Cover Look: Cover Reveal + Giveaway: The Modified by C.A. Kunz

The Modified

by C.A. Kunz

Blurb:

What would you sacrifice to save the one’s you love? To save the one who holds your heart? To save the world?

Kenley Grayson is all too familiar with these questions.

After Earth is thrust into its first intergalactic war with an unknown race called the Bringers, our military forces begin to suffer heavy losses. Desperate for a solution, the Allied Federation issues a worldwide draft for every able seventeen-year-old to enlist. As Kenley turns seventeen, she finds herself thrown into the very war that took her older brother’s life.
This year’s draft is a little different than in the past though. A new program, known as the Magnus Project, has been introduced, and only the best and brightest qualify. Kenley is amongst a select few whom are chosen to join this elite group of soldiers, and as a part of this project, undergoes a modification procedure that leaves her and her peers endowed with powers beyond their wildest dreams.

As Earth continues in its struggle against the Bringers, Kenley is transported to a high-tech training facility, the Magnus Academy, to prepare for the major battle that lies ahead. It’s here that she meets the California heartthrob, and son of a legendary war hero, Landon Shaw. As unexpected feelings toward Landon begin to develop, Kenley wonders if this is the right time or place for romance to bloom, especially when those feelings start to interfere with her training.

With the weight of the world on her shoulders, Kenley is constantly reminded of how important she and the rest of the Magnus cadets are to the fate of humanity. She is one of the Modified, Earth’s last line of defense against utter destruction.


The Modified releases this Fall! 

Like the cover for The Modified? Well then head over to Nathan Szerdy’s website and peruse his amazing collection of works. We guarantee that you won’t be disappointed!

The mom and son author duo, C.A. Kunz, thoroughly enjoys writing about things that go bump in the night and futuristic action-packed romances while drinking massive amounts of English breakfast tea and Starbucks coffee. To find out more about this duo and their books visit their blog, or find them on Facebook and Twitter!

And now, for the GIVEAWAY!

You can win these awesome swag packs..

 

Enter by the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This cover feature is a part

of Cover Look meme.

Let's talk about book covers here!

Cover reveals, features, and being the Shame Same.

Feature and Follow #6

Q: Best Cover? What is the best cover of a book that you’ve read and didn’t like?

A: The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten

I fell in love with this cover the moment I saw it. And of course, I have to read it.

But when I did, I stopped reading it. I just don't seem to get what this book is about and and or what are these girls doing is all about, what is the purpose and what will they earn. I reached until the half of the book until I can no longer do it.

I didn't liked the characters--even the female protagonist and I can't see how the story will improve because, well, it's getting worse instead. Thank God I'm just borrowing a copy from a friend.

I never wanted to be like this in any book (and I'm not saying against the author), but this is one of the first books I stopped reading.




Leave me your links on your posts and I'll do visit them!
Don't forget to hop the rest of the blogs!

Book Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, paperback edition book cover

The Night Circus

by Erin Morgenstern

Genre: Adult fiction, fantasy, historical
Editions available: Hardback, paperback, ebook, Kindle, Nook
international, audiobook, audio CD, large print
Publisher: Double Day (first ed) / Anchor Books / Harvill Secker
Date published: September 13, 2011 (first edition)
Source: bought
Buy: Book Depository * Indiebound * Amazon* iTunes

Rating:

Summary (Goodreads):

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

My Thoughts:

Let me give you my reason for giving this book a rating of five and why I really liked it when other readers would say that this book is slow-paced and too much of magic that they can't keep up. I'd say that the magnificent magic stunt that left me in awe--every time there would be, which is every time--masked the 'slow-paced-ness' of the book that I didn't mind (or noticed) it at all. For me, it's not too much; it kept me excited and read the rest of the pages.

The story was that two 'masters' decided to have their battle again with their new chosen students. There's not an exact reason for the competition or reward known for the winning master and his student. It remained a unknown mystery throughout the book, but whoever student lost shall die.

It is, indeed, not the kind of book I've never read before. The short summary (seen above) is promising yet another forbidden love, which is more expected in books these days. But the thing is, how can the two main characters, Celia and Marco, can escape this competition to be together without hurting each other when the magic itself bounds them into the never-ending competition? It took until the near-end of the book to finally have a solution. I love the romance between them but I wished they were given more exposure with it to make it more appealing.

I loved how some parts of the book was narrated like you're the one entering the circus, the overall mystery and twist in the end. I also loved how the author thought of showcasing other interesting characters, besides the main. Each have their own way of shining with the roles they play. They didn't appear as supporting characters, but one of the reasons how the circus--and this book--sparked.

Let me share you a line from the book..

M. Chandresh Christophe Lefevre continues to push the boundaries of the modern stage, dazzling his audiences with spectacle that is almost transcendent.

And let me re-write this line to describe how the book is for me..

E. Morgenstern pushes the boundaries of the modern stage, dazzling her audiences with spectacle that is transcendent.

I must say that I am dazzled by this book. It is enchanting and mysterious at the same time that it don't hurt.

Recommendations:

I've met a lot of readers who is having second thoughts about this book and promised to share my review once I finished it. The Night Circus is really good. I'm recommending you read it but be prepared to the 'slow-pace' if you've never been a fan of it. But I must say that for me, the 'slow-paced-ness' is rather entertaining and enchanting.

Although it's an adult book, it doesn't have an adult content and I can also recommend it to YA-base readers.

Book cover comment/s:

I love the cover. It clearly illustrates the book's vibe and content. I also loved the alternate covers I'm gonna show you below..

Alternate covers:

1) This is the cover when I first came across of this book in Goodreads. I loved it as much as I loved the cover above.

2) The Spanish cover. I think it's too cartoony. If I first saw this, I might think it's a MG or children's book. It didn't gave justice to the book at all. 

3) Dutch cover.

4) The Czech cover.

5) The Slovakia cover.

WWW Wednesdays #5 / Waiting on Wednesday #4: Reached

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:

Speechless by Hannah Harrington
- e-ARC from Netgalley.
The Super Spud Trilogy by Michael Diack
- PDF copy from the author








What I Recently Finished Reading:

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
I gave it 5 magical stars.

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Nook borrowed from a non-blogger friend. Of course, there will be upcoming review. I gave it 5 bleeping stars! ;)


What I'm Planning to Read Next:

That I'm not sure yet. I just started reading Speechless and The Super Spud Trilogy and I don't think I'll be done after a week or two since my major--midterms--exams is coming!

So, yeah. I think I'll read Medical and Surgical Nursing by Brunner and Suddarth for my grades. ;D

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, originally started by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights upcoming book releases everyone is waiting on.

I'm waiting for Reached by Ally Condie. I enjoyed this series and I can't wait to find out the ending! I both gave four stars to the first two books, Matched and Crossed.

Expected Publication: November 13, 2012

Publisher: Dutton Childrens Books

Summary (Goodreads):
Cassia faces the ultimate choices in the long-anticipated conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Matched Trilogy

After leaving Society and desperately searching for the Rising—and each other—Cassia and Ky have found what they were looking for, but at the cost of losing each other yet again: Cassia has been assigned to work for the Rising from within Society, while Ky has been stationed outside its borders. But nothing is as predicted, and all too soon the veil lifts and things shift once again.

In this gripping conclusion to the #1 New York Times bestselling Matched Trilogy, Cassia will reconcile the difficulties of challenging a life too confining, seeking a freedom she never dreamed possible, and honoring a love she cannot live without.

Teaser Tuesdays #6: Paranormalcy and Speechless

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!

Today, I've got two books for you!
My Teasers:
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Lend-as-me looked over and raised one eyebrow quizzically.
"Hey, no fair!" I whispered. I'd never been able to raise just one eyebrow at a time. And not for lack of trying, either. He looked confused, so I gestured to my own eyebrows and shook my head. He grinned in response and I melted away, replaced by the dark-eyed hottie.

- book borrowed from a non-blogger friend. Of course, there will be upcoming review. I'm near the end and I gotta say, I loved it!







Speechless by Hannah Harrington

"You guys." I push myself off the wall. "You guys, seriously. Don't. Just leave it, okay? Okay?"
"Don't worry," says Warren, "all we're gonna do is teach them a little lesson." But his smile is all wrong, twisted, and there's something else in his voice, too, warning me not to push it.

And so I don't. Because it's easier. It's easier to let them go.

- page 28 of 282, e-ARC from Netgalley.










Happy Tuesday and enjoy reading!

P.S This is the FINAL week for Battle of Book Review Blog and I need YOUR help! I'm behind the voting so, please, please, please. Click HERE and vote for MICHELLE SHOUTS RANDOM. Thank you!!!!

Book Feature: DiSemblance by Shanae Branham

DiSemblance

by Shanae Branham

Genre: YA techno-thriller
Publisher: Shanae Branham / CreateSpace
Date Published: August 20, 2012
Buy: Book Depository * Amazon

Summary (Goodreads):

Jason Tanner’s life has always been different from the ordinary citizen’s. It started when he was an infant and his parents were only teenagers. A computer science prodigy, Lloyd attended MIT but left a pariah in the eyes of the school’s dean—but a computer physics genius in the eyes of his primary investor. Then his theories and ideas created a holographic machine and their world shrunk as contact with the outside world became less and less frequent. A computer prodigy now himself, Jason is about to learn that the world never waits for you if you have the ability to change it: it will come for you.

Detective Bruce Durante has been handed the case of the Comfort Killer, a serial killer so named because he appears to abduct terminally ill patients before returning their corpses to their families in refrigerated coffins. When he picks up the trail, it leads straight to the home of Lloyd Tanner.

Jason has been living life through the world of Lloyd’s invention and wishing he could carry on a relationship with Boston, the beautiful girl next door. When his father is murdered and framed as the Comfort Killer, he is brought back to reality in a hurry. He is forced to destroy all of the planted evidence—and finds he is being targeted as the killer’s new fall guy. But the secrets of his father’s invention run deep and Jason, his brother Isaac,Boston, the Comfort Killer, and Detective Durante hurtle towards one another on a deadly collision course that leaves everyone’s life hanging in the balance.





About the author:

"I am a professional writer with a bachelor’s degree in creative writing and a minor in grammar. I have also attended several years of classes and workshops in screenplay writing at the Los Angeles Screenplay writer’s Expo. I love suspense adventure and romance books. I am also a master at plot and character development who enjoy stories with happy endings. I promise all my readers that when they put one of my books down or walk away from one of my movies, they will be enthused with excitement and joy. This does not mean there will not be some sad parts, because you have to feel the bitter in order to understand the sweet."



Find her here:
http://disemblance.com/
https://twitter.com/DiSemblance
http://www.facebook.com/pages/DiSemblance/193847093968586



Here's a video where the author talks about DiSemblance (plus: a cover song by her niece and nephew!).

Book Review: Troll or Derby by Red Tash

Troll or Derby by Red Tash, ebook edition book cover

Troll or Derby

by Red Tash

Genre: YA, fantasy

Editions available: ebook, paperback, Kindle

Source: Author (thanks so much, Red! P.S Love your name!)

Buy: Smashwords * Book Depository * Amazon

Rating:

Summary (Goodreads):

In Troll Or Derby, fifteen-year-old Roller Deb is singled out by town bullies for both her skates, and her sexual orientation. When her popular homecoming queen of a sister is kidnapped by a scuzzy drug dealer, Deb must flee the trailer park in which she's grown up, and rescue her. Along the way, Deb becomes enmeshed in the magical realm of trolls and fairies, and the blood-thirsty version of roller derby at which these beings excel. But spending too much time among the fairies comes with a price. Will Deb choose to save her sister, with the aid of a mysterious troll? Or will she be lost to the lures of roller derby, and the blonde temptress April, forever?

My Thoughts:

Let's face it: given the title, we'll be instantly aware that this book's about trolls. And faes. The characters of this book are not exactly humans. Who would've thought one day, trolls will be the star of a book? And this is not just another fae book. You'll see.

I really enjoyed this book. Not just because of some facts I gave above, but the simplicity yet adorable composition of it. Wait. It's not really simple. Let me put it this way..

What I liked: The idea of the book and characters. Come on! I've never heard of faes roller skating before. I never read a book with a troll as the knight and shining armor. Admit it. It's really cool! I also liked (and hated) the antagonist. I appreciate the male antagonist. I've been reading paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi books with female antagonist and it's kinda refreshing to hate men (note: ON BOOK!) again for a while. He's pretty annoying and ugly and very effective. And with these amazing characters and flow of story, Tash delivers a more than simple and average story of a hot troll and cool fae and their journey. Did I mention I've grown a crush to Harlow, the troll? He's like, the new hero. Goodbye princes and knights and other superheroes!

What I *somewhat* didn't liked: The ending. The ending. THE ending. What? That's it? No update on what happened to Deb and Harlow? I've been waiting for THE kiss!

I received a PDF copy of this book from the author in exchange of an honest review.

My reviews are always honest. If I'm not interested in your book (for say, not my genre), I'll not accept it at all, but will do my best to help you promote it by doing a guest post or book feature once I found your book can be liked by others. If you're an author or a publisher and you want your book/s to be reviewed by me, please go to my Book Reviews page and read my rules and how to contact me. If you want your ad posted in my blog, please go to my About page. Thank you.

Recommendation:

Love reading about faes? Like a paranormal read? Who wants to try trolls as a leading man, for a change? I know you want it. ;)

Book cover comment/s:

With the black background and pink and purple hues, it just illustrates the dangerously adorable vibe of the book. Although I might be not seeing Deb as that doll(?) model.

Feature and Follow #5

Q: Worst cover? What is the worst cover of a book that you've read and loved?

A: I realized that I haven't read a book with a VERY bad cover, or worst, as the question put it. They're always either gorgeous or do-not-reflects-the-story-or-character/s. So now, I'm going to show you some books I read (and loved) with covers who I didn't much understood, liked or do-not-reflect-the-character/s.

Perfect Chemistry.
Sorry if you don't agree with me, but I just couldn't find Alex 'hot' and Brittany 'perfect' in this cover. 

I saw the video trailer (of Rules of Attraction and Chain Reaction) though, and find Alex otherwise.

I liked the cover of the next two books, however. Especially Rules of Attraction. It makes me sigh.

My Fair Godmother.
I like the color, design and the idea. I just don't get why the fairy--Chrysanthemum Everstar, who have a fab name--looked act like her. The girl on this cover's like, raise the wand like this and freeze for a sec and then we're done. And I'm like, lemme do that instead and I'll smile. It's fun to be a fairy, afterall!

What I meant is, there's no emotion. But then again, Chrissy appeared to be always bored whenever she talks to her 'boss' to grant their wishes.

Check out My Unfair Godmother, the companion book cover.
Same. No emotion.

Thoughtless.
I must say that this one's poorly done. The book has so MUCH to say than to have a couple in the cover, holding hands, with a purple background.

(Click here for my review.)

WWW Wednesdays #4 / Waiting on Wednesday #3: Stealing Parker

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:

I'm on page 128, chapter 30 of Remembrance by Michelle Madow (Transcend Time #1).


I received a PDF copy of this book from the author in exchange of an honest review. Review to come!









What Did I Recently Finished Reading:

Troll or Derby by Red Tash

I gave it 4 stars. Review will be up on Saturday.

I received a PDF copy of this book from the author in exchange of an honest review. 






What I'm Planning to Read Next:

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White (Paranormalcy #1) -- ebook
and
Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler (won, paperback)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, originally started by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights upcoming book releases everyone is waiting on.

Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally
Expected Publication: October 1, 2012

Summary (Goodreads):

Parker Shelton pretty much has the perfect life. She’s on her way to becoming valedictorian at Hundred Oaks High, she’s made the all-star softball team, and she has plenty of friends. Then her mother’s scandal rocks their small town and suddenly no one will talk to her.

Now Parker wants a new life.

So she quits softball. Drops twenty pounds. And she figures why kiss one guy when she can kiss three? Or four. Why limit herself to high school boys when the majorly cute new baseball coach seems especially flirty?

But how far is too far before she loses herself completely?

Stealing Parker is a novel of Miranda Kenneally, author of my latest fave YA contemporary, Catching Jordan (click the title to read my 5-star review). I heard that this book is a companion of CJ and I can't wait to read it! Well, not only because it a companion of CJ, but also because I've been looking forward from this author after reading CJ!

What do you think? Have you read Catching Jordan?

Leave your links on the comments box below for your Wednesday post/s.

Have a great day and enjoy reading!