Lost For Words

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The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin
Shadowfever - Karen Marie Moning
Dreamfever - Karen Marie Moning
Faefever - Karen Marie Moning
Bloodfever - Karen Marie Moning
Darkfever - Karen Marie Moning
Croak - Gina Damico
Hit List - Laurell K. Hamilton
Athena the Brain - Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams
Mister Death's Blue-Eyed Girls - Mary Downing Hahn
First Comes Love - Katie Kacvinsky
Enchanted - Alethea Kontis
Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink - Stephanie Kate Strohm
Dark Song - Gail Giles
Hunger - Jackie Morse Kessler
Living With the Dead - Kelley Armstrong
Ripple - Mandy Hubbard
Rage - Jackie Morse Kessler
Dead Rules - Randy Russell
Persephone the Phony - Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams
The DUFF - Kody Keplinger
Never Knowing - Chevy Stevens
Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins
Still Missing - Chevy Stevens
Defiance - C.J. Redwine
Aprhodite the Beauty - Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams
Artemis the Loyal - Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams
Karma - Cathy Ostlere
The Paradise Prophecy - Robert Browne
The Edge of Nowhere - Elizabeth George
Darkfever - Karen Marie Moning
Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins
The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
Heaven is for Real - Todd Burpo
Eyes to See - Joseph Nassise
Kara, Lost - Susan Niz
Unnatural - Michael Griffo
Last Sacrifice - Richelle Mead
Spirit Bound - Richelle Mead
Solstice - P.J. Hoover
Mumbo Jumbo Circus - Jane George
Imaginary Girls - Nova Ren Suma
Boyfriends With Girlfriends - Alex Sanchez
Bubble White Hair - Timothy D. Cameron
Living Dead Girl - Elizabeth Scott
Compuls1on - Heidi Ayarbe
Wither - Lauren DeStefano
The Second Coming - David H. Burton
The Hate - S.L. Pierce
Shadow Cat - Reena Jacobs
The Altar of Bones - Philip Carter
The Final Alice - Alycia Ripley
Cows Can't Jump - Dave Reisman
Haven - Kristi Cook
A Long Walk to Water - Linda Sue Park

Monday, April 15, 2013

Demons - Heather Frost - Blog Tour Review, Interview, and Giveaway

12:09 PM | Posted by Corrine |

Kate's life is far from normal. She can see Auras, her boyfriend is immortal, and her powers make her a target. But now that the Demon Lord is hunting her, things are about to go from dangerous to truly deadly. Packed with action, mind-blowing plot twists, and characters you can't get enough of, this is a fast-paced, heart-pounding read from cover to cover.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Title: Demons (Book 2 of the Seers Trilogy)

Author: Heather Frost

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Sweetwater Books

Publication Date: September 11, 2012

Format: Finished Copy

Source: Received from publicist. Many thanks goes to Cedar Fort Inc for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

Look for it: Amazon, Book Depository

My rating: 3/5

Kate is coming to terms with her new powers as a seer. She's acclimating well, but she knows that the Demon Lord is still after her. She and Patrick are in love, and she'll do anything to protect him, as he would do the same for her. She just wants everything to regain a semblance of normalcy, but that isn't about to happen anytime soon.

I enjoyed reading Seers and was excited for Demons. However, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. It felt more like a transitional read, and while there was stuff going on, and things looked dire for certain characters, it felt like it was keeping pace rather than bringing the fight to Kate. That isn't bad though, we get to see more of the relationships that Kate has with her friends and her family, as well as the relationship with her guardian, Patrick. The story does move, and it maintains a relatively fast pace, but we don't see or learn much about the demons until closer to the end. I clued into what the major plot twists were going to be, and am wondering how Frost is going to resolve things with the complications that are now evident with the new characters and situations.

Kate is a strong character. She is resilient and you can feel the love that she has for her family and for Patrick. She has a stubborn streak as well, and even though she has a demon lord after her, she's not one to hide in the corner and let others take care of her. She wants to be part of the team, and she wants to be able to protect herself and her family.

Patrick is equally as strong, and he will do anything and everything in his power to protect Kate and her family. He loves her, and their love is evident throughout the book. He has his own share of troubles though as he has to come to terms with the troubling fact that guardians may not be as immortal as they once thought.

All in all, this transitional read is captivating, and will hold the reader's interest as they find out how Kate and Patrick handle the challenges thrown their way. Kate learns more about her abilities, and what she is willing to do for the ones she loves. Demons is a relatively fast paced read and provides the perfect build up for Guardians. I'm looking forward to finding out what Frost has in store next for her characters.

Author Interview

Which of your characters would you most trust to have your back in a fight? Why them?

I would probably want Patrick O’Donnell around in a tight spot. He’s a skilled fighter with lots of experience, and if he counts you a friend, you know he’s going to do absolutely anything to make sure you get out.

What one song best explains how you view the world?

It really depends on my mood. But I love “Singin’ in the Rain”—that song just makes me feel like, no matter your circumstances, you can choose to be positive.

If you could have any super power/ability, what would it be and why?

Control over time—to speed it up or slow it down, and travel around the future and past.

Do you have any quirks that you employ while writing?

I must have music—silence starves my creativity. I prefer soundtracks, or songs with lyrics that don’t distract—Enya is a top choice.

If you could be a character in any book, who would it be and why?

Today, I would want to be Hermione Granger—she’s smart, tough, and has a wand.

Thank you for being here today, and for answering my questions, Heather!

Heather Frost can be found on her website, twitter, facebook, and goodreads.

Author Bio: Heather Frost was born in Sandy, Utah, and raised in a small Northern Utah town. She is the second oldest of ten children, and she loves her family very much. She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in English at Utah State University. Heather has always been an avid reader, and reading and writing are among her favorite things to do. She also enjoys playing the flute, listening to all types of music, and watching a wide variety of movies. Guardians, the final book in the Seers Trilogy, will be released July 2013.

Giveaway

Heather Frost and Cedar Fort Inc have graciously provided Lost For Words with an e-book copy of Demons for giveaway. Thank you, Heather!

Please fill out this FORM to enter the giveaway.

Giveaway is open internationally and will end April 22, 2013.

Thank you!

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Wednesday, March 6, 2013

A Place for Us - Liza Gyllenhaal

12:27 PM | Posted by Corrine |

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Brook Bostock has led a privileged life. The daughter of an extremely wealthy and prominent family, she married the man of her dreams and is raising two deeply loved children. But her happy home is shattered when a neighborhood teenager is assaulted during a night of drinking with the Bostocks' son and his prep school friends.

The scandal receives national attention—not only because of Brook’s family name, but because of the lawsuit looming against Brook and her husband, Michael, that alleges they are responsible for what went on in their house. Suddenly the small Massachusetts town they call home seems to be turning against them, revealing the simmering jealousies and resentments that have been lurking under the surface all along.

With their once-perfect family in danger of falling apart, Brook and Michael must find a way to get through this together—or risk losing everything they love…

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Title: A Place for Us

Author: Liza Gyllenhaal

Genre: Adult Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher: NAL Trade

Publication Date: March 5, 2013

Format: Finished copy

Source: Received from publicist. Many thanks goes to Penguin Group USA for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

Look for it: Amazon, Chapters

My rating: 4/5

Brook has always loved her husband and children, and absolutely loves living in her husband's hometown, away from the influence of her own family with their high society last name. She has tried to distance herself from the acclaim that comes with being a Pendleton, and has done a good job of it. One night though, is all it takes for disaster to strike. Her family is now thrust into the midst of a scandal as a teenager was assaulted in her home while she and her husband were not there. An impending lawsuit threatens to shatter Brook's once perfect family. Will Brook's family survive this trial, or will they lose everything?

This book tackles many hard-hitting issues. Underage drinking, and assault first and foremost. Many emotions roll through the reader as they come to terms with what is happening. Outrage, anger, frustration, sympathy, and sorrow. We see the situation unfold through several different eyes. Phoebe and Liam have a history that unfolds through different flashback scenes throughout the book. We see the boy Phoebe has fallen in love with, and we see what he actually thinks of himself. Gyllenhaal writes broken characters that just resonate with the reader. I couldn't help but feel sad and frustrated with them for what they did, and what they did not do.

Another topic that comes under investigation is whether or not the onus is on the parents if they are not there to supervise. Maybe things wouldn't have escalated had they been there. Should they be held responsible for what happened in their home?

Gyllenhaal tackles these topics and more as she weaves a complex and heartrending tale. A Place for Us is a thought provoking read, one that captures interest and will not let go until the end. Will Phoebe have justice? It is not just these characters who are dealing with their emotions and the consequences of their actions. We see Brook and her husband Michael deal with their respective pasts and see how it affects them now, and how it affects their perceptions now that they are in this situation. Would or could they have done anything differently?

All in all, this is a harrowing read hitting on some dark topics. Gyllenhaal deftly weaves a story that will resonate with readers. Fans of Jodi Picoult's should enjoy A Place for Us.

Labels: A Place for Us, Adult Fiction, contemporary, Liza Gyllenhaal, Review | 2 comments

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

The Burning Time - JG Faherty - Blog Tour Review

9:37 AM | Posted by Corrine |

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An ancient evil has come to Hastings Mills, and only one man can stop it.

Wherever The Stranger goes, evil follows. Wild dogs roam the fields. Townspeople turn on each other in murderous fury. Innocent women throw themselves off bridges. Swimmers disappear, victims of a deadly beast that haunts their waters. And the worst is still yet to come. The Stranger plans to open a gateway to the nether realms and release the Elder Gods to bring forth Chaos on Earth.

Only one man knows the truth, a country mage whose family has fought The Stranger before. But can he defeat his ageless enemy before Hastings Mills is nothing but a smoking ruin and the townspeople become unwilling blood sacrifices to the Old Ones? With only the help of a young woman and her teenage son, he will have to use all of his arcane knowledge to thwart his adversary and prevent the final apocalypse.

In Hastings Mills, The Burning Time has arrived.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Title: The Burning Time

Author: JG Faherty

Genre: Adult Fiction, Horror

Publisher: JournalStone

Publication Date: January 18, 2013

Format: Finished copy.

Source: Many thanks goes to Dark Eva for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. This review is part of JG Faherty's blog tour for The Burning Time.

Look for it: Amazon, Book Depository

My Rating: 3.5/5

When the Stranger comes to town, you should probably take off for parts unknown to him. When he comes to town, all the dark and chaotic energies in the universe come out to play. Wild dogs, tempers flaring to the extreme, sinister and senseless deaths. With the body count rising, and hell coming to fruition in Hastings Mill, it looks like there will be a burning time. Only one man has a chance at stopping it. With a town set against him, will he be able to stop the Stranger from burning through Hastings Mill?

John is an interesting character. He has been around fighting evil in all entities as well as collecting lore for years. He has lost many loved ones to the Stranger in previous years. He is weary, yet dedicated to eradicating the world of the Stranger once and for all. He is flawed, yet all the more human for his flaws.

The premise of The Burning Time makes this book sound like a good read, and it does not disappoint. It reads fluidly, though I would have liked more rounding out of the characters and situations. The horror instilled although sinister and insidious, was not bone-chilling. The book is dark, though not dark throughout, there was enough "light" when it came to John and his newfound companions. As their story unfolded, you couldn't help but like Danni and Mitch.

The Stranger is pure evil and chaos. He alone will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up while reading. He is fanatical in his obsession to bring about the burning time.

All in all, The Burning Time was essentially an 'easy' read as everything unfolded. I was absorbed in the tale and didn't find the horror too overbearing. That is not to say that it wasn't dark, because it had its share of darkness and death. One would not want to go to Hastings Mill anytime soon, what with all the macabre and senseless violence happening there. Fans of horror will enjoy The Burning Time.

Labels: Adult Fiction, blog tour review, Horror, JG Faherty, The Burning Time | 0 comments