2013 TBR PILE Reading Challenge

Yup, another year starting, so time for another challenge! I actually have no idea what happened with my this year's challenges.. Probably should do recaps about those. And hope this challenge goes better ;)

My goal is A Friendly Hug, but if possible, A Sweet Kiss would also be nice.

Click here to see the guidelines, levels, schedule and to sign up!



And here's some of the books I plan to read. These all can be found in my bookshelf, untouched. It's a scandal!
Except The Host, I've borrowed that from the library like 5 times, and really try to read it before seeing the movie!

Stacking the Shelves #4

Meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews!

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!

Bought

Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding
The Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

I happened to find these from a flea market. These weren't on top of my to-buy- list, but what can you do when you find a bargain? ;)

Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick

Finally bought this! I've just had so many reviewcopies, I just haven't been interested in reading for fun.. Guess I should do that also!
I also ordered few other books from Book Depo, but they didn't arrive yet :/


For blog tour

The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann

Isn't it pretty!?

I, again!, owe huge thanks to HarperCollins and another super- thank you for Christina!

First Light by Samantha Summers

First Light
by Samantha Summers

Published: May 12th 2012
Format: Paperback
Pages: 367
Series: Project Five Fifteen #1
Source: Received for
review purposes
Amazon |
Book Depository

What do you do when you've always dreamed of a hero; your knight in shining armour, only to find when he arrives he isn't a hero at all? ... He's a killer.

Ronnie Rose is trying to cope with the loss of her father; now it looks like she might lose everything else that's dear to her too. Huge debts threaten to destroy her family, her childhood home and her future.
Only one person cuts through her pain. Kalen Smith has just moved to town. He's trouble and everyone knows it.
He and his mysterious friends keep to themselves and the town likes it that way. But when Kalen mourns at her dad's funeral, Ronnie wants to know why and her investigation plunges her into a dangerous world of murky government secrets, with deadly consequences.
Ronnie knows she should walk away from Kalen before it's too late. Problem is, she's falling for him...

Can we choose who we fall in love with?

*MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS*
My expectations with this: "OMG!, I have to love this book, since the guy is an assassin, for crying out loud! How awesome is that?!" And yeah, at first I liked the story, but then.. I just lost interested.

It's just Ronnie and her sister after their father dies. During his funeral, Ronnie sees Kalen, the notorious assassin boy! Though she doesn't know that, just that he's "trouble".
And of course she's baffled by the fact that Kalen dares to show up to her father's funeral, especially since there shouldn't be any connection between them. Aaaand this is how their story begins.

At first, I really liked Ronnie. She's really nice and sweet and all that, but also quite tough, considering how she's handeling their father's death.
But after time, I had to change my opinion about her. Because what first seemed like being nice and considerate, turns into her being a total pushover. Whether it's her sister or sister's ***k of a boyfriend, she just let's them walk over her. Grow some backbone!
I don't know if it's because of Kalen, but after he comes to the picture, she just losts her ability to take care of herself or to stand up to herself. She's just not that tough anymore. And yeah, it's great if you can be tough yet vulnerable, but if you lose any kind of ability to make decisions for yourself.. BAD!

And Kalen is the complete opposite, meaning he's "being the man". Someone mouths off to your woman? You beat him up! Just "I'm a man. Me hunt meat for my woman. Me caveman. GRRRR."
And do I remember wrong, or was there some part where the villagers were going to hunt Kalen down with torches and pitchforks, or was there just some moment that made me think of that scene??

Oh well. I didn't completely hate it. I liked the beginning, and I quite liked the ending, but wasn't a fan of the middle part. Which was basically most of the book..
Will I read the next book? I was convinced it would be another assassin's story (you know, the other guys hanging out with Kalen), so my answer was absolutety not. But after realising I was wrong, I may have to consider reading the second book too.

Cover Reveal: Timespell by Diana Paz

Timespell by Diana Paz


Expected publication
April 1st 2013




In TIMESPELL, the brash and impulsive Julia must team up with her sweet and straight-laced best friend, Angie, and the malicious and power-hungry Kaitlyn in order to keep the witch-like powers of her inheritance.

But these powers come at a cost. The girls are bound to serve the Fates, and their first mission sends them back in time to Marie Antoinette’s Paris and eventually, into the chaos and war of the French Revolution.

Surrender Blog Tour

Surrender
by Rhiannon Paille

Published: October 2nd 2012 (first published October 6th 2011)

Genre: YA Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
Publisher: CreateSpace
Cover Artist: Marc Wolfe
Number of pages: 402
Word Count: 100k
Buy from Amazon

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.

Excerpt
“Sorry I scared you,” he said.
Kaliel pressed her lips to her knees, hoping she could hold in her emotions. “I’m not afraid of you.”
Silence hung between them for awhile. He shifted on the cloak, the black tunic he wore shifting with him. He stretched his legs out, and Kaliel looked at his shin-high boots and breeches. He stole a glance at her turtle shell. “What are you afraid of?”
Kaliel stood. “Happy endings.” She didn’t know how else to explain it. She had contemplated the parable so many times it was exhausting. It didn’t matter which path she took—neither of them seemed very appealing. She let the mist soak her sleeves and stick to her skin. She heard Krishani behind her before he ran his hand down her back making shivers run up her spine. He stayed there, a foot away, and she wished he would move closer, envelope her in his arms. He wasn’t supposed to talk to her. This had to be wrong. What would the brotherhood think?
“Happy endings?” he whispered. He sounded both unsure and nervous. “What do you mean?” “What if someone comes?” She was worried Lord Istar would burst through the trees and find them in this compromising awkwardness. It seemed more taboo than practically drowning in the lake.
Krishani let out a breath. “Nobody ever comes here.”
Kaliel closed her eyes. “You come here.”
Krishani took a step forward and she could feel the heat radiating off him. “All the time.”

She didn’t answer, instead listening to the sound of the falls. Moonlight glinted off the flecks of water. She thought about the orb of ice he created for her. She hadn’t been able to do anything close to that awesome.

“What are you thinking?” he asked again.

She closed her eyes and felt her energy shift; like it had the day she went to the Great Oak. Heat rushed through her as she leaned back, trying to feel him, but not trying to force it if it wasn’t what he wanted. It was clear to her he cared, but she was so worried about whether or not she should let him.

“My parable,” she whispered.
He went rigid, his hand sliding down her upper forearm. “What did the Oak say to you?”
She shook her head. “Never mind, I have to figure it out. Both paths seem so dreary.”
“You seem too sweet to have a bad parable.”

She didn’t want to talk about the nightmares of the Flames, the parable, the fact the Brotherhood would disapprove of him touching her. It felt so natural; the last few moons had been lonely without him. She couldn’t explain what she felt, but she couldn’t watch him marry the land and leave the island.
“But I do,” she said. She drew her hands instinctively to her chest, her elbows digging into her ribs. He dropped his hand as she turned, and buried her face in his chest. He reluctantly ran his hands through her hair, letting them rest on the small of her back.
“I thought about you every day,” he said as she pressed her cheek into his tunic.
She smiled against his shirt. “And I thought about you.”
“Promise me something?” He wasn’t holding her, not really, their bodies weren’t pressed together and the inches between them made Kaliel feel cold.
“What?”
“You’ll find a happy ending.”
“What if I can’t?”
He pulled back and brushed his thumb across her cheek. “Promise me you will.” His eyes met hers and his jaw dropped. His hand paused, cupping her face in his palm. He held her gaze, her heart beating hard. Before she had time to answer, he pressed his lips against hers. She didn’t expect him to do that and it was better than she imagined. She came to life under him, kissing him back with unyielding passion that made him pull away to seemingly catch his breath.
Kaliel’s sadness drained away as he broke from her lips and then cupped her face with both hands and kissed her again, pressing the length of his body against her. His kisses made her feel light and giddy, like she could float into the sky. She slid her hands up his chest and looped them around his neck. There was swimming in the lake and losing her breath and then there was this. Being out of breath with him was like drowning in a sea of happiness. He could keep her prisoner forever and she’d never complain. He pulled away again, and wound his arms around her waist, trapping her against him. His lips found hers again, rough and inexperienced, but strong and satisfying.

She opened her mouth and his tongue grazed hers, warmth spreading from her heart to the rest of her body, making her tingle. She smiled against his lips.

“I missed you.” She tried to steady her breathing.

Krishani shook his head and put his hands on either side of her face. “This is all I want. This and nothing else, ever.” His mouth covered hers again. He pressed himself against her and she sighed. It felt like she had known him her entire life and even longer, if longer even existed.

Images appeared behind her eyelids — the shape of a boy and a girl wearing gaudy crowns on their heads. They were painted into parchment, but they were blurry. She was too elated by Krishani and his lips on hers to record the images, but they seemed familiar.

And then everything changed. Krishani pushed his lips against hers one last time and she felt the shift in her energy dissipate. It was as though all the joy evaporated, replaced by intense fear. She pushed him away and tried to understand the pounding in her heart that made her want to break in half.

Bloom the weed of temptation.
He looked confused and shocked. Without a word, she turned and fled towards the Elmare Castle.

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 she has a fondness for architecture.

She frequents twitter and facebook, but if you really want to get to know her you should visit her site: www.yafantasyauthor.com

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Frost Fire Book Blitz

Frost Fire
by Olivia Rivers

Published: November 20th 2012
Format: Ebook
Series: Tortured Elements #1
Publisher: Red Sparrow Press
Buy from Amazon

“Magic is just like love, Allai. It won’t wait for permission before it destroys you.”

Like sand in an hourglass, Allai’s future is dwindling away. She’s spent her entire life fighting the Mages who threaten humanity, and dreams of someday eradicating magic. But all it takes is an anonymous phone call for the truth to spill out: Allai is the one thing she despises most.

She’s a Mage.

Though ancient law mandates Allai’s death, she still has one last chance of survival. His name is Drake Rhaize, and he swears he can lead Allai to a sanctuary for Mages. Allai hasn’t seen Drake in years, but she remembers him as the Demon boy who used to hold her close and softly whisper that he’d keep her safe. But Drake has changed since then: He’s now suspected of murder, and has been out-casted for betraying his own kind.

While Allai doesn’t trust Drake, she has no choice but to put her life in his hands and hope he can get her to safety. Because Allai’s father has hired a pack of Demons to bring her back to him, dead or alive – and Demons never stop the hunt.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Excerpt

For a moment, all she felt was relief. Jareth didn’t seem to know that Drake had saved her life. And for some reason, she didn’t want all of the Sentinel knowing that. It somehow seemed... personal.

But then one of Jareth’s words slammed into her.

“Captured?” Allai repeated. She tried to keep her voice calm. Everyone in the Manor knew her history with Drake, but that didn’t mean they needed to know how much it confused or scared her.

“Yeah, Shieldak didn’t kill him.” Jareth paused and raised his eyebrows at her. “You really haven’t heard about this? Really? The guy tried to kill you, you know.”

“Believe me, I know,” Allai snapped. Then she said in a cooler tone, “It’s barely been a day since he was found. It’s not my fault that I didn’t get the news as fast as you did.”

It was a lie. If she had just gone into Shieldak’s office and asked about Drake, she would have known the outcome. But she hadn’t wanted to ask, because she had thought she’d just hear that Drake was dead. And Allai wasn’t sure how she would have reacted to that.

Christmas Books Giveaway Hop Winner!

Christmas Books Giveaway Hop is officially over, and we have a winner!

There was 645 entries (can you freaking believe it?!), and I'm so thankful for you all!



Winner was chosen with Random.org, and with the winning number 591 the winner is..


Bookie Bee!


I will email you as soon as I get home (just having a quick lunchbreak), congratulations!

My thanks to every participant, and if you didn't win this time, don't worry, because soon it's time for Best of 2012 Giveaway Hop, running December 27th to 31st!

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

| Christmas Books Giveaway Hop - Dec 1st to Dec 7th

Under the Never Sky
by Veronica Rossi

Published: January 3rd 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 374
Series: Under the Never Sky #1
Source: Borrowed from library
Amazon |
Book Depository

Since she'd been on the outside, she'd survived an Aether storm, she'd had a knife held to her throat, and she'd seen men murdered.
This was worse.

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland - known as The Death Shop - are slim. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She's been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her.

Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He's wild - a savage - and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile - everything he would expect from a Dweller.

But he needs Aria's help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

*MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS*
My expectations for this: the usual dystopian, something like Divergent. I wasn't that excited, since even though I liked Divergent etc., I'm not the number one fan.
So imagine my surprise when this turn out to be one of my favorites!

First of all I have to mention that what I read was a Finnish translation I borrowed from the library. And like so many time, I'm having trouble with writing about this, since first I have translate everything to English *le sigh*.
And like so many times, I was convinced I was missing something because of the translation, especially in the beginning. Even the name of the book is translated oddly, since it's something like "under the buck naked sky" or something in Finnish translation.
I usually have problems with the translations, BUT after reading a while, I was able to forget about the differences and enjoy the story itself. Now my disease ridden brain just have to write something about it..

I'M SORRY! But like I said, disease ridden brain. You can't expect quality with that.

Our main characters are two teenagers from two completely different worlds that life suddenly throws together. Everything starts when Aria tries to find out what's going on with her mother, who's disappeared. Things doesn't really go like planned, and her friends turn into maniacs. After these events she gets thrown out of the Reverie and that should mean certain death for her.
Lucky for her, she survives and eventually joins forces with a Savage called Perry and they start a journey together.
At first, they can hardly stand each other, but little by little they start to understand each other better and that turns into one of my favorite book romances!

At first I was pretty lost with the Aether storms and Smarteyes and people living completely in virtual worlds. Plus, like I've mentioned earlier, I hate when all people do in a book is travel! Yet I loved it. Weird, huh?
My favorite part was probably the romance, since there's obstacles and they're complete opposites. What's not to love? And even though this is (I think?) a YA book, it's still completely suitable for adults too. Though of course I'm young and everything! This wasn't preachy and there was some action too, I'm always happy about that.

Overall, I'm so happy I read this! This ended up being one of my this year's favorites, and I absolutely can't wait to read the second book. And I probably should read the first book as an English edition. Even the Finnish edition blew my mind, I don't even want to know what the English edition does.

Cover Reveal: Deeper We Fall by Chelsea M. Cameron

| Christmas Books Giveaway Hop - Dec 1st to Dec 7th

Deeper We Fall by Chelsea M. Cameron


Expected publication
January 12th 2013


Cover Designer:
Okay Creations



Two years after her best friend was involved in a car accident that caused a traumatic brain injury, Lottie Anders is ready to start her freshman year of college. Ready to move on. Ready to try and forget the night that ripped her life apart.

Her plans come to a screeching halt when not one, but both brothers responsible for the accident end up back in her life again.

Zack is cruel, selfish and constantly rubbing what happened to her friend in Lottie's face.

Zan is different. He listens to her awkward ramblings. His words are few and far between, but when he does speak, she can't help but listen. He loves "To Kill a Mockingbird" as much as she does, and his dark eyes are irresistible.

The trouble is, Zan was the driver in the accident, and now Lottie's discovered he lied to her about what happened that night. She must decide if trusting him again will lead to real forgiveness, or deeper heartache.

Chelsea M. Cameron is a YA/NA New York Times and USA Today Best-Selling author from Maine.

Lover of things random and ridiculous, Jane Austen/Charlotte and Emily Bronte Fangirl, red velvet cake enthusiast, obsessive tea drinker, vegetarian, former cheerleader and world's worst video gamer.

When not writing, she enjoys watching infomercials, singing in the car and tweeting.

She has a degree in journalism from the University of Maine, Orono that she promptly abandoned to write about the people in her own head.
More often than not, these people turn out to be just as weird as she is.

Homepage | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Christmas Books Giveaway Hop - Dec 1st to Dec 7th

Welcome to my first (I think it's my first?) hop!
And since it's December, that magical month, I decided to give away one Christmas book of your choice from the Book Depository!

a Rafflecopter giveaway