Teaser Tuesdays #2

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:


• 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!



* Can I break one rule here? I'd like to make a teaser from the book I just finished reading. I loved it and I wanted to share it to you all. I gave it 5 stars in Goodreads and will post my review of it here and in my other sites in Thursday.


My Teasers:


This is the book I just finished. What I Didn't Say by Keary Taylor. (I got a copy from Netgalley.)

I didn't care that most everyone in my school was seeing me like this. Most of them didn't matter, and I didn't care what they thought about me.


But I didn't want Samantha Shay seeing me like this.


Something started beeping on the monitor attached to my IV tower and a nurse suddenly pushed her way to the crowd.


"Your pulse is getting a bit higher than we'd like it," she said as she checked the machine, pressing her fingers to my wrist. That was just making things all the more humiliating.


- pages 27-28

Now, the book I'm currently reading:

The Assassin's Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke

I patted the camel on the head and he blinked at me, his eyes dark and gleaming and intelligent.

"Thanks," I told him again.

I wasn't used to getting around on the backs of animals, and it seemed improper not to let him know I appreciated his help.

...

"You don't have to haul around all that fake jewelry."

I scratched the side of his face.

"Find somebody who'll give you a bath this time, you understand?"

- pages 33-34/908 (epub format)

Happy Tuesday everyone!

See you tomorrow for WWW Wednesdays.

Happy reading!

Book Review: Behind Shields by Kolina Topel

Behind Shields by Kolina Topel, paperback edition book cover

Behind Shields

by Kolina Topel

Genre: Paranormal, romance

Editions available: Paperback, Kindle

Publisher: Createspace

Date published: March 27, 2012

Source: Goodreads group: We <3 YA Book! (ARR)

Rating:

Summary (Goodreads):

I used to have a perfect life. A life that any girl would kill for. I recently graduated college with my nursing degree. I have the greatest family and the best friend I could have ever asked for. I also just married the man of my dreams. My soldier. My Andrew. 
Everything was perfect until that deployment. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. And that’s where everything went to hell. That’s where everything changed.
See…I have to make a choice. I have to save one of their lives. Andrew, my husband. Or Audrey, my best friend.
How do you choose something like that? How could I choose between them?
I forgot to mention one other thing…about Andrew. He’s kind of a vampire. And the same vampire that tried to kill him was now after me. 
And you thought you had problems.







My Thoughts:



This book started great and I loved it immediately. I love the way the author got the inspiration of writing this book from the man she knew. How he was special to her and his family. How he was a good guy.


Behind Shields was like contemporary meets paranormal. Usually, we'll call it paranormal right away. But this book, from start up to the middle, was full contemporary--that's why when I reached the huge twist and highlight of this book, it's like it's hard for me to sink in. It felt like a dream.


The characters are great and it hold their own personality til the end of the book. I really liked Andrew and if I ever got a chance to be friends with him (the real one), I'd be lucky too. I also liked Audrey, her best friend Natalie, and the antagonist and other vamps, although their identity and intention needs more clarification.


I liked it and would liked it more only if there'd be answers to the questions even the female protagonist, Audrey, hadn't have a clue of. It's kind of frustating for the book to end with no answers and with unfinished business. I can see how great this would turn out if only it had been complete til the end. I wonder how will the story in movie will come out. Will there be answers? Will there be proper ending?


What I'm not sure of, though, if this was supposed to be a series? Would there be a sequel? If there'll be, I'd be glad to change my rating into 4 hearts. :)


Recommendations:


Paranormal, romance, contemporary readers. The characters of this book aren't teens. They're actually college--recently graduated--aged, but YA readers will enjoy this also.


Book cover comment/s:


Cool! I've never read a book with a soldier in the cover. At first look, you would think that this is an adult fiction, when it's with a twist of paranormal and can be liked by YA readers.

Cover Look: Cover Reveal: Don't Tell by Mercy Amare

 A meme where I--we--talk about book covers.
Whether we have a certain theme or being the Shame Same.  

Cover Reveal.

Don't Tell by Mercy Amare

Blurb:

I could be surrounded by a million people, but I would still feel alone. I smile on the outside, but inside I feel like I’m slowly dying. I cry out for help, but nobody sees me, at least not the real me. They see a façade, a mask that I put on to hide the pain.


I pretend that I’m normal, but really, what is normal? Maybe what I’m feeling is normal. The hurt, the disappointment, the loneliness… it could be all just be a part of life. Maybe I will never know what normal is.


I put on long sleeves and makeup to hide the bruises, but they only mask the outside. What happens when I can’t carry my burden alone any longer? What would happen if I told somebody the truth?


Don't Tell is a YA Contemporary Romance about love, forgivness and hope.  Coming Fall 2012.




About the author:
Mercy Amare writes YA fiction books. She has a slight addiction to NOS, and her guilty pleasure is Pretty Little Liars. Don't Tell is her debut.



How to reach author:
Blog: http://mercyamare.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MercyAmare
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mercy-Amare/466953106650292




Check out my review of Don't Tell + giveaway soon!

Book Review: Taste by Kate Evangelista

Taste by Kate Evangelista, Kindle edition book cover

Taste

by Kate Evangelista

Genre: YA, paranormal, sci-fi

Editions available: Paperback, Kindle

Publisher: Crescent Moon Press

Source: Author (thank you so much, Kate! <3)
Buy: Book Depository * Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:

Summary (Goodreads):

At Barinkoff Academy, there's only one rule: no students on campus after curfew. Phoenix McKay soon finds out why when she is left behind at sunset. A group calling themselves night students threaten to taste her flesh until she is saved by a mysterious, alluring boy. With his pale skin, dark eyes, and mesmerizing voice, Demitri is both irresistible and impenetrable. He warns her to stay away from his dangerous world of flesh eaters. Unfortunately, the gorgeous and playful Luka has other plans.


When Phoenix is caught between her physical and her emotional attraction, she becomes the keeper of a deadly secret that will rock the foundations of an ancient civilization living beneath Barinkoff Academy. Phoenix doesn’t realize until it is too late that the closer she gets to both Demitri and Luka the more she is plunging them all into a centuries old feud.








My Thoughts:


You think vampires that suck blood is creepy? Try flesh-eaters.


Taste's summary caught me the moment I read it. And the gorgeous cover. Just imagine: what are your consequences once you break the curfew? I never did, because I never had. In Barinkoff Academy, expect the unexpected.


I liked Kate's world of Zhamvys, and even their life. It's interesting and beautiful. They never came out as total creepy for me once I got to know them. I liked Demitri and Luka--they're just both irresistible. At first, I doubted Luka's intention but as read on, I liked him. While the female protagonist, Phoenix--I think she's just cool, but sometimes, hard-headed.


This book just reminds of what I think about Avalon High by Meg Cabot--not that they're exactly the same, but they're both great standalone. Who would've thought a lot can happen in one book? Most of the books right now are series. They would start great but we're always trying to find out if the next book/s will carry the greatness of the first. Taste is not a series but reading it makes me feel like I've read a summary of a wonderful series. It started it's heart-stopping point on the very first page and once you read on, the excitement never stops. And the ending? I think I need more but it's just great as it is. I really liked this book!


Recommendations:


Paranormal, YA lovers!


Book cover comment/s:


Gorgeous, isn't it?


Video book trailer:

TGIF at GReads #1

Hosted by GReads. 

This Friday's Question:

Christmas in July: If Santa were to come down your chimney in the middle of summer, which books would you want him to leave for you under the tree?

A:

Wow. I'd be LUCKY to have Santa if that's the case coz my wishlist is looonger than my TBR.

Checkin' out my wishlist I'd love to receive these books from Santa:

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda
Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John
Enchanted by Alethea Kontis
Starters by Lissa Price
Bewitching by Alex Flinn
Emily The Strange (series) by Ron Reger
The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
The Selection by Kiera Cass
Pushing The Limits by Katie McGarry
The Forsaken by Lissa M. Stasse
Shatter Me by Tahere Mafi
Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson


Long, huh? That's not the complete list!
But topping my list right now are Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles #2) and the untitled third book of Divergent trilogy!


So, Santa, I wish you're real. Sigh.


Happy Friday, everyone!


Click here to direct to GReads' post of her TGIF with the links to hop!

Feature and Follow #1

RULES

• To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:
• (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
• (Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
• Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
• Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say “hi” in your comments and that they are now following you.
• If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn’t have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
• Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don’t just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don’t say “HI”
• If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love…and the followers
• If you’re new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Q: Summer Reading. What was your favorite book that you were REQUIRED to read when you were in school?

A: In high school, our Filipino teachers would tell us to read Noli Me Tangere (junior) and El Filibusterismo (senior)--a two-book series written by Jose Rizal, our National Hero--for our discussions. It never became my favorite but I appreciated it. Apart from that, there's not one book they required us to read, elementary or high school. Since I live in a country different from you, maybe it's not part of our curriculum. But still, my love for reading blossomed and I don't think it will ever die. :)

*It will be very much appreciated if you follow my Networked Blogs at the same time. I'll be glad to return the favor. :) But if you can't, GFC alone's fine. Thank you!!

Book Review: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Insurgent

by Veronica Roth

Series: Divergent #2

Genre: YA, dystopian, sci-fi

Editions available: Hardcover, paperback,

Kindle, ebook, audiobook

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Source: Bought

Rating:

Summary (Goodreads):

One choice can transform you--or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves--and herself--while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.


Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable--and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.


"New York Times" bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian "Divergent" series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.





My Thoughts:

The--my--most awaited second book of the Divergent trilogy. I finally read.


I kept thinking, before its release, what Insurgent would bring and I can't seem to let myself imagine--maybe because I wanted to be surprised and right then, all I know is I WANT TO READ IT NOW. And now that I read it, I have mixed emotions.


Insurgent continued Divergent's interesting, captivating and heart-stopping debut. If I could, and not so busy, I would never put the book down and finish it in one sitting, and at the same time, I don't want to finish it right away because I know it will be eternity before the last book. LAST book.


Insurgent, was indeed, still action-packed. The mystery grew and new heartbreaking and oh-no scenes. I also loved Tris and Tobias' romance, both swoon-worthy and--get ready!--heartbreaking.


The ending was another cliffhanger and makes me want to grab Veronica Roth and force her to finish the third book. Kidding. I wouldn't be that harsh. Haha. But seriously? I want it now.


It's just saddening that the trilogy would soon end. Why does epic books only last three books? Why?


It was great, but if I rated Divergent 5 hearts, I'd give Insurgent 4.5.



Check out my review for Divergent (book 1) and Allegiant (book 3).

Recommendation:


Divergent fans! Woooh!


Book cover comment/s:


I liked how the art was close to Divergent. I'd love to see the sign of Divergent next. I wonder what and how it would be? ;)


Alternate cover:

The Insurgent version of Divergent's pink theme.
UK edition.

Book trailer

Click here for my review of Divergent (Divergent #1).

WWW Wednesdays #1

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…


• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?




My Answers:


What am I Currently Reading:

Taste by Kate Evangelista


now on page 182, chapter 20

What did I recently finished reading:

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

(Divergent #2)

My Rating: 5 stars

(Check out my review soon!

Click here for my review of Divergent)

What did I think I’ll read next:

Most probably [first] ebooks that I got for review and those are: Behind Shields by Kolina Topel (from Goodreads) and What I Didn't Say by Keary Taylor--but maybe I'll read The Assassin's Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke first because I can't convert What I Didn't Say (.acsm) to pdf. Seriously, .acsm files are stressing!

What's Cool? #1

Presenting my newest meme! Welcome, welcome, welcome. :D


What's Cool? (a.k.a In My Mailbox or Stacking The Shelves in some blogs) is a meme all about what I received, bought and borrowed that I got and going to share in this blog! I created this since and because my blog's about randomness, I can AND will receive, buy and borrow different things. Still, books are the most common here.



What's Cool?

• Getting approved by publishers from Netgalley!

Some of my requests from Netgalley has been approved by publishers. (Although it also sucks because I also got declined 3x the number I got approved!) Here's what I've been approved..
*All ebooks. For review

What I Didn't Say by Keary Taylor
Revealing Eden by Victoria Foyt (Save The Pearls #1)
Once Upon A Time Machine by Lee Nordling, Jason Rodriguez, and Tara Alexander
White Witch by Trish Milburn (Coven #1)
The Assassin's Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke (The Assassin's Curse #1)

• More for review!

Taste by Kate Evangelista *from author
Behind Shields by Kolina Topel *from Goodreads. Read & Review.
Entangled by Nikki Jefford (Spellbound #1) *from author. She must be giving away [this book], but she also included on her giveaway post the key to download it for free from Smashwords! Cool, eh?

• Receiving the book I won from Book Stacks on Deck (Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler) and buying the book I've been wanting to read (Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern).

What cool thing just happened to you?

Teaser Tuesdays #1

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:


• 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!






My Teaser:

From the book Taste by Kate Evangelista. (I got a copy from Kate in exchange of a review. Check out my review for Taste soon!)


Gathering my courage, I looked up and said, "I'm tired. Can you take me back to my room now?"


Demitri's expression returned to the cold mask he usually wore. He nodded once and walked away. My heart broke.



- page 130, chapter 13

Random Photos #2

Oozing with weirdness and coolness and hilariousness.

Here's our random photos #2!

Nice shoes!

The moment I saw this photo, all I did was stare.

What the?

One last drop..

Umm..?

Ready for a stroll!

Hahaha!