Review: Spirit by Brigid Kemmerer

Spirit (Elemental #3)
by Brigid Kemmerer 
Publisher: Allen & Unwin 

Release Date: May 22nd 2013

Format: Paperback, 294 pages

Hunter Garrity just wants to be left alone. He has learned the hard way that his unusual abilities come at a price. And he can't seem to afford any allies. 

 He's up to his neck in hostiles. His grandfather, spoiling for a fight. The Merrick brothers, who think he ratted them out. Calla, the scheming psycho who wants to use him as bait. 

 Then there's Kate Sullivan, the new girl at school. She's not hostile. She's bold. Funny. Hot. But she's got an agenda, too. 

 With supposedly secret powers rippling to the surface everywhere around him, Hunter knows something ugly is about to go down - which means he'll have to find someone he can trust. 

 POWER. ENEMIES. EVERYWHERE.

If I remember correctly I was once Hunter Garrity’s biggest anti-fan. He annoyed me in the Storm because he was the other guy in the love triangle who was competing for Becca; and he annoyed me in Spark because well…if memory serves, he was untrustworthy. So basically, I didn’t like Hunter, and I definitely didn’t care for his story.  Though I never once considered not reading Spirit, I was a little apprehensive when I started reading it and for the first few pages I treaded with caution. HOWEVER, (and a hugeeeee however here), I shouldn’t have worried because several pages in, I started LOVING Hunter. (And possibly hating all the other characters in the book…but I’ll go into that later!)

After reading Spark and Spirit, I have one question that I can never get my head around – What is it with these guys always hiding what they’re actually feeling? I mean guys aren’t as expressive as girls (I think??) but seriously, why do they always have to hide the fact that they’re actually concerned for those around them and actually give a crap about the people they love. Why purposely pretend they’re the bad guys and have everyone misunderstand them? It’s exactly because of this that I didn’t like both Gabriel and Hunter. Luckily though, through Hunter’s perspective we got to see a different side of him. I don’t care how untrustworthy he seems to everyone else, I’LL ALWAYS SUPPORT YOU HUNTER<3

I felt so sorry for Hunter throughout the whole book. I can never understand how a mum can treat her child the way Hunter’s mother treated him. I don’t care what her reasons were, her actions were unforgivable. AND HUNTER’S GRANDFATHER NEEDS TO GET BEATEN UP ONE DAY SO HE KNOWS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE. I hated how everyone just automatically assumed the worst of Hunter just because of his piercings and overall appearance. I’ll admit that had I been one of the students from his school, I probably would’ve believed the rumours too, but reading everything from his POV just made me want to scream at the entire school to shut the hell up and stop judging Hunter. At one point, I even started having negative feelings towards Chris and Gabriel since they wouldn’t leave poor Hunter alone, and as for Becca…well…I’ve never really liked her much. As for Kate, the love interest, I definitely didn’t like her. She drove me up the wall with her blatant displays of slutty actions. Yes, that’s exactly how I’d describe her behaviour. I didn’t care for her much and I’m glad I didn’t have to endure her for long.

Spirit is distinctly different from the previous too books. It’s much bolder, more intense and there’s a lot more action. What Storm lacked, Spirit compensated. A little warning though, there’s violence and shooting and there’s no holding back when it comes accomplishing one’s goals. Spirit is an impressive addition to the Elemental series, and I can’t wait for the next book <3 

A massive thank you to Kensington and Allen & Unwin for providing a copy of Spirit for review!

This post is also part of the Spirit Blog Tour hosted by The Midnight Garden. 

For the full schedule, click HERE. 

The Boys of Summer Blog Tour: Review

The Boys of Summer
by C.J Duggan 
Publisher: Self-published 

Release Date: December 17th, 2012

Format: Kindle, 321 pages

It seemed only natural to nickname them the ‘Onslow Boys’. Every time they swaggered in the front door of the Onslow Hotel after a hard week’s work, their laughter was loud and genuine as they settled onto their bar stools. I peeked through the restaurant partition, a flimsy divider between my world and theirs. I couldn’t help but smile whenever I saw them, saw him ... Toby Morrison.

 Quiet seventeen-year-old Tess doesn’t relish the thought of a summertime job. She wants nothing more than to forget the past haunts of high school and have fun with her best friends before the dreaded Year Twelve begins. 

 To Tess, summer is when everything happens: riding bikes down to the lake, watching the fireworks at the Onslow Show and water bomb fights at the sweltering Sunday markets. 

 How did she let her friends talk her into working? 

 After first-shift disasters, rude, wealthy tourists and a taunting ex-boyfriend, Tess is convinced nothing good can come of working her summer away. However, Tess finds unlikely allies in a group of locals dubbed ‘The Onslow Boys’, who are old enough to drive cars, drink beer and not worry about curfews. Tess’s summer of working expands her world with a series of first times with new friends, forbidden love and heartbreaking chaos. 

 All with the one boy she has never been able to forget. 

 It will be a summer she will always remember.

It’s been a while since I’ve read a relaxing, ‘Summer-y’ book, and even longer since I’ve read one by an Aussie author! The Boys of Summer is the perfect book to read by the pool, or while you’re sunbaking or taking a break from your busy life; it was certainly my guilty pleasure!!

The Boys of Summer and I actually got off to a bad start; Tess was a pathetic and slightly annoying character. She was always relying on her friends to stand up for her, and never even attempted to stand up for herself. Her dialogue was childish at times (I don’t know if it was a 90’s thing, but did 17 year old girls honestly say BOY COOTIES?!). She was so selfish I was tempted to just…stop reading because I couldn’t tolerate her any longer. By page 44, I hated her. HOWEVER, all my hatred towards Tess disappeared when the ‘Onslow Boys’ made their appearance; from then on, I didn’t care how even though it's set in the 90's I couldn't tell until halfway through; I didn’t care how the dialogue sounded fake sometimes; I didn't care how Tess's character was so contradicting...I JUST FREAKING LOVED THIS BOOK!

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure most teenage girls (who read) love books set in Summer where the main character develops a crush on a hot, charming, unattainable  guy while on holiday ? Well, I certainly do J By the halfway mark, I didn’t care about the flaws…I was so invested in Tess’s Summer experience, there was no room in me to find any faults in the book. Tess’s massive crush on Toby was so relatable (I mean, haven’t we all had a crush on an older, out-of-our-league kind of guy when we were in our early teens/pre-teens?). Every time Toby smiled at her, I genuinely felt her happiness and I was gushing. Every time Toby looked at her and she blushed, I grinned. And every time Toby did something that sent mixed signals to Tess, I felt her confusion and pain.  This one is certainly a book filled with FEELS.

Other things I loved about the book include the year 12 muck up day theme, which was so similar to the theme for my friends’ schools last year. I liked how I’m finally able to go “YES. I KNOW WHAT THIS IS LIKE” unlike with books set in USA where I’m always so envious of the activities that take place over there!

In a nutshell, GO READ THIS BOOK. It’s a fast read, so no one has an excuse to not read this J  Tess & Toby’s Summer romance is one that is not to be missed!

                              

 A massive thank you to YA Bound and C.J Duggan for providing a copy of  The Boys of Summer for review! 

Review: Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Walking Disaster 

by Jamie McGuire 

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Australia / Atria Books 

Release Date: April 2nd, 2013

Format: ARC

Walking Disaster is Travis' POV. 

How much is too much to love? 

 Travis Maddox learned two things from his mother before she died: Love hard. Fight harder.

 In Walking Disaster, the life of Travis is full of fast women, underground gambling, and violence. Just when he thought he was invincible, Abby Abernathy brings him to his knees. 

 Every story has two sides. In Jamie McGuire's New York Times bestseller Beautiful Disaster Abby had her say. Now it's time to see the story through Travis's eyes.

I remember last year, in the midst of my HSC year, I became addicted to a certain book. I couldn’t concentrate for a whole two days at school because I couldn’t stop thinking about this particular book. I think I also suffered a book hangover upon finishing; it was just so addictive! That particular book was Beautiful Disaster, one of my favourite books of 2012. I was ecstatic when I received a copy of Walking Disaster, one of my most anticipated books of 2013, for review. While Walking Disaster certainly met my expectations for the most part, I have to admit it did lack the addictive quality that I loved about Beautiful Disaster, but it was still immensely enjoyable nonetheless J

Walking Disaster is pretty much Beautiful Disaster from Travis’s POV. I loved Travis’s voice; it was so distinct and authentic, I really didn’t want the book to end! There are some extra scenes that truly confirmed Travi’s undying love and devotion to Abby…and even though he’s impulsive, violent with a serious need of anger management, I loved how throughout the whole book, he was constantly trying to rein in his anger for Abby’s sake.

It’s fantastic I got to see everything through Travis’s eyes, but at times, when he was devastated or terrified, I couldn’t exactly feel the same way because I knew what would happen. I knew how everything would end and it prevented me from really empathizing with the characters. It’s such a pity especially since I did love the rare scenes when Travis expressed his emotions so strongly. There was also the problem with Abby; I found her to be an independent and capable  heroine in Beautiful Disaster and I never found any of her decisions to be overly annoying even if I didn’t agree with them. However, through Travis’s POV, I felt his pain, his anger, his confusion and I hated Abby for being such a b*tch to Travis. She was selfish and either completely dense or just irritatingly ignorant to her surroundings. Either way, I wanted to throttle her and kick Parker into the next universe!!

My review might sound like I didn’t like the book, but I genuinely loved it. It’s just Beautiful Disaster was so perfect that when I compare any other book, I can only find faults… I honestly think Ms McGuire is a very talented author; I mean, not every female author can make a male character sound so realistic and likeable despite having so many unfavourable flaws. All you Beautiful Disaster fans MUST read this book! You won’t be disappointed! 

A massive thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing an ARC of Walking Disaster for review!

Cover Reveal: Wait for You by J. Lynn

Hey guys! Today, I'm thrilled to be sharing with you the cover of WAIT FOR YOU by J Lynn! I've been reading rave reviews for it over the past week (so apparently Cam has surpassed Aiden in many blogger's hearts? NO. FREAKING.WAY. You know what this means? I NEED TO READ WAIT FOR YOU IMMEDIATELY!!) 

What do early readers have to say about WAIT FOR YOU?

“J. Lynn creates a wonderful cast of characters that will make you laugh, swoon, and cry. Cam stole my heart.” – Cora Carmack, NYTimes and USA TODAY Bestselling Author of LOSING IT

“For the love of all that is Cameron without a shirt on! Wait for You will have you laughing out loud, fanning yourself and anxiously waiting to know what will happen next.” – Molly McAdams, NYTimes and USA TODAY Bestselling Author of FROM ASHES and TAKING CHANCES

“I don't think I have ever read a NA Contemporary novel with as much depth as this one. It really moved me and by the end I was just speechless over how inspirational and uplifting it was as well as being sexy and cute and funny and emotional.” - K Books

“Wait For You is uniquely different from anything else J. Lynn's written but it might possibly be her best work yet.” – Jenuine Cupcakes

“For all of you in love with Aiden and Daemon, PREPARE YOURSELVES! Your heart will have to expand a little more for Cam.” Total Bookaholic

“For the love of all things CAM, this book deserves more than 5 stars.” – Mundie Moms

“I cannot even begin to explain how much I adored this perfectly crafted contemporary.” – Shortie Says

Excited? Ready to see the cover for WAIT FOR YOU?

Some things are worth waiting for…

Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery

Morgansten can escape what happened at the Halloween party five years ago—an event that forever

changed her life. All she needs to do is make it to her classes on time, make sure the bracelet on her

left wrist stays in place, not draw any attention to herself, and maybe—please God—make a few

friends, because surely that would be a nice change of pace. The one thing she didn’t need and never

planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she’s

building for herself.

Some things are worth experiencing…

Cameron Hamilton is six feet and three inches of swoon-worthy hotness, complete with a pair of

striking blue eyes and a remarkable ability to make her want things she believed were irrevocably

stolen from her. She knows she needs to stay away from him, but Cam is freaking everywhere, with

his charm, his witty banter, and that damn dimple that’s just so… so lickable. Getting involved with

him is dangerous, but when ignoring the simmering tension that sparks whenever they are around

each other becomes impossible, he brings out a side of her she never knew existed.

Some things should never be kept quiet…

But when Avery starts receiving threatening emails and phone calls forcing her to face a past she

wants silenced, she’s has no other choice but to acknowledge that someone is refusing to allow her

to let go of that night when everything changed. When the devastating truth comes out, will she

resurface this time with one less scar? And can Cam be there to help her or will he be dragged down

with her?

And some things are worth fighting for…

WAIT FOR YOU is available now!

Buy from: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

J. Lynn, also known as Jennifer L. Armentrout, is the USA TODAY Bestselling author of the adult romance Gamble Brothers’ series, the young adult Lux Series and award winning Covenant Series. She pretty much writes everything—contemporary, paranormal, and fantasy. All of her books have one thing in common no matter the name or genre: kissing… and stuff. When she’s not busy writing, which is never, she’s usually hanging out with dog Loki, watching reruns of The Walking Dead, or procrastinating on the Internet. You can find out more about Jennifer by visiting the following websites:

Twitter | Facebook | Website

The Murmurings Blog Tour: Excerpt & Giveaway

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for The Murmurings by Carly Ann West. Today, I have an excerpt for you as well as a giveaway at the end of the post!

The Murmurings
by Carly Anne West
Publisher:Simon Pulse

Release Date: March 5th,  2013

A teen girl starts hearing the same voices that drove her sister to commit suicide in this creepy, suspenseful novel.

Everyone thinks Sophie’s sister, Nell, went crazy. After all, she heard strange voices that drove her to commit suicide. But Sophie doesn’t believe that Nell would take her own life, and she’s convinced that Nell’s doctor knows more than he’s letting on.

As Sophie starts to piece together Nell’s last days, every lead ends in a web of lies. And the deeper Sophie digs, the more danger she’s in—because now she’s hearing the same haunting whispers. Sophie’s starting to think she’s going crazy too. Or worse, that maybe she’s not…

Amazon | Goodreads

*Excerpt*

The wordless murmurings in my ear turns to one strained, sputtering gasp, and I open my eyes wider to catch the faint rippling of my reflection across the bathroom.

“Please”, I whisper, no longer believing that anyone will come to my rescue.

The rippling grows stronger, and soon my reflection is disappearing behind an undulating figure that’s turning blacker and blacker with each movement.

“Please, don’t.” But I know it’s no use. It won’t understand me. Nothing can keep it from trying to get from me what it thinks I have.

A curtain of black, oily hair spills from the glass, obscuring the eyeless face and moving, silent mouth. Long skinny digits follow, twitching on the ends of blacked, rotting hands – a decaying body and halting legs emerge last from the mirror, leaving a layer of oily residue in their wake.

My joints lock into place, freezing me in a stiffened pose, as if they’re given up hope before my mind has. My reflection in the mirror is gone. I’ve already been blotted out of existence. The Taker is laying its claim to my body in an attempt to restore its own. 

***

Is it me, or does the "curtain of black..." paragraph sound a lot like The Ring?  I'm imagining Samara climbing out of the TV now...*shudder*

*Giveaway*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can view the full schedule HERE.

Showcase Sunday 24-02-13

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicky @ Books, Biscuits and Bites. Inspired by Pop Culture Junkie and The Story Siren, the aim of this meme is to showcase our newest books!

Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Shadow & Bone | Siege & Storm by Leigh Bardugo

Motherland by William Nicholson 

Reason to Breathe by Rebecca Donovan

Barely Breathing by Rebecca Donovan

Altered by Jennifer Rush

Drowning Instinct by Ilsa J. Bick

Between the Lives by Jessica Shirvington 

Girl Defective by Simmone Howell

Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

This week was absolutely epic! Walking Disaster is one of my most anticipated 2013 books and I've been desperate to read it ever since I finished Beautiful Disaster last year. I've been meaning to read Reason to Breathe and Barely Breathing as well, since they're both New Adult books that have received glowing reviews :) I'm looking forward to meeting The Darkling again in Siege & Storm, although I've heard he appears less in the book? *sigh* What a pity! I miss him!

A massive thank you to Simon & Schuster, Hachette, Pan Macmillan, Penguin & Harper Collins for the above awesomeness<3

What did you receive in your mailbox? Leave links!

Review: Losing It by Cora Carmack

Losing It
by Cora Carmack
Publisher:William Morrow 

Release Date: February 26th,  2013

Format: Paperback, 288 pages

Virginity. 

 Bliss Edwards is about to graduate from college and still has hers. Sick of being the only virgin among her friends, she decides the best way to deal with the problem is to lose it as quickly and simply as possible-- a one-night stand. But her plan turns out to be anything but simple when she freaks out and leaves a gorgeous guy alone and naked in her bed with an excuse that no one with half-a-brain would ever believe. And as if that weren't embarrassing enough, when she arrives for her first class of her last college semester, she recognizes her new theatre professor. She'd left him naked in her bed about 8 hours earlier.

*I like this cover more than the new cover with half of Garrick's head cut off. The guy on the other cover is too pale soooo I'm using the old cover for my review!*

Losing It is one of those books that once you pick up, you literally cannot put down. I was grinning from ear to ear since the very first word and several times I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. Losing It is an easy and relaxing read, one you can finish in one sitting after a tiresome day at work/school :)

I honestly don’t know if I should pity Bliss or envy her. She has a knack for winding up in the most mortifying situations possible and making possibly the lamest excuses imaginable. So yeah, I guess I feel sorry for her. But the up-side of her humiliation? The guy who ends up witnessing her embarrassment not only finds her adorable, but falls for her. So I guess I envy her as well, especially since said guy is GARRICK. The jaw-droppingly gorgeous Garrick, with his sexy-as-hell British accent will have all the girls melting into a puddle with only a single glance in his direction. I would rather die than live with the humiliation; it would haunt me Every. Single. Day.

While most of the characters felt realistic and I certainly enjoyed meeting every single one of them, I can’t say the same about the relationships between some of the characters. I was frustrated and a little annoyed that Bliss failed to be truthful with her best friend Kelsey. I hated how she lied to Kelsey again and again; I mean, the two are best friends for a reason and I really didn’t think she had a legitimate reason (as a best friend) to lie to her about certain things. Then there’s Bliss’s relationship with Garrick. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE these two, but sometimes I felt they didn’t understand each other at all and their love was based purely on their lust for one another. I also didn’t feel Garrick’s character was ‘complete’; he felt like a hollow character, where I could only see the outside and there’s nothing else inside for me to get to know better. Fortunately though, the book was so fun and hilarious, that this didn’t bother me!

Losing It is a light and delightfully amusing read for anyone interested in the New Adult genre. Don’t think too much, just read purely for the fun of it!

A massive thank you to William Morrow for providing a copy of Losing It for review!