Friday, January 31, 2014

Books: Carnelian ~ B. Kristin McMichael ~ promo

Title: Carnelian
Author: B. Kristin McMichael
Series: Chalcedony Chronicles #1
Publication date: January 10th 2014
Publisher: Lexia Press
Genres: Time-Travel, Young Adult

About Carnelian

Everyone has a past, but for most it isn’t so far in the past as Seth Sangre. His past is literally from thousands of years ago. Seth’s past led him to the present seeking something that might help him save his country from destruction. He has been in the present for over three years now and just found exactly what he has been looking for.

Mari had dreams of college being a fresh start, one where she would start over and not fall for the good looking player like high school. Unfortunately for her that’s exactly what ends up falling into her lap on the first day she moves into the dorms. Now she has to hold to her promise to herself and not fall for the handsome Seth. But he doesn’t plan to make it easy for her.

Seth has already marked her as his next conquest. As the semester progresses, Mari learns that Seth might just have a past of his own that’s literally in the past. Suddenly Mari finds her future along with her past put into question. She’s connected to Seth far more than she ever wanted to be and maybe the player isn’t who she thought he was. If Mari can trust her heart enough to follow him, Seth will lead Mari on an adventure of a lifetime and reveal family secrets she never knew existed.

About B. Kristin McMichael

Originally from Wisconsin, B. Kristin currently resides in Ohio with her husband, two small children, and three cats. When not doing the mom thing of chasing kids, baking cookies, and playing outside, she is using her PhD in biology as a scientist. In her free time she is currently hard at work on multiple novels. Every day is a new writing adventure. She is a fan of all YA/NA fantasy and science fiction.


Monday, January 27, 2014

Series Challenge

Hi everyone!
I hope you had a great monday! I have decided that is time to join a challenge, on my blog. I am a very competitive person so challenges keep me motivated. Since I have started many many series but I haven't FINISHED, any last year, I just started the first and never got the second or third book.  Well people I am going to try and finish some of those series! I thought this challenge is a great way to get me there!

About the Challenge

This is a challenge for YOU, so you’ll set your pace and decide what you will read but I do have a few guidelines:

* You have to FINISH the series If the series isn’t complete yet, or will not be completed before December 1st, 2014 read up to the most recent book in said series.
*Novellas count, but are optional. HAVE fun
*If you decide to break up with a series after book one, it does not count!
*You do not have to START the series in 2014, you just have to FINISH it in 2014 Series that you started prior to 2014 are fine as long as you FINISH the series in 2014.
*The series has to have at least 2 books out prior to December 1st, 2014
*Proof that you finished the book is required. It could be a full review, a mini review, or a rating with a few lines. DNF’s do not count. PERIOD.


To keep us motivated, Read Sleep Repeat's & Anya of On Starships and Dragonwing thought of a little something to keep us motivated.

Bronze Badge:  
If you complete 1-3 series you will earn the Bronze Badge. Those who earn this badge will be entered into a giveaway for a $5 gift-card to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Kobo at the end of the year.


Silver Badge:
If you complete 4-6 series you will earn the Silver Badge. Those who earn this badge will be entered into a giveaway for a book of their choice from The Book Depository, Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Kobo, valued at no more than $15 dollars.


Gold Badge:  
If you complete 7-11 series you will earn the Gold Badge. Those who earn this badge will be entered into a giveaway for a $20 gift card to Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Kobo.

Platinum Badge:  
If you complete 12 OR more series you will earn the Platinum Badge. Those who earn this badge will be entered into a giveaway for a chance to win a box (3-5) of books.
Since December is a ways away I don’t know what will be in the box yet. But there definitely will be an ARC…. or 3. HOWEVER I am not made of money so, if the Platinum winner is international they will win a $30 gift card to Amazon.

Which series will I be reading?  ~ Welke series ga ik lezen?

* The Hunger Games
* Matched
* Vampire Academy
* Divergent
* Hush Hush
* Jenny Pox
* Blue Bloods series
* Moon series
* Jolie Wilkins series
* Beautiful Creatures
* Georgina Kincaid Series

What series do you want to finish this year? 

Friday, January 24, 2014

Books: Podium Finish ~ Beth Pond

Title: Podium Finish
Author: Beth Pond
Published: 14th, November, 2013
Publisher: Astraea Press
Kind of story: Standalone
Number of pages: 273 p.
Age category: Young Adult
Language: English only


About Podium Finish

With six months until the Olympic Games, seventeen-year-old Harper's life is pretty much perfect. She's fighting for the starting spot on Team USA Women's Hockey, and for the first time ever, she has a crush on a guy who likes her back.

She feels like the luckiest girl in the world, until she runs a risky play at practice and breaks her knee, thereby sentencing herself to six weeks in a cast and possibly ending her Olympic dream before it even starts. For seventeen-year-old Alex, being anything less than the best is unacceptable. That's why, after a miserable debut season at the senior level, the former junior national singles champion switches to ice dance.
Her skating partner, Ace, is an "all skating all the time" type of guy, which would be fine, if he'd stop keeping secrets about the real reason he and his former partner broke up. Now is not the time for second thoughts, but how can Alex skate her best if she can’t trust her partner…or herself?
As the pressure to make the Olympic team builds, the girls must rely on each other, because if there’s one thing they both know, it's that the only thing harder than skating to the top is staying there.

Review

This book was everything I hoped it would be, I accidentally came across the sign up post for this book tour. Me being an enormous skating fan, but also a fan of the Olympic wintergames, just had to sign up for this booktour. And I can't say  I regret it, because this book turned out to be one of my favourite books with sports as a theme.
Well most of the other books I read about sports, the sport it self was never the main theme. Yes it came along with the characters, but just in the background.

This book focusses on two characters, Harper and Alex. Both athletes training for a place on the American Olympic teams. This book gives an insight on how hard athletes have to train to even get to the Olympic games.

It also shows how athletes deal with injuries, this was a really interesting part because I didn't know much about it. Like how they treat sore muscles with a warm/cold water bath. And the machines they use for injuries. Those are things you don't often hear about. I found it was really interesting. Also I had never heard of ice dancing before, sure I have heard of figure skating singles and pairs but never ice skating.

My favourite part of this book was when Harper and Alex went to watch the short track match from Rye, that was so exciting, I felt the rush as if I was skating myself. It was well put and I could see the match happen right in mind! That was really cool! I am going to be on the outlook for more books like these. Also this book made me want to go get my skates, drive to the nearest rink and go skating!

This book is great for all people who love the winter games, or skating in general. It's a story about motivation, passion, friendship, love and of course the Olympic Wintergames.

Rating

I think this book is truly amazingly written, very realistic and has everything you want to hear about when you are reading about sports. Therefore this beautiful book gets 5 snowflakes from me!


Favourite Quote:

" At least the ice will be freshly Zambonied, I say. Ace laughs.
" I don't think Zamboni is supposed to be a verb."

Excerpt

We finish a slow lap around the rink then I tell Rye I want to see him speed skate.

 "It's more impressive when I'm actually racing people."
 "That's okay," I say.
 "You just want an excuse to look at my butt."
 "No. I'll just race you then if you're going to be like that."
"You'll still have a nice view of my butt."

If I were in 100 percent health, I would have punched him in the arm and bolted off, not caring that his skates are better designed for racing, not to mention the years of experience he has, and I would have raced my heart out, but I'm not in 100 percent health.

A dull ache crept its way into my knee on the second turn of our slow lap together. It's not painful. It's the weakness Tyler was talking about, but nevertheless, that ache is a reminder that comebacks are a multistep process.

Rye takes off, crossing his right leg over his left leg to turn the corner of the rink, picking up speed on the straights. When he passes me, a rush of wind follows him. He rounds the first turn again, fingertips brushing the surface of the ice, body at a 45-degree angle, so low to the ice that if it weren't for his speed, he'd fall over, too much speed and he'd fall as well.

I stand by the rink wall, and Rye whips by again, purposely getting close to me even though speed skaters normally try to stay as close to the inside of the track as possible. "Show off!" I call, but he's already coming out of the turn and probably can't hear me.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Stacking The Shelves #10


Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! This is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and anyone can get involved!


Bought



Freebies



Won

What did you get this week? 

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Swinging Saturdays #23 I fell in love with you the first time I heard you!

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.

Good morning! 

It's time for another edition of Swinging Saturdays! Today's topic: " I fell in love the first time I heard you!" Have you ever heard a song, which immediately drew you in and you fell in love with it instantly? Well today I am sharing some of those songs with you, I often don't know why I fell in love  with them, it is something I can't explain, but every time I hear one of these songs I drop everything and listen.


1. Passenger ~ Let Her Go

Goose bumps all the way!


2. Jack's Mannequin ~ Caves

The guy is hot!!!! My god I didn't know, don't mind watching him :D :P


3. Tom Odell ~ Another Love

I first heard this song on the radio in an acoustic live version, it was so beautiful, instant love!


4. Stereophonics ~ Maybe Tomorrow

The raw voice, guitars, need I say more?

5. Asaf Avidan ~ One Day 

I heard this first in the Wankelmut remix, but I love the original sound so much more! 

BTW Also check out Tanya's post here: Swinging Saturdays


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.  I would love to hear what kind of music you like!

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Books: Vrolijk Hart ~ Evi Parker

Title: Vrolijk Hart
Author: Evi Parker
Series: Wolfhartserie
Published: 8th, December, 2013
Publisher: Self-published
Kind of story: Short Story
Number of pages: 52 p.
Age category: Adult
Language: Dutch only

About Vrolijk Hart

Joy is a joyous, optimistic woman with a hart of gold. Luuk is moody, cranky and on the edge of losing his self-control. He is dangerous to his environment and the last thing he wants to do is harm Joy.
But will you stay away from Luuk because of his cranky character?
Or when she finds out that he is not human?

My review

Well look at that! A Dutch short story, one that will give you joy. Unlike Bring Her Wolf this short story actually has content. We learn about Joy and her habbits. We meet her peculiar client, Luuk, who happens to be a werewolf.

The story builds up to a great ending too. Hopefully we will get to see a sequel to this short story, I would love to lear more about the characters! It would be even better if Evi could turn this into a full-length book! It definitely got the potential to be much more than just a short story. And I would be the first person to by the book!

It is really great to read a Dutch paranormal romance. Most of the books on the market are translation from English writers, which I don't read in Dutch. The was a nice change from my overstuffed Engelish Kindle shelf. 4 snowflakes for this short story!


Monday, January 13, 2014

Books: Bring Her Wolf ~ Michelle Fox

Title: Bring Her Wolf
Author: Michelle Fox
Kind of story: Short Story, standalone
Publishing date: 8th, December, 2013
Publisher: Self published
Age category: Adult
Number of pages: 30p.
Language: English only

About Bring Her Wolf

Chloe is a wolf with a problem: She can't change and if her wolf doesn't come soon, pack law demands she leave the only home she's ever known.

Then temptation comes calling...hot hunky werewolf, Jackson promises Chloe he'll bring her wolf. He's been pining for her from afar and won't miss a chance to claim Chloe for his own. The bad boy alpha will have Chloe howling before she knows it.

My Review

I have read several short stories last year which were al pretty awesome, but not this one, so if you are expecting something cheery then stop reading right here because now I am going to start my rant!

This short story was just to short for me, strange right, but it lacked any useful content and was a complete waste of my time. Maybe it was a good thing it was so short.

 What bothered me the most was the whole shifting thingy, hey I know how to make you turn, I just have to fuck you! Really? How lame is that? nope definitely not my thing. I was already annoyed at that point. Then Cloe gets almost "raped", well not really but she didn't have much choice in the matter either so yeah it could have been a rape..

My rating

Then she turns kills a rabbit, the end. There is no depth, no story, no interesting characters, overall it just sucked. So 2 snowflakes for this lack of content short story.


Sunday, January 12, 2014

Stacking The Shelves #9


Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! This is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and anyone can get involved!


Note: Click on the cover and it will take you to amazon for more information. Please be aware that the freebies might not be free anymore!!!!

Netgalley or Received from the author or Publisher


Won


Freebies




Bought



This are the books from a couple of weeks since I haven't had time to do a stacking the shelves post.
What did you get this week?