Recent Reads: Into That Forest by Louis Nowra

Into That Forest by Louis Nowra
Publisher: Amazon Children's Publishing
Publication Date:  September 3, 2013

 

Format: paperback ARC
Source: BEA 2013 (Yes... I am that behind reading them). Receiving this book in no way effects my opinion or review of the book.

Rating:
 


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

Two girls.
Two tigers.
Four years in the wild.

Two girls survive a terrible flood in the Tasmanian bush and are rescued by a pair of Tasmanian tigers who raise them in the wild. Their story of survival is remarkable, as they adapt to the life of the tiger, learning to hunt and to communicate without the use of human language. When they are discovered and returned to civilization, neither can adapt to being fully human after their extraordinary experience. Totally believable, their story will both shock and captivate readers as it explores the animal instincts that lie beneath our civilized veneer.

 Review: 
This is one of those books that I will likely remember snippets of forever, but it was a strange book on so many levels. I enjoyed the book, it was interesting... however there were a lot of things I was not too fond of.

So the likes: this was an interesting story, girls living with tigers and how they adapt. I found it neat how they became so animalistic and how they learned to interact with the tigers. 

My ehhhh moments: this book was so sad, everything about it was kind of depressing. First the girls experience a flood, then loss of family, then throughout the book there are other instances where I was gasping out of surprise and sadness at what happened. I even teared up a lot at the end.

My 'nope' moments: First thing, I think it is important to understand while reading this book, that they aren't tigers like we know tigers - they are Tasmanian tigers -- which are extinct... so I was super confused for a while about when this was taking place. I was also a little weirded out by Hannah in the beginning of her time with the tigers, she just all of a sudden is fine with eating a dead (not even plucked) non-cooked bird. Now I know that hunger does a lot of crazy things to a person but this seemed SO extreme given the timeline and I was a little put off by it.

Like I mentioned, I will remember this book for a long time... so it did have an impact, but not all good.
 
 

Building the Book Pile #124

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!  A Weekly meme inspired by Stacking the Shelves

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

What's Happening?! 

How was your week ? Let me know in the comments.


What a great week! So many reviews went up and I got some reading done. My TBR chart is looking great and right on track, which I am so happy about.

Work was better this week, not overly stressful but busy enough for the week to go by quickly. This weekend we are relaxing, it is snowing today (Saturday) and supposed to be cold again tomorrow - great reading under a blanket weather.

How was your week?

Giveaways Going on NOW

 

Coming up on the Blog... 

 

Recent Reads: Into That Forest by Louis Nowra (MG/YA)
Recent Reads: The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman (MG)

Books Received this Week



Shadow Scale (Seraphina #2) by Rachel Hartman from Netgalley and Random House

Links go to Goodreads and/or Publisher Site.

Have you missed anything lately?

• Recent Reads: Breaking Angelina (Paranormal Investigations #1.5) by Rita and T.J. Webb (New Adult) - 4 stars
• Recent Reads: A Broken Fate (A Beautiful Fate #2) by Cat Mann (New Adult)- 5 stars
• Recent Reads: Hellhole by Gina Damico (YA) - 5 stars
• Recent Reads: Loki's Wolves (The Blackwell Pages #1) by K.L. Armstrong and M.A. Marr (MG) - 4 stars

  Comment and leave me a link to your Round-up/ STS/ Weekly...anything post and I will happily stop by and say hello!

 Happy Reading!

Recent Reads: Breaking Angelina by Rita and TJ Webb

Breaking Angelina by Rita and T.J. Webb
Series: Paranormal Investigations #1.5
Publisher: Robot Playground, Inc.
Publication Date:  November 2013

 

Format: ebook
Source: Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way effects my opinion or review of the book.
Rating:



 


Goodreads Synopsis: 

She's the Beauty. Can the Beast break her curse before the monsters break her?

I never told anyone my darkest secret.

Something evil whispers in my mind. It threatens to destroy everything I care about, and now it wants me to kidnap and murder a mythical creature. Refusal means excruciating pain or sleepwalking into oncoming traffic ... again.

I don’t dare refuse, even if I have to steal from my friends, sell my body, or ruin my college career. Anything to stop the feeling of its claws scraping the insides of my skull.

That’s when I hired the Hunter, a wolf-man from a magical world, to help me. A tracker for hire, an honorable man who has misplaced his honor, a twisted soul with no heart left to care.

But he has secrets of his own, and I don’t think anyone can save me from the trouble I’m in.


a New Adult dark paranormal romance
For ages 18+ due to violence, language, and some sexuality. 

 Review: 
It has been a while since I read the first book in this series, Playing Hooky, but I remember it being light and fun and whimsical - this book was not like that. Angelina is Emma's sister and if you have read the first book in the series you know that she is also the reason for all the craziness in the first book. So first off, it was hard to put out of my head that she was the enemy when I began reading this book. This installment was much darker than the first, internal demons and the hurt of not being wanted, there was even rape and a lot of violence. 

Don't get me wrong though, this was a great book. I am so glad that we got to see this story from Angelina's POV and we got more of the Hunter - who was just so mysterious in the first book. I really enjoyed reading these points of view. 

Angelina is so broken and it is so depressing but she is able to eventually pull herself back and I think it will lead to a lot of good things to come for her in the rest of the series. 

The Hunter is still very soft spoken in this book, but we learn a lot about why he hunts and his background and I really liked learning about his story, I think his tie in to the overall series is going to be huge! :) (Obviously just speculation from me though).

I really did like how this book dealt with the darker side of the story and I am so glad this book was written and we learn about what possessed Angelina to lash out at her sister in book 1.


 

Recent Reads: A Broken Fate by Cat Mann

A Broken Fate by Cat Mann
Series: The Beautiful Fate #2
Publication Date:  August 23rd, 2013

 

Format: ebook
Source: Bought from Amazon

Rating:




 


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Coping with the traumatic experiences Ava endured with the Kakos is more challenging than she ever imagined it to be. She finds herself struggling to remember the details of her time kept away with Damien Kakos and when the memories assault her mind, she is plagued with crippling fear. There is something in the back of Ava’s thoughts screaming at her, telling her that the fight with the devil’s brood has not yet ended.

Newly married, Ava and Ari deal with issues involving trust, honesty and faith in one another and as they plot their course for a new life together, they discover that their individual wants and needs don’t exactly match. Ari’s promises to Ava begin to break. Some of the Alexander’s family secrets are revealed and Ava realizes that she needs to keep her friends close, and her enemies even closer.

A Broken Fate, the second novel in The Beautiful Fate Series, dives further into Ava and Ari’s nail-bitter of a story and adds even more suspense, mystery, romance and thrills. This series is impossible for any reader to resist. 

 Review: 
Cat Mann is a wonderful author - both this book and the first in the series were whirlwinds of emotion for me - I was all over the place and loved every second of it all. I read the first book for a blog tour a while ago and read it all in one night. I almost immediately bought the second book in the series with all intention of reading it immediately - then life happened and then more TBR books happened and it fell off the radar for a bit - THEN the author contacted me about Book 3...

So, with so much enthusiasm I picked up my iPad and stated reading A Broken Fate. I read about a third of it in one evening and then put it down for a while due to crazy work schedules (and cleaning my house etc). I was so happy to get back to it with a Read-a-thon and cannot wait for book 3. 

In this installment, Ava has been dealing with her abduction, the fear, the memories coming back, the injuries - but also keeping a lot of pain and emotion and secrets from her family. She has to find a way to adjust and allow those around her to help her. This aspect of the story was understandable but so frustrating at times. Ava had been through a lot and needed more help but wouldn't allow anyone to help her - I understand that, but arg frustrating. 

The we get to the good stuff, a journal and a code and possible suspects of another Kakos... the story gets amped up and there were so many instances that I was cringing and gasping and thinking I had figured it out (sometimes I was right, other times - not so much). It was a wonderful roller coaster of a book and I LOVED it.

This is a New Adult book, so there was sex and there was a lot of violence recapped in this book from the last - so it is not intended for a younger audience.

Review of A Beautiful Fate (Book 1)

 

Recent Reads: Hellhole by Gina Damico

Hellhole by Gina Damico

Publisher: HMH books for Young Readers
Publication Date:  January 6, 2015

Format: Paperback ARC
Source: HMH books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this book in no way effects my opinion or review.

Rating:
 


 


Goodreads Synopsis: 

A devil is a bad influence . . .

There was a time when geeky, squeaky-clean Max Kilgore would never lie or steal or even think about murder. Then he accidentally unearths a devil, and Max’s choices are no longer his own. The big red guy has a penchant for couch surfing and junk food—and you should never underestimate evil on a sugar high.

With the help of Lore, a former goth girl who knows a thing or two about the dark side, Max is racing against the clock to get rid of the houseguest from hell before time, and all the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos this side of the fiery abyss, run out.

 Review: 
I have yet to read the Croak series and now I feel like I absolutely have to. Gina Damico is hilarious in this book - there were so many instances that I laughed out load or snorted to myself. 

The story telling was very good, I liked the build up and info about Max's life, how the author brought in other important characters and how eventually good conquers evil (or is it evil conquers evil? - you will have to read it to determine that for yourself).

Satan inspired all the feelings from me, he was funny and weird, good and understanding, and a horrible demonic presence too - I loved to hate him and hated to love him - it was a great character.

I absolutely enjoyed how the author wrote about Lore, she is my kinda girl!

Everything about this book I found great - but again I have heard that Croak is better, so I have to go grab those now :)

Happy Reading!

Recent Reads: Loki's Wolves by K.L Armstrong and M.A. Marr

Loki's Wolves by K.L. Armstrong and M.A. Marr
Series: The Blackwell Pages #1
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date:  May 7, 2013

 

Format: Hardback
Source: Bought, in my home library

Rating:


 




Goodreads Synopsis: 

In Viking times, Norse myths predicted the end of the world, an event called Ragnarok, that only the gods can stop. When this apocalypse happens, the gods must battle the monsters--wolves the size of the sun, serpents that span the seabeds, all bent on destroying the world.

The gods died a long time ago.

Matt Thorsen knows every Norse myth, saga, and god as if it was family history--because it is family history. Most people in the modern-day town of Blackwell, South Dakota, in fact, are direct descendants of either Thor or Loki, including Matt's classmates Fen and Laurie Brekke.

However, knowing the legends and completely believing them are two different things. When the rune readers reveal that Ragnarok is coming and kids--led by Matt--will stand in for the gods in the final battle, he can hardly believe it. Matt, Laurie, and Fen's lives will never be the same as they race to put together an unstoppable team to prevent the end of the world.

 Review: 

I enjoyed this book a good amount - I think it is very similar to the Percy Jackson series in a lot of ways though so I found it a little repetitive... 

Matt, Fen and Laurie all join up to prevent the end of the world as champions of Viking gods, like Thor, Odin, Loki etc. and their first adventure is to get the shield of Thor back from Loki's descendants. 

I liked that this book was told from multiple points of view, so we hear from Matt, Fen and Laurie - Laurie less so though and I really liked her spunk through it all. She definitely tries to make it known that even though she is a girl she can still be involved in everything. The downside to this is that she kept having to bring it up when the boys wanted her to leave or be protected. I think if you are going to have a strong lead - have a strong lead and have the boys in the book support her to the fullest!

I liked the action in the book, there was a good amount of it, I just was hoping for more in regards to the history of the Viking mythology - I think that would have helped to set it up a bit more. Maybe a Thor/ Loki and monster battle from past as a preface or something, I dunno. I still very much enjoyed the tidbits that were added throughout.

Overall great middle grade read!

Winter 24 Hour Read-A-Thon 2015

  

I'm getting geared up! This weekend is gonna be crazy/bloggy busy!

So why not make it more fun with reading!?

Here is my TBR and updates for the 24 hour Read-a-thon...

First I need to finish:

DONE!

Then I hope to read:

 

And then maybe I will read this if I get through all the others:
 

I am so excited I haven't done a Read-a-thon in FOREVER!

:D yay for Read-a-thons!

Beginning Questionnarie

1. What books are in your TBR pile for the Read-A-Thon? - See above
2. What are you eating or drinking during the Read-A-Thon? - Coffee, lots of it :)
3. How are you going to keep yourself awake during this challenge? - Coffee and probably walking around my house while reading.
4. What book are you looking forward to reading the most?- Hellhole, It looks funny!
5. How many books do you want to read? - 4 if I can stay awake
6. Where in your house will you get comfortable to curl up and read? - in my living room on my couch with my dog and cat and a fuzzy blanket.
7. Have you participated in a Read-A-Thon before? - yes, but it has been over a year.
8.What will you be wearing so you are comfy and cozy to read? PJs!
9. What are you looking forward to most about the Read-A-Thon? -reading ALL the books! and all the great people participating together
10. Where will you be updating what you read (twitter, goodreads, youtube or blog)?  Here on the blog.

@ Hour 1:

 Time Read: 0 minutes... I fell asleep (...already failed at this) The way I figure, it was a nap before really starting. Now I am off...
Currently Reading: A Broken Fate
Pages Read of Current Book: 30% (before Read-a-Thom)
Total Pages Read:0
Books Read: 0
Location: Living Room Couch
Food/Drinks: none
Challenges Completed: none.

Hour 2 Challenge - Picture of TBR (2 books are on my iPad)

Hour 5 Challenge - A Book Rainbow

@ Hour 5:

 Time Read: 4 hours
Currently Reading: Hellohole by Gina Damico
Pages Read of Current Book: 40
Total Pages Read: Um 70% of an ebook, and 40 pages
Books Read: 1
Location: Living Room Couch with a sleepy doggy who hates that I am awake
Food/Drinks: Coffee!
Challenges Completed: Hour 2 and Hour 5 

Hour 8 Challenge- Poem with Book Titles

 

@ Hour 10:

Time Read: 8.5 hours total
Currently Reading: Loki's Wolves
Pages Read of Current Book: none yet
Total Pages Read: 70% and 352 pages
Books Read: A Broken Fate by Cat Mann, Hellhole by Gina Damico
Location: Still on the couch in the living room
Food/Drinks: coffee and cinn. rolls
Challenges Completed: Hours 2, 5, and 8

@ Hour 15:

 Time Read: 10.5 hours total, I took another nap and stopped for food and to hang out with my hubby who is letting me read all day like a crazy person (I love him)
Currently Reading: Loki's Wolves
Pages Read of Current Book: 159
Total Pages Read: 70% and 511 pages
Books Read: 2 -- A Broken Fate by Cat Mann, Hellhole by Gina Damico
Location: Still on the couch -- so comfy, I have a pile of blankets
Food/Drinks: I had eggs and bacon for lunch and some diet coke (So healthy, I know)
Challenges Completed: Hours 2, 5, 8 and 11 (which was to READ!)

Hour 17 Challenge: Book Tower! 

Hour 20 Challenge: Selfie with Fave Book (Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk)

Hour 20:

 Time Read: 14 hours total
Currently Reading: Breaking Angelina by Rita and TJ Webb
Pages Read of Current Book: 50%
Total Pages Read:120% and too many pages to math right now..
Books Read: A Broken Fate by Cat Mann, Hellhole by Gina Damico, Loki's Wolves by K.L. Armstrong and M.A. Marr
Location: Still on the couch, but I have been up and about more. I rand to the grocery store for a bit.
Food/Drinks: diet coke, chicken and rice
Challenges Completed: Hours 2, 5, 8, 11, and 17

Hour 23: Book Spine Poetry

 

Hour 24:

 Time Read: 14.5 hours total
Currently Reading: Breaking Angelina by Rita and TJ Webb
Pages Read of Current Book: 60%
Total Pages Read: 130% of ebooks and 702
Books Read: A Broken Fate by Cat Mann, Hellhole by Gina Damico, Loki's Wolves by K.L. Armstrong and M.A. Marr 
Location: couch then my bed (in which I proceeded to fall asleep and get no more reading done)
Food/Drinks: hot chocolate
Challenges Completed: Hours 2, 5, 8, 11, 17, and 23

Building the Book Pile #123

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!  A Weekly meme inspired by Stacking the Shelves

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

What's Happening?! 

How was your week ? Let me know in the comments.


Wowza! This weekend has been jam-packed. Bloggiesta, a Read-a-thon, and the weekend isn't even over yet :/ I need a nap :P

This week was awesome on the blog - as you may have been able to tell. A bunch of M.G. reviews, a spotlight, a Giveaway :)

As for work - it has be SUPER crazy, lots of late nights and doing work at home again this week - I am pooped. I need a vacation and I just got back from winter break/ vacation.

 I am hoping for a more chill work week this coming week - keep your fingers crossed for me :)

Giveaways Going on NOW

 

Coming up on the Blog... 

 

Recent Reads: Loki's Wolves by K.J. Armstring and M.A. Marr (MG)
Recent Reads: Hellhole by Gina Damico (YA)
Recent Reads: A Broken Fate (A Beautiful Fate #2) by Cat Mann (NA)
 Recent Reads: Breaking Angelina (Paranormal Investigations #1.5) by Rita and T.J. Webb (NA)

Books Received this Week

No new books this week...

Links go to Goodreads and/or Publisher Site.

Have you missed anything lately?

• Double Review -- The Diaries of Robin's Toys: Roger the Reindeer and Geraldo the Giraffe by Ken and Angie Lake
• Blog Blast: 'Til the Last Snowflake Falls by Al E. Boy with Excerpt
• Double Review -- The Diaries of Robin's Toys: Leon the Lion and Gavin the Gorilla and Snuffles by Ken and Angie Lake
• Winter Mini Bloggiesta Planning Post
• Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop
• Winter 24- Hour Read-a-thon Post and Updates 

  Comment and leave me a link to your Round-up/ STS/ Weekly...anything post and I will happily stop by and say hello!

 Happy Reading!

Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop!

Cover2CoverBlog is giving away the full box set of The Diaries of Robin's Toys - 10 books total and a Middle Grade Series.

US Only. Sorry Int. folks - shipping is so expensive :(
Must be 13 with a parents permission or older.
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Linky to the other Giveaways!


Thank you for entering!

Winter Mini Bloggiesta 2015

 

Let's start 2015 off right! 

Here is my to do list for the Winter Mini Bloggiesta:

• Update my Reviews by Author page
• Clean up my blog email - Look into Streak (comment by Sherri @ Urban Girl Reader)
• Complete at least 2 mini challenges
• Comment on as many other Bloggiesta participant posts as possible (hopefully everyones) - I think I got to all of them :) Happy Bloggiesta to ALL! >>THROWS CONFETTI<<
• Participate in the Twitter chat
• Write at least one review for the blog

Added Items:

• Set calendar reminders to Back up the Blog
• Clean up/ Rearrange books - they are becoming more piles than shelved.

I hope to get all this done and maybe more, but that is my list for now :)

Happy Bloggiesta All!

Double Review -- The Diaries of Robin's Toys: Leon the Lion and Gavin the Gorilla and Snuddles by Ken and Angie Lake

The Diaries of Robin's Toys: Leon the Lion by Ken and Angie Lake
Series: The Diaries of Robin's Toys
Publisher: Sweet Cherry Publishing 
Publication Date:  December 10, 2013

 

Format: Paperback from box set
Source:Sweet Cherry Publishing in exchange for an honest review. This in no way effects my opinion or review of the book.

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis: 

When Robin bought Leon the Lion from the car-boot sale, he expected him to be fierce and scary but that could not have been further from the truth. Find out how the King of the Jungle became the King of the Jingle, and learn that if at first you don't succeed, try and try again! Leon the Lion is one part of the lovely series, The Diaries of Robin's Toys! Robin and his Grandad buy a new toy from the car boot sale every weekend, and with the help of Grandad's magic spell, they bring them to life! Each toy has a fascinating new story to tell Robin, and helps to teach him some very important life lessons!

Review: 
Leon the Lion was definitely not my favorite tale from Robin's stories, Leon seemed a little rude and aggressive even though he was supposed to be portrayed as kind and a softy who liked poetry. I don't think he interacted well with Robin and his grandfather and he seemed overly pushy. I did not really enjoy this story too much compared to the others in the series.

The Diaries of Robin's Toys: Gavin the Gorilla and Snuffles by Ken and Angie Lake
Series: The Diaries of Robin's Toys
Publisher: Sweet Cherry Publishing 
Publication Date:  August 8, 2013

 

Format: Paperback from box set
Source:Sweet Cherry Publishing in exchange for an honest review. This in no way effects my opinion or review of the book.

Rating:
 



 
Goodreads Synopsis:

Robin thought he knew everything there was to know about gorillas before he bought Gavin. He thought they were just big and scary chest-thumpers! But Gavin was different, and he told him a fascinating story about his life in a safari park, and how the other animals wouldn't let him live his dream of being a childminder to the baby animals - just because they thought he was a scary gorilla! Read Gavin's lovely story, find out how he met Snuffles the Dog, and learn as Robin did how the power of friendship can change your life, and not to judge someone on appearances alone! Gavin the Gorilla and Snuffles is one part of the lovely series, The Diaries of Robin's Toys! Robin and his Grandad buy a new toy from the car boot sale every weekend, and with the help of Grandad's magic spell, they bring them to life! Each toy has a fascinating new story to tell Robin, and helps to teach him some very important life lessons!

 Review: 
Gavin is a wonderful character, he and his friend Snuffles have a wonderful story about helping others and not judging people. I really enjoyed this tale and was happy that the series included it. I love how all of this series have tied their lessons into something realistic in Robin's life and how he helps others/ friends. It was a very nice series. I think young readers will be happy to read these, although they may need some help understanding the connections between the toy's stories and the real life applications. Overall a wonderful set!

Special Thanks to Sweet Cherry Publishing for these copies. 

More reviews to come.