Cover Lust: Renegade by J.A. Souders

Cover Lust is something that I do every week where I feature a book cover that I absolutely love!

Since the age of three, sixteen-year-old Evelyn Winters has been trained to be Daughter of the People in the underwater utopia known as Elysium. Selected from hundreds of children for her ideal genes, all her life she’s thought that everything was perfect; her world. Her people. The Law.

But when Gavin Hunter, a Surface Dweller, accidentally stumbles into their secluded little world, she’s forced to come to a startling realization: everything she knows is a lie.

Her memories have been altered.

Her mind and body aren’t under her own control.

And the person she knows as Mother is a monster.

Together with Gavin she plans her escape, only to learn that her own mind is a ticking time bomb... and Mother has one last secret that will destroy them all.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

 Why did I pick this cover? 

I really like all the cool colors in this cover. For some reason, I have a preference towards cool colors. I love how we see the ocean in the background and the garden in the foreground, along with the rose petals on the floor, dropping from the flower. Overall, it works with the book.

What are your thoughts? Tell me in the comments!

Cover vs. Cover: Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien

This week's pick is...

Birthmarked

VS.  

Hardcover                      Paperback

Never really been a fan of the Hardcover. The girl looks a bit odd, probably because only one random bit of her hair is in color. Then there are those random scribbles in the middle. What are those supposed to be? The paperback is simple and it works well with the book. As the ribbon is very important to the plot.
Final Verdict: Paperback

Do you agree? Give me your thoughts on which cover is the best!

REVIEW: Some Fine Day by Kat Ross

A generation ago, continent-sized storms called hypercanes caused the Earth to flood. The survivors were forced to retreat deep underground and build a new society.

This is the story that sixteen-year-old Jansin Nordqvist has heard all of her life.

Jansin grew up in a civilization far below the Earth’s surface. She’s spent the last eight years in military intelligence training. So when her parents surprise her with a coveted yet treacherous trip above ground, she’s prepared for anything. She’s especially thrilled to feel the fresh air, see the sun, and view the wide-open skies and the ocean for herself.

But when raiders attack Jansin’s camp and take her prisoner, she is forced to question everything she’s been taught. What do her captors want? How will she get back underground? And if she ever does, will she want to stay after learning the truth?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

MY THOUGHTS
This was such an interesting book.
This book takes place in a future where hypercanes (super-hurricanes that last years) devastates the Earth. So, the Earth's population lives underground. Jasin has always wanted to see the surface and the sky, but it has always been deemed unsafe. When her parents decide to go on a retreat to the surface, it's a surprise to Jasin. But when the island her and her family is vacationing at gets attacked, she begins to question everything she was raised to know.

What I really loved about this book was how much Jasin changed throughout the book. I loved seeing how her perceptions changed throughout the book and I loved seeing her interactions with the surface dwellers.

The plot, while similar to many dystopian books, brings many new ideas and the overall plot is very different than any other dystopian. This book is full of twists-and-turns and questions, that kept me wanting to turn the page. I did have issues that I didn't feel like everything got resolved, but that was my only issues.

As far as romance, as this is a YA book, it was great. There was very little romance in this book. Enough to make me happy and want to ship it, but not too much to distract from the plot.


IN CONCLUSION
Overall, this book was thrilling, fast-paced, with lots of twists. The plot, characters, and romance were all great. I had issues with how much was unresolved, so I wish this was a series, not a stand-alone. Otherwise, this was a really great read!

I hereby give this book

4 Wheels

Meaning: It was amazing!

Waiting on Wednesday: Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, where you talk about whatever book you are IMPATIENTLY WAITING for!

This week I am waiting for...

When Rachelle was fifteen she was good—apprenticed to her aunt and in training to protect her village from dark magic. But she was also reckless— straying from the forest path in search of a way to free her world from the threat of eternal darkness. After an illicit meeting goes dreadfully wrong, Rachelle is forced to make a terrible choice that binds her to the very evil she had hoped to defeat.

Three years later, Rachelle has given her life to serving the realm, fighting deadly creatures in an effort to atone. When the king orders her to guard his son Armand—the man she hates most—Rachelle forces Armand to help her find the legendary sword that might save their world. As the two become unexpected allies, they uncover far-reaching conspiracies, hidden magic, and a love that may be their undoing. In a palace built on unbelievable wealth and dangerous secrets, can Rachelle discover the truth and stop the fall of endless night?

Inspired by the classic fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood, Crimson Bound is an exhilarating tale of darkness, love, and redemption.

Release Date: May 5th 2015  
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Why am I waiting?

I LOVED Creul Beauty and I'm excited to read another retelling from the same author!

What book are you waiting for this week?

REVIEW: The Gathering Dark by Christine Johnson

A mysterious teen boy knows the secrets of Keira’s dangerous hallucinations in this gripping romantic fantasy from the author of Claire de Lune.

Keira’s hallucinating. First it’s a door hovering above the road; then it’s a tree in her living room. But with her parents fighting and her best friend not speaking to her, Keira can’t tell anyone about her breakdown.

Until she meets Walker. They have an electric connection, and somehow he can see the same shadowy images plaguing Keira.

But trusting Walker may be more dangerous than Keira could have ever imagined. The more she confides in him, the more intense—and frightening—her visions become. Because Walker is not what he appears to be. And neither are her visions.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

MY THOUGHTS
I've been wanting to read this book for such a long time and I'm glad to say I was not disappointed!
The book follows Kiera, who is pretty normal, though she is a piano prodigy. She knows what she's doing with her life and she knows how to get there. Then she begins having strange hallucinations. A doorway in the middle of the street, a tree in her livingroom, these hallucinations begin to distract her and she feels like she's going crazy. But a boy working at her favorite music store, might actually know what's going on. And when the hallucinations become more real and dangerous, she needs all the help she can get.

This book is very similar to the book The Dark Light. In the way of the general plot, they are completely different, but they both include the theme of dark and light <highlight to view spoiler> and the idea of other worlds!<end of spoiler> I loved the theme and the idea behind this book so much! One, it includes <highlight to view spoiler> Parallel worlds!<end of spoiler> And the plot is so unique, fantastical, and thrilling! It takes awhile for any questions to be answered, but I was constantly on-the-edge waiting to see what would happen! It's hard for me to elaborate on anything, due to spoilers, but the book does take a surprising and very thrilling turn.

The romance does seem quick, but it is not an insta-love. There's an instant attraction. When Kiera first sees Walker, music store boy, she thinks he's hot which is pretty normal! I thought they made a really nice couple and, by the end, I was shipping them!


IN CONCLUSION
This was a very surprising read! I did have a few problems with the length, but I loved everything else about this book! This is the first book that I've read by this author, but I will definitely be looking into more books by this author!

I hereby give this book

4 Wheels

Meaning: It was amazing!

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing This Year

Hosted each week by The Broke and the Bookish, it's a meme for listing the top ten for everything bookish.

Oddly enough, I only have 10 books on my Christmas list!

1. This Shattered World

I LOVED These Broken Stars and, while this is a companion book and not a continuation, I still need to read it!

2.Zodiac

I am in a deep need for this book! Outerspace and the zodiac signs? Yes, I need this.

3.Gathering Darkness

This is becoming one of my favorite fantasy series! So, I would be really happy to read this book!

4.Eternal

This is pretty much like I've been saying for a few of the others.
Awesome series. Need.

5.Magnolia

I've been hearing SO MUCH about this book! And a hate-to-love romance? YES PLEASE!

6.Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend

MORGAN MATSON!

7.The Hunt

I read the first book awhile ago and I would really like to continue the series!
Sadly, it's not at my library.

8.The Lovely and the Lost

Same situation as The Hunt.

9.The Holders

Yeah, I had to add a Strange Chemistry book. For those who don't know, ever since Strange Chemistry disappeared, I've had a need to read all of their titles.

10.Collide

I actually had to take this one off my list, because, apparently, IT IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN EBOOK FORMAT!! GAHHHHH!!! This ticks me off so much! I have the other two books sitting on my shelf and this one cannot join it!
EDIT: Now I'm not even sure when this book is coming out. It was supposed to come out earlier this month, but Goodreads now says January and other sites say February...

Anyway, what books top your Christmas list?

The 2015 Re-Read Challenge!

I love to reread, but sometimes I don't feel like I have the time to! I oftentimes only reread to refresh my memory when the next book comes out or when a movie gets made.
Goal: 25 books

I'm going to try for 25 books, more or less. Here are a few books I want to try and reread:

These are just a few books I want to reread and I might not even reread some of these! I'm a mood reader and read what I want to when I want to. What to try this challenge out? Sign up here

REVIEW: Eternal by Cynthia Leitich Smith

With diabolical wit, the author of TANATALIZE revisits a deliciously dark world where vampires vie with angels — and girls just want to have fangs.

At last, Miranda is the life of the party: all she had to do was die. Elevated and adopted by none other than the reigning King of the Mantle of Dracul, Miranda goes from high-school theater wannabe to glamorous royal fiend overnight. Meanwhile, her reckless and adoring guardian angel, Zachary, demoted to human guise as the princess’s personal assistant, has his work cut out for him trying to save his girl’s soul and plan the Master’s fast-approaching Death Day gala. In alternating points of view, Miranda and Zachary navigate a cut-throat eternal aristocracy as they play out a dangerous and darkly hilarious love story for the ages.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

MY THOUGHTS
Technically, this book is a companion to another book, Tantalize, but there is hardly anything connecting the two books. To be honest, I wasn't that big of a fan of Tantalize, but I already had a copy of this book, so I decided to read it anyway.

This book has two points of view: Miranda and Zachary. Zachary is a guardian angel and Miranda is his charge. When Miranda ends up being turned into a vampire princess, Zachary loses his wings and becomes a fallen angel. While Miranda is discovering what it's like to be a vampire, Zachary is trying to find a way to save her soul.

I had issues with Zachary from the beginning. I know that he is her guardian angel, but it was annoying that he would call her "my girl", would she didn't know he existed. He was also in love with her. The romance isn't even in the book for a majority of the time. Then they kiss once, near the end, and suddenly they are soulmates. This was very disbelievable.

I was, honestly, okay with the story in the beginning, but it went downhill when the "romance" was introduced. Though, the book is very slow-going. I didn't feel like anything was really happening until the end. The characters are also flat and the dialogue is awkward.


IN CONCLUSION
I wasn't a big fan of this book. Yeah, it wasn't my kind of book to begin with, but the characters, romance, and overall writing didn't help.
The next book is supposed to combine Tantalize and this one, but I do not feel inclined to continue the series.

I hereby give this book

2 Wheels

Meaning: It was okay

New Releases in YA! (December 21st-27th)

Every week I list all (or almost all) of the YA books (and the occasional MG) that are coming out within that week!

Here's what you get to look forward to this week:

P.S. Click on the book's cover for the Goodreads page!

              

What books, if any, do you plan to buy?

BOOK BLITZ: Insane by H.G. Lynch (Excerpt+ Giveaway)

Something evil is going on in the Montgomery Psychiatric Hospital; every time there is an unexplainable blackout, a patient dies.
Callie isn’t insane – she sees the ghost of her dead best friend only because he really is there. It’s just that nobody believes her.
Casey is scarred after a horrific attack during which he killed someone. Temporary insanity was his plea, and the asylum is his prison.
With fear and death lurking everywhere, and no way to escape, Callie is certain it’s only a matter of time before she or Casey, the odd boy she has an inexplicable link with, becomes the next victim of the creature in the shadows.
Trapped in the asylum with a killer on the loose, there’s plenty of reason to be afraid of the dark.

Goodreads/ Amazon/ B&N

About the Author:

I’m H.G. Lynch, a Scottish Paranormal Romance author, avid readers, and cat-lover. I spend most of my days writing, while wrestling my cat, Sooki, off my laptop. I believe that chocolate cake can save the world, and I am highly caffeine-addicted. I can occasionally be found rolling on the floor, laughing manically, when I’ve consumed too much caffeine. I love horse-riding, Star Trek, and snow. My books are dark fantasy romances, usually with a bad boy and a bad girl. Sometimes with zombies, sometimes vampires, sometimes other things. Enjoy!

Facebook/ Amazon/ Twitter

EXCERPT:

Chapter One

** Callie **

“Let me go! Let go of me! I’m not crazy! I’m not fucking crazy!” I screamed, thrashing against the guards as they half-dragged and half-carried me down the pale, sterile hallway. I bit fingers and kicked shins and scratched arms, I spat and snarled and cursed, I screamed so loud I hurt my own ears and scared the hell out of half the other patients in the building. And still, the guards thrust me into a dark little room and slammed the metal door behind me, locking me in…
Again.
It wasn’t the first time I’d tried to escape, nor the first time I’d been caught. But this time was the closest I’d gotten to freedom, and to be thrown back into the tiny, dull, lifeless room I’d been inhabiting for nearly three months, to be ten feet from fresh air and grass and a world without bars on the windows and a schedule for every moment outside my room, and then be forced back into a prison – it was maddening.
But then, that was the thing about the Montgomery Psychiatric Hospital; if you weren’t already mad when you went in, you sure would be after a few months.
I slumped onto the floor and stared at the door, not sure whether to cry or try to rip the door off its hinges. I forced my mind to go blank, because at least if I didn’t think about how painfully close I’d come to finally getting out of here, I could perhaps retain what was left of my dwindling sanity. If I thought about how I’d been close enough to see the huge, wrought iron gates at the end of the gravel driveway through the glass doors, I’d probably lose it for good, and then I’d actually deserve to be here.
For now, I was sane.
It was just that nobody believed me.
They said I was crazy. That I was a danger to myself and possibly to others. That I was delusional, paranoid, disturbed. That I heard voices.
Well. That much was true. I did hear voices. Actually, only one voice.
“Failed again, sweetheart. Nice try, though,” said the voice that nobody else could hear. It was a voice I knew all too well – a voice I’d known since I was seven years old.
I tore my gaze off the door, and turned to see him. He was sitting on the bed, looking as real as he had the day he’d died. Silky brown curls, pouty lips, and hazel eyes. Silver hoop earring in one ear, ragged jeans with holes in the knees, and a sleeveless dark blue shirt that exposed the pentagram tattoo on his left bicep. Overall, gorgeous. And absolutely, unequivocally dead as a doornail.
I sighed and grimaced at the ghost of my dead best friend. “Shut up, Chester.”
He folded his hands over his heart, pretending to be injured – which would have been a lot funnier if his heart was still beating. “Aw, don’t be like that, Cal. I’m sure you’ll make it next time.”
“You said that last time.”
“Did I?” He frowned and scratched the back of his head. “Well, I guess I was wrong then.”
I snorted. “Yeah, that’s really reassuring.”

The Giveaway

$15 Amazon Giftcard

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Cover Lust: The Kiss of Deception

Cover Lust is something that I do every week where I feature a book cover that I absolutely love!

A princess must find her place in a reborn world.

She flees on her wedding day.

She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor's secret collection.

She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father.

She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan.

The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance.

Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—secrets that may unravel her world—even as she feels herself falling in love.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

 Why did I pick this cover? 

I don't know for sure why I like this cover. For some reason I like the green tone, as if a storm is coming. And I like how centered the girl is. I also really like the title design.

What are your thoughts? Tell me in the comments!