Book Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Title: Catching Fire
Author: Suzanne Collins
Series: The Hunger Games #2
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: September 1, 2009
Length: 391 Pages

*Entire Trilogy:  Amazon| Barnes and Noble*

Sparks are igniting, flames are spreading and the Capitol wants revenge.
Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.
Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.
In Catching Fire, the second novel of the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before...and surprising readers at every turn.

MY REVIEW

Oh, Catching Fire why must you do this to me! I really thought I was on Team Gale after The Hunger Games but I really think Peeta stepped up in Catching Fire. I may just be changing my mind, but it is up to Mockingjay to form my final opinion. Catching Fire builds on top of the tiny sparks left by The Hunger Games and turns the story on its head. Katniss feels very alone in the beginning of Catching Fire. She knows that she is facing trouble from the Capitol, and Peeta and her have a very strained relationship as do her and Gale. As a young woman who could not have understood the implications of her actions, Katniss must strive to prove that she and Peeta are deeply in love, or danger may be lurking around the corner for her and her loved ones.

The suspense of Catching Fire, and some specific moments I am not going to spoil for other readers stole my breath away. The tension in Catching Fire can be felt almost right away and it continues throughout the book. The districts are on the verge of rebellion, and the Capitol is looking to place blame, blame that is falling on Katniss. Catching Fire is an emotional read, because there are moments when I actually had to stop reading just to catch my breath and re-center myself before continuing.

I think where sometime in a trilogy or series the second book does not live up to the hype of the first book, but that is not the case with Catching Fire. If anything I think, Catching Fire outshines The Hunger Games, which is not an easy task to accomplish. Katniss has always been a very caring character, but in Catching Fire, readers get a glimpse of what she would be willing to do to save those she cares about the most.

I wanted to read Catching Fire ever since I read the Hunger Games before seeing the movie. I cannot wait to continue with Mockingjay, and I am glad I did not have to a year for it to come out like original Hunger Games fans. I really wish I had read it soon, because it is an original masterpiece of young adult fiction, which will remain popular for years to come.

**Unabridged Bookshelf purchased this item for their own collection**

Are You Team Peeta or Team Gale?

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Cover Reveal: Frigid by J. Lynn

Title: Frigid
Author: J. Lynn
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Expected Publication: Digital; July 30, 2013 Print; November 5, 2013

For twenty-one-year-old Sydney, being in love with Kyler isn't anything new. They'd been best friends ever since he pushed her down on the playground and she made him eat a mud pie. Somewhere over the years, she fell for him and fell hard. The big problem with that? Kyler puts the 'man' in man-whore. He's never stayed with a girl longer than a few nights, and with it being their last year in college, Syd doesn't want to risk their friendship by declaring her love.
Kyler has always put Syd on a pedestal that was too high for him to reach. To him, she's perfect and she's everything. But the feelings he has for her, he's always hidden away or focused on any other female. After all, Kyler will always be the poor boy from the wrong side of tracks, and Syd will always be the one girl he can never have.
But when they're stranded together at a posh ski resort due to a massive Nor'easter, there's nothing stopping their red-hot feelings for each other from coming to the surface. Can their friendship survive the attraction? Better yet, can they survive at all? Because as the snow falls, someone is stalking them, and this ski trip may be a life-changer in more ways than one.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

J. Lynn, also known as Jennifer L. Armentrout, is a # 1 New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author. She lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russel Loki.
Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen.
She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Follow Jennifer Armentrout/J. Lynn

Website | Twitter | Facebook

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The Witch Avenue Series Blog Tour

Welcome to my stop on The Witch Avenue Series Blog Tour! I have a review of Altered Souls, book 2 in the series, and there is a tour giveaway. This tour is organzied by AToMR Tours, and the full tour schedule is available by clicking the banner above. 

ABOUT THE BOOKS

Title: Lonely Souls

Author: Karice Bolton

Series: The Witch Avenue Series #1

Age Group: New Adult

Genre: Paranormal Romance

**Currently Free on Amazon**

It's two weeks before Triss turns 18, and her world is about to change into the most magical one imaginable as she readies herself to enter The Witch Avenue Order... that is until her mother's disappearance. Instead of celebrating her transformation, she finds herself spreading rose petals into her mother's empty grave.
When Logan, her best friend from junior high, moves back to town for college, he vows to help her find the answers she so desperately seeks surrounding her mother's disappearance. As they begin uncovering clues, it becomes apparent that the life of white magic they both grew up loving is not what the majority practices, and their lives are in danger.
With a haunting feeling that her mother may still be alive, she begins to hear a call to the wilderness. Triss realizes that in order to find the answers she needs, she must learn the ways of her ancestors and become the hunter, not the hunted before it's too late, and she becomes part of the lonely souls.

Title: Altered Souls

Author: Karice Bolton

Series: The Witch Avenue Series #2

Age Group: New Adult

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

The realm of Altered Souls brings nothing but unrest, deceit, and pain forcing Triss to come face to face with heartbreak from her past.
Facing a betrayal like never before, Triss questions everything she thought she knew about her family, coven, and abilities.
With the help of Logan, she embarks on a journey enabling her to confront the dark side of magic and the person who controls it. Realizing Triss’s ancestors have been seduced for centuries by the dark side, Triss and Logan must ensure no more in their world fall victim to the realm of Altered Souls, even if that means ending the ones they love.

Title: Released Souls

Author: Karice Bolton

Series: The Witch Avenue Series #3

Age Group: New Adult

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Triss and Logan’s love is becoming stronger by the day as they harness the powers between them, but will that make them blind to the evil they’re facing?
After uncovering startling information about her family, Triss is determined to right the wrongs of her ancestors. Triss and Logan uncover who has infiltrated the covens across the globe, and they realize the plans of the dark side are far more sinister than they’d ever imagined.
As the power of this hidden world is exposed, Triss learns her role in the covens. With Logan, Dace and Bakula’s assistance, Triss is now able to fully realize the abilities her ancestors have given her.
It won’t be long until the dark forces regain their strength, especially as their leader, Eben, continues his quest for a power that can never be revoked. Triss must stop him before it is too late.

Cover Reveal and Excerpt: Uncharted by Tracey Garvis-Graves

Title: Uncharted: an On the Island Novella
Author: Tracey Garvis-Graves
Series: On The Island
Publisher: Penguin
Expected Publication: July 2, 2013

Tracey Garvis Graves - and Anna and T.J. - return in this companion novella to the New York Times bestseller On the Island
When twenty-three-year-old dot-com millionaire Owen Sparks walked away from his charmed life, he had one goal in mind: get as far away as possible from the people who resented his success, or had their hand out for a piece of it. A remote uncharted island halfway around the world seemed like a perfectly logical place to get away from it all.
Calia Reed wasn't part of Owen's plans. The beautiful British girl - on holiday in the Maldives with her brother, James - made Owen wonder if getting away from it all might be a lot more enjoyable with a carefree girl who didn't know anything about the life he left behind.
But Owen had no idea how much his carefully detailed plans would go awry. Nor did he realize that a decision he made would have such a catastrophic effect on two passengers who boarded a plane in Chicago.
And when Owen shows up at Anna and T.J.'s door with an incredible story to tell, everyone involved will learn just how much their lives are intertwined.
Uncharted includes an early look at Covet, coming September 2013

EXCERPT

Chapter 1

OWEN

The house is isolated, surrounded by trees and a well-kept lawn. There’s a children’s play set in one corner of the yard, and an abandoned tricycle on the front sidewalk. Spring has only just arrived in the Midwest, but someone has already drawn a hopscotch pattern with pastel-colored chalk. A sign stuck in the landscaping by the front door announces that the home is protected by ADT, and when I ring the doorbell a dog starts barking, followed by the sound of thundering paws.

The woman that answers the door has a baby in her arms and two toddlers clinging to her skirt. The dog, a large golden retriever, snarls and waits for her to let it out. I hope she doesn’t. Her blue eyes narrow as she peers at me behind the safety of a storm door that I’m certain is locked. The glass muffles her voice, but I can still understand her when she says, “Can I help you?” Her guarded tone makes sense, the way it would if you lived out in the country and the world knew your story and had a ballpark idea of your net worth. “Is your husband around?” I ask.

“He’s upstairs. On the phone,” she says.

“I’d like to talk to you both. Mind if I wait?” She doesn’t like this. I can tell by the way she pushes the kids behind her and squares her shoulders, lifting her chin slightly.

Ah, she’s a fighter. This doesn’t surprise me at all.

“You’ll have to come back some other time,” she says, and starts to close the door. But before she can swing it shut all the way a dusty pickup truck pulls into the driveway and the relief washes over her face.

The man driving slams on the brakes and gets out of the truck almost before it stops moving.  He strides up to me with a suspicious expression on his face. Suspicious and pissed off. I’m older than he is, but he looks enough like me that people could mistake us for brothers; we have the same light brown hair and build.

He glances at the woman in the doorway. “Stay inside.” Turning back toward me he says, “Who are you and what do you want?”

“Just wanted to talk to you and your wife.”

“Do we know you?”

“No.” I put my hands in my pockets and remind myself of the reason for my visit. “My name is Owen Sparks.” The man looks at me, brow furrowed as he filters through his memory for the significance of my name. But the woman, the woman knows immediately, and we both turn toward her when she gasps.

“T.J,” the woman says. She opens the door wide so we can really hear her and the dog shoots out like a bullet from a gun, sniffing me aggressively but thankfully deciding that I’m no threat. “The missing person. The man whose trail went cold in the Maldives. Do you remember? His name was Owen Sparks.”

Recognition dawns on his face and they look at me like I’m a ghost. “Are you the guy who built the shack?” he asks. 

“Yes.”

“But you’re not Bones.”

I shake my head. “No.” There’s no need for me to ask them what they mean. To ask them who Bones is.  

Because I know. 

Uncharted: an On the Island novella by Tracey Garvis-Graves will be available on July 2, 2013, wherever e-books are sold.

On The Island is one of my all time favorite books, and I cannot wait to get a little bit more Anna and T.J. I am curious to read Owen's story and watch how it intertwines with Anna and T.J.'s story. I am going to be very impatiently waiting for July! Also, it comes with a sneak peak of Tracey Garvis-Graves new novel, Covet! So Excited for Uncharted!

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Cover Reveal: Alaskan Nights by Nadia Scrieva

Title: Alaskan Nights
Author: Nadia Scrieva
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary
Expected Publication: March 2013

When Brynne left Alaska, she promised herself she would never go back.
The day after graduation, she got in her beat-up Honda Civic and drove down the west coast to pursue her dream of becoming a Hollywood makeup artist. Growing up in a rural fishing village with dirty, rundown buildings, and dirty, rundown men, she longed for the glitz and glamour of the silver screen. She had no qualms about leaving behind her dysfunctional family and her nowhere-job at her mother's fishing tackle shop. She didn't even think twice about leaving behind the cute boy who came in to buy gear almost every day, shamelessly flirting with her and always leaving a generous tip. Well, maybe she thought about it twice; but she knew that a relationship with Callder Murphy would only be bound to lead her deeper into nowhere. She was sick and tired of being nowhere—and no one.
Brynne set out, determined to prove to the world that she was much more than just a fisherman’s daughter. Unfortunately, her luck and tip money ran out in Seattle when her car broke down. Exhausted from the stress of travel, she decided to take a waitressing job in the city for the time being. “For the time being” ended up being far longer than she would have liked. That was four years ago. Now, a call from home has alerted Brynne to some bad news. She needs to get back to Soldotna promptly, but she has been living paycheck to paycheck and can’t even afford a plane ticket home. Enter a ghost from her past as her knight in shining armor. Unexpectedly showing up outside her restaurant in a red Ferrari, Callder is determined to take her home with him, and keep her there for good.
* * *
Perpetually drunken playboy, Callder Murphy, is currently loaded. Of course, that’s only because he stole his big brother’s credit card. He was off in Vegas, doing what he does best (absolutely nothing) when he received the call from home. A name he hasn’t heard in years pulls him out of his mindless haze of stumbling from one wild party to the next: Brynne Ambrose needs his help. Pleasant memories of the rude, tomboyish, and completely adorable girl-next-door come rushing back to him with a vengeance. He drops all of his shenanigans and cleans up his act instantaneously. He uses his brother’s credit card to buy an impressive car, and sets out to win over the girl of his dreams. He knows he’s no good for her, but he can’t stay away.
Callder has been waiting his whole life for the opportunity to be her man, and he’s not going to let her slip away again.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nadia Scrieva lives in Toronto, Canada with no husband, no kids, and no pets. She does own a very attractive houseplant which she occasionally remembers to water between her all-consuming writing marathons.  Nadia has a degree in English and Anthropology from the University of Toronto. She likes knives. Her writing always features powerful females and (mostly) honorable male characters.  "Ms. Scrieva is clearly a very talented writer with a natural gift for weaving beautiful, sometimes lyrical prose that kept me entranced for hours." - Stacy Decker, Goodreads reviewer 

Author links:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

The premise of this book sounds really good, and it has my curiosity peaked. I like that there seems like there is going to be two points of view, and we get to experience both sides of the story. 

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Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway of The Crimson Hunt

Welcome to Unabridged Bookshelf's stop on The Crimson Hunt Blog Tour! I have a review of The Crimson Hunt, and there is a tourwide giveaway!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: The Crimson Hunt

Author: Victoria H. Smith

Series: Eldaen Light Chronicles

Publication Date: November 8, 2012

Length: 340 Pages

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

College junior Ariel Richmond is working on year three of Project Normalcy.
Her house reeks of keggers past and her bestie is just a slight bit vulgar. But the thing is—they both aid in making life refreshingly uneventful.
So much for hard-earned mediocrity when Luca Grinaldi appears on the scene.
Luca’s sudden presence on campus is hard to ignore. Those bright eyes act like a beacon to unsuspecting females, and with features like his, he’s got to be moonlighting for GQ. Luca hopelessly captivates Ariel with his confidence and charisma, but the mysteries surrounding him make him nearly untouchable. And just when Ariel grows close enough to unlock his secrets, a tragic event sends her life in a downward spiral.
That steady life is no longer an option and allies quickly become scarce. The mysterious Luca seems to be the only one willing to help her—but with that trust comes the burden of his secrets. He has a dark mission of otherworldly proportions, and is willing to sacrifice as many lives as it takes to see it completed.
Gone are the days of simply maintaining normalcy, and if Ariel isn’t cautious with her trust, so soon may be her future.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Victoria H. Smith has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. She puts it to good use writing romance all day. She resides in the Midwest with her Macbook on her lap and a cornfield to her right. She often draws inspiration for her stories from her own life experiences, and the twenty-something characters she writes give her an earful about it.

In her free time, she enjoys extreme couponing, blogging, reading, and sending off a few tweets on Twitter when she can. She writes new adult fiction romance in the sub-genres of science fiction, urban fantasy, and contemporary, but really, anywhere her pen takes her she goes. Her new adult science fiction romance, The Crimson Hunt, will be published November 2012.

Follow Victoria

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads 

MY REVIEW

The Crimson Hunt is really unlike anything I have read, and the storyline took me completely by surprise. It is not every day that you come across a book that has a plot unlike anything I have currently read out on the market. The differences in The Crimson Hunt make it a refreshing read, something that as an avid reader I do not come across often anymore. I believe the story will really take all readers by surprise, and that is what I enjoy the most about The Crimson Hunt.

The main character, Ariel, is different from most typical leading female characters. She has her flaws such as being uncomfortable about her weight. She is also unselfish and concerned about her friends, instead of focusing on herself. Ariel is not outspoken, but she has a loud and sometimes abrasive roommate, Piper. Piper tends to rope Ariel up into crazy schemes, and she is not afraid to voice her opinion.

Luca is the love interest for Ariel, who remains very mysterious for most of the book. I tried to figure out what Luca’s intentions were in the beginning, and most of the story, I was taken by surprise and defiantly did not see some of the curve balls coming from The Crimson Hunt. I really like Luca for Ariel, and I am curious to see where the story of Ariel and Luca continues from here.

I really like the story of The Crimson Hunt, and the buildup that is leading the next book in the series. I know that I will be reading the next book, because I want to know where Ariel’s journey is going to take her. The book starts with some pretty in your face events, and ends the same way, taking the story full circle, while still managing to lead into book number 2. Victoria Smith has a created a unique world and I cannot wait to explore more of it in the next installment.

**Unabridged Bookshelf received this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review**

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Cover Reveal: Nissa by Bethany Lopez

Title: Nissa: a Contemporary Fairy Tale
Author: Bethany Lopez
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy
Age Group: Young Adult
Cover Designer: B Design
Expected release date:  April 23, 2013

At 900 years old, Nissa is finally ready to follow her mother's path and become the best Fairy Godmother she can. She’s not thrilled when her first assignment turns out to be a teenage human girl with self-esteem issues, but she knows she has to start somewhere. Her assignment has dealt with bullies since her freshman year and they haven’t let up. If Nissa can’t help her regain her self-confidence her future is bleak.
To complicate matters Nissa experiences all the signs that she's met the being fated for her. This impossibility distracts her from her purpose. After all, fairies and humans aren't meant for each other. How can her heart believe otherwise? Can Nissa successfully complete her first assignment as a Fairy Godmother? Will the fates allow Nissa and Levi to be together? And even if they do, will Levi believe Nissa once she reveals the truth?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 Bethany Lopez was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in Michigan and San Antonio, Texas. She went to High School at Dearborn High, in Dearborn, Michigan, which is where she has set her Young Adult series. She is married and has a blended family with five children. She is currently serving in the United States Air Force as a Recruiter in Los Angeles, California. She has always loved to read and write and has seen her dream realized by independently publishing her novels through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.

Bethany Lopez | Facebook | Twitter

I really love the cover model with the red hair and green dress it works together very well. It is a beautiful cover. The book sounds like it would be a great read, with so many elements. I know I will be adding it to my TBR List. 

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Teaser Tuesday with Cover Reveal: The Avery Shaw Experiment

Title: The Avery Shaw Experiment

Author: Kelly Oram
Publisher: Bluefields
Format: ebook
Genre: YA contemporary romance
Release Date: May 2013

When Avery Shaw’s heart is shattered by her life-long best friend, she chooses to deal with it the only way she knows how—scientifically.

The state science fair is coming up and Avery decides to use her broken heart as the topic of her experiment. She’s going to find the cure. By forcing herself to experience the seven stages of grief through a series of social tests, she believes she will be able to get over Aiden Kennedy and make herself ready to love again. But she can’t do this experiment alone, and her partner (ex partner!) is the one who broke her heart.

Avery finds the solution to her troubles in the form of Aiden’s older brother Grayson. The gorgeous womanizer is about to be kicked off the school basketball team for failing physics. He’s in need of a good tutor and some serious extra credit. But when Avery recruits the lovable Grayson to be her “objective outside observer,” she gets a whole lot more than she bargained for, because Grayson has a theory of his own: Avery doesn’t need to grieve. She needs to live. And if there’s one thing Grayson Kennedy is good at, it’s living life to the fullest.

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly event hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• Be careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others!

Make sure to share the title and the author so other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their to be read piles.

This week's teaser comes from:

Teaser One - Avery

Grayson finally noticed Aiden and I on the couch. “What are you two dorks doing?”

“Learning about steroids,” I said cheerfully. “You should probably know that using them can cause acne, testicular atrophy, decreased sperm count, prostate enlargement and gynecomastia.”

Grayson looked rightfully appalled. “Gyneco-what-ia?”

“Enlarged breasts in men,” Aiden translated. “So you should lay off the juice before you have to start borrowing Avery’s bras.”

I gasped at the mention of my underwear and whacked Aiden’s shoulder hard.

Behind me, Grayson laughed. I knew he was about to deliver a comeback, but I refused to look at him. Seconds later his breath was warm on my neck. He whispered just low enough that his mother couldn’t hear what he said. “I like my bras colorful and lacey, Aves. Not sure your collection would do it for me.”

Total mortification. Grayson may be as close as family to me, but he was still one of the hottest, most popular guys in our whole school. Him discussing my bras in that low sexy voice that could stop a girl’s heart on the spot made my lungs constrict. Plus, he was right of course. My bras were all of the plain white cotton variety.

Teaser Two - Grayson

I started to leave the room but she stopped me at the door. “Grayson?” Her tone tugged at something inside me. “You really want to take me with you tonight?”

She sounded so small and unsure of herself. It was how she always sounded at school and around strangers, but never when she was at home with us. I think my brother had really broken her. I was seriously going to have to beat him sometime.

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to. I know I really freaked out on you earlier, but I promise I’ll be fine. Aiden’s right.” She swallowed back a lump in her throat. “I’ll manage without him somehow.”

“Aiden’s a tool. You can learn how to manage tomorrow. Tonight’s New Years Eve and for once in your life you’re going to spend it without Aiden or The Discovery Channel.

I knew I was making progress when she cracked a smile and asked, “What about Whootylicious in 7 B?”

I thought of the luscious booty I’d originally planned on seeing tonight and sighed. “That will be an unfortunate loss, but, like you, I will just have to deal.”

I winked and then decided I’d give her ten minutes before I came back and physically dragged her out of bed.

Other books by Kelly Oram

About Kelly Oram...

Kelly Oram wrote her first novel at age fifteen–a fan fiction about her favorite music group, The Backstreet Boys, for which family and friends still tease her. She's obsessed with reading, talks way too much, and loves to eat frosting by the spoonful. She lives outside of Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and four children.

Website † Twitter † Facebook † GoodReads 

Win all four books by Kelly Oram in ebook format. This giveaway is open international, as long as you have a way to open the file.

Must be 13 or older to enter.

Enter via Rafflecopter below.

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Cover Reveal: Pretty When They Collide

Title: Pretty When They Collide

Author: Rhiannon Frater

Series: Pretty When She Dies Novella

Publication Date: March 15, 2013 (TODAY!)

Age Group: Adult

Genre: Horror

Cover Design: PhatPuppy Art

An exciting new novella set in the world of Pretty When She Dies...
Cassandra is a dhamphir-the offspring of a vampire and mortal woman-and a thief of occult relics.
Aimee is a full-blood witch that is bound to a powerful vampire who traffics in the slavery of supernatural beings.
Both are powerful, lonely, and trapped in the dangerous world of the vampires.
When Cassandra steals a relic from Aimee’s vampire master, he targets her as his next acquisition. What he doesn’t realize is that a chance encounter between Cassandra and Aimee ignited a spark between them that they cannot deny.
To survive, the women must find a way to band together and fight against the ruthless evil that conspires to enslave them forever

OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rhiannon Frater is the award-winning author of the As the World Dies trilogy (The First Days, Fighting to Survive, Siege,) and the author of three other books: the vampire novels Pretty When She Dies and The Tale of the Vampire Bride and the young-adult zombie novel The Living Dead Boy and the Zombie Hunters. Inspired to independently produce her work from the urging of her fans, she published The First Days in late 2008 and quickly gathered a cult following. She won the Dead Letter Award back-to-back for both The First Days and Fighting to Survive, the former of which the Harrisburg Book Examiner called ‘one of the best zombie books of the decade.’ Rhiannon is currently represented by Hannah Gordon of the Foundry + Literary Media agency. You may contact her by sending an email to rhiannonfrater@gmail.com.

 FOLLOW RHIANNON

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

I love this cover, it is beyond gorgeous! It sounds like it is going to be an action packed and amazing novella for the Pretty When She Dies series!

Thank you for visiting Unabridged Bookshelf!

Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Series: Divergent #1
Publisher: Katherine Tegen
Publication Date: May 3, 2011
Length: 487 Pages
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.
Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series--dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

MY REVIEW

I have been hearing about Divergent for a while now, especially when Insurgent came out. I heard wonderful things, but never seemed to have the time. After experiencing all the awesomeness that is Divergent, I am sad it took me this long to read it. There are so many things I loved about Divergent. 

Beatrice Prior knows she does not quite fit into Abnegation, because she cannot always be selfless. Beatrice does not want to choose another faction, because that would mean cutting her family from her life permanently. Can she live with not being herself to keep her family, or does she choose to act for herself. No matter what she chooses, she must pass the initiation or face being factionless and living on the streets. 

After her decision, Beatrice becomes Tris, and starts on her journey. She must keep her secrets well hidden, or she risks something worse than being factionless, she risks her own life. The only one she seems to trust is someone she is not sure she should, Four her training instructor. Four is a mystery that Tris wants to unravel, but is not sure if she can. 

Even with everything I heard about Divergent, it was so much more than expected. I did not see a lot of the storyline coming, but I love that it was so unpredictable. The amount of details however tiny were paid very close attention to create a story woven unlike any other. I am in love with the story and cannot wait until I have the pleasure of reading Insurgent. 

**Unabridged Bookshelf borrowed this book from the local library**

I think I would probably end up in Amity or maybe Erudite.

Which faction would you choose??

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Waiting on Wednesday: With All My Soul

 

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we cannot wait to get our hands on.

 I am waiting on:

Title: With All My Soul

Author: Rachel Vincent

Series: Soul Screamers #7

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publication Date: March 26, 2013

Length: 384 Pages

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository

What does it mean when your school is voted the most dangerous in America? It's time to kick some hellion butt...
After not really surviving her junior year (does "undead" count as survival?), Kaylee Cavanaugh has vowed to take back her school from the hellions causing all the trouble. She's going to find a way to turn the incarnations of Avarice, Envy and Vanity against one another in order to protect her friends and finish this war, once and forever.
But then she meets Wrath and understands that she's closer to the edge than she's ever been. And when one more person close to her is taken, Kaylee realizes she can't save everyone she loves without risking everything she has....

While I am sad to see one of my favorite series end, I also want to know what happens to Kaylee and the gang. I am participating in the With All My Soul Mini-Reading Challenge, so I can experience the final installment with other Soul Screamer fans! Only a few more weeks until it is all over...

Don't Forget to Signup for Fiktshun's Mini Reading Challenge for With All My Soul!

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Cover Reveal: Demon Derby by Carrie Harris

Title: Demon Derby
Author: Carrie Harris
Publisher: Random House
Genre: Paranormal
Age Group: Young Adult
Expected release: March 2014

Casey kicked cancer’s ass. Now a demon wants to kick hers...
Casey hates being known as the girl who survived cancer. She wants people to treat her like her old self, fearless and strong. And after a creepy encounter with a crazy guy in an alley, Casey is all about reclaiming her power.
So when she has a chance to try out for the Apocalypsies roller derby team, she jumps on it. Being a derby girl would prove that she doesn’t need anybody’s pity. It doesn’t hurt that Michael, the team manager, is almost unnaturally hot. Which makes sense when Casey finds out that he’s not even human.
Michael’s got a secret: he trains demon hunters. That crazy guy in the alley? Demon. And the fact that Casey went head to head with evil and lived makes her a threat to demonkind. Casey thought she’d already fought and won the battle of her lifetime. But it’s only beginning...
From Carrie Harris, author of Bad Taste in Boys and Bad Hair Day, comes a knockout new read for anyone facing their own demons—inside and out.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 Carrie Harris is the author of BAD TASTE IN BOYS and BAD HAIR DAY. Her husband is a cancer survivor and a ninja doctor, and her three kids are already in training to fight evil someday. She collects monster-themed clothing, is physically incapable of being serious for more than five minutes at a time, and isn’t a derby girl…yet.

Follow Carrie Harris

Website | Twitter | Facebook 

This one looks like it is going to be an awesome action packed read! Roller Derby, Demons, and Demon Hunters sounds like it going to be A-MA-ZING!

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Teaser Tuesday: The Madness Underneath

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly event hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• Be careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others!

Make sure to share the title and the author so other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their to be read piles.

This week's teaser comes from:

Title: The Madness Underneath

Author: Maureen Johnson

Series: The Shades of London #2

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Publication Date: February 26, 2013

Length: 290 Pages

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository

After her near-fatal run-in with the Jack the Ripper copycat, Rory Devereaux has been living in Bristol under the close watch of her parents. So when her therapist suddenly suggests she return to Wexford, Rory jumps at the chance. But Rory's brush with the Ripper touched her more than she thought possible: she's become a human terminus, with the power to eliminate ghosts on contact. She soon finds out that the Shades—the city's secret ghost-fighting police—are responsible for her return. The Ripper may be gone, but now there is a string of new inexplicable deaths threatening London. Rory has evidence that the deaths are no coincidence. Something much more sinister is going on, and now she must convince the squad to listen to her before it's too late.
In this follow-up to the Edgar Award-nominated The Name of the Star, Maureen Johnson adds another layer of spectacularly gruesome details to the streets of London that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

TEASER:

They never minded me coming into their room and shooting the breeze for a while. That's how I would dispel the creeping darkness--be normal. Just be normal. That's all I had to do.

Kindle Location: 989 of 2846

*Quote is from an ARC and may be subject to errors or changes**

Do you have a teaser for me?

Leave for me in comments or leave me a link to come check it out!

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