take a break or keep typing until I get out something that’s useful.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Keeping track of everything in the storyline is a bit of a challenge. There are times when I confuse myself and have to double check on something in a previous book, because I can’t remember what I wrote and if it lines up.

 Is there any particular author/book that helped influence you into being an author?

Almost every book I’ve read has in some way or another influenced me to be a writer. And reading other books helps my writing skills grow.

When did you start writing books?

I wrote my first novella when I was in middle school. I wrote most of it during math class, when the teacher was explaining things, which is probably why I’m not great at math.

But I started writing my first book, The Fallen Star, about three years ago.

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

Most criticism is tough to take, but I try to learn from it and improve my writing based on the remarks. I’m not sure what the best compliment has been, but it’s always nice just to hear someone say they enjoyed reading one of my books.

Is there any book or book series you have read lately you'd recommend?

The last book I read was That Boy by Jillian Dodd and yes, I would recommend it. It has just the right amount of romance and the main character has a wicked sense of humor.

While you were writing, did you ever feel as if you were one of the characters?

All the time. I have to get into the mindset of the main character and look at things how they see and feel them. It’s almost like being in the story.

Are you gonna be at UtopYA 2013? (lol please say yes haha)

I’m not sure yet. Sorry :(

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers/authors?

My biggest advice would be to never give up, no matter how hard or discouraging it may get.
Is there anything you'd like to say to your readers and fans?

That you’re awesome and I appreciate all the support.

Quick Fire Round!
 
Favourite Food: Chicken Teriyaki sandwich
Favourite Country: The only country I’ve been to is The United States and it’s pretty great.
Favourite Color: Purple
Favourite Animal: A horse (I’m a bit of a cowgirl at heart)
Favourite Book: Ah! There are too many. Some of my favorite Authors are Cassandra Clare, Sarah Dessen, Becca Fitzpatrick, Abbi Glines, Tammara Webber, Jamie McGuire and Jennifer L. Armentrout.
Favourite Pop: Diet Dr. Pepper
Favourite Restaurant: Red Robin

Author bio:
Jessica Sorensen lives with her husband and three kids in the snowy mountains of Wyoming, where she spends most of her time reading, writing, and hanging out with her family.

Add Jessica on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jessFallenStar

Tuesday 28 August 2012

Song of the Day!

Every day I will be posting a song which has been my favourite all day or has been in my head all day and sometimes I may post a song along with a book review. I hope you enjoy the songs and enjoy listening to them.

Today's song is ♪ Cover Drive - Sparks ♪

Review: The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare!

I thought to save me time that I would do all of The Mortal Instruments Series together in the one post!

Publication date: City of Bones: 27th March 2007
                             City of Ashes: 25th March 2008
                             City of Glass: 24th March 2009
                             City of Fallen Angels: 5th April 2011
                             City of Lost Souls: 8th May 2012
Paperback editions: City of Bones: 485 pages
                                   City of Ashes: 453 pages
                                   City of Glass: 541 pages
                                   City of Fallen Angels: 424 pages
                                   City of Lost Souls: 534 pages
Source: Paperback
Rating: 5 stars
Synopsis: City of Bones: When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .  - goodreads.com

                  City of AshesClary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father? - goodreads.com
                  

                City of Glass: To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters - never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.

As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City - whatever the cost? - goodreads.com
                 

City of Fallen Angels:The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And - most importantly of all - she can finally call Jace her boyfriend.
But nothing comes without a price.
Someone is murdering Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine's Circle, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second bloody war. Clary's best friend, Simon, can't help her. His mother just found out that he's a vampire and now he's homeless. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side - along with the power of the curse that's wrecking his life. And they're willing to do anything to get what they want. At the same time he's dating two beautiful, dangerous girls - neither of whom knows about the other one.
When Jace begins to pull away from Clary without explaining why, she is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: She herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace. - goodreads.com                                        
                City of Lost Souls: The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from his captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

No magic the Clave can summon can locate either boy, but Jace cannot stay away—not from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s dying magic has wrought—Jace is no longer the boy she loved. He and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become what he most feared: a true servant of Valentine’s evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. Will the Shadowhunters hesitate to kill one of their own?

Only a small band of Clary and Jace’s friends and family believe that Jace can still be saved — and that the fate of the Shadowhunters’ future may hinge on that salvation. They must defy the Clave and strike out on their own. Alec, Magnus, Simon and Isabelle must work together to save Jace: bargaining with the sinister Faerie Queen, contemplating deals with demons, and turning at last to the Iron Sisters, the reclusive and merciless weapons makers for the Shadowhunters, who tell them that no weapon on this earth can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. Their only chance of cutting Jace free is to challenge Heaven and Hell — a risk that could claim any, or all, of their lives.

And they must do it without Clary. For Clary has gone into the heart of darkness, to play a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing the game is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she even still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love? - goodreads.com

I remember when I first read these books and I fell in love with the Shadowhunter world as many other people did! I loved these books from the very first page and I loved the characters even more. They grew so much through each book and I seriously enjoyed taking their journeys with them! The main protagonist for the first three books is Clary Fray and then we delve into the minds of Jace Lightwood, Simon Lewis, Isabelle Lightwood and Alec Lightwood in the last two books. I really liked Clary and I thought that she was such a strong heroine and throughout these books she has so much to deal with but she still managed to stay herself. Jace is seriously hot and he was very protective of Clary from the moment he met her which was sweet. I felt so sorry for Simon during the first book and he also became such a strong person as these books progressed. I wasn't too sure on Izzy to start with and then I just fell in love with her as she was just so straight talking and honest. Alec was sort of a hard character for me to like when he is introduced in City of Bones but as I continued to read these books I started to really like him. Magnus Bane is one of the most amazing characters I have ever read and who's name needs to be in bold as he was just so out there and I love characters like that. Alec and Magnus were my favourite couple in this series and they were so funny with each other. Hodge, Valentine and Sebastian were the evil people in this series and I actually seemed to hate Sebastian the most out of the three as he was manipulative and really possessive. There were so many twists and turns in these books that it made my head spin but they were amazing! The books gradually get longer as you progress through the five but they are definitely worth the read! I have to say that my favourite book so far has been City of Fallen Angels as I loved the progress of Clary and Jace's relationship and also the ending and my least favourite book was City of Lost Souls due to the lack of interaction between all of the characters but I did love the ending! Cassandra Clare must put SO much research into these books and she obvisoulsy spends so much time on them! I can't wait until City of Heavenly Fire as it is the final installment of The Mortal Instruments series!


Monday 27 August 2012

Song of the Day!

Every day I will be posting a song which has been my favourite all day or has been in my head all day and sometimes I may post a song along with a book review. I hope you enjoy the songs and enjoy listening to them.

Today's song is ♪ Flo Rida ft. David Guetta Club Can't Handle Me ♪

Song of the Day!

Every day I will be posting a song which has been my favourite all day or has been in my head all day and sometimes I may post a song along with a book review. I hope you enjoy the songs and enjoy listening to them.

Today's song is ♪ Taylor Swift - Eyes Open ♪

Book Crazy Facebook Page!

Hey guys! So tonight I did something that I never thought I would do! I made a Facebook page for Book Crazy! I would like to thank every single person who has liked my Facebook page! I got 50 likes in 4 hours! That is amazing! I was not expecting so much support from people and I appreciate it sooooooooo much! I also have two blog tours lined up and I am very excited to be taking part in my first blog tour! On Book Crazy's Facebook page I will be posting Kindle and Nook books, author interviews and I will also be having a go at giveaways! I would really appreciate it if you guys would give Book Crazy's Facebook page a like!

You can give Book Crazy's Facebook page a like here: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Book-Crazy/464076600289542

Review: Crash [Crash 01] by Nicole Williams!

Publication date: July 2012
Paperback edition: -
Source: Kindle
Rating: 5 stars
Synopysis:
Synopysis: Southpointe High is the last place Lucy wanted to wind up her senior year of school. Right up until she stumbles into Jude Ryder, a guy whose name has become its own verb, and synonymous with trouble. He's got a rap sheet that runs longer than a senior thesis, has had his name sighed, shouted, and cursed by more women than Lucy dares to ask, and lives at the local boys home where disturbed seems to be the status quo for the residents. Lucy had a stable at best, quirky at worst, upbringing. She lives for wearing the satin down on her ballet shoes, has her sights set on Juilliard, and has been careful to keep trouble out of her life. Up until now.

Jude's everything she needs to stay away from if she wants to separate her past from her future. Staying away, she's about to find out, is the only thing she's incapable of.

For Lucy Larson and Jude Ryder, love's about to become the thing that tears them apart. - goodreads.com

Favourite quote: "Just you, Luce. No one else. There never has been."

Information about this book was very scarce but I seriously loved it! I seem to be really into contemporary books right now and Crash was such an amazing contemporary book. This book really needs more recognition! Lucy Larsen is the main protagonist of his book and I liked her and I felt sorry for her for the way her mother speaks to her. Jude Ryder was immensely hot! He was also so protective of Lucy and I thought that he was a great character. Crash jumps right into Lucy and Jude's story and I personally thought that their relationship was to quick. Vince was such a horrible person and I actually couldn't believe some of the things that he did to Lucy and Jude. Jude has been through a lot as he has been to jail 11 or 12 times, he has anger issues, his mother left him and his father is in jail and he also stays at a boys' home. Luce also has a tough life as her brother died and her mother treats her horribly. I really loved Luce and Jude's relationship throughout this book but sometimes I thought that Jude was a little too protective. Sawyer Diamond creates a love triangle in this book and he tries to start a relationship with Luce after Jude goes on the run after stealing a car. I loved how Luce tried to stay away from Jude but I was so happy when Luce and Jude rekindled their relationship! Sometimes Luce made some wrong decisions but she realised when she had made a bad decision and sometimes I felt that she was a bit nasty to Taylor. I also liked that Luce was a ballet dancer and she dream was to get into Julliard. Holly was a mystery and Luce thinks that Jude is cheating on her with Holly but it turns out that Holly has been Jude's best friend since 1st grade. The ending to this book was really well written and the attempted rape scene was suspenseful! The twist was also so unexpected! I cannot wait until the next book, Clash to see where Luce and Jude's relationship goes! I also love the cover! I would recommend this book to people who enjoyed Easy by Tammara Webber or people who enjoyed Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire!



Sunday 26 August 2012

Song of the Day!

Every day I will be posting a song which has been my favourite all day or has been in my head all day and sometimes I may post a song along with a book review. I hope you enjoy the songs and enjoy listening to them.

Today's song is ♪ Plain White T's - Rhythm of Love ♪

Saturday 25 August 2012

Song of the Day!

Every day I will be posting a song which has been my favourite all day or has been in my head all day and sometimes I may post a song along with a book review. I hope you enjoy the songs and enjoy listening to them.

Today's song is ♪ Imagine Dragons - It's Time ♪


Swag Haul!

Last week I actually got so much swag from authors and friends that I wanted to make a post showing you guys pictures of what I got and from who! This is the first time that I have actually recieved swag from authors so I was very excited. This swag is NOT for giveaways as I don't get any swag from authors to do giveaways! Sorry guys! But I do have giveaways going on at Book Dream Land every weekend! You can enter here: http://www.facebook.com/BookDreamLand#!/BookDreamLand/app_228910107186452

First up I received my goodies which I won from Jessica Sorensen! (I will be receiving more soon!)


 
Then I got my signed cover proof of Spark from Brigid Kemmerer! She even threw in a couple of bookmarks as well!
 

 
And lastly I received a lot of signed goodies which a friend sent over to me from America!
 

 
I would like to say a massive, huge, colossal thank you to Jessica Sorensen, Brigid Kemmerer and Katy Austin for sending me these goodies!

Friday 24 August 2012

Song of the Day!

Every day I will be posting a song which has been my favourite all day or has been in my head all day and sometimes I may post a song along with a book review. I hope you enjoy the songs and enjoy listening to them.

Today's song is ♪ Boyce Avenue - Dare to Believe ♪


 

Review: Ember [Death Collectors 01] by Jessica Sorensen!

Publication date: 31st August (ARC provided by the author)
Paperback edition: -
Source: Kindle
Rating: 5 stars
Synopysis: What if you knew when someone was going to die?

For seventeen-year-old Ember, life is death. With a simple touch, she knows when someone will die. It’s her curse and the reason she secludes herself from the world. The only person who knows her secret is her best friend Raven.

Then she meets Asher Morgan. He’s gorgeous, mysterious, and is the only person Ember can't sense death from. So when he pushes into her life, she doesn’t mind.


But when unexplained deaths start to haunt her town, Ember starts questioning why she can’t sense Asher's death and what he may be hiding. - goodreads.com

Favourite quote: "Death is pain. And death exists everywhere. Besides nothing is perfect..."

*SPOILERS READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!*

I actually asked Jessica if I could get an ARC of Ember and I was ecstatic when she said yes! I love any book by Jessica Sorensen and this book is another one that I love! This book is so dark compared to Jessica's other series' and it pretty much shows that Jessica can write anything! Ember Rose Edward is the main character in this book and I really liked her sometimes and also how she could sense peoples deaths. I have to say though that I didn't really like Ember when she agreed to go out on a date with Cameron and then she was kissing Asher! Yes people there is a love triangle in this book! Asher Morgan and Cameron Logan are the love interests of Ember and I am personally Team Asher as I don't think that Ember really likes Cameron as much as he likes her. But they are both hotties! Embers mother was really cruel to her when she hadn't taken her pills and I thought that she was downright mean to Ember! I liked Ember's brother, Ian though as he was always there for her and they got along really well. Raven is Embers best friend and I liked her to start with and then she turned quite nasty towards Ember and I had a strong dislike to her but then I felt sorry for her at the end of the book. I really liked the idea of plot and it held my attention all the way through the book. In this book there is a group called the Anamotti and they want to kill angels as they believe that they exist and I liked how we found out so much more about them as this book progressed. I also really enjoyed the whole story of the Grim Reapers and the Grim Angels and I found it interesting as I didn't know that much about them before reading this book. The ending of this book was a HUGE twist that was seriously unexpected and it had me on the edge of my seat. I also nearly cried! Jessica is my favourite author for cliffhangers as Embers does not disappoint! I cannot wait to read the next book in this series! The cover is also beautiful and Ember is a must read for all Jessica Sorensen fans! Huge thank you to Jessica for the ARC!

Interview with Tara Brown!

Hey guys! so a friend of mines recently interviewed Tara Brown! And even though I haven't read Tara's book they are now on my 'to read' list! There is also a giveaway to win THREE e-books Cursed, Bane and Hyde by Tara Brown on Book Dream Land's facebook page! You can enter here: http://www.facebook.com/BookDreamLand#!/BookDreamLand/app_228910107186452

Is there anything you'd love to tell us about yourself?

-I am relatively dull in the real world. I'd love to have some excitement to brag about, but really I have kids, coach soccer and write. Once in a blue moon I emerge from my writing coma and say hello to the world around me but then it's back I go. I'm mid thirties so I think I know far more than I do, but am humbled enough by my twenties to realize I'm still a child. Mid thirties is confusing. I have two daughters and one husband. Okay but Shhh, I am secretly married to Aleks in my mind and Marcus on special occasions. Oh and I come from a long line of psychics. Not sure how that's relevant. Probably should have ended that sentence with a BAM.

For the readers out there that haven't read your series could you tell us a quick bit about it? 


-The Devil's Roses starts out about a girl who has suffered a great loss and can't move past it. She goes to a party and dies. While in the spirit world she sees a man who changes her life as he brings her back from the dead. She winds up in her first love triangle as death closes its icy grip around her. On her second round with death she is saved by The Devil's Roses and becomes a death dealer for them. The Devil's Roses themselves are a group of supernatural beings run by Lucifer. They keep humanity safe from the Dark Ones, supernaturals who see humans as sheep and blood bags. Basically everything you think you know about Dracula, Dr. Jekyll, Werewolves and Satan is questioned. I believe I have left no stone unturned, Witch has a lot to do with the first steps man took on the planet. Adam, Lillith and Eve have a small part this time around. The stories focus on the lives of a small group within the Devil's Roses and the battles they face while trying to stop the world from being taken over by the Dark Ones. The first book is all Aimee's POV and the rest are divided amongst the other characters.

How did you come up with the idea to write The Devil Rose Series?

- I don't know. I saw Aimee first. She started telling me her story and we went from there. Everything grew from a girl whose sadness had eaten her up. She was drowning in a pool of despair and suddenly she was charmed by Aleks, as we all are, and killing innocent girls in the woods. It was sudden but fun and Aimee is my hero. She's a whiney brat in Witch but her time to shine is going to be in Death.


Is there plans for a 4th book soon? If so when?

- Funny you ask, Witch, book four is out this week. Death, Book five is out this fall!! It will be the last in the series. But not the last we hear from the Devil's Roses. Dum Dum Dum

What has been your favorite thing about the Devil Rose series?

- It has to be the diversity. Book one feels so young and YA and then as Aimee grows and ages the books age with her. The new characters are different and fun. Marcus is hot and evil. Hanna is a beast. Ari is a hot mess. Aimee is still such a nerd at heart. Shane is the ultimate self sacrificing hero. Aleks is so tortured and delish. Lorri is a bitch, there is no other way to say it. Lucas is gruff and rugged, like a wolf man should be. They are all so fun to be with everyday. I will admit I cheat on them. I am pubbing three more series in the next six months.

Do you have a Favorite Quote from the series?

One quote? With only a few words? Uhm no. I'm an Aquarius. We have a favorite for like an hour.

To this day one of my favorite parts of the books is the scene with Blake and Aimee on their way to lunch-

He smacked me in the arm frowning, “Dude did you see the Facebook posts coming off my mom lately?” I smiled at him calling me dude. I shook my head as he took off on a tangent.
“Clearly people don’t get the whole, it's for connecting or reconnecting with people, it's not twitter. My mom has what she ate for lunch yesterday, she has that she went to her yoga class, she has that she bought a new bra and for her friends to check that store out. WTF dude, like what the hell. I told her that from now on I’m posting everything I do in a day.”
His face was red as he ranted, I loved his rants.
“I told her tomorrow my Facebook is going to read, 'Blake McGinnis had a great shit today, came out with very little pushing. I just want to thank Kellogg’s for upping the fiber count in the cereal.”
I started to laugh again as we walked to the nerd table, where the other nerds raised eyebrows at me laughing.
“I think then about three hours later I will put, 'Blake McGinnis just held his cat Chuck down and sniffed his neck fur.”
I couldn’t even stop myself if I wanted. The laughing started to get quite painful.
His arms flailed about now, “Then I think at around seven I will post,‘Blake McGinnis is questioning his humanity and had a bad thought about his neighbors.’ Then at least my mom will have something to think about. Jesus I get tired of reading this crap.”'

I really love Aleks and his dry sense of humor-

“Vikings don't have faults, they have clubs.”

And of course Alise, because she is a complete idiot-

“Aimee if you don’t try to be normal again, well your nerdy normal anyway, they’re going to lock you away for depression. It's going to be in one of those places where the girls don’t shower and all become lesbians.”

Alright are you Team Aleksander or Shane?!?

Okay you're asking me to pick a fav child...ALEKS!!!! omg did I just say that out loud. I mean...no I dont have a fav

Who is your Favorite Character in the series?

Marcus, I want my hair pulled plus he's funny and naughty and too old to care what anyone thinks or does or says. He's awesome.

Who designed your cover?

Jaycee DeLorenzo at Sweet N Spicy Designs, she is so awesome!!
http://jayceedelorenzo.com/sweetnspicy/

Are you currently writing anything different? can you tell us anything about it?
-
I am writing a series about Anastasia Romanov being a born vampire hunter who was saved during the attacks and held with magic like Snow White in a glass coffin. She wakes freaking out as she is in a casket and there is a dead man on the floor of the cellar where she has rested for nearly one hundred years. When she starts to realize what's happened she discovers she hasn't aged from 17 and has very little memory of before. The first book is going to be really weird but awesome. The Devil's Roses have a large part in this book.

I am also writing a series called The Born Trilogy about a girl who was nine when the world as we knew it ended. She is now 19 and has spent almost everyday alone with her huge timber wolf Leo. She ends up with a young girl at the doorstep of her secret mountain cabin where she has been hiding all along. The girl is in trouble. As she opens the door to the young girl she has one of those bad feelings that if she opens the door everything will change. Fast forward two weeks and she is running through the mountains, trying to save the young girl from the breeder farms. She remembers the feeling at the front door. She should never have ever opened it.

My last series I have started is about a débutante in the 1960's who is taken with a man she meets at a party. She cannot understand the depth of the feelings she has for him after such a short amount of time. He haunts her dreams, both night and day. They start a secret relationship and plan to run away together after discovering her father's plan for her hand in marriage. But her new love has a plan too!! I have a short story entered in a contest which is a snippet of this novel.
http://figment.com/books/408026-A-New-Dawn go read it and let me know what you think.

What would you say is your favorite thing about being an author?

-Fans, they make it the best experience. I actually had a fan write me and tell me they hadn't read in over a decade and they picked up my book and shazzam they're reading all the time. Love it!!! I love fans so much. I write and think OMG I can't wait for them to read this part. Or OMFG they're going to kill me. When a certain someone died in the third book I knew I was going to be on a hit list lol.

When did you start writing?

-First Grade. We had to write in a diary that said, 'what I did this weekend'. Anyway my mom got a few phone calls home. My interpretation of what occurred and what actually occurred were slightly different. Hey I figured she was reading twenty-five, why not make it interesting. You know the other kids were drooling on the page and writing about their cats.

Are your characters normally based on anyone in your life? Past experiences?

-Only the bad people LOL

What has been your toughest criticism given to you as an author? Best compliment?

-Ouuuu. Okay remember in Bane when it starts to get really dark and we discover Lucifer is not only a good guy but also a girl? Well I have a religious lady who gave Cursed a great review and then read Bane and suddenly she hates me. She suddenly wasn't a fan of my writing ever but gave cursed a great review and 4 out 5 stars. She writes a scathing review about how awful I am and even brings in the word Satanic. If you knew me you would laugh. I am wayyyyyy to lazy to be into Satanism. Or any ism for that matter. Anyway then she goes out of her way to post the review at other sites LOL. Not the good review of Cursed, just the hateful mean one of Bane. It was funny. My rating on Amazon for Bane is like a 2 stars. She is one of the 1 star reviews. Go check it out. Its a good one.
Best compliment I can't choose. I get amazing compliments daily and love them all. My head swells with pride, its huge now. Barely fits in my toque. Sorry I'm Canadian, it's a winter hat. I did see one from an anonymous person on Barnes and Noble that said something like 'I live in fear of the day she has a publishing house and an editor because we will be paying a lot more for her books' it was awesome to read that.

Is there any particular author/book that helped influence you into being an author?

-Anne Rice, Stephen King, Dean Koonz and Jane Austen. My favs

Why/how did you chose to write paranormal books?

-I did write a romance novel once, it was good too. My daughter who is 9 now deleted it when she was three. She set the computer back to default and I couldn't find it. Anyway every time I tried to write a romance again I always ended up with witches and ghosts. I was such a noob I didn't even know paranormal was a genre. I just thought they were all romance. It turns out I'm more of an urban author than romance. I guess because of the dark roots of my psychic family and the fact I totally believe Harry Potter is real I ended up in this genre. I believe in magic. Did I answer that question or just ramble?

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in writing?

-Working from home has its moments. As I type this my daughter and husband are fighting about laundry. I am pubbing a book tomorrow and am crazy busy and they're fighting about laundry.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writer/authors?

-Just do it. Oh and edit. Sweet god editing is a heinous job. I still don't have an editor. But edit minion is pretty much the s%$t. It will help you realize where your bad habits are. Mine are adverbs. Hand slap!! Oh and don't try to write the next life changing Pulitzer prize winner. Entertain the masses and you'll succeed.

Is there anything you'd like to say to your fans/readers?


-I love you, wait let me shout it, I LOVE YOU!!!! Please go and Like the books on Amazon and give a review, even if you didn't like certain things LOL. That's how we learn. Plus the more likes you get, the more exposure you get and there is no limit for how far exposure can take you!!! Thank you for the loyalty and the time it takes to read my books. May the drought end because it's flaming hot and humid this summer and it's hard to focus on writing.

Quickfire Round!
Favorite Food: Mexican, real Mexican
Favorite Country: Italy
Favorite Color: Purple
Favorite Animal: Cat and Wolf tie, tie breaker unicorn
Favorite Book: Persuasion by Jane Austen
Favorite Movie: Lord of the Rings Tril or All Harry Potters
Favorite Drink: Red Wine, I may have enough in my blood now to get drunk off my blood
Favorite Restaurant: The Hot House Bistro in Kamloops British Columbia, Canada. Go there at some point in your life. Holy eff it's good. Life changing.

Author bio:

Tara brown is a Canadian Author who writes The Devil's Roses Series. She is known for amazing cooking skills and a run on sentence or two, even while speaking. She was published at an early age in poetry and began to write novels in her early twenties. When her first novel, a romantic comedy, was deleted by her three year old she decided to branch out into paranormal romance. She writes daily, always enjoying a beagle named Buster Brown and a pug name Rosie at her feet.





Add Tara on Twitter: @TaraBrown22
Check out Tara's Facebook:
http://m.facebook.com/DevilsRosesSeries
Check out Tara's Blog: http://tarabrown22.blogspot.ca
Add Tara on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5768382.Tara_Brown
Buy Tara's books on Smashwords -- http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/TaraBrown
Buy Tara's books on Amazon -- http://www.amazon.com/Tara-Brown/e/B007RS9V30/
Buy Tara's books on Nook -- http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/tara-brown
Buy Tara's on Kobo -- http://www.kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=Tara+Brown

Thanks so much!!!

Tara

Thursday 23 August 2012

Song of the Day!

Every day I will be posting a song which has been my favourite all day or has been in my head all day and sometimes I may post a song along with a book review. I hope you enjoy the songs and enjoy listening to them.

Today's song is ♪ Leona Lewis - I Got You ♪

Michelle Madow Cover Reveal!

Hey guys! Have you guys seen the cover for Michelle Madow's new book, Timeless which is the final instalment in the Transcend Series! Well you do not have to look much further that down the page! I love everything about it and I cannot wait till I have a copy of this beautiful cover in my hands! Check out Michelle's website for more information on the Transcend Series: http://www.michellemadow.com/ and you can also check out her giveaway going on here: http://blog.michellemadow.com/2012/08/timeless-cover-reveal-and-giveaway.html

Wednesday 22 August 2012

Song of the Day!

Every day I will be posting a song which has been my favourite all day or has been in my head all day and sometimes I may post a song along with a book review. I hope you enjoy the songs and enjoy listening to them.

Today's song is ♪ Daughtry - Rescue Me ♪

Waiting on Defiance [Defiance 01] by C.J. Redwine!



Every Wednesday I will post a book which I cannot wait to be released and it is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Defiance
By C.J. Redwine
Paperback edition: 416 pages
To be released: 28th August 2012
Synopsis: Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making. - goodreads.com



Tuesday 21 August 2012

Song of the Day!

Every day I will be posting a song which has been my favourite all day or has been in my head all day and sometimes I may post a song along with a book review. I hope you enjoy the songs and enjoy listening to them.

Today's song is ♪ Augustana - Sweet and Low ♪

Review: The Morganville Vampires Series by Rachel Caine

I thought to save me time so that I can do other book reviews that I would do all of The Morganville Vampires Series at once in the same post as there are 12 books out right now.

The Morganville Vampires books in order are Glass Houses, The Dead Girls' Dance, Midnight Alley, Feast of Fools, Lord of Misrule, Carpe Corpus, Fade Out, Kiss of Death, Ghost Town, Bite Club, Last Breath and Black Dawn.

The release dates start from the 3rd of October 2006 to the 1st of May 2012

The Morganville Vampire books follow the life of Claire Danvers and her friends as they defend their town against evil vampires, draugs and the occasional human! Claire is the main protagonist until the eleventh book where the points of views change between Claire, Shane, Michael, Eve and Amelie! Shane is Claire's boyfriend and they are such an amazing couple as are Michael and Eve! Eve is Claire's best friend and she is such an honest and funny person! Myrnin is the strangest character I have ever read and I adored him! I also have a sneaky suspicion that he has a thing for Claire! I love these books as they are so original and have such a nice twist on vampires! In every book you see all of the characters grow stronger and even more determined to protect their town! I was lucky to actually meet Rachel Caine and I posted about my experience meeting her on my blog! These books are well worth the read and they keep you wanting more! I recommend them to anyone who likes a book that you can read and really connect with the characters and actually enjoy seeing their changes as the books progress! I actually do not have a favourite book of this Series as they are all so different but yet they connect together so well and they are all tell a different story! I think that the characters work really well together and I love all of these books! Seriously people read these books!!

Monday 20 August 2012

Song of the Day!

Every day I will be posting a song which has been my favourite all day or has been in my head all day and sometimes I may post a song along with a book review. I hope you enjoy the songs and enjoy listening to them.

Today's song is ♪ Pixie Lott - Gravity ♪


Review: Darkness Before Dawn [Darkness Before Dawn 01] by J.A. London!

Publication date: 29th May 2012
Paperback edition: 342 pages
Source: Kindle
Rating: 5 stars
Synopsis: Only sunlight can save us.

We built the wall to keep them out, to keep us safe. But it also makes us prisoners, trapped in what's left of our ravaged city, fearing nightfall.

After the death of my parents, it's up to me--as the newest delegate for humanity--to bargain with our vampire overlord. I thought I was ready. I thought I knew everything there was to know about the monsters. Then again, nothing could have prepared me for Lord Valentine . . . or his son. Maybe not all vampires are killers. Maybe it's safe to let one in.

Only one thing is certain: Even the wall is not enough. A war is coming and we cannot hide forever. - goodreads.com

Favourite quote: “The movie is all illusion. How people wish things were.” 

I was not expecting to like this book as much as I did! When I heard the word vampire I thought that I wouldn't enjoy it but this is a completely different vampire world! Dawn Montgomery is the main protagonist and she is the delegate to Lord Valentine who is a vampire.There was a thirty year war between humans and vampires and Darkness Before Dawn takes place nine years after the war has ended and humans supply blood to the vampires. Dawn and her friend, Tegan are going to a party and when they are heading home they get attacked by vampires and they get rescued by Victor who Dawn later finds out is Lord Valentine's son. Michael Colt is Dawn's boyfriend and he has been accepted into the Night Watchmen's elite bodyguard training division so he and Dawn don't really have a lot of time to spend together. Dawn was such an amazing person as she was kick-ass and she was so determined to do something good for her city. Michael was possessive and I didn't really like him as he made Dawn go over the wall which keeps the city save and where rogue vampires live. Victor is Dawn's other love interest and I liked him as he really cared about Dawn and he was protective of her.I liked Rachel and I thought that she was good for Dawn as she had lost her parents and her brother, There have been abductions around the city and Dawn has to find out who is doing it by increasing the blood supply to vampires. Dawn and Michael find a vampire killed and it's their job to find the killer.Dawn sets up a blood drive to try and encourage people to give blood for vampires by offering them a ticket to a party if they give blood. Dawn goes back to her family's apartment to remember her family which I thought was very sad but also a great way to honour her family. The ending of this book was just brillant and it was so quickly paced that it held your interest and you didn't want to put the book down! There are so many surprises and twists in this book and I didn't put them all in this review as then this review would be very long but seriously people give this vampire book a chance!