Stephanie's books

Clockwork Angel
Eragon
City of Bones
Twilight
The Fellowship of the Ring
The Golden Compass
Night World, No. 2
Thirst No. 2: Phantom, Evil Thirst, and Creatures of Forever
Thirst No. 3: The Eternal Dawn
The Iron Daughter
The Iron King
Nightshade
Divergent
A Discovery of Witches
A Great and Terrible Beauty
The Hunger Games
The Host
City of Glass
Memoirs of a Geisha
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo


Stephanie's favorite books »

Tuesday 12 November 2013

Blog Tour Review- From Gods

Title: From Gods
Author: Mary Ting
Genre: Young Adult
Tour Host: Lady Amber's Tour's
Rating: 5/5

Summary

Did you just see a flash of lightning across the sky on a clear sunny day? It’s not from Mother Nature. It is most likely from Mason Grand, swoon-worthy demigod, one of Zeus’s descendants. 

Skylar Rome is supposed to be having the best summer ever before she heads off to college. Little did she know, her whole life was about to change while visiting her cousin. Nearly drowning at the beach due to unknown forces, one of the Grand brothers she’d just met, Mason, saves her life. Cool, collected, mysterious, and dangerously good-looking, Skylar is drawn to him from the start. Though she knows he is the type of guy good girls stayed away from, it seems he is always saving her life, and the attraction was inevitable. 

Upon meeting the brothers, strange things begin to happen. When she accidentally kills one of the brothers, it throws her life into turmoil, as they search to find the answers. Implausibly, she gets caught up in a world of the decedents of ancient gods, all who have super powers. Not only is her discovery difficult to accept, evil beings are after her. Running out of time and running for her life, she must unravel a mystery. What do they want from her? Forced into a battle set into motion long before she was born, will she find the answers, or will she die trying?


My Review

*Received this book free from the author in exchange for and honest review and as part of a blog tour*
This book was so great it left me speechless at the end and I'm having trouble finding the right words to express it's awesomeness. I am a huge fan of Greek mythology and this books take on the myths was perfect and the added "Unknown Factor" or "Keeper of Death" was the best, I wont spoils anything but I will say it added a depth and freshness I have been waiting for from this Genre. This is a book that I thought about a lot while not reading it, it held my attention and it will stay with me for a long time. I really liked that the book was mostly told from Skylar's point of view, but it had other POV's sprinkled in, giving me the perfect amount of knowledge and mystery.
 What an interesting and lovable group of characters the author introduced, the supporting cast was just as important as Skylar and Mason, I loved how they interacted and intwined it seemed effortless and relate-able. By the end of the book Mason had completely stole my heart, he didn't grab me right away but he grew on me a lot. I absolutely loved the growth in Skylar and Mason, two broken people finding each other and finding a way to break through together, they made me feel so many things and I found myself very invested in the relationship.
If you love, hate, or are unsure about this Genre read this book cause I think everyone should it is full of adventure, love, action, friendship, and family. I really don't know how else to say I loved this book so...I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!


Author Bio: 

Mary Ting resides in Southern California with her husband and two children. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Writing her first novel, Crossroads Saga, happened by chance. It was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother, and inspired by a dream she once had as a young girl. When she started reading new adult novels, she fell in love with the genre. It was the reason she had to write one-Something Great. Why the pen name, M Clarke? She tours with Magic Johnson Foundation to promote literacy and her children's chapter book-No Bullies Allowed.

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Sunday 10 November 2013

Review- The Pen & The Sword

Title: The Pen & The Sword (The Ballad of Nick and Mina 1)
Author: Jonathon Wolfer
Rating: 5/5

Summary
Nick gets a pen and the ability to document the supernatural world - Mina gets a sword and super powers. Nick does not think this is remotely fair.

When the new kid in town - Nick - is partnered up with the strange girl in town - Mina - for a Science project, they learn that there are things that go bump in the night. And that its their job to hunt them down!

My Review
*I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review as part of a read to review on Goodreads*
When I signed up for this read to review I must confess my expectations were not high, well if anyone else felt the same then throw that out the window cause this book is fun, well written, and very easy to lose yourself in. I loved the flow of this book, I could not put it down, from the very first word I was captivated. The new idea of a pen and a sword be so powerful together and be able to bring two people together so perfectly was fantastic. I still can't really explain how much fun I had reading this book.
There was a little bit of everything in this book witches, werewolves, ghosts of different kinds, and even a cursed werepig. Together all these things bring about an interesting tale that the author wove together beautifully. The thing is I am not that into baseball and I didn't enjoy those parts as much as the rest of the story, but they were there for a great reason and when you read the book you (which you should!!!) you will learn/know why.
I don't want to say to much more cause it's so much better if you go in blind, but I want to say that this great story also had great characters both Human and Supernatural. Nick was cute, smart, and very level headed and I liked him right away, Mina took a little longer to grow on me, but she did. I am really happy I signed up for this read to review and thanks to Jonathon Wolfer for putting his book out there.

Review- Storm of Blood (Storm Force 1)


Title: Storm of Blood (Storm Force 1)
Author: Lissa Bilyk
Rating: 5é5
Summary
Australian teenage demon hunter Tina Storm has been banned from using her lightning vanquish. To earn it back, she has to infiltrate a coven of witches suspected of using illegal blood magic to control people’s minds. Resident witch hottie Lachlan’s sudden interest in her can’t be coincidence – can it? After all, he’s pretty popular with the other girls in the coven – especially Chelsea, who’s decided Tina is evil for stealing her boyfriend.
Meanwhile, Tina has to juggle her end of year exams, her demon hunting, and her family as her relationship with Chinese shapeshifting demon Ten deepens. She’s also being hunted by an ancient vampire for the death of the vampire’s offspring. Can Tina solve the blood magic mystery, settle the vampire with a grudge, and soothe her romantic relationships without the help of her powers? How much can one teenage demon hunter handle?

My Review

I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review!
I loved the idea of this story, Demon Hunters controlled by a council of Elders and sent to vanquish the Monsters of the world with their lightning power. I was very happy that I read the prequel first it gave me a great look into Tina's triumphs and misfortunes that took place shortly before the events of this Novel, I really liked having that little bit extra while I read this one. 
This review may contain a few spoilers because I have so many feelings and I need to get them out so read at your own risk!!

I was taken on a very emotional ride and a lot of it was for Tina, I felt very sorry for her after her punishment I believe she was doing the right thing, but I guess the council did not see it that way. I was also pleased with her because even after losing her power she still did her job to the best of her ability. I was also very frustrated with her when it came to Lachlan, I know she was under a spell but I thought she was stronger than that, I even put the book down it was only for a very short time but I was just so mad at her, I think the biggest reason was because of Ten I was so confused as to why she would just put him aside after everything they had been through Demon or not.
When the shit really hit the fan, the Tina I knew and loved returned and I really enjoyed the action filled conclusion and I felt very satisfied with myself because I knew that Lachlan was not smart enough to carry all this out on his own, and the real mastermind was someone I had been very suspicious of for a long time. The whole blood magic thing was very neat and entertaining and I can't wait to see what the storm family will take on next, with so many demons out there both with and without treaties I can see the battle for peace has just begun.
Ten had my heart in the prequel when he helped Tina save her friend, and since he is a shape shifter and shifted into a wolf then I was even more hooked. When he continued to help Tina and shifted into more fun things to show her a good time and even to save her I just fell in love, it also didn't hurt that he drove a motorcycle and wore a leather jacket. I can not wait to see what happens between him and Tina cause I have faith he will always be there for her like he promised. I loved every second of this book and I am so glad I read it!!! 

Review- Riley's Secret (Moon Glow 1)

Title: Riley's Secret (Moon Glow Novel 1)
Author: Christina Smith
Rating: 5/5

Summary
Megan Banks feels like an imposter in her own life; she doesn’t belong with her friends or with her parents, who ignore her. After a fire she’s indirectly involved with, she finds herself with two hundred hours of community service. It’s the charity she volunteers at that finally makes her feel like she belongs. These people, with whom she has nothing in common, mean more to her than her rich, selfish friends. 

But for some reason her supervisor, Nate Green, doesn’t want her there. He thinks she’s a self-centered rich girl who deserves to be in jail. After she’s threatened by the kids who started the fire, Nate and Megan form a strange friendship, built only for her protection. But the more she feels for him, the more he pushes her away.

As they become closer, Megan knows Nate is attracted to her as well, but she also believes that he is hiding something. But she could never guess what he really is. Before she realizes what is happening, she becomes involved in a world she didn't know existed.

In this strange new reality, can she finally find a place where she belongs?

My Review
*Gifted from the author in exchange for an honest review*
This was the book of the month for one of my groups and since the prequel was I picked it up and read it first. I fell in love with Nate in the prequel and I was very excited to see his story continue in this book. As many people may know I am a huge werewolf fan and this one joins my list of favorites, not only because the werewolf parts held what I believe are essentials in such a novel but also so much more, like complicated romance, the threat of danger, and of course Riley House just to name a few.
I loved Nate just as much if not more while reading this one and I believe Megan said it best when she said:
"The more I got to know him the more I realized he was sweet caring, protective---and also sometimes very strange."
I did have moments of frustration with Nate and if you read it I like you may know what I mean, but he quickly redeemed himself and became the loving Nate I fell in love with.
I did not really like Meg at first but she quickly grew on me, she was smart and when she found he place at Riley house I knew she would be great with Nate. I was very glad to see her cut her dead weight and get some new friends. I believe Mona was a big reason that Megan was not a snob, I loved her so much and I really want to try her doughnuts!
I really loved the sweet yet action packed ending and I am ready to get my hands on the rest of the series and join this group on their journey once again. I am very curious about Lauren and Joe I hope I learn more soon. If you like werewolves and romance then this book is for you, I absolutely loved it.
Also I must say this cover is beautiful I LOVE it!!!