Book Review: The Curse Breakers

The Curse Breakers (Curse Keepers #2) by Denise Grover Swank

Book Two of the Curse Keepers trilogy.
 
For more than four hundred years, the Curse Keepers guarded the barrier between the human and spirit realms. All that changed the day Ellie Lancaster met Collin Dailey. Prophecy demanded they defend the world from evil…even as it ignited a passion that threatened to consume them both.

Now Ellie faces a frightening new life, abandoned by the man she loves and tormented by malevolent spirits unleashing their vengeance upon the earth. Her only shot at protecting humanity—and herself—from the demon scourge is to claim the mark of the god Ahone as her own. Finding it means trusting Dr. David Preston, a handsome professor of Native American studies whose skepticism is surpassed only by his attraction to Ellie. Together they must finish what the Curse Keepers began, defying the forces of darkness to face hell on earth—and unlock the truth of Ellie’s destiny.

Kindle Edition, 406 pages

Expected publication: May 20th 2014 by 47North 

Book Review

Wow! So much change between the first book and this one, Ahone & Onkeus are not giving up on either needing Ellie or wanting to kill her. Since Ellie's father died she never realizes how much information she forgotten that she needed her father's help. 

Collin is out of the picture . . . sort of but he's the last person Ellie would go to for answers so she hopes that the professor Dr. David Preston might help her if possible. But 

Ellie's life is at stake, the protection mark is fading and the gods are stirring up more trouble. Whether Dr. David Preston believes her story about the gods, he determine to use his knowledge about the old legends to help her out and find the answers she needs.

Will Ellie figure out what's she missing, what will it takes to close the gate? 

The Curse Breakers brings more to the table, and leave you wanting more of what will happen next for Ellie. Will she be able to close the gate and place her trust in someone who already lost her trust? 

I give this 4.5 Cat's Tails UP, I like that Denise brought in a new guy with an accent but also raising the stakes. 

MEOW . . . MEOW . . . MEOW

I had to go back to the last few pages of the first book because I couldn't remember what had happen leading up to the open pages of The Curse Breakers. The gate has opened and all of the gods are stirring, now things have heated up for Ellie that she has to figure how to stop it before it becomes a serious issue. 

Collin will always be a question in my mind, what EXACTLY did he give up? He still remains mysterious but when his own actions affects Ellie in so many ways and in personal ways, In the end he loses her because of his actions. Ellie makes sure that she reminds him of his mistake and what were the consequences of his actions.

Ellie struggles with the loss of her father, she suffers even more now that everything that she couldn't or didn't remember about the gods now lies with him. But her father despite his dementia left trails and left memories that only Ellie can access in her mind. 

Since Ellie has to find answers somewhere else, she started at her local college hoping that Dr. David Preston a history professor might help but he wasn't so willing to help until he hear about the gods and the legends are true. 

Ellie face Okeus numerous of times even with his messenger but when he reaches out to her in her dreams, Ellie couldn't be more in danger. Okeus shares his big master plan, which includes Ellie herself but even Ellie knows that Okeus thrives to have her as his own. 

The Gate has to be closed before all hell breaks loose, if not already.

Kitty Blitz: The Keeper + Review

The Keeper (The Raven Chronicles # 0.5) 

by Stephanie Thomas

In this dark and thrilling prequel, in a time before Beatrice, before the all-out war between the Dreamcatchers and the Seers, before the Keeper became the Keeper...there was just Danielle...

Yesterday, Danielle was only a Seer, but when the Institution is attacked, Danielle suddenly finds herself wearing the red robes of the Keeper, a role she never expected to serve. As she struggles to come to terms with the brutal facts behind the attack and the demands that her position carries, she learns that leadership doesn't come without sacrifice. As the danger continues to grow, Danielle must make the choice between the man she loves and those whom she is sworn to protect. But in making the choice, Danielle could make the biggest sacrifice of all.
 

ebook

Expected publication: June 10th 2014 by Stephanie Thomas 

This is an ARC ebook from Stephanie

So I know many of you who are fans of Stephanie's Raven Chronicles, and were eager for book number 2 Lucidity but since Stephanie had a downfall of miscommunications and needed to reclaim what were hers she struggled with the reality of what happen, she even struggled to tell us what had happen . . . if you would like to know what had happen here's her Open Apology 

Now Stephanie has treated us with a short story/novella . . . a prelude of the Raven Chronicles before Beatrice came along, called The Keeper. 

The Keeper is now available on Amazon

Review 

 
The time where your first true vision comes, that's when you earn your Ravens Wings. Danielle never thought she would become the next keeper or that her decisions will determine everything for the institution. 

Danielle is torn between her duties and her love for someone that betrayed her and the institution, but there's a much bigger plan in the midst of a revolution between the institution and the dreamcatchers & seers.

Will Danielle choose love over duties or duties over love?

Or will Love be the weakness?

The Keeper is where the beginning of a revolution started, Danielle must do what she thinks is right and for the sake of the Seers safely and to maintain a peace and power over the citizens, dreamcatchers and forthcoming Seers

I really love when authors dig in the past/the backstory of how things happen to why things happens that chang. Stephanie created The Keeper as a light/dark and edgy story, that it gets five Cat's Tails UP. 

MEOW . . . MEOW . . . MEOW

The Keeper took you back on Daneille's life, when she earns her Raven wings and also became the Keeper we grew to hate in Luminosity.  But after reading The Keeper you see a much softer side of her and the reaons why she was so downright hardheaded and evil.

Danielle was the one you never thought she was madly in love with someone like Micah, but sadly Micah became part of the revolution which then made him the enemy but Danielle secretly hope that there was an explanation to everything.

Amelie is Danielle's right hand girl/best friend in my book . . . she was the one person Danielle could relies on as a friend. When Danielle became the next Keeper, she makes the hardest decisions she could ever faced.

Yes this story was short and it gave insight on how or why the revolution started that leads to Beatrice's story.  I would say more but there's spoilers that involves how this ended and what ties in Luminosity.

Book Review: Business as Usual

Business as Usual (Off the Subject #3) by Denise Grover Swank

Lexi Pendergraft has given up on finding love after a disastrous encounter with her last boyfriend. Instead, she focuses on two things: One, setting up a summer program for underprivileged middle-school aged students. And the second, getting to the bottom of her brother Reed’s recent strange behavior. His secret is destroying his relationship with his fiancée Caroline, and Lexi will do anything to help him save it. Especially after he gave up his dream to give Lexi a chance at a semi-normal college experience, something her parents threatened to steal from her after her rape a year ago.

Ben Masterson is determined to make it through his final semester of his senior year at Southern University. After recently losing his full ride scholarship, he’s suffering from sleep deprivation while trying to keep up with his mechanical engineering courses and working three part time jobs. He thinks he’s lucked out getting a job in the university math lab. The only problem is his boss—Reed Pendergraft.

As part of a role in a community theater play, Lexi wears a black wig and feels a confidence she hasn’t experienced in over a year. When she wears it to a bar close to the theater, she doesn’t think Ben, a bartender there, recognizes her. While Ben’s intrigued about what she’s up to, he’s smart enough to stay far away from his overprotective boss’s sister. Until fate forces him to help her, but why won’t she tell him her real identity?

Paperback

Expected publication: April 10th 2014 

I receive an ARC to review Business as Usual  . . . I do not own this book

Book Review

Lexi's life turns upside down when something horrid happen and she doesn't get justice and instead she has to hide. She has to create a new identity in order to protect herself but also regain herself as a person when she believe she was stripped, tainted, and humiliated by one person.

Ben had the ideal life, he had the scholarship, the will to succeed, and graduate in time but then one selfish person was deem to destroy everything he works hard for and that person did destroy his life. Now Ben has to work extra time and basically lose all of his social life because he want to finish what he started before that one person destroy it.

Both Ben and Lexi both have something to redeem themselves but can they do it alone or will they need to redeem themselves by helping each other.

Business as Usual present two unlikely people who seem to have the perfect life however when you get deeper into their lives, not everything is as it seems.

Denise created two halves of a story that make mending a love story works, a hidden identity behind the mask that both characters wears. ~ 4.5 Cat's Tails Up review


MEOW . . . MEOW . . . MEOW

I've only read a few books by Denise and each one that I read were different themes/characters/series, now reading a whole different book by her isn't a surprise to me that I love it. Business as Usual has a unique set of characters with their own demons to fight against. 

They're not driven by their demons, they're reminded of their demons and the after-effect that lingers with them, both Lexi and Ben have something to redeem themselves for and that's why their relationship just might work because it's about redeeming but also finding themselves again.

Lexi had her life taken away when a guy essentially held her against her will and tainted her in such a way that even when she was willing to make a stand, she couldn't because the guy was made of money and money always sweep things under the rug. But Lexi still has the lingering thought of "Did I give up to easy?"

Ben has always been on the right track, but he's made some decision and during one of his certain female fling that ends up labeling him something that he thought he would never be accuse of . . . a Rapist. 

Ben and Lexi eventually come across each other and both have some sort of chemistry between each other that makes each of them forget their demons and focus on the now and the future TOGETHER.

I love how Ben was the one that quickly fell in love with Lexi first rather than the other way around, he didn't care what her demons were or how over-protective her brother was he was interested in HER and he wanted to know her.

Lexi was very self-conscious even after the Ben knew who she was in her black wig that she wore, but she still remains that way through their time together because she didn't know if anyone else could provide that comfort and protection that her OVERLY-PROTECTIVE brother have done. 

Book Review: Bitter Sweet Love

Bitter Sweet Love (The Dark Elements 0.5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

In a sizzling prequel novella to her new series THE DARK ELEMENTS, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout draws readers into the extraordinary, irresistible world of Wardens and demons.

Dez wasn't just Jasmine's crush. A gargoyle Warden like Jas, he helped her come to terms with her destiny—fending off demons and maintaining balance between good and evil. He was her everything...right until the moment he disappeared without a trace. It didn't help that Jas's father had just announced that she and Dez would one day be mated. Hard not to take that personally.
And now he's back, three years older, ten times hotter, ready to pick up exactly where they left off. But Jas isn't taking that risk again. Dez has seven days to meet all her conditions and earn back her trust. Seven days filled with terrifying danger and sweet temptation. Seven days to win her heart—or shatter it all over again...

Kindle Edition, 105 pages

Published December 1st 2013 by Harlequin Teen

Who doesn't love Freebies? and this by far was the best freebie I could ask for . . . I already have read White Hot Kiss but I had the fear of not ever getting to the novella because I'm still not all out for ebooks, I do read ebooks and manage with the ones I have but I prefer the print any day.

Review

Before Layla there were Jasmine and Dez, they been friends since they were kids but when they started growing up a lot of things changes. 

When Dez returns back in Jasmine's life, ready to claim her Jasmine can't risk her heart being broke again by the same person that she thought she would spend her life with. 

So before Jas decide to be CLAIMED, she present a challenge for Dez

The Challenge? Fulfill her every demands in Seven days

5 Cat's Tails UP, Bitter Sweet Love shows that Old Love . . . Old Flame Never dies, sometimes it just take a kiss to ignite that fire once again.

MEOW . . . MEOW . . . MEOW

I love love Jen's new YA series The Dark Elements and I love the fact that she not only released the first book of it's series but the novella as well.

In WHK we meet Jasmine and Dez briefly and we actually get to see what the social and society needs for the world of Wardens. This story is not just about what the rule of life is for a Warden, it a story about a friendship that began long ago that suddenly disappears.

Jasmine and Dez were like two peas in a pod and for the most part, Jasmine's father have always view Dez as her mate in the future. But Dez breaks Jasmine's heart and now has to work up earning her trust all over again.

Dez knew that it wasn't going to be easy but I think Jasmine was in the same boat, they both have instant chemistry and that "first kiss" they share after so many years was WOW.

Jasmine is still hurt and I don't blame her for being unsure of Dez after he being gone for so many years without word, so her challenge to him is to fulfilled everything she wants to do in 7 days where she'll decide if Yes or No she'll take Dez as her mate.

These characters really have a sense of adventure that I think everyone should have because you only live once but for a Warden there are so many dangers to the females Wardens than the men 

Graphic Review: X-Files Vol 2

X-Files Season 10 Volume 2 

by Guillermina De Ferrari, Joe Harris (Goodreads Author), Elena Casagrande (Illustrations), Michael Walsh (Illustrations)

 

As Scully and Mulder try to deal with the fallout from the actions of a mysterious group that has been targeting anyone associated with the X-Files and causing their return to the Bureau, reports that a creature from their past has returned sends Mulder heading to Martha's Vineyard and Scully to Quantico.

  

Hardcover, 128 pages

Expected publication: April 22nd 2014 by IDW Publishing

I just discovered this graphic novel on Netgallery! As some of you know or don't know I'm a huge huge fan of the X-FILES, so when I came across this my jaw dropped.

Review

After 9 years +, Scully and Mulder have return to the F.B.I. and the new Assistant Director wants to closes all unsolved/unanswered cases that Scully and Mulder have come across. 

Their first assignment back is taking them to Mulder's hometown in Martha's Vineyard and an familiar old case has come back . . . thinking that it had ended in the first place 10 years ago. 

The next series of Episodes

Mr.X from the past

Critters . . . Critters, listen to their sounds

Everything is always Smoked and Mirrored.  

X-Files Graphic present Season 10 for all X-Files fans(myself included) I haven't decided how I'll rate this since it is a Graphic novel. But it does get great points from me. 

MEOW . . . MEOW . . . MEOW

Episode: Hosts Part 2 

Episode: Being for benefit of Mr. X

Episode: Critters

Episode: Smoke & Mirrors

Between the Hosts Part two and Being for benefit of Mr. X, were the only two that were from old episodes of the X-Files. I could hear the voices of Mulder and Scully only because I've watch every episode and practically grew up with X-Files as a kid. So the dialogue was very well done and it was enough to keep me drawn in.

Critters and Smoke & Mirrors, were meh not anything special, Critters seem to be a combining of two episodes concepts. Critters was like the bug episode although I think there were multiple bugs episodes. Smoke & Mirrors was aspect from Mulder's father past which we have only seen so much of and have always got that Smoke & Mirrors.

Not too bad in my opinion, so I might continue the graphic books because I really do miss my X-Files

Book Review: Twenty-Nine & a Half Reasons

Twenty-Nine and a Half Reasons (Rose Gardner Mysteries #2) by Denise Grover Swank

When Rose reports for Fenton County jury duty she figures she’s lucky to get out of a morning working at the DMV. Instead, despite a disastrous encounter with the new assistant district attorney, Mason Deveraux, she’s picked as a juror on a murder case. As the trial progresses, she realizes an ominous vision she had in the men’s restroom proves the defendant is innocent. And there’s not a cotton picking thing she can do about it.

Or is there?

As if things weren’t bad enough, Rose’s older sister Violet is going through a mid-life crisis. Violet insists that Rose stop seeing her sexy new boyfriend, Arkansas state detective Joe Simmons and date other men. Rose is done letting people boss her around, but she can’t commit to Joe either. Still, Rose isn’t about to let the best thing in her life slip away.
 

Kindle Edition

Published June 26th 2012 by Bramagioia Enterprises 

 First off I would like to thank Denise for giving us all new readers a chance to have one of her book Ebook version. Initially I told her that I would love to read twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes but when I saw she sent me book 2 I thought, did I write that right? But it's turns out that the first book was FREE on Amazon (Score!!!) So I sort of got two birds with one stone. 

Review

After ending a drag stint with her undercover cop boyfriend, life is looking up for Rose . . . She enjoying her newly define life with Joe and identify herself as a person. But her visions still wound her into trouble. 

Being serve for Jury Duty, Day One . . .  bad start off and a vision that shows the man on trial is innocent, but how can she prove it?

Determine to save the innocent man, she goes digging for trouble but will that trouble get her kill? 

Rose will fights against the clock but she will also fights for the innocent against all odds

Can she do it? Can she solve this case or will she fail that might cost her, her life.

I give this 4.5 Cat Tails Up, Twenty-Nine and a Half Reasons brings Reasons of doubts and difficult choices that Rose has to make in order to make herself happy but also maintain her new found freedom. 

MEOW . . . MEOW . . . MEOW 

Wow from Rose being a people pleaser to being her own woman in her own skin, she has her new life in hands having dates and a little hot and sexy romance with her boyfriend Joe, plus her dog Muffy life couldn't be more perfect. However her relationship with Joe is somewhat long distance because he works in Little Rock but visit/stay with Rose during the weekend. That was about the only thing that was imperfect. 

After the case with her Mom's murder and with Joe's undercover stint being to an end, Rose thought she would have a break from law enforcement. But instead the next thing is that she is served to Jury Duty.

[I actually was in that position as well last summer, but thankfully there was no trials plus it had fell just short around the time I was actually going on a trip as well. Hopefully I'll never be served Jury Duty ever again, I just can't stand the thought of being in a court room} 

Rose's first day started with being late, overhearing someone in the men's room about getting away with Murder and running into uptight ADA Mason Deveraux. Then to top it off, she get a vision about the man on trial . . . he is innocent! But of course thankfully she pass out like she does when a vision strikes that no one really heard her. 

But her vision still haunts her and can't really stand to be responsible for a man's sentence, so she tells her boyfriend but even he can't help her! In fact he seems more against it than trying to help Rose figure out whose the real culprit. So she admittedly went to the ADA who seems to hate her gut or really just everyone all together but she believes that maybe he could help. But during the mist of defending the man's innocent, the Judge put her in contempt of court and there Mason was willing to listen to her story.

What I love about Rose is her determination toward this case, but I really can't believe she would step into a world of unfamiliar surroundings trying to find answers but thankfully Mason, yes Mason came to her rescue when a friend of her couldn't meet her but Mason made the mistake of calling Rose by her real name when she had used an alias and that put her on target.  

Rose also deals with her relationship with her sister which been strained since their mom murder and the drug stint that Rose got in the middle of when helping with Joe. Violet grows more annoyed of the fact Rose has her newly perfect life full of adventures but she also wanted Rose to date someone else . . . . anyone beside Joe. But then Rose learns about her sister's growing strain marriage and while she had weight about moving to Little Rock, she couldn't leave her sister behind. 

The trial heats up and Rose is finally with the madman that was going to get away with Murder, perhaps even her own as well. But thankfully that Mason picked up on something was wrong when Rose didn't show up for her meeting and knew danger was around. It ended up at Rose's front yard and Mason and Joe are there to the rescue.

Rose face many difficult choices and now I would like to discuss her Twenty-Nine Reasons list for Little Rock (pg 321-322)

1. Waking up with Joe every morning
2. Having someone to kill bugs
3. He cooks really well
4. He's sweet to Muffy
5. He's a good cuddler
6. He's a wonderful man
7. He helps me wash dishes
8. He believe in me more than I do sometimes
9. He puts gas in my car
10. He mows the lawn for me
11. He helps me paint and says he likes it
12. He likes to try new things with me
13. He's content to just be with me
14. He likes to play with Ashley and Mikey
15. He holds my hand when we go for walks
16. He doesn't snore
17. He rubs my feet
18. He gives me backrubs
19. He's thoughtful
20. He's a very handsome man
21. He thinks I'm beautiful
22. He helps me figure out problems
23. He thinks I'm intelligent
24. He's not embarrassed by my vision
25. He loves me
26. He misses me when we're not together
27. He wants to have a family one day
28. He makes me happy
29. I'm miserable with out him

Thus ending with I'm not ready . . . 

Now this time her list isn't about what she wants to do, it was about her relationship with Joe. Having a long distance relationship can be tough and Rose was feeling the weight of that, not just because her sister is deems to say that her relationship with Joe isn't genuine or true . . . Rose believes what she has with Joe is as real as it gets. 

I think moving in with someone would be a hard decision to make for either side, Joe wasn't technically living with Rose, it was more like a temporary guest that is there every weekend. I know that horrible for me to say but it's the truth.

But as the story and the relationship evolves it was clear that Joe was still in some way controlling Rose, for the sake of her safety but also he can't imagine life without her. But in the end they mutually decided to take a break from each other because of insane they drive each other but it was also a break up. She couldn't commit to moving to Little Rock and he couldn't commit to Rose because of his family name and maybe some of his own personal conflicts.

I'm still hoping for Joe and Rose again but I'll have to wait and see what happens once I get book 3 and book 4 plus Book 5?  I got a lot more books to go for Rose Gardner

Book Review: Twenty-Eight and a Half WIshes

Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes (Rose Gardner Mysteries #1) by Denise Grover Swank

It all started when I saw myself dead...

For Rose Gardner, working at the DMV on a Friday afternoon is bad even before she sees a vision of herself dead. She’s had plenty of visions, usually boring ones like someone’s toilet’s overflowed, but she’s never seen one of herself before. When her overbearing momma winds up murdered on her sofa instead, two things are certain: There isn’t enough hydrogen peroxide in the state of Arkansas to get that stain out, and Rose is the prime suspect.

Rose realizes she’s wasted twenty-four years of living and makes a list on the back of a Wal-Mart receipt: twenty-eight things she wants to accomplish before her vision comes true. She’s well on her way with the help of her next door neighbor Joe, who has no trouble teaching Rose the rules of drinking, but won’t help with number fifteen– do more with a man. Joe’s new to town, but it doesn’t take a vision for Rose to realize he’s got plenty secrets of his own.

Somebody thinks Rose has something they want and they’ll do anything to get it. Her house is broken into, someone else she knows is murdered, and suddenly, dying a virgin in the Fenton County jail isn’t her biggest worry after all.

Kindle Edition, 374 pages

Published June 29th 2011 by Bramagioia Enterprises (first published January 1st 2011)  

Review

I can see the future, always have but I'm the odd person out in small town Henryetta always have and always will. I'm a people pleaser, I have no life expect it surround my sister and Momma but Momma has always hated me always said that I am demon-possessed.

  

But then one day I get a vision of myself . . . dead. 

Now my world has turned upside down and it seem even the next door neighbor is willing to help me during my rough time.

Rose complied a Wish List To-Do in her life, Twenty-Eight and a half . . . 

Will Rose be able to do all of her item on her wish-list? Or will her Vision come true?

So many of Denise's reader have say that this is the series to read by her and I couldn't agree more, Rose is your average typically girl who only trying to figure out her place in life. The mystery aspect of the book is truly fun to read, even the neighbor next door is really something :-)

I give this 5 Cat's Tails Up, I love the idea and Rose's personality who taking control of her life and finally figure out things that she never thought she would be able to do.

MEOW . . . MEOW . . . MEOW

Rose Gardner is a girl that I typically never read, most of my characters are heroines and fighting great evil, but for Rose her greatest evil is her estrange mother and her visions. Rose is such a people pleaser that it actually make her more of a weak person than strong.

But Rose's life finally takes a change, but was it for better or worst? During her recent vision, she sees that someone is going to kill her . . . specifically the man across from her at her job but why? Then it turns around to where Rose finds her mother dead and she is a suspect in her mother's death. 

Rose newly next door neighbor tries to help out in anyway he can, but Joe is really drawn to Rose and when he find her wish list that trigger a need to help her complete it and start her newly conform freedom. 

I like that Rose compile her own little wish list or bucket list type things, I'm sure we all done it more than once . . . creating a list or a bucket list.

The love story of Rose and Joe, I really like how they gradually fell for each other as they spent more time with one another. Rose becomes more open and discover more about herself and Joe. What I didn't expect but totally love was the idea that Joe was actually an undercover cop. 

I have a thing for the undercover guys that falls in love on the job concept, it makes the story more interesting and more like whoa! Of course Joe didn't say that he was an undercover cop until he was facing the vision Rose has and decided to change the outcome of the vision.

Some of the twist plot for Rose was really unexpected but consider how her mother treated her like the child she never wanted, there was reason behind that and why Rose's father has always seem unhappy when Rose was growing up. 

The secrets finally came out about who Rose really is, she wasn't her father and mother child .. . she was Dora and her father's child. the twist of Violet and Rose's dad tragic love story was such a sad story. . . his own little love affair. Dora was Rose's biological daughter who died when she was only an infant, and Rose's dad went into a huge depression that he couldn't raise her alone expect go back to his first wife and Violet.

Now to review Rose's Wish list from page 27-28, all the items that are crossed off are things I've done or already have.

1. Get a cell phone
2. Commit all Seven Deadly Sins in one week
3. Get cable TV
4. Get my own place
5. Buy some makeup
6. Visit a Beauty salon
7. Get a pedicure
8. Ride in a convertible
9. Drink a glass of wine
10. Drink a beer
11. Go to a bar
12. Dance
13. Get a boyfriend
14. Kiss a man
15. Do more with a man
16. Get a dog
17. Dress like a princess
18. Wear high heels
19. Wear lacy bra and panties
20. Eat Chinese food
21. Go to Italy
22. Learn to knit
23. Ride a motorcyle
24. Fly in an airplane
25. Jump on a trampoline
26. Fly a kite
27. Have a picnic in the park 
28. Play in the rain 

So there a lot of things that we wish to do and create our very own list to do, with item number 13, 14 and 15 being the most obvious and most common. I think it isn't a bad thing if you wait until you meet the right guy or have your first serious relationship. Nowadays I feel that young girls are feeling peer pressure because for one their hormones kicks in. Two you're curious, but that doesn't mean you're mentally and emotionally ready for item 15.

Item 2, 4, 5 16 and 19, I think have a personal wants or personal goals I should say but Committing all 7 deadly sins? That may be hard in my opinion but I'm thinking we all commit a sin without even thinking about it.I would love my own place where I can have my own personal and organized bookshelves but that would require me to have a job .. . too bad that my city is one of the worst in our state, the badly unemployment rate is in Milwaukee/Madison.  

Item 16 is Get a dog, while I don't mind dogs and I do want a Brittany spaniel at some point in my life but I would be happy with cats because I already have a cat. My family and I used to have a dog Brittany Spaniel of course hence my want of a Brittany, but we put him down to end his pain and suffering, considering he was 16 and some months old having arthritis and becoming blind it was a hard decision for my parents and especially for my dad because he was his companion before he met my mom.

Item 21: Go to Italy, I would get myself in a lot of trouble, I have a lifelong list of places I want to go to and Italy is one of them! But the downside is I don't have a passport :-( Even Denise went to Paris a few weeks back for research and a mini vacation? Anyways I envy her so much with all the lovely pictures she posted and make me a little more jealous.

So are there things on Rose's Wish List that you want to do as well? Or have done already?

Book Review: The Curse Keepers

The Curse Keepers (The Curse Keeper #1) by Denise Grover Swank  

The wall between our world and that of vengeful spirits has protected humanity for more than 400 years. It’s about to come crashing down.
Ellie Lancaster has lived her whole life by the site of the mysterious Lost Colony of Roanoke, the Virginia settlement that vanished without a trace around 1590. Only the descendants of the two men who banished the spirits of an enemy tribe from the material realm know what really happened to the colony. Ellie is one of those descendants—a Curse Keeper. Her father took pains to teach her what he knew of the curse and the responsibilities of its guardians. He taught her that if the two Curse Keepers ever meet, the curse will be lifted, the gate will open, and the raging Native American spirits will be unleashed to seek their revenge.

Despite her father’s seriousness, Ellie has always taken the legend for a harmless fairy tale. Until she meets the darkly handsome, but downright infuriating, Collin Dailey and realizes everything she was told is true. For when they meet, it’s like the air is sucked from the room. Collin’s presence is electrifying… and it’s not just attraction Ellie feels, but the inexorable pull toward her destiny. The prophecy is real, and now Ellie and Collin must battle supernatural forces and their loathing—and passion—for each other to set things right.

The Curse Keepers are all that stand between the world and its destruction.

Paperback, 312 pages

Published November 19th 2013 by "47North"

I've requested this book off on Netgallery, and I did an author interview which you can check out here Kitty Blitz: The Curse Keepers

Review

What do you do when you find out that you're cursed? Your descendants have been doing this for years and now it's your turn. Ellie was going about her day when she meets the other Curse Keeper that she's has to work with in order to close the portal and save mankind. But Ellie doesn't believe in legends or curses even myths but then things starts to happen and she has no idea what to do next. 

Collin Dailey knew that this one day will come but he didn't expect that the other Curse Keeper Ellie, would be so in the dark about the legend. But there's something else too, he's know as the player but Ellie doesn't really know that but he can't deny the spark between them. 

Ellie and Collin will have to work together to get the portal close before it's too late, but can they when the enemy is always one step ahead and they also have to deal with how they feel for each other in the mist of it.

I freaking love this! I've never read a book that was both fiction and real life. The way she wrote it and how much deep history is into that it's kept so drawn into the story. 

This is a little Bundle of Kittens, although I haven't read anything by Denise before, reading her newest book was great and I'll be rushing to read her other books as well the next book for Curse Keepers. 

Meow . . . Meow . . . Meow

I really love the idea behind The Curse Keepers, its fresh and new on the plus side it's under the New Adult group nothing is held back. Denise brings two characters together that have to save the world but I think it's a challenge for them to not try to throw the first punch. 

Ellie never believe in the stories that her father told her but now she's going to have to face the facts, myths are real. Collin try to do everything he can to help Ellie understand but he's trying deal with his own emotions and feelings towards Ellie. 

Both Collin and Ellie have a lot of passion with each other although Collin is afraid because of who he is as a person. I think Collin is a deep down kind of guy but he just need to open up but I sense there's some deep dark secret that he's not willing to share. 

Ellie is pretty straight-forward and doesn't usually like to play games that would be wasting her time but she is holding onto Collin not just because of how she felt about him but, she is still maintain her distance. Which I'm glad because there's a funny feeling that Collin will reveal something that she will not like.

How about the mythical gods? I think Okeus is pretty a determine god, there's so much backstory to The Curse Keepers that as a reader I'm just getting the start of it. I can't wait to read The Curse Breakers and the Novella of the series. 

I did a Kitty Blitz with Denise, asking her about The Curse Keepers and a few other random thing about her and about the Curse Keepers.

Book Review Olivia Twisted

Olivia Twisted by Vivi Barnes

Olivia

He tilts my chin up so my eyes meet his, his thumb brushing lightly across my lips. I close my eyes. I know Z is trouble. I know that being with him is going to get me into trouble. I don’t care.

At least at this moment, I don’t care.

Tossed from foster home to foster home, Olivia’s seen a lot in her sixteen years. She’s hardened, sure, though mostly just wants to fly under the radar until graduation. But her natural ability with computers catches the eye of Z, a mysterious guy at her new school. Soon, Z has brought Liv into his team of hacker elite—break into a few bank accounts, and voila, he drives a motorcycle. Follow his lead, and Olivia might even be able to escape from her oppressive foster parents. As Olivia and Z grow closer, though, so does the watchful eye of Bill Sykes, Z’s boss. And he’s got bigger plans for Liv…

Z

I can picture Liv’s face: wide-eyed, trusting. Her smooth lips that taste like strawberry Fanta.

It was just a kiss. That’s all. She’s just like any other girl.

Except that she’s not.

Thanks to Z, Olivia’s about to get twisted.

Kindle Edition, 352 pages

Expected publication: November 5th 2013 by Entangled: Teen

I've receive a eARC from entangled Publishing

Review

Olivia has always thought she was alone, that no one wanted her but then it seems that another door opens however she didn't expect this. Her foster parents are two complete opposite, and her foster mother barely make any contact while her foster father attempt to make this one happy family. What a mess up life.

Z has always lived on the edge, manage his way through life but now the game has changed when Olivia enters the computer classroom. Working under a hacking organization, he has to recurit Olivia the talented hacker in disguise but when he starts developing feelings for her and see her side, all he wants to do is find her happy ending.

I really like this book, especially when recalling it as Twisted Olivia don't know how I could switch the title up both Vivi Barnes and I had a laugh over it. This book has originally and it's Vivi's first full length novel, living on the edge and living under the rules where all you want to do is free free.

I'm giving this a Four and a half Cat's Tails Up, with it's originality and contemporary romance I couldn't put it down once I started reading it.

Meow . . .  Meow . . . Meow

This is a super late review, I can't tell you how late but when school was in session I had very little time to read much less writing a review. I think my process of reading and reviewing take twice as long when I'm in school so I'm sorry that it's late. 

I like Olivia from the beginning, she want to be accepted into a family although she did feel that way with one family but due to circumstances she had to be move to another foster home. She had a very oddball of foster parents, they are by some level wealthy but their dynamic of being a family was strange. 

Olivia first day in a new school didn't start off good because of mix-up and such, so when she enters the computer class most people glance at her then look the other way except for one person Z. 

Z has told himself to never fall for anyone ever again after his last serious but not serious relationship that when whack. But when he laid eyes on Olivia, he's curious about her not just by her own spunk but her talents. 

The danger that Olivia and Z comes across are business and their own heart, it sadden me when Z in retrospect lead Olivia on but just as Olivia's feeling deepen for Z he's pulling away keeping her at a distance. 

After awhile Z helps Olivia or well does the hunt on his own finding relatives that way Olivia could at least get her happy ending or a better life than what was going on in her recent foster home. 

But the hacking business that Z is into, he also brings Olivia into it only to want her out of it when Bill the head guy the one that runs everything at the Monroe house threatens Z through Olivia. 

The ending was OMG, heart racing and gut-wrenching that I didn't know if everything was going to be okay in the end. But Olivia found a new life living with her grandfather and Z or should I say Jack finally got out of Monroe house and attends the same school Olivia is in now. Their love will never falter.

Book Review: Children of the Mist

The Children of the Mist by Jenny Brigalow

An original paranormal YA about an unconventional girl, an unconventional boy, their extraordinary transformations, and the secrets of the Scottish Highlands.

When skater girl Morven Smith turns sixteen, she develops boobs, acute appendicitis...and a pair of pointy teeth. While she is stunned by her metamorphosis into vampire, her best mate, the enigmatic Zest, is not. For the young werewolf, Morven’s transformation is an answer to his lonely prayers.

But they are unable to celebrate their mutual paranormalcy for long — there are too many dangers, too much suspicion, and too many questions. It’s only in Scotland that Morven can learn the truth about her past. But she discovers more than she bargained for when she meets her birth family — an ancient feud between vampires and werewolves. They may both be Children of the Mist, but only one species can survive.

ebook

Published October 2013 by Escape Publishing 

First off I discover this book through the Harlequin Australian Teen Facebook page, the cover and the description of this book was sounded like an interested read. However two of my downfalls, one I REALLY prefers prints over ebook and second I went to Netgallery to search the book and saw that it was an Aussie ebook(I'm US) so I for sure thought I would be decline because of where I live. 

Review

Skater girl Morven and skater guy Zest have been best friends forever, sharing thier mutual love of skating and living on the edge. They thought being teenagers would be the only thing they have to worry about but when Morven enters through some usual changes. 

Soon Zest comes to realizes Morven's usual changes are something that he's has an understanding of and knew that Morven need to understand what she'll really become. 

However Zest has his own changes as well and for years he's never been able to tell anyone but now he trusts Morven with his secret and Zest will keeps hers. 

Morven's new changes lies with hidden secrets, secrets she will have to travel to her homeland to figure out who she is and the feuding between the supernaturals and families names will be the first thing she'll learn. 

I give this book 3 Cat's Tails up, it was ordinary for sure along with the feuding families concept but I still wanted more! I'm intrigue of Jenny's idea but I still wish there was more in the first book where things starts spilling out.

 

Meow . . . Meow . . . Meow

First off sorry that this is such a late review, but I've been extremely busy with school but I'm taking the time now to write it.
Overall this book wasn't too bad, the concept was ordinary by itself and the concepts of  having two feuding families as well the supernaturals of the night. 

Morven is a vampire and her best friend Zest is a werewolf, they both are what they call Children of the Mist. Now as far Zest knowing about his family history is clear but Morven is kept in the dark.
So now she is on her own mission to find out about who she really is and what she is, although the warm welcoming from her family in Scotland was admirable but when Morven spends more time with her relative the more things don't add up.

When an urgent phone call from Morven, Zest flies to Scotland to her rescue only to find out that his own family name is a big enemy to Morven's family. He now sees the danger Morven in and goes to her rescue, while at the same time Meg MacGregor helps out as well. 

I like Megan's Spunk! I really can't wait to read more of her, because she is more aware of the feud and can shed light to Morven and Zest about the deep dark secretive past. Also in the email to Jenny, she was writing Megan's story how much or how far she's into writing Megan's book I'm not sure.

The back story between the Campbells and the MacGregors, lingers in my thought because the author spent a part of the book seeding the family feud. I did send a email to her regarding about the two families and she did indicated that she'll explore the family history deeper and bring the back story to life, where did it all go wrong between the two families and species. 

Dirty Blood Review

First off I'd like to thank Megan Curd for telling the world that we should read this book by Heather Hildenbrand and plus for a limited time Heather had it for free on ebook. SCORE!!!!!

Plus we all need a little more werewolves in our life, no I am not referring to Twilight that is over and done! I'm talking werewolves from the Mortal Instruments or Nightshades series. Both really great YA books and I would recommend reading it.

I killed a girl last night. I did it with my bare hands and an old piece of pipe I found lying next to the dumpster. But that’s not the part that got me. The part that scared me, the part I can’t seem to wrap my head around and still has me reeling, was that when she charged me, her body shifted – and then she was a wolf. All snapping teeth and extended claws. But by the time I stood over her lifeless body, she was a girl again. That’s about the time I went into shock… And that was the moment he showed up.

Now, all I can do is accept the truths that are staring me in the face. One, Werewolves do exist. And Two, I was born to kill them.

Kindle Edition, 289 pages

Published April 2nd 2011 by Accendo Press (first published April 1st 2011)

 

 

Review

A much rather normal teenager Tara, never believes in what couldn't be real but that all change when she was attacked by a werewolf. Panic strikes but somehow she felt something else, something that flows through her saying "you are meant to do this" That doesn't make sense.

 

But then meeting up with Wes who’s showed up at the right moment at the right time, Tara knows he has answers. Later Tara discovers about werewolves and werewolves hunters alike and learns that she is a werewolf hunter.

 

Train or not trained? Choose a side, fall in love with a werewolves/hunter mix and learns about her heritage and how she fits into the world of werewolves and hunters as well as the Cause. Will Tara be the one that the destiny has written out? Or will the destiny be wrong?

 

Ramble

So the title sounds weird right? Dirty Blood, what does that mean? Well the book is a mixture of werewolves (love!) and werewolves hunters. Always are enemies but then The Cause was created many years ago, but this Cause was to gather werewolves and hunters together to create a peace and there was some sort of destiny written where one will become the leader of the movement.

Wait . . . Who's the characters? Don't worry I haven't forgotten about them I just wanted to lay the basis of the book. We meet Tara who encounters a werewolf that attacks her! Then suddenly after managing to fight the werewolf, a stranger name Wes comes along. So what was the deal? why did this werewolf out of nowhere attacks and then this truly handsome guy shows up? Something connects but Tara won't be able to figure it out without the help of Wes.

The journey for Tara on choosing to be trained or walk away from everything prove to be difficult when the werewolves are after you no matter what. But Tara's heritage is just that much closer to being expose when the werewolf Leo makes some shocking news.

The secrets starts pouring out and those secrets just might end up doing more harm than good and protection. Will Tara accept for who she is or will she look the other way?

I love the mixture of werewolves and werewolves hunters, it definitely something different from other werewolves books I've read. So I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

Currently Reading: On My Ipad

MEOW, I know I had a few weeks of taking a break from reading since my brain went mesh on reading any sort of books. But Now? I have to go back to reading some long awaited, need to read, might be part of a tour kind of thing.

So here's what's on my Ipad

 

The Blood Code By Misty Evans

Two Halves By Marla Szemik

Into the Fire By Amanda Usen

Werewolves Be Damned By Stacey Kennedy

 

The Blood Code (A Super Agent Novel By Misty Evans
 

Book Description

Fifteen years ago, Anya Radzoya fled Russia with her grandmother after the suspicious deaths of her parents, but she can’t escape the royal genes that make her one of Russia’s last living princesses. When President Ivanov blackmails her into returning to Moscow to be his future wife in exchange for her grandmother’s life, Anya discovers he’s planning to unleash a nuclear war. With no one else to turn to, she join forces with CIA operative Ryan Smith.Undercover at the nuclear summit, Ryan is happy to recruit Anya to find proof Ivanov is resurrecting the Cold War, but he suspects his new asset is a double agent. Anya is determined to rescue her grandmother with or without his help, however, and Ryan finds himself falling for the beautiful princess before he even trusts her. He refuses to let her go it alone, even if it means risking his own critical mission.Trapped inside the Kremlin with a cunning and ruthless opponent, the two must risk their lives and their hearts to save Anya’s grandmother, as well as millions of innocent people.

 

ebook, 250 pages

Expected publication: June 17th 2013 by Entangled: Edge

 

This book is provided by Jaime Arnold (Senior Publict, Entangled Publishing, LCC) She is also known for her Two Chicks On Books Blog

 

 

Into The Fire By Amanda Usen

 

Book Description

Jackson Calabrese has a lot of nerve. He beat Lila Grant in the Culinary Academy competition using her recipes. Now, he’s opening a restaurant and wants her help? Fine, she'll fix his menu, but it's going to cost him.

Heir to the Calabrese restaurant empire, Jackson can buy anything he wants, except creativity, so he buys Lila's instead. He can craft perfect paella, but to take New York by storm he needs her innovative spark.

Skillets aren't the only things hot in the kitchen, and an uneasy truce ignites into passion. They’re great in bed, but Jackson doesn't trust her, and Lila is contemplating revenge. The restaurant opening approaches, the menu is completed, and the tables are set for one final act of betrayal. How can love bloom in the midst of such a hot mess?

 

 

ebook, 201 pages

Expected publication: June 10th 2013 by Entangled: Indulgence

 

I have read this book already but I still have a review to complie, along with preparing my guest post with Amanda so expect a post on June 17th.

 

 

Two Halves By Marta Szemik

 

 

Book Description

Sarah killed her human mother shortly after she was born to quench her thirst. She hates her vampire father who she never met and blames him for her mother's death.
Now twenty-one, Sarah suppresses her dark side with serums. When a nightmare stirs her superhuman traits, underworld creatures hunt for the half-breed vampire. On the run, Sarah learns what’s been hidden from her, for a good reason. Had she known her destiny, she may have continued with the serums that kept her safe in the human world.

 

 

ebook, 370 pages

Published November 27th 2011 by MyLit Publishing

This was provided by Netgallary although this book been out since 2011, I am still happy to read it and give a review for the author.

Werewolves Be Damned (magic and Mayhem #1) By Stacey Kennedy

Book Description

Nexi Jones—part witch, part guardian, and wannabe kick-ass warrior—can’t throw a punch or conjure the simplest magic. But that doesn’t stop her from hunting the werewolves who slaughtered her human family. She’ll have her revenge, but only if Kyden, the elite guardian, would get the hell out of her way.

Kyden can’t decide if Nexi wants to get herself killed or if she just has no clue what she’s doing. But her father made it clear: keep Nexi safe…or else. Of course, the more Nexi runs toward revenge, the more she needs Kyden’s aid, and as she grows into her power and confidence, so does his desire to protect her. The only problem? She’d rather he dropped dead.

But when a vampire paints a bull’s-eye on Nexi’s back, she’s hard-pressed to deny Kyden and the help he’s offering. Even if it means getting her revenge will be a little bit harder. At least it will still be as sweet.

This story was previously published elsewhere under the title The Willow in 2010, and has been revised and expanded for Entangled Publishing.

Kindle Edition, 204 pages

Published April 15th 2013 by Entangled Publishing

 

This has been on my Ipad for a month or so and I still haven't read it yet and I've heard so much about it so it is still under my Currently reading on GR although I haven't really flipped the pages yet.

 

 

Now here's the other thing, my goal is to have read all of these books before my trip at the end of June, but based on my schedule I'm hoping to get at least two out of four done. Two are for blog tours so I have to read them no matter what and review them. The others are as I go along with the two I have to focus on so wish me luck. Oh did I mention I am going to be crazy busy these next two weeks?

 

Since I won't be posting as much as I would like too because of my traveling preparation and other life stuff, the only things so far I have plan on posting are the blog tour posts. If I can I might be able to add something else but for right now just expect those post from me.