I've gone MIA!

Hi guys! Sorry if I've been out for the past couple of days not updating and commenting on anything. I had been so busy with some school stuffs plus my internet connection isn't being very friendly to me lately. *sigh* And the month is ending! I can't believe I've only written four reviews for the whole month! OTL I've been so lazy in writing reviews and I've been pretty picky with books lately. I have so many review copies that I still haven't read and are supposed to be reviewed this month or sooner. So sorry to all the authors who'd given me a copy of their books but I promise I'll read your books and review them sooner rather than later. 

I'll probably be gone for a couple of days next week too. I'm having a vacation in Puerto Prinsesa, Palawan. (I don't know if you've heard of that place but it's famous for it's underground river which has been one of the New7Wonders of Nature.) But I'll try to slip some post or a review this weekend and visit some blogs and comment. :) When I get back I'll try to post more reviews than memes or promo posts. Haha! 

Have a great day everyone!

Cover Reveal: Just for Now (Sea Breeze #4) by Abbi Glines

Hi guys! I have the pleasure to share you the cover of Abbi Gline's upcoming new-adult novel, Just for Now designed by Mooney Design. Just for Now is the fourth book from the Sea Breeze series! This time it's Preston Drake and Amanda hardy's story. Yay! Check out the cover, blurb and trailer below! (This cover reveal is hosted by AToMR Tours)

Title: Just for Now (Sea Breeze #4)
Author: Abbi Glines
Expected Publication: October 23rd 2012

The day Preston Drake figured out that wealthy women paid well for a set of tight abs and a pretty face his life turned around.

The run down rat-infested trailer he had shared with his alcoholic mother and three younger siblings was now only a place he visited to pay the bills and stock the pantry with food.

He no longer worried about his family starving or living without electricity. The money he made entertaining rich older women more than covered his family’s needs and his own. He had it all figured out. Except…

There was this girl.

She was as innocent as he was tainted.

Amanda Hardy wished her knees didn’t get weak when Preston walked into a room. She hated the fact her heart raced when he flashed his smile in her direction. He had a different girl in his bed every night. He was the kind of boy a smart girl ran from. So, why was she coming up with ways to get close to him? Even when it was obvious he wanted to keep her at a distance.

Maybe her heart knew something the world didn’t. Maybe Preston Drake was more than just a pretty face.

Book Trailer (created by Hellion Works)

Author Bio

AbbiGlines can be found hanging out with rockstars, taking out her yacht on weekends for a party cruise, sky diving, or surfing in Maui. Okay maybe she needs to keep her imagination focused on her writing only. In the real world, Abbi can be found hauling kids (several who seem to show up that don’t belong to her) to all their social events, hiding under the covers with her MacBook in hopes her husband won’t catch her watching Buffy on Netflix again, and sneaking off to Barnes and Noble to spend hours lost in the yummy goodness of books. If you want to find her then check Twitter first because she has a severe addiction to tweeting @abbiglines. Facebook is also somewhere she visits a little too often. She blogs regularly but rarely about anything life changing. She also really enjoys talking about herself in third person.

AbbiGlines| Facebook| Twitter

Abbi Gline's book covers are always my favorites. They always look so sweet but sexy at the same time. And can I just say that I love the hair of the guy in this cover? Haha! So what do you think of the cover guys? 

Stacking the Shelves (#5)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews as way to share all the great books you've received throughout the week.

Defy the Stars by Stephanie Parent - This one sounds quite edgy and intense but I'm pretty curious how the story would turn out. Plus this is a verse novel! Ins't it just lovely? Thank you YA Bound for the review copy.  Freedom Road by T.M. Souders - I love music related novels so when I saw this I was instantly interested. Hope this would be a good read. Thanks Bookish Brunette and T.M. for the review copy. Entangled by Nikki Jefford - Oh yeah, another auto-approve from Netgalley! So glad to be able to grab a copy of this since I've seen so many positive reviews about this one. Can't wait to get into it! Thanks Netgallet and Nikki Jefford. 

Dante's Girl by Courtney Cole - After seeing so many lovely reviews of this book saying that this is a very sweet read I decided I'd have to read this. Thank you Netgalley and Courtney Cole for the review copy. Death and The Girl Next Door by Darynda Jones - This was describe in the blurb as "Thrilling, sassy, sexy, and inventive" so yeah, that definitely had me. I'm quite worried though since there are two guys. Haha! Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the review copy. :) Even by Jessa Russo - The blurb of this book just had me really interested for some reason. Let's just hope this would be a very worthy read. Thanks Netgalley and Curiosity Quills Press for the review copy!

Lengths by Steph Campbell and Liz Reinhardt - I'm currently reading this and so far so good! I loved Steph's My Heart for Yours and Liz's Double Clutch so I'm really hoping I would love this too. :) On Dublin Street by Samantha Young - I finished this the other day and I can say this is a wonderfully written novel. I love that this wasn't just some mindless romance but something that has really depth and profundity. I mini review will be coming up soon. :)

Review: Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols

Title: Such a Rush
Author: Jennifer Echols
Published: July 10th 2012
Publisher: MTV Books
Rating: 4 stars

A sexy and poignant romantic tale of a young daredevil pilot caught between two brothers.

Heaven Beach, South Carolina, is anything but, if you live at the low-rent end of town. All her life, Leah Jones has been the grown-up in her family, while her mother moves from boyfriend to boyfriend, letting any available money slip out of her hands. At school, they may diss Leah as trash, but she’s the one who negotiates with the landlord when the rent’s not paid. At fourteen, she’s the one who gets a job at the nearby airstrip.

But there’s one way Leah can escape reality. Saving every penny she can, she begs quiet Mr. Hall, who runs an aerial banner-advertising business at the airstrip and also offers flight lessons, to take her up just once. Leaving the trailer park far beneath her and swooping out over the sea is a rush greater than anything she’s ever experienced, and when Mr. Hall offers to give her cut-rate flight lessons, she feels ready to touch the sky.

By the time she’s a high school senior, Leah has become a good enough pilot that Mr. Hall offers her a job flying a banner plane. It seems like a dream come true . . . but turns out to be just as fleeting as any dream. Mr. Hall dies suddenly, leaving everything he owned in the hands of his teenage sons: golden boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson. And they’re determined to keep the banner planes flying.

Though Leah has crushed on Grayson for years, she’s leery of getting involved in what now seems like a doomed business—until Grayson betrays her by digging up her most damning secret. Holding it over her head, he forces her to fly for secret reasons of his own, reasons involving Alec. Now Leah finds herself drawn into a battle between brothers—and the consequences could be deadly.

Jennifer Echols is the author that can still make me want to read more of her books even though most of it didn't really make me fall in love with them. From all the four books I've read of her Going Too Far was the only one that had successfully astounded me. But after reading Such a Rush, I'm glad to say that a new book from her has found it's way directly into my heart! Such a Rush is a complex story yet a poignant and heartwarming one that deals with issues about family and I just loved how Jennifer Echols explored it through Leah, Grayson and Alex's story.

Leah is a very endearing character. She's tough and independent yet there's something in her that makes you feel so protective of her. She is a character that is so easy to like and care about. Her determination to get a way from her current life through flying was something I really loved about her. Her passion with it was just very captivating and impressive that I myself can sometimes feel the elation she get through it with her narration. Jennifer Echols voiced her character in a very appealing way but with great realness and honesty in it.

Grayson is a complex and a very confusing character. He acted like a complete jerk but I can see that she cares for Leah a lot. He'd shown some of his caring and sweet side but still it didn't stop me from getting mad at his actions. I know there was something behind all the blackmailing but when I figured what it was all about I can't help but feel sad and sympathetic for him even if his choice of actions were wrong. He was emotionally wounded from the grief of losing Jake and his Dad. He was broken and was scared of having someone he really loved to lose again. In the end, I'm glad that he gained himself and I realized how invested I was to his character actually.

Jennifer Echols did an amazing job on exploring the importance of the relationship within a family whether you're blood related or not. I love how she showed and addressed the father-daughter like relationship Mr. Hall and Leah developed, the close relationship of the Hall boys and their father even though it was quite tainted by the past and how the loss of two of them affected the others. It was poignant, heart breaking but touching and moving. I love how the characters developed, grew and learned throughout the course of the story.

Although I find the pacing a bit slow it wasn't the kind that would make you feel bored about it. It would just make you want to know more and be eager to see what's gonna happen next. 

Such a Rush sure lived by it's title. Reading this was indeed such a rush, it was thrilling and exhilarating. Meeting these characters and seeing them grew and developed through all the obstacles was heartwarming and lifting. Being with them as they fly and feel the elation with it was like having the same experience as the had. It was wonderful and utterly captivating. This is such a beautiful novel. I recommend this.

P.S. I can't believe I didn't mention this. There are actually smexy times here that just had me really swooning and grinning like a maniac. Haha! Just adding more reason why you have to read this! XD

Excerpt and Giveaway: Dante's Girl by Courtney Cole

Hi guys! So today I'm happy to share you an excerpt from Courtney Cole's young-adult novel, Dante's Girl as part of its promotional even hosted by AToMR. I'm also hosting a giveaway for a gifted copy (Kindle or Nook) of either of her two other paranormal novels , Soul Kissed and Princess. Giveaway is open international. And if the winner is from US/Canada he/she will also receive a signed 4x6 glossy of Dante's Girl. This ends on October 1.

I have spent every summer since I was ten years old with my father in London. Every summer, since I was ten years old, has been uneventful and boring. Until this year.

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

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

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

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

My heart just might be crazy.

Amazon / Barnes & Nobles

***Excerpt***

There are rose bushes everywhere. And peonies, which are my favorites.  And lots of white marble statues of Greek gods.  And one of Napoleon.  Why in the world is this country so obsessed with Napoleon? 

I am just wondering if the small statue is life-sized when Dante interrupts any coherent thought process that I might have by striding across the lawns with a racquet in hand and wearingshort-short tennis shorts. 

Sweet.

Baby.

Monkeys.

It’s like a slow-motion scene from a movie.  Dante shakes his blond bangs out of his eyes and the sun catches every glint of gold in his hair.  His legs are long, lean, tanned and muscled and HolyCowThereIsAGod.  If I were a man, I would totally be wolf-whistling right now.  But then again, if I were a man, I guess I wouldn’t be wolf-whistling at Dante. 

I’m such a weirdo.

***Giveaway***



Winner’s choice of a gifted ecopy (Kindle or Nook) of Princess or Soul Kissed. Open International. If winner lives within US/Canada, they will also receive  a signed 4x6 glossy of Dante’s Girl.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

-------------------------------------

Find and follow author, Courtney Cole on her:

Website/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

-------------------------------------

Review: Speechless by Hannah Harrigton

Title: Speechless
Author: Hannah Harrington
Publication Date: August 28th 2012
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Rating: 4 stars

Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can't keep a secret

Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast—and nearly got someone killed.

Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she's ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.

But there's strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way—people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she's done. If only she can forgive herself.

Speechless is one remarkable and outstanding novel that handled a very insightful issue with great depth and profundity in it. I'm amazed by how Hannah Harrigton effectively wrote Chelsea's story that would make every readers understand the situation, the characters, the consequences and see the lessons and messages behind it. 

Chelsea at first wasn't a very likable character. She's shallow, indifferent and yes, doesn't know when to shut her mouth. That was until it caused a terrible and heavy consequences and she vowed to never speak again. I love how Harrigton wrote her character; she was so flawed but was very realistically written. Her character definitely bugged me in so many ways but when bad things started happening to her it was so easy to sympathize with her situation.

Although that didn't mean I trusted her right away. But as she bit by bit realized stuff and things, as she gradually grew, changed and developed I started to really appreciate and love her character too. Every aspect of her development was well highlighted. I love how it was efficiently carried thus helping the readers to completely relate and understand the repercussion of Chelsea's actions (as well as the other characters) and how it had affected her. Hannah Harrigton is definitely a great writer for being able to really reach me with Chelsea's story.

The secondary characters were one of the best parts of this book. Asha, Sam, Andy, Lou and Dex were all great characters and definitely appealing. I love that they were the kind of seconday characters that weren't forgettable. The scenes with them; the banters and dialogues were so fun and amusing to read. The romance was also a very lovely and sweet one. I love how Sam and Chelsea's relationship developed, it was gradual and slow but really adorable and cute and sweet. Haha!

If you enjoyed Hannah Harrigton's Saving June I'm sure you're gonna love this one. Harrigton wrote an amazing realistic story with flawed yet totally relate-able character and with so much depth and insights. The writing is splendid and flowed so easily.  And the development of the story as well as the characters is impressive. This is a very worthy read. I recommend this.

*Thank you Netgalley and HarlequinTeen for providing a review copy of this book. 

Bog Tour: Chasing McCree by J.C. Isabella (Interview + Giveaway)

Hi guys! As part Chasing McCree Tour hosted by YA Bound I'm sharing you a promo post which is an interview with none other that the lovely author of the book, J.C. Isabella! Check out the interview below and a giveaway for a copy of Chasing McCree and the short story A McCree's Star Spangled 4th.

------------------------------------------

How old were you when you started writing?

JC: I was sixteen when I started writing.

How did you get your books published?

JC: I self-published through Amazon Kindle, just for fun at first.

How did you find an editor?

JC: At first I didn’t have one. I had friends and family look over my work. I found one online with great references. You just have to make sure the person knows what they are doing and can be trusted with your work.

Do you write or type your books?

JC: I type them. I’d never be able to read my scribble if I wrote it out.

Do you have any tips for writing?

JC: Write every day. Have fun and don’t take yourself too seriously. In the beginning just let the words flow and don’t stress if your writing isn’t perfect. It takes time and practice.

Do you have any ideas for a story?

JC: I do and I keep them on a list and check them off as I go!

Did you start out writing short stories or skip strait to full books?

JC: I just started writing whatever came out. I thought they were really long stories, but now when I look back, they were very short and had hardly any detail at all.

How do you get an idea for a book?

JC: It usually happens when I’m listening to music. I hear a song and I can imagine it as a story. The rest of the time it’s when I’m blow drying my hair. I always think up new things when getting ready for some reason!

How do you stay focused on a book and not get side tracked?

JC: I give myself goals. Like, I need so many words by this date. I like to write in the afternoon and evening, it’s when I do my best work.

How do you come up with names for your books?

JC: Generally I get the name from the book. Chasing McCree is the Character’s name. A little play on words. I sometimes don’t think of a good name until a book is almost done.

How do you come up with story lines for your books?

JC: I take a cue from the characters. Every lead has an issue they have to deal with, and that issue drives the story.

How do you come up with characters?

JC: Some of them are based on people in a very loose way. Zack Warren was an idea that came from knowing a guy who was a baseball player. For Chase McCree, I wanted to find out what a classic cowboy hero would be like as a teenager. Some of my characters just pop up as I’m writing, as if they’d always been there.

Do you base your characters off of real people or make them up?

JC: Both

Find and Follow J.C. Isabella on her:

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

---------------------------------------

***GIVEAWAY***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Briar Thompson had it all. The right clothes, the right friends, the right car. Being popular was all that mattered. Her parents were rich and treated like royalty throughout the community. She thought her senior year of high school was going perfectly, until the night her drink was spiked at a party by one of her so called friends.

That was the night she met Chase McCree.

Chase wanted to go back to Montana. To the ranch and the wild, wide blue sky that went on forever. He wanted nothing to do with flashy cars or spoiled rich kids. But he found himself head over boots for the quirky cheerleader who turned her back on her social status. She befriended him when no one else would.

Shunned and hurt by the people who were once her friends, Briar flees with Chase to his family ranch in Montana. There she discovers another world, and apart of herself she never knew.

The cowboy wasn’t like anyone she’d ever met. The cheerleader wasn’t like anyone he’d ever met. Apart their lives didn’t seem to make sense, but together, they were chasing forever.

Amazon / Barnes & Nobles

Author Interview: Talia Vance (Silver)

Hi guys! If you've seen my review of Silver (Bandia #1) you know how much I really enjoyed it, I do remember even giving a steamy teaser just so I could convince you to read it. Ha! (see review here) So I was really thrilled when its author, Talia Vance agreed to have an interview with me! Yay! Today, I have the pleasure to present it to you guys. Go check it out below and if you plan to read Silver I think this would help you to get a little background about the story and the characters.

----------------------------

1. Hi Talia! Can you tell us a bit about your debut novel, Silver?

"Silver is the story of the descendant of an Irish goddess who accidentally binds her soul to her mortal enemy.  It is really the story of a girl who discovers her own strength, and has to decide how to wield it."  

2. Silver is inspired with Irish mythology and folklore which I think is very rare in the YA world. Have you always wanted to write a story about it?

"No.  I didn’t start researching Celtic myths until I started writing the story.  I knew I wanted a paranormal element, and as I started researching, I was intrigued by the fact that so many modern American superstitions come from Ireland.  Ireland’s history is rich and I was intrigued by the dichotomy between religion and its magical folklore.  Then I found the story of the Milesians banishing the gods and I was off and running."

3. What are the challenges you encountered when you were writing Silver?

"Finishing the book was the hardest thing for me.  I had wanted to write a novel all my life, but making the time and sticking with it were hard for me.  It took me three years from starting the first chapter to writing the last line. Once I got a first draft down, there were some fairly substantial revisions along the way.  I learned something with every single one."

4. Which of the characters is more like you? Are they based by people you know in real life?

"I am most like Brianna, but only because I borrowed a few scenes from my own life.  I had a rescue horse that I trained and sold to pay for college, and I met my husband playing quarters at a party when I was sixteen, although he ended up dating my best friend.  I am not a descendant of a goddess as far as I know, but one of my ancestors was hung as a witch during the Salem witch trials.  Some of the other characters in Silver started out based on mashes of people I know, but they quickly evolved into something completely different.  There is a little of me in all of them, I suppose."

5. Did you have a hard time writing the romance in this book?

"Sometimes.  Blake and Brianna were fun to write together, because there was so much inherent conflict.  But, while it was easy for them to connect physically, and even emotionally, it was harder for them to connect as people without the conflict bubbling over.  It’s hard for them to trust each other, and that makes romance difficult."

6. I was really confused which to believe is the good guys or the bad guys. Yet, instead of being frustrated it only made me more intrigued. Did you really plan to make it like that? 

"I did.  Brianna’s biggest fear is that she is inherently evil and I wanted to explore what that might mean.  The book is about choosing what kind of person you want to be and not letting your family or genes dictate what kind of person you are.  It was important for Brianna to make her own decision about what was right or wrong and who was good or bad.  In real life, people are rarely all good or all evil. I don’t think any of the characters in Silver are truly bad.  They just feel threatened in some way or want something different."

7. Blake I think, although I love him, is not an easy character. To be honest, I didn't really like him right away. He was a bit of a jerk during the earlier parts but he soon eventually gained my trust. How do you think the readers would react to him? Did you have a hard time writing his character?

"Blake is conflicted, so I will not be surprised if readers are conflicted about him as a character.  I think Blake has a good heart, but he also has to weigh his feelings against his loyalty to his family and his need to survive.  He doesn’t want to like Brianna, let alone love her, so he fights against his feelings for a lot of the book.  It exhausted me when I was writing, because he always wanted to fight."

8. Teaser time! Haha! Can you share us a quote from one of your favorite scenes in the book?

All this time I’ve been waiting for him to grace me with that smile, and tonight it has no effect on me.  I’ve seen him use it too many times to think it means anything beyond a calculated effort to get what he wants.  I clutch the bracelet tighter.  “Why don’t you humor me?  Maybe I don’t want to give this to you.  Maybe there’s a reason I can’t.”  I link the chain back around my wrist.

“Listen to yourself.”  Blake’s voice is quiet.  “There is a reason.”

 “What is that, Blake?”

“So you can hide.”

I try to keep the panic from my voice.  “And what exactly am I hiding from?”

His dimples are out in full force.  “Bastards like me.”  

9. When will the next book, Gold, be released? How many books do you plan to write for this series?

"Gold will be released in Fall 2013.  At this point, I don’t know how many books will be in the series.  I believe that there will be at least one more book to complete Brianna’s story.  And, depending on how things go, there are some characters in Silver that have their own stories to tell."

------------------------------

Thank you so much Talia Vance for having the interview!

"As I step into the room, a silver flash blurs my vision. Before I can take a breath, the world falls away."

Brianna has always felt invisible. People stare right past her, including the one boy she can't resist, Blake Williams. But everything changes at a house party where Brianna's charm bracelet slips off and time stands still. In that one frozen, silver moment, Blake not only sees her, he recognizes something deep inside her she's been hiding even from herself.

Discovering she is descended from Danu, the legendary Bandia of Celtic myth, Brianna finds herself questioning the truth of who she is. And when she accidentally binds her soul to Blake, their mutual attraction becomes undeniable.

But Blake has his own secret, one that could prove deadly for them both.

Bound together by forbidden magic, Brianna and Blake find themselves at the heart of an ancient feud that threatens to destroy their lives and their love.

Amazon / Barnes and Nobles / Book Depository

Stacking the Shelves (#4)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews as way to share all the great books you've received throughout the week.

Broken by A.E. Rought - This sounds really intriguing and awesome. Thanks Angry Robot for the review copy. Devil's Bargain by Rachel Caine - I've only read three books from Rachel Caine (the first three in The Morganville Vampires) and I do remember enjoying them. So when I saw this in Netgalley I decided I could try reading another book from here. I hope I enjoy this too. Thanks Harlequin UK Ltd. for the review copy. Stalk Me by Jillian Dodd - I enjoyed Jillian Dodd's That Boy series so I though of trying this one too. I've finished it but I'm still torn of what I really thought of it though. Haha! A review may come up later. Thank  you Jillian Dodd for the review copy! :)

Here by Denise Grover Swank - I've seen this a couple of times before and the blurb sounds very intriguing. Plus the almost all the reviews are positive so there. Thanks to that someone who let me borrow this at booklending.com Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally - Finally got a copy of this book! Yay! After seeing so many positive reviews on this one I realized I have to read this sooner if I don't wanna be left out. Haha! So looking forward reading this. 

Review: The Assassin's Curse (The Assassin's Curse #1) by Cassandra Rose Clarke

Title: The Assassin's Curse (The Assassin's Curse #1)
Author: Cassandra Rose Clarke
Publication Date: October 2nd 2012
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Rating: 4 stars

Ananna of the Tanarau abandons ship when her parents try to marry her off to an allying pirate clan: she wants to captain her own boat, not serve as second-in-command to her handsome yet clueless fiance. But her escape has dire consequences when she learns the scorned clan has sent an assassin after her.

And when the assassin, Naji, finally catches up with her, things get even worse. Ananna inadvertently triggers a nasty curse — with a life-altering result. Now Ananna and Naji are forced to become uneasy allies as they work together to break the curse and return their lives back to normal. Or at least as normal as the lives of a pirate and an assassin can be.

I wasn't so sure about this one until I've seen so many of my friends give this a high rating and a positive review. I wasn't really planning to request this when I saw this in Netgalley, I think I actually kinda brushed it off but when lots of positive reviews started popping out,  I realize what a wrong move I did. So I run off (fast) to Netgalley hoping it was still up there. Fortunately, it was and I was able to request it (Yay!). And boy, I tell you, this book did not disappoint. It is abso-freaking-lutely awesome! :D

Ananna is a very appealing character. She's honest, impulsive and could be so stubborn to sometimes, which in I think just added more to her appeal. She's a brave, caring and compassionate character though she could be harsh sometimes especially with the ways she talks but you can see from her actions that she's genuinely kind. I love how she took responsibility with her actions and decisions and face the consequences with it.

Naji on the other hand was a very enigmatic one. I love discovering more of him and see different sides of him as he let some of it slip. He was a skillful and deadly assassin, kinda aloof but I love that the author let us sometimes see a vulnerable side of him making it more easy to reach and connect with his character. I especially loved it when Ananna gets to be so protective of him when people make remarks with his scar. 

The world-building is wonderfully done. I enjoyed the journey this two had into finding a way to break the curse. It was actually a fun one, they discovered and learned a lot of things, met other people and faced different obstacles. I love how it made us see and learn more about their world. The writing is very well-paced too. It was smooth and very easy to follow. I actually sped through this. The ending though a bit anticlimactic still offered something more for us to look forward in the next book. 

The Assassin's Curse is a very fun and entertaining read. I enjoyed every bit of it, the world, the characters, their journey and all the other stuff with it. I'm absolutely looking forward for more. I highly recommend this.

Waiting on Wednesday (#23)

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine, that spotlight upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" is...

Title: The Rules (Project Paper Doll #1)
Author: Stacey Kade
Publication Date: April 2013
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

1. Never trust anyone.

2. Remember they are always searching.

3. Don’t get involved.

4. Keep your head down.

5. Don’t fall in love.

Five simple rules. Ariane Tucker has followed them since the night she escaped from the genetics lab where she was created, the result of combining human and extraterrestrial DNA. Ariane’s survival—and that of her adoptive father—depends on her ability to blend in among the full-blooded humans, to hide in plain sight from those who seek to recover their lost (and expensive) “project.”

But when a cruel prank at school goes awry, it puts her in the path of Zane Bradshaw, the police chief’s son and someone who sees too much. Someone who really sees her. After years of trying to be invisible, Ariane finds the attention frightening—and utterly intoxicating. Suddenly, nothing is simple anymore, especially not the rules…

This one sounds so good although it wasn't really the blurb that caught my attention, it's the series title, "Project Paper Doll". Ha! I don't know, there's just something in it that was just quite intriguing. And then I read the blurb and it was like bam! I need to see this! Haha! I'm having good vibes about this one so let's hope it would indeed be a good read.

Review: Losing Lila (Lila #2) by Sarah Alderson

Title: Losing Lila
Author: Sarah Alderson
Published: August 2nd 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
Rating: 4 stars

Alex and Lila are on the run, desperately trying to stay one step ahead of the Unit, which is somehow tracking their every move. While Alex is determined to keep Lila safe and her ability secret at any cost, Lila's only thought is of finding a way back to California so she can rescue her brother and mother from the military base where they're being held. Struggling to control both her growing power and her deepening feelings for Alex, Lila decides the time has finally come to stop running and start fighting. Together with Alex, Demos, and the others she's come to think of as family, Lila plans not only to save her brother and mum, but also to completely destroy the Unit and everything it stands for. But the plan requires Lila to return to California alone, and to make friends with the enemy - and in doing so, she risks losing everything: Alex, her family… even her life.

Who wouldn't love a book when the author goes straight and throw you right away with an action-pack and heart pounding opening? Sarah Alderson sure knows how to capture her audience. Right from the start she had me already really excited and thrilled and I'm very happy to say that she was able to keep it throughout the course of the story. Losing Lila is fantastic sequel with amazing plot, kick-ass characters, thrilling scenes and shocking twists. I absolutely enjoyed it.

Lila. I seriously adore this girl even if she could be really so stubborn sometimes. She's impulsive and quite reckless yet I love how she's so willing to take risks for her loved ones and be brave and strong with it. Alex. I understand the insecurities he showed here especially after being the only human in their group who isn't a psy. But Alderson still made his character so purposeful. He became the brain of the group. He was the one who thought of strategies and planned their actions. And clearly, he played an essential part in the group. 

Alex and Lila's relationship is, of course, one of my favorite parts in this book. It was sweet, touching and absolutely swoon-worthy. They had fights and misunderstandings but I love how it grew and developed. 

The secondary characters are so great. I love how almost all of them made an impression to me especially Nate and Suki! The tandem of this two is just so entertaining and fun. Key too felt like a very warm person, someone who is so easy to talk to and confide with. Also, I think I developed quite a crush on Jack. Haha! And wait, did you notice how thoughtful he'd been to Amber during the last parts? Ooh, I can totally see the two of them together if there would be a third book! :D

And one more thing! Sarah Alderson never fails to impressed me with her ability of writing awesome action-packed scenes. I can so vividly imagine it and it was kick-ass. The stunts were amazing and I love how she describe them with such vigor and energy

This is such a outstanding and fantastic book from an excellent and talented author. She'd proven it in Hunting Lila and with Losing Lila she'd given us a lot more reasons why we have to look forward to more of her books. A third book of Lila will absolutely make me really really happy! And I want a lot of Jack, please. Haha! I recommend this. :D