"You Can Never Have Too Many Books"

Monday, January 20, 2014

Book Review: The Goddess Test

The Goddess Test (Goddess Test #1) by Aimee Carter

The Goddess Test (Goddess Test, #1)
Every girl who had taken the test has died.

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

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

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

If she fails...


Paperback, 293 pages

Published April 19th 2011 by Harlequin Teen (first published January 1st 2011)



The Goddess Test is part of my Series to read, I have once read it before but I never posted a review and soon after I couldn't remember what happened. But since this was a series and I had the next two books, I added it to my books to read for this year.

Review
Kate Winters didn't have much outlook to life, taking care of her mother was the only thing on her mind everything else was disregard because it wasn't important to Kate. Moving to Eden, Michigan per to her mother request, Kate didn't expect to be in Eden long enough . . . She was wrong. 

Due to a freak accident, Kate plead to save a life then Henry appeared granting her plead ONLY if she is willing to give up six months of her life spending it with him. But there's a catch . . . always a catch, once 

Kate is at Eden Manor she learned that she must pass a series of tests in order to prove herself that she is capable of immortality. 

The question is can she do it?

I give this 4 Cat's Tails UP, even after reading it the second time the book drew my attention but I wish there was more somehow. i can't explain it but I felt it lack actions or such.


MEOW . . . MEOW . . . MEOW
Now that I have read this the second time and could actually enjoy it better, I've dabbled on a few Greek Mythology and found it interesting but I didn't realize that someone actually wrote an book using Greek Mythology influence. 

Kate Winters is a very shy and quiet girl but I can see that she does that so people wouldn't constantly feel sorry for her due to her mom's sickness and nearly on her death bed. But when arriving in Eden, things are not what she expected to be.

Meeting James was one thing, befriending Ava was another and Ava unexpectedly dies from a freak accident and Kate couldn't bare to see someone her age, so young to die because she was being reckless. 

That's when Henry comes in, Henry seem very brooding but handsome at the same time he offers Kate an ultimatum however from the beginning Kate didn't realize what she was getting herself into and when she refuse him not believing in what he said about the deal. Ava dies AGAIN. 

Now Kate has to believe but she couldn't bring Ava back to life but Henry was willing to give her more time with her mom until she was ready to say goodbye. When she agree with the deal, she knows that passing the test is important because it wasn't about having more time with her mom, it was saving Henry as well.

HENRY a.k.a HADES, he seems a pretty decent guy but because of the past he distant himself from Kate fearing that everything that had happen in the past will happen again. But soon he grows fond of Kate, and in a small way believes that she could pass the tests. 

The tests were mention here and there during the time Kate was at Eden Manor and I was wondering what kind of tests was the gods going to throw at her. I expected like sequences that would challenge her, not like the hunger games or such. But something where it's surviving each task at a time. 

Her first non-official test was on what she knew about the Greek history and failed. I was glad that Henry had shared his failure on the test as well and I think after that point is when the two of them starting growing together. Kate admittedly believe that the more time she has spent with Henry, the more she was falling in love but did Henry in return? She was thinking will it all be worth it in the end, but the last thing she wanted was to feel responsible for if and when Henry will fade if she does not pass the tests.

I guess when facing a chance of immortality, the biggest series of the test was to be the seven deadly sins however while Kate had passed most of them there was one that she couldn't passed because the gods saw it as what it was, LUST and not influence by an scheme by Calliope. Kate wasn't guilty, she couldn't be and Calliope true colors finally shows when she get too close to Kate.

Soon it made sense to who had killed the other girls that didn't pass the tests or. Ever had a chance to, Calliope was madly in love with Henry but Henry didn't in return. Her success of killing Kate works but Kate's mom offer her life to save Kate. Even Henry was too late when he tried so hard to protect her, he took Kate mom offer and Kate was brought back to life. 

Kate knew that only she could determine Calliope punishment, she gave her the hardest one of all spending time with each girls that she has killed until they could forgave her.

Kate is on her way of becoming immortal, she has to believe in herself that she can help Henry rule the underworld.

Overall it was a good read/re-read, I'm already midway on the second book Goddess Interrupted which has a lot more excitement once Kate has arrive back from her six month but face even more danger.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

The Cat's Meow

THE CAT'S MEOW

Well the new year is here and I think it's time to give you what my large pile of books I've received for Christmas/Birthday.

If you been following my SassyCat Book Blogger New Year Challenge that Parajunkee has created, I've been participating in that and it's been a lot of fun and challenging thoughts.

So how many books did I get for Christmas? 15


After Christmas and on my birthday book deals . .  . 11

Display the books that I really wanted . . . I found Wait for You and Foreplay when out shopping for my friend's gift and was appalled by where the bookstore actually placed them. I will create another post to share what has changed since Borders been closed for business.

If your store has discounted sections, I would suggestion browsing there you never know what you might find.


These books above are Discounted books, I got 5 hardcover books that were at the most 5 dollars a piece maybe less, then along with paperbacks.

The books below are gift that I got from a friend of mine, she had given me three other books that are not pictured because I already owned them. I gave one to another friend of mine and I'll have to figure out what to do with the other two books that I don't need. They might be giveaways or I could figure out who else could need them. 

 

Plus two books from another friend of mine, that I didn't take pictures of but I'll post the covers instead.

 Dark Prince (Dark, #1)The Dirty Streets of Heaven

So in all total of books that I got 33

33 books! Now I do really want to get ebooks of novellas or short stories that are only in ebook format.  

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Book Review: Fire & Blood

Fire and Blood (Fire and Blood #1) By Victoria Scott
Fire & Flood (Fire & Flood, #1)
A modern day thrill ride, where a teen girl and her animal companion must participate in a breathtaking race to save her brother's life—and her own.

Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.

Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.

The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?


Hardcover, 320 pages

Expected publication: February 25th 2014 by Scholastic Press 



I've received an ARC copy from Scholastic, this marks my very first ARC book that I got from an publisher. I was jumping up and down when I open the package, because I had no Idea what to expect. 
Review
It started with a little blue box . . . then a small device and a challenge
What would you do if you had the chance to save someone you love? That you could give that loved one a cure.

Tella's life been pretty sheltered, unaware about Brimstone Bleed but the last thing Tella is going to do is turn down this opportunity to save her brother.

Her first task . . . choose a Pandora that will help assist you during the race, which includes four different ecosystems, Jungle, Desert, Sea and Mountains. This race will last three months and in the end the grand prize will be a CURE.

Tella will up against a hundred other contenders and all of them will do anything to get to the winning prize, it's a life or death game. So who can Tella trust?

Can Tella survive the Brimstone Bleed race?

This is by far the best book I've read! I give this bundles of kittens, they're so PURRFECT! it doesn't fit to my 5 Cat Tails Up rating it's better than that. 


Meow . . . Meow . . . Meow
Considering that Fire and Blood is one of my 2014 TBR Pile, I was in awed that I actually got an paperback ARC copy from the Publisher! That mark a huge milestone for me as a blogger, perhaps I'm going in the right direction. 

Fire and Blood is some what similar to hunger games (please note I'm not comparing the books, just the theme) and I can't compare HG to Fire and Blood because I've never read the books of the HG but I've seen the movies. 

Tella received a little blue box that contains a mysterious device stating about the Brimstone Bleed Race . . . the prize? A Cure for any type of illness. At first Tella thought someone was playing a joke but her father was complete enraged, maybe it's the real deal?

The first task is to choose an egg that will be the contender "Pandora" throughout the race they will assist the contender at anytime, each contender will have their own and unique Pandora. 

For a couple pages of this book, I was wondering well what is the Pandora? or What is it beside this little egg? Well Tella begins naming it considering you're alone in a jungle, with no one but the egg you can't help but talk to the egg. 



The EGG HATCHED!!!!

Meet MADOX!!!! 
Tella's Pandora! You won't believe what he can do but I'm not going to tell, so you'll have to read the book.
Now it's a Tella and Madox journey from here on out and they come across some friendly people and some not so friendly, You wonder how can you trust anyone? They're all after the same thing and you know not all will survive or win.

While Tella joined a small group, in the small group she meets Harper, Caroline, Dink, Levi and Ransom (brothers), and Guy. A friendship is form within the group as well the Pandora to the contenders. However some see their Pandora as slaves. Not everyone has good intentions when entering this race.

The first event has ended, numbers are diminish, prepare for the next event where Tella and the small group will face the desert. 

Remember the contenders must faced four ecosystems, the contenders survived the Jungle and a few days rest before venturing off to the desert. Before starting the next race there are small prizes that the Brimstone Bleed presents, a temporary cure and a chance to leave the race. 

Seventy-eight remains . . .the race get even more dangerous.  

MEOW . . . MEOW . . . MEOW (Cont.)
Now let's MEOW about the group Tella decided to join, sometimes you need allies rather than enemies and for good reasons. One of the not so friendly contender Titus have eyed Tella since the beginning, he believes that she'll lead him to win the race. 

Harper is your average popular girl in school gal, Tella sort of bumps head against her but Tella better off doing what she says rather than against it. 

Caroline and Dink have been together since the beginning of the race, they act like brother/sister but more like mother/son relationship. No one really questioned them because they are the most scared Contenders than every one else.

The brothers Levi and Ransom, just lighten the mood . . . they are the type of guys to be around in situations like they are in now. But sadly one of them does not survive when so close to the end of the first part of the race. Also their Pandora are pretty cool, makes me want one of each.

Guy, I secretly think he has a thing for Tella, but being in a race you can't really think about that. But Tella does even though she in the race for her brother's life, she can't help but think just how hunky Guy is. 

But Guy has a secret . . . although he knows the back story about the Brimstone Bleed which some might but I thought he knew a little too much. That's why he remains so mysterious and so secretive, and I like mysterious guys. 

I can't wait for you guys to read Victoria's new book Fire and Blood, her concept is fresh, new and very thrilling. You will have a restless night reading this book because you won't be able to put it down! 

Fire and Blood will be released by Scholastic Press, February 25th 2014

Follow Victoria on Twitter
Facebook
her blog
 and Follow Fire and Blood Fans on Twitter

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

SassyCat Book Blogger: Day Fourteen

 
Today is the final day of Parajunkee's Book Blogger New Year Challenge, I've always love joining fun challenges and is sad when they have ended. I hope that everyone had fun doing this and reading others posts about what they thought.

Yesterday it was "Share your book blogger horror story" I have choosen to not do that post, because well I really couldn't think of any. Perhaps that a good thing, because I typically avoid all the drama.

Today we share our Blogging Wish List of 2014

My Blogger Wishlist
  • A new design for SassyCat's Book Review
  • Cat's Tails Raters 
  • Discover New Book Boyfriends
  • Reunite with Old Book Boyfriends
  • Guys Team sidebar banners
  • Meet other Blogger Buddies
  • Meet Author Buddies
  • More Book Challenges . . .  You should consider what I'm doing, Reading all Series based books
  • Attend Book Cons/Author Events (When possible)
 So what are some of your blogger Wishlist?

Mouse Watch

 
 
Vitro by Jessica Khoury

Vitro

Hardcover, 384 pages 
Expected publication: January 14th 2014 by Razorbill 

 

 

About Jessica Khoury 

Jessica Khoury Jessica Khoury is 23 years old and was born and raised in Georgia. She attended public school followed by homeschooling, and earned her bachelor's degree in English from Toccoa Falls College. She lives in Toccoa, Georgia with her husband Benjamin, two terrible dogs, and an abundance of books, shoes, and sweet tea. When not writing, she's usually directing stageplays or coaching soccer. Origin is her first novel. 

Where to find her
twitter username jkbibliophile
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/authorjessicakhoury 
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5625945.Jessica_Khoury

Monday, January 13, 2014

The Lost Amulet Chronicles: Interview with Katie Lynn Johnson

It's been awhile since I've had an author interview, thankfully I could reach out to one that had asked me to review her books.

So first an introductory about Katie,


Katie Lynn Johnson was an Air Force brat growing up, and has lived in California, Germany, New Mexico, Texas, and Idaho. In college she studied fine art and marketing, all the while taking far more English classes than were necessary for her degree. By day she works as a writer, copyeditor, and graphic designer for a magazine publisher, and by night she writes novels just for kicks. Katie lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband and two children. 






Her books






Upcoming Books




 Amulet of Elusion (The Lost Amulet Chronicles, #1)Amulet of Power (The Lost Amulet Chronicles, #2)

Where did you get your ideas for The Lost Amulet Chronicles?
I first came up with the basic concept of the story in junior high school (yeah, it was that long ago), so, unsurprisingly, a lot of my first ideas came from Disney movies like Aladdin and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
I'm there right now, working on a WIP that actually came off an idea I had in High School but more mature, modern and Urban Fantasy. I'm still working on it but the changes and new ideas I have went like a forest fire! I'm hoping this will be the one to make it out there somewhere :-)

Was there anything that inspired you to write The Lost Amulet Chronicles? Places, Music, etc.
Definitely! When I was young, I visited a city in Germany called Rothenburg. It was hundreds of years old, with a lot of cobblestone and a wall surrounding the entire city--this is where I came up with the idea for Alvair. San Lucero, on the other hand, is based on San Juan, Puerto Rico. I've never been there but I saw a documentary on the Travel Channel and fell in love with it. A couple of songs that inspired the story are Lie to Me by 12 Stones and The Fake Sound of Progress by Lostprophets.

Music is always a big influence to me when writing, it's almost impossible to write without it! I would love to visit foreign countries someday!

In Amulet of Power, you had Caleb and Alexa loses their memory did you plan that to bring in a greater threat such as Dante for a twist? 
This was actually one of my first ideas for the series--that at some point Alexa would be bound by a spell and be working for Queen Jada. Dante was one of my first ideas, too. I liked the idea of an attractive bad guy who tries to steal Alexa away from Caleb.

 Who doens't like an attractive bad boy?
Dante seemed nice in the beginning but then something clicked inside his head when Alexa started granting him powers. Was he as evil as he is before obtaining that power? 
Yes and no. Dante knew all along that he wanted to gain Alexa's trust so that she would grant him power. What he didn't expect is that he would genuinely fall in love with her. He also did not anticipate that the first taste of real power would make him hungrier for more.

Mmm . . . now I really can't wait to see what happen in book three
Also the sword fight between Alexa and Caleb? My mind was just spinning, praying and hoping that it wouldn't end horribly. That was really scary and I'm sure it was for Caleb.
This was also an early idea I had. I always liked the twist in stories where good guys turn bad and unintentionally try to hurt people they care about (e.g. when Indiana Jones was under a spell in Temple of Doom).

I love Indiana Jones :-)

How many more books will you write for The Lost Amulet Chronicles?
There are three books in The Lost Amulet Chronicles series.

When is the next one scheduled to come out? 
Book Three, Amulet of Destiny, is scheduled to be released in June 2014.


Ooh :-) June is going to be a busy month for me, attending my first ever big book blogger/author event in Nashville UTopYA Con in case you're wondering. So I might not have time in June to read your book, but we'll see :-)

Thanks Katie for answering my questions! And I'll take up on some of your suggestions of Fantasy books :-)
 

Sunday, January 12, 2014

SassyCat Book Blogger: Day Twelve

 

It's day Twelve of Parajunkee's Book Blogger New Year Challenge, today topic is about the Plan . . . the Plan to gain more followers.

What's my plan to gain more followers? I don't have an answer, I get twitter followers every once in awhile but then I lose some as well. My google + gets some followers but rarely, I don't know if there's email followers and I have no idea how my blog is followed aside from twitter and sometimes on Goodreads.

My thought about creating a Facebook page, sits in the back of my mind but I'm just not ready for that step yet. Yes I guess I should take a big girl pill or something but I have to be mentally ready for it. I'll ask some of my blogger friends for advice on what to do to take this next step.

I rarely use Booklikes, I don't really care for it because for one it doesn't have an app.how can something not have an app?

So as of right now I don't have a plan about gaining followers.

How about you, what's your plan of action?