Saturday, April 30, 2016

Stacking the Shelves #93


Stacking the Shelves button

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that lets us share what we've added to our shelves.


Riders is a win from Jaime @ Two Chicks on Books. Thank you so much! I'm loving the fiery cover!
 
Ripple and Riders

Many thanks to Raincoast Books for the copies of With Malice and True Born! I'm on the blog tour for both so look out for the posts soon-ish ;)

Ripple with With Malice and True Born!
 
What did you add to your shelves this week?

Friday, April 29, 2016

Review: The Last Boy and Girl in the World by Siobhan Vivian


The Last Boy and Girl in the World by Siobhan VivianThe Last Boy and Girl in the World
by Siobhan Vivian
April 26, 2016
320 pages


Goodreads Summary:
What if your town was sliding underwater and everyone was ordered to pack up and leave? How would you and your friends spend your last days together?

While the adults plan for the future, box up their possessions, and find new places to live, Keeley Hewitt and her friends decide to go out with a bang. There are parties in abandoned houses. Canoe races down Main Street. The goal is to make the most of every minute they still have together.

And for Keeley, that means taking one last shot at the boy she’s loved forever.

There’s a weird sort of bravery that comes from knowing there’s nothing left to lose. You might do things you normally wouldn’t. Or say things you shouldn’t. The reward almost always outweighs the risk.

Almost.

It’s the end of Aberdeen, but the beginning of Keeley’s first love story. It just might not turn out the way she thought. Because it’s not always clear what’s worth fighting for and what you should let become a memory.


Thursday, April 28, 2016

Blog Tour - Excerpt: The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi


The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani ChokshiThe Star-Touched Queen
by Roshani Chokshi
 April 26, 2016
352 pages


Goodreads Summary:
Cursed with a horoscope that promises a marriage of Death and Destruction, sixteen-year-old Maya has only earned the scorn and fear of her father's kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her world is upheaved when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. But when her wedding takes a fatal turn, Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Yet neither roles are what she expected. As Akaran's queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar's wife, she finds friendship and warmth.

But Akaran has its own secrets - thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Beneath Akaran's magic, Maya begins to suspect her life is in danger. When she ignores Amar's plea for patience, her discoveries put more than new love at risk - it threatens the balance of all realms, human and Otherworldly.

Now, Maya must confront a secret that spans reincarnated lives and fight her way through the dangerous underbelly of the Otherworld if she wants to protect the people she loves.

Inspired by Indian mythology.


Wednesday, April 27, 2016

WoW #94: Vicarious (Vicarious #1) by Paula Stokes


Waiting on Wednesday button

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted every week by Breaking the Spine which lets us showcase an upcoming release we are excited about! 


Vicarious by Paula StokesVicarious
(Vicarious #1)
by Paula Stokes
August 16, 2016
336 pages

Goodreads Summary:
Winter Kim and her sister, Rose, have always been inseparable. Together, the two of them survived growing up in a Korean orphanage and being trafficked into the United States.

Now they work as digital stunt girls for Rose’s ex-boyfriend, Gideon, engaging in dangerous and enticing activities while recording their neural impulses for his Vicarious Sensory Experiences, or ViSEs. Whether it’s bungee jumping, shark diving, or grinding up against celebrities at the city’s hottest dance clubs, Gideon can make it happen for you, for a price.

When Rose disappears and a ViSE recording of her murder is delivered to Gideon, Winter won’t rest until she finds her sister’s killer. But when the clues she uncovers conflict with the neural recordings her sister made, Winter isn’t sure what to believe. To find out what happened to Rose, she’ll have to untangle what’s real from what only seems real, risking her life in the process.

 
That synopsis is everything! August hurry up be here please!

What are you guys waiting on this week?

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Review: Water's Wrath (Air Awakens #4) by Elise Kova


Water's Wrath Review banner


Water's Wrath by Elise KovaWater's Wrath
(Air Awakens #4)
by Elise Kova
April 26, 2016
291 pages

Goodreads Summary:
Librarian turned sorcerer. Sorcerer turned hero. Hero turned puppet.

The Solaris Empire found victory in the North and, at the cost of her heart and her innocence, Vhalla Yarl has earned her freedom. But the true fight is only beginning as the secret forces that have been lurking in the shadows, tugging at the strings of Vhalla’s fate, finally come to light. Nowhere is safe, and Vhalla must tread carefully or else she’ll fall into the waiting arms of her greatest foe. Or former lover.
 
 

Monday, April 25, 2016

Meet the Newbies - Interview & Giveaway: Dreamology by Lucy Keating

 
Meet the Newbies banner

Meet the Newbies is a blog event created by Rachel @ A Perfection Called Books. It is dedicated to introducing you to the “newbie” published debut authors. In this event, expect to learn more about the authors, their books, and silly fun facts! You can find out more here!
 
 
Hi everyone! Today, I'm very excited to have Lucy Keating, the author of Dreamology, here for a fun Q&A! There's also a giveaway at the end so don't forget to enter for a chance to win!
 
 
Dreamology by Lucy KeatingDreamology
by Lucy Keating
April 12, 2016
336 pages
 

Goodreads Summary:
For as long as Alice can remember, she has dreamed of Max. Together they have traveled the world and fallen deliriously, hopelessly in love. Max is the boy of her dreams—and only her dreams. Because he doesn’t exist.

But when Alice walks into class on her first day at a new school, there he is. It turns out, though, that Real Max is nothing like Dream Max, and getting to know each other in reality isn’t as perfect as Alice always hoped.

When their dreams start to bleed dangerously into their waking hours, the pair realize that they might have to put an end to a lifetime of dreaming about each other. But when you fall in love in your dreams, can reality ever be enough?

Whimsical, romantic and utterly original, Lucy Keating’s debut novel will win readers’ hearts.
 
 
Author Most Likely to be Sitting on the Floor at a Party, Talking to the Dog
Nickname: Lulu
First Day of School: April 12, 2016
Homeroom: HarperTeen
Grade: Contemporary Romance (with a hint of scifi)
Extracurricular Activities: Singer in the rock band, photography club, president of chocaholics anonymous
Favorite Class: Music
Favorite Quote/Motto: "Let's just think of this as an adventure." ­My mom, when something unexpected happens.

Sunday, April 24, 2016

ARC April Update #3


ARC April banner
 ARC April is hosted by the lovely Octavia and Shelly @ Read.Sleep.Repeat and in short, it is an event where everyone participating reads their ARCs (eARCs included) and try to catch up on the ones they've fallen behind on. For more information, head over to Read.Sleep.Repeat!


This week I only managed to finish one ARC. It was a slower read but still really enjoyable :)

The Last Boy and Girl in the World

How are you doing on this challenge?

Saturday, April 23, 2016

Stacking the Shelves #92


Stacking the Shelves button

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that lets us share what we've added to our shelves.


I couldn't pass up on Stars Above and The Dark Days Club when they were on sale!
 
Ripple with Stars Above Ripple with The Dark days Club

I'm super excited to have won a copy of A Tyranny of Petticoats from Jessica Spotswood! Thank you so much! I can't wait to read about badass girls!
 
Ripple with A Tyranny of Petticoats~

What did you add to your shelves this week?

Friday, April 22, 2016

Review: Paper Princess (The Royals #1) by Erin Watt


Princess Paper by Erin WattPaper Princess
(The Royals #1)
by Erin Watt
April 4, 2016
370 pages


Goodreads Summary:
From strip clubs and truck stops to southern coast mansions and prep schools, one girl tries to stay true to herself.

These Royals will ruin you…

Ella Harper is a survivor—a pragmatic optimist. She’s spent her whole life moving from town to town with her flighty mother, struggling to make ends meet and believing that someday she’ll climb out of the gutter. After her mother’s death, Ella is truly alone.

Until Callum Royal appears, plucking Ella out of poverty and tossing her into his posh mansion among his five sons who all hate her. Each Royal boy is more magnetic than the last, but none as captivating as Reed Royal, the boy who is determined to send her back to the slums she came from.

Reed doesn’t want her. He says she doesn’t belong with the Royals.

He might be right.

Wealth. Excess. Deception. It’s like nothing Ella has ever experienced, and if she’s going to survive her time in the Royal palace, she’ll need to learn to issue her own Royal decrees.


Wednesday, April 20, 2016

WoW #93: 26 Kisses by Anna Michels


Waiting on Wednesday button

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted every week by Breaking the Spine which lets us showcase an upcoming release we are excited about! 


26 Kisses by Anna Michels26 Kisses
by Anna Michels
May 24, 2016
304 pages

Goodreads Summary:
Breaking up with her boyfriend is not how Veda planned on starting her summer. When Mark makes it clear that it’s over between them, Veda is heartbroken and humiliated—but, more importantly, she’s inspired. And so she sets out on the love quest of a lifetime: use the summer to forget about Mark, move on, and move up. All she has to do is kiss twenty-six boys with twenty-six different names—one for each letter of the alphabet.

From the top of the Ferris wheel at her hometown carnival to the sandy dunes of Lake Michigan, Veda takes every opportunity she can to add kisses (and boys) to her list, and soon the breakup doesn’t sting quite as much. But just when Veda thinks she has the whole kissing thing figured out, she meets someone who turns her world upside down.

By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, Anna Michels’s debut is the story of one girl who realizes that moving on from the supposed love of your life means taking a chance—and having the courage to love again.

 
The one sounds cute and light so I really want to read it~

What are you guys waiting on this week?

Monday, April 18, 2016

Cover Reveal with Giveaway: Crystal Crowned (Air Awakens #5) by Elise Kova


Crystal Crowned Cover Reveal banner
 
 
Guys be very excited because what I have to share with you today is the most exciting cover reveal ever!! It's the cover for the final book in Elise Kova's beautiful Air Awakens series! Crystal Crowned's cover is absolutely breathtaking!


Air Awakens by Elise KovaAir Awakens
(Air Awakens #1)
by Elise Kova
August 25, 2015
377 pages

Goodreads Summary:
A library apprentice, a sorcerer prince, and an unbreakable magic bond...

The Solaris Empire is one conquest away from uniting the continent, and the rare elemental magic sleeping in seventeen-year-old library apprentice Vhalla Yarl could shift the tides of war.

Vhalla has always been taught to fear the Tower of Sorcerers, a mysterious magic society, and has been happy in her quiet world of books. But after she unknowingly saves the life of one of the most powerful sorcerers of them all—the Crown Prince Aldrik—she finds herself enticed into his world. Now she must decide her future: Embrace her sorcery and leave the life she’s known, or eradicate her magic and remain as she’s always been. And with powerful forces lurking in the shadows, Vhalla’s indecision could cost her more than she ever imagined.
 


Fire FallingFire Falling
(Air Awakens #2)
by Elise Kova
November 19, 2015
378 pages


Goodreads:
Soldier… Sorcerer… Savior… Who is Vhalla Yarl?

Vhalla Yarl marches to war as property of the Solaris Empire. The Emperor counts on her to bring victory, the Senate counts on her death, and the only thing Vhalla can count on is the fight of her life. As she grapples with the ghosts of her past, new challenges in the present threaten to shatter the remnants of her fragile sanity. Will she maintain her humanity? Or will she truly become the Empire’s monster?
 

Earth's End by Elise KovaEarth's End
(Air Awakens #3)
by Elise Kova
February 11, 2016
350 pages
 
Goodreads Summary:
A woman awoken in air, a soldier forged by fire, a weapon risen from blood.

Vhalla Yarl has made it to the warfront in the North. Forged by blood and fire, she has steeled her heart for the final battle of the Solaris Empire’s conquest. The choices before Vhalla are no longer servitude or freedom, they are servitude or death. The stakes have never been higher as the Emperor maintains his iron grip on her fate, holding everything Vhalla still has left to lose in the balance.


Water's Wrath by Elise KovaWater's Wrath
(Air Awakens #4)
by Elise Kova
April 26, 2016
291 pages

Goodreads Summary:
Librarian turned sorcerer. Sorcerer turned hero. Hero turned puppet.

The Solaris Empire found victory in the North and, at the cost of her heart and her innocence, Vhalla Yarl has earned her freedom. But the true fight is only beginning as the secret forces that have been lurking in the shadows, tugging at the strings of Vhalla’s fate, finally come to light. Nowhere is safe, and Vhalla must tread carefully or else she’ll fall into the waiting arms of her greatest foe. Or former lover.
 
 

Are you ready for the cover of the last book?

Review: Earth's End (Air Awakens #3) by Elise Kova


Earth's End by Elise KovaEarth's End
(Air Awakens #3)
by Elise Kova
February 11, 2016
350 pages
 
Goodreads Summary:
A woman awoken in air, a soldier forged by fire, a weapon risen from blood.

Vhalla Yarl has made it to the warfront in the North. Forged by blood and fire, she has steeled her heart for the final battle of the Solaris Empire’s conquest. The choices before Vhalla are no longer servitude or freedom, they are servitude or death. The stakes have never been higher as the Emperor maintains his iron grip on her fate, holding everything Vhalla still has left to lose in the balance.

Sunday, April 17, 2016

ARC April Update #2


ARC April banner
 ARC April is hosted by the lovely Octavia and Shelly @ Read.Sleep.Repeat and in short, it is an event where everyone participating reads their ARCs (eARCs included) and try to catch up on the ones they've fallen behind on. For more information, head over to Read.Sleep.Repeat!


Hooray for reading two more ARCs! Hot Dudes Reading was hilarious and Water's Wrath gave me so many feels!

Hot Dudes ReadingWater's Wrath by Elise Kova

How are you doing on this challenge?

Saturday, April 16, 2016

Stacking the Shelves #91


Stacking the Shelves button

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that lets us share what we've added to our shelves.


I won Into the Dim from Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl and Beyond the Red from Bridget @ Dark Faerie Tales! Thank you! And thank you to Janet B. Taylor and Sky Pony for sending these beauties to me!

Ripple with Into The Dim     Ripple and Beyond the Red
 
I'm a HUGE Victoria Schwab fan so I'm looking forward to digging into This Savage Song soon (when Ripple lets go of the book XD). Thank you HCCFrenzy!
 
Ripple and This Savage Song

What did you add to your shelves this week?

Friday, April 15, 2016

Review: Daughters of Ruin by K.D. Castner


Daughters of Ruin by K.D. CastnerDaughters of Ruin
by K.D. Castner
April 5, 2016
320 pages


Goodreads Summary:
Rhea, Cadis, Suki, and Iren have lived together since they were children. They are called sisters. They are not. They are called equals. They are not. They are princesses…and they are enemies.

Not long ago, a brutal war ravaged their kingdoms, and Rhea’s father was the victor. As a gesture of peace, King Declan brought the daughters of his rivals to live under his protection—and his ever-watchful eye. For ten years the girls have trained together as diplomats and warriors, raised to accept their thrones and unite their kingdoms in peace.

But there is rarely peace among sisters. Sheltered Rhea was raised to rule everyone—including her “sisters”—but she’s cracking under pressure. The charismatic Cadis is desperately trying to redeem her people from their actions during the war. Suki guards deep family secrets that isolate her, and quiet Iren’s meekness is not what it seems.

All plans for peace are shattered when the palace is attacked. As their intended futures lie in ashes, Rhea, Cadis, Suki, and Iren must decide where their loyalties lie: to their nations, or to each other.


Thursday, April 14, 2016

Review: Hot Dudes Reading by Hot Dudes Reading


Hot Dudes Reading by Hot Dudes ReadingHot Dudes Reading
by Hot Dudes Reading
April 26, 2016
224 pages


Goodreads Summary:
Humans of New York meets Porn for Women in this collection of candid photos, clever captions, and hilarious hashtags about one of the most important subjects of our time: hot dudes reading.

Based on the viral Instagram account of the same name, Hot Dudes Reading takes its readers on a ride through all five boroughs of New York City, with each section covering a different subway line. Using their expert photography skills (covert iPhone shots) and journalistic ethics (#NoKindles), the authors capture the most beautiful bibliophiles in all of New York—and take a few detours to interview some of the most popular hot dudes from the early days of the Instagram account.

Fun, irreverent, and wittily-observed, this book is tailor-made for book lovers in search of their own happy endings—and those who just want to get lost between the covers for a while.


Wednesday, April 13, 2016

WoW #92: The King Slayer (The Witch Hunter #1) by Virginia Boecker


Waiting on Wednesday button

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted every week by Breaking the Spine which lets us showcase an upcoming release we are excited about! 


The King Slayer by Virginia BoeckerThe King Slayer
(The Witch Hunter #1)
by Virginia Boecker
June 14, 2016
368 pages

Goodreads Summary:
Magic, suspense, and political intrigue collide in this sequel to The Witch Hunter, perfect for fans of Graceling and the Grisha Trilogy.

Former witch hunter Elizabeth Grey is hiding within the magically protected village of Harrow, evading the price put on her head by Lord Blackwell, the usurper king of Anglia. Their last encounter left Blackwell ruined, but his thirst for power grows stronger every day. He's readying for a war against those who would resist his rule--namely Elizabeth and the witches, wizards, pirates, and healers she now calls her friends.

Having lost her stigma, a magical source of protection and healing, Elizabeth's strength is tested both physically and emotionally. War always means sacrifice, and as the lines between good and evil blur once more, Elizabeth must decide just how far she'll go to save those she loves.

In this sequel to The Witch Hunter, Virginia Boecker delivers a powerful story full of action, suspense, camaraderie, and romance.

 
The Witch Hunter was one of my favourite books from last year so yessss I'm dying to read this one!

What are you guys waiting on this week?

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

ARC April Update #1


ARC April banner
 ARC April is hosted by the lovely Octavia and Shelly @ Read.Sleep.Repeat and in short, it is an event where everyone participating reads their ARCs (eARCs included) and try to catch up on the ones they've fallen behind on. For more information, head over to Read.Sleep.Repeat!


For the first week, I finished Daughters of Ruin and Wandering Wild. I enjoyed both but wanted more with Daughters of Ruin. It read like a series although there's been no news on it as far as I can tell. Anyways I hope I can keep this up for the second week :D

Daughters of Ruin by K.D. CastnerWandering Wild by Jessica Taylor

How are you doing on this challenge?

Monday, April 11, 2016

Catfé in Vancouver!

 
Hi guys! Today I want to share an interesting experience I had at a certain cafĂ© with some furry friends~ BookCatPin is primarily a book blog but since I'm also a cat lover, I thought I'd talk about my visit to the local cat cafĂ© and share some pictures!
 
Vancouver Catfé
 
My sister invited me along because her friends had gifted her a reservation for her birthday. It was a long wait (her birthday was back in January and the reservation was for April lol). We ended up having to wait an extra hour because even though my sister's friend made the reservation for four, their online reservation system only registered one guest. The clerk acknowledged that this was a frequent error. I hope they correct this faulty system since honestly, I don't think most people would be as easy-going as we were and willing to wait when it wasn't our fault. It wasn't a huge problem but it was a tiny bit annoying?
 
Anyways, this place, known as CatfĂ©, is situated on the second floor of a less-frequented mall. CatfĂ© is divided into two halves- a small room where all the coffee and snack orders are handled and a larger room where you get to sit and enjoy the company and comfort of the cats. I really love this partition as it keeps the cats away from the heavy machines and foot traffic (for both sanitary and safety reasons).
 
A glass partition between the cafe and the cats.
 
The entrance fee is $5 to visit the cats (for an hour) while I believe an additional order of beverage or snack is required. This wasn't very clear and the menus weren't very clearly displayed so I hope they'll improve on that. On the upside, the employees were quite nice and look at the adorable treats and cute coffee art!!
 
Kitty coffee art!       Yummy cat-shaped snacks~
 
After we got our orders, we entered the other side. Yes, finally, cats! There was one employee who went over the rules (very basic ones like don't pick the cats up, don't feed or chase after them, etc.). Then we signed a waiver, washed our hands and voila, KITTY TIME! This side of the room was huge with tables and lots of things like board games and books for the visitors and plenty of toys for each cat to play with. I was most impressed with the huge cat shelf on one wall. It was such a freeing space for the cats to roam around.
 
Kitty adventure time!       Fun fun fun!
 
All the cats were friendly if not a bit dodgy. Most were sleeping but didn't mind being petted as long as you were gentle. The more feisty one, who happened to be my favourite lol, was identified by a red collar around his neck. For the one hour we were in there, we petted the cats and tried to engage them with toys. When my sister was chatting with her friends, I was still going around petting and taking pictures of/with them ;) It was fun!
 
Selfie with kitty~       Sleepy Bruno!
 
For cat lovers who are just looking to spend some relaxing time in the company of cats, CatfĂ© is the place to be. If you're someone who wants to adopt but have never done so, visiting CatfĂ© is a great way to acquaint yourself with cats. However, if you're going to seriously look into adopting a cat, I would suggest going straight to an SPCA branch. This is because most of the cats at CatfĂ© have adoption applications pending already. So even if you see a cat you really like, chances are he/she/they have already been claimed. (Unless you go on a Friday since Thursdays are the days when CatfĂ© receive new cats from the SPCA. Higher chances of taking the one you want home but no guarantees.) Also, while $5 entrance fee isn't all that expensive, visiting SPCA branches is free.
 
Hello!      
 
So overall, overlooking some minor glitches, I'm quite impressed with CatfĂ©'s set up. They've successfully made over 70 cat adoptions so yayy! I think they're working for a really wonderful cause :D
 
Jimmy aka The Attention Seeker aka Toothless XD       Cat butt! Like in Neko Atsume ;)
 
So the above is my experience and personal opinion. If you'd like to visit CatfĂ©, make sure you check out their website HERE for more info!
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...