Archive by Author | Meredith

Review: In the End by Demitria Lunetta

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: In the End by Demitria LunettaIn the End by Demitria Lunetta
Series: In the After #2
Published by HarperTeen on June 24, 2014
Pages: 448
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
three-stars

The thrilling conclusion to In the After, the survival story of Amy and Baby, set in a near future where Earth has been overrun by vicious, predatory creatures.

It’s been three months since Amy escaped New Hope, and she’s been surviving on her own, like she did in the After. Until one day, her former fellow Guardian’s voice rings out in her earpiece. And in a desperate tone, Kay utters the four words Amy had hoped she would never hear: Dr. Reynolds has Baby.

Now it’s a race against time, for Baby is in imminent danger, her life threatened by the malevolent doctor who had helped start the end of the world. In order to save Baby, Amy must make her way to Fort Black, a prison-turned-survivor-colony, where she will need to find Ken, Kay’s brother. He alone holds the key to Baby’s survival.

One small slip-up on this quest could spark a downward spiral that would not only cost Baby and Amy their lives, but threaten the very survival of the people in the After.

Considering how much I loved In the After (book #1), I was thoroughly disappointed with In the End. The pacing was slow, most of the book felt like filler and I couldn’t stand most of the new characters we met.

Amy was still a pretty good character, though she spends a good deal of this book getting into trouble, not listening and doing stupid things. When someone told her to stay put, to wait until things were calm or safe, she just didn’t listen. I really wanted to scream at her. If she had stayed put, like she was told to, she would have avoided at least 80% of the trouble she ran in to. And while Amy grew and matured a LOT in In the After, her character development was almost non-existent in In the End. It’s almost like she peaked at the end of In the After.

We meet a lot of new characters in In the End. I only sort of liked two or three of them. But even then, I feel like we didn’t really get to know them, so it was hard to like them. And that’s despite the fact that two of them were major characters for almost all of the book. We just didn’t get to see enough of them or learn enough about their past and who they were. I liked Jacks in the beginning. He was calm and mild-mannered, yet his attitude screamed “cocky leader.” As the story went on, I wasn’t crazy about certain things and it wasn’t until the very end of the book that I realized I liked him a whole lot more than… Well, someone else… But.. Spoilers, so I’m shutting up – read the book! And I liked Brenna immediately but I never trusted her, so that messed with me because I was always waiting for her to turn on Amy.

Baby was one of my favorite characters in In the After for so many reasons. She was a young child, but she was smart, resilient and knew how to survive. She had an intriguing back-story, too. But she was BARELY in In the End. That was really disappointing. And when she WAS in the book… Well… Sigh.

As I mentioned before, most of this book felt like filler. It had Second Book Syndrome, except in this case, the series is a duology and only has two books. So that was a pretty big disappointment. Honestly, most of the book just felt like its only purpose was to get the reader to the last 20 pages. Because, really, that’s when things finally picked up. Until that point, the book was slow, boring filler and completely predictable. Nothing ever took me by surprise.

Another huge complaint I had with this book? Sexism. Lots and lots of sexism and the idea that women belong to men and are nothing more than “property.” These women were branded with tattoos to mark which man they belonged to… UHHHH, NOPE. This knocked it down initially from a 4-star to a 3.5-star rating. And then the slow pacing, predictability and filler-like feeling dropped it to the final 3-star rating. Also, as a minor side-note, sooooo many parts of this book felt like Walking Dead rip-offs.. Just saying.

I wish this book had some more redeeming qualities I could talk about, but it just didn’t. I adored book one but I could rant for hours about this book. I usually avoid spoilers in my reviews. But if this review had spoilers, it would be triple the length that it is now with all the ranting.

So unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy this book. I feel completely let down by it. Personally, I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it to someone, though others might enjoy it where I didn’t. I still think Demitria Lunetta is a brilliant writer; she crafted a gorgeous, creepy world, described it to us vividly and kept me turning the page, still eager to see how it all ended despited how much I didn’t enjoy it. I’ll definitely still be watching out for future books from this author.

three-stars

Pandora’s Wonderland: Always Stay Up Past Midnight (Guest Post)

Hey everyone! Meredith from Pandora’s Books here. For those who don’t know, I’m doing a joint Blogoversary celebration with Kayla and Stacie from A Wonderland of Reading. The festivities started on May 26 (their one-year Blogoversary) and will end on June 24 (my one-year Blogoversary). We’ll be alternating days and providing fun guest posts from our fellow bloggers and author friends. You can visit A Wonderland of Reading to see the first post and learn more about the details and the grand prize giveaway!

So today, I have the AMAZING Nikki from Fiction Freak here with an epically awesome guest post. I owe pretty much my entire blogging existence to Nikki. As you’ll find out in this post, Nikki’s gorgeous blog and generous offer to help me with the creation of my blog is what started this epic journey that I’ve been on for almost a year now. Without her, I don’t know if I would have started blogging. So, without further adieu, please welcome Nikki!

~*~*~*~*~*~

OKAY. GUYS. Meredith’s blog is turning a year old on June 24 and I can’t even believe it because (and here’s where I’m going to brag)

I convinced Meredith to start blogging.

Or at least, part of the reason? I dunno. I just remember being up at around 1 AM, and chatting up this awesome bookish person named Meredith (who then complimented my blog and made me blush.)
Here’s the tweet our conversation started with:
 

Which, actually, had nothing to do with what happened. But after a few back and forth tweets, this tweet popped up on my timeline:

And of course I responded immediately with

After which she asked me if I had advice. And these are the wise bits of 13 year old Nikki Wisdom I had to bestow

And SHE DID. SHE HAS MADE SO MANY FRIENDS AND SHE IS A WONDERFUL PERSON AND I LOVES HER. But of course, the story of the start of a blog is never just three (or four or five or six) tweets short.

I’m sorry, I had to put that there because that right there is what made me giggle in the first place. It’s especialyl sweet because that design was SO AMATEUR. I mean, my current one still is, but that one just. Guysssssss you don’t even KNOW. But I’m so happy she didn’t just walk away (that tweet should be on fire, what a liar liar.)

Oh yes, but even as an amateur designer apparently I very much liked creating graphics and extended this (probably very bad on Meredith’s end) offer:

If you follow the thread, APPARENTLY, Meredith had been reviewing books for a year and a half on Tumblr. I was surprised she didn’t have a blog, tweeted her my surprise and.

AND THAT WAS PRETTY AWESOME. AND I FELT SO HAPPY. BECAUSE LOOK. I MADE SOMEONE EXCITED TO BE A BLOGGER. Never more was I any happier. At about 1 AM (What the hell were either of us even doing, being up that late.) Flash forward many design-question tweets later and…

And then instead of sleeping like I should’ve, I just decided to start making some kind of graphic. I came up with this:

Pandora Books Button

 

which she used until she moved to WordPress–a pretty awesome decision early on.

And seems like she’s been pretty awesome the entire blogging journey AND LOOK AT HER AT HER ONE YEAR BLOGOVERSARY. I’M SO PROUD. THEY GROW UP SO QUICKLY.

Moral of the story?

ALWAYS STAY UP PAST MIDNIGHT.

Stacking the Shelves #20: In Which I Have a Book Addiction

Stacking the Shelves

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews.

~*~*~*~*~

Hey guys! So, this is my first non-video STS post. I just needed a break from filming. I’m not sure how to best format this, so I’d definitely appreciate some feedback! Originally, I wanted the covers facing out, but there were SO MANY BOOKS, especially under the “bought” category, that I felt like it would take forever to do. But let me know if you’d prefer that!

These are all the books I’ve received since I came home from BEA, including eBooks:

Books I Bought


Bought

Crewel by Gennifer Albin
Altered by Gennifer Albin
The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer
The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe
The Girl Who Never Was by Skyler Dorset
Poor Little Dead Girls by Lizzie Friend
All That Glows by Ryan Graudin
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Meridian by Josin L. McQuein
Toxic by Sara Shepard
The Madman’s Daughter by Megan Shepherd
Her Dark Curiosity by Megan Shepherd
Darkworld by Cara Lynn Shultz
The Unbound by Victoria Schwab

Books I Won


Won

Free to Fall by Lauren Miller
Enders by Lissa Price

Thank you Celeste and Josie!

Books I was Gifted/Traded


Gifted:Traded

The Vanishing Season by Jodi Lynn Anderson
The Inventor’s Secret by Andrea Cremer
Exile by Kevin Emerson
Dear Killer by Katherine Ewell
Prodigy by Marie Lu
Always Emily by Michaela MacColl
Landline by Rainbow Rowell

Thank you Emma, Julie, Rachel, Christina and Stacee!

Books from Publishers


Publisher

The Vault of Dreamers by Caragh M. O’Brien

Thank you Macmillan!

eBooks (Not Pictured. Source in parentheses)


The Mark of the Hummingbird by Jessica Gollub (Gifted from Author)
Of Scars and Stardust by Andrea Hannah (NetGalley)
Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas (NetGalley)
Take Me On by Katie McGarry (NetGalley)

Pandora’s Wonderland: A Fateful Interview (Character Interview + Giveaway)

Hey everyone! Meredith from Pandora’s Books here. For those who don’t know, I’m doing a joint Blogoversary celebration with Kayla and Stacie from A Wonderland of Reading. The festivities started on May 26 (their one-year Blogoversary) and will end on June 24 (my one-year Blogoversary). We’ll be alternating days and providing fun guest posts from our fellow bloggers and author friends. You can visit A Wonderland of Reading to see the first post and learn more about the details and the grand prize giveaway!

So today, I have the AMAZING Heather Lyons, author of the Fate series, as well as The Deep End of The Sea, here with an epically awesome post. I absolutely adore Heather! Her books were the first I ever reviewed for a publicist. They are amazing, well-written and have epic, relatable, lovable characters. These books will always hold a special place in my heart, as will Heather! So, today Heather and I have cooked up something pretty epic for you guys. If you’ve read the Fate series, you’ll swoon like crazy! And if you haven’t read it, well… Why haven’t you?!?! So, without further adieu, please welcome Chloe and Kellan from the Fate series!

~*~*~*~*~*~

Hi Chloe and Jonah. Thank you so much for joining us today! We’re very excited to have you here.
Chloe: Hi Meredith! We’re so glad to be able to stop by.
Jonah: Hey, Meredith.

Well, let’s start with you, Chloe. You’ve been through so much. How are you doing?
Chloe: I’m doing great, actually!

You had some major health problems. How are you feeling now?
Chloe: (laughs, embarrassed) I like how you phrased that—health problems. Wait—are you talking about all the stuff I went through with the Elders? Because I’m right as rain now. Annar’s Shamans are really excellent at what they do.
Jonah: She could have been talking about the ulcers, you know.

[Smiles] Yes, I meant the ulcers. Though what you went through with the Elders must have taken its toll, too!
Chloe: Oh! Well, those are gone, too. I’ve found a lot of things over the years that helps me reduce stress.

Can you share some of those things with us?
Chloe: Breathing, for one. And counting—I’m always counting. Counting calms me down. And running—I guess somebody over here was right all those years about how running helps him clear his mind . . .
Jonah: (gives a who, me? look)
Chloe: I started yoga a year or so back.
Jonah: And . . . you finished yoga a year or so back?
Chloe: (laughs) Okay, okay. I don’t do yoga. But I have started journaling. That helps, even if it’s just to get the words out. Sometimes I’ll just will the paper away afterward, but it’s the thought that I got them out there in the first place, and it helps relieve some of the pressures, especially in work-related matters.

And you have no desire to run away again, right? [Chuckles]
Chloe: (sighs) Running away solves nothing. Although . . . (looks over at Jonah) as wrong as running away was, I think it was probably the best thing I could have done at the time. Except, if I could do it all over again, I’d have talked it over with Jonah, so that it wasn’t like I just disappeared. Sometimes . . . space is needed, you know? It helps to bring what’s important back in focus.

[Nods sympathetically at Chloe, then speaks in a gentle voice]. Right, I understand. [Turns to Jonah]. Jonah, let’s move on to you for a minute. How are you doing?
Jonah: I’m great, thanks.

You held a lot back for a long time. You didn’t always speak your mind, you were quick to get upset. How do you think you’ve grown over the last several years?
Jonah: Um . . . (chuckles ruefully) Yeah, I wasn’t always the best with dealing with my own emotions, which is sort of horribly ironic for an Emotional, right? It’s a process, though. When you grow up with a certain set of expectations, it’s hard to shake them even when you know they’re not the right course of action. I have to remind myself all the time that it’s okay to let it out sometimes.

Do you ever find yourself falling back into old habits? How do you cope when that happens?
Jonah: You mean, like holding it all in? (thinks about this) I’d like to say no. Actually—let me clarify. I’ve learned to let the important people in and to express myself better with them. I don’t hold things back from my family anymore. And if I ever do find myself bottling those feelings up—
Chloe: I remind him that I’m here for him, and if he wants to talk, I’m here for that, too. And so is Astrid, and Cameron, and Will, and Callie, and all the rest of our family. Even KC. They’re so cute together, by the way.
Jonah: You mean me and KC?
Chloe: Cute and so much alike. I love it. And I love that you don’t hold back with him, not like your father ever did with you.

We got an in-depth look at you and your feelings in Beyond Fate, Jonah. Was that nerve-racking for you?
Jonah: (clearly uncomfortable) Uh, yeah.
Chloe: (laughs; holds his hand) Baby steps, right?

Can you elaborate on that, Jonah? If you’re comfortable answering this question, what was the most difficult part about it?
Jonah: Well, it was the whole opening up thing. Letting people see my fears and insecurities, especially when I have so many expectations upon my shoulders.

What’s one thing you hope readers take away from Beyond Fate?
Jonah: Uh . . . (scratches back of neck) That I’m not perfect, maybe?
Chloe: Nobody is. Nobody should want to be. By the way, I love that people got to see the real you.

And we loved it, too, Chloe! Now, you were involved in what’s referred to as a “love triangle.” What does that term mean to you? Does it truly reflect how you feel about one another?
Chloe: Oh, gods. Isn’t that so sordid sounding? Love triangle.
Jonah: I suppose it could have been worse—it could have been a rectangle. (smiles slyly) Thank goodness you and Will never hooked up, right?
Chloe:(cracks up) Can you imagine?

[Chuckles]

Jonah: In all seriousness, though, it’s not like it’s a desirable thing, though. A love triangle, I mean. It’s pretty brutal.
Chloe: (more quietly) Completely brutal. I think . . . a lot of people who hear our story thinks that it was an easy pick, or that we all ought to have been able to control our feelings so easily. But . . . matters of the heart aren’t always so logical or easy.
Jonah: Especially with Connections.
Chloe: Especially with Connections. Have I mentioned before that they suck?
Jonah: That’s putting it mildly.

A lot of people say your “love triangle” – for lack of a better word – is one of the most well done in young adult. People have a hard time picking a “team” between you and your brother [stares at Jonah]. How does that make you feel?
Jonah: Uh . . . Crappy, I guess. For lack of a better word.
Chloe: (squeezes his hand, says gently) I think what she’s saying is that people think you’re both awesome, and that they could see why I . . . um . . . (trails off, uncomfortable)
Jonah: Yeah, no. I get it. I guess I can see how it’s a compliment.

[Nods quickly]. My apologies, Jonah. That was most certainly meant as a compliment! As Chloe said, you and your brother are both amazing and wonderful!
Jonah: Yeah, my brother is a pretty awesome person. (is quiet for a long moment) Is it weird that I get why she loved him? (shakes his head) Outside of the Connection, I mean. Yeah, I get it. I do. I can’t blame her for that, not when I think he’s one of the best people I know.
Chloe: (leans over and kisses Jonah) You’re pretty awesome yourself, mister.

Do you feel scrutinized at all? Like your life is under a microscope? [Directed at Jonah, but glances at Chloe, in case she wants to speak up]
Jonah: Well, it’s not like I’m thrilled people know all about my love life or anything.
Chloe: The thing is, though, as Magicals—with such a small society—our lives pretty much are open books. The gossip machine in Annar is horrible.
Jonah: There’s not as much gossip about us anymore. Happy couples are boring, right?
Chloe: Silly man. There is nothing boring about us in the least. (waggles eyebrows)
Jonah: (tries not to laugh) (or make fun of the fact that Chloe looks ridiculous doing this)

[Chuckles and shakes head] You two are just so adorable together!
Chloe: See? (turns to Jonah) Don’t I say this all the time? (to Meredith) Thank you! Our son thinks we’re gross. What does he know?

[Chuckles and nods]. Chloe, let’s go back to you for a moment. How do YOU feel about this love triangle business? [Smiles kindly, to make the question sound less intimidating]
Chloe: I am asked to do a lot of difficult things in my line of work, but . . . whether or not this makes me sound petty or selfish, being torn between two people I love with all of my heart was the hardest thing in the worlds to go through.

[Nods sympathetically]. I can’t even imagine. Are you happy now, though?
Chloe: I truly am. More importantly, I’m content. A lot of people don’t give credence to contentment, but if you’ve been through as much angst as me, you’ll come to see it as the best of blessings.

[Nods at Chloe]. That’s what matters most, then. [Pauses]. When it comes to your life and your choices, you’ve always had Fate kind of . . . nudging you in a certain direction. You’ve always fought against that. What have you learned from this experience? [Glances at Jonah, nodding slightly to encourage him to speak up if he wishes]
Chloe: (is thoughtful for a long moment) I think it’s important to realize that, no matter what, a person must always remember that they have a choice. That was my big takeaway. I could choose what kind of Creator to be. I could choose my family. I could choose who to live my life with. Choice is a beautiful, precious thing.
Jonah: Choice is everything, I think . . . as long as it’s true to one’s heart. Choice by default does nobody any favors.

[Nods at Jonah]. Yes, I absolutely agree, Jonah. [Glances back at Chloe]. What advice would you give someone, Chloe, who feels their life is out of their control?
Chloe: Take a step back. Find yourself—not who others want you to be, but who you are.

That’s wonderful advice, thank you, Chloe. So, this question is for the both of you. What’s one lesson you’ve learned throughout this whole journey that you want to share with everyone?
Chloe: To be true to oneself.
Jonah: I like that.
Chloe: Yeah?
Jonah: (kisses her hand) Yeah. It’s the absolute best lesson of all.

[Smiles and nods at the adorable couple] Final question. Are you happy with where your stories ended?
Chloe: (smiles) Who says our story has ended?
Jonah: Oh, it definitely hasn’t ended. Everyday, I find something new to love about this woman.
Chloe: I think the best of endings are no endings at all. That life just keeps going—beautifully, authentically. I think the better question is: are we happy with our lives? And the answer is oh, yes. Very happy. We made the right choices for ourselves, and it’s made all the difference.

Thank you both so much for taking the time to speak with me. That was wonderful!
Chloe: Thanks for having us, Meredith! And thanks for all the support you’ve shown us through our story.

* * * * * *

(Later, in a coffee shop far, far away from Annar, Meredith spies somebody familiar sitting at a table alongside a dejected looking teenager, so she can’t help but stop and eavesdrop a little.)

“Sometimes,” the teenager says as he curls his fingers around what appears to be an iced mocha, “I don’t think I’ll ever be happy.”

The man he’s talking with pulls a teabag out of his cup and sets it on a nearby napkin. “I know it’s hard to believe it right now, when it feels like everything is imploding inward, but the truth is, you will be. Just because this relationship didn’t work out doesn’t mean the next won’t. Or the one after that.”

“Of course you’re going to say that. You’re happy,” the teenager cuts in. “That’s what adults always say.”

The man chuckles and runs his hand through his longish, messy black hair. “We’re not here to discuss me or my relationship.

We’re here to talk about why you decided to spray paint your ex-girlfriend’s car.”

“I thought she was the one,” the teenager says quietly. “And now she’s with him.”

“Most people don’t find the love of their life in high school.” The man smiles kindly. “Sometimes, it takes going out into the big world and having experiences that allow one to grow before a person can even be ready to accept love in their life. Or, at least, the right love.”

The teenager leans forward, his fingers snapping the plastic of his cup. “Is that what happened to you?”

“We’re not here to discuss me, remember?”

“But is it?”

The man blows out a long breath before tugging on a leather cuff on his wrist. Then he says slowly, but assuredly, “It is.” He glances at a clock on the wall. “Our session is up for the week, but I want you to think about putting some distance between you and your ex-girlfriend this week. Find something healthy to keep your mind occupied, especially now that it’s summer vacation.”

“A buddy took me surfing the other day,” the teen says thoughtfully. “I liked that a lot.”

“Perfect.” The man smiles encouragingly. “I can attest that surfing does a mind good. Go carve up some waves. Practice the breathing techniques we’ve talked about.”

The teenager stands up. “Thanks, Doc.”

The man rises and claps the boy on the shoulder. When his cell phone rings, he tells the teen, “Same time next week. Think positive.”

Once the boy is gone, he pulls out the phone and answers it. “Hey, Ash,” he says. His mouth quirks up in a half smile. “My session just ended. Would you like me to bring you a drink home?”

Minutes later, he exits the coffee shop, an extra drink in his hand.

~*~*~*~*~*~
 

Along with this epic giveaway, we have TWO epic prizes for ONE lucky winner! From Heather, we have some random/signed swag! From me, we have ONE eBook for any book in the Fate series OR of The Deep End of the Sea, winner’s choice.

This giveaway is US only, but fear not! We have INT giveaways going on in our Grand Prize Giveaway which you can enter here! We also have several International giveaways going on, which you can find listed here!

So, the rules:

-Giveaway is US Only

-Winner has 48 hours to respond. If winner does not respond, a new winner will be selected.

-You must be 13 or older to enter OR have your parents’ permission.

-I am not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.

-I reserve the right to change any rules as I see fit for each individual giveaway

*The above giveaway rules were borrowed and modified from Jessica @ Just a Book Lover.

With that being said, I wish you luck! May the odds be ever in your favor!

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Cover Reveal: Lifer by Beck Nicholas

M9B-Friday-Reveal

Welcome to the Cover Reveal for

Lifer by Beck Nicholas

presented by Month9Books!

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

BNicholas_M9B_Lifer_1800x2700

Asher is a Lifer, a slave aboard the spaceship Pelican. A member of the lowest rung of society, she must serve the ship’s Officials and Astronauts as punishment for her grandparents’ crimes back on Earth. The one thing that made life bearable was her illicit relationship with Samuai, a Fishie boy, but he died alongside her brother in a freak training accident.

Still grieving for the loss of her loved ones, Asher is summoned to the upper levels to wait on Lady, the head Official’s wife and Samuai’s mother. It is the perfect opportunity to gather intel for the Lifer’s brewing rebellion. There’s just one problem—the last girl who went to the upper levels never came back.

On the other side of the universe, an alien attack has left Earth in shambles and a group called The Company has taken control. Blank wakes up in a pond completely naked and with no memory, not even his real name. So when a hot girl named Megs invites him to a black-market gaming warehouse where winning means information, he doesn’t think twice about playing. But sometimes the past is better left buried.

As Asher and Blank’s worlds collide, the truth comes out—everyone has been lied to. Bourne Identity meets Under the Never Sky in this intergalactic tale of love and deception from debut novelist Beck Nicholas.

add to goodreads

Title: LIFER
Publication date: December 16, 2014
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.
Author: Beck Nicholas

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Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

(Winners will receive their book on release day)

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Review: Rush by Eve Silver

Review: Rush by Eve SilverRush by Eve Silver
Series: The Game #1
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on June 11, 2013
Pages: 361
Format: Hardcover
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
two-half-stars

So what’s the game now? This, or the life I used to know?

When Miki Jones is pulled from her life, pulled through time and space into some kind of game—her carefully controlled life spirals into chaos. In the game, she and a team of other teens are sent on missions to eliminate the Drau, terrifying and beautiful alien creatures. There are no practice runs, no training, and no way out. Miki has only the guidance of secretive but maddeningly attractive team leader Jackson Tate, who says the game isn’t really a game, that what Miki and her new teammates do now determines their survival, and the survival of every other person on this planet. She laughs. He doesn’t. And then the game takes a deadly and terrifying turn.

Rush was one of my most highly anticipated books in 2013. I first heard about it in May during the very first Tea Time (Hosted by Margot and Aubry of Epic Reads/HarperTeen) I ever watched. I remember because they were discussing three “alien” books that came out/were coming out between April and June of that year. I adored the cover of Rush and I was excited about the premise. I finally got around to reading it and… Well, let’s just say it was the biggest disappointment on my 2013 Most Anticipated list. It took me NINE days to get through it. It felt like two weeks, like I was reading through quicksand. The plot was boring, the pacing was agonizingly slow and I never connected with the characters.

I didn’t connect with Miki, the main character, at all. I didn’t necessarily dislike her, but I never liked her either. She kind of just went along with everything. She was very brave in the beginning and she stepped up at the end, but she was just blah for the majority of the book. I felt like her backstory was something we were supposed to feel sorry about, therefore making us feel sorry for her. But again, I just never connected to her or her story.

I despised Jackson. You know how, sometimes, you’re SUPPOSED to despise the love interest in the beginning? He’s supposed to be a jerk and then you end up falling in love with him in the end? Yeah, that didn’t happen. He was cruel, vague, indifferent. I never felt the chemistry between him and Miki. Their attraction seemed to be superficial and never went much deeper than that. They were basically the most boring YA couple I’ve ever encountered.. There was only one moment when I felt bad for Jackson, but that was it. I never liked him at all, not even at the very end when the “cliffhanger” made most people gasp in shock and sob.

Speaking of, this “cliffhanger” was the reason I held off on reading this book. Everyone told me it was evil and would kill my feels, so they told me to wait until Push (The Game #2) came out, then binge read them. Let’s just say that ending did NOT kill my feels, I’m not left gasping in shock and though I think I will read Push at some point, I’m not desperate for it.

Moving back to the characters.. I didn’t like Luca. His part in the “love triangle” felt unnecessary, like it was a love triangle just for the sake of having a love triangle. There was no point to it, his jealousy of Jackson was obnoxious (and vice versa) and there were no sparks, no chemistry, with him and Miki, either. Plus, it is very, VERY obvious who she will end up with. Don’t tell me this is a spoiler, because if you have read the book, or once you do, you will realize how obvious it is.

I loved Richelle. She was a fun, spunky character and she was kind to Miki. But that didn’t end well… I feel like we didn’t get to know Tyrone that well, so I have nothing to say about him. As far as Miki’s friends go… They were awful, mindless minions. Carly was a bitch (pardon my language) and I wanted to bitch slap her and her little pack of chickens every time we encountered them in the story. There was NO reason for their treatment of Miki. Especially.. As quoted from the book (page 220), “Carly’s the peacemaker. She gives everyone the benefit of the doubt.” But…. she NEVER did that for Miki. She also jumped on Miki for every little thing and never let her explain. She was always quick to get angry and stalk away. HOW IS THAT BEING A PEACEKEEPER?!?!?!?! HOW IS THAT THE MARK OF SOMEONE WHO GIVES EVERYONE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT?!?!?!?!?

Raging so hard right now.

Anyway.. Another thing that annoyed me was that this book was full of stereotypes, cliches and over-used lines. I won’t point them out here, so you can make your own mind up as you read the book. Maybe they won’t annoy you as much as they annoyed me. Who knows? but a few of them almost caused me to stop reading. Speaking of… Why did I not DNF this book, you ask? Well, everyone said it got better, that it was amazing and epic and the cliffhanger would destroy my feels. As I mentioned, it was one of my top 2013 most anticipated reads. So… *Shrugs* I truly hoped it would get better. The last 50-60 pages actually weren’t bad and I’m definitely glad I pushed through and read them. They were the first part of the book that actually had me excited and they are the only reason I’m planning to read Push – though not for awhile. It’s low on my priority list.

On top of all the cliches and stereotypes, this book was horrifyingly predictable – and not in the fun way. Sometimes, I love being able to guess things early on. But I guessed ALL THE THINGS in this book. Then again, especially with one thing in particular, Silver pretty much shoved it in our faces. She never stopped talking about it. Literally, every few pages it was hinted at/mentioned/discussed. It was like she wasn’t even trying to keep it a secret for a big reveal later on in the book. It was totally anti-climatic when we finally found out.

Another thing was the lack of answers, the non-answers, the skirting around the answers.. I don’t want an info dump, but I don’t want to go 311 pages before finally getting answers, either. So frustrating! And the final frustrating note.. There wsere two things mentioned – one plot point and one character and… WHAT?!? I don’t remember them being mentioned in the beginning AT ALL. That initial mention of either thing is… Blank. It confused the crap out of me because every time they were mentioned, I was like “Who is that character?? When were they mentioned?” And… “What?? When was that plot point mentioned out loud? I don’t remember them saying that at all!” … So confusing!

Okay.. I’m done raging against this book. I probably should have DNF’d but I kept hoping it would get better. The last 50-60 pages were definitely slightly more entertaining, but overall I was immensely disappointed with this book. I seem to be the black sheep, though, so I definitely recommend it. Maybe you’ll like what I did not.

two-half-stars

Pandora’s Wonderland: My Top Ten Favorite Book Boys EVER (Guest Post)

Hey everyone! Meredith from Pandora’s Books here. For those who don’t know, I’m doing a joint Blogoversary celebration with Kayla and Stacie from A Wonderland of Reading. The festivities started on May 26 (their one-year Blogoversary) and will end on June 24 (my one-year Blogoversary). We’ll be alternating days and providing fun guest posts from our fellow bloggers and author friends. You can visit A Wonderland of Reading to see the first post and learn more about the details and the grand prize giveaway!

So today, I have the AMAZING Jessica from Just a Book Lover here with an epically awesome guest post. Jessica is one of my oldest blogging friends. She’s epic, bookish and so, so sweet! I’m surprised she never got sick of me, with all the emails I sent her, asking silly blogging questions!! Seriously, I had NO clue what I was doing a year ago, so I just constantly emailed her and asked her for help and she was always awesome and patient with me! So, without further adieu, please welcome Jessica!

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When Meredith asked me to supply a post for her blogoversary celebration, I did a happy dance. I like being asked to do things like this, and I also like Mer, so it was like a double whammy. Then I decided that I suck at guest posts. I never know what to write about and I’m bad at using words to talk about things and it’d surely be the most boring thing ever. So I decided I’d make a top ten post (after checking with Meredith first, of course).

If you know me, then you are probably aware of my obsession with book boys. I’m a huge fangirl and if a book boy can make me swoon, I am soooo down for whatever he’s selling. For this reason, I chose to make my top ten list one that I’ve been meaning to make for a while now:

My Top Ten Favorite Book Boys EVER

Before I actually make the list, though, I want to let you in on the one rule I made for myself, so as to spread the book boy love. Because I know there’s going to be a book boy or two missing from this list that y’all are probably expecting to see. Please know that the dude isn’t missing because I heart him any less, but that he’s probably absent because of this rule:

– One one boy per author. This is actually the most restricting rule of them all. Because some authors *cough*JLA*cough* have a whole slew of smexy guys I could fill this whole list with.

So yeah. Keep that in mind. ;)

My Top Ten Favorite Book Boys EVER 
10. Isaiah from Crash Into You by Katie McGarry
Katie McGarry writes some of my favorite contemporary romances, and her boys always make me swoon, big time. As of this moment, my favorite is Isaiah. Not sure what it was about him, exactly, but he won me over even more so than Noah. He’s so good, at his core, you know? But he tried to pretend otherwise, and I liked being able to see right through that. So apparently I do know what it was about him, exactly. Ha. And I love him for it. 

 

9. Dexter from This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen
Sarah Dessen is one of my all-time favorite authors. Not having one of her boys on this list would be a crime. So I chose Dexter. Because of lots of reasons. I loved his views on love and relationships, and I adored his goofiness. He was cute and funny, and he was in a band. That’s like hitting the jackpot, right there. Throw in his optimism and general quirkiness and goodness gracious, why can’t this boy be real?

 

8. Adrian from the Bloodlines series by Richelle Mead
Oh, Adrian. This is hard for me, because it’s such a close call on whether or not I like Dimitri more. It really depends on the series. But Adrian made me laugh. And I hated–HATED HATED HATED–how he got the short end of pretty much every stick in Vampire Academy. I just feel like my heart goes out to Adrian more, therefore I choose him. He’s so sweet and funny and he tries so hard. I want to cuddle that boy so bad, you don’t even know.

 

7. Ash from the Night World series by L.J. Smith
If I had to choose a favorite L.J. Smith boy, Ash would be it. He has my favorite name, he’s in my favorite of her books, and he was just my gosh darn FAVORITE. Of course there are several close calls. Gabriel from the Dark Visions trilogy, for one. And we can’t forget Nick from Secret Circle. And I don’t even need to mention Damon. Plus, all those other swoon-worthy males in the rest of the Night World series (GALEN! JOHN QUINN!). But Ash has always had my favor. I loved his attitude, and how he adjusted it for Mary-Lynnette. I can’t help but think to around the end of Daughters of Darkness where he calls her sweetheart. Don’t ask me why, but I think that was where he OFFICIALLY had me.

 

6. Dante Walker from the Dante Walker trilogy by Victoria Scott
I’m kind of thisclose to giving this spot to Guy Chambers for reasons, but not yet. I’m giving it to Dante for a little while longer. He deserves it. He’s kickass, and he can add a dash of humor into practically any situation. He has a sweet side, too. He’s kind of the perfect mixture of awesome, you know? It’s hard not to love him. So I don’t even try. ;)

 

5. Holder from Hopeless and Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover
Mr. Giggle-Swoon! This guy. Goodness. Let me tell you about this guy. He’s such a deep character, and I love him so gosh darn hard. I call him Mr. Giggle-Swoon because…well, he made me giggle-swoon. Yeah, that’s a thing. Don’t know what it is? Go read these books and you’ll know. Dean Holder holds a very special place in my heart, and I have this strong feeling that he’s never going to leave. 

 

4. Ezra from the Forever Evermore series by Scarlett Dawn
I have honestly and truly written love letters to this fictional character before. He has that much of a hold on me. He’s not super sweet and nice and whatever I may like about most other book boys. No, Ezra’s strong. He rough and protective and only shows his nice side to a very select group of his favorite people. I respect that and I love that. I love it so effing hard, y’all. I am seriously dying inside right now waiting on another dose of him in the next installment in this series. 

 

3. Avi from the How to Ruin series by Simone Elkeles
Whenever I tell anyone that he’s my favorite Simone Elkeles guy, they’re always shocked. Either because they haven’t read the books and they’re like “How can anything be better than the Perfect Chemistry books?” or they HAVE and they’re like “But what about that thing he did in the third book?” But what people don’t understand is that Avi is my ideal dude. He’s quiet, but opens up when with his significant other. He’s not shy about being honest with her when it gets down to it. He’s all about honor and respect. And YES. He made one mistake. But if there were ever a guy that I honestly trust to not make a repeat of that mess up, it’s Avi. And he never ever lies about that mistake. He owns up to it and genuinely tries to work through it. So yeah, he’s my ideal guy. And his place on this list is pretty much permanent. 

 

2. Levi from Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
I know, I know. HOW is this boy only in second place? The answer: I have no idea. When I went to make this list, the #1 boy kind of already occupied that spot in my mind, and I’d ask him to leave, but…I mean, have you SEEN him? Goodness. But let’s talk about Levi. Avi is my ideal guy. In another way, so is Levi. So they’re kind of tied, but I gave them numbers because I had to. I am absolutely distraught that these boys aren’t real. Why can’t Levi be an actual human being who brings me Starbucks and gets me up to his room and listens to me read to him? Levi is the perfect person to opposite a fangirl. I fell for him so easily while reading this book, and there’s no way I’m forgetting about him anywhere near sometime soon.

 

1. Daemon Black from the Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Not a single one of you is surprised, so don’t even pretend. Daemon Black…I’ve been kind of obsessed with him for a good long while now. Like, since before I even read any of the books in this series. But now we’re four books in and I am completely head over heels for him. It’s different than I am with Avi and Levi, whereas I don’t want to cry at the thought that he’s not real (though is Daemon were real, the world would be such a majestically wonderful place). I just enjoy reading about him so, SO much. I laugh and I swoon and I never get bored when he’s around. Even in the first book before he started being actually NICE. He’s always been a good time to be around, and I adore him.

 

But I adore all the boys on this list. The top three or four probably shouldn’t be numbered, since my love for them is pretty much equal. But that’s my list! Because book boys are my favorite ;)

 

Do you heart any of the book boys I listed? Are there any book boys you would have put on your list that aren’t on mine? Seriously let me know. I’m always up for talking about swoon-worthy guys. For real. ALWAYS. 

Author Guest Post + Giveaway: Soren: The Angel & The Prize Fighter by Louise Nicks

Hey guys! Today, I have a really fun guest post for you! Louise Nicks, author of Soren: The Angel & The Prize Fighter is here to talk about her Top Five YA Angel Books. First, here’s the gorgeous cover of Soren: The Angel & The Prize Fighter, plus the book’s synopsis:

Soren cover_normalThe world has never been an easy place for impoverished teen Beau Tolson, but from the moment her sick mother is given months to live, Beau’s life takes an extraordinary turn. In order to buy the only drug that can now keep her beloved mother alive, 16 year old martial arts champion Beau resorts to illegal prize fighting at East London’s most notorious underworld lair.

But that’s only the beginning of her troubles. When some of her closest friends start acting weird, and a mystifying new boy turns up outside the school gates, Beau is told a life-changing secret…That not only are some of her friends angels, but that she is going to become an angel too.

It isn’t long before she finds herself torn between the divine and this world; between her responsibilities and the colossal destiny that awaits.

Little do any of them know that a sect of ex-angels have also come to Earth, planning on kidnapping Beau for the very same reasons the angels want her: to fulfill a prophecy that involves this world and theirs, and who will rule it all until the end of time.

Soren Saga Website | Goodreads

Wattpad | Tumblr

Awesome, right?? Now, I hope you LOVE the post! Please welcome Louise Nicks!

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My Top 5 YA angel books

Smoke and BoneDaughter Of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Romantic writing makes me weak at the knees, and I feel no shame in admitting that Laini Taylor’s dazzling offerings in Daughter Of Smoke and Bone made me swoon. These two lines in particular made my heart shudder, swell, then explode: ‘She is in love. It is bright within her, like a swallowed star.’ Who writes like that?! Laini Taylor, that’s who. I needed a few dates with Karou to warm to her, but I liked her buddy, Zuzana, and the angel Akiva from the get-go. Shame Akiva tried to kill Karou to begin with, but sometimes the most remarkable, enduring relationships are forged from fire.

Favourite Daughter Of Smoke and Bone quote: “Hope is the real magic, child.”
 
AngelfallAngelfall by Susan Ee
I’m relatively new to Angelfall mania, having come into the series not long before book two was published. Susan Ee is an inspiration to me, considering her original self-published status and how easy she made it look to find her stride as an author. I suspect it wasn’t easy at all and had a lot to do with the one-two narrative punch this novel delivered. I admire heroines who can defend themselves and others, and Angelfall’s Penryn does just that. The character I was really knocked upside the head by was her mother, a paranoid schizophrenic. It was genius on Susan Ee’s part that, although Penryn was surrounded by killer supernatural creatures, one of the biggest threats to her and her sister’s existence was actually their mother. For me, no matter what crazy post apocalyptic stuff kept happening, that sinister, matriarchal threat grounded the book tremendously.

Favourite Angelfall quote: “Oh. My. God. You are nothing but a bird with an attitude.”
 
FallenFallen by Lauren Kate
Another talented author with a relaxing writing style that makes me smile, Lauren Kate is adept at creating imagery that shimmers off the page like an alluring oasis in a desert. There are many things I adore about Fallen: the setting, the supporting cast of characters, the promise of an intriguing story stuffed with dizzying twists and turns. I’m way more of a Cam girl than a Daniel lover, and I would liked to have seen more spirit and questioning from Luce where Daniel was concerned. That said, this book steamed along at a steady pace and drew me in deeper with each chapter. Adapting this novel for the big screen seems like a no-brainer, and it will be interesting to see how the characters are interpreted for a bigger audience; I’ll be there!

Favourite Fallen quote: “The only way to survive eternity is to be able to appreciate each moment.”
 
Neil GaimanNeverwhere by Neil Gaiman
Hugely imaginative and vividly descriptive, this novel was so addictive I ate up every speck of it – even the dust motes languishing between pages. Neil Gaiman is one of my all-time favourite authors and Neverwhere is faultless fantasy. Intrigue, suspense and danger are coiled on every page, and I couldn’t believe my eyes when the angel Islington made his curious entrance. Systematically unveiling his emotions and actions from aloof to sad to lost to treacherous and vengeful, Islington was complex yet singular-minded all at the same time; a great stroke of writing. Neil Gaiman said that a sequel to Neverwhere is a possibility. Oh please, let that become reality!

Favourite Neverwhere quote: “When angels go bad they are worse than anyone else. Remember Lucifer used to be an angel.”
 
PullmanThe Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman
Philip Pullman created the mother of all fantasy epics with His Dark Materials. I mean, geez! How big is this man’s imagination to have packed in so many different worlds, witches, angels, the concept of dust and daemons, and armoured ice bears?! Lyra is one of my most beloved fictional heroines, even though I did roll my eyes umpteen times at her belligerence in book one. The Subtle Knife is my favourite instalment because we discover new worlds and learn about angels, beings composed entirely of dust; of intelligence and feeling. Everything was so simple about Philip Pullman’s angels on the outside, but the ones we were presented with mostly – Balthamos and Baruch – were cloaked in rebellion and motive. Controversial, thought provoking and a real wild ride, to me His Dark Materials is the gold standard of writing, plot, and imagination.

Favourite quote: “Every little increase in human freedom has been fought over ferociously between those who want us to know more and be wiser and stronger, and those who want us to obey and be humble and submit.”
 
 
 

Louise Nicks 1 About Louise:
Louise Nicks is a UK based debut author writing paranormal fantasy romance with a strong adventure twist.

Writing primarily for the young adult / crossover audience, Soren: The Angel & The Prize Fighter (to be released June 16, 2014) is book one in a planned series.

Louise is also a short story writer and is currently working on a collection of teen paranormal stories called The Crypt (a tie-in with Soren), which will be released this autumn.

When not writing YA fiction, Louise works (under a different name) as a freelance music journalist, features writer and online editor. Since starting her own music fanzine in her teens, she has been lucky enough to interview artists such as Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, Slash, Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath), Newton Faulkner, Biffy Clyro and many more.

Aside from hopefully one day being able to make a living full time from books, Louise’s dream is to interview her favourite band AC/DC. An ardent charity supporter, Louise has taken part in many petitions and campaigns for human rights, animal welfare, and the preservation of the natural world, and continues to do so.

Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Thanks to Louise, we have an epic giveaway for you guys! FIVE winners will EACH win ONE eBook copy of Soren: The Angel & The Prize Fighter.

So, the rules:

-Giveaway is International!

-Winner has 48 hours to respond. If winner does not respond, a new winner will be selected.

-You must be 13 or older to enter OR have your parents’ permission.

-I am not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.

-I reserve the right to change any rules as I see fit for each individual giveaway

*The above giveaway rules were borrowed and modified from Jessica @ Just a Book Lover.

With that being said, I wish you luck! May the odds be ever in your favor!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pandora’s Wonderland: My Top Ten Favourite Fantasy Reads (Guest Post + Giveaway)

Hey everyone! Meredith from Pandora’s Books here. For those who don’t know, I’m doing a joint Blogoversary celebration with Kayla and Stacie from A Wonderland of Reading. The festivities started on May 26 (their one-year Blogoversary) and will end on June 24 (my one-year Blogoversary). We’ll be alternating days and providing fun guest posts from our fellow bloggers and author friends. You can visit A Wonderland of Reading to see the first post and learn more about the details and the grand prize giveaway!

So today, I have the AMAZING Maura from The Whimsical Mama here with an epically awesome guest post. Maura is so awesome, I can’t even. She’s fun and bookish and I love chatting with her! So, without further adieu, please welcome Maura!

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I’m so excited to be a part of the Pandora’s Wonderland blogoversary celebration! I was even more excited to be a part when Meredith asked me to do a post about high fantasy! Fantasy is my jam. I would confidently say about 85% of what I read is fantasy. Tis true. My obsession started with Harry Potter and I haven’t looked back.

What’s so awesome about fantasy? Well, I’ll tell you. When I want to completely leave ordinary life behind, I can with fantasy. I can jump right into the world of Westeros (I confess I re-watch Game of Thrones more than I re-read the books!). I can also hop the Hogwarts Express and leave behind the Muggle world and go to Hogwarts. I am actually doing this now. I’m listening to the audiobooks with my kiddos. Punk’s library audiobook choice, I SWEAR. (How many toddlers do you know that pick out the Harry Potter movies AND audiobooks? Yeah, parenting win!) After our journey to Hogwarts, we’re going to step through the wardrobe into Narnia. I can’t wait to share these incredible worlds with my children. They already love being read to, and I hope that the love of reading continues through childhood, through adolescence, and through adulthood. I hope they never lose that passion!

My favourite thing in high fantasy is MAGIC. I am a glutton for magic.

A high fantasy book I’m super excited about that’s coming soon (OCTOBER!!!) is Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch. When I saw the cover and description, I looked at my hubby and said I want that book for my birthday! He laughed. He’s a reader, but not a READER reader, so he just doesn’t understand my obsession with books. I was luck enough to score an advance copy from HarperTeen on Edelweiss (thank you, autoapproval!) and I’ve already read it, but I CANNOT wait for it to be out in the wild. I think it’s going to be a great new series in the high fantasy world. I think it could be the Game of Thrones of YA. Read it. Just do it. (: And just between you and me, it’s highly likely that I will be doing a giveaway for Snow Like Ashes on my blog closer to the release date. Just sayin’! You’ll want to keep an eye out for it!

Two of my current favourite realms are the Incarnate/Newsoul world by Jodi Meadows and the Defiance world by CJ Redwine. To me, they split the realm of dystopian and high fantasy and I LOVE IT. Dystopian because they’re both futuristic & post-apocalyptic. (Both in the US too!) High fantasy because – DRAGONS. Woot! I’m starting to fall in love with dragons. For real. Falling in love with them. If you know me at all, you know I love me some Jodi Meadows. I am not shy about my love for her or for her books. SO! To go along with my guest post, I am going to give away two e-novellas. First is Phoenix Overture (Sam’s story) by Jodi. Second is the upcoming e-novella Outcast by CJ. Winner gets first pick between the two! I really, REALLY love this fantasy/dystopian mix and hope it continues!

So this post was a little chaotic, but that’s how I roll. I’m also including my Top 10 Favourite Fantasy Reads. I could’ve gone into massive detail about why I love each of these books/series, but ain’t no body got time fo’ dat! (: Hope you’ve been enjoying the blogoversary celebration! Feel free to stop by my blog for more whimsical chaos! Thanks for having me, Meredith!

Top 10 Favourite (High & Low) Fantasy Reads

Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
Incarnate/Newsoul trilogy by Jodi Meadows
Game of Thrones by George RR Martin
Defiance trilogy by CJ Redwine
Chronicles of Faerie by OR Melling
Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis
Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch
Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer
The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare
Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz

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Along with Maura’s wonderful post, we have TWO epic prizes to give away! ONE winner will receive an e-novella of Phoenix Overture by Jodi Meadows and a SECOND winner will an receive e-novella of Outcast by CJ Redwine!! This giveaway is FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE – First winner selected will get to pick which e-novella they want. Winner number two will get whichever e-novella is left.

This giveaway is US only, but fear not! We have INT giveaways going on in our Grand Prize Giveaway which you can enter here! We also have several International giveaways going on, which you can find listed here!

So, the rules:

-Giveaway is US Only

-First winner will have first pick, second winner will get whichever e-novella is left

-Winners have 48 hours to respond. If winners do not respond, new winners will be selected.

-You must be 13 or older to enter OR have your parents’ permission.

-I am not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.

-I reserve the right to change any rules as I see fit for each individual giveaway

*The above giveaway rules were borrowed and modified from Jessica @ Just a Book Lover.

With that being said, I wish you luck! May the odds be ever in your favor!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pandora’s Wonderland: Overcoming My Shyness (Guest Post)

Hey everyone! Meredith from Pandora’s Books here. For those who don’t know, I’m doing a joint Blogoversary celebration with Kayla and Stacie from A Wonderland of Reading. The festivities started on May 26 (their one-year Blogoversary) and will end on June 24 (my one-year Blogoversary). We’ll be alternating days and providing fun guest posts from our fellow bloggers and author friends. You can visit A Wonderland of Reading to see the first post and learn more about the details and the grand prize giveaway!

So today, I have the AMAZING Stacie from A Wonderland of Reading here with an epically awesome guest post. Stacie is absolutely amazing. I’m so, so glad we became friends. She’s kind, understanding and BOOKISH! I seriously don’t know what I’d do without her! So, without further adieu, please welcome Stacie!

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Hi everyone! Some of you may know me, I am Stacie. Others know me as @Shybooknerd from Twitter. Today I’m here to talk about how I’m over coming my shyness. Some of you may relate to me, some might not. I am an extremely introverted person, especially in person. I have always been that way. I don’t know why, but it’s who I am. Sometimes I’m so shy to the point of anxiety, which sucks. As I have gotten older though, like getting married and having kids, my self-confidence has boosted up a bit. That and my love for books. Here is my reason why!

Since I really enjoy reading, one day I accidentally came upon an author event. Right away it piqued my interest because I seriously wanted to meet that author. So off I went to my first author event in February 2013, and I just fell in love with everything about it. From there, I discovered that there were book bloggers. I got ideas from experienced bloggers and went straight with it! Mind you, I totally should have taken my time and did more investigating, but eh the past is in the past lol! Anyways, then came the hard part for me: GETTING TO KNOW PEOPLE ON TWITTER! I was so scared having to integrate and “mingle” with other book bloggers, but I put on my big girl pants and stuck my foot out the door.

Luckily, and I’m not sure if it was fate, I met Meredith! She was my life saver here peeps! Even though she was a newbie blogger like me, she took the time to get to know me, introduce me to other bloggers, and helped me get my name out there. If Mer had not entered my life, I don’t know where I’d be right now. Through Mer, I also met the awesome and oh so lovely, Kayla! Kayla is like the little niece that I’ve always wanted. We’ve gotten to know each other real well and we helped each other in times of need. She’s the best and I’m proud to call her my NIECE even though we have no relation.

I have met other awesome bloggers and book nerds alike that I’ve gotten to know over the past year, and I love them all. I have even gotten to know some amazing authors in the process! I may seem shy and might not write much on the blog or Twitter, but I really do love talking with everyone. I’m no jokester by any means either. I cannot tell one for the life of me. But talk to me about books and I come to life!

Yes I am still a very shy person, yet gradually my barriers are going down little by little and it’s all because of you guys! Getting to know all you book nerds has really opened my heart to some really positive and friendly people. I hope to get to know more of you as the years go by! Well, that’s all for now folks. Thank you for reading my post! :)