Beautiful Cover(s) of the Day!

Today I have chosen to feature the covers of the Soul Screamers omnibus volumes 1 to 4 by Rachel Vincent. I really like when the covers in a series are all similarly designed, with the biggest change the colours. This describes the covers of this series well. Gorgeous dresses, a gorgeous model, and just gorgeous overall, I couldn't resist buying volume 1 when I saw it in store.

The blurb:

" She doesn't see dead people. She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.

Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who'll be next."

Find the Soul Screamers series on Goodreads

White Surrounding My Reviews and Ratings

You may have noticed that some of my reviews have all or some of the text surrounded by white. I am unsure why this happens to some of my reviews and ratings and not others....If anybody knows why this is happening, please let me know! Thanks.

Vampire Kisses Omnibus (#1-3) by Ellen Schreiber

 

Series: Vampire Kisses

Author: Ellen Schreiber
Page Count: 562
Published: April 21st, 2009

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

  4 Stars ★★★★

In this omnibus containing the first three books of the Vampire Kisses series, the reader is introduced to Raven, a vampire-obsessed Goth, and Alexander, who happens to be a real vampire. Raven has always dreamed of becoming a vampire, and she thinks Alexander might be able to make her dreams come true.

But they face obstacles, including the citizens of "Dullsville", and Jagger and Luna. Will they be able to keep their secrets safe? Will they be able to stay together? Will Raven finally become a vampire?

I really enjoyed the short length of these books. My edition is only five-hundred and sixty pages long for three books, which makes for short, refreshing reads. The writing style is light-hearted and this is often displayed through Raven, who happens to be super sweet and rather friendly. She's a great character, and I like that while the author kept some of the Goth stereotypes, such as liking the paranormal, vampires, etc, she also discarded some of the stereotypes by making Raven such a nice, open person.

Alexander is a wonderful love interest. He is perfect for Raven and the reader can see that from the start. There is a bit of a love triangle but it's not too intense or obvious. 

The first-person narration was a good choice for this book, as it helped me to care about Raven through her thoughts and hopes and dreams. I found that she and I had a lot in common, including our gothic style and love for all things paranormal and, of course, vampires. Therefore, I remained interested in her story. I also found her very admirable because she was able to keep such a positive demeanor although she is an outcast.

While some people might find the narration and word choice a little bit childish, I thought it was, as I said, refreshing. It's nice to find a cute little book like this one, simple and cheery, yet with elements of the paranormal and serious situations. 

I recommend this omnibus to fans of YA, vampire lovers, and romance lovers. If you're looking for a cute, light-hearted read, this series is for you.

Find Vampire Kisses on Goodreads

Indelible by Dawn Metcalf

Series: The Twixt
Author: Dawn Metcalf
Page Count: 384
Published: July 30th, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
 5 Stars ★★★★★

Joy is out with her friend when she notices the mysterious black-eyed figures. Strangely, nobody else seems to notice them, and when they approach her, one of them cuts her eye. After visiting the hospital and repairing her injured eye, she experiences strange flashes and sees disturbing things....things that break windows, frighten her to her core, and leave messages for a mysterious "Ink".

Soon she meets Ink, along with his 'sister' Inq, and they are revealed to be the black-eyed strangers responsible for her injury. It turns out Joy has been marked by Ink, he has given her his 'signatura' and she is now his 'lehman'; his companion or lover. 

Now Joy must play the part of 'lehman' and pretend to feel fondness towards Ink, and he must do the same towards her. If they're not convincing enough, they could get into a lot of trouble. However this actually turns out to be the least of their troubles as Joy is attacked by grotesque creatures and used against Ink by vengeful and power-hungry members of The Twixt. 

This book was SO unique. No love triangle, which I know some people may appreciate. No insta-love. Even the paranormal creatures of The Twixt were unique, they reminded me of the fae and of fantasy creatures associated with fae stories. Yet, they weren't outright labelled as faeries, or trolls, or goblins. 

Joy's world and the world of The Twixt were absolutely mesmerizing and I often found myself envious of Joy, while simultaneously cheering her on for the whole book. She was a very likeable character, I could relate to her well and I cared about what happened to her. Even if the world-building and creatures hadn't been as amazing as they actually were, I know I would've kept reading to see what happened to Joy. 

Then we have Ink. Ink is many things; a Scribe, a mysterious and ageless paranormal being, the source of Joy's confusion and enlightenment.....but above all he is a fantastic character. He stands out amongst all the other YA male main characters and love interests. I found myself quite envious of Ink as well, with his awesome powers and unique name and whatnot. 

As I mentioned earlier, there is no insta-love, the romance is very believable in regards to Joy's situation and the pacing is perfect. The evolution of Ink and Joy's relationship was equal parts exciting, sweet, and emotional.

As for emotions, this book played with mine so much! At first I kind of hated Ink, after all he was the one who injured Joy. But then I started to like him. By the end of the book I loved him! I also felt Joy's emotions like they were my own, I understood her fear and I shared in her sadness. As for the ending, I felt like I was reliving the whole book within those last pages. So many emotions were jam-packed into the end, I found myself putting the book down to process what was happening.

I have to mention my appreciation when it comes to the inclusion of an LGBTQ character. While this character isn't really a main one, they're still a part of Joy's life and are therefore of some importance. 

I can't wait to get my hands on book two, I MUST know what happens next. This has earned it's way into my favourites collection, and I am sure the second book will do just the same.

Overall, a fantastic book that I don't have any criticism or complaints about! I recommend this book to YA readers who enjoy fantasy and paranormal books, and to those looking for a unique romance. If you're looking for a 'breath of fresh air' within the young adult genre, this book is a must-read. 

Find Indelible on Goodreads

90s Movies Book Tag

I was nominated at Less Reality More Books to complete this tag! Here is my response.

Note that as usual with these sort of questions, I am often unable to pinpoint any one character or book as I love way too many of them!

1. She's All That - Name a book couple that are an odd pairing, but they still fit together perfectly.

Ink and Joy from Indelible are a very odd pairing but they fit perfectly and their story is phenomenal.

 2. 10 Things I Hate About You - a book or series that you have a love/hate relationship with.

Captive in the Dark by C.J Roberts. I am simultaneously appalled yet darkly intrigued by this book. (*Silently thankful for my ability to distinguish truth from fiction*)

 3. Clueless - A character that is totally clueless, but you love them anyway.

Monica from Indelible is super clueless when it comes to Joy and The Twixt. Also Vaurien Scapegrace from Skulduggery Pleasant is quite clueless to how he is perceived by others, and it is hilarious.

 4. Titanic - A book that made you cry.

I've said this in a previous post and I'll say it again.....MANY books have made me cry. The ones that stick out to me are Stolen, The Faceless Ones and The Breakaway.

 5. American Pie - A Book that made you laugh.

The Skulduggery Pleasant series never fails to make me laugh.

 6. Can't Hardly Wait - a book with a crazy party.

I haven't read many books with party scenes but I recently attempted to read Sweet Evil and there was a party scene.

 7. Cruel Intentions - name a character you can never fully trust.

There's Billy-Ray Sanguine from Skulduggery Pleasant. As much as I adore him, I never trust him 100%. I also don't trust Rosalie from Twilight very much.

 8. Name your favorite 'boy next door' or 'girl next door' couple.

Ethan and Emily from Vacant could qualify for this, or Silla and Nick from Blood Magic. I haven't read many books with the boy/girl next door trend.

 9. Scream - a book with a memorable villain.

Every villain from the Skulduggery Pleasant series fits the bill for this one. (Can you tell that I'm a die-hard Skulduggery Pleasant fangirl yet?) The villains from Eve are also very intense, and how could I ever forget Julian from The Forbidden Game....a misunderstood, ultra-sexy, pseudo-villain.

 10. The Craft - a book with witches

Book of Shadows has some witches with Wiccan leanings. Justyn from Phantom is Wiccan and a witch as well. Texas Gothic focuses on a non-religious based witch family


I am nominating those who run the following blogs:

The Reading Armchair

and

The Book Goddess


If you've completed this tag, leave me the link to your post in the comments!

Vacant by Evelyn R. Baldwin

Series: N/A

Author: Evelyn R. Baldwin
Page Count: 85
Published: February 23rd, 2013

Publisher: Mayhem Erotica

  5 Stars ★★★★★

Ethan has had a hard life. His father died when he was young and he had to spend some time in the foster care system. Now, he works at a grocery store and lives on a tight budget. When Emily moves in next door he becomes suspicious. She has no electricity, no running water, and no furniture.

He finds out that she is homeless and allows her to stay with him. This is the start of a journey of life, death and heartbreak, and of a blooming love.

This is a contemporary romance novella. It took me less than a day to finish but it made a big impact. A very emotional story, it detailed the ups and downs experienced by Ethan and Emily, and the beauty of love.

I read the adult version, which included erotic scenes. However there weren't many and they were sweet and realistic. 

As for the emotional parts of the story, I have to say that it was incredibly emotional from the beginning to the very end. There was not a single wasted word in this story, everything was there for a reason and the author succeeded in pulling at my feelings and making me care for the characters. 

While this can be considered a contemporary romance, it is so much more than that. It depicts what life can be like for the less fortunate, it details the journey of a raw and real love. There isn't any 'fluff' in this book, and while I enjoy fluffy romances, this was an interesting change. 

I recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance and to those looking for a good novella. If you like books that depict the tougher parts of life, this is definitely for you. 

Find Vacant on Goodreads

Blogger Recognition Award

Thank you Fiona @ A Girl Between The Pages for nominating me for this award!

The Rules:

-Select 15 other blogs you want to give the award to.
-Write a post to show off your award! Give a brief story of how your blog got started, and give a piece or two of advice to new bloggers.
-Thank whoever nominated you, and provide a link to their blog. Attach the award to the post.
-List who you've nominated in the post.
-Comment on each blog and let them know you've nominated them. Provide a link to the award post you've created.
-Provide a link to the original post on Edge of Night. That way, anyone can find the original guidelines and post if needed, and we can keep it from mutating and becoming confusing!

You can find the original post at Edge of Night 

How my blog started:

I have always been an avid reader. Reading is one of my favourite hobbies and I read so many books.....and I wanted something to show for it. I wanted to do more than rate books on Goodreads, I wanted to share my thoughts on books, book covers and themes with others. Originally I had made this blog through tumblr, but then I found the Google blogger platform and was pleased to discover that it suited me much better. 

Advice:

- (Specifically for book blogs) Do more than just write book reviews. Participate in features found on other blogs (always giving them credit) and/or make your own features (like my Beautiful Covers feature).

- Comment back when somebody comments on your posts. Even if it's just a thank you and a smiley face, always reply to show your appreciation.


My Nominees:

Aeriko001 @ The Reading Armchair

Carrie @ The Book Goddess

AJ @ ClairBooks


Katie @ Katie's Book Blog 

Jocelyn @ Novels and Necklaces 

Giselle @ Book Nerd 

Joselyn @ Book Wormie Spot 

Becky @ Book Bite Reviews

Maisha @ Books Equal Awesomeness

Brett @ Demons Read Too

Elle @ Elle's 411 On YA Books

Shannon @ It Starts At Midnight 

Justin @ Justin's Book Blog

Saloni @ My Fantabulous Bookshelf 

Rachel @ Paper Cuts 


Please post a link to your replies in the comments!

Note: I'm aware that the shades of some of the text on this post don't match the general boldness of the rest of the text.....I'm unsure what happened, I think it was a glitch, I tried fixing it, to no avail. 

Important Announcement

Hey everybody! School is starting soon, so I might not be able to post as often as I do now. I might also end up working a job, so I'll be extra busy! No, I will not abandon my blog....there's just gonna be a LOT going on!

I felt that it was important to let you all know.

Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award

Thank you so much aeriko001 @ The Reading Armchair for nominating me for this award!

The rules for this award are:

-thank the blogger who nominated you, linking back to their site.

-put the award logo on your blog.

-answer the ten questions sent to you.

-make up ten new questions for your nominees to answer.

-Nominate ten blogs. 

Questions from The Reading Armchair:

1) Which book do you anticipate the most in 2015?

Oblivion by Kelly Creagh and Demon Road by Derek Landy are two books I can't wait to get a hold of. 

2) Which is your favourite place to read?

My bed. It's super comfy and that's where I do most of my reading. 

3) What type of characters are you more inclined to like?

I love goth/punk characters and I have loved every goth/punk character I have ever read about. I also really like characters who do amazing things for their lovers, for example like in New Moon when Bella rescued Edward from the Volturi. 

4) Which is the worst genre for you?

I'd have to say religious books (with the exception of Pagan books) and hardcore Sci-Fi.

5) If you wrote a novel, what would it be called?

I am currently writing a novel and the working title is 'The Caged Prince'.

6) How would your ideal book cover be like?

If we're talking for the book I am writing, I'd say forest in the background, maybe with a lake. The background would be super blurry and darkened though, like looking through a shadowy window. There would be a cage in the middle of the cover with a boy sitting in it, turned away from the camera. The font for the title would be either very elegant or look like the letters were made of scratches. If we're talking general book covers, I'd say anything with gothic imagery. 

7) Which standalone novel do you believe deserves a sequel?

Stolen by Lucy Christopher deserves a sequel for sure. 

8) Which novel/book series would you like to be adapted to graphic novel(s)?

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy 1000%. That must happen. 

9) What was your most recent book purchase?

Just bought Hourglass by Claudia Gray.

10) Which was the book that made you emotional the most?

There have been a few. I remember finishing Stolen by Lucy Christopher at three in the morning and crying until sunrise. The Forbidden Game series by L.J Smith made me cry as well. The Faceless Ones by Derek Landy made me shed some tears at the end too. (Lots of crying, as you can tell).  Colters' Woman by Maya Banks was quite intense as well. I've gotten super emotional for a lot of books. I can't list them all, it'd take up so much time!

My questions to my nominees are:

1) Do you prefer ebooks or printed books?

2) What is the longest series you have ever read the whole way through? 

3) Which book would you like to see as a movie?

4) Who is your favourite author(s)?

5) What is the oldest book you have ever read?

6) If you could only read and reread one book for the rest of your life, what book would it be?

7) Vampires or werewolves or both or neither?

8) How many books, both printed and ebooks, do you own in total? 

9) Which book played with your emotions the most?

10) Do you love a book that everyone else hates?




I nominate:

AJ @ ClairBooks

Carrie @ The Book Goddess

InToriLex @ InToriLex

Fiona @ A Girl Between The Pages


Samantha @ A Dream of Books 

Cynthia @ Cynthia's on Pens and Needles

Candace @ Candace's Book Blog

Melanie @ Fang-Freakin-Tastic Reviews

Jazmen @ This Girl Reads A Lot

Robin @ Where Books Lead Us


Leave me a link to your posts in the comments!

If you've already been nominated for this award, leave the link to your response and don't feel obligated to answer my questions. 

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

Series: Fairytale Retellings

Author: Jackson Pearce
Page Count: 328
Published: June 7th, 2010

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

  4 Stars ★★★★

Scarlett and Rosie's grandmother died in a werewolf attack when they were young, and Scarlett is now severely scarred and left with only one eye, as a result of protecting Rosie from the Fenris wolf. Years later, they hunt the Fenris, still haunted by memories of that fateful and traumatic day. 

Silas, their family friend, woodsman, and hunting partner returns to their small town just as they find they must move cities so that they can track the wolves and save the Potential....a regular man at risk of being targeted by one of the three Fenris packs and changed into a werewolf. But as Rosie becomes distracted by life outside of hunting and questions all that she has ever known, tensions bloom. Will they be able to find the Potential in time? Or will the Fenris claim him as another of their soul-less pack members?

First of all, I really liked how the author gave Silas, Rosie and Scarlett all distinguishable, unique personalities. It made for an interesting dynamic and their interactions were never boring.

However, I didn't truly like Scarlett. I wanted to like her, to see her as a hero. After all, she saved Rosie at the price of her own appearance and health! But I found Scarlett to be extremely manipulative and uptight, and I hated how she always made Rosie feel guilty. So to me, she was not a likeable character.

Rosie was the complete opposite. Open to new experiences and far from manipulative, I got angry when she felt guilty for doing normal things, thanks to her sister. Scarlett also seemed to make Rosie feel like she owed her everything..... I understand feeling gratitude towards the person who saved your life, but to take advantage of that gratitude was unacceptable. 

Silas was a great character. He was gentle and sincere, yet he was also fierce and emotional. He wasn't perfect but he was admirable. 

There isn't really a love triangle, which I know some people may appreciate. I personally appreciated it, and I feel that if the author had included a love triangle, it would have distracted from the main plot points. There is a romance and some romantic allusions and actions towards a third person, but certainly not a full-blast love triangle. 

I thought it was interesting that the author chose to make the Fenris werewolves true monsters. She didn't romanticize them in any way and I truly disliked them. This is a breath of fresh air when it comes to werewolves in current young adult fiction..... While I love myself a good paranormal romance and a supernatural love interest, I really enjoyed this take on werewolf mythology. 

The book felt a little slow at times but the pace in general was quite good and kept me interested throughout the whole novel. The climax was crazy and the ending was perfect. Be warned: the climax and the ending will play with your emotions! 

I recommend this book to those interested in werewolves and to those who want a novel that strays from the paranormal male, human female romance trend. If you like YA stories about monster hunting then this book is for you. 

Find Sisters Red on Goodreads

Wicca for Beginners by Thea Sabin

Series: N/A

Author: Thea Sabin
Page Count: 262
Published: April 1st, 2006

Publisher: Llewellyn Publications

  4 Stars ★★★★

This is an informational book on Wicca and the beliefs, practices, and variations found within it. Covering everything from spells and ethics to the sabbats (Wiccan holidays), this guide provides a basic summary of general philosophy and practice for the beginner Wiccan.

This was the first book on Wicca that I had ever picked up. Before, I got all of my information online because I hadn't been able to find a guide for beginner Wiccans at my local bookstores. Then I found this cute little book and supply store which mostly stocked religious and spiritual books and items. Amongst the one, small Pagan shelf, I found this guide and picked it up. I am very glad I did!

While this book is very basic, it is extremely helpful for those who know little to nothing about Wicca. You have to start somewhere, and with a diverse religious system like Wicca, understanding general practices and beliefs can make advanced study much easier. As I said, prior to finding this book I had gotten all of my information online, which is a hit-and-miss when it comes to legitimate sites and posts. Knowing that the things I was reading in this book were written by an experienced Wiccan assured me that I was finally getting some verified info, which was a nice change.

Something I really appreciated about this book was that the author didn't say that those following eclectic traditions were invalid Wiccans. I sometimes hear traditional Wiccans saying that eclectic ones aren't 'real' Wiccans, and this had always upset me. But the author affirms the eclectic identity by sharing her own personal experiences as an ex-eclectic Wiccan and by keeping a positive tone when discussing non-Gardenarian based traditions. That makes this book a great choice for eclectic Wiccans.

I also appreciated that Thea Sabin included some sample spells, exercises to assist in energy work, and recommendations for other Wicca-related books. This is incredibly helpful because it can set one on their way to practicing ritual, casting spells, and gaining new insight.

However, I do wish that the author had explained more when it comes to Wiccan history. While the religion itself may be quite new, I feel like she could've better discussed the other Pagan beliefs which influenced both traditional and modern Wicca. This could've made for an entire, fascinating chapter of its own.

Overall, a great choice for those new to the Wiccan path. I recommend this to those interested in learning about Wicca and to those who are ready to get started with their own personal spiritual journey.

Find Wicca for Beginners on Goodreads