We have a winner!

First, thank all of you for support and being the part of my first giveaway! We have a winner:

Lea K. , entery #585!!!

Congratulations!:)

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Book description from Edelweiss:

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is a dream come true. The chance to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To live in a castle and compete to win the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

35 girls. 1 crown. The competition of a lifetime. Cinderella meets television's The Bachelor in this fresh dystopian romance.

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is a dream come true. The chance to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To live in a castle and compete to win the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

All seventeen-year-old America Singer wants is a future with her secret boyfriend, Aspen. But when she is Selected, America grudgingly heads to the castle, all the while insisting that she has no interest in ruling a country divided by castes and plagued by violent rebel attacks. But much to her shock, her relationship with Maxon begins to bloom...and when she's unexpectedly confronted by her past, America is forced to choose between the life she thought she left behind and a future she never imagined.

Debut author Kiera Cass has crafted a totally unique dystopian world with an irresistible romance, a spirited protagonist, and plenty of high-stakes drama. Perfect for fans of Matched, this electrifying, futuristic fairy tale will leave readers clamoring for the next chapter in America's story.

Here's what I think...

Dystopian novels are quite popular lately - maybe because of the success of the Hunger Games or maybe because of the fact that vampire /werewolf theme became little bit worn out. They are still one of the most popular fantasy characters but there are lots of readers who are willing to read something different. If you're one of them, I think you should read The Selection by Kiera Cass.

As any novel of this genre, The Selection has usual plot: the girl living in the post-apocalyptic society of some kind, trying to make her own choices fighting with all limitations bared upon her by class, social status or, in this case, caste she belongs to and all rules determined by it. There's a boy, family, need to sacrifice  personal happiness for those she loves. And than there's the other boy and confusion and politics.

In general, this is not a bad book. It'll keep you entertained and some may find similarities with certain parts of The Hunger Games, Matched or Wither (I won't say anything else - I don't want to spoil it for you). Kiersten White, author of Paranormalcy, described book like this:

"Reality TV meets dystopian fairy tale in Kiera Cass's delightful debut. Charming, captivating, and filled with just the right amount of swoon!"

Swoon indeed! Reality TV - absolutely. It reminded me of all those dating TV shows. If you're a fan, you'll like the book. Me - not so much.

You may find it confusing in the beginning - what's the point of the selection and new society. Author is more focused on personal lives of characters than political background of the story. Later is represented only in glimpses and after about half of the book. In my opinion, that is the biggest flaw of The Selection - it makes the whole fictional world less believable. Because of this I think that younger readers will enjoy this book much more than older ones - thirteen year old girls enjoy fairytailish romance, they still don't like any "serious" topics in books they read (that's one of the reasons lots of readers didn't like that much third book in The Hunger Games trilogy).

The Selection will be available on April 24th  but author announced on her web page, kieracass.com, that the CW Network picked up her book for pilot. Cast is already selected and if you want to keep up for updates, check out The Selection IMDb page.

Happy reading, guys!

Until next time,

***NOTE! Copy of the book is kindly provided by the publisher, Harper Teen. I'm not paid for writing review - I do this for free as lover of written word. All opinions in this review are personal.

The Forever Girl: Sophia's Journey (Forever Girl #1) by Rebecca Hamilton

Book summary:

A Cult. A Murder. A Curse. 

Sophia's family has skeletons, but they aren't in their graves... 

At 22, practicing Wiccan Sophia Parsons is scratching out a living waiting tables in her Rocky Mountain hometown, living under the shadow of her bi-polar mother, religious prejudice, and a cold murder. Sophia can imagine lots of ways her life could be better, but she'd settle for just getting rid of the buzzing noise in her head. The spell she casts goes wrong. The static turns into voices. Her personal demons get company, and the newcomers are dangerous. 

 One of them is a man named Charles, a centuries-old shape-shifter that Sophia falls for despite her better judgment. He has connections that can help her unveil the mystery surrounding her ancestor's hanging, but she gets more than she bargains for when she finally decides to trust him. Survival in his world, she learns, means not asking questions and staying out of the immortal council's way. It's a line she crossed long ago. 

 If Sophia wants to survive the council and save the people she loves, she must accept who she is, perform dark magic, and fight to the death for her freedom. 

 The Forever Girl is a full-length Paranormal Fantasy novel that will appeal to lovers of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, witches, vampires, ghosts, paranormal mystery, and paranormal horror.

First I want to thank Rebecca for sending me this book, and I must add that that didn't affect on my rating. 

It's simple about this book. If you like vampires, paranormal creatures (as much as I do) you'll love this book. You'll be surprised with a whole new level of difference between vampires. Before I started reading paranormal books I thought OK vampires are vampires and that's it, but in some books (like this one) I discovered the whole new structure of paranormal world.  It's impressive to me. I mean you have to be creative to accomplish that and I like creative stuff. Here I especially liked the whole elements story (air, water, earth, fire and spirit). 

When it comes to the story you'll meet young girl Sophia. She is 22, luckily not 16-year-old high school girl, because it's easier to relate with somebody who is closer to your age. She is strong character and she knows how to deal with some things on her own. Although, later she will hesitate about some things but you can't blame her  after everything that happens. On the other side we have one guy, he is Charles and he is THE guy (If you know what I mean *wink*). After meeting Charles she will find answers on some of her questions and also discover the whole new world. One more thing I really like is connection in this book, between past and present and between two completely different worlds. 

Now I can't wait to read the next book in this series, which will be out in June. So all in all, if you like paranormal books with action in it then this book is for you. 

Until the next time, 

Lover Reborn by J.R. Ward

Holy something of big, bad boys in leathers!!! I bow to your alter and hope that you'll accept my humble sacrifice of lascivious doings in many forms.

Yes, my dear girls, Brothers are back!

There isn't better way to create complete craziness among women than publishing  new novel about ultimate alpha males in the world of fictional characters - The Black Dagger Brotherhood. They, surely, pull out the most primal urges in a full blooded female proving that we can be as shallow and superficial as opposite sex. Well, I'd say "Bring it on!" because in this century it's payback time. we're going to oggle you in the dirtiest ways known to our kind.

Ever since the death of his shellan, Tohrment is a heartbroken shadow of the vampire leader he once was. Brought back to the Brotherhood by a self-serving fallen angel, he fights again with ruthless vengeance- and is unprepared for a new tragedy. Seeing his beloved in dreams—trapped in a cold, desolate netherworld—he turns to the angel to save his former mate, only to despair at the path he himself must take to set her free. As war with the lessers rages, and a new clan of vampires vies for the Blind King’s throne, Tohr struggles between an unforgettable past, and a future that he doesn’t know he can live with… but can’t seem to turn away from. (Goodreads summary)

Tenth book in BDB series brings us back, in a way, at the beginning - we are finally seeing closure to the Thorments story. But, as in all of hers books, J.R. Ward gives us glimpses into the lives of other brothers - V, John, Qhuinn, Blay... There are new bad boys in Caldwell - Band of Bastards. You'll  find out why Lassiter was helping Thorment all this time and here's the best part: J.R. Ward  announced on her Facebook profile that next book will be about Qhuinn and Blay!

I wish you a very happy reading!

Until next time, 

Tanja's Top Ten Books To Read In One Day

The task for this week's Top Ten Tuesday is to pick ten books that you'd read in one day. No easy task to do, but I'll try.







10. Rock and Hard Place by Angie Stanton. Romance of course. Don't ask but those silly books are my guilty pleasure. This book was so sweet that you couldn't wait to see whether there will be a happy end or not.

9.  The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han. For me this is perfect summer book. While you're enjoying in your garden or somewhere outside bring this book with you. Btw, little advice don't read whole in public if you don't want people see you cry.

8. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. I don't mean to read all six books in one day (although not bad idea) but a book a day is something that is hard to avoid when you're reading this one.

7. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire. This book is really intense and main male character is one of those who will blow your mind (at least he did mine). I remember reading this book, I really enjoyed.

6. Sing me to Sleep by Angela Morrison. It will take you maybe few pages to get used to this book, because it's written in verse, but after that everything will go easily. This book is so emotional.

5. Clockwork Angel/Prince by Cassandra Clare. Both are really great and big btw, but they're so easy to read. I must admit that second one was maybe but just maybe better than first. Still both are great.

4. Angelfall by Suzan Ee. After reading The Hunger Games dystopia was my favourite genre, both dystopia and paranormal. But when you get book that's combination of those two (like this one) then I know what I'll be doing that day.

3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. First book is really an addiction, second one as well. When you start reading it you can't stop. This was my first dystopian book and everything was new and appealing for me. This book is readable and so easy to enjoy.

2. On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta. This really is a MUST READ. Seriously, I read this book long time ago and I still remember everything. Maybe you'll be confused at the beginning but just continue. Trust me and you'll see, you won't be able to stop.

1. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. For those who don't know me I guess this is surprise. For those who know me, I guess it's not. This is lets say my all time favourite book (although that's the hardest task for me). This book is appealing because of writing style and the story as well.

Now I see that I should go from 1 to 10, not from 10 to 1, but I like it this way! :)

Until the next time,

Lichgates (The Grimoire Trilogy #1) by S.M. Boyce

This is my first post here, so wish me luck! :) Glass, thank you for inviting me. I really appreciate that, and to readers I'm looking forward meeting you all. Now the review.

Book summary

The Grimoire turns its own pages and can answer any question asked of it, and Kara Magari is its next target. She has no idea what she's getting herself into when she stumbles across the old book while hiking a hidden trail. Once she opens it, she's thrown into Ourea: a beautiful world full of terrifying things that all want the Grimoire's secrets. Everyone in this new world is trying to find her, and most want to control her. 

Braeden Drakonin grew up in Ourea, and all he’s ever known of life is lying. The Grimoire is his one chance at redemption, and it lands in his lap when Kara Magari comes into his life. He has one question to ask the book – one question that can fix everything in his broken life – and he’s not letting Kara out of his sight until he gets an answer. 

There’s no escaping Ourea. There’s no going back now.

 I started reading this book slowly, so I could enjoy longer. But today I started reading it and  I totally lost myself in it. Before I could stop I finished this book and 3 hours passed just like that. I feel like I woke up from a dream. 

At the beginning of the book it reminded me of Narnia and then I thought it has some connections with The Lord of the Rings and also I could see some stuff from books for kids or somewhere. At some point I stopped thinking about that and then I realized that this book has its own story, everything fits in its place. 

Main character here is Kara, young normal girl and Braeden, who lives in another world. Kara lived normal life but everything changed when she discovered secret doors. Soon she discovers whole new world called Ourea and also Braeden. He needs answers on some really important questions, but the only person who can give him those answers is Kara. Will Braeden discover the truth or will he find something more important? It's up to you to discover that. Kara is one of those characters that you'll like and Braeden, well he seems like great character but I got a feeling like I still need to meet him.

I really enjoyed reading this book. Basically this book has three main things that I like in books: fantasy, magic and romance. But nor that kind of romance when they're dying for each other and they can't like without each other.

I really hope that one day this book is going to be published and translated so I could read this to my kids before they go to sleep. I'm sure that they'll have sweet dreams. Now I can't wait for the second book.

I must also add that I got this book form S.M.Boyce and that didn't affect on my review.

Here is also official trailer for the book if my review isn't enough reason for you to read it.

Until the next time,

New member on the board

I'm happy to announce that I have a guest blogger on the board! Her name is Tanja (maybe you know her as Tanychy from Goodreads) and she is awesome girl with good taste when it comes to the books. You'll hear from her pretty soon, so stay tuned!

Until the next time,

The Six by KB Hoyle Blog Tour + Giveaway

   For starters, thank you, lovely readers, for visiting my blog and taking your time to read today's post which is dedicated to the new novel, The Six by KB Hoyle, coming out on April 5th. I was lucky to be part of The Six Blog Tour organised by The Writer's Coffee Shop.

   I'm guessing that first you'd like to know what The Six is about. Well, here's summary:

Darcy Pennington hates her life. She is an insufferably average teenager with no real friends, crushing social anxiety, and an indescribable sense of not fitting in anywhere. A change in her dad’s job forces her to attend Cedar Cove Family Camp the summer before her eighth-grade year, and Darcy once again finds herself on the outside of a social circle of teenagers, with her only advocate being an awkward girl named Samantha Palm. The only problem is, Darcy has no desire to be friends with her, but as the hostility from the other teenagers increases, she decides to return the friendship.

When Darcy begins to experience strange magical occurrences, she comes to believe she’s either losing her mind or on the brink of a discovery that could give her purpose in life. After unwittingly stumbling through a magical gateway to a new world called Alitheia, she convinces Sam and the other four teenagers to travel there with her, and despite their earlier hostilities toward her, they eventually concede leadership of their small group to Darcy. Once there, they learn the “arrival of the Six” was prophesied hundreds of years before, and that they must expel an ancient evil from the land. In the end their lives, and the fate of Alitheia, will hinge upon Darcy. Will she have what it takes to fulfill her mysterious purpose? Or will she fall prey to a deadly foe?

   It's obvious that this is a book for younger readers - main characters are 13 and 14 years old, but I assure you - even older readers will enjoy it. Think of Harry Potter! Or yourself as a child!
   I remember that I liked "to explore"  small woods behind house where I used to live with my younger sister. My mother dreaded those "expeditions" - more than often we used to come back with scars, bruises, torn clothes and tangled hair full of leaves, bugs and who know what else. Trophies were the best part. We believed that they were gifts from "wood's people". Oh, yeah! You heard me right! I was totally crazy. We searched for gnomes, leprechauns, wizards, ghosts, unicorns, Liliputians, faeries, Peter Pan, Excalibur, Lady of the Lake and "souls of the trees". But those are the happiest memories of my childhood. When you get older, you start to forget lots of things - I have to admit I forgot. But than I took this book in my hands and it all came back. I couldn't stop smiling and I kept imagining all the characters in the novel as my friends and myself.
   Thing is The Six is the story made out of this kind of memories - KB Hoyle said it herself:

"I was inspired to write The Gateway Chronicles by my childhood camp experiences. The Six, as the first in the series, sprang out of this desire to translate my camp memories into a fantasy story for teenagers that combines the classic magical transportation to another world with modern teenage lingo and realism. In doing this, I've been able to create something new out of something old, and not only pay homage to my favorite childhood haunt, but also to my favorite genre of literature. The Six is the beginning of a larger story that young people can grow along with and love!"

   So, here's the chance to win a paperback copy of The Six and other goodies - KB Hoyle decided to make swag giveaway:

-Skittles and Microwave Popcorn (my favorite snacks at the camp on which the setting is based)
-A packet of daisy seeds (because of the wild daisies that grow in the upper peninsula)
-A garden gnome (to represent the gnomes at Gnome's Haven in my book)
-A miniature composition notebook (to represent Lewis's notebook in the story)
-A candle (an enchanted forest jar candle-for the magic in the forest in the story)
-A paperback copy of "The Six" from TWCS.

   Each item in the swag has significiance to the author or some of the characters in the book, so your reading experience should be complete! All you have to do is fill form below and wait for results. Giveaway will be open until next Sunday - April 8th. Good luck!

   If you want to learn more about author or get in touch visit her web page nightnark.blogspot.com. or find her on Twitter - @kbhoyle_author.

   Until next time,  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

   Lucky me - I had a chance to read first novel in new series The Lynburn Legacy by Sarah Rees Brennan  now thanks to the publisher, Random House, but you wll have to wait just a little bit longer - until September 11th. No worries, it's worth waiting for. 

   Unspoken is a sweet story about friendship, making your own place in the world, love and... magic:

 Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the- Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him? (Goodreads description)

  This is the book for all of you who still have a little piece of a child left in your soul. Characters are seventeen, but maybe you'll have impression that they are younger than that. That's for the most part because of the writing style - it has fairytaleish vibe combined with mystery.

   Kami Glass - yes, I liked her from the first page when I saw her name - is a strong girl, a little bit strange but in a good way, and she knows what she wants. If you're expecting some usual YA love story with paranormal twist, think again. Unspoken is completely different from any book you've read.

   But ending... My God, ending! It's killing me. True cliffhanger. I wanted to smash my Kindle out of spite to the goddess of written word - how dare she to torture me this way? 

   If you want to learn more about author and her books visit sarahreesbrennan.com.

  Until next time, 

  

Sorry, guys!

I've been really busy lately - my reading obsession destroyed my social life, there were so many chores that I hadn't been doing (I needed a small army to help me out), and school started again so I had to get back at work - my students were thrilled as much as I was.

But I'm back now. So, keep in touch because I'll be part of The Shapeshifter's Secret Blog Tour (May 13th) and The Gateway Chronicles Blog Tour (April 1st).

Have a nice day, my fellow readers!