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Wednesday 29 February 2012

Waiting On Wednesday (9)

SHADOW AND BONE (The Grisha #1)
by Leigh Bardugo
Release Date: June 5th,2012



Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near-impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one unlikely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life– a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha… and the secrets of her heart.
 
I think I'm obsessed with the cover. It's possibly my favourite debut 2012 cover yet. I love everything about it, the colours, the font, thank God they didn't use an image, I love covers that are very symbolic and actually has some significance in the story.
Also, I've heard such great things about the story, so that's a massive BONUS! <3
And, did you see THAT? It's also blurred by Veronica Roth (author of Divergent and Insurgent - my favourite book of 2011) 
 
::: SO. What are YOU waiting for on Wednesday? 

Tuesday 28 February 2012

Review: Unraveling Isobel - Eileen Cook

Author: Eileen Cook
Release Date: January 3rd 2012
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 304
Source: Bought

Isobel’s life is falling apart. Her mom just married some guy she met on the internet only three months before, and is moving them to his sprawling, gothic mansion off the coast of nowhere. Goodbye, best friend. Goodbye, social life. Hello, icky new stepfather, crunchy granola town, and unbelievably good-looking, officially off-limits stepbrother. 
But on her first night in her new home, Isobel starts to fear that it isn’t only her life that’s unraveling—her sanity might be giving way too. Because either Isobel is losing her mind, just like her artist father did before her, or she’s seeing ghosts. Either way, Isobel’s fast on her way to being the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons.
I've heard quite a lot of mixed reviews about this. But since I love mystery and suspense thrillers, I thought I would give this a try. I'm so glad I did.

I found myself relating to Isobel. She was just so homesick and wants nothing than to go home and back to her old friends. I felt so sorry for her - you would be too if you have a stepfather like Dick. Dick is a dick, plain and simple. I hated him SO much and I thought her mother was so stupid to go and marry some guy like him. He gives me the creeps. Ewww.

I'm really interested in romances where the guy is like their stepbrother or something. (Don't ask me why - I just do), so I really liked her blossoming romance with Nate. Though, I felt like things went quite smooth for them and really quick as well.

There were a few things that I guessed and assumed correctly - which isn't necessarily a bad thing but I would have preferred this massive bomb climax thingy where the ending blows my mind, but some things were just so predictable. Still fun though.

This isn't anything special, but still worth the read if you like mystery thrillers, sweet romance and suspense.  



 ::: Sorry for the short review, it's just that I've read this quite a while ago and can't seem to remember what else I need to put :::

Monday 27 February 2012

Cover Reveal: Luminosity - Stephanie Thomas


LUMINOSITY (THE RAVEN CHRONICLES #1) 
::: 
Stephanie Thomas


 My name is Beatrice. When I was born, I was blessed with the Sight. I was
immediately removed from my parents and enrolled in the Institution. At
the age of twelve, I had my first true vision, earning my raven’s wings.
And when I turned seventeen, one of my visions came true. Things haven’t
been the same since.

The Institution depends on me to keep the City safe from our enemy, the
Dreamcatchers, but I’m finding it harder to do while keeping a secret from
everyone, including my best friend Gabe. It is a secret that could put us
all in danger. A secret that could kill me and everyone close to me.

But the enemy has been coming to me in my dreams, and I think I’m falling
in love with him. He says they’re coming. He says they’re angry. And I
think I’ve already helped them win.


Definitely check this out when it comes out! I know I would! =P
It comes out September 11th 2012 from ENTANGLED..
I am in love with Entangled Publishing, and am a bit obsessed with their books!



Find out more about LUMINOSITY and author Stephanie Thomas:
Paperback Available for Pre-Order from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Luminosity-Stephanie-Thomas/dp/1620611279/ref=lh_ni_t
Add to your Goodreads TBR:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13425149-luminosity





Sunday 26 February 2012

Review: Scarlet - A.C Gaughen

Title: Scarlet   
Author: A.C Gaughen
Release Date: February 14th 2012
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Pages: 304
Source: Bought (Kindle) 

Many readers know the tale of Robin Hood, but they will be swept away by this new version full of action, secrets, and romance.

Posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in.

It’s only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for.

Would you believe that I don't/or can't remember that much about the tale of Robin Hood? *Buries head in shame* Obviously I've seen the Disney movie (hell, who hasn't?) but anyway, back to Scarlet. This fascinating and intriguing historical retelling of Robin Hood will stay with you after you read it.

I really can't do this book justice in my review, because the world that A.C Gaughan created (or rather, retold) is just simply mind-blowing. I love retellings and (only recently) historicals. I missed reading such a good book before (okay that was a lie- I've read so many super awesome books this month alone). Who would have thought about this? To write about Will Scarlet as a girl? And not to mention, who can create Robin Hood as this young, HOT, fearless man? 

Scar (or Will Scarlet, if you will) is everything I ever wanted to see in a female lead character. She is just so cool. She's courageous, selfless, sarcastic and broken. I think every person should thrive to be her. 

The character developments were outstanding. I love every single one of the band, John Little (swoon) , Robin Hood (double swoon), Much (awwhh) and Scarlet (yay for strong protagonist!). Rob was so calm, collected and EVERYTHING a woman wants. John Little was so charming (and a bit of a player *giggles*) and Much was so sweet. A.C Gaughan created them with such vivid and vibrant personalities, that I felt like I knew them and I didn't want the book to end because I wanted to hold on to them and read more of their adventures together. They were like a family, except a very cool family. 

There is a love triangle present in this book, but it was in my opinion, handled beautifully. Both men love Scarlet, but it's blatantly obvious to everyone (including Scarlet) who she loves and who she wants to be with forever. I kept going back and forth between them, finally settling on the hottest one *wink wink*. Bet you couldn't figure out who that is.

The action scenes were enticing, heart-pounding AND I love that Scar is so bad-ass! The mysteriousness surrounding Scar's past identity made it all very exciting and stunning (even more so!), to be honest I kinda guessed fairly on who she was,but it was still worth it in the end!

If I have to find any faults (which is hard because as you can see, this book is as radiant as the sun *oh geez did I really just typed that?*), then it would probably be the language. Sometimes, it grabs you lot like hell and doesn't intentionally let go, then there are times when it simply doesn't grab your attention. Nevertheless, you my friend, will be so enamored with Scarlet's world, you probably wouldn't even notice it. 

The ending ended a bit too abrupt, and I was SO sure this would have a sequel, but I asked A.C Gaughan on Twitter and she said 'As of now, it's a stand-alone but we'll see!' NOOOOO.... I want the sequel now,PLEASE WRITE A SEQUEL. Even just for me, hhehehehe. This book played out like a movie in my head, and I would LOVE to see this as a film. It would be so magical and raw. Grr. I really want this to be optioned to become a movie!!



In My Mailbox (8)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It’s a super fun meme where we gush about the books/swags  we got during the week!

 BOUGHT (Kindle)                                       ::: 05  :::

: Shadows (Lux #0.5) - Jennifer L. Armentrout : You have to read THIS. Best novella ever:
: The Catastrophic History of You and Me - Jess Rothenberg : just read yesterday :
: Fever (Wither #2) - Lauren DeStefano
:currently reading. It's INTENSE, people :
: The Fine Art of Truth or Dare - Melissa Jensen
: Arcadia Awakens (#1) - Kai Meyers

 BOUGHT                                                     ::: 03  :::

: The Iron Witch (The Iron Witch #1) - Karen Mahoney :bought this, with book 2 free :
: The Wood Queen (The Iron Witch #2) - Karen Mahoney
: The Hunger Games: Tribute Guide 

 SWAG                                                         ::: 01  :::

: Slide (by Jill Hathaway - *signed* bookmarks!  :Massive thanks to Jill, who sent me this for upcoming giveaway and one bookmark is personalized to me! :


So what did YOU get this week?


Friday 24 February 2012

Author Interview: Jennifer L. Armentrout

 ~ JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT ~ 

GUYS, I can not tell you how much I was so excited about doing my first author interview on the blog and interviewing my FAVOURITE author, Jennifer L. Armentrout. If you haven't read any of her books (seriously, are you living under a rock?!?), then please check out her Covenant series, and her Lux series.


:: I know this is VERY hard but which guy would your younger self go for (lets pretend they were real)  - Daemon, Dawson, Aiden or Seth?

My younger self would definitely go for Aiden, because he would be drama free and so sweet. Now my older self would go for Daemon, lol. 

:: Did Bethany and Dawson's relationship came to you easily? Like you knew exactly what kind of a couple they were before writing Shadows and their 'history'?
 
J.A: Yes! I always knew what kind of relationship Bethany and Dawson had while writing Obsidian, so it was very easy to tell their story.  

:: Does Daemon really feel something for Ash? Or were they just together (sometimes) because it's 'expected' of them? 
J.A: Daemon does care for Ash. A part of him even loves her, but it's not the kind of love that forms long lasting relationships. 

:: What is the hardest thing about writing Shadows? Also, did you cry while writing Shadows? I know I cried reading it.

 
J.A: The hardest part was the last chapter, because it was tough capturing that emotional intensity required. And no, I didn't cry. Hee hee.  


:: If you were a reader of your own books, which series would you think you'll like better - the Covenant series or the Lux series?
 
J.A: Oh, wow, I couldn't pick. I guess it depended on the day. 


:: Do you always know how a series/book would end right from the very first book? Or do you change your mind along the way?
 
J.A: I always know the final outcome from the very beginning of the series.

:: And finally, can you tell us something about Onyx (Lux #2) that we don't already know? And please tell us there would be lot's of kissing and romance (and Daemon!) :P 
J.A: Haha. There is a lot of romance. You will get to see different sides of Daemon and even Katy. A lot of stuff is happening in Onyx, and all the characters face irrevocable change. 

:: Thank you!!  
J.A: Thank you for having me!





Find out more about the LUX series, the COVENANT series and the upcoming stand-alone CURSED and my favourite author Jennifer L. Armentrout:
Goodreads Author Page: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Twitter: @JLArmentrout


ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 
Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She also writes adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is the author of the COVENANT Series, the LUX Series, and the upcoming YA contemporary mystery/thrillers DON'T LOOK BACK (Disney/Hyperion Fall 2013) and yet untitled book (Disney/Hyperion tentative Fall 2014).

Wednesday 22 February 2012

Review: Shadows - Jennifer L. Armentrout

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Release Date: February 21st 2012
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Pages: 159
Source: Bought

The last thing Dawson Black expected was Bethany Williams. As a Luxen, an alien life form on Earth, human girls are…well, fun. But since the Luxen have to keep their true identities a secret, falling for one would be insane. Dangerous. Tempting. Undeniable.

Bethany can’t deny the immediate connection between her and Dawson. And even though boys aren’t a complication she wants, she can’t stay away from him. Still, whenever they lock eyes, she’s drawn in. Captivated. Lured. Loved.

Dawson is keeping a secret that will change her existence...and put her life in jeopardy. But even he can’t stop risking everything for one human girl. Or from a fate that is as unavoidable as love itself.

Random Fact: Me and my friend were actually discussing aliens today at school (she was so frigging scared last night when a 'light' showed outside her bedroom window, and it couldn't be anything else other than 'aliens' hah) and I was like 'What if they were HOT aliens?!", to which she replied there was no such things as hot aliens, just little green men. I was like HELL NO. WAIT UNTIL YOU READ THE LUX SERIES. And wait until you meet Daemon. And Dawson. This novella will surely cure fans' misery over waiting for the release of Obsidian's sequel, Onyx.

Jennifer's writing style can be described in one word. Addictive. Seriously, I couldn't put this book down. I love all of Jennifer's books so far and she is fast becoming my favourite writer. Hell I would read anything written by her. 

Thank God Bethany didn't end up on my list of 'Annoying heroines', in fact, Beth is anything but. I was having doubts before starting Shadows, how no one can beat Katy and Alex (from Half-Blood) because they are just pure awesome. Now; I still prefer Kat, but Beth comes a close second. Beth was so relatable (one that Jenn's female characters all have in common), funny, sweet, smart and I love how she wasn't needy. Then there's Dawson. SIGH. OMFG if aliens are like Luxens, well, they could light me up anytime! *wiggles eyebrows*

Dawson is the polar opposite of Daemon.But just as irresistible. Dawson is sweet, polite, and a true gentleman. BUT. One thing he does share with Daemon is his fiery temper. And boy is he hot!Daemon was as protective as ever, and I'm so glad that Jennifer chose to write Dawson's story because we get to see why Daemon acts like such an asshole in Obsidian. It makes readers understand him a little bit better, and get to see him interact with his siblings.

I love how 'normal' things started out for Bethany and Dawson. And I never felt their love was rushed or skipped, it was just perfectly timed and went at a slow and steady pace. Which is my kinda love. Unlike Daemon and Kat (who banter frequently), Beth and Dawson actually are a lot alike and I like THAT. They actually have the same interests and hobbies, same likes and dislikes. And HOLY BATMAN. Their chemistry together had me fanning myself multiple times.  I admired Dawson's strength for standing up for their love, and for standing up to his big brother (only for a few mins), Daemon. And that requires a lot of guts.

The best scenes (apart from lovey dovey scenes) were the ones with Daemon, Dawson and Dee. You can clearly see how much they love each other, and their bickering just had me laughing out loud (Also: am I the only one who fell of my chair laughing when Dee was talking about her virginity and her brothers were like NOOOOO!) 

All the characters are unforgettable and it's such a treat if you've read Obsidian - characters that you miss, characters that you want to strangle like bitchy Ash, and stupid Andrew (or is it Adam? I keep getting their names mixed up!) are also in this. Let me tell you - we get to learn more about Ash and Daemon's past relationship.

There was lots of hysterical moments, but the ending just totally ripped me apart. It was so sad and sweet and beautiful all at the same time. It reminds you to say 'I love you' to people you love, because you never know when you're time is up. 




SPOILERS:::

OKAY. Back to business. Because I'm heartbroken about the ending, I kinda made up these theories and stuff. It would be a miracle if they were right, but THESE ARE JUST MY HAPPY HAPPY THOUGHTS.
: I think there's more to the ending than what we have been given. It was quite vague (well, maybe that's because they died and can't really continue the POV's) BUT I think they might be alive after all... Which would make me the happiest girl EVER. Not only that, did you read the synopsis of Onyx,"I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. Daemon’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him" Like, Dawson was the first thing that came to mind when I read that.


At first, I thought they were dead and it made me cry buckets (not really but you get what I mean right?!) but look at the way they went about it. How the officers wouldn't let Daemon and Dee see the bodies. What if there was no bodies and they just disappeared? Sorry, I'm like over-analyzing things over here. Oops.




When I read Onyx, I would feel so incredibly stupid and embarrassed if this like a million miles away from the truth. Ha! :D

Waiting On Wednesday (8)

WHAT'S LEFT OF ME (Hybrid #1)
by Kat Zhang
Release Date: September 18,2012



NEVER LET ME GO meets HIS DARK MATERIALS in a beautiful, haunting YA debut, the first book in The Hybrid Trilogy.

Eva and Addie live in a world where everyone is born with two souls, but where only the dominant one is allowed to survive childhood. Fifteen years old, and closer even than twins, the girls are keeping Eva, the ‘second soul’, a secret. They know that it’s forbidden to be hybrid, but how could they ever be apart?

When a dramatic event reveals what really happens to hybrids if they are discovered, Eva and Addie face a dangerous fight for survival, neither wanting to be the one left behind…
 
I only just stumbled upon this when the cover reveal was last week and I never heard about this book before but now after I read the synopsis it looks SO good!!! 

COVER THOUGHTS: I love this cover - the font is very simple yet striking, and the image is very pretty :)
::: So, what are YOU waiting for on Wednesday? :::

Monday 20 February 2012

Cover Reveal: Hidden - Sophie Jordan


HIDDEN (FIRELIGHT #3) ::: Sophie Jordan
:
 

Jacinda was supposed to bond with Cassian, the "prince" of their pride. But she resisted long before she fell in love with Will—a human and, worse, a hunter. When she ran away with Will, it ended in disaster, with Cassian's sister, Miram, captured. Weighed down by guilt, Jacinda knows she must rescue her to set things right. Yet to do so she will have to venture deep into the heart of enemy territory.

The only way Jacinda can reach Miram is by posing as a prisoner herself, though once she assumes that disguise, things quickly spiral out of her control. As she learns more about her captors, she realizes that even if Will and Cassian can carry out their part of the plan, there's no guarantee they'll all make it out alive. But what Jacinda never could have foreseen is that escaping would be only the beginning....

Loyalties are tested and sacrifices made in the explosive conclusion to Sophie Jordan's Firelight trilogy.


If you haven't read the FIRELIGHT trilogy (Firelight, Vanish, Hidden) then please... Close this. Order it from Amazon/Book Depository/wherever or go to a local bookstore and buy yourself the first two books because THIS series is one of my favourite paranormal reads and it's so unique to everything else. Also, I know everyone is like Team Will, but I'm totally Team Cassian! He's hot, he's bad and he's so irresistible. 
 
I love the cover - Jacinda (I'm assuming it IS her) just looks so powerful and serene. Love it and it matches the rest of the series. Would look so pretty on my shelf :-)
It comes out September 11th 2012 from HarperTEEN..
I feel like I've done LOADS of cover reveals lately but yeah... 




Find out more about HIDDEN and author Sophie Jordan:
Twitter: @soverysophie



Cover Reveal: Inbetween - Tara Fuller


INBETWEEN (Kissed By Death #1) ::: Tara Fuller
.
 


Since the car crash that took her father’s life three years ago, Emma’s
life has been a freaky—and unending—lesson in caution. Surviving
“accidents” has taken priority over being a normal seventeen-year-old, so
Emma spends her days taking pictures of life instead of living it. Falling
in love with a boy was never part of the plan. Falling for a reaper who
makes her chest ache and her head spin? Not an option.

It’s not easy being dead, especially for a reaper in love with a girl fate
has put on his list not once, but twice. Finn’s fellow reapers give him
hell about spending time with Emma, but Finn couldn't let her die before,
and he’s not about to let her die now. He will protect the girl he loves
from the evil he accidentally unleashed, even if it means sacrificing the
only thing he has left…his soul.


Look at that pretty cover!!! Love it so much, it's so simple yet very striking and I love the position of the series name (a KISSED BY DEATH book) and the tagline "Death doesn't fall in love. Usually." OMG I want to read this book now!
It comes out August 7th 2012 from Entangled Publishing. Have I mentioned that Entangled is releasing lots of amazing books this year?:P



And now for the big surprise!
A sneak peek excerpt from INBETWEEN!
************************************************************************************
Chapter 1

Finn

Sometimes Emma made me feel so alive, I almost forgot I was dead.
Almost.
I sank down onto the side of her bed, amazed by the blazing wildfire that swept through me whenever Emma was near enough to touch. I took a deep, unneeded breath, and settled down on my side next to her. The mattress didn’t sink. The springs didn’t groan with the weight of an extra body. The distance between us was an impossible void. Inches that might as well have been miles. Miles that left me wanting in so many ways that I ached.
Even the sun couldn’t resist her. Its glowing rays caressed her skin, and stained her hair the satiny color of summer wheat. Before I knew what was happening, my hand followed their lead. Cells ignited. My skin burned, screaming with the agonizing need to touch—
“What do you think you’re doing?”
I jerked my hand away just as Easton melted up from the polished hardwood floor beneath the window. Like an oil slick coming to life, he unfolded his long, shadowy legs until he was just an ink blot against the square of tangerine sunrise behind him. His violet eyes pinned me like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
Which, I kind of was.
“Nothing,” I lied.
“Yeah, looked like nothing.” He strolled across the room accompanied by a wave of sulfur and smoke, the black serpent tattoo on his neck glinting. “What were you planning to do, recite her poem? I swear to God, if you were still alive I’d confiscate your man card.”
I ignored the barb and scrunched up my nose. “Jesus, Easton. Don’t they have a shower somewhere between here and the afterlife?”
“Screw you. You didn’t just have to tow somebody’s grandpa to Hell.” He brushed something chalky and grey off of his cloak and a shudder worked its way down my spine. God only knows who or what it belonged to. “Besides I wasn’t the one about to feel up a sleeping human.”
“I wasn’t—”
“Save it.” He waved his hand. “We have work to do. I don’t have time for your useless obsession with the human today.”
“Will you please stop calling her that?”
“What?” Easton glanced up from Emma’s vanity, where he’d been inspecting the various lotions and bottles like he was on some alien planet. Then again, Easton had been dead for something like four hundred years, so all of her stuff probably was sort of alien to him.
The human. You make me sound like a freak. It’s not like we’re a different species for God’s sake. We were humans, too, or don’t you remember that far back?”
Were. Past tense.”
We could have gone back and forth like that for hours, but the call came. It always did. It started in my bones—a cold so cutting that it sliced through me like a machete. When I looked up, Easton’s jaw was clenched, his muscles taut and ready. He slowly closed his hand around the handle of his scythe that burned black and softly smoked at his side. I flexed my fingers as the icy ribbons of death worked their way through each one of my limbs.
“Can you take this one for me?” I asked. “You’re already going to be there, and I just got back—”
“No,” Easton said. “Hell no. I have my own job to do. I can’t keep covering for your sorry ass. Besides, you’re already on thin ice with Balthazar. Don’t push your luck, Finn. Just keep your nose down, collect your souls, and thank the Almighty that you don’t have my job. Now let’s go.”
“Yeah, but…” My eyes returned to Emma. Sleeping. Perfect. Safe.
“For the love of God. She’ll be fine, you pansy.” Easton clamped a hand over my shoulder and dragged me from the bed.
“How do you know?”
He shrugged. “I don’t.”
With that he vanished, consumed in a flash by the keening wails of the damned. The screams beckoned. Clawed at me from the inside out.
Rule one as a seeker: Death doesn’t wait for anyone.
And it sure as hell wasn’t waiting for me now.



UPDATE: New *romantic* excerpt from INBETWEEN feauturing main characters Finn and Emma!

****************************************************************
********************

Finn

I reached out my hand to her. “Dance with me.”
Emma just looked uncertainly at my outstretched fingers and chewed on her lip. “But if you touch me you’ll…”
“Then we won’t touch.” I pulled my hand back and smiled when she stood. “Just dance.”
Emma pulled her hands out of her sleeves and stared at her feet, looking lost. I stepped in closer. So close I could see my shimmer reaching out towards her skin, like metal to a magnet. I never needed to breathe, but now, in this moment, I couldn’t stop my lungs from pumping.
We moved together wordlessly. A step to the right. A smooth glide to the left. I wanted to do like I’d seen Pop do, tip her back and make her laugh like a girl in love. I didn’t. Instead, I settled for leaning in as close as I could, letting my cold, unnatural breaths coat her neck. She shivered.
“Hey, at least it won’t hurt if I step on your foot,” I said.
Emma chuckled and reached her hands up as if she meant to place them on my shoulders, then stopped herself and dropped them back down to her sides.
“I never know what to do with my hands,” she said.
“Well.” I leaned back and held up my hand. “If we were doing this for real, you’d put your left one here.”
She hesitantly raised her hand and placed it in front of mine so that our palms nearly touched.
“And in a very desirable world, mine would go right… here.” I placed my hand near her waist and she shivered, accidentally arching into my touch. My fingers scattered into a thousand iridescent particles, swimming around her like silver smoke. She gasped as I pulled my hand back and watched my fingers take shape again. I wiggled them at her and grinned.
Emma laughed. “Wow.”
I shrugged and kept moving. In the background, Billie Holiday crooned The Very Thought of You and somehow managed to put exactly how I was feeling into words.
“The mere idea of you. The longing here for you. You’ll never know, how slow the moments go, till I’m near to you,” I sang softly into Emma’s hair. Billie sounded way better of course, but the words felt too right not to say out loud.
“You’ve done this before,” Emma said. “I can tell.”
“What?”
“Danced with a girl.” She ran her palms experimentally over my chest, her skin just a breath away. I ached for her to close that space, but she never did.
I tried, unsuccessfully, to steady my voice. “Just once,” I said. “School dance.”
Emma smiled and did a little twirl. “What was her name?”
I couldn’t think. I didn’t want to think about anything that didn’t begin and end with Emma.
“Can’t remember,” I mumbled just as the flash of a girl in pink satin swaying nervously in my arms shook me. I smiled. “She wore a pink dress. I remember that. And I was so nervous, I thought I might throw up.”
“Did you love her?”  she asked quietly. We stopped moving. Silence swallowed us. Then the crackling hiss of the record sounded and new tune began.
“No,” I said. “No, I didn’t love her.”
“Have you…” Emma took a step back and tucked her hair behind her ear. She wouldn’t look at me. “Have you ever loved anyone…like that?”
I may not have been able to say the words, but I couldn’t stop myself from moving towards her. Emma looked up at me, the question still lingering in her eyes. With one last spark of resolve, I went corporal. Caged her in with my arms and pressed my fingers into her back.
“Finn?”
Emma trembled. But I didn’t think she was afraid. No, this was something else. I breathed her in, clutching her to me, dizzy from all of this contact. Our chests pressed together, and I couldn’t stop wondering what it would feel like for our mouths to touch.
I had to know.



Find out more about INBETWEEN and author Tara Fuller:
Website: Tara Fuller
Twitter: @tara25fuller


Pre-order a paperback copy from Amazon:


Add to your Goodreads To-Be-Read Shelf:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13055677-inbetween



 

Sunday 19 February 2012

Review: Touch - Jus Accardo

Author: Jus Accardo
Release Date: November 1st 2011
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Pages: 251
Source: Bought

When a strange boy tumbles down a river embankment and lands at her feet, seventeen-year-old adrenaline junkie Deznee Cross snatches the opportunity to piss off her father by bringing the mysterious hottie with ice blue eyes home.

Except there’s something off with Kale. He wears her shoes in the shower, is overly fascinated with things like DVDs and vases, and acts like she’ll turn to dust if he touches her. It’s not until Dez’s father shows up, wielding a gun and knowing more about Kale than he should, that Dez realizes there’s more to this boy—and her father’s “law firm”—than she realized.

Kale has been a prisoner of Denazen Corporation—an organization devoted to collecting “special” kids known as Sixes and using them as weapons—his entire life. And, oh yeah, his touch? It kills. The two team up with a group of rogue Sixes hellbent on taking down Denazen before they’re caught and her father discovers the biggest secret of all. A secret Dez has spent her life keeping safe.

A secret Kale will kill to protect.


It's been quite a while before I read a paranormal that grabbed me from the beginning. Paranormal is one of those genres that's a love-hate relationship with me, and so I wasn't preparing to devour this one as much as I did. TOUCH has everything (except someone - see below) I love and missed in the paranormal genre. It will constantly leave you breathless and then some when you read those very lovely sexy (sexytimes?! hell yes!) kissy scenes! (And have I mentioned? There's a sex scene! Not to sound like a total creep or anything :P!)

The love story was also very sweet and endearing. And what I appreciate from the author, was she didn't stick to the same old cliche formula - instead she created the girl as having more experience (about love and sex), and then the innocent one is the guy. Which I find very refreshing because it's not that common in YA. Their interactions were hilarious and awkward at times :). I laughed out loud whenever Kale didn't understand relationships with people and  Dez would get so embarrassed when she has to tell him about hand-holding and stuff. Cute.

Kale. *blushes* He is just so swoon-worthy he needs his own paragraph. He was so naive, innocent and so isolated from the world that you can't help but feel some sort of sympathy for him. He reminds me a bit of Juliette from Shatter Me (Tahereh Mafi) as their 'powers' are quite similar and the way they think about themselves, how they think they don't deserve happiness, that they're a monster, but even though countless horrid things have happened to them, they still remained themselves - kind, true, and compassionate.

The reason why this book didn't get a Grade A or A+ was because of Dez. Bet you figured that out ha? That it has to do with the heroine? Yep. What is up with all the books that I've been reading lately? Where's all the Katniss, the Tris, the Juliette etc? Lately I've been reading books with freaking annoying female narrators. Eugh. *Deep breaths*. Okay. Right, back to Dez. I liked her in the beginning, she was just so stubborn and don't give a shit to what anything says or thinks, and especially likes to piss off her dad. Bonus. Then throughout the middle, she just turned into this stupid, irritating slut who can't pick between two boys and keeps going back and forth between them. And she's just so stupid when it comes to love (which a lot of people her age is). Nevertheless - make up your mind,woman!

This book had so many twists and turns and there were some very suprising and unexpected stuff discovered that my mouth was hanging open by the end. Jus Accardo's writing also deserves some round of applause. Her writing is so addictive, that you can't put the bloody book down! I'm looking forward to her future books, and I love that the Denazen novels are a series! Yay! THAT MEANS = MORE KALE! (which is never a bad thing, people!)



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