Teaser Tuesday: Faery Tales and Nightmares


Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading!

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

-Grab your current read
-Open to a random page
-Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

Today's teaser comes from Faery Tales and Nightmares by Melissa Marr:

Irial took a long drag from the now lit cigarette before speaking. "I'm better at this game, Niall. You can be the intimidating, bad-tempered king to everyone but me. We both know that I wouldn't raise a hand to stop you if you wanted to take all of your tempers out on me. There's only one person I'd protect at your expense... and her life span is but a blink of ours." pg. 258

It's no secret that I'm a huge Melissa Marr fan... I looooove her Wicked Lovely series so it's shocking to me that I'm just now reading this book. To be fair, I had read many of the short stories before, at least a majority of the ones based in the Wicked Lovely universe. While the Dark Court is not my favorite, I've enjoyed reading the stories in this book. And I'm just now about to start reading the first short story that has my Keenan in it! *swoon*

The other short stories in the book? Meh. But for me? It's all about the Wicked Lovely faeries so it's ALL good. Enjoy! *XOXO*

Blast from the Past: Clockwork Angel


So I decided to re-read Clockwork Angel because I read it back in 2010 and the details were all a bit hazy. I remembered that I LOVED the book, but wanted to reaquaint myself with it before moving on to read the second and third books. I am SO glad I made the decision to re-read it because it was just as good as I remembered, if not more so! I'm now plowing through the second book, Clockwork Prince, and cannot wait to see how it all ends up.

Click here to read my original review of Clockwork Angel, and if you haven't given The Infernal Devices a go yet, what are you waiting for? Truly phenomenal. Hope you love them as much as I do! And as always, HAPPY HAPPY READING! *XOXO*

FUN FRIDAY (23)


Happy Friday!! :) Welcome to FUN FRIDAY where I reveal something about me, some personal tidbit that will allow my followers to get to know me better. I follow several blogs and I sometimes wonder who the bloggers REALLY are behind the words, so I thought it would be a cool thing to open up a bit and to reveal more about who Karen really is.

Today's tidbit is this: I may be one of the world's worst dancers. Does this fact stop me from dancing? Of course not! But it's BAD... like really bad. I make faces, weird motions, you name it. Classic "white girl can't dance" going on and I could care less! I even have a dance I call the "waving the fart dance". You have to see it to believe it! My husband mocks me for my moves all the time, probably because I do what I call "interpretive dance" in the car wayyyy too often.


The moral of this rambling? Be yourself! Bad dancing is better than NO dancing and life is short... live it up and have FUN. You only live once! Enjoy! *XOXO*

Waiting on Wednesday (40)


Synopsis:

When aspiring music journalist Ren Kingston takes a job nannying for a wealthy family on the exclusive island of Nantucket, playground for Boston's elite, she's hoping for a low-key summer reading books and blogging about bands. Boys are firmly off the agenda.

What she doesn't count on is falling in with a bunch of party-loving private school kids who are hiding some dark secrets, falling (possibly) in love with the local bad boy, and falling out with a dangerous serial killer...

Expected publication date: August 1, 2013 by Simon & Schuster UK

YOWZA! Saw this one on Goodreads and was instantly intrigued... and the cover. The cover!! There's something haunting about it that instantly drew me in. Cannot WAIT to get my hands on this one. Bring on summer! *XOXO*

*REVIEW* Invisibility


Synopsis:

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.

Invisibility is a joint venture by Andrea Cremer and David Levithan. The premise of the book is unique and fresh and I quite enjoyed it. While it didn't end up being a mind-blowingly amazing read, it was a solid book that could easily have a sequel should the authors decide to go that route.

Invisibility introduces us to Stephen, a teenage boy who has been invisible his entire life. Since his mom passed away, Stephen has lived a very lonely existence--being part of the world, but not. Imagine his surprise when a new family moves into his apartment building and Elizabeth, the teenage girl, can see him. No one has ever been able to see him, not even his mother, so Stephen knows that Elizabeth seeing him must mean something. The two form a romantic relationship and eventually, Stephen tells her the complete truth about who he is. The pair decide to jump headfirst into investigating the world of cursecasters. What they find will change things for both of them... forever.

Turns out, Elizabeth is far more connected to Stephen's world than he ever thought possible. Will Elizabeth be able to use her gifts, with the aid of some allies, to free Stephen from his curse once and for all? Or will Stephen's grandfather destroy everything in his quest for the ultimate revenge on his family? It's a frantic race against time as good and evil collide in this fantastic magical tale by Cremer and Levithan.

This book has MAJOR potential, and there's a really good story underneath it all. I love the split POVs between Stephen and Elizabeth and the supporting cast of characters are great. My problem with this book is the pacing just seemed OFF sometimes. Like it would drag for awhile and then speed through things to the point where I often felt off-kilter and confused. I'd like to read another book in this world, a book that goes more in-depth into the world of cursecasters and spellseekers because Invisibility felt kind of thrown together in a way. I also wasn't very satisfied with the ending of this one and I imagine there will be others left disappointed as well.

All in all? A decent book. 3 of 5 stars. There are things that could have made it better, but it had a good story, good romance, and characters worth caring for. It just needed a little more execution and I'm hoping that Cremer and Levithan will write a sequel to address those concerns. Guess time will tell! You be the judge when Invisibility releases early in May. Enjoy! *XOXO*

Expected publication date: May 7, 2013 by Philomel

FUN FRIDAY (22)


Happy Friday!! :) Welcome to FUN FRIDAY where I reveal something about me, some personal tidbit that will allow my followers to get to know me better. I follow several blogs and I sometimes wonder who the bloggers REALLY are behind the words, so I thought it would be a cool thing to open up a bit and to reveal more about who Karen really is.

Today's tidbit: I have a severe addiction to TV. It's BAD!!! In addition to the shows I watch on TV during the regular season, I've also become engrossed in several through Netflix and Amazon Instant Video. Those services are terrible for someone like me! Lucky for me (or unlucky, depending on how you look at it), my husband is as addicted to TV as I am. Our ideal evening consists of chinese takeout and a couple uninterrupted hours of watching whatever our latest addiction is.

So what am I watching these days? During the regular TV season I watch: How I Met Your Mother, The Voice, Grey's Anatomy, Modern Family, Hell's Kitchen, Raising Hope, The Office, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, and True Blood. I'm working on getting caught up on Vampire Diaries, Supernatural, Castle, Parks and Recreation, and Big Bang Theory. Not quite sure how I'm going to keep up with everything next season but I'm going to give it my best shot! I wonder if they have a TV Watchers Anonymous... cause I bet I would fit RIGHT in!

Anywho... hope everyone has a wonderful and SAFE weekend. Scary things going on in the world these days. Hug your loved ones and give them an extra squeeze or two. Enjoy life! *XOXO*

*REVIEW* Spies and Prejudice


Synopsis:

Fields’ Rule #1: Don’t fall for the enemy.

Berry Fields is not looking for a boyfriend. She’s busy trailing cheaters and liars in her job as a private investigator, collecting evidence of the affairs she’s sure all men commit. And thanks to a pepper spray incident during an eighth grade game of spin the bottle, the guys at her school are not exactly lining up to date her, either.

So when arrogant—and gorgeous—Tanner Halston rolls into town and calls her “nothing amazing,” it’s no loss for Berry. She’ll forget him in no time. She’s more concerned with the questions surfacing about her mother’s death.

But why does Tanner seem to pop up everywhere in her investigation, always getting in her way? Is he trying to stop her from discovering the truth, or protecting her from an unknown threat? And why can’t Berry remember to hate him when he looks into her eyes?

This book was really, really good. I FLEW through it because I couldn't stand to put it down! I LOVE it when a book affects me that way. Talia Vance does a masterful job of creating a story that will instantly ensnare you, and she has created a character that readers will love standing behind. This book must be added to your TBR piles NOW. It would be a crime not to! (pun intended) *wink*

Spies and Prejudice introduces us to Berry, a teenage spy who works for her father. The best thing about being a teenage spy is that most adults just ignore her presence, which makes her extremely valuable to her dad and great at what she does. Helping her out is her friend Mary Chris, stunningly gorgeous and quite handy at making interesting and helpful spy equipment. On a routine assignment, Berry and Mary Chris meet two boys, one who instantly gets on the bad side of Berry by calling her "nothing amazing". This of course wasn't said to her FACE, but you can't be too careful around a teenage spy. Something about Tanner sets Berry on edge... but the most annoying part is how she finds herself intrigued by him.

When Berry accidentally sees Mary Chris' father exchanging information about her mother, who committed suicide many years ago, Berry becomes convinced that she must uncover the truth. Enlisting the help of Drew, a new boy at school who is extremely easy to talk to, Berry sets out on a mission to find out the truth about what happened to her mother. During the course of her investigation, Berry realizes that both Tanner and Drew are hiding secrets... which one can she trust? And will her investigation cost her everything-- her best friend, her potential boyfriend, maybe even her life? Buckle up for this one! Talia Vance will take you on a wild and exciting ride.

YAYYYY! What a ride this book is! I really hope Talia Vance writes another book in this world because there are still so many truths to uncover! The pacing is phenomenal and the characters are really great, especially Berry. It's a light and fun read and will be the perfect beach book this summer. While some things were a tad predictable, I like how Vance kept me guessing about the motives of some of the characters all the way until the very end. You should definitely read this book!!! Snag it when it releases in June. Enjoy! *XOXO*

Expected publication date: June 11, 2013 by Egmont

Waiting on Wednesday (39)


Synopsis:

Maggie knows something’s off about Val, her mom’s new husband. Val is from Oldworld, where they still use magic, and he won’t have any tech in his office-shed behind the house. But—more importantly—what are the huge, horrible, jagged, jumpy shadows following him around? Magic is illegal in Newworld, which is all about science. The magic-carrying gene was disabled two generations ago, back when Maggie’s great-grandmother was a notable magician. But that was a long time ago.

Then Maggie meets Casimir, the most beautiful boy she has ever seen. He’s from Oldworld too—and he’s heard of Maggie’s stepfather, and has a guess about Val’s shadows. Maggie doesn’t want to know... until earth-shattering events force her to depend on Val and his shadows. And perhaps on her own heritage.

In this dangerously unstable world, neither science nor magic has the necessary answers, but a truce between them is impossible. And although the two are supposed to be incompatible, Maggie’s discovering the world will need both to survive.

Expected publication date: September 26, 2013 by Penguin Group (USA)

YAYYYY! Saw this on Goodreads and I think this will be right up my alley! Magic, mystery, and a super hot boy? Yes, please!!! I also happen to love the cover and while I know you're not supposed to, I TOTALLY judge a book by it's cover. Can't wait to get my hands on it, woot!

*REVIEW* Parallel


Synopsis:

Abby Barnes had a plan. The Plan. She'd go to Northwestern, major in journalism, and land a job at a national newspaper, all before she turned twenty-two. But one tiny choice—taking a drama class her senior year of high school—changed all that. Now, on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, Abby is stuck on a Hollywood movie set, miles from where she wants to be, wishing she could rewind her life. The next morning, she's in a dorm room at Yale, with no memory of how she got there. Overnight, it's as if her past has been rewritten.

With the help of Caitlin, her science-savvy BFF, Abby discovers that this new reality is the result of a cosmic collision of parallel universes that has Abby living an alternate version of her life. And not only that: Abby's life changes every time her parallel self makes a new choice. Meanwhile, her parallel is living out Abby's senior year of high school and falling for someone Abby's never even met.

As she struggles to navigate her ever-shifting existence, forced to live out the consequences of a path she didn't choose, Abby must let go of the Plan and learn to focus on the present, without losing sight of who she is, the boy who might just be her soul mate, and the destiny that's finally within reach.

This book was AMAZING. It just had this quality to it, a quality I found it impossible to turn away from. Putting this book down was painful! And when it ended? I was SAD! Hahaha. I wasn't ready for the story to end! I really wanted to keep going on Abby's journey with her, the story was that engaging and real. I can't overstate my enthusiasm for this book.

Parallel introduces us to Abby, a girl who wakes up in a life she can't remember. She's transported from LA to a dorm room in Yale, with no recollection of how she got there. With the help of Caitlin, her longtime BFF, Abby learns that her world collided with a parallel world and she is no longer in control of what happens to her. Any decision her parallel self makes, one year in the past, could change everything for Abby...

Abby falls in love with her new life at Yale and worries what her parallel will do to change things for her. Abby feels like she finally has it all... a great life, roommate, friends, and a seriously cute boyfriend. As her parallel experiences her senior year of high school, Abby starts getting memories of a boy, and an adorable and sweet romance. What is the right path for Abby? Will she even have a say in how things end up, or will her parallel's choices make her choices for her? All will be revealed as worlds literally collide in this fantastic tale by Lauren Miller.

SQUEEEEEE! This book was so, so good! I found it a little confusing at first, it's such a strange thing to think about, parallel worlds. But once I wrapped my mind around it, this book ensnared me and captivated me the ENTIRE. WAY. THROUGH. My biggest complaint with this book is that it ended! I'm not ready to say goodbye to Abby, I want to keep going with her to see what happens next!

I recommend this book for EVERYONE. It's truly phenomenal. Make sure to scoop this one up immediately when it releases in May. Enjoy! *XOXO*

Expected publication date: May 14, 2013 by HarperTeen

Spring Break Hiatus



Just wanted to let everyone know that I haven't disappeared, I'm on SPRING BREAK!!! I swear, I love Spring Break more as an educator than I ever did as a kid. I'm taking this week off from most online activities but will be back in the swing of things when I return to work next week. Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter and is enjoying the beginning of Spring. Take care and as always, HAPPY HAPPY READING! *XOXO*
 
Imagination Designs