It's Monday! What are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading is hosted by One Persons Journey through a world of Books. Each week we spotlight the books we are reading, planning on reading or just finished reading.


Finished:

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead.

Frostbite by Richelle Mead.



Currently Reading:

Sixteenth Summer by Michelle Dalton.

(First line: "The first time you lay eyes on someone who is going to become someone to you -your someone- you're supposed to feel the earth shift between your feet, right? Sparks will course through your fingertips and there'll definitely be fireworks. There are always fireworks.")



Co-Exist by Julia Crane.

(First line: "Keegan's call echoed in Rourk's mind. His hand gripped the bar tightly. Shaking his head, he took a deep breath and unclenched his jaw.")



In My Dreams by Cameo Renae.

(First line: "Where am I? I staggered, lost in the middle of darkened woods. How did I get here?")

In My Mailbox (6)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. List what you received, borrowed or bought :)


Won:

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

For Review:

A Tangle of Magicks by Stephanie Burgis (ARC) Received from Publisher.

Rock 'N' Roll is Undead by Rose Pressey. Received from Publisher.









Netgalley:

Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst










PulseIt:

Sixteenth Summer by Michelle Dalton

Review: Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Book #2 in Vampire Academy series.

Pages: 327 Release Date: April 10th 2008 Publisher: Razorbill Source: RAK (Own)


Goodreads synopsis:

Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose…

It's winter break at St. Vladimir's, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy's crawling with Guardians—including Rose's hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if hand-to-hand combat with her mom wasn't bad enough, Rose's tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason's got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa's head while she's making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy's not taking any risks… This year, St. Vlad's annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price…


My Review:

4.5 stars/5 stars.

I loved Frostbite. It was better than Vampire Academy in my opinion. So, if this is the way to go, it seems the books are only going to get better and better!

Richelle Mead kept up all the tension and suspense that was to be expected. Also, I enjoyed how the romance developed between Rose and Dimitri - The last page! :)

I enjoyed how certain relationships changed and developed, some better than others. I felt so sorry for some of the characters, particularly Mason!

I really enjoyed this! I'm currently reading Shadow Kiss at the moment! :) I needed more!

Recommend to everyone who loves a bit of romance, action and suspense!

Review: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Pages: 332 Release Date: May 26th 2009 Publisher: Puffin Source: Library

Goodreads synopsis:

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .
Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.


My Review:

4.5 stars/5 stars

I really enjoyed this! :) I've read a lot of vampire books and worried it would be same old but it was a fresh take on the genre. It’s the first book in a series and I thought it flowed effortlessly; it’s an easy book to read.

It focuses on the viewpoint of Rose Hathaway, a guardian to Lissa. I liked how she had good traits and bad qualities, it made her seem more tangible. Rose and Lissa have a special “bond” that allows Rose to know what Lissa’s feeling and this is shown to have its positive’s and negative’s throughout.

I liked the romance between Rose and Dimitri (her guardian trainer) I thought it was believable. I like Dimitri as a character and of course, I like forbidden love!  So, I can’t wait to find out how it develops through the series.

The storyline was good with realistic elements such as running away, rebellion, sarcasm, romance, drama and much much more!

It was a great book which kept me reading past midnight. Looking forward to all the others to see how the story unfolds!

In My Mailbox (5)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. List what you received, borrowed or bought :)

Sorry this is so long!


I won:

Love Immortal by Felicity E Heaton. I won a signed copy from her blog giveaway! Thank you!


In the prize was also a £15 Amazon gift card! I bought with that:

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini. I have been dying to read this!

Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon. I read the first chapter online and wanted more! :)








and....

Dark Heart Forever by Lee Monroe. Can't wait to read this!











I received for review:

Coexist by Julia Crane. I read the first chapter online and it is great!








Also,

In My Dreams by Cameo Renae. I'm taking part in the blog tour! My stop is the 29th July :)









I received a RAK from Misty at Bookaholicsbkcl

Frostbite by Richelle Mead. Thank you! :)

Review: Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Pages: 323 Release Date: September 7th 2010 Publisher: HarperTeen Source: Library

Goodreads synopsis:

A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

My Review:

4.5 stars/5 stars.

There is nothing I like more than forbidden love.

Firelight was GREAT! This was the first book that I have read about dragons (well, draki in this case) as I was a bit unsure at first. However, I really enjoyed it!

The characters were well thought out and each had their own personalities, even though Jacinda annoyed me a bit at first when she kept pushing people away and taking them back, (you know who I mean if you've read it) I just wanted them to bump heads and realise! :) I liked Tamra, as I could understand her fustration with the situation.

I loved the passion between Will and Jacinda! It's hard to comment on them without giving too much away, but I really enjoyed it! Some relationships are all-consuming and Will and Jacinda emphasised this.

The storyline kept me turning the pages with all the dilemmas that occurred throughout, it kept me entertained. Cannot wait for Vanish!

Recommend to anyone who loves a bit of romance, suspense, drama, action! :)

Early Review: Love Story by Jennifer Echols

Pages: 256 Release Date: July 19th 2011 Publisher: MTV Books

Disclaimer: Received from S&S Galley Grab. I did not receive any money for this review.

Goodreads synopsis:

She's writing about him. he's writing about her. And everybody is reading between the lines..

For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions--it's her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family's racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin's college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter . . . so why does he sneak into her thoughts as the hero of her latest writing assignment?

Then, on the day she's sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He's joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin's heart with longing. Now she's not just imagining what might have been. She's writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter . . . except this story could come true.


My Review:

4 stars/5 stars

I received this book as part of the S&S Galley Grab, I was dying to read this book. It sounded like a good concept, and the characters sounded very interesting.

I have to say that I agree with the above. It was a good concept, I hadn't read anything like this before and I felt it flowed effortlessly. The plot seemed very realistic, the characters had flaws as well as good traits.

I particularly enjoyed the stories written by the characters Erin Blackwell and Hunter Allen. Yes you heard right, his name is Hunter :) The fact that Erin and Hunter were supposed to hate each other but actually liked each other a lot made me want them to be together even more!

I enjoyed the character development throughout the novel, Erin is from a rich family, but doesn't have all the 'material' things that she could have. Also, Hunter's past is revealed at the right pace.

This is the first book that I have read that was written by Jennifer Echols, but I have to say, it will not be the last!

Highly recommend.