Book Tag

I was tagged by Melissa @ Ever So Mela.

Thank you so much! :P

1. Do you have a specific place for reading?

I have two specific places for reading one is at home in my bed. Nice and comfortable there. The other is at work sitting at the desk. There is a lot of downtime working overnight so I can enjoy reading while working.

2. Bookmark or random piece of paper?

I prefer a book mark I mean I buy bookmarks specifically for that reason to use. But every once in a while I will find myself with a book and nothing to use so then I will use a random piece of paper but for the most part I usually have a bookmark.

3. Can you stop anywhere in a book or do you have to finish a chapter?

I don't like these either or questions since I seem to do both of them. I most of the time will try to stop at the end of a chapter but there are times like at work or when they leave cliff hanger ending on the end of chapters that I will just stop anywhere. Then there are some books where a chapter is like a billion pages long, those I stop in the middle as well.

4. Do you eat or drink while reading?

I don't usually eat while reading since I don't like getting anything on my books or on the screen if I am reading on an electronic devise. I will drink while reading though.

5. Music or T.V. while reading?

Just no to both! I have a hard time concentrating on reading especially if something interesting is on T.V. or if a good song comes on. I had to do this recently on a car ride listen to music and read and lets just say I would have gotten a whole lot more read if there was complete silence. I mean its irritating when you have to read the same paragraph over 10 times because you can't comprehend what you are reading and sing the lyrics to the song in your head at the same time.

6. One book at a time or several?

I do both. Most of the time I try to stick with just one book but then there are those times when I am reading several at a time either because one isn't holding my attention or because I am doing buddy reads or because I am reading one huge book and the other one is smaller that I read in between.

7. Reading at home or elsewhere?

I of course prefer reading at home but I can and do constantly read other places like at work. It's to bad I just can't stay at home and read all day and all night long. :(

8. Reading out loud or silently?

I like to read silently unless if something is distracting me like music then I might read out loud if I can't get past a certain paragraph or what not. I will also some times read Aesop Fables aloud to my boyfriend since we are trying to read through it together.

9. Do you read ahead or skip pages?

I try so hard to not read a head, but some times when I am looking at how many pages I have left in a chapter or how many left in the rest of the book I see the ending of the book or the beginning of the next chapter and skim it and ruin something for myself. But I never skip reading pages I might skim a boring part but that is about it.

10. Breaking the spine or reading it like new?

I used to not really care about spines but now I try so hard to not break the spines or hurt the books in any way. So that they last longer, I have a book where it is an 800 page book so its a pretty big paper back and since I had it when I wasn't worried about spines its broken and now since I have read it many times it feels like it will fall apart some day soon if I keep reading it. :( Good think I found a cheap hardback cover of this book and now don't have to worry about it but yea now I try to read all my books like new.

11. Do you write in your books?

No never! Unless if its meant for that. Like puzzle books or wreck it journal or something like that.

12. Who are you tagging?

You! You know you want to.

Of Shadow and Stone by Michelle Muto

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Fantasy
Published: February 24, 2015
Publisher: Skyscape
Pages: 291

Source: Netgalley
Synopsis:
Gargoyles were created centuries ago to protect mankind, but something went horribly wrong. Now only the sentinel—a mortal chosen to control the stone beasts—stands between them and their human prey.

When the latest sentinel is killed, Kate Mercer is destined to take his place. But Kate has enough going on in her life—like a skyrocketing film career, a delusional ex-boyfriend, and a crazed stalker who will stop at nothing to get to her. But the powers that be have decided, and Kate is transported to Shadow Wood, a mysterious castle that serves as a sanctuary for the supernatural. Although beautiful, Shadow Wood is no safe place for a mere mortal. Yet Kate is drawn not only to the gargoyles but also to Ian McGuire, a charming novelist who might be in the greatest danger of all.

As Kate decides whether to accept the most perilous role of her life, she discovers there are more secrets than answers within the castle’s walls. Her survival and Ian’s depend on her ability to master the gargoyles before time runs out. Is fate really cast in stone?

My Rating:

★★★★☆

Review:

I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review, all reviews and opinions are my own.

This isn't like normal Urban Fantasies that I usually read. I still did like it though but its more just about Kate being an actress and learning she is this sentinel person and that she can now make the gargoyles go back to sleep if she accepts the position and her ex-boyfriend brings real life problems to her paranormal ones. I would have liked to see more about the gargoyles or anything more on the paranormal beings. I mean you find out you are in charge of this gargoyle army and you put them all back to sleep? Come on raise a little hell, there could be so many issues that arise from that plot point alone! I am not sure if this is going to be turned into a series or is just a stand alone but I feel there should be more this would be a good first book to a series, but maybe not so much alone. I know she did have issues with the gargoyle what with seeing killings through there eyes but there could have been so much more I think.

Anyway enough of that I loved the cover of this book and once I read the synopsis and saw it had gargoyles in it I had to get my hands on it. Being someone who has grown up and watched the Gargoyles cartoon show, I had to see what this book was about. I have found a few books that have gargoyles in them but of course I want to read even more about them.

 I would like to know more about Declan he was a big mystery that I would like to solve and hear about what happened to him in his past. Kate was an okay character I didn't mind her too much though for someone that wanted to feel the thrill of life and live dangerously didn't sure take the bull by the horns in the supernatural aspect. I did like the scene where she is on her bike and then again driving in the car.

I think what kept it interesting for me was that sometimes the chapter switched to a different characters point of view. I liked that gives me different angles to see from rather than just the main characters. I am not really going to touch on the love interest really since it seemed quick and just budding at the end. Though I will say Ian is a good match for her and that he will help her along the way. 

Michelle Muto states on her blog she doesn't write cliff hangers in books this is definitely true at least for this book at least everything is wrapped up nicely by the end. Though there are some mysteries I would love to delve into if this did continue on. If you would like to check out Michelle Muto and her other works please visit her blog here: https://michellemuto.wordpress.com/. 

Versatile Blogger Award

I want to thank Britt over at Tara Belle Talking for nominating me for the Versatile Blogger Award! Please go check her blog out she is an amazing person and I am glad that I have gotten to know her. I am so honored to be nominated you have no idea.

Rules:

 1. Nominate 15 other bloggers relatively new to blogging. (I'll nominate as many as I can find that are relatively new on my list)  

 2. Let the bloggers know that you've nominated them.

 3. Share 10 random facts about yourself. 

 4. Thank the blogger who nominated you. 

 5. Add the Versatile Blogger Award picture to your post.

Nominations:

Cynthia @ Bingeing on books

Mishma @ Chasing Faerytales

Fari and Kitty @ My Little Corner For Books

Alex @ The Book's Buzz

Please check out these wonderful people as well. I love stalking  *cough cough* I mean following them and seeing what they have to say about books and other things.

Also note to self next bout of books make one of my goals about checking out lots of blogs new and old!

Random Facts:

1.Since many did fears in their random facts I might as well say mine. Shh don't make fun of mine. I am terrified of marriage and getting pregnant/having a baby. Give me a spider or anything else to fight any day and I will do it, but I am working on the marriage fear. I have been with my boyfriend for 9 years now and he is hoping to get us married on our 10th anniversary. Not sure how he is going to make that happen though. The baby thing isn't going to happen though if I ever do want a kid I will adopt most likely.

2.I have a piano and have taken many years of lessons, but rarely play it now. Though when I do I either play Christmas music, Jazz, or Disney songs.

3. I like to mess with or watch things that scare me. For the most part this deals with scary movies. But I also like dabbling with paranormal stuff, though nothing ever comes of it. Sad to say.

4. There are only two things I believe in myself and death. I have been asked many times of what I believe in if I don't believe in a being. So I plainly tell them I believe in myself since that is the only one I have ever had to rely on to get me out of problems. Some don't think I can just believe in myself so then I brought up death since everything alive comes to that end eventually.

5. I love thunderstorms and rain.

6. I really hope to publish one of my books someday (hopefully people will like and read them).

7. If I didn't have surgery done on my ears when I was little I would have been deaf by now. I had to have skin grafts put over my eardrums because I had holes in them. 

8. I am left handed.

9. Though I have been through mental, physical, and sexual abuse I will not let that determine my future. I deal with a lot of anger, anger I hope no one ever has to feel like I do. I keep myself surrounded by love and things that make me happy and get rid of the stuff that upsets me. Sometimes that is hard to do since life is full of upsetting things but for the most part if they are really upsetting me then it is something that can be changed usually. 

10. I have never drank alcohol (sips to taste don't count :) since I don't really like any of it), smoked, or have done drugs. Sadly I have learned from my family what not to do and have tried to turn that into a positive. 

Whew okay done with that. Do you feel like you know me better? Maybe a little to well? Sorry I tried to keep some of them light. I guess I just feel like some of the amazing things have happened because of my past and though I wish that on no one it is what made me, me. Hope you have a wonderful day and stay warm! If you already live some where warm (unlike me :( ) please send your weather to me.

Also let me know if there is something else you would like to know. I am free to answer any other questions as well.

January Wrap - Up 2015

Another good reading month I do say so myself. I know this is a bit late but it will have to do since I went on vacation this last week and didn't have any time barely. I have been looking for a new place to live other than in Iowa. We plan on moving in May so that will be another busy month where I might not be seen much but on to the books that I have read for January.

The Taken by Vicki Pettersson
Rating- ★★★☆☆
This is the first book in the Celestial Blues trilogy. This was a very different read for me. The main character is a rockabilly which before this book I had no idea what that was. So it is set in modern time but the main character dresses and likes to act as if she is from the 1950's. Then there is the guy who is an angel but kind of like a reaper who of course gets thrown into her life and he is supposed to watch her die but of course that can't happen. It was interesting but it wasn't my favorite.

The Gunslinger by Stephen King
Rating- ★★☆☆☆
This is the first book in the Dark Tower series. Oh my was this boring, It did have interesting parts especially when he talked about the past instead of just crossing the desert but still. I have heard this series gets a lot better as it goes on so I will keep with it since I own the whole series, and Allen wants to read it with me.

Firefight by Brandon Sanderson
Rating- ★★★★☆
This is the second book in the Reckoners series. I had been waiting for this book ever since I finished the first one. And this one did not disappoint. They visit another city other than Chicago so you can see how it is to live under other epics other than Steelheart. I highly recommend this series. These were my first Brandon Sanderson books and I plan to read many more of his books.

Broken Skies by Theresa Kay
Rating- ★★★★★
This is the first book in the Broken Skies trilogy. I got a copy of this book from Netgalley to read, and I loved this book. I was surprised by how much I ended up loving this book. This is about how aliens have come to earth and have been living with us for a while. Humans have dwindled down due to some sort of virus so mostly humans live in small villages and aliens have taken over some of the larger cities. The main character has a twin that gets taken by these aliens and then she comes across an alien that if she helps him back to his city he will help her get to her brother. I can not wait for the next book!

Mitosis by Brandon Sanderson
Rating-★★★★☆
This is book 1.5 in the Reckoners series. I suggest reading this book before reading firefight since this one is mentioned in firefight a little  bit and you wont know what they are talking about if you haven't read this. But it all fit together after reading it and I understood what is going. So this short story takes place right after Steelheart and basically it is about the team taking down another epic that comes to their city.

The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas
Rating- ★★★☆☆
This is the first book in The Elemental Trilogy. This book was a bit boring to me only because the world building was horrendously done and I wanted to know more about the magic system and how the world works. Also the bad guys didn't seem to bad, it is said that Alantis is overtaking these other lands and oppressing them but you don't see any of this really through out the book. If you read this only for the romantic element then you will like the book, but other than that not really.

Saint Odd by Dean Koontz
Rating-★★★★☆
This is the seventh and last book of the Odd Thomas series. This is the first series I completed for the year of 2015! I am sad to see Odd go but also happy for him. It has been a long seven books for him. It ended how I thought it was going to end and I am glad of that. I don't think I can say to much with out giving anything away but basically it all comes back to his home town. Where his problems began is where they will end. So he has come back home to finish the job so to speak.

Dark Siren by Eden Ashley
Rating-★★★☆☆
This is the first book in the Dark Siren series. I loved the mystery element to this one you aren't given much other than that the main character is a siren but doesn't really know it. You the reader are in the dark as much as the main character is. I did have some issues with the main character and her love interest a little bit but I hear the main character gets a lot better as the series progresses and is bad ass so I can't wait to continue on to see how it goes.

Ensnared by A.G. Howard
Rating- ★★★★☆
This is the third and final book in the Splintered trilogy. This is the second series I have completed this year. I dislike the cover art , it is supposed to be of Jeb and his lips for the most part weird me out. I did not mind how this series turned out I know many others were upset but for me it was okay. I was just happy to see more of the Wonderland world,  which I didn't get to see in the second book. Also you get to see what Jeb is like with magic. Morpheus really redeems himself in this book I actually was starting to come over to team Morpheus but of course his niceness doesn't last long.

Venom by Jennifer Estep
Rating-★★★☆☆
This is the third book in the Elemental Assassins series. I can't really go into much in this book other than the new detective that is introduced in this book is someone Gin knows from her past. I also prefer her new love interest compared to the old detective. He is much better for Gin and accepts her for who she is and even helps a bit when she is in a bind.

A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray
Rating-★★★★★
This is the first book in the Firebird series.I loved this book! Loved the different realities that they visit. So her family creates this thing that will allow a person to travel to other worlds basically. Only thing is you can only travel to worlds that you are in if you have died in that world already or were never born into that world you can't visit it. Basically every choice creates a new world. She visits a couple of them while trying to find her fathers killer. I loved the world building in this one you get a lot of information on the different worlds the only one you don't really is the one that is very close to her own world. And the cover is beautiful I can't wait to read the next book. I am so glad I picked this one up.

Release Day Blitz ~ Two Valentines Heat Anthologies from Etopia Press

New from Etopia Press, a couple great Valentine's Day themed Anthologies to spice up your reading! The anthologies feature short stories from Etopia authors: Ally Shields, Nessie Strange, Keith Melton, C.L. Bledsoe, Elizabeth Ellen Carter and Cynthia Hampton. These anthologies have something for everyone so make sure you check these sizzling stories out!

Valentines Heat I

“Heart’s Pride” by Ally Shields 

The Guardian Witch Series

When their wedding is ruined by a werepanther attack, Katrina is left hospitalized and Blane is just...gone. But when he finally finds his way back to Riverdale, he learns he’s not the only one who’s been tracking Katrina...

“Lost Soul, Lost Love” by Nessie Strange
The Living Dead World Series

It’s Jen MacLellan’s first trip back to earth as a new reaper, and Mardi Gras is in full swing. When she happens upon Chip, a partier stuck in a perpetual 1983, Jen decides to help him find the woman he loves so he can move on. Assuming all goes well when he finds her...

“Red Dogs” by Keith Melton
The Zero Dog Mission Series

Mercenary pyromancer Andrea Walker has just saved the world from bloodthirsty hagworms and is late for her Valentine’s date with Jake. Until she hears that Jake has already left her house...with her...

“V-Day” by CL Bledsoe
The Necro-Files Series

Daisy and her friends think going to a frat party on Valentine’s Day will be a fun, not-at-all-desperate Girls Night Out. What they don’t expect is to have Delilah’s succubus pheromones accidentally set off the apocalypse...

Valentines Heat II

“Moonstone Promise” by Elizabeth Ellen Carter

After her husband’s death in Colonial Pennsylvania, Ann Sellars forges a business partnership with Toby Jackson that quickly becomes a friendship. But when Toby proposes marriage on the eve of leaving for England, Ann isn’t sure if she’s ready to leave her memories, or her new business, behind...

“A Perfect Judge” Cynthia Hampton

When Kamber Prescott agrees to emcee the annual Valentine’s Day Fantasy Auction, she has no intention to bid on one of the sexy bachelors. But seeing Jeffrey Hatcher again after their Christmas party fling makes her reconsider. Especially since the auction has only one rule: the rules exist only if you want them to...

  

Buy Links:

Valentines Heat I

Valentines Heat II

For more great books from Etopia Press, visit them here:

Website

Book Blitz Organized By:

Dark Siren (Book #1) by Eden Ashley + Giveaway

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance
Published: July 4, 2013
Pages: 452
Source: Xpresso  Book Tours
Synopsis:
To survive, their bond must be unbreakable.

When the mysterious and passionate Rhane rescues Kali from an attacker in the theater parking lot, they form an immediate, smoldering connection. But Kali doesn't remember Rhane or anything from their past. As far as Kali knows, she's just a seventeen-year-old kid coping with an insatiable hunger for the “spark” or energy of others, feeding on classmates to survive.

A unique artifact—one that may hold the key to returning Kali’s memories—is uncovered by the archaeology firm where she works part-time, sending Kali and Rhane on a dangerous journey that leads them to the Forbidden City, into the unforgiving Gobi, and into the ruins of Rhane’s ancient homeland. As they fight for survival, Kali begins to discover who she really is and the true power she possesses.

But Rhane still harbors a secret that could destroy Kali…unless old enemies kill her first.

Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes & Noble

About the Author:

I’m Eden Ashley and I was born and raised in a small, sunny town in South Carolina. However, it’s the thunderstorms that inspire my best ideas. There are few things I love more than curling up with a good book and a cup of coffee on a rainy day, (except maybe chocolate cake. I love cake.) often reading into the wee hours of morning when something really grabs me. I pretty much love anything with supernatural elements, so writing paranormal romance and fantasy romance seems to be a natural fit.

My first novel, Dark Siren, is best described as paranormal romance artfully wrapped within a plot chock-full of action, adventure, and edge-of-your-seat suspense, while the series has evolved to become a journey of redemption and second chances as two characters understand that sometimes committing evil is necessary to protect what is loved most. I took the siren from Greek mythology (and borrowed a little from mermaid lore), creating an entirely different creature, with its own mythology, and one that Publisher’s Weekly praised for its passion and complexity. This is not just another werewolf/shapeshifter romance or vampire romance. I think this is a story that both adults and teens can enjoy, full of characters to fall in love with!

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads │ Facebook │Twitter

My Rating:

★★★☆☆ ½

Review:

 I received this book from Xpresso Book Tours for the book tour, all reviews and opinions are my own. I am very happy to be able to take part in this book tour. If you would like to check out the rest of the blog tour here for the official schedule.

The thing that really kept me going in this book is the mystery element. From the title of the book we understand that it deals with a siren but other than that not much else is given. Kali has a past that she can't remember the reader is only given tidbits of information explaining that past, which was enough to keep me reading to find out more. I definitely want to read the second book because of the mystery element and figure out who she was in the past and why she is so important to so many. Not much is answered by the end of book one but hopefully there will be more information in book two.

I did not really like Kali, I couldn't really connect to her all that much. I don't know if it was because she was willing to trust Rhane so easily or just her age, but she bothered me as a character. In the prologue we see one of her past lives, I am guessing, and she is a college student there but in the main story she is in high school. I think if Kali's character was a bit more mature and older it would have been better. It just seemed sometimes when Rhane and Kali would come together it was mostly about him not taking advantage of her since she is so much younger than him. I know age doesn't matter in a relationship but here it kind  of seemed strained.

I did love Rhane's character and the side characters that he travels with and asks for help in certain situations. Rhane was a very put together person and even though he is keeping a lot of secrets and being shifty I feel like  he is still a very reliable and safe character one that Kali could put her trust in. So I can understand why she is so trusting of Rhane since he proves over and over again that she should. Maybe it is just me but if I was ever in that situation of hers I would be demanding some sort of answers.

Overall I think this book is a teaser book that basically sets up for the rest of the series. I hope to continue on with this series and finally find out what Rhane is hiding and more about Kali's past. I am not sure if this is part of a trilogy or series but I do know books 1-3 are out and are available for purchase. So I hope I can get around soon to book 2 to see what happens next.

Have you read dark Siren yet? If so let me know how you liked it or if you plan to read it.

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Tour Organize by: