Sunday, June 30, 2013

Books: The Moon Dwellers Book Birthday!


Today, The Moon Dwellers by David Estes turns 1 year old! It was 1 year ago today (June 30th) that David Estes first published the first book in his first ever YA dystopian series, The Dwellers Saga, and changed his life forever. Since then, The Moon Dwellers has outsold and drawn more hype than any other of his 13 published books, and has risen to the top 10 of many YA dystopian lists on Listopia, finding a place amongst bestselling books such as The Hunger Games, Delirium and Divergent.

The birth of The Moon Dwellers also changed David’s life forever. As he’s gone from struggling Indie author to fulltime writer, he’s watched in amazement as his Goodreads fan group has swelled from 300 members to over 1,300.

Since writing The Moon Dwellers, David has gone on to write and publish two sequels, The Star Dwellers and The Sun Dwellers, as well as three books in a sister series, The Country Saga (Fire Country, Ice Country, and Water & Storm Country).

He plans to release the 7th and final book, The Earth Dwellers, in the combined series on September 5th later this year. So what did David Estes want to do to celebrate The Moon Dwellers book birthday? His answer: “Give away as many free ebooks of The Moon Dwellers as possible!”

So if you’re like so many others who are obsessed with YA dystopian novels like The Hunger Games, Delirium, and Divergent, and haven’t yet read the growing phenomenon that is The Moon Dwellers, now’s your chance to do so FOR FREE.

 You can grab your free ebook of The Moon Dwellers from Smashwords.com using the coupon code below. And please feel free to share with your family and friends and pets, the more ebooks are given away the happier David will be. The only thing David asks for in return is that if you enjoy the read and continue on with the series, to please leave a positive review on Amazon.com for each of his books that you read.












And for those of you planning on reading The Dwellers and/or The Country Saga, here’s a special note from the author, David Estes: The Earth Dwellers will cap off an eighteen month journey that has taken me from unknown Indie author to still-mostly-unknown fulltime Indie author. The change is a subtle one for most people, but for me it’s a dream come true. 

To the hundreds (and now maybe even thousands!) of readers who have come along for the ride with me, either by reading the Dwellers Saga, the Country Saga, or both, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

Now down to business. There may be some of you who have only read the three books in the Country Saga or only the three books in the Dwellers Saga, and are now thinking you’ll read The Earth Dwellers, which is supposedly the 4th book in BOTH the Country Saga and the Dwellers Saga. Well, that’s awesome! 

However, I must highly recommend that before reading The Earth Dwellers that you read the three books in BOTH series. Trust me, doing so will greatly enhance your experience, as The Earth Dwellers will be taking significant characters from both series and crashing them together (yes, like a water country wave) into an action-packed tale of struggle and loss and hope and friendship…and maybe a little love, too. Anyway, that’s my advice, it’s up to you what to do with it. In any case, thanks for being a part of my own adventure, I’m a better person for having written stories for you!

Recommended Reading prior to The Earth Dwellers

Other YA Books by David Estes!
The Evolution Trilogy:
Children’s Books by David Estes
The Nikki Powergloves Adventures:
Nikki Powergloves vs. the Power Outlaws (Coming soon!)

David Estes was born in El Paso, Texas but moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when he was very young. He grew up in Pittsburgh and then went to Penn State for college. Eventually he moved to Sydney, Australia where he met his wife and soul mate, Adele, who he’s now been happily married to for more than two years. 

A reader all his life, David began writing novels for the children's and YA markets in 2010, and has completed 13 novels, 11 of which have been published. In June of 2012, David became a fulltime writer and is now travelling the world with his wife while he writes books, and she writes and takes photographs. 

David gleans inspiration from all sorts of crazy places, like watching random people do entertaining things, dreams (which he jots copious notes about immediately after waking up), and even from thin air sometimes! 

Recently he’s been inspired by some of his favorite authors, like Suzanne Collins, Veronica Roth, and Maggie Stiefvater. David’s a writer with OCD, a love of dancing and singing (but only when no one is looking or listening), a mad-skilled ping-pong player, an obsessive Goodreads group member, and prefers writing at the swimming pool to writing at a table. He loves responding to e-mails, Facebook messages, Tweets, blog comments, and Goodreads comments from his readers, all of whom he considers to be his friends.

Where you can find David Estes hanging out
David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite

Books: Legacy Of A Dreamer ~ Allie Jean

Title: Legacy Of A Dreamer
Series: Dreamer, book #1
Author: Allie Jean
Published in: 3rd, May, 2012
Publisher: The Writer's Coffee Shop
Language: English only
Number of pages: 169 p.
Other books in the Dreamer series:
Dreams Of The Cursed #2

About Legacy Of A Dreamer

Chantal Breelan is a ward of the state, living under the care of a woman who is cold and heartless. Her past is a mystery, and her future is even more uncertain. She can’t recall why she had been taken from her parents and so she’s left with nothing but an empty hole where her childhood should have been. 

When she awakens from her nightmares, she’s left with terrible, violent images, as well as a boy whose face is oddly familiar, yet can’t be placed. Scared and alone, Chantal begins to confide in an imaginary friend – a shadow in the shape of a man who stands in the corner of her room. She is comforted when she believes he listens to her.

On her eighteenth birthday, Chantal is forced to leave her foster home. She moves to New York City, but the start of her new life doesn’t begin as smoothly as she’d hoped. In this environment, she faces a whole new set of challenges.

One night at a subway station, Chantal meets a young boy who runs away from her, and she’s compelled to follow him down into the tunnels. But this Rabbit Hole reveals a world where reality is a nightmare. Her dreams are clues to her future, and her life becomes twisted and dangerous when she learns that things that go bump in the night are not just in fairy tales and childhood stories.

Review

I received a copy of this book as part of the Legacy of a Dreamer blog tour organized by Charisma Media. This review is my honest opinion of this book, and is not influenced by the fact that it was provided as part of a book tour.

This book for me is the biggest surprise of the year (so far, you never know what's to come). Yes I had my fair amount of surprisingly good reads already but this topped it by far. After reading the synopsis I thought, this could go either way. Either I am going to hate it, and almost not finish, or it is going to be brilliant! It turned out to be the last. This book was really worth the read, it was full of action, hurt, conspiracies, mysterie, paranormal activities and more.

I was really surprised about it because, I wasn't all that excited about it after reading the synopsis. I suspected an average read, but this was spine chilling at moments. Especially the scene at the subway and after that at the apartment. Since I was reading this at night I decided I needed more light if I was to continue reading. So I actually turned on all the lights in the living room. That's how really this book felt, I  almost thought the shadows would turn into those monsters!

And then bang, there was our hot warrior stepping in. Matthias/Nick enters. He can step out of the shadows any day to save my life! (Yeah, I am not excited about this book at all. Hear the sarcasm). Turns out, our little orphan Chantal, is much more than she would ever thought she would be.

When Matthias enters, the mystery of who Chantal really is, starts to unravel, in between the fighting and running for their lives, that is! What makes this story any different of other stories of fallen angels and their descendants (officially called Nephillim) is that the male and female have different kind of powers. And even though the males are the warriors that should protect the female (not a chance that I am telling what they are), Chantal decides she is going to fight next to her protectors and fight. And I am so glad she did, because I don't like it when female characters watch from the sidelines and let someone else fight their battles.

There is one thing, I should tell you though, this is a story with angels and demons. As you know their origin is the bible, so there are references to god, the holy spirit, and even priests and nuns in this story. However, in its essentials this story for me was not one of religion, the religious content did not bother me, it made the book a fascinating read. But if you don't like those kind of things, this is not a book for you.

Now, on to my rating: this book was a surprise, it has great world building, a promise for a wonderful series, great characters, refreshing take on religion and Nephillim, so this makes this a 5 star book!!!



About Allie Jean

Allie Jean was born with an overactive imagination. She spent her childhood inventing stories and telling tales. Her mind never shut down, even while she slept. Vivid dreams containing extensive, elaborate plot lines of good overcoming evil villains captured her nightly visions, lingering into her waking hours and filling the pages of her well-loved bounded diaries. She was encouraged by her parents, even at a young age, to write down her tales, and it has remained a somewhat secret hobby. As a busy wife, mother and critical care nurse, Allie’s love of storytelling has been reborn through the adventures of her unforgettable characters.

Quotes:

In that moment in her warrior’s arms, she felt like she could prepare herself for anything. Time might not be on their side, but she was determined to capitalize on every single moment to prepare her for the battle at hand. Mathias had fought for her, and she’d fight for her freedom and for that of her Oracle sisters.
Andreu about Chyme's curse: Nine little girls in all he buried. Nine times he had to suffer the devastating loss; nine times, he had to put his heart back together again. Some say we all have our cross to bear in life, our own brand of penance. No one, no matter their sins, deserves to suffer like this.” 
Matthias & Chantal: He laughed. “I know it’s a dumb analogy, but I know it’s going to be okay,” she said. “Isn’t that my line?” “Nope,” she corrected. “We’re a team, now. It’s my turn to reassure you.” And he couldn’t have loved her more for it.

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Swinging Saturdays #5 ~ Top 5 Gothic Rock

Swinging saturdays is a musical meme hosted by Ice Cold Passion, to share our passion for music. The goal is to make a top 5 (or Top 10) for whatever genre or artist you like or get creative and share a theme based music top 5. For example a bookish soundtrack, funny songs, song to listen to on a rainy day top 5.

Todays Top 5 is a Gothic Rock Top 5, I used to listen a lot of Gothic Rock when I was younger, now only once in a while if I am in the mood for it, which is not as often anymore. The reason I enjoy listing to gothic rock is that is classical music combined with hard rock or heavy metal, which I think is a great combination. Think of heavy metal, did you know that the frontman of System of a Down, used to be an opera singer?

My favourite Gothic Rock band of all time, is Nightwish, their music will never bore me and always tells a story, the best gothic rock band ever! It is a pity that Tarja left the band, her voice is phenomenal, never heard anything like it! Nightwish, or maybe I should say Tuomas Holopainen, released a movie it is called: Imaginairium!!! Oh, one of the commercial on television, is using a song that Nightwish has done to, it keeps reminding me of this top 5, lol.


1. Nightwish ~ Creek Mary's Blood

I love almost everything by Nightwish, what makes this song special, is the native american singer that cooperated in this song, and I really like the lyrics, talking about what happend with so many ancient civilizations. One word beautiful!

2. Within Temptation ~ Jillian

I was at this concert!!! It was a 2 hour concert it was one of the best concerts I have been to!!! Dutch band btw!


3. Epica ~ Cry For The Moon

Another Dutch band, with also international success in the Gothic Rock scene, yeah this is a bit more heavy metal.

4. Evanescence ~ Thoughtless (Korn cover)

This song gave me the strength to push forward, don't let anybody get you down! Stand up and sing this and feel strong.

5. After Forever ~ My Pledg of Allegiance #1

It seems that the Dutch are good at Gothic Rock and heavy metal. Because this is another Dutch band, I think I have seen them live once too! I've got good memories of this band, because I once had a German Teacher who listen to Rammstein and also to After Forever, so I was aloud turn on the CD of After Forever in class, that was pretty cool... I will never forget the look on my classmates faces who all listened to pop music or dance/trance shit. Good times....

So that's it for this week! What is your top 5 this week?
Want to host Swing Saturdays next week? 
Send me an email: icequeensbookshelf@gmail.com! Would love to hear what kind of music you like!

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Swinging Saturdays #4 Top 5 Dutch songs

Swinging saturdays is a musical meme hosted by Ice Cold Passion, to share our passion for music. The goal is to make a top 5 (or Top 10) for whatever genre or artist you like or get creative and share a theme based music top 5. For example a bookish soundtrack, funny songs, song to listen to on a rainy day top 5.

Hi everyone,

Im a little bit later today then usual, sorry but I have been having a really bad temper today. But it is time to cheer up a bit and enjoy some good music. Today I am going to share with you a totally Dutch Top 5! Songs sang in Dutch ( we also have a lot of Dutch bands singing in English). I know it will sound funny probably to all of you who don't understand Dutch, but it can still be beautiful , right? Here is some Dutch musication lol...


1. Marco Borsato ~ De Speeltuin


This is probably our most famous (in our country) singer of all dutch singing artists! He has one almost all the music prices of our country, and has made more than ten albums! He is the best of the best! This song is about children stuck in warzones, child soldiers.

2. Acda en De Munnik ~ Ren Lenny Ren

These guys are great too!!!  They are great musicians, love their music, I was going to share Zitten Voor de Blues because that is by far my most favourite song, but I couldn't find any live footage so here's another favourite of mine.

3. Guus Meeuwis ~ Brabant

Guus Meeuwis started out playing small bars, when in college, unique is that he has an accent, which makes it even cuter to hear. This song is about his province Brabant, the flags in the video are the flags of Brabant.

4. Bløf & Counting Crows ~ Holiday In Spain

What I think is interesting about this song is that it is Dutch/English mixed together which is really cool! Blof is one of the other most famous bands in the Netherlands, they have made beautiful music!

5. Jurk ~ Niemand

I think Jurk (which is kind of a strange name because it means dress) this song is about a boy who's different from all the other kids in class, he gets picked on by the other kids, nobody understand him. By the end of the song he pulls out a gun and shoots himself in front of the whole class. This is an anti-bulling song!! Great lyrics!
So that's it for this week!
What is you Top 5 songs this week? 
Want to host Swing Saturdays next week? 
Send me an email: icequeensbookshelf@gmail.com! Would love to hear what kind of music you like!

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Books: The Mesmer Society Part #1 ~ A.R. Lain

This novel contains sexual situations and mature language. It is intended for an audience at 18+ years of age.
Title: The Mesmer Society
Author: A.R. Lain
Sort of story: Short story series
Published in: 16th February 2013
Publisher: Self published
Language: English only
Number of pages: 38 p.
Age category: Adult
Other parts in this series:
Mesmer society part 2
Mesmer society part 3
Olivia The Camp Girl ~ Tales from the pledges
Sarah's school girl fantasy ~ Tales from the pledges

About The Mesmer Society part 1

When photojournalism student Elliot Reid receives an invitation to join the Mesmer Society, she knows it’s her chance to expose the secrets of the most exclusive and mysterious club on campus. But as she delves into the lustful ways of the secret society, she realizes she might be in for more than she bargained for.

Caught in the Mesmers’ web of sex, power exchange and wealth, Elliot is about to discover a new realm of pleasure and fantasy. But is she willing to pay the price? (source: Goodreads)

My opinion;

So, this was my first encounter with the erotica genre, like really erotica, I have read a lot of books lately with pretty detailed and lengthy sex scene, but that was mostly not the main line of the story. This short story was all about sex, and it was hot, interesting since I haven't explored this genre much, so I didn't even know what BDSM meant, I figured out the last part, SM well yeah, everybody know about SM, but the BD was new for me. So as I always do when I want to know something I googled it, and I was like, ooooh now I get it. (Yes people I haven't read The Fifty Shades trilogy, I guess I will have to borrow it from my sis, so I am a bit more up-to-date.)

Anyways I did enjoy this initiation to the Mesmer Society which turned out to be a BDSM society. I like the way Elliot, gets excited on the one hand and rationalizes the events on the other hand. Being torn about what see feels and what she thinks, and then there is the cliffhanger at the end that leaves you begging for part two!  That's why this short story gets 4 stars from me!

Music

Alex (the head of the Mesmer Society) is pushing Elliot to join and what I hear here say to Elliot is the lyrics to this song! " I know you want it".

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Books: Vulture ~ Rhiannon Paille ~ promo


Title: Vulture
Author: Rhiannon Paille
Series: The Ferryman and the Flame #3
Publication date: June 18th 2013
Publisher: Self published
Number of pages: 496 p.
Language: English only
Age category: Young adult
Other books in this series:
Read about the series here

About Vulture:

How far would you go to betray everything you've ever known?

Kaliel didn't think second chances came with this much turmoil. Exiled from her home, surrounded by strangers and in love with a boy she barely recognizes, she can't take it. She has her best friend, a new mentor, and a chance to win the war against the Valtanyana, but it's all wrong. Desperate to salvage some semblance of her former life, she makes a deal that shatters everything.


About Rhiannon Paille

Rhi was never a normal girl. Her life was an urban fantasy wrapped in a paranormal romance and served with a side of horror. To escape her everyday weirdness she began writing fantasy. She studied at U of Sedona and MIMT, obtaining a PhD in Metaphysical Science and Parapsychology. She's married to a chef/comic book shop owner and has a fondness for architecture.

Excerpt:

Alive

She was alive and all she felt was the cold. Stinging armor rested against her cheek, clammy hands on her back, sopping dress against her arms. All of it made her shiver on the inside. She didn’t have words to explain how she felt. A heartbeat rang in her ears, breath flushed in and out of her lungs, fingers curled around a boy’s shoulder and pressed into the skin at the nape of his neck. The last thing she remembered was the murderous look in Crestaos’s eyes before she thrust herself into the mouth of a volcano.

 And she remembered exploding.
 It was raining.
 Everything felt so different.

Knots twisted her stomach, limbs heavy, head swimming with thoughts, with questions, with shock. Krishani released her briefly and looked into her eyes. He looked different, felt different. His black hair was longer, reaching his neck, his face pallid, eyes sunken into thin malnourished cheeks, deep bruises underneath them. A curl of black dirt crept across his neck. She barely caught it in the eerie darkness, nothing but torchlight illuminating the night.

 Crowds of people milled around them, stumbling or dragging themselves towards the lights. Hooves pounded back and forth, stopping and starting again, weaving through the wounded and dead. A high pitched lull dulled Kaliel’s sense of hearing. It cast a net over sound, muffling the noise. Krishani tucked his fingers under her chin and pulled her face up to his. She realized he was speaking. Hearing his voice nearly undid her. 

 “I need you to go inside.” His tone was gentle, less ragged compared to the first time he said her name. At the time his voice had been raspy, hollow, lethal. She didn’t want to know what he meant when he told her not to touch him. She went to pull away but he kept her attached, turning. Behind him were large gates and stone walls stretching into darkness. A dirt road marked at intervals by torches spread into a village. It was crowded by people in golden armor or shredded clothing. She didn’t recognize anything and immediately tensed. She glanced at Krishani, gulping. Her throat was scratchy, burning as saliva trickled past her tongue.

“Where are we?” she asked, alarmed. She didn’t know if her eyes had turned their usual green, she wasn’t even sure what color her eyes were anymore. This wasn’t her body.
 “Terra,” Krishani whispered as he pulled her taut against him and covered her left arm with his, twisting his fingers through hers. She glanced at him, fear snaking into her, a million questions pounding at the fore front of her mind. “Go with Tulsen, I won’t be long,” he said, still talking into her ear.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Books: The Ferryman and The Flame series ~ Rhiannon Paille

Today I wanted to tell you about The Ferryman and The Flame series, because tomorrow I will present you with the information about the new and third instalment of this series, as part of the Promotion Tour for the book. Since I hate it when I see a book blitz and don't know anything about the other books in the series, I felt it was necessary to not do that myself! So tomorrows post will also be linked back to this one, in case you didn't know about this series.

I am participating in this book promotion, because I have the first two books in this series on my Kindle, they are on my list to read soon. So enjoy!

Surrender ~ The Ferryman and The Flame #1


How far would you go to save everything you ever loved?

Kaliel was warned about her love for the Ferryman. One day he will marry the land and leave Avristar forever. She doesn't listen, and because of what she is-- a Flame-- one of nine apocalyptic weapons, she sparks a war. In a desperate attempt to save her home and her love, Kaliel tries to awaken Avred, not knowing she may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

(Source: Goodreads)


Justice ~ The Ferryman and The Flame #2

How far would you go to destroy yourself?

Krishani always knew he would have to go to the Lands of Men, but he never thought it would be like this. Enemies everywhere, an ancestor he can't respect, elders he can't trust, a curse he can't stop and friends he can't help but hate. Desperate to end the pain, he sets out on a quest to find the other Flames and face the enemy that took everything from him.
(Source: Goodreads)

There are also two novella's available in this series, er zijn ook twee novelles verkrijgbaar in deze serie:

Lantern & Poison ~ The Ferryman and The Flame #1.5


This is SURRENDER from the villain's POV.

Hadwen is no more. The Daed have no choice but to travel to Avrigost to awaken Crestaos. They're thrown into a whirlwind quest for the Flames, not knowing how ruthless and sadistic Crestaos can be.
(Source: Goodreads)

Blood and Gold ~ Ferryman and The Flame #2.5


This is JUSTICE from the villain's POV.

The Daed are pawns to one of the most powerful members of the Valtanyana. Crestaos is insane, his hunger for the Flames insatiable. The closer the Daed get to achieving his goal, the more expendable they become.
(Source: Goodreads)

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Swinging Saturdays #3 ~ Top 5 Sing-A-Long

Swinging saturdays is a musical meme hosted by Ice Cold Passion, to share our passion for music. The goal is to make a top 5 (or Top 10) for whatever genre or artist you like or get creative and share a theme based music top 5. For example a bookish soundtrack, funny songs, song to listen to on a rainy day top 5.

Todays Swinging Saturdays consists of songs I like to sing along with, I love to sing, but I don't know if I am good at it. A sang a couple of times in public and I was even part of the school band when I lived in Newfoundland, which was fun. So here's my top 5 of the moment. Yes my top 5's shift over time, there is no guarantee this would be my top 5 next week (I can think of many other songs apart from this top 5 to sing along). Anyways here it is!

1. Christina Perry ~ Jar of Hearts

Beautiful song, beautiful video!


2. 4 Non Blondes ~ Spaceman

This is not a song you would here on the radio,  their most famous song was What's Up, but the CD is beautiful and this one of my favourits to sing. The singer Linda Perry, is still active in the music industry she wrote several songs for Pink!

3. Passenger ~ Let her Go

Have you ever heard a song for the first time and you fell in love with it instantly? Well, Let Her Go was that for me, I was sold the first time I heard it, and I can put it on repeat the whole day and it would bore me. Completely fell for this song, Im still very much in love with it :p

4. Taylor Swift ~ Teardrops on my Guitar

Yes, here she is again, I don't care what you think of me for liking Taylor Swift! She makes some awesome music, I might add that I am not to crazy about here new album though, way to commercial. But this is from her first album, I like this because it is pretty low key, which makes it easy to sing fo me. She makes good sing along music, with a touch of country.

5. Gavin DeGraw ~  Soldier

I like the nadanada part, and the ritme.


Oh here's a bonus song by two little girls! Found this on the Opry Youtube Channel, Im impressed by their talent! 
(Lennon & Maisy ~ Ho Hey ~ Lumineers)


So that's it for my Top 5!!!What is your Top 5 this week? 
Want to host Swing Saturdays next week? 
Send me an email: icecoldpassions@gmail.com. Would love to hear what kind of music you like!

Friday, June 14, 2013

Books: April Showers ~ Karli Perrin ~ promo

Title: April Showers
Author: Karli Perrin
Series: April, book #1
Published in: 16th, June, 2013
Publisher: Self published
Number of pages: 271 p.
Language: English only
Age category: New Adult
Other books in this series:
April fools, book #2

About April Showers

What happens when your head and your heart pull you in completely opposite directions?

April Adams is about to find out the hard way.
When April enrols at Manchester University, it feels like a whole new life. New city, new house, new friends...new crush.

Isaac Sharpe is the hottest guy on campus - with an even hotter reputation. After a chance meeting, April quickly finds herself wrapped up in all that he is. But what if all that he is isn't what it seems?

Caught up in a battle between what she wants and what she thinks she needs, April meets Lukas Roberts. Lukas is the security blanket that she craves so desperately and she finds solace in their friendship. But what happens when she finds more than she bargained for?April has always been a big believer of fate, but will she learn that she's in control of her own destiny before it's too late?

Join April as she embarks on a life changing journey of love and loss, which will have you laughing and crying until the very end.

Buying Links

Amazon US ~ Amazon UK

About Karli Perrin

Karli Perrin is a 25 year old English Language & Linguistics graduate from Manchester. She has always been a big lover of books and has published her first NA novel - April Showers.

She is a big believer of fate and is a sucker for a happy ending. She honestly believes that there is a reason why you are reading this right now (apart from the fact that you are awesome!) Her ultimate goal in life is to live in a house made entirely out of books with her best friend, who also happens to be her fiancé.

...Hogwarts is plan B.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

GFC ~ Google Friend Connect

Above is the Google Friend Connect for the people
who didn't know what it was. Hier boven hoe Google
Friend Connect eruit ziet, voor de mensen die dat nog
niet wisten.
This post is mainly for bloggers, as you might or might not know, rumours about Google Friend Connect (GFC) are flying around on various blogs.

However, I haven't found any articles about it that came from Google itself. The rumour is that GFC might be disappearing from our blogs. Since the rumours don't disappear I want to be prepared, and make you aware of this.

What does the disappearance of GFC mean, you might think? This means you will be loosing all the GFC followers.

This is why, I recently started promoting my new followers to follow through other ways than GFC.
With this post I want to make you, readers aware of this development. And if you are only following via GFC, and you want to keep following me in the future, you might consider switching to one of the other ways to follow me via:


  • Bloglovin: I highly recommend this site, it is very easy to use, and helps you orginize and navigate through all the blogs your following. It also marks the post you read and show the unread post! I think that is awesome, especially if you follow many blog, like I do. 
  • Networked Blogs:  This is another great way of following, Networked Blogs works in a similar way as bloglovin, it also keeps track of which post you read or are unread.
  • Google +:  You can also follow me via Google + ,  I think this will become the substitute for GFC( I am still figuring this one out myself, so I don't know the specifics of how it works). 
  • Facebook: You  can also like my facebook page, where I also share, freebies, quotes, funny pics about books and writing, and other fun stuff! 
  • Twitter: You can also follow me on Twitter through which I share my blog updates, and is also linked to my Facebook page, so you can also see what fun stuff I do on there! 
  • Goodreads: Last but not least, feel free to follow my reviews on Goodreads, or befriend me! Here's where I keep track of my books, what I want to read, authors I like etc. This has become one of my favourite websites.
  • Email: you can now follow me by email aswell!!! 
If you want to read more about GFC and why it might disappear read this awesome article by Parajunkee : Prepare for Google Friends Connect to be Discontinued

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Books: Catching Liam ~ Sophia Bleu ~ promo


This novel contains sexual situations and mature language. It is intended for an audience at 18+ years of age.

Title: Catching Liam
Author: Sophia Bleu
Published in:  Summer, 2013
Genre: New Adult Contemporary

Synopsis/Samenvatting:

Twenty-one year-old Jillian Nichols only has one rule when it comes to boys: catch and release. Boy-catching isn't just a game for Jillian and her friends, it's a lifestyle. After all, boys might be good for a dance or a drink and certainly a little under-cover action of the scandalous variety, but expect much else and you're bound for heart ache.

So when her best friends and fellow boy catchers start dropping like flies junior year, Jillian is determined to keep boys in her bedroom and out of her heart. Until she meets Liam McAvoy, the kind of guy that sticks around to make waffles and who can't—or perhaps won't—take a hint.

Study abroad student Liam doesn't want to be another notch on Jillian's bedpost. Actually he has much more interesting ideas for Jillian and her bedposts, but his student visa's set expiration date means he can't promise her forever. That doesn't mean he's going to walk away from the challenge of discovering why Jillian is hell-bent at keeping people at a distance.

Before long, neither is sure who is catching who—or if they're playing for keeps. Jillian knows one thing though: falling in love will not only break the only rule of boy-catching, it could also break her heart.


AUTHOR BIO 

Sophia Bleu is a secret identity where I can write about fantasies and falling in love and all the smexiness in between.  In real life, I'm likely catching a plane, chasing kids, or making out with the love of my life—all 6 ft 3 inches of hotness that he is.  Life is pretty good.


Author links:

Saturday, June 8, 2013

On Ice Queen shelf

This week I have gotten some great books! I actually won one for the first time ever!!! Im excited! I also gotten two great freebies that I want to tell you about! And Im expecting a read for review in my inbox aswell so four great books! Im so excited about all of them! And such pretty covers that have, don't you think? Check it out!

1. Fire ~ Elements Of Power #1 ~ Heather James (WON!!!)

Is control over the elements a gift, or a curse?
Roxy thinks that she is in control of everything: with flames flaring at her fingertips and an equally fiery attitude, what more could she need? But then she meets Brae, a prince from a rival Realm, who turns her assumptions of superiority upside down.
Jasmine has none of Roxy’s confidence or intensity. But she does have a secret - and Brae - and she’s not going to give either up willingly.(Source: Goodreads)







2. Mortality ~ The Hitchhiker Strain #1 ~ Kellie Sheridan (Read for Review)

After surviving a deadly plague outbreak, sixteen-year-old Savannah thought she had lived through the very worst of human history. There was no way to know that the miracle vaccine would put everyone at risk for a fate worse than un-death.
Now, two very different kinds of infected walk the Earth, intent on nothing but feeding and destroying what little remains of civilization.
Starving and forced to live inside of the abandoned high school, all Savannah wants is the chance to fight back. When a strange boy arrives with a plan to set everything right, she gets her chance. Meeting Cole changes everything. Mere survival will never be enough. (Source: Goodreads)




3. Stitch ~ Stitch Trilogy #1 ~ Samantha Durante (Freebie)


Still struggling to find her footing after the sudden death of her parents, the last thing college freshman Alessa has the strength to deal with is the inexplicable visceral pull drawing her to a handsome ghostly presence.,br />
In between grappling with exams and sorority soirees - and disturbing recurring dreams of being captive in a futuristic prison hell - Alessa is determined to unravel the mystery of the apparition who leaves her breathless. But the terrifying secret she uncovers will find her groping desperately through her nightmares for answers.
Because what Alessa hasn't figured out yet is that she's not really a student, the object of her obsession is no ghost, and her sneaking suspicions that something sinister is lurking behind the walls of her university's idyllic campus are only just scratching the surface... (Source: Goodreads)

4. The Film Club ~ Suzie B 'Club' #1 ~ Daisy White (Freebie)


1958, and Susie B is the ultimate Brighton party girl. When she is talent spotted, and invited to join The Film School as a trainee actress, a life of glitz, glamour, and London castings, seems assured.
But The Film School hides a horrific secret, and Susie soon discovers, however hard she tries, she can't outrun the dark shadows of her own past, which link her inextricably to... THE FILM CLUB. Sometimes, living out your dreams can be murder... (Source: Goodreads)

 

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Books: Follow The White Rabbit ~ Kellie Sheridan


Title: Follow The White Rabbit
Author: Kellie Sheridan
Series: Beautiful Madness, book #1
Published in: 21, Mei, 2013
Publisher: Patch Work Press
Number of pages: 68 p.
Language: English only
Other books in this series:
Awake and Dreaming #2
Tea for Twenty-Three #3
Painting the Rose Red #4
The Looking Glass Girls #5

About Follow The White Rabbit

For Gwen, Marc, Rose, Daliah and Lucky, Wonderland is home, and yet they know little of its former glory. When the Alice prophecy resurfaces, they’ll have one chance to use Wonderland’s own legends to bring a little mayhem back into their reality. For she who controls Alice controls the fate of Wonderland.

My opinion

In this "book" this is considered a novella, anyway in this novella, we meet the inhabitants of Wonderland. The White queen Rose, the Red Queen Daliah, Marc and Gwen and Lucky. Lucky and Marc are my favourites! Marc lives together with his partner Gwen, who researches the Alice prophecy. Lucky lives in the Woods, she crosses paths with a white rabbits, who gives her the power to travel the dimensions. She meet Marc when he is wondering around in the Woods.

Anyways, I am sorry, I didn't  mean to get into it all that would spoil the fun. Ok, this is not the story of Alice (although we do get a glimpse of her). This is the story told by the inhabitants of Wonderland, who live in absence of Alice.

The story is told from Rose's, Gwen's, Daliah,s and Lucky's point of view. This is a great way to introduce all the main characters of this series. The only thing that bothered me was that when the point of view changed, it would take me, a view sentences and sometimes half a page before I figured out who's POV it was.

Rating

That was the only negative in this novella, great introduction to the series, great characters and a round story makes this novella a 3,5 Star read!!!


Music ~ Panic! At The Disco ~ Nine In The Afternoon

I had to think awhile for the right song came by for this book, and I think I know what is fitting here! Panic! At The Disco!! ~Nine In The Afternoon!!! Why? because of the crazy video, that reminds me of Wonderland with all the clocks!

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Books: Divergent ~ Veronica Roth

Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Series: Divergent
Published in: 28th, February, 2012
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Number of pages: 487 p.
Age category: Young adult
Language: Dutch, English a.o.
Other books in this series:
Insurgent #2
Allegiant #3

About Divergent

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are.


But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death.

My opinion

I might be a little late at the party with this one, but I just had to tell you how awesome this book is!!! It like the books I read this year are getting better and better and better, and better. I could go on forever I think, because I read one awesome book after another!

I have to tell you though I was a bit anxious to start this, another dystopian, because I thought it would be similar to Matched, but I was very wrong! This book is nothing like Matched! Totally different world and full of action!

It's great, its like one rollercoaster ride after another, adrenaline reeling through your body, every step of the way. This book was intense in a good way! Tris is this power house heroine, she is very likeable, and easy to relate to, I like here a lot, although I don't like her real name Beatric, sound a lot like our former queen.  

And then there is Four/Tobias *sighs*  he is sweet, smoking hot, and a real "warrior". The relationship between Tris and Tobias, develops slowly, deepening when they find out each others secrets, it felt realistic, not instant, which is wonderful!

This book has a variety of interesting side characters, her friends Christina, Will and Al, are all very divers in personality and are well thought-out. One character that sparked my interest was Uriah, a Dauntless born, I liked him a lot, and I found it very interesting that he like Tris so much, while most of the other Dauntless born didn't because she came from Abnegation. Oh, he reminded me a bit of Seth (from Twilight), because of his sweetness and enthousiasm. Tris managed to turn everyone's opinion around in a flash.  Like I said power house! I like it! Always have.

This book has changed my opinion about the dystopian genre, this is becoming one of the most interesting and favourite genres of mine. Another thing about dystopian worlds is that there is always some economical/political angle to it, which makes you think about the world we live in know.

Rating

This book is awesome, it has great world building, is suspenseful, full of action, it has wonderful first love, conspiracies, and family. All these elements you will find in this wonderful book! That is why this is an 5 star read!

(This is the longest review I have written so far! Sorry about that!)


Quotes:

Tris: “Peter would probably throw a party if I stopped breathing.'

Tobias: 'Well,' he says, 'I would only go if there was cake.”
This one made me laugh!
“Moths," repeats Will. "You're afraid of moths?"

"Not just a cloud of moths," she says, "like...a swarm of them. Everywhere. All those wings and legs and..." She shudders and shakes her head.

"Terrifying," Will says with mock seriousness. "That's my girl. Tough as cotton balls."

"Oh, Shut up.”  
This is the reason the book is called Divergent.
 “I feel like someone breathed new air into my lungs. I am not Abnegation. I am not Dauntless.
I am Divergent.”
Last one.
“Human beings as a whole cannot be good for long before the bad creeps back in and poisons us again.” 

Music

And ofcourse miss music has music for you! Three songs to be exact. Yes Three! You read that right. The first is Muse, Neutron Star Collision, this song describes the relationship between Tobias/Four and Tris. The second is Imagine Dragons, Radioactive, just because the beat fits with the action in the book! (Oh and it is kind of my favourite song of the moment). The last is the song for the last part of the book, the revolution, this is a song by White Lies - Bigger Than us. The title says it all, also the energy in this song also fits the book very well.

Muse ~ Neutron Star Collision

Imagine Dragon ~ Radioactive

White Lies ~ Bigger Than Us

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Books: Off Series: Off Limits & Off The Record ~ Sawyer Bennett

Off Limits book #2

Two years ago, Emily Burnham, had an epiphany about the shallowness of her life. And she made it her mission to become a different person…a better woman. Out from under the controlling thumb of her mother, Emily is tasting the real world for the first time. And she likes it.

Nixon Caldwell has served his time in the Marine Corps, surviving two brutal tours in Afghanistan. He is back home, surrounded by what he likes best…isolation. It's certainly the best way to avoid confrontation of the consuming guilt that is weighing him down.

An accident brings Emily and Nix together. Emily is ready  to give him all, but can she reach him? Can she reach the part of his soul that he has deemed to be Off Limits?


Off  the Record, book #3  

Ever Montgomery suffered the ultimate betrayal by the one man who she should have been able to count on for anything. It has left her hurt, jaded and incapable of forming relationships, but it also means that she can spot a liar a mile away. These traits are earning her a reputation as a reporter with a keen nose for a good story and a complete understanding of the extreme power of the written word.

Lincoln Caldwell, is the hot goalie for the New York Rangers. At twenty-four and a rising star, he works hard and he plays even harder. He’s gorgeous and carefree—the ultimate charmer.
When Ever publishes an article about Linc containing information that she received off the record, she finds herself on the receiving end of the athelete’s fury. Rather than basking in the glory of exposing Linc as a shameless user of women, she finds herself at his mercy when he demands and receives retribution. Required by her editor to trail Linc for six weeks, Ever is forced to look at the real Linc Caldwell.

My opinion

These synopsis look promising, but at first I didn't see the connection between the characters from the first book and the second. But when I thought about it, Emily Burnham is ofcourse Ryan's sister! (See yesterdays review: Here)Then I went looking for the connection between the second and the first book. And I think Nixon and Lincoln must be brothers or at least family because they share a last name! I am curious if we will see anything of Ryan and Danny in the second book! I have this on my shelf so I will be reading it soon!
The third book will be published in June, 11th, 2013!

Buy the books on Amazon

Monday, June 3, 2013

Books: Off Sides ~ Sawyer Bennett

Title: Offsides
Series:  Off, boek 1
Author: Sawyer Bennett
Published: 21st, February, 2013
Publisher: Big Dog Publishing
Language: Available only in English
Number of pages: 137p.
Age category: New Adult
Other books in this series:
Off Limits #2
Off The Record #3
Off Course #4
Off Chance #5

About Offsides

Ryan Burnham is the privileged son of a U.S. Congressman and captain of his university’s hockey team. While he is on the verge of fulfilling his dreams to play in the NHL, his parents want him on a different course. One he is expected to accept for the sake of his family’s public image.

Forced to abandon her music career,  after the heart breaking death of her parents, Danny Cross exists on the opposite side of the tracks from Ryan. She is struggling to make her own way, working two jobs, attending college part time and volunteering in a homeless shelter. She is on a mission to build her own success.

With a chance meeting, their vastly different worlds collide, causing each to evaluate whether they are truly on the correct path to self-fulfillment and happiness. Can their relationship survive?

My opinion:

First let me tell you something about my reading progress of this book. I started this by accident, I picked the wrong book on GoodReads I meant to put Off side by Juliana Stone to my Read pile, but I ended up putting this one there. Then it kept showing up at my read pile so I thought what the heck, I will start reading this then.

When I first started I thought it was not really original after reading similar books. So I put it down and almost didn't pick it up again. But since not finishing a book is not in my nature I picked it up again after I read some other very different books. I started to enjoy and appreciated more after that. And the last 40% of the book turned out to be really interesting.

After the instant love and the acceptance of Danny by Ryan's friends, I felt it was  to good to be true. This bothered me, I was afraid there wouldn't be any resistance from the outside world, regarding the relationship between Ryan and Danny. I couldn't have been more wrong.

Rating

I ended up being shocked, emotional and really liking where the story ended up. However the start was not very original, the ending was. For me this was an average read, no major wow moments, not many surprises so that makes this book a 3 stars!


Music

Some good ole country would suffice! I would suggest typing in Grand Ole Opry at YouTube and just put on a playlist! I was listening to Bruno Mars at youtube, when I started listening to the lyrics of Locked Down In Heaven, this book crept back into my mind so I thought I'd share it!


Buy the books on Amazon: 

Saturday, June 1, 2013

May Wrap up

May is over and hopefully June will bring nice weather and a Bachelor Degree and another round of awesome read! June is the Netgalley Month, meaning I will be reading from my Netgalley pile! But first let me share with you what I have read in May!

1. Killing Time ~ Daisy White

Great Time adventure, meet these wonderful time guardians!

3 Stars
Read the review Here

2. Hush, Hush ~ Becca Fitzpatrick

Fallen Angels Fun
3 Stars
Read the review Here

3. Prelude ~ KaSonndra Leigh 

Broken and in love, music, design and dance.

5 Stars!!!/Sterren!!!
 Read the review: Here

4. Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble ~ H.P. Mallory

Witchy fun, adventure!

4 Stars!!!/Sterren!!!
 Read the review Here

5. Matched ~ Ally Condie

A fascinating dystopian.

4 Stars!!!/Sterren!!!
 Read the review Here

6. Divergent ~ Veronica Roth

A page turner, action packed, dystopian with a hint of love

 5 Stars!!!/Sterren!!!
 Review coming soon.

7. Off Sides ~ Sawyer Bennett

Ice Hockey player rich kid meets Punky waitress musician

3 Stars!!!/Sterren!!!Review coming Monday.