September is for Sequels 2015- Sign-up commitment

 

 

 

Well, this is perfect as i have several series I have been itching to make some progress in!  So now this give me a chance to focus on that!   I hope to do at least 6 novel sequels this month (plus some graphic novels perhaps!)

Here are some of the possibilities for me to read (fully subject to change):

 

Manga Review: Food Wars, Vol 1 by Yuto Tsukuda & Shun Saeki

 

 Food Wars,Volume 1 

 

 

by Yuto Tsukuda & Shun Saeki

Genre(s) Graphic Novel, Manga

Pages: 208

Published: April 2013 (first publication)

Publisher: Viz Media (Shonen Jump Advanced)

Summary:  "Soma Yukihira's old man runs a small family restaurant in the less savory end of town.  Aiming to one day surpass his father's culinary prowess, Soma hones his skills day in and day out until one day, out of the blue, his father decides to enroll Soma in a classy culinary school!  Can Soma really cut it in a school that prides itself on a 10 percent graduation rate? And can he convince the beautiful, domineering heiress of the school that he belongs there at all?!"

 

 

Review:  When I first started this I quickly became leery. Within a few pages a girl takes a bite of food and is suddenly, magically having all her clothes ripped of and is in a state of pure pleasure. I freaked out a bit. Then I turned the page and luckily, it was all in her head, but still I couldn't help wondering what type of manga I got myself into.

I am glad I continued! Turns out this series is quite good, with interesting characters, good (and not so good) food and plenty of moments that vary from amusing to outright absurd (such as the loss of clothes). The author has a unique way of magnifying and expressing how a person feels after the first bite of a delicious dish.

Clear Your shelf giveaway Hop- Summer 2015 edition-Win a box of Books!

 

So I joined this hop a bit late and didn't quite have the time I wanted to prepare for it. 

Basically 1 winner will get a box of books from me from a list of about 100 books.  I am still making this list, so that is where my preparation is lacking.  I have Middle grade (only a few), Young adult and Adult novels of all sorts of genres.  Everything is fiction this time.  The winner will be emailed the list when they are notified of being the winner.  They will have 3 days to get back to me with a list of books they want with their shipping information.  The box holds approximately 16-22 books, depending on books size. 

Due to shipping costs, this giveaway is for US residents only.  TO all my INT friends and followers, I do have other giveaways available for you if you look to the top of my right column. 

Most of the books I have to offer are Arcs or books released in the past few years.  All are in good condition.  

Books include titles by Stephen King, Julie Kagawa, Sarah Dessen and so many more!!

REVIEW: Sinners, Survivors, and Saints by N.D. Richman

 

 

Boulton Quest: Sinners, Survivors, and Saints (2)

 

by N.D. Richman

 

Genre(s):  Young adult, adventure

Pages:  165

Published: April 2014

Summary:  " Christopher and Michael become multi-millionaires and their greed endangers Katherine's life. While Christopher, Michael and Thomas are racing to rescue her, Robert Cain’s army steals the mysterious machine and his frightening intentions become clear.

Can Michael beat his inner demons?

Will Katherine lose the will to survive?

In this exciting sequel to Brothers, Bullies and Bad the future becomes clear, and it seems things can only get worse."

Review:   This book picks up shortly after where Brothers, Bullies and Bad Guys left off. The first few chapters left be a bit confused as to when exactly we are after. One part mentions a year, another 6 months. So has it been 1 year, 6 months or a year and six months? I don't quite know.

***NOTE: If you have not read the first book, stop now. Spoilers ahead for those who have not read book 1!***

ARC August 2015-Mid month update

 

Hosted by Shelly at Read, Sleep, Repeat 

 

 So I am behind on my reading AND posting!  Yikes!

So far I have completed reading:

 

2 books behind to make minimum goal, but....

 

I am working on:

 

 

August 2015 New Release Giveaway Hop-INT

 

ENTER TO WIN

Any book published in July 2015 could be yours.  Well, any book up to $16 that is. You can get a print book from The Book Depository OR 1 ebook via Amazon or B&N.

Fiction, nonfiction, Y.A, Adult, childrens, graphic novels...you name it, you can pick it!  It is not limited to the image about although there are some great titles there!

Giveaway is International as long as The Book Depository can ship to you or you pick an ebook.   

Grand Prize winner  will win THREE (3) books of their choice that come out this month!!  Up to $45 total in value.

A second winner will receive One (1) book of their choice, up to $16 in value.

REVIEW: Cruel Beauty by Rosamind Hodge

 

Cruel Beauty 

by Rosamund Hodge

Genre(s): Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Re-tellings

Pages:  342

Published:  Jan 2014

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Summary:  "Graceling meets Beauty and the Beast in this sweeping fantasy about one girl's journey to fulfill her destiny and the monster who gets in her way-by stealing her heart.

Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny.

Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.

With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.

But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle—a shifting maze of magical rooms—enthralls her.

As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex's secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love."

Review:   Lots of similarities to Beauty and the Beast. Which is fine with me as it was always a favorite of mine. However, the world is completely original and fantastic!

Nyx has been trained since the age of nine to kill the "Gentle Lord" who holds the land captive. They are under constant threat of his demons and there is no way to escape. The Lord is known for his unfair bargains and one of these bargains left Nyx betrothed to him. So she is to wed and bed him, then destroy him!

Young Adult Giveaway Hop 2015-INT

 

 Bookhounds is hosting another great giveaway hop!

For this stop the prize is up to $25 worth of books from The Book Depository.  You pick out what books you want.  the only catch is they have to be Young Adult.  You can get as many as you want as long at the total is $25 or less.

This is open to anyone worldwide as long as TBD ships to you.

Stacking the Shelves 90

 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, every Weekend. This is to share books I have acquired from various sources. Physical books & ebooks both are welcome. If its something being sent to me by mail, I will not mention it until I actually receive it. 

 

Busy weekend with family, fair and a convention!

 

So let's just get to the haul! 

(click on the picture for links to learn more)

 

 

REVIEW: Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers

 

His Fair Assassin: Dark Triumph (2)

 

by Robin LaFevers

 

Genre(s): Historical Fiction, Fantasy

Pages:480

Published: April 2013

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

 

 

 

Official Summary:  "When Sybella arrived at the doorstep of St Mortain half mad with grief and despair the convent were only too happy to offer her refuge - but at a price. The sisters of this convent serve Death, and with Sybella naturally skilled in both the arts of death and seduction, she could become one of their most dangerous weapons.

But her assassin's skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to the life that nearly drove her mad. Her father's rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother's love is equally monstrous. But when Sybella discovers an unexpected ally she discovers that a daughter of Death may find something other than vengeance to live for..."

 

 

 Book One is Grave Mercy.   

 

 

Review:  This was SO much better than the first book of the series. It mostly stands on it's own so you don't have to read the first book but there is some overlap and the first book does better cover the convent Sybella hails from and Mortain, whom she serves.

The pacing was much better and while still containing lots of historical information, the focus on the plot was much clearer. This story wastes no time getting into the thick of things. The timeline overlaps the lasts parts of Ismae's story in Grave Mercy but the entire story is from Sybella's point of view.

REVIEW thoughts: Twisted Dark series by Neil Gibson

   

  

Twisted Dark

Graphic Novel Series by Neil Gibson and various artists.

"Twisted Dark is a series of interconnected psychological thrillers, perfect for fans of twist endings and comics that reveal more on the second reading. Each story stands alone, but the more you read, the more connections you see between the characters. There are over 100 characters that appear more than once and one of the joys of reading is when you spot a reference that you know others will have missed. A rotating team of talented artists draw the stories, with each style offering something new."

From Volume 1:  "The first volume in Neil Gibson's acclaimed series of twisted tales. This 200 page book contains 12 individual and unique stories which are all related. The stories vary from 10 year old girls to Colombian drug lords and everything in between. It is left to the reader to find the connections between the stories - some connections are immediately clear whilst other connection only become clear in later volumes. This series is designed for re-reading. The author describes the genre as psychological thriller, but the books contains horror, dark (at times demented) stories incorporating every human emotion, illegal activity, and brutal reality. Using various illustrators allows each story and character to develop their own form. Twisted Dark has been embraced by the comic book world receiving critical acclaim and a cult following. If you haven’t read one yet, you don’t know what you’re missing."

REVIEW: The Skin Map by Stephen R Lawhead

 

Bright Empires: The Skin Map (1)

by Stephen R Lawhead

Genre(s): Fantasy, Sci-fi, Christian Fiction

Pages: 448

Published:  March 2013 (originally Published 2010)

Publisher: Lion Hudson Plc

Summary:  "It is the ultimate quest for the ultimate treasure. Chasing a map tattooed on human skin. Across an omniverse of intersecting realities. To unravel the future of the future.

Kit Livingstone's great-grandfather appears to him in a deserted alley during a tumultuous storm. He reveals an unbelievable story: that the ley lines throughout Britain are not merely the stuff of legend or the weekend hobby of deluded cranks, but pathways to other worlds. To those who know how to use them, they grant the ability to travel the multi-layered universe of which we ordinarily inhabit only a tiny part.

One explorer knew more than most. Braving every danger, he toured both time and space on voyages of heroic discovery. Ever on his guard and fearful of becoming lost in the cosmos, he developed an intricate code--a roadmap of symbols--that he tattooed onto his own body. This Skin Map has since been lost in time. Now the race is on to recover all the pieces and discover its secrets.

But the Skin Map itself is not the ultimate goal. It is merely the beginning of a vast and marvelous quest for a prize beyond imagining.

The Bright Empires series--from acclaimed author Stephen R. Lawhead--is a unique blend of epic treasure hunt, ancient history, alternate realities, cutting-edge physics, philosophy, and mystery. The result is a page-turning, adventure like no other."

Review:  This book was simply an alright read. It was not bad, but I can't say that I really enjoyed it either. The writing was a bit dry for a fair share of the book and several parts of the books seem a muddled at time. But the concept is an interesting one. Then again, I am a sucker for time-travel stories.

REVIEW: Office Toy by Cleo Peitsch

Please Note: The following Review is for Mature Audiences!  This is an Adult (18+) novella!

 

Office Toy 

by Cleo Peitsch

Genre(s): Erotica/18+, novella/short story

Pages: 32

Published:  Oct 2012

Publisher: Pouch Productions

Arc August 2015 -Ready...Set...GO!!!

 

Hosted by Shelly at Read, Sleep, Repeat 

 

 

 

Starts today!  I have already read my first Arc

  

Here are are the next few books I hope to read:

 

July 2015 Recap

This was a strange month for me.  I was hoping to get more done, blogging and reading-wise that I didn't get to.  However, there are a few big events I am going this August that took a lot of prep work.

So while posting was a bit scattered this past month, I hope you will find August to be more filling. :)

I am still catchign up on old comment responses and cleaning up old posts, tags etc.  However 1 thing I did accomplish was cleaning up my sidebar quite a bit.  Hope everyone likes it better!

 Anyways, on to the details!

Books I finished reading: