Shine Award Nomination!



I was nominated for the Shine On award!! Woo hoo! Three nominations in a month! Don't I feel special!!

I was nominated by the lovely Monlat over at Monlatable Reviews Blog. The shine on award is a way to acknowledge great new blogs! Here are the rules:


Shine On Award
1. Visit and thank the blogger who nominated you.
2. Acknowledge that blogger on your blog, and link back.
3. Share seven, random interesting things about yourself.
4. Nominate up to 15 bloggers for the Shine On Award, provide a link to their blogs in your post, and notify them on their blogs. 

1. I love classical music. I find that it stimulates and relaxes me. Not to mention the instruments and the arrangements are beautiful!
2. I love the rain. I love the smell and the mellow mood it puts me in. Plus it's the perfect weather to relax and read.
3. I really hate ketchup. I hate the smell of it. BLEH!
4. I love potato chips. Like too much!
5. I'm very quiet. I've been nicknamed Quiet Storm.
6. I love 80's movies and classic shows. My favorite 80's movie is The Breakfast Club and some of my favorite classic shows is The Rockford Files, All in The Family, Green Acres, and The Adams Family.
7. I love barbecue chips and spicy pickles together. 








Book Tag Monday


Book Tag monday is a meme from Grown Up Fan Girl Blog, which was started on YouTube for
book tubers but was carried over into the blogosphere by GrownUpFangirl. It's quite simple actually you answer the bookish questions and tag someone else and so on and so on. Easy Right?! Here it goes:

Question #1: Do you have a certain place at home for reading?
I love to read in bed. It's most quiet in my room so I choose to read in bed or on the couch while watching television. 

Question #2: Bookmark or a random piece of paper?

I rarely use bookmarks although I have a ton of them. I usually just remember what page I'm on or at least where I stopped at.

Question #3: Can you stop reading anytime you want or do you have to stop at a certain page, chapter, part, ect.?
I can stop wherever I like although I typically like to at least finish the page I'm on. I'm not too anal about it.


Question #4: Do you eat or drink while reading?
I usually don't because I would hate to get anything on my book but I will if I'm reading an eBook.

Question #5: Can you read while listening to music/watching TV?
I can do anything while reading pretty much although I usually wind up drowning everything out while I'm reading. 

Question #6: One book at a time, or several at once?
I only read one book at a time. I like to dedicate my mind and time to one book at a time.

Question #7: Reading at home or everywhere?
I read wherever. If there is an opportunity to read I will read.

Question #8: Reading out loud or silently in your head?
I never read aloud. I don't need to hear myself lol.

Question #9: Do you read ahead or skip pages?
I may peek at the end of a paragraph or the next page if I'm reading a book but typically 

I don't.

Question #10: Breaking the spine or keeping it new?
I never break the spine of my books. All of my books look like I just bought them. If they
don't it's because someone borrowed it. I hate when my book gets creases and dents..


Question #11: Do you write in books?
NO WAY! Are you crazy?!


Manic Monday # 3, White Lines by Jennifer Banash.


Manic Monday is a meme hosted by myself in which I post about a book I am manic about.
 The definition of Manic is defined as "pertaining to or affected by mania. Mania is defined as "excessive excitement or enthusiasm; craze." (courtesy of dictionary.com)

Today's choice for Manic Monday is White Lines by Jennifer Banash.


Blurb:

A gritty, atmospheric coming of age tale set in 1980s New York City.

Seventeen-year-old Cat is living every teenager’s dream: she has her own apartment on the Lower East Side and at night she’s club kid royalty, guarding the velvet rope at some of the hottest clubs in the city. The night with its crazy, frenetic, high-inducing energy—the pulsing beat of the music, the radiant, joyful people and those seductive white lines that can ease all pain—is when Cat truly lives. But her daytime, when real life occurs, is more nightmare than dream. Having spent years suffering her mother’s emotional and physical abuse, and abandoned by her father, Cat is terrified and alone—unable to connect to anyone or anything. But when someone comes along who makes her want to truly live, she’ll need to summon the courage to confront her demons and take control of a life already spinning dangerously out of control. Both poignant and raw, White Lines is a gripping tale and the reader won’t want to look away.

I don't know what it is about this book. I don't know if it's because it's set in the 80's or because it's set in New York City but I've been so crazy about reading this book for a while now, practically ever since it released. I think it sounds amazing and I just found my library has a copy! Color me excited! I can't wait to read it. If I can just 
tackle these books I need to review I would be set to read whatever I please. I'm seriously slacking!


What books are you feeling crazy about reading or getting your hands on?

Darwin's Children by Natasha Larry Book Review

Darwin's Children by Natasha Larry
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Publisher: Penumbra Publishing
Kindle Edition


Goodreads Blurb: (There is also another cover available for this novel. Interested in seeing it? Check it out HERE.)
Life can get pretty complicated for any seventeen-year-old girl, but for a home-schooled telepathic black girl trying to survive in a prestigious private school in small-town Jonesborough, Tennessee, it can be maddening – especially when her telepathic father keeps eavesdropping on her thoughts!

Jaycie Lerner’s family isn’t the usual mom-dad-kid setup. Jaycie’s mom’s MIA, but Allison, her personal live-in ‘trainer,’ is more than a mom, with her own special abilities, like being able to lift cars and run incredibly fast. And Jaycie’s godfather John is more than persuasive – he can literally convince anyone to do anything.

As far as the rest of the world’s concerned, Jaycie’s on the outside looking in. The townsfolk love Jaycie’s pediatrician father, but she doesn’t fit in with ‘normal’ kids, and she doesn’t really want to. Most of her free time is spent training to keep her telekinetic and telepathic powers under control. But there’s one thing she can’t control – and that’s her feelings, especially when her best friend Matt is nearby. If only he knew what she was truly capable of…

Everything seems to be status quo for Jaycie until she receives a cryptic message from a stranger and meets a very unusual girl new to Jonesborough. Then all hell breaks loose!


Review:
*copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review*

I was initially really excited to read this book. I was more than happy to see a YA novel that featured african american characters as main characters. There is a serious lack of YA that features any characters of color as main characters, but that's just me pointing out something I noticed.

Anyway...when I first began reading the book I was really into it. Things were happening quickly. Our main character Jaycie was relatable, her father was endearing, and the supporting characters were enjoyable and witty. Then about halfway or more so towards the end of the book it really started to lose me. Let me start by telling you the things I liked.

What I liked:
1. The plot. It was interesting to see an entire family that consisted of members with supernatural abilities. That side of it was intriguing and what got me into it in the first place.
2. Character Building This was pretty well done. You definitely get an idea of who each character is and what they're all about. You don't have to guess which I liked. 
3. Setting Although it wasn't brought up fully. The southern setting was a nice background for the kind of story that was told, and I found it fitting.
4. Relatability It was fairly easy to relate to the characters despite their superhuman factor. They seemed like a real family.

Here's some of what I didn't like:
1. The Romance (or lack there of)*THIS IS SOMEWHAT OF A SPOILER* We are introduced to Matt and Jaycie as a couple and we see them in trickles but it gets lost. When we do see them however they're constantly bickering over juvenile things although that's probably what teenagers do. Their arguments didn't seem warranted and frankly it just kind of annoyed me.

2.I didn't like the changes that happened in Jaycie towards the end. I feel like they changed her whole character dynamic.

3. The dialogue between Jaycie's father and her grandfather *SPOILER* Why, oh why? Why did we have to introduce weed smoking. I did a face palm at this point. This is so unnecessary and just plain juvenile. It does nothing for the development of the story or the characters themselves. Oh how I wish that part wasn't in it.

4. The Vampires I just didn't get their contribution the story. I understood why they were there but I just didn't understand their place. It was kind of creepy actually. Sorry. 

Overall this book is good. It has great potential and I think in the later books it will more likely than not get better. The sequels a lot of time do far better than the first. 

Interested in checking out the first book and the others in the series? Check it out HERE.
Happy Reading!





Cover Reveal for Lumière by Jacqueline E. Garlick

I am so excited to share with you all the cover for Lumière (Illumination Paradox Series #1) by Jacqueline Garlick. I was lucky enough to read a few pages of it and trust me you will want a copy of this book! (I'm itching to get my hands on it!)


Isn't it beautiful??!!


Here's the blurb:

One determined girl.

One resourceful boy
.

One miracle machine that could destroy everything.After an unexplained flash shatters her world, seventeen-year-old Eyelet Elsworth sets out to find The Illuminator, her father’s prized invention. With it, she hopes to cure herself of her debilitating seizures before Professor Smrt—her father’s arch nemesis—discovers her secret and locks her away in the asylum.Pursued by Smrt, Eyelet locates The Illuminator only to see it whisked away. She follows the thief into the dark world of the unknown, compelled not only by her quest but by the allure of the stranger—Urlick Babbit—who harbors secrets of his own. Together, they endure deadly Vapours and criminal-infested woods in pursuit of the same prize, only to discover the miracle machine they hoped would solve their problems may in fact be the biggest problem of all.

FYI: The book will featured on KOBO in an exclusive Podcast interviewing on October 7th, 2013 and readers will be able to purchase the book early in a pre-sale that will be begin directly after! 






Locked Together by Michelle Abbott Book Review!

Locked Together (In Chains #2) by Michelle Abbott
Genre: Romance, New Adult
Publisher: Self Published
Expected Publish Date: October 1st, 2013
Kindle Edition

Goodreads Blurb:  
For Savannah, it was an easy choice; getting sent to the Compound meant she and Kayden could be together. But nothing is ever that simple. Caught in a system that encourages cruelty and mind games; will their love survive?

This is book two in the In Chains series and continues the story of Kayden and Savannah. I would recommend reading book one first as this is not a standalone. 




Review

*copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review*

Locked Together is the continuation of Savannah and Kayden's tumultuous love story. Kayden has been sent back to the pound in reference to the murder he committed trying to defend Savannah. Savannah has agreed to become a "slave" in order to save Kayden's life. They are now locked together but couldn't be further apart. Locked Together tells the story of their time together at "The Pound," and how it directly reflects their relationship or lack there of. It's a quick moving story of love, and the fight to keep it. 

This story I must say is substantially better than the first. It just had a certain kind of fluidity to it that was somewhat lacking in the first. The passion is still there, and even more intense in this book because there is so much at stake between the two. I liked the conflict in their relationship that was introduced in this second book as well. I also think the character development and writing is superior to the first as well. 

They always say the second book is the best and usually it is. I appreciated the change in some of characters. I like what Abbott did here. The ending was fitting and I really liked that part of it. It was steamy without being trashy which is hard to avoid in a lot of new adult/romance books.  

Good story with a great finish. 






Feature &Follow Friday # 8



 Feature & Follow Friday and How it Works:

Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers -- but you have to know -- the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.


Feature and Follow Friday is hosted by Parjunkee and Alison Can Read. This week's F&F topic/question is:

Q: Reading Nook Tour: Give us a tour of your favorite reading spots.


I would love to show you some amazing looking little nooks where I read but sadly no. All I have is my “Lonely, vaguely pedophiliac...futon" (Ha check out my John Green reference)


Nothing special but I enjoy reading on it. I love my little red futon and I made those pillows myself (YAY me!) I don't read outside because I absolutely hate bugs and I'm always getting bit. Although when I go back to NY I probably will be. It's something about sitting on a bench in New York City with everything going on around me and I'm just lost in a book. I love it!

What's some of your favorite reading spots?

Liebster Award Nomination--Again! Wow!



Believe it or not I was nominated again for the Liebster Award by Monlat @ Monlatable Book Reviews. I'm feeling pretty good about this blog right now! Thanks so much Monlat!

Here are the questions I was asked to answer:

1. What is your all time favorite book?

I seriously feel like I'm betraying other books but for the purposes of the question I'm going to go with Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder. This book genuinely surprised me. I didn't expect it to be as good as it was. If you haven't read it you need to! Not now but yesterday.


2. Is there a book that you thought that you would not like that you ended up really enjoying?
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin was another book that surprised me. It was a favorite of the library I picked it up from. I took my chances and it's now one of my absolute favorites.


3. What is the best comment that you have received by an author, other blogger, or blog reader?
Well it's not directly related to blogging but when an author told me that my writing was gorgeous--that was the absolute best comment I could ever get. It gave me the momentum to keep writing.


4. What is the best thing about blogging for you?
The best thing about blogging is connecting with people. I don't connect with a lot of people because I'm not interested in a lot of the things that people my age are interested in like clubbing and drinking. I'd much rather read and I found so many people who feel like I do. It's amazing!


5. What is the most frustrating thing about blogging for you?
One of the most frustrating things about blogging has to do with reviewing. I love reviewing don't get me wrong but there has been such ugliness surrounding it and I'm down right frustrated by it. A lot of people have become really nasty about reviews criticizing the way people review, and authors coming after readers who've given bad reviews. REVIEWS ARE OPINIONS. Yes, some people have been really bad about it but they're opinions. Take them as such. I wouldn't sweat it. 

6. If you could live the life of any of the characters that you have read about who would it be?

A lot  of books I read are either dangerous or sad so this is a tough one LOL. I think I'd be Anna from Altered. She lived with four super hot guys. I think I can deal with whatever consequences she's had to deal with if it means I get to be around those guys!


7. Is there a character that you love to hate? You can't say J.R. Ewing! (oops my age is showing)
A character I love to hate hmmm Bennett Ryan from Beautiful Bastard. He was a jerk but I kind of loved him. Does that make me crazy? *shrugs shoulders*


8. Are you a re-reader?
I am and I read on my Google Nexus which I love dearly. 


9. If you could change the ending of any book or series which would it be and why? (*spoiler*)
I would change the end of The Fault in Our Stars. Augustus. Come on! I wanted him to stay alive! 


10. What is your ultimate goal for your blog?
The ultimate goal for my blog is for it to become a go to place for anything books. I want my blog to be a voice and a place for any kind of reader and I want to do it all honestly. 

Because I've already nominated a group of ten I'm going to go ahead and choose a fresh new batch 
of bloggers:
To The Moon and More
I Am Fandom
Flirty Fiction
Tomes of The Soul
Emily Hearts Books
Argyle Doll
These Flying Pages
Paperback Wonderland

My questions:
1.Paperback or Hardcover? Why?
2.Favorite book to movie adaptation.
3. Favorite time of day to read and why.
4. Top five favorite fictional characters.
5. Recommend three books.
6. Name one book you couldn't put down and read in one sitting.
7. Favorite fictional villian
8. Favorite snack.
9. Why do you blog and when did you start blogging.
10. Favorite genre and why.




Pelican Bay by Jesse Giles Christiansen Book Review

Pelican Bay by Jesse Giles Christiansen
Genre: Fantasy, Supernatural, Paranormal
Publisher: Imajin Books
Published Date: July 20th, 2013

Book Blurb:

After Ethan Hodges discovers an undersea cemetery just off the beach of Pelican Bay, South Carolina, he seeks answers from a grandfatherly fisherman named Captain Shelby. The captain wants the past to remain buried, and he warns Ethan to stay away. But Ethan doesn't listen.

Ethan's best friend and secret love interest, Morgan Olinsworth, joins in the investigation, unearthing intriguing secrets about the mysterious fisherman. When Captain Shelby is suspected of murder and disappears, a manhunt ensues, revealing a truth that unnerves everyone in Pelican Bay.


Review:

*copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review*

~A chilling and riveting tale of mystery, suspense, and a little love.

This is the kind of book that I have been longing for. Not so much because of the content but for the writing. This book was so eloquently written that by the end of it not only did I believe I've been to Pelican Bay but I was overcome with envy. Christiansen writes in a way that I've been pining to do read and do myself. 

Every page is a journey, and it doesn't stop even long after you've finished reading. The world building in this story is phenomenal. Every word and description took me further into the town. At the end you will feel that you have actually been to Pelican Bay and you will walk away knowing all there is to possibly know. 

The mystery in the story is well played. It leaves a lot to the imagination, in a good way. I wasn't able to guess what would happen prior to reading. There was nothing predictable about this story. I'm kind of surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I slowly fell in love with the characters for their realness and their awkwardness. Each character had a strong enough voice to stand apart from the others. I think that's what I enjoyed the most. I learned about each character individually and loved them apart from each other for various different reasons but mostly just because they were lovable and had a connection with one another in an unbreakable way. 

The language made the story that more realistic. I can tell by reading that this story was well planned out before it was written. I'm disappointed for having taken so long to read it. 

The little bit of romance the book did have was teasing but in a good way. When things did finally play out I was a happy little romantic. *smiles*

I think this is what I have been lacking in my reading piles--books that are well written and all around different. I appreciated this deviation from my usual reading. If you like a good story, a great cast of characters, and some pretty fantastic writing, this one is for you!




My favorite part of the book (I had to include it because it's beautiful!)

"Morgan, morning, tomorrow. the pinnacle of my deepest joy and sorrow. I quake under your yoke of reticence and obeisance to words, shatter into a million fragments that form stars in the teal sky of your eyes, and would plummet to lost depths without the virginal paleness of your face. Without you I am a writer without a novel. Oh, Morgan, marry me and save me from being nothing."

Don't mind me I'm just drowning in a pool of swooning. If ever a guy said this to me...

Blogger Spotlight, Gabrielle of IamFandom Blog






When did you start blogging and why? What do you blog about?
  • I started blogging around beginning of the summer I believe. I blog about Fandoms and their going ons and books and book-to-movie adaptations and such like that.

Favorite Book Quote (Please only share one)
  • "Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them." -Lemony Snicket

Weirdest food combination you love. 
  • Pizza and Ranch Dressing is the bomb-diggity!

Recently read book and what you thought.
  • I recently read Marie Lu's Prodigy and I was very impressed. It is the sequel to Legend and it's final book Champion will come out in November. I liked how they really applied the national and international politics and government detoriation to the book without having it feel to pressured. The romance and politics and conflict really fit together and clashed at all the right times. Truly a great read.

Describe yourself in three words.
  • Enthusiastic, intellectual, and Quarky  

Want more of Gabrielle? Get social with her here: Instagram/Twitter/Goodreads

Of course, STOP BY SAY HI, COMMENT, AND FOLLOW!
Thanks Gabrielle!


Then, Now, Forever Release Day Blitz!


Then, Now, Forever Release Day Blitz September 26, 2013!



Then

 Gia had let Beppe into her life so easily, as if it was the most natural thing in the 

world. She’d held him when he’d hurt so badly he’d thought he might die; she’d talked him 

down when he’d been so angry he’d considered doing something he’d regret for the rest of 

 Gia had saved his life.

At least once he needed to be strong for her.

This right now, this moment, was theirs. It belonged to them, not to abusive or dead 

fathers, not to guilt, regret or sorrow, not to the past or the future.

But will their love survive when tragedy separates them? 

“I have to go, Gia. I’m tired and I feel empty. I know you need me, but I have nothing 

left to give you. I need to heal.”

“I miss you so much it’s hard to breathe.”

Now

Beppe was still Gia’s closest friend. But they’d never be anything more than that

again. Remembering what it felt like to have the person you love most in the world torn away 

from you still hurt. Gia was determined never to be put into that position again. 

There was never lack of love, but can Beppe win Gia’s trust again?

Forever

“When I was broken you gave me pieces of yourself and made me whole again.”




Book One, In a Heartbeat (Heartbeat #1) is out now! To check out a snippet click HERE.



Hi, my name is Teodora and I live in London with my husband Ted and my son Jason. I've

been writing ever since I can remember, but it became my full time job in 2010 when I 

decided that everything else I've tried bores me to death and I have to do what I've always 

wanted to do, but never had to guts to fully embrace. I've been a journalist, an editor, a 

personal assistant and an interior designer among another things, but as soon as the novelty of 

the new, exciting job wears off, I always go back to writing. Being twitchy, impatient, loud 

and hasty are not qualities that help a writer, because I have to sit alone, preferably still, and 

write for most of the day, but I absolutely love it. It's the only time that I'm truly at peace and 

the only thing I can do for more than ten minutes at a time - my son has a bigger attention 

span than me.

When I'm procrastinating, I like to go to the gym, cook Italian meals (and eat them), read, 

listen to rock music, watch indie movies and True Blood re-runs. Or, in the worst case 

scenario, get beaten at every Wii game by a six year old.

Don't be shy and get in touch - I love connecting with my readers.

Get social with Teodora!

Get your copy of Then, Now, Forever at the following online retailers: