TBR Orphans - Update

I read one TBR Orphan in April:

Fade Out by Rachel Caine

It's in my TBR pile since January, so only recently became an orphan.

I plan to keep trying to read at least one book a month that's in my TBR pile longer than three months.


How did your challenges go?

On McPig's Wishlist - Passionaries

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, so I keep telling myself to buy the second book, but there are just too many other books I also want to read.


Passionaries (The Blessed #2)
by Tonya Hurley

Agnes, Cecelia, and Lucy watched as Sebastian sacrificed himself for what he believed in. Will the girls trust that their destiny as saints and martyrs and perform the miracles as Sebastian instructed? Or lose faith in themselves and each other in his absence?

Time is running out for them to make a decision, and the fate of the world lies in the balance.

Alien Separation - Early Book Review

Alien Separation (Katherine "Kitty" Katt #11)
by Gini Koch

What is it about:
The Mastermind has finally been identified, but before Jeff and Kitty Katt-Martini can take him down, they, their daughter, Jamie, Charles Reynolds, Paul Gower, Christopher White, and several others are zapped out of their solar system and into another. Landing them on an alien planet – and not together...

What did I think of it:
This is yet another awesome addition to a great series.

Kitty has barely recovered from her trip to an alternate universe when she and several of her friends are zapped to an unfamiliar alien planet.

And the creatures they encounter there are so cool!

I loved the new planet that's introduced in this book, and the new animals and other creatures Kitty encounters there. Gini Koch manages to describe this world and its inhabitants so vividly I could easily picture it all. (I even suspect she thought of me when creating this world: pig-like creatures!)

There's lots going on: both on this new planet, as in other places. With all the things happening and with the introduction of new characters, I had to keep paying attention to keep up with the story. There was lots of action, funny situations, suspense, and Kitty saving the day.

I will say again: if you haven't started on this series yet, get reading! I for one am already looking forward to the next book, because I can't get enough of Kitty. This book (and series) is fun, funny, action-packed and more than entertaining!

Why should you read it:
It's SciFi awesomeness!

Teaser Tuesdays - The Vampire Assistant

I stopped. The slithering noise had reached my feet. As I stood, rooted to the spot, something fleshy and slimy wrapped itself around my legs.

(Page 42, The Vampire Assistant by Darren Shan)




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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the 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 SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Deadeye - Book Review

Deadeye (Mutant Files #1)
by William C. Dietz

What is it about:
In the year 2038, an act of bioengineered terrorism decimated humanity. Those who survived were either completely unaffected or developed horrible mutations. Across the globe, nations are now divided between areas populated by “norms” and lands run by “mutants”...

Detective Cassandra Lee of Los Angeles’s Special Investigative Section has built a fierce reputation taking down some of the city’s most notorious criminals. But the serial cop killer known as Bonebreaker—who murdered Lee’s father—is still at large. Officially, she’s too personally involved to work on the Bonebreaker case. Unofficially, she’s going to hunt him to the ends of the earth.

In the meantime, duty calls when the daughter of Bishop Screed, head of the Church of Human Purity, is kidnapped by mutants and taken into the red zone to be used for breeding. Assigned to rescue her, Lee must trust her new partner—mutant lawman Deputy Ras Omo—to guide her not only through the unfamiliar territory but through the prejudicial divisions between mutants and norms...

What did I think of it:
When I read the blurb of this book and saw it had mutants, I had to give it a try.

And this is a cool read.

The mutants are all mostly covered up, and the mutations described weren't the kind I had hoped for, but overall I liked the world building. It felt believable that people would create separate areas where mutants and 'normal' people live. especially as some mutants are contagious.

Cassandra Lee however is a bit too perfect. She's tough as nails, a crack shot, and all the guys drool over her perfect butt beauty. And there's some other things about Cassandra that annoyed me as well. But some casual remarks in the story, make me think that Dietz isn't too familiar with women. Because according to Cassandra Lee all women like matching cabinets, and are just dying to give old, messy kitchens a make over.
Yeah... Moving on.

Ras Omo is an interesting and cool character, but has an unfortunate name, especially as Cassandra and Ras keep calling each other by their last name. Omo is the name of a leading brand laundry detergent over here. So I will confess his name made me cringe every time it was mentioned.

All grumbles out of the way:

The story is really cool, and full of action and suspense. I kept reading to find out if Lee and Omo (*cringe* OK, I will just keep calling him Ras from now on.) would solve their case, and if Lee would find out more about the Bonebreaker.

The case Lee and Ras are trying to crack gets its resolution in this book, but the Bonebreaker seems like it will become the glue to connect the books in this series. I think I will give the next book in this series a try to see what happens next. I'm also curious if Lee and Ras will get to work together again, or if Perfect 10 Lee will get another partner who can drool over her in the next book.

All in all this is a cool read, and I even might give other books by Dietz a try.


Why should you read it:
It's a cool SciFi/Futuristic read.

Site Unseen - Book Review

Site Unseen (Emma Fielding Mystery #1)
by Dana Cameron

What is it about:
Brilliant, dedicated, and driven, archaeologist Emma Fielding finds things that have been lost for hundreds of years--and she's very, very good at it. A soon-to-be-tenured professor of archaeology, she has recently unearthed evidence of a 17th century coastal Maine settlement that predates Jamestown, one of the most significant archaeological finds in years.

But the dead body that accompanies it--a corpse washed ashore near the site--has embroiled Emma and her students in a different kind of exploration.

With her reputation suddenly in jeopardy--due to the ruthless machinations of a disgruntled rival--and a second suspicious death, heartbreakingly close to home, Emma must unearth a killer among the artifacts. But that means digging deep into her past to dark secrets buried in the heart of the archeological community--which, in turn, could bury Emma Fielding.

What did I think of it:
I love Dana Cameron's Fangborn series, so I was curious about her earlier Emma Fielding series. The first couple of books are out of print, but I managed to hunt down a second hand copy of Site Unseen. (Yes, I know: I could have gotten the ebook, but I wanted a print copy.)

When the book arrived I was about to start on another book, but decided to have a peek at the beginning of Site Unseen...

Yup: I got hooked right away and read it immediately instead of letting it wait its turn. It's that good.

I liked Emma from the start, and soon was rooting for her. The archeological dig she's working on was very interesting to read about (and having Time Team on in the background helped set the mood, I must say), and when the mystery part kicked in I almost couldn't put the book down. I had to know what was going on.

This isn't a fast paced mystery. There's a slow pace at which things progress, but still I was hooked. Both by the developing story, and the way this book is written.

All in all this is a really enjoyable read, and I will most certainly try to get hold of all books in this series, because I want more.

Why should you read it:
It's a very compelling Mystery.


This book is out of print, but available as ebook here

On McPig's Radar - Pirate's Alley

This is such a cool series!

This book just released this week and you can bet I'll be getting my trotters on it as soon as I have the money to spare.


Pirate's Alley (Sentinels of New Orleans #4)
by Suzanne Johnson

Wizard sentinel DJ Jaco thought she had gotten used to the chaos of her life in post-Katrina New Orleans, but a new threat is looming, one that will test every relationship she holds dear.

Caught in the middle of a rising struggle between the major powers in the supernatural world—the Wizards, Elves, Vampires and the Fae—DJ finds her loyalties torn and her mettle tested in matters both professional and personal.

Her relationship with enforcer Alex Warin is shaky, her non-husband, Quince Randolph, is growing more powerful, and her best friend, Eugenie, has a bombshell that could blow everything to Elfheim and back. And that's before the French pirate, Jean Lafitte, newly revived from his latest "death," returns to New Orleans with vengeance on his mind. DJ's assignment? Keep the sexy leader of the historical undead out of trouble. Good luck with that.

Duty clashes with love, loyalty with deception, and friendship with responsibility as DJ navigates passion and politics in the murky waters of a New Orleans caught in the grips of a brutal winter that might have nothing to do with Mother Nature.

War could be brewing, and DJ will be forced to take a stand. But choosing sides won't be that easy.

Prodigal Son - Book Review

Prodigal Son (Truth Seers #1)
by Debra Mullins

What is it about:
Bounty hunter Rafe Montana is a Seer, descended from the fabled Atlanteans. He uses his inherited power to “see” criminals across the globe and track them down, and he’s just started on a new case. Danny Cangialosi is accused of disappearing with a stolen car...but for the first time in his life, when Rafe goes looking, he is unable to “see” him. Instead, his search leads him to Danny’s stubborn, meddling, and very cute stepsister, Cara McGaffigan.

Cara is looking for Danny, too, but not to turn him in. He is her brother, after all, and she’s convinced he has a good heart. If she can just find him before the cops do, she’ll figure out a way to get him out of this. But Cara didn’t count on a scorching-hot bounty hunter getting in her way.

Despite instant chemistry, Rafe and Cara know they’re never going to see eye-to-eye when it comes to Danny. What they don’t know is that Danny didn’t just steal a car—he stole a precious stone, a stone right out of the legends of Atlantis. It holds powers they can only dream of... and its owner wants it back.

What did I think of it:
This is a very enjoyable read.

The romance is the focus of the book. The search for Danny, the enemies who are after Rafe and Cara: they're all there to make sure Rafe and Cara get to know each other and fall in love.

Not that this is a bad thing. The whole action/mystery story line is like a nice crispy taco shell that keeps the juicy, tasty filling together.

I liked the paranormal elements of this story, and learning more about Rafe, his family, and other paranormal beings. The world building was nicely done, and was intriguing. I also like getting a glimpse of the lead characters of the upcoming books in this series.

All in all this is a very nice Paranormal Romance and I will most certainly read the next book soon.

Why should you read it:
It's a very enjoyable PNR read.

Petals and Thorns Has a Sexy New Cover - Cover Reveal + Giveaway

Today we're proud to participate in the reveal of the new cover of Petals and Thorns by Jeffe Kennedy.

Below you can have a look at the gorgeous new cover (be sure to click on it for a bigger, better view), read about the book and more, and enter a giveaway for a digital copy of the book.


Petals and Thorns
by Jeffe Kennedy

In exchange for her father’s life, Amarantha agrees to marry the dreadful Beast and be his wife for seven days. Though the Beast cannot take Amarantha’s virginity unless she begs him to, he can and does take her in every other way. From the moment they are alone together, the Beast relentlessly strips Amarantha of all her resistance.
           
If Amarantha can resist her cloaked and terrifying husband, she gains his entire fortune and will be allowed to return to her family and a normal life. But the Beast seduces her at every turn, exposing, binding, tormenting, and pleasuring Amarantha until she no longer knows her own deepest desires.

Increasingly desperate to break the curse that chains his humanity, the Beast drives Amarantha past every boundary. But her desire for a normal life may jeopardize the love that will save them both.

Buy it:
Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Smashwords
All Romance eBooks - iTunes

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If that gorgeous new cover isn't enough to buy it right now, here's what Voodoo Bride thinks of Petals and Thorns:

I love the story of Beauty and the Beast, but always thought that for a story featuring a Beast it was too sweet and lacked a certain edge. This retelling fixes that problem once and for all.

It's a hot and intense BDSM romance that is strictly for adults who aren't too squeamish about the darker side of lust.

I really enjoyed it and can recommend this story to anyone who likes their Beast beastly, not only in looks, but in certain appetites as well.

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About Jeffe Kennedy:

Jeffe Kennedy is an award-winning author whose works include non-fiction, poetry, short fiction, and novels. She has been a Ucross Foundation Fellow, received the Wyoming Arts Council Fellowship for Poetry, and was awarded a Frank Nelson Doubleday Memorial Award. Her essays have appeared in many publications, including Redbook.

Her most recent works include a number of fiction series: the fantasy romance novels of A Covenant of Thorns; the contemporary BDSM novellas of the Facets of Passion, and an erotic contemporary serial novel, Master of the Opera. A fourth series, the fantasy trilogy The Twelve Kingdoms, hit the shelves starting in May 2014 and book 1, The Mark of the Tala, received a starred Library Journal review and has been nominated for the RT Book of the Year while the sequel, The Tears of the Rose, has been nominated for best fantasy romance of the year. A fifth series, the highly anticipated erotic romance trilogy, Falling Under, released starting with Going Under, followed by Under His Touch and Under Contract.
She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with two Maine coon cats, plentiful free-range lizards and a very handsome Doctor of Oriental Medicine.

Jeffe can be found online at her website: JeffeKennedy.com, every Sunday at the popular Word Whores blog, on Facebook, and pretty much constantly on Twitter @jeffekennedy. She is represented by Connor Goldsmith of Fuse Literary.

http://jeffekennedy.com

https://www.facebook.com/Author.Jeffe.Kennedy

https://twitter.com/jeffekennedy

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1014374.Jeffe_Kennedy

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Giveaway:

Jeffe Kennedy is giving away a copy of Petals and Thorns to 4 lucky winners tour wide.
(winners can chose between epub, mobi, or PDF)

Giveaway rules:
- open internationally
- use raffle copter to enter
- open to anyone above 18, and who is legally allowed to enter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cirque du Freak - Book Review

Cirque du Freak (Cirque du Freak #1)
by Darren Shan

What is it about:
Cirque Du Freak is the frightening saga of a young boy whose visit to a mysterious freak show leads him on a journey into a dark world of vampires. Filled with grotesque creatures, murderous vampires, and a petrifying ending, Cirque Du Freak will chill, thrill, and leave readers begging for more.

What did I think of it:
I read the Dutch translation of this book about 14 years ago, knew I enjoyed it, but forgot most of what it's about. So when Beanie offered to send this book to me, I greedily said 'Yes, please!'

And this is a very cool read!

The lead character of the story, Darren, gets into more trouble when he bargained for when he secretly visits a freak show. There are questionable friends, sinister characters, and big spiders.

Darren is mostly a nice kid, but at times he does things that are too cool in his eyes to listen to that little voice in his head that tells him they are wrong. At times I could kick him, but then again: his deeds do lead to consequences that are cool to read about.

The one thing that annoyed me is that this book tries to make you believe this story is actually true, and that the book is written by the lead character. I've seen this before in books for younger readers, and I'm wondering who they think they're fooling. I didn't believe it when I was a kid, and I'm pretty sure most other kids aren't fooled either.

That aside: this is cool, fast read that keeps you reading until you reach the end, and I very much enjoyed it. Beanie also sent me the next two book, so you can bet I'll be reading those as well.

Why should you read it:
It's a really cool Paranormal read for children (and older readers)

Dead Heat - Book Review

Dead Heat (Alpha & Omega #4)
by Patricia Briggs

What is it about:
For once, mated werewolves Charles and Anna are not traveling because of Charles’s role as his father’s enforcer. This time, their trip to Arizona is purely personal, as Charles plans to buy Anna a horse for her birthday. Or at least it starts out that way...

Charles and Anna soon discover that a dangerous Fae being is on the loose, replacing human children with simulacrums. The Fae’s cold war with humanity is about to heat up—and Charles and Anna are in the cross fire.

What did I think of it:
Is it just me, or does anyone else think it's weird how often Charles runs into ex lovers as well?

I mean: He's constantly described as inspiring fear in others, being a lone wolf until he met Anna. Several times it's mentioned how he keeps a distance from others. Still, after 4 books and one novella I'm counting 3 old flames.

That being said: I loved this book.

The story is suspenseful and intriguing. I love how Anna and Charles both play to their strengths. There are some really intense scenes, both to do with their investigation and with their friends.

There was a bit too much horse stuff at times for those readers who aren't that much into horses, but only once did I catch myself skimming a horse scene, most were just short enough to get through without getting bored.

Luckily there were enough other things going on, and I very much enjoyed learning yet a bit more about Charles' past, and about the Fae.

The book ends with some things resolved, but leaves open a lot of things that will have consequences not just for Anna and Charles, but for everyone.

I'm looking forward to the next book to see how things will develop from here.

Why should you read it:
It's a compelling Urban Fantasy read.

On McPig's Wishlist - Fallen

This sounds like a cool read, but it's too expensive for me at the moment.


Fallen (After Trilogy #1)
by Traci L. Slatton

When the world ends, all that is left is love...

As chaos descends on a crippled Earth, survivors are tormented by strange psychic gifts. In this time of apocalyptic despair, love is put to the test. One woman with mysterious healing power guides eight children to safety. Charismatic Arthur offers her a haven. Slowly Emma falls for him. But at the moment of their sweetest love, his devastating secret is revealed, and they are lost to each other.

The award-winning first book in the acclaimed After Series.

Not a Drop to Drink - Book Review

Not a Drop to Drink (Not a Drop to Drink #1)
by Mindy McGinnis

What is it about:
Lynn knows every threat to her pond: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most importantly, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty, or doesn't leave at all.

Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. Having a life means dedicating it to survival, and the constant work of gathering wood and water. Having a pond requires the fortitude to protect it, something Mother taught her well during their quiet hours on the rooftop, rifles in hand.

But wisps of smoke on the horizon mean one thing: strangers. The mysterious footprints by the pond, nighttime threats, and gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won’t stop until they get it...

What did I think of it:
I will confess I was a bit unsure about this book at first.

The story starts out with Lynn and her mother guarding their pond, and to be honest: they sounded like a couple of loons. Lynn's mother was acting like a paranoid drill sergeant one moment, but totally letting her under aged (and unworldly) daughter calling the shots a moment later. And don't get me started on the world building. I couldn't make sense of it.

But then Lynn is suddenly on her own, gets confronted with other people, and the story got interesting.

The world building still didn't make much sense to me, but I liked the unfolding events enough that I didn't care about that anymore. There's suspense, danger, Lynn trying to learn how to deal with strangers, and making choices based on her own judgement.

I liked the changes Lynn underwent in this story. She starts out as a character I just couldn't care for, but at the end of the book I was rooting for her. There were some really cool other characters she meets as well.

All in all this is an enjoyable read once you ignore your questions about the world building and I might pick up the next book if I happen to find it.

Why should you read it:
It's an entertaining Dystopian read.

Teaser Tuesdays - Site Unseen

I watched as she scuttled, crablike, from he room, jamming that cigarette she had stashed behind her ear into her mouth before the door shut behind her. The sheriff went over and closed the door after her, then with a piece of paper picked up the gum and deposited it in the trash.

(page 147, Site Unseen by Dana Cameron)


This book is out of print, but available as ebook here

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the 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 SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Deadland Rising - Release Day Book Review

Deadland Rising (Deadland Saga, #3)
by Rachel Aukes

What is it about:
The conclusion of the critically acclaimed DEADLAND SAGA:

Winter has arrived.
It has been nearly one year since the zombie hordes claimed the world. As the plague eats away at its victims’ bodies, the Fox survivors search for a safe place to rebuild what they have lost. But a dangerous new threat has risen, hunting them from every direction. To survive, Cash, Clutch, and their small band of refugees must put their faith in a group of strangers and a new government with radical plans. It will take all of the Fox survivors’ strength and courage to endure in this barren, hostile world. Even that might not be enough.

(Deadland Rising is a journey through Dante Alighieri's “Paradiso”, the classic tale on the seven virtues… zombie apocalypse style!)

What did I think of it:
I loved the first two books in this trilogy so much, I've been stalking Rachel Aukes' website for news about the final book. So you can imagine my excitement when she sent me an early digital copy for review.

And this book was so worth the wait!

There's less zombies in this book than in the other books, but there's more than enough danger to make this a suspenseful and intense read.

The plague and the zombies have left the survivors robbed of the conveniences they were used to, and the lack of a structured society makes the world a dangerous place. Cash and Clutch face important decisions. Who should they trust? How do they deal with the problems thrown their way? And how are they going to rebuild their life?

I was totally captured by this book from the start and read it almost in one sitting (dinner is overrated).

The way Aukes writes this story makes it feel real, and Cash and Clutch are easy to root for. That doesn't mean they're perfect, they have their flaws and emotional scars, but they're trying to make the right choices, and they care for each other and their friends.

As in the previous books Aukes shows that zombies may be dangerous, but it's humans who can be more deadly and rotten. I like how Aukes shows how different people can react to stress, leadership and danger. How it makes some people fight to hold on to what they know is right, and how others turn to their base urges.

As for this book being a re-imagining of Dante Alighieri's Paradiso: for those familiar with this work, it will be fun to find all the comparisons and little Easter eggs, but you don't have to know anything about Paradiso to enjoy Deadland Rising.

All in all this book is a fitting and more than worthy conclusion to an awesome trilogy, and you bet I'll be getting the paperback, so I have all three books to hug and reread as often as I want.

Why should you read it:
Post Apocalyptic Awesomeness!


Find buy links here

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner - Book Review

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner (Twilight #3.5)
by Stephenie Meyer

What is it about:
Bree Tanner can barely remember life before she had uncannily powerful senses, superhuman reflexes, and unstoppable physical strength. Life before she had a relentless thirst for blood...life before she became a vampire.

All Bree knows is that living with her fellow newborns has few certainties and even fewer rules: watch your back, don't draw attention to yourself, and above all, make it home by sunrise or die. What she doesn't know: her time as an immortal is quickly running out.

Then Bree finds an unexpected friend in Diego, a newborn just as curious as Bree about their mysterious creator, whom they only know as her. As they come to realize that the newborns are pawns in a game larger than anything they could have imagined, Bree and Diego must choose sides and decide whom to trust. But when everything you know about vampires is based on a lie, how do you find the truth?

What did I think of it:
Even though I loathed Edward, and was very disappointed in the last book in the Twilight series, I liked the series enough that I was curious about this novella. So when Beanie offered to send it to me, I jumped at the chance.

And this is a really enjoyable novella.

I could relate to Bree and Diego much more than I could to Bella and Edward I will confess. I was intrigued about their life in the fledgling army, and how they both use different ways to stay out of trouble. After reading all about Edward and his family of saints, it was fun to read how other vampires react to things.

Even knowing how the story would end, I was rooting for Bree and Diego to figure things out, and to find a way deal with the truths they uncover. I felt myself wishing this book was more than a novella.

The ending (where Bree's story intersects with Bella's story) wasn't very strong, but still I enjoyed this novella a lot more than the last book in the series.

I might even give The Host a try one of these days.

Why should you read it:
It's a very enjoyable Paranormal YA Novella

Bookmark Giveaway

I'm trying out how Rafflecopter works.
If you want to win 5 of my bookmarks (and help me test this) you can use Rafflecopter to enter.
Open internationally

a Rafflecopter giveaway

On McPig's Wishlist - The Pledge

This sounds like it might be a cool read.


The Pledge (The Pledge #1)
by Kimberly Derting

In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed.

Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

The Sculptor - Book Review

The Sculptor
by Scott McCloud

What is it about:
David Smith is giving his life for his art—literally. Thanks to a deal with Death, the young sculptor gets his childhood wish: to sculpt anything he can imagine with his bare hands. But now that he only has 200 days to live, deciding what to create is harder than he thought, and discovering the love of his life at the 11th hour isn't making it any easier!

What did I think of it:
This is a beautiful and sad story.

The artwork in this graphic novel is pretty straight forward. It's good, but it doesn't challenge, or draw your attention. It is purely the medium used to tell this story, and if this hadn't been a great story the way it looks would not be memorable.

But luckily the story is gripping and draws you in in a way the drawings could not on their own.

The fears, hopes and passion of David are very recognizable for anyone who has a creative spark and dreams of doing something with that spark that will be remembered. The way David's hopes keeps getting bashed was recognizable as well. Seeing the popular guy with crappy art get praise. Being ignored because you don't know the right people. Some scenes were painful just because they are so true to life.

And then David meets a girl and falls in love.

The relationship between him and Meg was a difficult one, and almost felt like it deserved its own story, but McCloud made it work. Meg did seem a little bit too special at times, but from the afterword I understand that she's based on McCloud's wife, so perhaps I should give him some slack.

David's struggles to be recognized as a great artist, to leave something people will remember him by, continue, while he also struggles with his feelings for Meg. The closer he gets to the end of his 200 days, the more drastic he gets.

I can't tell too much about the ending, but it was a fitting end for this beautiful, yet also sad story. I think I will give other works by McCloud a try if I run into them.

Why should you read it:
It's a nicely drawn, beautiful story.

Teaser Tuesdays - Prodigal Son

Just started on this, so can't tell much about it yet.


"No second chances in your world, Rafe? No forgiveness?"
"I'm no saint, Cara." He slanted her a hard look. "In my world, everything is pretty black and white."
"I'm starting to see that." She turned her gaze out the window at the darkening sky, wondering if she had jumped from the frying pan into the fire.

(page 112, Prodigal Son by Debra Mullins)





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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the 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 SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Touch of Frost - Book Review

Touch of Frost (Mythos Academy #1)
by Jennifer Estep

What is it about:
My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy; a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest. But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why; especially since I should have been the one who died...

What did I think of it:
I got a soft spot for stories that take place at a boarding school (I blame Enid Blyton!), so I really wanted to try this series. I was lucky enough to get the first three books from Melliane.

And this first book is a very enjoyable read.

I liked the world building: Amazons, Spartans, Valkyrie and other mythological warrior teens being trained to fight and use magic so they can defend the world from evil. And the a fore mentioned soft spot for boarding school stories made that I was hooked from the start.

The mysterious death that Gwen is investigating was a nice way to show the reader around on the campus and get to know the school and characters. The investigation and mystery weren't that suspenseful (apart from some cool action scenes), but very entertaining.

The one thing that really annoyed me was Gwen's double standards. She keeps slut-shaming a girl who likes to sleep with more than one guy, but a guy who sleeps with more than one girl is sexy and dangerous!

That annoyance aside (and the fact that once again Loki is the bad guy), this was a really nice read, and I will most certainly pick up the next book to see what kind of trouble Gwen will get herself into next.

Why should you read it:
It's a very entertaining Paranormal YA read