Book Review: Something Like Normal by Trish Doller

Something Like Normal

By Trish Doller

Release Date: June 19th, 2012

Number of Pages: 142

Format: Ebook

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Blurb from Goodreads:

When Travis returns home from a stint in Afghanistan, his parents are splitting up, his brother’s stolen his girlfriend and his car, and he’s haunted by nightmares of his best friend’s death. It’s not until Travis runs into Harper, a girl he’s had a rocky relationship with since middle school, that life actually starts looking up. And as he and Harper see more of each other, he begins to pick his way through the minefield of family problems and post-traumatic stress to the possibility of a life that might resemble normal again. Travis’s dry sense of humor, and incredible sense of honor, make him an irresistible and eminently lovable hero.

My Review:

You know you've hit upon a pot of gold when you find it hard to put what you're feeling into words.

I have all these feelings inside me while reading SLN. I wanted to shake and slap Travis for his stupid behavior with Paige. I wanted to hug and kiss him for all that he has been through. I wanted to punch his dad for being such an asshole and congratulate his mom for stepping it up.  

I wanted to laugh and just chill with Kevlar and Moss. I wanted to get inked for the first time by Ellen and gorged myself like a pig with Jenny's delicious cooking. And I was just loving and cheering for Harper all the way.

Most of all, I wanted to say thank you to Trish Doller for this story and also to Charlie for being so alive in the pages of this book.

Something Like Normal was such a realistic story and I really loved the way it ended. It was right. It was perfect. It was really beautiful.

Pages From My Thoughts: Exclusive Interview with Jennifer Bosworth, Author...

Pages From My Thoughts: Exclusive Interview with Jennifer Bosworth, Author...:
Me : Share something about yourself and your writing what haven’t told any fans before? Jennifer : Okay, this is shameful, but when I wa...

Book Review: Winter's Light (Winter Saga #2) by M.J. Hearle

Winter's Light (Winter Saga #2)
By M.J. Hearle
Release Date: May 1st, 2012
Number of Pages: 432
Format: Paperback
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ 1/2 - ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥


Blurb from Goodreads:
Blake is gone.

He sacrificed himself to save Winter, leaving her alone, unprotected... hunted.

An ancient enemy is rising, but Winter is no longer the innocent girl who was fated to die at Pilgrim's Lament. She will not wait to be saved. She will do what she must to survive, even accept an unsavoury alliance with those who destroyed her love.

In the gathering darkness, the enemy of an enemy is not always a friend, and Winter must find the strength to stand alone and fight for the one she loves. For she is the key to unlocking the secrets beyond the veil of shadows.

And she is Blake's only hope.

My Review:
I was really excited for the sequel to Winter's Shadow and was expecting lots of action and excitement. But somehow, the story fell short for me. The beginning was slow going and I found myself putting it down quite often.

It only got me excited and glued to it when Sedoris and Benedict made their appearances. After that, it was up and down for me. Winter's performance was lacklustre this time around.

I was expecting more maturity and growth on her part but she was mostly depending on Sam and the Bane. She only started to show some steel and strength in the last few chapters. But I forgive her flaws as she was determined and confident of their love.

Blake's absence throughout the book was very apparent. It was pretty depressing. When Winter freed the prisoner and his real identity was revealed, it was utterly devastating.

Winter's Light was more like a setup and a bridge for the final book. I really hope to get lots of Blake and Winter moments in the next one. There just wasn't enough.

In My Mailbox #11

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren

My dear precious followers, a HUGE apology for the extremely overdue IMM. Anyho, here you go. CheerS. As usual, leave me a comment to let me know your IMM for the week.

• Something About You (FBI / US Attorney, # 1) by Julie James @Goodreads
• A Lot Like Love (FBI / US Attorney, #2) by Julie James @Goodreads
• About That Night (FBI / US Attorney, #3) by Julie James @Goodreads
• Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James @Goodreads
• Under the Same Sky by Genevieve Graham @Goodreads
• Sound of the Heart by Genevieve Graham @Goodreads
• Wicked As They Come (Blud, #1) by Deliliah S. Dawson @Goodreads
• Extreme Exposure (I-Team, #1) by Pamela Clare @Goodreads

    Ebooks:

• The Emerald City (Osland Trilogy, #1) by J.A. Beard @Goodreads
• Conner by Miranda Stork @Goodreads
• Glamorous Illusions (Grand Tour Series, #1) by Lisa Tawn Bergren @Goodreads
• Carnal Gift (Blakewell/Kenleigh Family Trilogy, #2) by Pamela Clare @Goodreads
• Sweet Release (Blakewell/Kenleigh Family Trilogy, #1) by Pamela Clare @Goodreads

Book Review: Lover Reborn (Black Dagger Brotherhood #10) by J.R. Ward **18 Yrs Above**

Lover Reborn (Black Dagger Brotherhood #10)

By J.R. Ward

Release Date: March 27th, 2012 

Number of Pages: 572

Format: Hardcover

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Blurb from Goodreads:

#1 New York Times bestselling author J. R. Ward’s novels of the Black Dagger Brotherhood continue as a vampire warrior crosses the line between life and death…and ventures into an erotic world of dark dreams and darker desires.

Ever since the death of his shellan, Tohrment has been unrecognizable from the vampire leader he once was. Physically emaciated and heartbroken beyond despair, he has been brought back to the Brotherhood by a self-serving fallen angel. Now, fighting once again with ruthless vengeance, he is unprepared to face a new kind of tragedy.

When Tohr begins to see his beloved in his dreams—trapped in a cold, isolated netherworld far from the peace and tranquillity of the Fade—he turns to the angel in hopes of saving the one he has lost. But because Lassiter tells him he must learn to love another to free his former mate, Tohr knows they are all doomed....

Except then a female with a shadowed history begins to get through to him. Against the backdrop of the raging war with the lessers, and with a new clan of vampires vying for the Blind King’s throne, Tohr struggles between the buried past and a very hot, passion-filled future…but can his heart let go and set all of them free?

My Review:

WOW. I can't believe I finished it in a day. Never doubt the writings of the Warden ever again. She rules.

I think there's nothing to say because everything that needs to be said has been said by so many others. But, I will reiterate. 

I'm so glad for how things turn out for Tohr. He deserved this book. His own story and I totally adore Autumn from beginning till' the end. I really enjoyed reading about these two. 

I really am rooting for the BoB too and hope for the best for these group of bastards. They aren't all that bad. Just maybe, misguided.

One important thing I HAVE to say. It's Layla. I'm glad I took some time off and only began reading this two months after its release date. Time brings things into perspective and you speculate it with maturity instead of negative emotions. 

I think we readers tend to orbit around and focus too much on the Qhuay coupling. We subconsciously, in a way, blame Layla for "coming between" Qhuinn and Blay. We forget that the problem lies in Qhuinn himself who feels unworthy and not good enough for Blay.

I'm for the future young now. They both need something good in their lives in order for them to move forward. They need something that belongs to them.

Layla has been trained as an ehros her whole life as a Chosen and I forget that it is not her fault to how she feels about being useless in her role/duty. Who and what is expected of her have been deeply ingrained. It's not easy to just change your mindset. What she needs is someone who REALLY loves her. That poor girl...Now, I can truly say I feel for her. Truly feel sorry for her. I am really rooting for Xcor and her. They are good for each other.

The last sentence in chapter 76 was very life-altering. Finally!!!! After so many trials and tribulation for these two, finally, we are getting what we want. Right my fellow Cellies?

Waiting on Wednesday #01

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

This week’s pre-publication “can’t-wait-to-read” selection is:

Stormdancer (The Lotus War, #1)

By Jay Kristoff

A DYING LAND 

The Shima Imperium is verging on the brink of environmental collapse; decimated by clockwork industrialization and the machine-worshippers of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, land choked with toxic pollution, wildlife ravaged by mass extinctions.

AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST

The hunters of the imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger—a legendary beast, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows thunder tigers have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death.

A SIXTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL

Yukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a hidden gift that would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun’s hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima’s last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he’d rather see her dead than help her.

But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire.

So, this is my first ever WOW post. What did you think of my choice? Pretty cool huh?!

A Japanese Steampunk!!! Just that term itself has got me hooked. What more when I saw the cover, I'm IN!! *Swoons*

The above cover is the US version. Let me show you the UK version.

Ta-da! When I saw both covers at first, I was so wow-ed and couldn't decide which I like best. I mean, I can only pick ONE. So, I decided the US one was more in tune to the Japanese theme. The font used looks like the Japanese characters plus the girl on the cover with the tattoos on her arm is so very yakuza (Japanese Gangster). The whole thing is just so badass and Japanese. It's a total win!! I need it nowwww!!

The UK looks cool too but it looks more soft and Chinese compared to the US one. Hee~

Book Review: Wicked As They Come (Blud #1) by Delilah S. Dawson

Wicked As They Come (Blud #1) 
By Delilah S. Dawson
Release Date: March 27th, 2012
Number of Pages: 395
Format: Paperback
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥


Blurb from Goodreads:

Have you ever heard of a Bludman? They’re rather like you and me—only more fabulous, immortal, and mostly indestructible. (They’re also very good kissers.)

Delilah S. Dawson’s darkly tempting debut drops her unsuspecting heroine into a strange faraway land for a romantic adventure that’s part paranormal, part steampunk . . . and completely irresistible.

When Tish Everett forces open the ruby locket she finds at an estate sale, she has no idea that a deliciously rakish Bludman has cast a spell just for her. She wakes up in a surreal world, where Criminy Stain, the dashing proprietor of a magical traveling circus, curiously awaits. At Criminy’s electric touch, Tish glimpses a tantalizing future, but she also foresees her ultimate doom. Before she can decide whether to risk her fate with the charming daredevil, the locket disappears, and with it, her only chance to return home. Tish and Criminy battle roaring sea monsters and thundering bludmares, vengeful ghosts and crooked Coppers in a treacherous race to recover the necklace from the evil Blud-hating Magistrate. But if they succeed, will Tish forsake her fanged suitor and return to her normal life, or will she take a chance on an unpredictable but dangerous destiny with the Bludman she’s coming to love?

My Review:

"Nothing's stopping me, dammit. I can be anything and anyone I want to be. No one's going to tell me what to be ever again."

This was a freaky, wicked, hot and inspirational story. Everything's just so crazy. The ending isn't an ending but another new beginning and I just need the second book RIGHT NOW!!!

Ah, Criminy and his British accent and endearments. Total love and I'm imagining myself in Letitia's place.

This book was truly wonderful and exhilarating. The world of Sang was truly creepy and wildly imaginative. A truly recommended read and the excerpt of Wicked As She Comes, the sequel to this, will just leave you demanding for it now.