Bout of Books: Bookish Mad Libs

Today is the fifth day of the Bout of Book Read-a-thon and the Challenge for today is Bookish Mad Libs. I cannot wait to see what kind of story I create...

A. Place name or type (from a book title) can be a proper name or noun like Italy or mountains

B. Fave Villain (from a book - list title/series)

C. Adjective (from a book title) (hot, cold, dark, etc.)

D. Number (from a book title)

E. Noun (from a book title)

F. Fave Hero/Heroine you wouldn't mind spending a LOT of time with (from a book - list title/series)

G. Dessert (from a book title)

BOOK LIST
A. Looking For ALASKA by John Green
B. Lord Voldemort (The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling)
C. Black Dawn by Rachel Caine
D. Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
E. ASYLUM by Madeleine Roux
F. Dimitri Belikov (Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead)
G. Practice CAKE by Dalya Moon

Bout of Books Thursday Challenge: Book Road Trip

Today is 4th Day of the Bout of Book Read-a-thon! The Book Road Trip looked like a lot of fun so I couldn't miss it.

The Book Road Trip Challenge
THE RULES: For this challenge, I'd like for you to come up with a list of the top 5-10 states/places you'd love to visit and find a book (you either read or want to read) that takes place in that state/place or a book by an author who lives or is from there. :]

1. Ireland

2. Italy

3. Egypt

4. Florida

5. New York

6. Australia

7. Alaska

8. Thailand

9. Russia

10. New Orleans

Where is your dream vacation spot?

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Book Review: The Collector

Title: The Collector
Author: Victoria Scott
Series: Dante Walker #1
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication Date: April 2, 2013
Length: 352 Pages
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository

He makes good girls...bad. 
Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence has made him one of hell’s best—a soul collector. His job is simple, weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big, red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.
Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal opportunity collector and doesn’t want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:
Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within 10 days.
Dante doesn’t know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of hell. But after Dante meets the quirky, Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect—he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector, and uncover emotions deeply buried.

MY REVIEW

Oh Dante Walker why do you have to be such a bad boy? Dante is so unlikable at the beginning of The Collector; you just want to slap him upside the head. Some of the things Dante thinks or says are just so far beyond mean they are just down right cruel. Can you expect much more from a demon? Really, The Collector is about Charlie Cooper and her ability to see the good in everyone despite what they may say or how they act. The problem is that Dante has 10 days to collect the amazingly good girl, Charlie Cooper soul or he loses his chance get out of hell free card.  

Do not get me wrong, Dante may start as a demonic jerk, but because of Charlie, he slowly experiences the world in a different light. This may not be the story I thought I was going to read, but it is a much more beautiful and tragic one. Dante is much more than your typical bad boy. 

Victoria Scott is a genius when it comes to creating the story in The Collector. Dante’s story is not an easy one to write, because if written the wrong way the main character would be so hated no one would want to read it, or his journey would seem false. Victoria Scott does a wonderful job peeling back the layers on Dante, while keeping readers enthralled. 

I know that I have to see where Dante’s story takes him next after the ending of The Collector. With The Liberator, I can only expect more layers of Dante to be revealed. 

**Unabridged Bookshelf purchased this book**

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Enduring Light Release Day Celebration: Review and Giveaway

Today the final book in the Afterglow Trilogy, Enduring Light, that I know I have been dying to read is finally here! Today I have a review of Enduring Light and there is also a Release Day Launch Giveaway.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Enduring Light
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy
Series: Afterglow Trilogy #3
Publication Date: August 20, 2013
Length: 217 Pages
Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Fighting darkness takes light.
Desperate to save James, Charlotte scours Energo for answers with Calvin and Liam at her side. Kevin and Samantha head to Alaska to find the one item that might destroy Blake, but the search is only the beginning.
As time runs out, Charlotte and Kevin discover that keeping Energo from eternal darkness will take a sacrifice no one expects.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult

author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.

Follow Alyssa Rose Ivy

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads 

MY REVIEW

It is here, it is finally here! I have been waiting for Enduring Light since Perilous Light came out last March! The Afterglow trilogy holds a special place in my heart because this series is the one that introduced me to Alyssa Rose Ivy, and my minor ok maybe major obsession with everything she writes. Beckoning Light, the very first book in the Afterglow Trilogy, also was my second review request ever received shortly after I started Unabridged Bookshelf almost two years ago. I still cannot believe it has been almost two years since I started this trilogy or that with Enduring Light it is actually over. 

After the end of Perilous Light, I was pining away for Enduring Light and even though it was a long wait, it was worth every second in the end. Enduring Light is a remarkable end to a series that will always be one of my favorites. With surprises that I never saw coming and the impending battle with Blake, Enduring Light kept me on the tips of my toes. I believe with the stakes higher than ever before to save Energo, Enduring Light is the most emotional book of the series, and a very fitting end to the Afterglow Trilogy. 

Obviously the tensions between Charlotte, Calvin and Liam are at their highest with Charlotte stuck in the middle between the boy she has been in love with for most of her life, and the boy from Energo she has been destined to love since walking through those garden gates. While love triangles are something that is over used and most times done poorly, Alyssa Rose Ivy handles it beautifully. It is hard to choose a “team” because both guys are amazing, but if I had to choose I would have to say I always go for the childhood love of the boy next door. With alternating viewpoints between Kevin and Charlotte, we also get to experience Kevin and Samantha relationship as they head out on a separate mission to find a weapon that may turn the tide in the war on Blake. I love the sweetness in their relationship and I could not help but root for them.

Sometimes when you finish a book series, it leaves you feeling unsatisfied or that the story is not fully complete. I will always want more Energo and Afterglow, but Enduring Light ended with a feeling of wholeness that will let me move on happily from this wonderful series. 

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

Have you read any of the Afterglow Trilogy?

Are you Team Liam or Team Calvin?

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In Darkness We Must Abide Read Along: Episode 8 With Fun Scavenger Hunt!

It is time again to continue with the Read Along of In Darkness We Must Abide. We are currently on Episode 8: The Fallen King. If you want to join in on the fun the first one is currently FREE on Amazon!

Title: The Fallen King

Author: Rhiannon Frater

Series: In Darkness We Must Abide #8

Publication Date: August 3, 2013

Episode 8:

With the life she carefully constructed in Austin now in shambles, Vanora returns home to Houston with the intention of saving her brother from the unseen forces gathering against him. The journey home is perilous, but Armando is at her side, protecting her against all harm. Yet, the vampire may not be able to protect her from the darkness about to consume everyone she loves, and she can't trust her own heart that yearns for him.

Serial Synopsis:

In Darkness We Must Abide is the epic saga of one young woman caught in the dangerous world of the creatures of the night.

Already living in the shadows due to her albinism, Vanora is just a little girl when her older brother inadvertently unleashes a terrible evil from the family crypt that changes their lives forever. 

As she grows up in a world where beautiful deadly beings hunt by night, one captures her eye and her heart. Yet, can she trust the mysterious Armando? For there is a powerful entity plotting to claim her when she reaches adulthood in order to fulfill an ancient prophecy, and her enemy has enveloped her in a web of deceit, casting doubt on all she believes to be true. Soon, she will have to fight not only to save those she loves, but also for her very soul.

Rhiannon Frater delivers a chilling adventure once again with this multi-part epic serial with a dynamic cast, old school vampires, bloody action, a smoldering forbidden love, and a terrifying villain set against the backdrop of a modern day vampire war.

MY REVIEW

Rhiannon Frater why must you always play with my emotions? This very short serial packs one heck of a punch as per Rhiannon Frater’s usual style. Every single episode has left me wanting more, but while this one has me wanting more it also has me wary of what may be happening in the future installment. Vanora has suffered so much throughout In Darkness We Must Abide, and I think that her suffering has quadrupled in the last few episodes alone. Tensions are rising, and I think the next episode, The Purge is going to be a heart stopper.

The In Darkness We Must Abide serial is a series of short serials that combine to form a continual story. The best part is that they are so short that they take only an hour sometimes two to read which in my busy schedule is perfect. Rhiannon Frater also manages to pack them with so much they have the feel of a full-length novel but in a smaller package. Episode 8 The Fallen King is a strong example of a powerful story in a short amount of pages. It is also getting harder and harder to talk about each episode without fear of revealing too much and spoiling it. If you have not started this series I highly recommend picking up the complete Season 1 with episodes 1-5 and jump on the bandwagon.

**Unabridged Bookshelf received this book in exchange for an honest review**

Now for the Fun!!

This time the giveaway is going to be a lot of fun, as we are doing a IDWMA Scavenger Hunt!

The Rules: In order to win an ecopy of an episode of your choice you explore the IDWMA reviews on the blogs listed below one of the reviews contains the phrase FEEDING FRENZY enter the name of this blog in the rafflecopter below to be entered to win!

Parajunkee

Contagious Reads

Offbeat Vagabond

My Book Addiction

Unabridged Bookshelf

In Libris Veritas

Lowcountry Book Lover

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Bout of Books Read-a-thon: Goals and Updates

This is it, Bout of Books Read-a-thon has officially started! Are you participating?
Summer has flown by and I have not read as much as I would like, so a Read-a-thon is the perfect way to end the summer and hopefully enjoy some good books.

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 19th and runs through Sunday, August 25th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 8.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

My Goals

• Read at least 5 books (Only made it to 3.67)
• Write reviews for all books read (Only 1)
• Participate in at least one Twitter Chat 
• Participate in at least 2 Challenges

*I will be updating this post with my progress through the challenge*

Reading List

Day 1: August 19th

• Number of Books Read Today: .75
• Number of Pages Read Today: 265
• The Books: Elysian Fields(started)

Day 2: August 20th

• Number of Books Read Today: .25 and .75
• Number of Pages Read Today: 332
• Total Number of Books Read: 1.75
• Total Number of Pages Read: 597
• The Books: Elysian Fields (finished) Asylum (started)
• Reviews Written: 0

Day 3: August 21st

• Number of Books Read Today: .25 and .17
• Number of Pages Read Today: 130
• Total Number of Books Read: 2.17
• Total Number of Pages Read: 727
• The Books: Asylum (Finished) Covet (Started)
• Reviews Written: 0

Day 4: August 22nd

• Number of Books Read Today: .83
• Number of Pages Read Today: 265
• Total Number of Books Read: 3
• Total Number of Pages Read: 992
• The Books: Covet (Finished)
• Reviews Written: 0

Day 5: August 23rd

• Number of Books Read Today: .27
• Number of Pages Read Today: 186
• Total Number of Books Read: 3.27
• Total Number of Pages Read: 1178
• The Books: Monsters (started)
• Reviews Written: 1

Day 2: August 24th

• Number of Books Read Today: .06
• Number of Pages Read Today: 35
• Total Number of Books Read: 3.33
• Total Number of Pages Read: 1213
• The Books: Monsters (continued reading)
• Reviews Written: 0

Day 2: August 25th

• Number of Books Read Today: .34
• Number of Pages Read Today: 240
• Total Number of Books Read: 3.67
• Total Number of Pages Read: 1453
• The Books: Monsters(almost finished)
• Reviews Written: 0

CHALLENGES COMPLETED:
#Pairathon Challenge: https://twitter.com/unabridgedshelf/status/369557617305059328/photo/1
Bookish Bucket List: http://sarahsaysread.com/2013/08/19/bout-of-books-mini-challenge/#comment-9152
Book Road Trip: http://unabridgedbookshelf.blogspot.com/2013/08/bout-of-books-thursday-challenge-book.html

Are you participating?

Did you make your goals?

Feel free to leave me a link in the comments.

Thank you for visiting Unabridged Bookshelf!

Stacking The Shelves: Double Awesome Edition

Stacking The Shelves was created and is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews. Stacking the Shelves is where I will be sharing the books and goodies I have received for the week. This will include both physical and eBooks that are purchased, borrowed, gifted, or for review. 

*Covers take you to Goodreads*

FOR REVIEW

Thank you to Flux and Harlequin Teen!

It is been a small week, but I go two really awesome books. Hero Worship sounds amazing, because I have not seen that many superhero books out latley and because of this I cannot wait to read it. Witchstuck sounds like something right up my alley with the historical part mixed with magic. 

This Week on Unabridged Bookshelf

The Apollo Academy Blog Tour: Author Interview and Giveaway
Cover Reveal: Greed by Fisher Amelie with Surprise!
Book Review and Giveaway: Nomad by J.L. Bryan

Next Week on Unabridged Bookshelf

Monday: Episode 8 With Scavenger Hunt Giveaway

Starts Monday

Tuesday: Release Day Celebration for Enduring Light by Alyssa Rose Ivy

Thursday: Book Review: The Collector

What did you get this week?
Leave me a link in the comments, so I can come check it out.

Thank you for visiting Unabridged Bookshelf!

Book Review and Giveaway: Nomad by J.L. Bryan

Publication Date: July 26, 2013

Length: 204 Pages

Genre: Dystopian, Science Fiction

Age Group: New Adult

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

They took everything: her family, her home, her childhood.
By the age of nineteen, Raven has spent most of her life in the sprawling slums of America, fighting as a rebel against the dictatorship. When the rebellion steals an experimental time-travel device, she travels back five decades to the year 2013. Her plan: assassinate the future dictator when he is still young and vulnerable, long before he comes to power. She must move fast to reshape history, because agents from her own time are on her trail, ready to execute her on sight.

MY REVIEW

When J.L. Bryan asked if I was interested in reading Nomad When J.L. Bryan asked if I was interested in reading Nomad I knew I just had to read it. Described to me as a futuristic time travel dystopian with a twisted romance (his exact description) now how could I not want to read it. It paid off, Nomad is so much better than even I expect, and I expected something fantastic. The story told in Nomad took me completely be surprise is such a good way.

I was worried that the time travel aspect might be confusing, but it allows a marvelous story to take place. One section that discusses the ramifications of time travel and it did have my head spinning trying to process the idea but it is not confusing once explained. Raven is sent back in time to stop a great evil from taking place, but it is not as simple as she originally thought. Raven "wakes" up on the interstate with amnesia and no clue where she is or why she is there. To top it off, security agents from the future are tracking her down. As memories of the war torn and fractured future come back to Raven, she begins to understand why she was sent back from 2064 to 2013

While the mission is the central storyline, that does not mean there is no room for more. Raven concentrating on the mission is distracted by a possible romance interest. She is to interact as little as possible in the past otherwise risk changing everything, and one romance could change the world as Raven knows it. 

Fans of science fiction and dystopian will truly enjoy Nomad. Nomad is a New Adult with more mature content but has appeal for fans of mature YA. J.L. Bryan always seems to surprise me with his writing and I loved the experience of reading Nomad. I cannot wait to see what J.L. Bryan comes up with next.

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

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Cover Reveal: Greed by Fisher Amelie with Surprise!

Today I have the pleasure of being part of the Cover Reveal for Greed by Fisher Amelie and the newly redesigned cover of Vain. 

GREED

Releasing Fall 2013

Gather ‘round, love, because I want you. I want what you have, I want what you don’t have, I want more of what I already have. I want. But if you so much as ask for something in return, go ahead and walk away. Know if you want to play in my world, it’s every man for themselves and the weak become mine. Leeches will be obliterated because I make it my job to destroy them. I protect what’s mine and I take what’s yours...because that’s what I do. I want.
My story will not endear me to you and, frankly, I could care less if it does because I’m in this for the money and nothing else. There’s nothing redeeming about me. I’m a corrupt, money hungry, immoral asshole from Los Angeles. I’m every man’s worst nightmare and every girl’s fantasy.
I’m Spencer Blackwell...And this is the story about how I went from the world’s most coveted guy to the guy no one wanted around and why I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

VAIN

Now On Sale at

Amazon and Barnes and Noble

If you’re looking for a story about a good, humble girl, who’s been hurt by someone she thought she could trust, only to find out she’s not as vulnerable as she thought she was and discovers an empowering side of herself that falls in love with the guy who helps her find that self, blah, blah, blah...then you’re gonna’ hate my story.

Because mine is not the story you read every time you bend back the cover of the latest trend novel. It’s not the “I can do anything, now that I’ve found you/I’m misunderstood but one day you’ll find me irresistible because of it” tale. Why? Because, if I was being honest with you, I’m a complete witch. There’s nothing redeeming about me. I’m a friend using, drug abusing, sex addict from Los Angeles. I’m every girlfriend’s worst nightmare and every boy’s fantasy.

I’m Sophie Price...And this is the story about how I went from the world’s most envied girl to the girl no one wanted around and why I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

The Seven Deadly Series

About the Author

Fisher Amelie is the author of The Leaving Series, Callum & Harper and Thomas & January. She began her writing career as a copywriter for an internet marketing company wherein one of their client's said, 'Hey! You're funny. You should write books'. Which in turn she said, 'Hey, get out of here! This is the lady's restroom.' While washing her hands and the embarrassment from her face, she thought they may have had a valid point. So, she took the thousands of hours of writing stories growing up, tucked them into her pocket and began writing and writing and writing.

 VISIT FISHER AMELIE

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Blog | Goodreads | Youtube

Let Fisher Amelie know what you think in the comments below!

Thank you for visiting Unabridged Bookshelf!

The Apollo Academy Blog Tour: Author Interview and Giveaway

Welcome to Unabridged Bookshelf's stop on THE APOLLO ACADEMY BLOG TOUR!

For the full tour schedule click here or the banner above.  

ON SALE NOW!

Available at Amazon, B&N, and iTunes

THE APOLLO ACADEMY:As the heiress to Titon Technologies, eighteen-year-old Aurora Titon can have whatever she wants—clothes, expensive gadgets, anything money can buy. All she really wants is to escape her pampered, paparazzi-prone life for the stars. Becoming the first female pilot to train as an astronaut for the Apollo Academy is exactly the chance for which she has been waiting. Everything would be perfect if it weren't for her unreciprocated crush on a fellow student, the sexy astronaut bent on making her life hell, and the fact that someone keeps trying to kill her.
The first in a four book new adult science fiction series, The Apollo Academy, is an action packedstory of love, discovery, and survival.

BOOK TRAILER:

About the author:

Kimberly P. Chase holds a Bachelor's Degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, which basically means she's kind of a geek and loves flying airplanes. Naturally, her books tend to include aviation, hot flight instructors, aviator glasses, and—let's not forget—kissing! When Kimberly's not writing or reading, she's hanging out with her husband, four-year-old son, and two dogs.

Find Kimberly here:

Chandra: Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult? 

     Kimberly: I'm an avid reader, so there are a TON of authors I look up to! Cinda Williams Chima, Kimberly Derting, Cassandra Clare, Cora Carmack, Marisa Meyer, Colleen Houck, Hugh Howey, the list goes on....Though I do think Ben Bova was the first author to get me really excited about realistic science fiction novels.

Chandra: What was the hardest part of writing your book? 

     Kimberly: Believing that I could write the story in the first place. When I began writing The Apollo Academy, I had zero experience with writing or with the publishing industry. There was a lot to learn! It wasn't until I was about half way through the book that I truly began to believe I could do it.

Chandra: What was your favorite chapter or part of the book to write and why? 

     Kimberly: Oh goodness. This is like making a mother choose her favorite baby. :) My favorite scenes to write were definitely the flight scenes. Chapter 18 is Aurora's flight from hell and I had a ton of fun writing it. To this day, the thought of having something like her experience happening to me in the cockpit gives me chills.

Chandra: Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers? 

     Kimberly: Write. Write. Then write some more. And don't let anyone tell you that you cannot do it!

Chandra: Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans? 

     Kimberly: Thank you! If you loved it, tell your friends. 

Now time for some This or That questions:

Morning or Night? Morning.

Harry Potter or Lord of The Rings? Harry Potter.

Chocolate or Vanilla? Ice Cream? Vanilla. BUT I'd prefer chocolate over ice cream!

Summer or Winter? Summer.

Coffee or Soda? Soda.

Thank you to Kimberly for answering all my questions!

Make sure you let her know what you think in the comments.

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