Tuesday, May 29, 2012

ANNOUNCING Contemporary Fiction Month - June 2012


Hello, lovelies! Great news! Contemporary Fiction Month starts in just 2 days! Are you as excited as I am?! Cause I am pretty flipping excited! :) 

I am co-hosting this fabulous event with Bonnie from Words At Home and Asheley from Into The Hall Of Books. Both my lovely partners-in-crime will have their own unique schedules filled with reviews, interviews, guest posts and giveaways, so be sure to check out their blogs and follow them (if you haven't yet done so). 

What will you be served here, at Bookish? Why, I'm glad you're asking! I prepared a full-course meal for you, lovelies, and it's full of wicked awesomeness! More than 30 reviews, nearly as many interviews and guest posts, fun contemporary-related posts, and - get that - more than 40 giveaways (some separate, some prize packs, some totally MIND BLOWING) :) Yep, you heard that right!

Contemporary Fiction gets awfully neglected and the truth is we don't appreciate it as much as we should. And it deserves to be appreciated and cherished. This wonderful genre is so much more than just light and fluffy romances and silly comedies, it offers insightful, profoundly meaningful stories, mind-blowing complexity and three-dimensional characters. Contemporary Fiction speaks to us like no other genre out there, because of its authenticity and relatability. Sometimes it makes us laugh, sometimes it makes us cry, ultimately, though, it makes us feel and it teaches us something about life, relationships, growing-up, and dealing with difficult issues. Most importantly, it teaches us something about ourselves. 
So why not show contemporary fiction some love?
Visit Bookish daily throughout the month of June and dive into the world of realistic fiction. Fell in love. Get your heart broken. Make friends. Enjoy! 

Contemporary Fiction Month Schedule:


June 1st:
Event Kick-Off with "Hottest Upcoming Releases CONTEMPORARY FICTION edition" + GIVEAWAY (World Wide: 3 books of choice!) - POSTED
- Book Review: Take A Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg - POSTED
- Author Interview with Elizabeth Eulberg + Giveaway of Take A Bow - POSTED

June 2nd:
Book Review: Cat Girl's Day Off by Kimberly Pauley - POSTED
- Scavenger Hunt Prize Pack Giveaway (book + T-Shirt + SWAG + Book Thongs) - POSTED
- Author Interview with Kimberly Pauley - POSTED


June 3rd:
Book Review: Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick - POSTED

June 4th:
Book Review: Pregnant Pause by Han Nolan - POSTED
Author Interview with Han Nolan - POSTED
Giveaway: Pregnant Pause by Han Nolan - POSTED


June 5th:
Book Review: The Taming by Teresa Toten, Eric Walters - POSTED
Giveaway: The Taming by Teresa Toten, Eric Walters - POSTED

June 6th:
Book Review: Last Stop This Town by David H. Steinberg - POSTED
Giveaway: 2x Last Stop This Town by David H. Steinberg - POSTED
Guest Review: Wonder by R.J. Palacio (reviewed by Jenn from Lost In A Great Book) - POSTED

June 7th:
- Book Review: The Duff by Kody Keplinger - POSTED
- Giveaway: The Duff by Kody Keplinger - POSTED


June 8th:
- Book Review: The List by Siobhan Vivian
- Giveaway: The List by Siobhan Vivian

June 9th:
- Book Review: 40 Things I Want To Tell You by Alice Kuipers
- Guest Post by Alice Kuipers

June 10th:
- Book Review: While He Was Away by Karen Schreck
- Author Interview with Karen Schreck
- Giveaway: While He Was Away by Karen Schreck

June 11th
- Book Review: Never Enough by Denise Jaden
- Author Interview with Denise Jaden
- Giveaway: Never Enough by Denise Jaden

June 12th
- Book Review: The Catastrophic History of You And Me by Jess Rothenberg
- Giveaway: The Catastrophic History of You And Me by Jess Rothenberg

June 13th:
- Book Review: Flirting In Italian by Lauren Henderson
- Guest Post by Barnabas Miller

June 14th:
- Book Review: Rock God by Barnabas Miller
- Author Interview with Barnabas Miller
- Giveaway: Rock God by Barnabas Miller

June 15th:
- Book Review: Emma Hearts LA by Keris Stainton
- Author Interview with Keris Stainton
- Giveaway: Emma Hearts LA by Keris Stainton

June 16th:
- Book Review: Boy Meets Girl by various
- Giveaway: Boy Meets Girl by various
- Author Interview: Hilary Weisman Graham, author of Reunited +  Giveaway

June 17th:
- Book Review: Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley
- Author Interview with Cath Crowley
- Giveaway: Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

June 18th:
- Book Giveaway: My Life In Black And White by Natasha Friend
- Giveaway: My Life In Black And White by Natasha Friend

June 19th:
- Book Review: Summer Of No Regrets by Katherine Grace Bond
- Author Interview with Katherine Grace Bond
- Giveaway: Summer Of No Regrets by Katherine Grace Bond

June 20th:
-Book Review: Running On Empty by Don Aker
- Guest Post by Don Aker
- My top 10 favorite Contemporary Fiction characters

June 21st:
- Book Review: Purity by Jackson Pearce
- Giveaway: Purity by Jackson Pearce
- Guest Post by Sasha Soren, author of Random Magic

June 22nd:
-Book Review: The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
- Giveaway: The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
- Book Review: One Moment by Kristina McBride
- Author Interview with Kristina McBride
- Book Giveaway: ARC of One Moment by Kristina McBride

June 23rd:
- Book Review: Girl Out Loud by Emily Gale
- Author Interview with Emily Gale
- Giveaway: Girl Out Loud by Emily Gale

June 24th:
- Book Review: Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally
- Giveaway: Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

June 25th:
- Book Review: Miracle by Elizabeth Scott
- Author Interview with Elizabeth Scott
- Giveaway: Miracle by Elizabeth Scott

June 26th:
- Book Review: Waiting by Carol Lynch Williams
- Author Interview with Carol Lynch Williams
- Giveaway: Waiting by Carol Lynch Williams

June 27th:
- Book Review: You Against Me by Jenny Downham
- Giveaway: You Against Me by Jenny Downham
- My top 10 Favorite Contemporary Fiction couples + Giveaway of a hand made beaded bracelet with mini book charms

June 28th:
- Book Review: The Letter Q by various
- Giveaway: The Letter Q by various

June 29th:
- Book Review: Between The Lines by Jodi Picoult
- Giveaway: Between The Lines by Jodi Picoult

June 30th:
- Wrap up post
- "Top 10 contemporary novels" post
- Book Review:This Is So Not Happening by Kieran Scott
- Giveaway: This Is So Not Happening by Kieran Scott
- Huge prize pack giveaway (Harper Collins Canada, Random House Canada, Raincoast Books)

STARTS JUNE 1ST!!!

Blink by Lloyd Poast (Review)

Genre:Short Fantasy Novellette
Publication.Date  May 17th 2012
Pages:12
Published By:  Books To Go Now  | 
WebsiteLloyd Poast | 

Blink - Goodreads
My review copy:Finished copy received from the author in exchange for an honest review
Where to get:



A teenage boy wanders into a mystical forest ruled by a gypsy goddess named Amaisia Moon.

The forest changes with every blink or head turn and he discovers an ocean where dreams and nightmares literally come alive.(Goodreads)



“You’re at both the end and the beginning of the world, Lance,”
she said. “The ocean is a blank canvas for everything that is to come, and everyone who steps into the forest
plays a hand in its creation. With every new thought, the tide moves out further, and the forest grows larger.”
“Nothing that happens here makes any sense,” he said, looking at Lance. “No offence, but I’m even starting to wonder if you’re real.”
“Don’t worry,” he said. “I know what you mean. Everything seems so random and surreal…. and those clouds are insane,” he added, as they looked up at their watery reflections floating in the sky.
"Have you ever boogied on a moon beam or drank wine from a rainbow?", she asked. "Well... now you can. I'm everything impossible and everything that can never be. I'm electric breeze."






“Don’t look over your shoulder,
don’t look in the sky
the ocean is a stranger,
the sun is a lie.”

     Blink by Lloyd Poast is one incredibly imaginative and magical short story! It's a fairly quick read, but once you step into the world Mr. Poast created, you will not want to leave. It's furiously good. Enchanting, eye-popping and alluring, it's a tale like no other out there, and the only story I could possibly compare it to would be Alice In Wonderland, as it possesses the same dream-like, mesmerizing and mind-twisting quality, only, instead of lengthy passages, you get a condensed, easy-to-swallow-in-one bite delicious treat! An absolute must-check-out

“You’re at both the end and the beginning of the world, Lance,”she said. “The ocean is a blank canvas for everything that is to come, and everyone who steps into the forest plays a hand in its creation. With every new thought, the tide moves out further, and the forest grows larger.”

     At merely 12 pages long, Blink is definitely not a very time-consuming read, but most certainly one that you will want to dive into. It has everything a good short should have: compelling premise, excellent and satisfying plot line (complete with great conclusion), and a very memorable sneak-peak into the world that could potentially become a background for a phenomenal full-blown novel. Our hero, Lance Beckett, a seventeen-year-old high school student from Canada, steps into the majestic woods overlooking the small town of Angel Falls. The forest is no ordinary one, it has a very bad reputation in town and everyone stays away from it ("The regulars in the diner said that it was infested by madness and anyone that wandered inside was lost forever."). Lance knows very well he should stay away from it, yet - overwhelmed by curiosity - he decides to take a chance and explore a bit. From the moment he steps inside, weird things are starting to appear before him, and it's almost as if he got a sun stroke and his mind wandered off into some incredibly cool and wicked la-la land. He finds himself in the kingdom born from fantasies, dreams and nightmares of people who - just like himself - recklessly entered it. The air crackles with sparkly magic, the clouds in the sky look just like the reflection you'd see on the surface of an emerald lake, bubbles explode in cascades of silvery sand... Magical creatures everywhere (including dragons and gigantic spider-like women), imaginary girls, and a gypsy goddess - this world is mind-blowing and oh-so-poetic! Lance has to find a way out of this place, before he himself becomes a permanent addition to this fantasy realm. 

Lesson to be learned: don't ever take shortcuts through magical woods. Not unless you're prepared to follow Alice's footstep and fall into the rabbit whole. 

"Here's a kiss wrapped in a falling star"

In short: I loved it. There's no way to describe just how insanely good this short story is. It's not only the magnificent world creation and the originality of it, but also Llyod's excellent writing style that make this novellette stand out. It's, hands down, one of the best shorts I've ever read and if you can spare half and hour - please, do read it! It is so worth the time. I was literally blown-away by it.






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About the Author
Evie is the Blogger behind Bookish. She enjoys reading many different genres, especially YA, Paranormal, Contemporary Fiction and Fantasy.
She loves talking to authors and is always happy to welcome them for interviews, and guest posts. She also likes spreading the love for awesome books and  chatting with fellow book-worms.
You can find Evie here: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Shelfari | The Library Thing

Friday, May 25, 2012

Questions & Answers with Aimee Carter + GIVEAWAY of Goddess Interrupted (US/Canada)


Q&A With Aimée Carter, 
Author of the Goddess Test Series 

How familiar were you with Greek myths and folklore before writing the Goddess Test series? Was a lot of research required? 

+ I first fell in love with Greek mythology when I was a kid learning how to read, and my infatuation only grew from there. I’ve studied various kinds of mythology for years, sometimes for class and always for fun, but even then I put a great deal of research into the Goddess Test series. Mostly as a refresher to make sure I was getting my facts right, but I also researched the various myths looking for ways to tie the plots and characters together in unexpected ways. 

Was Goddess Interrupted any easier or harder to write than the first book in the series, The Goddess Test? 

+ It was both easier and harder, in a strange way. I rewrote The Goddess Test multiple times, and I’ve never edited a book more heavily in my life. Goddess Interrupted did require some editing, of course, but it was much easier. 

However, the pressure to deliver a sequel worthy of the series made the writing process for Goddess Interrupted more difficult than I’d anticipated. There’s something called the “sophomore slump”, where sequels or second books generally don’t quite match up to the second, and I wanted to avoid that at all cost. So that added a lot of stress, but in the end, I was very happy with the results. 

You give the gods and goddesses in the series “ordinary names” – Zeus is named Walter, Aphrodite goes by Ava, Hermes is named James. Why did you do that and do the more contemporary names have any significance? 

+ This was something I went back and forth on multiple times. Initially the characters Kate encounters weren’t council members at all – I changed that very, very quickly though. By the second draft, I had a place for each of the Olympians, and I did some heavy rewriting to replace my first draft characters with the gods. I wanted to find a way to keep their names the same, but since they’re supposed to live among us in secret in the modern world, it didn’t really make sense. How many men named Zeus do you know, or women called Aphrodite? On top of that, keeping the council’s identities secret was incredibly important to the plot. So eventually I decided they would have changed their names when Western civilization stopped worshipping them as gods, allowing them to live freely among us. 

I did choose each name for what it means, some more than others – Walter, for instance, means “army leader”, while James means “supplanter”. The exception is Calliope, which in the story was chosen by her counterpart for its Greek roots. The reason the gods changed their names – and why Artemis didn’t wind up with the name Diana – is explained throughout the series, but you get to actually see this happen in The Goddess Legacy (July 31). 

Goddess Interrupted begins with the main character Kate Winters adjusting to her new life as an immortal. Given Kate’s innate strength and stubbornness, was it difficult to switch gears to portray her as a bit more vulnerable and unsure of herself in her new role as goddess AND wife? 

+ Not so much, to be honest – her progression felt natural to me. While Kate is very tough in certain ways, she’s extremely vulnerable as well. She’s emotionally dependent on the people around her (her mother in the first book, Henry in the second), and that in and of itself carves the path she takes in the sequel. She’s spent six months with Henry, falling in love with him and forming a relationship she thinks is going to last for eternity. But Henry is battling his own demons and isn’t ready to be the person she needs him to be, and because Kate is so stubborn, she has a hard time coming to terms with that. In the sequel, Kate really is her own worst enemy emotionally – her entire world has changed, after all, and that’s a lot for anyone to take – but it’s all part of her development into a goddess and queen. 

Kate finds herself trying to work through her rather complicated relationship with James, as well as her relationship with her new husband, Henry (Hades). Neither seems to be black and white, but rather varying shades of gray. Were any of Kate’s feelings or situations based on any relationship struggles you’ve been through? 

+ Not personally, no, but I did try to make Kate’s relationships with the people in her life as realistic as possible. She isn’t perfect, and neither are they, and that’s something they all have to work through at varying points in the series. None of the relationships in the books are based off of specific experiences I’ve been through though. 

What is your favorite part of the writing process? Least favorite?

+ Outlining is by far my favorite part of the process. I love the idea stage, where anything’s possible, and it’s such a shiny place. All of that comes crashing down when I write the first draft though, which is the hardest part for me. I tend to get mentally exhausted about two thirds to three quarters of the way into the manuscript, and it’s always a struggle for me to push through it, especially if I’m on a deadline. And inevitably there are a ton of problems I didn’t notice in the outline stage that have to be fixed for the story to work. I’m a perfectionist, so in order for me to continue writing the story, everything I’ve already written has to make sense. 

Do you have a favorite quote or line from a poem or book?

+ I love so many quotes that I couldn’t possibly pick a favorite.

How did you get your first publishing deal and how did that feel?

+ My agent, Rosemary Stimola, sent the manuscript out to various publishers, and after a long submission process, Harlequin TEEN offered to publish it! I was stunned at first, but that quickly gave way to giddiness. It was an incredible feeling to know I’d be published, and to this day, I still can’t quite believe it. 

When is the next book in the series due out? Any hints on what will happen in book 3?

+ Goddess Interrupted, the sequel to The Goddess Test, came out in late March. The next book in the series, The Goddess Legacy, will be out July 31. It’s a collection of five novellas told in the perspectives of Calliope, Ava, Persephone, James, and Henry, and together they form one story. 

The third book in the series, The Goddess Inheritance, is currently scheduled to be released in March 2013. Unfortunately I can’t say too much about it, but the challenges that Kate will face are pretty clear by the end of the sequel! 

After the huge success of The Goddess Test, Goddess Interrupted is on many, many TBR lists for this summer. What’s on your TBR list? 

+ I’m so excited for a slew of books coming out – The Girl in the Clockwork Collar, Grave Mercy, The Selection, The Serpent’s Shadow, Philippa Gregory’s YA novel, and a ton of others. I never have as much time to read as I want, but I’m definitely making time for all of those and more! 

Yearbook Superlatives! If you went to high school with the Greek gods and goddesses, who would you vote for? 

· Most likely to succeed? - Hera 
· Class clown? - Hermes 
· Nicest? – Demeter or Hephaestus 
· Best dressed? - Aphrodite 
· Best dancer? - Apollo 
· Most school spirit? - Iris 
· Most likely to attend summer school? - Ares 
· Teachers pet? - Athena


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GIVEAWAY

Harlequin Teen has generously offered to give away one finished copy of Goddess Interrupted, second book in the fabulous Goddess Test series!

Open to: US/CANADA
Ends: June 10th
Mandatory entry: Be a blog follower and leave a comment on this post!

Enter through Rafflecopter after the page break (click SEE/READ MORE)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About the Author
Evie is the Blogger behind Bookish. She enjoys reading many different genres, especially YA, Paranormal, Contemporary Fiction and Fantasy.
She loves talking to authors and is always happy to welcome them for interviews, and guest posts. She also likes spreading the love for awesome books and  chatting with fellow book-worms.
You can find Evie here: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Shelfari | The Library Thing

Goddess Interrupted (Goddess Test #2) by Aimee Carter (Review)

Genre:Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Mythology
Publication.Date  March 27th 2011
Pages:296
Published By:  Harlequin Teen  | 
WebsiteAimee Carter 

Goddess Interrupted - Goodreads
My review copy:Finished copy received from the author as a gift (thank you, Aimee!)
Where to get:



KATE WINTERS HAS WON IMMORTALITY.

BUT IF SHE WANTS A LIFE WITH HENRY IN THE UNDERWORLD, SHE'LL HAVE TO FIGHT FOR IT.

Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry's first wife, Persephone.(Goodreads)



“It is supposed to be the truth." He stared at me and my breath caught in my throat. "If I were a better man, I would be able to show you the love and affection you deserve. As I am not, I can only offer you what I'm capable of giving. But I assure you, just because I do not show it, doesn't mean I do not feel it.” 
“Being with Henry doesn't mean you have to give up who you are. Henry doesn't define you.”
“Persephone told me that you said it wasn't as good as you expected it. When she kissed you, I mean."
Something flickered behind his eyes, but it was gone so fast that I couldn't tell what it was.
"No, it was not. I find little joy in showing affection to somebody who does not return it."
"Yeah, me too." I covered his hand with mine and pressed my lips against his palm. "It hurts being the one who loves more.”
“You can say you love me all you want, but if you only ever act like the opposite's true, then I can't trust your words anymore.”







     Sizzling with emotions and drama, Goddess Interrupted is a pleasing second instalment in the highly entertaining Goddess Test series. It's a hold-on-tight-to-your-seat kind of book, full of fast-paced action and mind-bending plot twists. It's intense. It's fun. It's also addictive, full of surprises and deliciously magical. Most of all, though, it's just extremely readable and compelling - one of those books that firmly grab your attention and do not release their hold until you turn the last page. 

     This is a well-written book, and one that, despite its minor flaws, is really fun to read. I ploughed through it in less than a day and really enjoyed myself. As with the first book in the series, there were moments when I thought things could have been handled better, small discrepancies here and there, things in the plot that didn't click for me, etc...Like for example, did Kate really had to leave the Underworld after the first 6 months, when it is now implied that it's up to her to make the decision whether she wants to stay or go? At the end of The Goddess Test it seemed that she was almost forced to leave, despite wanting to stay by Henry's side, while towards the end of Goddess Interrupted, when the same issue comes up again, Kate tells Henry that she would prefer to stay in the Underworld whole year round and he seems very pleased with her decision. And no one says anything about it being a sort of a set-in-stone kind of deal like it appeared to be in the previous part. Hmm... But at the same time, these little details are easy to ignore and they don't take away from the pleasure of reading at all. 

     I liked Kate's character in the The Goddess Test. I thought she was really cool - all brave and thoughtful, caring and ready to sacrifice herself for others. That was admirable. However, with how the book ended, and what we learned about the events leading up to Kate's arrival in the Underworld (her whole life!), I must admit I was quite disturbed by her willingness to just accept things as they were and play the role of faithful wife and soon-to-be queen. Come on, Kate, you're not stupid, you obviously know that you've been played. Your whole life was nothing more than a freaking puppet show! Throw a fit, slap some people around, scream at them! Don't just play into their expectations and obediently follow their lead. You're better than that! I was shocked by the ending of The Goddess Test, Carter served a jaw-dropper that I didn't see coming. At all. But that still didn't enraged me. I get that Aimee Carter wanted to end with a bang, and well, she did just that. What frustrated me the most is Kate's reaction to that. And then Henry's behaviour and, again, Kate's reaction to that as well. I still believe in Henry, I think he'll somehow pull his crap together and stop acting like a sulky little kid, in time to make a good impression in The Goddess Legacy. I mean, he has to, right? Cause if by the end of this series he's still the same whiny, withdrawn, mysterious-bordering-on-brain-damaged flop, than the Underworld is in deep trouble. Don't get me wrong, I loved all the drama - it kept me well entertained and eager to turn the pages. I just felt slightly let down by Kate and Henry, and the lack of chemistry (or even common sense!) in their relationship. I wished Henry would get over Persephone and his BIG HEARTBREAK, instead he seemed to be intent on continuing to bathe in his pool of misery and self-pity. I wished Kate would step up and slap him into focus, instead she was going on an on about how she's just the replacement wife, how she'll never be as good as Persephone, she'll always be the second-best, yada yada yada... Sure, it was melodramatic. Yes, it added to the tension and mystery, offering an element of uncertainty. And I'm certain Aimee Carter is going somewhere with all that, but until I know where that is, I'll just say: let's give the guy his balls back and let the newly wed enjoy their honeymoon for gods' sake! 

     My small rant aside, I really did love Goddess Interrupted. Aimee Carter is a very talented writer, she has a way of making you emotionally engaged in the story. She'll make you laugh and cry. She'll get you all worked up and throwing things at the wall. The story she wrote is not a shallow one, but one with depth and layers upon layers of world and character building. Take Calliope - she's a real surprise! I thought she'd be so easy to hate, but she's not a stereotypical villain. As you get to know her better, and learn more about her story and the motives behind her actions, you'll probably even come to sympathize with her. She's quite a complex character, they all are. I really like that about this series.

     The world Aimee created is breathtaking and enchanting. I loved reading about the Underworld, it was.. magnificent! I also loved the idea of different after-lives for everyone - I thought it was brilliant and unique. I did not expect to be introduced to Persephone, and, as much as I hate to admit that, I actually liked her! She is a feisty chick who knows exactly what she wants and is not afraid  to do whatever it takes to get it - even if it means messing with the gods! Sassy, egoistic and quite temperamental, she really spiced up the story with her vibrant personality. And the Titans! I can't wait to learn more about them, especially about the King of the Titans!

     And yet again, the ending will blow your mind to pieces. You thought The Goddess Test ended with a total shocker? Wait till you read Goddess Interrupted! You'll be begging for The Goddess Legacy!






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About the Author
Evie is the Blogger behind Bookish. She enjoys reading many different genres, especially YA, Paranormal, Contemporary Fiction and Fantasy.
She loves talking to authors and is always happy to welcome them for interviews, and guest posts. She also likes spreading the love for awesome books and  chatting with fellow book-worms.
You can find Evie here: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Shelfari | The Library Thing

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop (Immortal Rules - International)


Hosted by I AM A READER, NOT A WRITER, and Page Turners Blog.

GIVEAWAY:


HARDCOVER COPY of IMMORTAL RULES by JULIE KAGAWA

This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL
ends: May 31st

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Goddess Hunt (Goddess Test #1.5) by Aimee Carter (Review)

Genre:Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Mythology
Publication.Date  March 1st 2012
Pages:71
Published By:  Harlequin Teen  | 
WebsiteAimee Carter 

The Goddess Hunt - Goodreads
My review copy:Purchased via Amazon (Kindle copy)
Where to get:



A vacation in Greece sounds like the perfect way for Kate Winters to spend her first sabbatical away from the Underworld...until she gets caught up in an immortal feud going back millennia. Castor and Pollux have been on the run from Zeus and Hades' wrath for centuries, hiding from the gods who hunt them. The last person they trust is Kate, the new Queen of the Underworld. Nevertheless, she is determined to help their cause. But when it comes to dealing with immortals, Kate still has a lot to learn.... (Goodreads)



Hades' massive three-headed guardian of the Underworld couldn't hurt the dead, but Pollux wasn't afraid of a dog. He was afraid of the god who trailed him.
Six months. One hundred and eighty-four days. That was how long I had to stay away from Eden, where Henry, my brand-new husband, waited for me to return in September.
"I never claimed we were the good guys," said Walter evenly. "Any assumption on your part is yours alone. We do what we must to uphold out laws--"
They like to pretend they're the good people every now and then. Let them keep their high opinions of themselves. But you'd do well to remember that the council does nothing unless they can reap the benefits."





     The Goddess Hunt did not disappoint. I was impressed at how compelling and readable it was. Usually when it comes to in-between novellas (you know, those additional stories that are supposed to keep the reader interested/entertained while they patiently await the release of the next book in the series), they are nothing more than that - sloppy fillers (*cough* Portrait of a Starter *cough, cough*). Rarely do they actually entertain or enrich the main plot line in any way. In most cases they seem like something written in between lunch and dinner - rushed, short, meaningless. Well, guess what! That's not the case with The Goddess Hunt. This great little story surpassed all my expectations. It was written with exceptional care for details. Thoughtful and informative, it brought something new to the table by telling us about Kate's time away from Henry and the Underworld. Most importantly, it's a novella that is perfectly capable of standing on its own - it has it's own unique plot that gets resolved in a very satisfying way. Being 71 pages long, it's quite a treat for all the fans of Goddess Test series. No, it's not an absolutely essential part of the story - you could probably do without it, but, having read the first two books and the short, I can tell you one thing - you WANT to read it. It will help you understand the second book, Goddess Interrupted, way better, giving you more insight into the dynamics between Kate, Henry and James, but also giving you a glimpse of Zeus' stubborn and vengeful character.

     Besides, it is just so fun to read! You get to meet some cool new characters, you visit Greece, you learn more about the Olympians, their history and true nature (which, as you'll soon learn, is not as honourable and admirable as they'd like to believe). Plus, The Goddess Hunt explores a very interesting Greek myth, the one about the Gemini twins. It's quite a heartbreaking story of devotion, sacrifice and brotherly love, and I'm sure fans of Greek mythology will greatly enjoy it!

     So, instead of paying $2.25 for 15 pages that are as good as blank, treat yourself to this deliciously captivating novella that makes every of its 71 pages count (and costs only $1.99)! Next to Patrick Ness' New World (which, by the way, is FREE!), this is by far my favourite original short/novella.






❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
About the Author
Evie is the Blogger behind Bookish. She enjoys reading many different genres, especially YA, Paranormal, Contemporary Fiction and Fantasy.
She loves talking to authors and is always happy to welcome them for interviews, and guest posts. She also likes spreading the love for awesome books and  chatting with fellow book-worms.
You can find Evie here: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Shelfari | The Library Thing

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter (Review)

Genre:Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Mythology
Publication.Date  April 14thth 2011
Pages:293
Published By:  Harlequin Teen  | 
WebsiteAimee Carter 

The Goddess Test - Goodreads
My review copy:Finished copy received from the author as a gift (thank you, Aimee!)
Where to get:



It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess. (Goodreads)



“I’m not, even if you think I am. But no matter what this started out as…an accident, fate, whatever—I’m glad you found me that night. Not because of what happened, but because of now. Because I get to be here with you. And I’m scared, too, but—but thank you for telling me today. Thank you for trusting me with that. I’ve never…” I pressed my lips together, trying to find the right words. “I’ve never felt like this for anyone. And I’m not really sure what falling in love feels like, but I think—I know I have. With you.”  
“I care," he said in a trembling voice. "I care so much that I do not know how to tell you without it seeming inconsequential compared to how I feel. Even if I am distant at times and seem as if I do not want to be with you, it is only because this scares me, too.”
“Maybe you'll win when hell freezes over."
He raised an eyebrow.
"That could be easily arranged.”
“Sometimes we misjudge what is possible and what is not.”





     Absolutely and utterly delightful, The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter turned out to be so much more than I ever hoped it would be. Insanely emotional, intense, full of drama and unexpected plot developments, it's a charming retelling of the Persephone myth, and one that is way more thrilling and nail-biting than the original! From the moment I picked it up to the very last page, it kept me fascinated and well entertained. Needless to say, I breezed through it in a lightning fast speed. And I loved every page of it to pieces. I'm kicking myself for not reading it sooner! 

     Kate was a wonderful protagonist. I loved poking around her head and seeing the world through her eyes. She made the story very believable and therefore intense. She possessed some great qualities! She was caring, brave, devoted, thoughtful and optimistic. She always put others before herself, whether they deserved it or not (some may argue that she was simply naive and silly, but I actually liked that about her). No matter what the situation, she made the most of it, always looking at the bright side and pushing through. Henry? Henry was an intriguing character. Undeniably sexy and mysterious, he was also quite withdrawn and wary. That, of course, can be easily explained by the centuries of suffering Persephone has put him through. So, OK, maybe he was a little bit melodramatic about it (you'd think the guy had enough time to pick himself up, dust himself off, and move on). And yes, maybe it's not exactly how I pictured Hades while reading Greek myths (the truth is, when I think of Hades I see someone darker, stronger and maybe slightly more evil!). But let's cut the guy some slack! He's still pretty cute, and the whole innocent vibe he was giving off actually grew on me pretty fast. Besides, I'm certain that once he warms up a bit, he'll show us all what he's made of! 

     I loved the premise of this book and the way Aimee Carter built the story around the well-known Greek myth, putting an interesting spin on it. The storyline moved along very swiftly, making it easy to lose yourself in the plot and get emotionally engaged in all the events. Aimee Carter cut straight to the chace and didn't really waste time on lengthy introductions. I liked that. There weren't any slower moments when my thoughts would drift off to other things, I was focused and totally captivated throughout the whole novel. In fact, reading The Goddess Test was just as entertaining as watching one of the episodes of Gossip Girl - it's a fun and engrossing story that makes you gasp in surprise, shake your head in bewilderment and grit your teeth in annoyance at the evil plottings of the characters. And that ending! I'm still not sure how exactly I feel about it. Let's just put it this way: Saying that I did not see it coming would be a major understatement. It shocked me! 

     Overall, this book is a pure delight. Carter brilliantly mixes the alluring elements of Greek mythology with the liveliness and sassiness of the modern world. The result is spellbinding. This book is full of burning passion, fragile romance, deceit, danger, mystery, and drama. PLENTY of drama! In fact, if you don't like drama, or you're bothered by sadder undertones in a story, I would say this book is not for you. Same goes for people who like to over-analyze everything. As entertaining and extremely fun to read as it is, The Goddess Test has its flaws. They're not big, just tiny little things here and there, some plot twists you might not approve of, small details that seemingly don't make sense (to give you a quick example: you might end up wondering why a powerful goddess, capable of striking you down with just one look, would bother poisoning or stabbing someone), but all these things are easy to overlook. And if you can do that, if you can focus on the overall awesomeness of this book, I promise you, you'll have plenty of fun devouring it! 

     The Goddess Test is a perfect summer read. Sparkly, suspenseful, magical - it's a fabulous blend of Greek mythology, romance and mystery. If, like me, for some reason you didn't get around to reading it yet, do yourself a favour and pick it up immediately. It's a book worth reading. If not for anything else, read it for the sheer fun of it!






❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
About the Author
Evie is the Blogger behind Bookish. She enjoys reading many different genres, especially YA, Paranormal, Contemporary Fiction and Fantasy.
She loves talking to authors and is always happy to welcome them for interviews, and guest posts. She also likes spreading the love for awesome books and  chatting with fellow book-worms.
You can find Evie here: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Shelfari | The Library Thing
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