School Spirits Review

School Spirits (School Spirits #1) By Rachel Hawkins

Book Description

Fifteen-year-old Izzy Brannick was trained to fight monsters. For centuries, her family has hunted magical creatures. But when Izzy's older sister vanishes without a trace while on a job, Izzy's mom decides they need to take a break. Izzy and her mom move to a new town, but they soon discover it's not as normal as it appears. A series of hauntings has been plaguing the local high school, and Izzy is determined to prove her worth and investigate. But assuming the guise of an average teenager is easier said than done. For a tough girl who's always been on her own, it's strange to suddenly make friends and maybe even have a crush. Can Izzy trust her new friends to help find the secret behind the hauntings before more people get hurt? Rachel Hawkins' delightful spin-off brings the same wit and charm as the New York Times best-selling Hex Hall series. Get ready for more magic, mystery and romance!

ebook, 303 pages           

Hardcover, 304 pages

Expected publication: May 14th 2013 by Disney-Hyperion

 

Where to Purchase

Schoo Spirits @ B&N

School Spirits @ Amazon

 

Add it to GoodReads:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15826934-school-spirits

 

First off I am a huge huge fan of Rachel Hawkins's Hex Hall series and I'm glad that she continues this world. Now there are new people that we get to meet but in other words we meet people we met in Hex Hall, more importantly Sophie's mom side of the family.

 

Review

At first impression the Brannick family is one hard core monster hunters family but they really do have a weakness for family. Izzy Brannick and her sister Finley were on a monster hunt, but somehow that hunt gone wrong and Finley disappeared.

Now the goal is to find Finley but it was not going to be an easy task, but Izzy's mom decides that going to small town Ideal, Mississippi to deal with a ghost might help pass the time while she search far and wide for Finley.

Izzy isn't your typical girl, she doesn't have friends, she doesn't shop or think about boys . . . she much rather fight whatever is thrown her way. But Izzy's cover is to blend in with the Mary Evans High Students and also learn more about this "Ghost Haunting".

While attending Mary Evans High, Izzy meet a small group of teens that hunts the supernatural, Izzy must do all that she can to protect her newfound friends and help the ghost of Mary Evans High passed.

Izzy also meets a boy named Dex but from the moment they touched, she sense some sort of magic humming through him although she can't pinpoint it.

But soon Izzy has to do her job and make sure that the gang doesn’t go do some magic when they know nothing about the consequences.

 

I give this a Four Cat's Tails Review, I like that it is a spin off of this world Rachel created now it just the matter of time to read more of what Izzy Brannick will be doing since the first book is just based on one mission.

 

Ramble

Ok first off this is not a continuous of Sophie from the Hex Hall series, this is a spin-off of this world and is focused on Izzy Brannick whom we met later in the Hex Hall series when things were going bad. This is also Izzy Brannick's Pov and boy she is new at this being "normal tennager" when all her life has been about hunting monsters.

 

Mary Evans High has a ghost haunting, the story goes way back when but now things have stirred up and Izzy must put this ghost to rest. What was interesting was how there were controvery about Mary Evans the ghost, its goes a little like this . . .She was the mayor of Ideal, Mississippi daughter, she might have had a lover quarrel with a teacher and gets knocked up, they were supposed to run off together but he left her alone and she somehow died.

 

Now don't worry Rachel didn't just make this all about getting rid of a ghost, she added a little boy like girl and girl like boy. Izzy met Dex who is very handsome and goofy, he also just happens to be part of the PMS (Paranormal Management Society) squad. Izzy knows nothing about this concept of boy like the girl and girl like the boy and why would she? Her life doesnt involve being social with people, just social with monster who ends up dead.

 

The ending was a twist, Dex is truly is of magic and how it came to become of that was a consquence and Izzy and her mom decides to stick around Ideal, Mississippi a little longer before moving on or at least until there is more information about Finley.

 

This series will be focused on whatever mission it taks the Brannicks to find Finley, who or what is another question but someday soon, Izzy and her mom will be reunited with Finley.

 

Memorable Quotes

“What I do is every bit as natural as what fancy Latin witches can do. If anything, hedge magic is more elegant.” ~ Maya

 

.”He’s Prodigium. I think. Idont know He felt strange when I touched him. “ ~ Izzy

 

“Sorry. We probably haven’t reach he inappropriate touching stage of our friendship yet”  ~ Dex

"And now that I've stolen food from you, it's official. You and me, friends for life." ~ Dex

 

About the Author

Rachel Hawkins (www.rachel-hawkins.com) was a high school English teacher before becoming a full-time writer. She lives with her family in Alabama. To the best of her knowledge, Rachel is not a witch, though some of her former students may disagree.

Cover Reveal

Today we are revealing Jennifer L. Armentrout's new book Obsession

OBSESSION official Blurb:

He’s arrogant, domineering, and… To. Die. For.

Hunter is a ruthless killer. And the Department of Defense has him firmly in their grasp, which usually doesn’t chafe too badly because he gets to kill bad guys. Most of the time he enjoys his job. That is, until he’s saddled with something he’s never had to do before: protect a human from his mortal enemy.

Serena Cross didn’t believe her best friend when she claimed to have seen the son of a powerful senator turn into something…unnatural. Who would? But then she witnesses her friend’s murder at the hands of what can only be an alien, thrusting her into a world that will kill to protect their secret.

Hunter stirs Serena’s temper and her lust despite their differences. Soon he’s doing the unthinkable—breaking the rules he’s lived by, going against the government to keep Serena safe. But are the aliens and the government the biggest threats to Serena’s life…or is it Hunter?

The book will be releasing on 5/31/2013 with Entangled's Covet line.

Add  to Goodreads:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14060046-obsession

 

About the Author

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki.

 

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

 

Where to find Jennifer

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jlarmentrout

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferLArmentrout

Website: http://www.jenniferarmentrout.com/

Book Releases

Oath Bound (Unbound #3) By Rachel Vincent

The Tower Syndicate will fall...

The secret daughter of the head of an infamous Skilled crime family, Sera Brandt has hidden her past, her potential and especially her powers. But when a tragedy strikes her other family, Sera needs justice. And the only way to get it is to reveal her heritage–including a rare Skill–and take the reins of the Tower Syndicate from her cunning and malicious aunt.

If he can figure out how...

Kristopher Daniels might have the answer. He's fought the syndicate to protect his sisters, but he'd never realized just how close to the new heir he needed to get....

And if they can survive

Neither is used to trusting. But there's something between them that can't be ignored. And so Sera is on the run with a man she can't figure out, a target on her back and the new knowledge of just how powerful she really is....

Paperback, 400 pages

Published April 30th 2013 by Harlequin MIRA

 

The 5th Wave (The Fifth Wave #1) By Rick Yancey

 

The Passage meets Ender’s Game in an epic new series from award-winning author Rick Yancey.

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

 

Hardcover, 480 pages

Expected publication: May 7th 2013 by Putnam Juvenile

 

Mystic (Soul Seeker #3) By Alyson Noel

Since arriving in the dusty desert town of Enchantment, everything in Daire Santos life has changed...and not always for the better. While she's come to accept and embrace her new powers as a Soul Seeker, Daire struggles with the responsibility she holds navigating between the worlds of the living and the dead--and her mission to defeat the evil Cade Richter. But Cade's soul is inextricably entwined with that of her boyfriend Dace, putting their love to the ultimate test. How can she can't defeat Cade if it means destroying Dace too? And is their love strong enough to survive death—and what lies beyond?

 

MYSTIC is the third book in The Soul Seekers, a magnificent new series about a girl who can navigate between the worlds of the living and the dead, by #1 New York Times bestselling author Alyson Noël.

Hardcover, 320 pages

Expected publication: May 7th 2013 by St. Martin's Griffin

 

Invisibility By Andrea Cremer and David Levithan

 

Stephen has been invisible for practically his whole life — because of a curse his grandfather, a powerful cursecaster, bestowed on Stephen’s mother before Stephen was born. So when Elizabeth moves to Stephen’s NYC apartment building from Minnesota, no one is more surprised than he is that she can see him. A budding romance ensues, and when Stephen confides in Elizabeth about his predicament, the two of them decide to dive headfirst into the secret world of cursecasters and spellseekers to figure out a way to break the curse. But things don’t go as planned, especially when Stephen’s grandfather arrives in town, taking his anger out on everyone he sees. In the end, Elizabeth and Stephen must decide how big of a sacrifice they’re willing to make for Stephen to become visible — because the answer could mean the difference between life and death. At least for Elizabeth.

 

Hardcover, 358 pages

Expected publication: May 7th 2013 by Philomel

 

 

Icons (Icons #1) By Margaret Stohl

Your heart beats only with their permission.

Everything changed on The Day. The day the windows shattered. The day the power stopped. The day Dol's family dropped dead. The day Earth lost a war it didn't know it was fighting.

Since then, Dol has lived a simple life in the countryside -- safe from the shadow of the Icon and its terrifying power. Hiding from the one truth she can't avoid.

She's different. She survived. Why?

When Dol and her best friend, Ro, are captured and taken to the Embassy, off the coast of the sprawling metropolis once known as the City of Angels, they find only more questions. While Ro and fellow hostage Tima rage against their captors, Dol finds herself drawn to Lucas, the Ambassador's privileged son. But the four teens are more alike than they might think, and the timing of their meeting isn't a coincidence. It's a conspiracy.

Within the Icon's reach, Dol, Ro, Tima, and Lucas discover that their uncontrollable emotions -- which they've always thought to be their greatest weaknesses -- may actually be their greatest strengths.

Bestselling author Margaret Stohl delivers the first book in a heart-pounding series set in a haunting new world where four teens must piece together the mysteries of their pasts -- in order to save the future.

 

Hardcover, 448 pages

Expected publication: May 7th 2013 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

 

 

The Willows: Haven Review

It's not every day where authors gift us bloggers with one of their books to be review (honestly of course). Most of us might have to beg and beg for an ARC or go through series of network and emails to get an ARC.
Well this book I've had the honor to review Hope Collier's Book on her newly extended edition of The Willows: Haven.

 

Haven (The Willows #1)

 

When tragedy strikes, seventeen year-old Ashton Blake sets out on a cross-country road trip, leaving the comforts of Malibu for the mountains of Kentucky. Along the way, she encounters Gabe Willoughby—the mysterious drifter with eyes like the sea and a knowing smile. Getting to know Gabe raises questions about her past. But no secret can be buried forever, and Ashton soon finds herself in a world where water is air and myth becomes reality.

Just as Ashton comes to accept her newfound heritage, she’s summoned to fulfill a treaty laid down centuries before — a treaty that will divide her love and test her loyalty. In the end, her future isn’t her biggest concern, her humanity is. To run may mean war, but is she strong enough to stay?

Paperback, Second Edition, 327 pages

Published April 9th 2013 by Raven Key Press (first published September 13th 2011)

Book Trailer

First off I love love Hope's writing ability, I mean it truly is genius and I'm sure many of her authors friends and readers say that. Well I'm saying it again just because she deserves the credits and gratitude. The storyline was by far original in every way and I mean that because I've read a lot of books before her and many series before hers. This is a new taste for me as a reader/blogger/reviewer.

Review

Ashton Blake just turned 18, but turning 18 wasn't all sunshine and daisies. Ashton wasn't enjoying her 18th birthday that her boyfriend spent a fortune on when a family friend Harry called to say that Ashton's father Charlie had pass away. Now on her way to Cumberland, Kentucky to deal with her father's last will and testament, Ashton comes across freak drivers, parking lot stalkers and getting her own car stuck and meeting a stranger. Just after this stranger help Ashton get out of the mud, it wasn' till after they both realize her car has drove over his form of transportation. Gabe Willoughby is now Ashton's shotgun passenger and they're both now cross-country partners. Later Ashton's past is reveal and learns that there is a war brewing and royal bloodlines are on the verge of becoming extinct. Ashton must figure out a way to regain her future, what is right and wrong, and can she end a treaty that began before she was even born? Or will a war officially start?

I give this book 4 Cat's Tails Up

 

Ramble

As newbie to this series and I believe many people are anticipating for the second book to come out eventually and now I am too! How Hope ended the first book with cliffhangers is great! New allies and old allies to rescue a princess in distress. There were many twists to this story and I like that those twists made the story even more interesting in every way. The pace of the read was great! Never a dull moment and there is always something new to discover.

Ashton isn't really sure where she stands in life, even though her life is as perfect as it can be but something still lingers inside her . . . a missing piece of her life. Now she has Gabe Willoughby who stumbles into her life and she could sworn she knew him from somewhere. But among their adventure together, Ashton face things she never imagine, a past that unfold and learning about Naiads and Dryads or "Nymphs". Ashton is a greater part of her Naiads's World more than she thinks, the key to saving her kind and her hertiage just might lead to a numbers of discoveries, challenges and betrayals.

Now this can't be a story without a little romance right? Well Ashton was in a relationship before she met Gabe and boy do they give off chemistry. Gabe definitely has some part in seducing her (in a way) but I think Ashton had a greater part of feeling for someone that she just met. The whole "Fall in love at first sight" was for sure part of it but I wonder if it also had to do with the "changes" Ashton was beginning to go through as a Naiad and having Gabe to be a Naiad as well.

Then comes in the ex-boyfriend and his brothers, although Ashton was only aware of one who seems to have fallen in love with her from the start and care about her more than his own brother ever did. Kyle has always puts Ashton first before anyone else since she started dating his brother Kevin but little did Ashton know that there was a reason why Kevin was so determine to have her. It all has to do with the royal bloodlines of Naiads/Dryads and since Ashton is royalty, she was betroth in a sense(before she knew about her mother's past and history) to Darach(Kevin).

Family Drama, yes there's many family drama in this book between Ashton and her father Charlie to Ashton's mother's family and the treaty. Then you got the Hawthrone family drama with theirs mother's past. Then you have the Hawthrone brothers Kevin and Kyle (there's more but lets stick with these two) Kyle would say there's no feeling towards Ashton but that is a lie while Kevin will get what he wants and what he want is Ashton.

Passages

 

"My heart ached realizing I needed that haven -- that place where I felt safe and loved. It had been missing all of these years, but I'd refused to see it."

"I didn't want this for you, Ash. None of it." he began slowly. "You're right. You don't deserve this. You have every right to be happy with the person and life you choose. For what it's worth, I would change it if I could." ~ Kyle
 
"You're stronger than you know Ashton. Remember that every time you see your reflection." ~ Gabe 

"That's the thing about trust. It's like broken glass. You can ut it back together, but the cracks are always visible -- like scars that never fully heal. I don't know if I can ever trust you again." ~ Ashton

About the Author

Hope Collier was born in Harlan County, Kentucky. Growing up in the Appalachia, she quickly learned that a good imagination — along with the ability to outrun the neighbor’s cantankerous dog — was essential to survival. Hope wrote and illustrated her first book at the age of six and never stopped writing. She now lives in central Kentucky with her husband, two daughters, and a menagerie of pets. When not spending time with her imaginary friends, you’re likely to find her stalking other writers on Twitter or searching out new ways of fitting square pegs into round holes.




Where to find Hope
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/author.hope.collier
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HopeCollier
Website: http://hopecollier.com/
Blog: http://hopecollier.com/blog
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5016653.Hope_Collier

Cover Wars

Cover Wars

 

What Covers do you like?

Do you like the original or the newly version?

Would you rather have Hardcover or Paperback?

Pushing the Limits (Pushing the Limits #1) By Katie McGarry

Hardcover(Released in July 2012)    Paperback(Released in April 2013)

 

 The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1) By Julie Kagawa

 Hardcover(Release in April 2012)     Paperback(Released in March 2013)

Cold Fury (Cold Fury #1) By T.M Goegiein

Hardcover(Released in July 2012) Paperback(Released in

June 2013)

 

So what do you think? Would you rather wait for a paperback/hardcover or buy both copy? I can say that I have brought two copies of the same books but with different covers.

 

I like to think that part of it is my own collection of books but also I just love both covers that I can't possibly live without either of them.

 

Is Hardcover or Paperback the winner?

 

 

Book Releases

Unbreakable (Unravealing #2) By Elizabeth Norris

Four months after Ben disappeared through the portal to his home universe, Janelle believes she’ll never see him again. Her world is still devastated, but life is finally starting to resume some kind of normalcy. Until Interverse Agent Taylor Barclay shows up. Somebody from an alternate universe is running a human trafficking ring, kidnapping people and selling them on different Earths—and Ben is the prime suspect. Now his family has been imprisoned and will be executed if Ben doesn’t turn himself over within five days.

And when Janelle learns that someone she cares about—someone from her own world—has become one of the missing, she knows that she has to help Barclay, regardless of the danger. Now Janelle has five days to track down the real culprit. Five days to locate the missing people before they’re lost forever. Five days to reunite with the boy who stole her heart. But as the clues begin to add up, Janelle realizes that she’s in way over her head—and that she may not have known Ben as well as she thought. Can she uncover the truth before everyone she cares about is killed?

Hardcover, 496 pages

Expected publication: April 23rd 2013 by Balzer + Bray

 

The Elite (The Selection #2) By Kiera Cass

 

The hotly-anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestseller The Selection.

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

 

Hardcover, 336 pages

Expected publication: April 23rd 2013 by Harper Teen

 

The Eternity Cure (Blood Of Eden #2) By Julie Kagawa

 

 

Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.

Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.

 

Hardcover, 446 pages

Expected publication: April 30th 2013 by Harlequin Teen

 

 

Sweet Peril (The Sweet Trilogy #2) By Wendy Higgins

 

 

Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things.

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

 

Paperback, 374 pages

Expected publication: April 30th 2013 by HarperTeen

 

Where to Purchase

Every Book may be purchase at . . . .

Barnes and Noble

Amazon

Book Depository

And wherever books are sold

 

So Tell me what books are you waiting for?

Blogger Times

I apologizes for not blogging so much these past few weeks, I have been busy in my realtiy world.  Book world is so much better than reality, here's a few reasons why

1. It's my relaxing time
2. I can visit my book boyfriend(s)
3. Their world seems better than mine
4. Bloggers always have something to giveaway and give the best reviews
5. Too many books had come out that I'm barely keeping track

So here's some things in my Blogger Times,

• I have been given a chance to review a book called The Willows: Haven by Hope Collier, I'm still reading it and I'm loving every mintue of it!
• I have been waiting for my Barry Lyga's signed copies of "I Hunt Killers" and the sequel "Game"
• I purchase two discounted hardcover books, one by Kelley Armstrong and the other by Kathy Reichs and Brendan Reichs
• I haven't open Fragments since last week because I still have three book to still review but I'm reading The Willows: Haven because Hope offered her book to me to be read and give a review.

So here's some book photos

 

 

 

Thanks Addendum Bookstore for sending the books to me!!!!

 

Now the two Discounted Hardcovers

 Virals(Virals #1) By Kathy Reichs.Brendan Reichs and The Gathering(Darkness Rising #1) by Kelley Armstrong.

 

I purchase these books at Books-a-Million(I won't blame you if you are not familiar with that bookstore. They are the company that brought out my old borders store although I wish we had gotten a Barnes and Noble instead)

 And the Books I Still have to review

 

On my Ipad I have School Spirit by Rachel Hawkins provided by NetGallery, Then it's the Goddess Test by Aimee Carter and Divergent by Veronica Roth.  I might consider re-reading Goddess Test and Divergent.