Review: Deck Of Lies by Jade Varden

                         E-book: Deck Of Lies by Jade Varden
                         Pages: 97
                         Genre: Young Adult
                         Source: Sent from author

Short Synopsis: Rain Ramey attends a new school called Sloane Academy, as she is selected for a scholarship among thousands. But she soon finds out that there may be more about her past than she signed up for.

My Thoughts: A novel that surprisingly kept me interested throughout, and I can't wait to read more.

Rain Ramey is excited to start a new school, Sloane Academy. But on the very first day, she doesn't get along to well with a popular girl named Carsyn. She also meets a new boy named Owen, who happens to be Carsyn's boyfriend, but is Rain's only friend.
One day, Carsyn invites Rain to a shopping trip with her friends to make amends for not getting on the right foot at the beginning of school. Rain agrees, and while she leaves a store, Rain is caught shop lifting. Rain tries to explain that she is innocent, but is taken down to the police station.
Rain discovers that she was taken from a  house when she was a baby, and that her real parents are still searching for her. As Rain transitions from being with her old family to her new one, Rain doesn't quite know how to react to the situation. As she digs further to find the answers, she discovers that not everyone is quite so innocent. 

A very interesting and unique plot. I enjoyed reading about the main character, Rain as she tries to discover who she really is. There is a lot of deceit in this novel, and I liked how thrilling and mysterious everything really was.

Varden does an excellent job of making the reader dislike the character Carsyn. To me, Carsyn seemed extremely spoiled, always getting what she wants, without really dealing with the consequences. I'm not too sure how I feel about Owen, as he seemed like an okay friend, but when Rain and Owen start to become a couple, I felt kind of suspicious of him. He seemed like a shady character, and he really didn't offer any sympathy for Rain at how she was treated horribly when the school discovers that they are together. 

I was also a bit disappointed about how the situation between Rain and Tom turned out. I was rooting for the two, and though I don't want to give away too much information, I hope Tom returns in the sequel. In general, a very interesting read, a great plot, a little predictable at times, but still look forward to reading more.

Would I recommend this book: Yes

Rating: I give this book a 4/5. 

That Bookish Pile

Hey fellow readers! It's another posting of That Bookish Pile, where I show you all the goodies I got during the week. Inspirational credit goes to The Story Siren. This week I got...

For Review:

Poltergeeks --Sean Cummings 

The Assassin's Curse -- Cassandra Rose Clarke

This Is Not A Test -- Courtney Summers.

The first two were a complete surprise. Thanks to Strange Chemistry publishing. I had seen them being offered for review, but don't recall submitting a reply, but nonetheless, will give each book a shot. And thanks to Macmillan for sending This Is Not A Test. That's all the books that I got this week. Be sure to leave your link so I can check out your goodies too. :)

Dos and Don'ts for requesting a review

Hey guys, today I wanted to talk about some of my past experiences as a blogger. Though I have been blogging for only a couple months over a year now, there have been some pretty strange instances, which is why I wanted to post this topic.

First, I realize authors are extremely busy, but when you don't follow simple protocol, as a blogger point of view, it seems rather impersonal. I don't want to emberrass or hurt any authors, so I won't be using names.

Rule number one:

When requesting a review, DO try to remember the blogger's name. This just happened to me not too long ago. I received an e-mail wanting a request, but the author didn't even get one letter right, and gave me a completely different name. This indicates to me, that you don't even glance at my blog, to try to find the accurate information. I understand that authors are busy, but when you get a name wrong, it feels rather impersonal. Sometimes people might not see a name, which is understandable, and I will still accept something along the lines of "To whom it may concern" (which I use frequently) or even my blog title. But if you get my name completely wrong, that is a sure fire way that I will completely ignore your request.

Rule number two:

Please DO read the review policy. As many bloggers before me have stated, it is up there for a reason. If you do not follow along with my review policy, most likely your e-mail will be ignored and deleted.

Rule number three:

When asking for a request, please DO make sure you haven't already asked. I've had two authors, both published, asking for a review, which I had already completed and placed in the perspective areas. If you contact me a second time, I will kindly notify you that I have already done a review. If you contact me a third time for the same book, you will be completely ignored, and will most likely not be given a review for future requests. It might seem harsh, but when you constantly contact a busy blogger, it seems rather annoying don't you think?

Rule number four:

When asking for a review, please DO add a summery. Or even a blurb to your novel. I've had past experiences when I had to search for the novel, and if you are an indie author, sometimes, it's really hard to find a summary at all. Yes, authors might be busy, but please understand that bloggers are busy as well. If I have to do extra work in finding about your novel, your e-mail will most likely be ignored.

Rule number five:

DO NOT give out fake praises. Though it is rather flattering to hear that you are a fan of my blog, sometimes we can tell that it is fake. The same author that contacted me three times wrote something along the lines of, "Your blog came with the highest recommendation from a friend..." all three times the author asked for a review, wrote the same line. The first time was flattering, the second and third time seemed redundant, and not very appealing at all. Just be honest with your request. Flattery will only get you so far.

Rule number six:

And this is an important rule. DO NOT give your own dos and don'ts to a blogger. When I first started blogging, I received an author's OWN Dos and Don'ts for contacting them. And at the end of the e-mail, they didn't even specify what they really wanted. First, this seems rather rude to someone who is willing to help you, but isn't forced to. Second, if you don't specify what you want, how will I know what to contact you for? And third, when you do something like that, it makes it sound as if I am doing you a favor, which I do not appreciate. The e-mail in question was of course ignored and deleted.


These are just some of the main points that I wanted to comment on for the day. Yes I love reading, and authors are very busy, but when you don't follow along with these rules, it can be very stressful.

Follow Friday!

Hey readers! It's another Follow Friday post! Hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read, this week's question is...


Q: You are a matchmaker — your goal, hook up two characters from two of your favorite books. Who would it be? How do you think it would go?



A: I'd choose Cammie Morgan from the Ghallger Girls series and Gene from The Hunt. Both are human but lead strange lives. Cammie is a spy in training, while Gene is a human that secretly lives as a fake vampire in a vampire run world. They both have secrets they keep from others, and seem like they could survive in any situation.


In a platonic hook up, I'd choose Wendy from the Trylle series, and Mia from the Princess Diaries series. Both are princesses who rule a fake country, but totally keeps us entertained. Seems like they'd tell some excellent stories about being princesses.

Be sure to leave your link so I can read your answers too. Happy Friday!

Review: Until I Die by Amy Plum

                                     Book: Until I Die by Amy Plum
                                     Pages: 353
                                     Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
                                     Source: Library
                                     *may contain spolers

Short Synopsis: Though Kate has fallen in love with Vincent, but now everyone is on the lookout for the numa, since their leader was taken down. 

My Thoughts: I was excited to get this book, but found it really difficult to complete.

After the downfall of the numa leader, Kate and Vincent finally have some time to themselves. But after the New Year's celebration, Vincent feels that Kate must have extra attention as she travels to and from their house, as they fear that the numa might attack at any moment.
The house also gains two revenants. Violette and Arthur. And though both seem to want to help the cause, they are very reluctant to have anything to do with humans. It takes Violette awhile to warm up to Kate, but they soon form a friendship, as they find a common love of movies. But Kate is reluctant to form a friendship with Arthur as Arthur is quick to exclude Kate from a revenant meeting.
Aside from the two newcomers, Vincent is trying something new to help their relationship and is reluctant to tell Kate the specifics. Kate goes off on her own, as she searches for a cure for Vincent as she wants him to become human again.
And if things weren't stressful enough, the group finds out that there may be a leak in the revenant group, and all signs point to Arthur. Can Kate find a cure for Vincent, and can Kate prove that Arthur is the one to not be trusted, before the numa gains even more advantage?

I was so excited when I got this book, because I loved the first one, and I couldn't wait to read more. Unfortunately, I couldn't stand the writing style. There were many times when I wanted to give up on the novel, as it felt extremely boring, even though there was a lot of history behind the story.

I wasn't able to get into the rhythm of the novel, until the second half. I loved reading about the relationship between Kate and Vincent, and there were still hints that Jules wanted something more with Kate, besides friendship.

I wasn't too fond of the new addition, Violette and Arthur. And though Violette seemed to form a friendship with Kate, I still wasn't sold. There's a bit more history about the revenants. I didn't like the fact that everyone was keeping secrets.

To be honest, I also was a bit confused between what had happened with Violette and Vincent and the numa. Overall, it was an okay read, I wasn't completely thrilled with some of the situations involved, but it still makes me want to read the next one in the series.

Would I recommend this book: Maybe

Rating: I give this book a 3.5/5. 

Waiting On Wednesday!

Hey guys! It's another posting of Waiting On Wednesday! Hosted by Breaking The Spine, this week's pre-publication is...




Foretold: 14 Tales of Prophecy and Prediction
by Various authors, edited by Carrie Ryan
Expected Publication Date: August 28, 2012

Richelle Mead, Lisa McMann, Michael Grant, Meg Cabot, Laini Taylor, and nine more of the hottest YA authors to hit the shelves explore the concepts of prophecy and prediction in this story collection edited by NYT bestselling author of The Forest of Hands and Teeth, Carrie Ryan.

Have you ever been tempted to look into the future? To challenge predictions? To question fate? It's human nature to wonder about life's twists and turns. But is the future already written—or do you have the power to alter it?

From fantastical prophecies to predictions of how the future will transpire, Foretold is a collection of stories about our universal fascination with life's unknowns and of what is yet to come as interpreted by 14 of young adult fiction's brightest stars.

This collection includes works from:
Malinda Lo (Ash)
Lisa McMann (Wake)
Kami Garcia (Beautiful Creatures)
Margaret Stohl (Beautiful Creatures)
Laini Taylor (The Daughter of Smoke and Bone)
Michael Grant (Gone)
Saundra Mitchell (The Vespertine)
Richelle Mead (the Vampire Academy)
Matt de la Pena (I Will Save You)
Meg Cabot (The Princess Diaries)
Heather Brewer (The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod)
Diana Peterfreund (Rampant)
Simone Elkeles (Perfect Chemistry)
Carrie Ryan (The Forest of Hands and Teeth)

--From Amazon

Now, for those of you who have been following my blog, know that I usually don't read anthologies, but this one was too good to pass up. Where in a book can you get awesome authors like Richelle Mead, Meg Cabot, and Simone Elkeles? I so can't wait! Be sure to leave your link and let me know what pre-publication you are waiting on. 

Because of You Winner!

Hey there readers! I just wanted to announce the winner of the e-book, Because Of You by Jessica Scott. And the winner is...


a Rafflecopter giveaway



Thanks so much for all those who entered. Your e-mail will be given to the author to receive your book. Happy Reading!