Bout of Books 18

It is that time again! I am doing this once again hopefully better than the last time. If you do not know this is a read-a-thon and where one tries to read as much as possible, and have lots of fun and meet new people. 

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 2nd and runs through Sunday, January 8th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 18 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

I have some goals that I want to accomplish through this read-a-thon. I hope to visit 5 different people's blogs through out the week as well as participate in at least 2 of the challenges. I am also hoping to get through at least 3 books. I will come up with a list a possible reads later, closer to the time when it starts. I hope to see many people there and can't wait to discuss books and many other things with people. Hope to see you guys there. 

Review: Ghost Witching (Book 2) by Ally Shields

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Published: October 19, 2016
Publisher: Etopia Press
Pages: 271
Source:Red Moon Book Tours
Synopsis:

Seeing ghosts should make solving homicides easy, right? Not even close.

 When detectives Maggie York and Josh Brandt catch a new murder investigation involving occult rituals, ghosts, and venomous snakes, it seems like a case that could only happen in New Orleans. Not only does the victim's ghost demand Maggie's attention, but three apparitions begin appearing to her…sending the detectives on a search for more bodies. They soon discover the ghostly trio has links to the Witching Hour Society, an organization of self-declared witches with far more going on behind the scenes. Meanwhile, a neighbor believes the victim killed his family with a curse, and the media eagerly sensationalizes the entire story.

 Making things worse, Maggie and Josh have hit a rough spot in their personal relationship. The tension between them is already high when Josh's ex-fiancée arrives in town…and wants him back.

Soon the violence is escalating, the ghosts grow more aggressive, and the deeper Maggie and Josh dig, the stranger things get. Welcome to murder New Orleans’ style.

Buy Links: 

Amazon

Bio:

Ally Shields grew up in the Midwest along the Mississippi River, still considers herself "a river rat," and currently resides near Des Moines. After a career in law and juvenile justice, she turned to full-time fiction writing in 2009. Her first urban fantasy, Awakening the Fire (Guardian Witch #1) was published in 2012, and she currently has twelve published novels. She loves to travel in the US and abroad and incorporates many of those settings into her books. Ms. Shields welcomes reader contact through her website and can frequently be found on Twitter.

Author Links

Website│Facebook│Blog│Twitter│Goodreads│Amazon Author Page│Google+│Newsletter

My Rating:

★★★★☆

Review:

I received this book from Red Moon Book Tours for the book tour, all reviews and opinions are my own. If you would like to check out the rest of the blog tour click here for the official schedule.

This one picks up a few months after the first book, fast forward to Maggie and Josh's first real fight. Surprisingly they work well with one another even when fighting, I mean they have some bumps along the way of not talking to one another which makes things worse in a way but for the most part even when they aren't getting along they do. That should tell them right there that they were going to make it through this fight. Maggie is still getting a handle on her magic and the ghosts that she sees. These ghosts that she sees this time I don't know how she deals with them, I thought the ghost in the last book was hard to interpret, no these ghosts are even more thick  headed. It's good she has Josh and her friend to ground her. 

Josh has his faults like any guy, but he should have known that little miss ex-fiancee would try to cause more trouble than not. He is a good guy and good for Maggie though, I don't doubt that one bit. They both need to work on tearing that wall down between them. Plus he is really good listening to his instinct and he may not have any magic but good instincts are good to have all on there own and can be very useful, especially when Maggie is getting herself into trouble.

I would like to know more about Annie, Maggie's friend. She seems like she could have an interesting life, well one in the computers, but I bet she gets into all sorts of trouble. I'd also like to know how Harry and her relationship is going, it seems nice but Harry being a brother of Josh I can see how it could get rocky every once in a while. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing if you know what I mean.

The pace of the story was good, a lot of action to keep it moving a long. Fast paced but not to fast where you wonder how they come to the ending. I know if Maggie worked on her craft more then she could be a real tough witch one day and maybe that is what frightens her, she wants to be herself and a real good cop. I can't wait to see what more trouble these two can find in their city. 

~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt:

Stopping abruptly on the front door threshold, Maggie swept her gaze across the living room of the Garden District Victorian home, taking in the body of the matronly female victim and the carcass of the presumed killer sprawled on the polished floor. She drew in a shallow breath and placed one hand on the door frame, letting the eerie feel of the scene roll over her. It happened every time. She used to wonder why—before she knew her family origins. Now she just accepted it.

Her partner, New Orleans homicide detective Joshua Brandt and currently estranged lover, moved past her, no doubt welcoming the coolness of the air-conditioning. Unhampered by the strange sensations she experienced, he squatted next to the body.

Maggie closed the door, leaving the humid August heat outside, and circled to the far side of the victim. She noted, discarded, or filed away each detail, searching for the ones that would eventually lead them to a human predator.

Interesting scene, to say the least. Two sets of reddened punctures, one on the victim’s neck, the other on the left cheek. But no blood, only a faint odor of death thanks to the hard-working AC. Pleasant features—or would have been if the eyes weren’t wide open and fixed in a vacant stare—a few extra pounds but not excessive, hints of gray at the temples and roots of her short brunette hair. She’d been due for a touchup. A modern grandmother in faded jeans and a white shirt hanging open over a pale blue tank top.

“Valerie Preston, age sixty-one,” said the older of the two patrol cops who’d found the body. He checked his palm-sized notebook. “Lived alone. Widow of real estate businessman, Clive Preston, who’s been dead five years or more. Neighbor last saw her yesterday afternoon about five bringing home groceries.” He put his notes in his shirt pocket. “Looks like the snake killed her.”

“Maybe.” Josh learned forward to inspect the bite marks, and a shock of dark hair fell over his forehead. Maggie’s attention drifted to his strong profile, the sculpted cheekbones, the full black lashes. He hadn’t shaved this morning, and she imagined the dark bristles scraping softly across her skin. Whoa, girl. Another example of why they needed to step back from their relationship. They’d grown too close, too intense, placing their on-the-job partnership at risk.

A week ago, Josh had played the alpha male, stepping into a situation she could have handled, and it had nearly gotten him killed. They’d argued for days, and yesterday—after living with him the past four months—she’d moved back to her own apartment. Ostensibly to think it over, reassess. But Maggie wasn’t sure what would happen to them next. In spite of their casual, matter-of-fact conversation since he’d picked her up at her apartment a half hour ago, raw tension simmered under the surface.

The tightening of Josh’s jaw muscle, as it did when he held back strong emotion, sharpened her focus back to the scene…where it belonged. He looked up at the two patrolmen. “Hard way to die. Who shot the snake?”

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Review: Vampire Shift (Book #1) by Tim O'Rourke

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal
Published: June 6, 2011
Publisher: Ravenwoodgreys
Pages: 256

Source: Own
Synopsis:
When 20-year-old police recruit Kiera Hudson is posted to the remote town of The Ragged Cove, her life is changed forever. Investigating a series of horrific murders, grave desecrations, and missing persons, Kiera uses her unique ability of seeing, and soon realizes her own life is in danger. When Kiera falls for police officer Luke Bishop, not only are her mind and heart opened to a terrifyingly new world, she comes to suspect that Luke might be involved in the killings. In a race against time to unearth the truth, Kiera must discover the identity of who - or what - is behind the gruesome deaths on her Vampire Shift. 

"Vampire Shift" is Book One of The Kiera Hudson Series One.

My Rating:

★★★★☆

Review:

This was interesting and not at all what I thought it was going to be. From the title alone it makes it just seem like either she is already a vampire or will be one. That is not what happened in this book and yes it did start off a bit slow but it did escalate at a good pace.

Of course there were some things that bothered me about Kiera, she would forgive Luke or even the other cops when they were ganging up on her just because she was the newbie. I understand when your the new person you want to go along to get along but sometimes things have to be done. Especially when Luke leaves her alone in a graveyard when he there with her moments before and then when stuff hits the fan he is no where to be seen.

Luke does have some redeeming qualities about him though in the end I understand why he had to be so secret and he did try to protect her in the long run. Yes he still messed up at the graveyard and could have gotten her killed and a partner should have had her back but he was there after that, when they started getting closer.

The only one that was nice to Kiera and helped her as much as she could was the inn keeper the mother who ran it most times. Now she was there for the towns people and trying to protect them from these vampires. Also another weird thing that I thought brought a lot of interest to this book is that there were to kinds of vampires. People that are born into their roles and the others that are made from the originals and are basically like vampires from legends. Can't stand sunlight and feeds off of anyone that is alive. The original vampires or Vampyrs as they call themselves have more tolerance to things and doesn't feed off of people unless going rogue and as long as they go underground to get their feeding under control than they can come back above ground.

The first one left off enough for me to stay interested and wanting to read the next one but not well enough to make me want to get the next one right away. I know the next one is going to be about finding her mother or who killed her mother, something along those lines which is one major push to make me want to read the next one. Also Luke I gotta know if and how he comes back into the picture.

Review: Soul Finder (Book #2) by Jacinta Maree

Genre: NA Supernatural, Dystopian
Published: September 16, 2016
Publisher: Inked Rabbit Publishing
Pages: 263
Source: YA Bound Book Tours
Synopsis:
Since being discovered as Soulless, Nadia has become a target for both terrorist groups and government corporations. Now, her only hope for survival rests in the hands of the man sent out to kill her: Diesel, the Mad Dog terrorist.

Diesel is determined to free himself of the never ending curse of reincarnation and the haunting memories that plague his mind. But when his search leads him to Nadia, a greater desire stills him from taking her life.

Unable to see into Diesel's cracking mind, Nadia instead puts her faith into his strength, fueled by eleven generations of unmatched rage and insanity. Their tight-rope relationship balances the two between life and death, love and rage, trust and betrayal.
Tension pulls at the hems of their dangerous companionship, and as time runs out all madmen must eventually make their choice.

Book two of the thrilling Immortal Gene series dives deeper into the danger of trusting your heart over your head.

Readers discretion: Adult language, violence and some adult scenes. For mature audiences only. 

Buy Link:

Amazon

My Rating:

★★★★★

Review:

I received this book from YA Bound Book Tours for an honest review, all reviews and opinions are my own. You can view the whole tour schedule here.

After the first book I was in love with both the covers and the stories, this one starts right where the first one left off on. So that cliff hanger didn't stay one for very long but again this one leaves off on a major cliff hanger I must know more. I need more! Okay now I will try to calm down enough in order to write this review. 

So I still love Diesel and Nadia, even though Nadia is trying to stretch her wings a bit in this one. She is coming into her own and trying to find out the kind of person she wants to be. Even though she makes some mistakes along the way I respect her for that, I mean how is a person supposed to learn if they don't make a few mistakes here and there. Diesel of course takes this to heart, he needs to learn how to forgive. Perhaps he will... Nadia also had to learn to survive with out Diesel always being there, they get separated continuously through out their journey. So in all it is a good thing she is questioning and getting answers on her own about everything including Diesel, otherwise she may regret it down the road, if she lasts that long that is.

They also pick up a new friend along the way, Hiro, I feel like Nadia really needed him along in their group because he was like the sister she was missing in taking care of. She also felt like even though maybe she wasn't the best person she could teach this one she is caring for how to be a better person. Hiro is innocent in all ways I think he has no clue what is really going on though he does learn pretty quick with being plunged into the madness that is Deisel and Nadia. 

The action is fast paced just like the first novel. It grabs your attention and doesn't let you go until you are at the end then crying for the next one. I liked that we finally get to see a little bit of the world where the rich people live or the ones that are important, it isn't what its all cracked up to be,even they have their problems.

Of course I can't wait to read the next one to see what trouble Nadia and Diesel can get into and how they will get themselves out of it. I am eagerly awaiting for more answers as well there are still so many things about soulless we do not know about or yet understand. 

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook│

About the Author:

Born in Melbourne Australia, Jacinta Maree considers herself a chocoholic with an obsession with dragons, video gaming and Japan. She writes a variety of genres including YA paranormal, steampunk, horror, new adult, dystopian and fantasy. Winner of 2014 Horror of the year and bestselling author, Jacinta writes to bring enjoyment to others while fulfilling her own need to explore the weird and the impossible.

Giveaway:

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Review: Transcendent by Katelyn Detweiler

Genre: Young Adult, Magical Realism
Published: October 4, 2016
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Pages: 448
Source: First to Read
Synopsis:
A beautiful work of magical realism, a story about a girl in the real world who is called upon to be a hero.

When terrorists bomb Disney World, seventeen-year-old Iris Spero is as horrified as anyone else. Then a stranger shows up on her stoop in Brooklyn, revealing a secret about the mysterious circumstances surrounding Iris’s birth, and throwing her entire identity into question. Everything she thought she knew about her parents, and about herself, is a lie. 

Suddenly, the press is confronting Iris with the wild notion that she might be “special.” More than just special: she could be the miracle the world now so desperately needs. Families all across the grieving nation are pinning their hopes on Iris like she is some kind of saint or savior. She’s no longer sure whom she can trust—except for Zane, a homeless boy who long ago abandoned any kind of hope. She knows she can’t possibly be the glorified person everyone wants her to be… but she also can’t go back to being safe and anonymous. When nobody knows her but they all want a piece of her, who is Iris Spero now? And how can she—one teenage girl—possibly heal a broken world?

My Rating:

★★★☆☆

Review:

Though the pace was a bit slow, it had some interesting ideas. Many people that question religion or if there is a god or not, usually ask why if the big one exists why doesn't he give us a sign or send us another Jesus or a miracle, something like that. This really hits home about what if there was another that was born like Jesus but maybe not as magical.

I didn't mind Iris she seemed like a complex character, confused about what she may be yet still trying to deal with being a young adult with normal every day problems. Before she learns the big truth she is just an everyday student that loves playing violin and helping out with the less fortunate. Than boom you find out you are this prophesied one kind of like the second Jesus and now she has to figure out what she wants to do with that information. 

Zane who helps Iris through out the book is one character I really liked and was rooting for. Not everyone who plays or acts mean are, some of the nicest people have the toughest shells. They are made that way by society, its either that or be eaten alive. Zoey who is Zane's sister is in  the picture as well and one of the main reasons why Zane is a good and decent guy, though I don't think he gives himself quiet enough credit. 

Though  that is about it good character wise I thought the parents were a little to forgiving though at times, and sometimes Iris was a little to naive.  I understand that the parents were trying to be helpful and understanding but she ran  away from them while they were surrounded by a mob of reporters and they didn't keep them in the know of where she was yea she is almost 18 so I understand why they weren't chasing after her she is basically an adult, but most parents that I know would have flipped. 

Review: Gamescape: Overworld (Book #1) by Emma Trevayne

Gamescape: Overworld (The Nova Project #1)
by Emma Trevayne
Publisher: Greenwillow
Release Date: September 13th 2016

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Dystopia
Rate: ★★★★☆

Synopsis:

The planet is dying. Centuries of abuse have damaged the earth beyond repair, and now all the authorities can do is polish the surface, make the landscape look pretty to hide the disease within. Two prominent yet mysterious businessmen couldn’t fix it, either, but they did something even better. Together, they invented Chimera, the most complex and immersive virtual reality video game the world has ever known. The Cubes in which Chimera is played quickly became a fixture of this landscape: part distraction, part hospital, and almost wholly responsible for holding up the failing world economy.

Miguel Anderson is also dying. He isn’t the only one who plays the game–everybody does–but Miguel has more reason than most: When players leave their Cubes for the day, the upgrades and enhancements they’ve earned for their virtual characters leave with them. New lungs to breathe poisoned air, skin that won’t burn under the sun are great and everything… but Miguel, born as broken as the earth, needs a new heart–and soon–if he wants any hope of surviving just a little longer.

Then the two Gamerunners announce a competition, with greater rewards and faster progression than ever before, and Miguel thinks his prayers have been answered. All he needs to do is get picked to lead a team, play the game he’s spent years getting good at, and ask for his prize when he wins. Simple, really.

At first, things seem to go according to plan. Mostly, anyway. Inside his Cube, with his new team–including his best friend–at his back, Miguel begins his quest. He plays recklessly, even dangerously, for someone whose most vital organ could give up at any moment, but his desperation makes him play better than ever. The eyes of the world are on him, watching through status updates and live feeds, betting on his chances. With greater rewards, though, come greater risks, and the Gamerunners seem to delight at surprising the competitors at every turn. As he ventures deeper into a world that blends the virtual and the real to an unsettling degree, Miguel begins to wonder just why the game was invented at all, and whether its stakes could be even higher than life and death.

I thought it was going to be a little more dystopia like and not all about the game play. I was pleasantly surprised. I liked that it had more of the game elements in the book it seems like each book I read dealing with a virtual world turns into a dystopia, and yea this is a little bit but it is more end of the world type of stuff.

Miguel Anderson has it pretty tough he knew he had an expiration date, that is why he is playing the game to get a new heart in the end. I understand why he plays but he also wants to live his life full till the very end, so he is caught in the middle of two worlds it seems. He was a strong character and didn't let life get him down. He didn't seem to have many emotions till about halfway through the book not sure if it was just because he was focused on getting a new heart or maybe he just didn't let himself feel because he knew he didn't have much time. 

The Gamerunners I feel I have to touch on them since they orchestrated the whole game and this new element to it. Though I don't want to go into to much detail because you find out a lot while reading through. They are very mysterious and still even at the end I want to know more, they aren't the top dogs they think they are. These two though they say they don't get along, can actually work together, they came together to make this game didn't they. If only they weren't so conniving maybe Miguel could help them, because even though one of them says they are good he is still just as conniving as the other.

The game play itself was described wonderfully. Though I would have liked to hear a little bit more about the actual world the live in and what is exactly wrong with it and why is it so far gone. I understand some of it was acid rain and the sun being toxic, I know those can't really be fixed but there should be some way to maybe work towards making the earth healthy again. This book just makes it seem everyone has given up on living and gone into a virtual world. Which in my opinion if people want to keep living they would try to figure something out, instead of trying to download their brain into a game while their bodies die out in the real world.

I know they are working on technology like this for gaming wise and to be honest it both is a little exciting and terrifying to me. Terrifying because it could lead to something like this or make people not notice each other even more than our current technology does. Exciting as well because I think it would be really fun, it would have to be one of those things where it would have to be played in small incriminates, so as to not get out of hand.

Overall it was a good read and leaves off with the reader wanting to know more, especially about them Gamerunners. I know I have questions racing around in my head about what is to come after this.  

Favorite Quotes:

"Dude, I've been ready since yesterday morning, it was those damn doctors." Yeah. Another thing Miguel knows about. "They said I could go once I'd eaten something, though." "You're never going to put a shirt on again, are you?" Leah asks. "Nope."

"Please tell me you're not making adjustments without me." says Lucius. He can be incredibly light-footed when he wishes.  "Would I do that?" "Yes." "You're probably right," Blake concedes.

You are in an old building. It has many rooms. Each room is filled with strange, ancient artifacts."It's called a museum, Storyteller," says Leah. Part of him wants to laugh, it's nice to know he isn't the only one who talks back. 

These were some of my favorite quotes the first one to show that even though the game was played and Miguel was very serious about winning, it wasn't everything they still goofed off at times and had fun still. The second one shows Black and Lucius who are the game runners, whenever I came to a chapter about them I devoured it wanting another and to know more about them. The last one is my favorite because every time I heard the Story teller talk I just wanted to roll my eyes or say something sarcastic like Leah did. Most of the time the story teller didn't help at all just stated the obvious about what was in front of them.

Follow the Gamescape: Overworld by Emma Trevayne Blog Tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.

YA sci-fi/cyberpunk writer. Fan of words and music and chocolate. Represented by Brooks Sherman of FinePrint Literary Management. My first novel, CODA, will be out Spring 2013 from Running Press Kids, and its sequel, CHORUS, will be released the following year.

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Review: Soulless (Book #1) by Jacinta Maree

Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopia
Published: October 1, 2015
Publisher: Inked Rabbit Publishing
Pages: 391

Source: YA Bound Book Tours
Synopsis:
Welcome to Soulless.
We are the generation that laughs at death.

Reincarnation; what was once considered a gift of immortality has become an eternity of nightmares.

Nadia Richards lives in a world plagued by reincarnation, a system of recycling souls where all past memories, personalities and traumatic events are relived daily in disjointed sequences. Trapped within their own warped realities, not even the richest and most powerful are saved from their own minds unraveling. Madness is the new human nature, and civilizations are crumpling beneath themselves trying to outrun it. 

Within a society that ignores death, Nadia appears to be the one exception to the reincarnation trap. Born without any reincarnated memories and with printless eyes, the hot tempered 19 year old quickly becomes the ultimate prize to all those wishing to end the vicious cycle, or for some, to ensure they could evade death forever.


Readers discretion: Adult language, violence and some adult scenes. For mature audiences only.

My Rating:

★★★★★

Review:
I received this book from YA Bound Book Tours for an honest review, all reviews and opinions are my own.

Nadia, I really liked her she was distant yet wanted to be close to other people. She was born with not knowing really who to trust and who not to trust because she didn't live any lives previous to this one. I really think Nadia's mother was a real jerk the father was as well but the mother took the cake and didn't want to claim her as any child that came from her because she was different.

Diesel he was a very confusing character at first I didn't even know how old he was because it described him as looking old in Alpha prison. Then when most of the book is finished I find out he is around 25 or so I read the whole book to find out he was 25. Hehe just kidding the book was so good I had a hard time prying myself away from it. Diesel was that character that gave the book an extra push towards greatness, I don't think Nadia could have made it with out him but neither could he have made it on is own.

Frankie and Vance these two were confusing for me I think they wanted to make a friend but they didn't know how to exactly. In a world where you literally can have enemies forever it is hard to keep friends or even loved ones close. These two though have been in each others lives continuously, and I think that is one of the reasons I liked them regardless of how they treated Nadia and Diesel. I hope these continuously find each other no matter what. A true meaning of soul mates were what these two had I think.

I really liked the plot and how living so many lives can effect a person and start making them crazy I mean some people go crazy with only the lives they are given right now. Imagine having many lives in one body to contend with. Also I really liked how it seemed to push people apart and no one knows friendship or trust anymore because of it, I think that is sometimes how people are going now, where we are so disconnected with each other because of technology.

I can not wait for the second one and am glad I have the chance to read the next one so you will be seeing another blog post up real soon, and will probably have even more to go on about. Also look at that cover! It is amazing is it not.

Bout of Books 17: Update Day 7

Currently Reading: 

• The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Books Completed:

• Merciless II: The Exorcism of Sophia Flores by Danielle Vega
• Vampire Shift by Tim O'Rourke
• Dragonbane by Sherrilyn Kenyon
• The Demon's Deadline by Tori Centanni
• The Sword of Darkness by Kinley MacGregor

Pages read today: 0

Total pages read: 1,252

Books to read:

• 
  

Thoughts:

Okay the last day in the read-a-thon was the worst. I didn't read anything but I am still happy with what I accomplished. I hop you all had a good read-a-thon, and I can't wait to do this yet again. I did complete 5 books which I haven't done in a while so it makes me ecstatic. 

Bout of Books: Update Day 6

Currently Reading: 

• 
  

Books Completed:

• Merciless II: The Exorcism of Sophia Flores by Danielle Vega
• Vampire Shift by Tim O'Rourke
• Dragonbane by Sherrilyn Kenyon
• The Demon's Deadline by Tori Centanni
• The Sword of Darkness by Kinley MacGregor

Pages read today: 204

Total pages read: 1,252

Books to read:

• The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Thoughts:
Just finished The Sword of Darkness in before the end of the day! Now on to my last book. Today was an okay reading day, since it was my day off I decided to go outside and get some fresh air so not as much time for reading as I intended but it was still a fun day. Hope everyone is doing well on their reading?

Bout of Books 17: Update Day 5

Currently Reading: 

• The Sword of Darkness by Kinley MacGregor

Books Completed:

• Merciless II: The Exorcism of Sophia Flores by Danielle Vega
• Vampire Shift by Tim O'Rourke
• Dragonbane by Sherrilyn Kenyon
• The Demon's Deadline by Tori Centanni

Pages read today: 148

Total pages read: 1,048

Books to read:

• The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Thoughts:
Didn't get as many pages as I would have liked read but that is okay something is better than nothing. Hopefully tomorrow I can finish The Sword of Darkness, I am getting to a really good part and so I feel I will be reading through it faster now. Than I will be starting on The Iron Knight.

Bout of Books 17: Update Day 4

Currently Reading: 

• The Sword of Darkness by Kinley MacGregor

Books Completed:

• Merciless II: The Exorcism of Sophia Flores by Danielle Vega
• Vampire Shift by Tim O'Rourke
• Dragonbane by Sherrilyn Kenyon
• The Demon's Deadline by Tori Centanni

Pages read today: 365

Total pages read: 900

Books to read:

• The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Thoughts:
Finished Dragonbane and now I must know more so of course instead of continuing on and reading the next book on my list The Iron Knight I am going to start The Sword of Darkness to learn a little bit more of the Lords of Avalon so I wont be so lost on who everyone is. Also decided to start a shorter novel to make up for not reading much the other day. Two books down in one day. I am feeling better for yesterday  now.

Bout of Books 17: Update Day 3

Currently Reading: 

• Dragonbane by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Books Completed:

• Merciless II: The Exorcism of Sophia Flores by Danielle Vega
• Vampire Shift by Tim O'Rourke

Pages read today: 57

Total pages read: 535

Books to read:

• The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Thoughts:
I didn't really read much today because work was not the best today I had to come home and  rest. They are doing renovations at the hotel I work at and the fumes plus the drilling got to my head by the time I got out, so I took a nap in hopes that I would feel better. I plan to read most of tonight and tomorrow so hopefully I can catch up on what I missed out. 

Bout of Books 17: Update Day 2

Currently Reading: 

• Dragonbane by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Books Completed:

• Merciless II: The Exorcism of Sophia Flores by Danielle Vega
• Vampire Shift by Tim O'Rourke

Pages read today: 218

Total pages read: 478

Books to read:

• The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Thoughts:
I am on a roll! Another book down, now I know today I probably won't be able to finish Dragonbane since I am only like 20 pages into it but I should finish it by the next day and get a good start possibly on the next one. I love these challenges that push me. I also hope tomorrow when I have more time to check out other peoples blogs and see how they are doing this read-a-thon. Hope you are all doing well let me know.

Bout of Books 17: Update Day 1

Currently Reading: 

• Vampire Shift by Tim O'Rourke

Books Completed:

• Merciless II: The Exorcism of Sophia Flores by Danielle Vega

Pages read today: 260

Total pages read: 260

Books to read:

• The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
• Dragonbane by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Thoughts:
I think day 1 was a win! I finished one book already and hope to keep this going, if I do I feel like I can definitely get through 4 books. Also the books on my to read list are tentative and of course can be switched for other books at anytime but I have been wanting to get to dragon bane for quiet some time. Let me know how your first day was.

Review: Ripple by Heather Smith Meloche

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Published: September 20, 2016
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Pages: 320

Source: First to Read
Synopsis:
When their too-adult lives lead them down self-destructive paths, these broken teens find a way to heal in this YA novel perfect for fans of Ellen Hopkins.

With her impossible-to-please grandmother on her back about college and her disapproving step-dad watching her every move, Tessa would do anything to escape the pressure-cooker she calls home. So she finds a shot of much-needed power and confidence by hooking up with boys, even though it means cheating on her boyfriend. But when she's finally caught red-handed, she’ll do anything she can to cover up what she's done.

Jack is a prankster who bucks the system every chance he gets—each transgression getting riskier and riskier. He loves the thrill, and each adventure allows a little release because his smug smile and suave demeanor in the face of authority doesn’t make life at home with his mom any less tough. He tries to take care of her, but the truth is he's powerless in the face of her fragile mental health. So he copes in his own way, by defacing public property and pulling elaborate pranks, though he knows in the end this’ll only screw up his life even more.

As they both try not to let their self-destructive patterns get the best of them, Tessa and Jack gravitate toward one another, discovering the best parts of themselves in the process. An honest portrayal of the urges that drive us and finding the strength to overcome them. 

My Rating:

★★★★★

Review:

I received this book from the First to Reads program for an honest review, all reviews and opinions are my own.

I feel like this will be a long review because of how close to home this book touches. This one hit me in the feels, I did not expect it but it did.

I liked how the chapters switched back and forth between the two characters. This makes it easier to see what is going on each of the main characters heads.Though they both are in different situations they are similar and I think that brings them closer together. I know a little something about that since both my husband and I come from troubled backgrounds with family, and I think that is one thing that pushed us closer together. Family can break up a relationship really fast but when the two came together like they did in this book to sort of help each other through the others pain it creates a bond that doesn't let go.

Tessa irritated me at times with how weak she made herself and put herself in harms way when with other boys. She needed to go through it to learn and become stronger, but it was still very dangerous. I can relate a bit because I went through things that if I look back now and know what I do now I wouldn't have gone through what I did but at the age I was and with what I knew I had to go through it to become the stronger me. She needed to learn to stand up for herself and make people see what she wants in life. I know its hard because parents want to live through their childs life but that isn't always the best for them.

Jack had to learn to live for himself he had a lot of responsibility and sometimes it is okay to be selfish. I know first handed how hard it is to be the adult when you yourself are a kid, but it does make one stronger in the end. Without giving away to much he learned to grow and let go of somethings sometimes you can't be the only one to carry such a burden.

Bout of Books 17

It is back!!!! Bout of Books 17! For those that don't know what Bout of Books is:

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 22nd and runs through Sunday, August 28th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 17 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

I have not been reading as much as I used to because of my new job but hopefully this will get me through a few books this week. So here are some books that I have lined up for myself to get through.

I know four books is going to be a lot for me especially since I have only been maybe reading a book a week but I am already part of the way through The merciless and we will see about the rest. What are you guys going to be reading? Are you participating?

Review: The Smaller Evil by Stephanie Kuehn

Genre: Young Adult, Mystery
Published: August 2, 2016
Publisher: Dutton Books For Young Readers
Pages: 256

Source: First to Read
Synopsis:
Sometimes the greater good requires the smaller evil.

17-year-old Arman Dukoff is struggling with severe anxiety and a history of self-loathing when he arrives at an expensive self-help retreat in the remote hills of Big Sur. He’s taken a huge risk—and two-thousand dollars from his meth-head stepfather—for a chance to "evolve," as Beau, the retreat leader, says.

Beau is complicated. A father figure? A cult leader? A con man? Arman's not sure, but more than anyone he's ever met, Beau makes Arman feel something other than what he usually feels—worthless.

The retreat compound is secluded in coastal California mountains among towering redwoods, and when the iron gates close behind him, Arman believes for a moment that he can get better. But the program is a blur of jargon, bizarre rituals, and incomprehensible encounters with a beautiful girl. Arman is certain he's failing everything. But Beau disagrees; he thinks Arman has a bright future—though he never says at what.

And then, in an instant Arman can't believe or totally recall, Beau is gone. Suicide? Or murder? Arman was the only witness and now the compound is getting tense. And maybe dangerous.

As the mysteries and paradoxes multiply and the hints become accusations, Arman must rely on the person he's always trusted the least: himself. 

My Rating:

★★★☆☆

Review:

I received this book from the First to Reads program for an honest review, all reviews and opinions are my own.

This one was a tough one to rate, many of the characters in the book are mysterious and even the one he grew up with is kind of mysterious. Arman even himself is all over the place, he wants to grow and find answers in life and get away from his toxic home life. He finds the answers here but not how he originally wanted them I believe. He like many people want an easy way out and Beau even though he lied to him he made Arman think for his self and have to rely on his self. Sometimes the only person in life that we can fully rely on is ourselves.

The girl Arman first runs into at this place is definitely a mystery as well, and I think only there to confuse him even more rather than help. Many of the people at this place are different and they don't give him much to go on, he also doesn't ask many questions when he first gets there. That is one thing I had problems with he said he liked Beau and looked up to him but didn't exactly explain how this came to be, was it just because he paid attention to Arman? If the characters were a bit more flushed out then I think this could have been a great book. 

This definitely shows that all people from all walks of life have their own problems regardless of what they are given in life. There are also others that want to ruin a good thing even though they think they know better. It is always good to question and question everything. Arman has many problems that he takes medicine for but I think the one that stands out is the one where he scratches himself until he bleeds when he is in a stressful situation or scared, or really any high emotion he can't really deal with. He learns that doing that to himself is a way for him to release the emotions that he keeps bottled up and it isn't healthy. I know some illnesses require medicine but others don't need it, the brain can do some amazing things. 

In the end I couldn't give this book a low rating because it did make me think about many things. Though at first I thought it was going to be a cult type thing it didn't begin like that so there were some good points through out this novel. I just think it could have done better in some spots. Let me know what you think? Do you think that some times medicines are over hyped/ used? 

Review: Greyworld (Book #1) by Nhys Glover

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult

Published: February 13, 2016

Publisher: Belisama Press

Pages: 145

Source: Red Moon Book Tours

Synopsis:

Don't believe what they tell you in movies and on TV; ghosts don't haunt people. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying there's no such thing as ghosts, I'm just saying they don't haunt living people – because basically they don't know we're here. 

How do I know that? Because I can see them. I have since I was a little kid. But I didn't have a grandmother who taught me how to help people move on, or Bruce Willis as my ghost shrink. Nope, I just got to stand around like a zombie staring at people nobody else could see, wondering if it was me or the rest of the world who was crazy. 

Then, just when I'd worked out what my version of 'normal' was, and was content with it, Jake came along - the anomaly - the Grey who didn't play by the rules. What was worse, he couldn't be just any old Grey, could he? Oh no, he had to be the most gorgeous guy I'd ever laid eyes on, living or dead. And he was set on rocking my world, whether I liked it or not.

Buy Link:

Amazon

Bio:

After a lifetime of teaching others to appreciate the written word, Aussie author Nhys Glover finally decided to make the most of the Indie Book Revolution to get her own written word out to the world. Now, with more than 100,000 of her ebooks downloaded internationally and a winner of 2013 SFR Galaxy Award for 'The Titan Drowns', Nhys finds her words, too, are being appreciated. Living in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales of England, Nhys these days spends most of her time "living the dream" by looking out over the moors from her window as she writes the kind of novels she loves to read. The ones that are a little bit different and wholly romantic.

Author Links:

Website│Facebook│Twitter│Book Trailer

My Rating:
★★★★☆

Review:

I received this book from Red Moon Book Tours for the book tour, all reviews and opinions are my own. If you would like to check out the rest of the blog tour click here for the official schedule.

The two characters were Jake and Beth, I liked how the chapters were separated and you got to see both of their points and each of their feelings. Many paranormal romances has a lot of action this one didn't but that did not dissuade from the story. I really liked how cute Jake and Beth were toward each other. It was like the girl next door kind of story but with ghosts and some other stuff mixed in. Beth grows a lot in a short amount of time. She learns more about her gift and learns to not only trust in that gift but believe in what she is doing.

Beth also has a sister named Charlie and though I didn't really like Charlie I definitely think she can be a redeemable character. I understand how some people fear things that go against what they believe in and will fight whatever is against them with all they have before believing, but it's her sister. I am interested in seeing how Charlie comes along in the rest of the series.

Beth also questioned everything and wasn't afraid to find out the real answers she might have been scared of the possibilities but that did not stop her from seeking those answers. Jake fought it a little but would rather know the truth in the end, I like how even though both of their worlds are coming undone they are both their for each other when it matters.

~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt:

"What do I look like to you? I assume there's some reason you think I'm a ghost," her voice went up at the end as a question, and her pale eyebrows lifted too. Was she making fun of me?

I decided two could play at that game. "Is this where I'm supposed to say you're pretty?"

She laughed and shook her head. "I'm not my sister. I have no illusions about my looks. And if you said I was pretty I wouldn't believe you. So, no. I want to know why you call me a ghost."

I sobered up and decided to address the elephant in the park directly. "I can see through you. You aren't solid and colourful like the rest of us. Like the tree behind us." I hated to break it to her. After all, she said she wasn't dead, and yet she obviously was. How was someone supposed to break something like that to a ghost?

She looked at her own hand, as if trying to see it as I did. Of course, she wouldn't.

"It's okay. You can go to the Light or whatever. They say it's great on the other side," I found myself muttering stupidly. Crap, this was not as easy as it seemed on TV.

She looked up at me, her eyes filled with compassion and empathy. "So they say. Do you want to know what I see when I look at you?"

I hadn't thought about that. Wouldn't she see me like the rest of the people around us? I mean, we're the living, after all.

Her eyes became even more sympathetic and I began to feel like an idiot who was missing the point somehow. I could see she was fighting not to reach out and comfort me with a touch.

"You're transparent to me, too. I call you Greys. And there aren't fifty shades of you. You're all just one transparent grey."

It was my turn to look at my hand. It was as solid as it always was. Maybe she was just saying that to get even with me for breaking the news to her so badly?

"I'm as solid as those people sitting over there," I nodded with my head to the three co-eds and one guy sitting on the grass no more than ten feet away. Already they'd looked my way a couple of times, clearly wondering who I was talking to.

"There's nobody there. I can see two guys about to sit down to our right. But it's too cold for most people to be out today. Spring seems to have deserted us."

"It's not spring. It's September and this is an Indian summer," I choked out. Things were deteriorating fast. She must have died in spring and was stuck in that time forever. Always chilly, never to enjoy the pleasures of summer again.

For a moment she just stared at me. That's when it hit me. She thought I was dead. She thought I was the ghost. This was getting seriously screwed up.

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