Teaser Tuesdays!

Hey fellow book lovers! It's another posting of Teaser Tuesdays! Hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading, this week's teaser is...

Imagine a modern spin on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein where a young couple’s undying love and the grief of a father pushed beyond sanity could spell the destruction of them all.
A string of suspicious deaths near a small Michigan town ends with a fall that claims the life of Emma Gentry's boyfriend, Daniel. Emma is broken, a hollow shell mechanically moving through her days. She and Daniel had been made for each other, complete only when they were together. Now she restlessly wanders the town in the late Fall gloom, haunting the cemetery and its white-marbled tombs, feeling Daniel everywhere, his spectre in the moonlight and the fog.
When she encounters newcomer Alex Franks, only son of a renowned widowed surgeon, she's intrigued despite herself. He's an enigma, melting into shadows, preferring to keep to himself. But he is as drawn to her as she is to him. He is strangely... familiar. From the way he knows how to open her locker when it sticks, to the nickname she shared only with Daniel, even his hazel eyes with brown flecks are just like Daniel's.
The closer they become, though, the more something inside her screams there's something very wrong with Alex Franks. And when Emma stumbles across a grotesque and terrifying menagerie of mangled but living animals within the walls of the Franks' estate, creatures she surely knows must have died from their injuries, she knows.
--From Goodreads

My Teasers: "He stands one isle over, still eyeing Josh, who looks back and doesn't respond. Satisfied, I guess, Alex walks one more desk back to the last empty seat outside of the sick zone around
Asia, and directly across from me. My gaze is drawn to him, the smooth movements, and quiet confidence. As if Alex feels me gawking, he turns his hood my way, and his calm smile falters."
--P.g. 40, "Broken" by A.E. Roguht 

To play along with Teaser Tuesdays you:


• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Be sure to leave your link so I can see your awesome teasers too!

Review: The Assassin's Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke

                                     

                                      Book: The Assassin's Curse
                                      Pages: 267
                                      Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
                                      *Contains minor cursing
                                      Source: Sent from Strange Chemistry Publishing 

Short Synopsis: Ananna tries to escape a terrible fate of being married to a pirate. But she is soon bound to an assassin due to her own unknown magic.

My Thoughts: It had an interesting plot, but not really my type of read, and found it a bit hard to complete.

Ananna of the Tanarau's fate is about to be sealed. Her parents have bartered Ananna to be sold and married to a pirate. Ananna hates the idea and wants nothing more than to be free. So when Ananna sees an opportunity to escape, she jumps at the chance.
As Ananna begins her adventure of being free, she soon realizes that assassins are being sent after her, due to running away from her pre-arranged marriage. She runs into one assassin named Naji. Ananna manages to save Naji from a terrible fate, and now Naji is forced to protect Ananna due to an assassin's code. Ananna also finds out that Naji is cursed, and together, they must find a way to break Naji's curse, as well as their magical bond. Ananna must also find a way to harness her unknown magic before things start to get worse. Ananna also has even more assassins coming after her, and must do everything she can to survive. As Ananna and Naji try to complete their mission, Ananna also discovers that she might actually have feelings for Naji. Can Ananna survive Naji's curse, as well as her growing attraction towards Naji?

A very different read than what I am usually accustomed to. This novel has elements of fantasy, which I am not a fan of, and found it a bit difficult to complete. I wasn't a fan of the writing style, as I felt that there were moments of cursing that really didn't seem all that necessary, as well as the language and the overall way it was written.

I liked elements of the main character, Ananna, and how independent she seemed. She's the type of character that doesn't take any crap from anyone, and does what she wants to do. I enjoyed reading about the relationship between Ananna and Naji, and how they grew to accept each other. I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't a more romantic involvement between the two. 

The magic elements were a bit confusing to me, and I kept wanting to read a back story of how Naji was cursed. I was also annoyed with the character Leila, and her relationship with Naji wasn't really described either, and as a reader, was only assumed that they had once been an item. In general, the plot and characters were interesting, this novel just wasn't something that I am normally used to.

Would I recommend this book: Maybe

Rating: I give this book a 3/5. 

In My Mailbox!

Hey fellow readers! It's a posting of In My Mailbox, hosted by The Story Siren, this week I got...

For Review:

First Light -- Samantha Summers

From Library:

Lovetorn -- Kavita Daswani

Summerland -- Elin Hilderbrand

Arise -- Tara Hudson

Bought:

Raven Boys -- Maggie Steifvater

Bought from used library store:

Game of Thrones -- George R.R. Martin

These Things Hidden -- Heather Gudenkauf. 

That's all the books I got this week, be sure to leave your links so I can see your awesome books too :)

Writing Style Pet Peeves

After reading a couple, to a couple hundred books, I decided to write a post about certain writing styles that authors use that really annoy me.

• Italics: Even if it's spaced out, I never understood why authors use italics. I especially hate when authors write multiple pages in italics as well. I don't know, it's something about the italics that make me want to skip over everything back to the actual writing of the story line. I know that authors use italics for things like flashbacks, thinking, and memories/dreams, but is there really no other way to describe them? Italics makes me fall asleep! 

• No time setting: I've been seeing this in more recent books, where there are hints of the scene being set in the past, ie usage of wagons, bow and arrows, but the characters speak in a modern day language. Yes, it makes it easier to follow along which I love, but it would also be nice to read what century the novel is set under.

• Forced love triangles: I've been reading about these in novels more recently as well. What is it about love triangles that appeals to readers so much? And if it's forced, I always feel so sorry for the poor schmuck that gets left out when you obviously know that there's a mutual attraction to two of the characters, but the other remains clueless. What ever happened to monogamous relationships? I love reading about novels where the main character has a mutual attraction with another character without a third party involved.

• Not enough background info on certain issues in the story: I think that sentence explains it all. Sometimes I love a story and its main story, but when an author introduces another minor situation of the story and completely leaves it alone, but is still a major part of the story, I sometimes wish that the author elaborated a bit more and at least gave a little background info on why it came to be. 

• Characters with no flaws: It says it all. People are not perfect. We make mistakes. If you write a novel with a character who has no flaws, it doesn't make it at all realistic and to me, it just gets boring fast. 

• Certain endings on stories: This is a rather broad subject, but I really dislike some endings when it comes to series and stand alone novels. I really hate especially when authors end certain series to try to give suspense to the readers and make them wait for the next one. I've also read some novels where the author just stops writing, and at the end of the novel you go, "That's it?" And on certain stand alone novels, if there's a lot of unanswered questions or the author keeps you guessing on what happens next in the main character's relationships, I really hate that because it's only one novel and you can't keep reading what happens next. 

These are just some main writing style pet peeves that I've come across while constantly reading books. I'd love to see what other people's pet peeves on writing styles as well, and if you agree with my opinions.

Review: Defiance by C.J. Redwine

                                            Book: Defiance by C. J. Redwine
                                            Pages: 403
                                            Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Dystopian
                                            Source: Library

Short Synopsis: After her father does not come back from a trip, Rachel refuses to believe that her father is in fact dead. Upon the request of the Commander, Rachel must bring back a package that her father left behind.

My Thoughts: Though this novel did have some entertaining moments, it wasn't all what I expected it to be.

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city's brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father's apprentice, Logan--the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same one who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but a fierce belief in her father's survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.
At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city's top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor's impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.
As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can't be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.
--From Goodreads

I didn't really know what to expect from this novel. It wasn't my usual typical read, and it didn't really leave a lasting impression on me. I enjoyed reading about the main character, Rachel, and the fact that she seemed rather fearless and determined, but at times she also proved that she was just human, like everyone else. 

I loved reading about Logan and all the interesting inventions he could make and what he was trying to do to help Rachel find his father. There was an obvious connection between Rachel and Logan and that they shared a past, and I wished the author had gone into a little more detail. 

I enjoyed reading their relationship and how it came to grow, and thankfully there wasn't a love triangle involved as other books seem to be infected by. It was obvious that both characters were infatuated with each other, but I disliked how both kept denying their mutual attraction. 

Redwine does an excellent job of disliking the Commander as he manipulates citizens for getting what he wants without a care of other people's feelings. The Commander is a big abuser of the power that he has been given, and more times than not, the reader experiences emotions and situations that makes the Commander seem rather heartless, and not at all human. 

I also wasn't a fan of this "Cursed One" business as maybe I missed reading it, but wasn't given much about it, like why it was named the "Cursed One" or why it attacks people and villages the way it does, and why and who designed a device to control it. Overall, it was an okay read, but I'm not quite sure if I'll continue to read on if this is a series.

Would I recommend this book: Eh

Rating: I give this a 3/5. 

Review: Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

                       Book: Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

                       Pages: 319

                       Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian

                       Source: Library

Short Synopsis: Ever since the plague broke out, everything is in chaos and ruins. In a world filled with death and destruction, Araby Worth must find out who she can and cannot trust.

My Thoughts: An interesting world filled with deception, death, and betrayal, Araby Worth is an individual filled with sorrow and haunted memories. 

Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population, and those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery makeup . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club--in the depths of her own despair--Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club, and Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find not just something to live for, but something to fight for--no matter what it costs her.

--From Goodreads

I really enjoyed reading this novel. Set in a world where death rules the world, and you never know when the plague could hit the next individual, Araby Worth is a young teenage girl, struggling with the loss of her brother, and neglecting parents.

Araby is friends with a girl named April who shows her another side of the world in the Debauchery club and makes her forget about the hardships in life. Through April, she meets her brother Elliot and is immediately drawn into his world. Both individuals are trapped in a world where they do not desire to be in a place neither wants to be.

But when Araby's life is in danger one night, she also meets another man named Will, who saves her life. Though I'm not too fond of the obvious love triangle Griffin seems to be trying to work out, I found it a bit infuriating that Araby kept denying that she didn't have feelings for Elliot, and immediately drifted over to Will and his family.

It was interesting to read about the plague and the fact that a simple thing such as a mask can help prevent the disease from spreading to yourself. It was also interesting reading about the Prince, and how he manages to manipulate people into doing what he wants without any regards for the consequences ahead.

There wasn't much said about the character Reverend Malcontent just the fact that he was trying to start a revolution, but I disliked the minor character immediately. I was shocked by the ending, and couldn't believe what Will had done, and the fact that Araby was still willing to save him, though in all honesty, if I was in Araby's position, I wouldn't have the guts to leave him alone either. In general, I loved the novel and can't wait to read more!

Would I recommend this book: Yes

Rating: I give this book a 4.5/5.

Guest Excerpt: Down To You by M. Leighton

Hey fellow readers! Today I am happy to share with you all an excerpt of Down To You by M. Leighton, hosted by A Tale Of Many Reviews.

Here's a little juicy excerpt from the novel:



“Stop doing that.  Don’t act like there’s nothing going on.”
“I’m not acting. Taryn and I have a history, but that was before she started working for me.  I have few rules, but one is that I don’t get social with my employees.  And now she works for me.  That’s it.  Nothing more.”
“But you kissed her. I saw you.”
“No, you saw her kiss me.  You saw me not cause a scene in the middle of the club.”
“Well, you didn’t look like you hated it.”
“But I did.  The whole time, all I could think about was kissing you instead.”  He starts to bend his head toward mine.
Blood is roaring in my ears.  “But you don’t get social with your employees,” I remind him quietly.
“I’d make an exception for you.”  His face is getting close and closer.  Slowly.  A centimeter at a time.
“But it’s your rule.”
“I’ll break it for you,” he whispers.
“No, don’t do that,” I say breathlessly.
“Fine, then you’re fired,” he says just as his lips meet mine.
They are warm and the pressure is light.  At first.  As much as I want to resist, my resolve goes out the window when I feel his tongue run along the crease of my lips.  Without thinking, I part them.
And that’s all it takes.
The taste of Cash is like a perfectly aged Scotch—rich and delicious. His tongue slides along mine, stroking it, teasing it, as he uses his grip on my hand to pull me tighter to him.  I do the only thing I can.  I melt into him.

Get your own copy of Down To You on Amazon today!