Frost Tour! Review and Giveaway!

Welcome farthers, watchers, and frost people to my stop on the icy Frost Tour. Below you will find my review on this chilly post apocalyptic novel. Enjoy!

Title- Frost (Frost chronicles #1)

Author-Kate Avery Ellison

Source- ebook sent from author 

Pages- 194

Publisher- Create Space 

Publication Date- April 18th, 2012

Goodreads Summary-

In the icy, monster-plagued world of the Frost, one wrong move and a person could end up dead—and Lia Weaver knows this better than anyone. After monsters kill her parents, she must keep the family farm running despite the freezing cold and threat of monster attacks or risk losing her siblings to reassignment by the village Elders. With dangers on all sides and failure just one wrong step away, she can’t afford to let her emotions lead her astray. So when her sister finds a fugitive bleeding to death in the forest—a young stranger named Gabe—Lia surprises herself and does the unthinkable.

She saves his life.

Giving shelter to the fugitive could get her in trouble. The Elders have always described the advanced society of people beyond the Frost, the “Farthers,” as ruthless and cruel. But Lia is startled to find that Gabe is empathetic and intelligent…and handsome. She might even be falling in love with him.

But time is running out. The monsters from the forest circle the farm at night. The village leader is starting to ask questions. Farther soldiers are searching for Gabe. Lia must locate a secret organization called the Thorns to help Gabe escape to safety, but every move she makes puts her in more danger.

Is compassion—and love—worth the risk?

~Review~

Cover Thoughts-

It is one amazing cover! It is probably one of my favorites. The girl is most likely Lia and something about her just captures my attention. The cover looks so ice cold and innocent just like the actual contents of the book. I love it!

First Thought-

Dystopian novels are my favorite! This one even has a new twist that I would absolutely love to read! This is an absolute must read!

What I liked-

First off, the beginning was already attention grabbing. Almost at once I was pulled in by Lia's responsibility at her families leader. She must make sure her family makes quota every week but its so hard when they are all orphans. They barely make it after their parents died...by the watchers. As the story goes the watchers have killed them while helping a local family with their quota. Lia is not sure who to blame. A village boy named Cole has his heart set on her but she is not sure of his intentions. All she knows for sure is that she must take care of her crippled brother and wandering sister. She must make the quota, protect her family, and stay out of trouble. Then she makes a decision that could change her family's life forever. She saves a farther and from there the trouble begins. The ending was heart breaking and crushing. I cried for Lia's loss becuase I could feel her pain. Kate Avery Ellison does a great job of vividly decribing every chilling scene. The fear, the courage, the gains, the losses, every single scene was breath taking. Here are some quotes I enjoyed:
“I’d allowed myself to feel love –yes, love– for another person in a way I’d once sworn to myself I never would. I’d become completely vulnerable, and now I’d been torn apart with hurt and catapulted onto a path I might never have taken otherwise. I’d risked my life for an outsider. For a stranger. Worse, I had a feeling I was going to do it again.” 


“Love is a perilous dance too, you see. And if we stop dancing, we'll die.
Don't ever stop dancing.” 

What I disliked-

I felt like there wasn't enough action from the Farther police people. I just expected a more of a rampage through the town from them. If they couldn't find Gabe you would think they would blame the whole town. I also wish I could have learned more about The Thorn group described in the book. I want to know more of what they are about. I'm sure though that everything will be talked about in the future books which I am totally looking forward too. I also wanted Lia to be a bit more explorative. She seemed boring wanted to stay in the same old place instead of picking up her family and going with Gabe. Maybe in the next books she will leave the Frost.

Overall Readability-

The next dystopian on your to-read list should be Frost. It isn't a copycat of another book like The Hunger Games. It is new and original. It is very easy to get interested in which is why I finished it in one sitting. You will find yourself falling into the world of The Frost and wishing to explore more just like Lia. I strongly recommend Frost for YA readers who enjoy post apocalyptic novels.

My Final Thought-

Why didn't you go! I thought you loved him! :(

4 out of 5 Haunted Roses

Kate Avery Ellison

http://thesouthernscrawl.blogspot.com/

Twitter is @katiewriting

Amazon/Barnes and Noble

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Circus Summer Tour! Review!

Ladies and Gentlemen feast your eyes on the next act! My 5 star review on this summer's death defying new series sure to be the next big thing. Like the young adults in Circus Summer this book must compete to the death to get to the top too. Ha just kidding it already won my heart. Anyway read up on all my thoughts of Circus Summer.

Title- Circus Summer (Circus of Curiosities #1)

Author-Kailin Gow

Source- ARC paperback 

Pages- 270

Publisher- theEdgebooks

Publication Date- June 5th, 2012

Goodreads Summary-

In post-apocalypse America, every season, the Circus of Curiosities visits the city, bringing with it the most fantastic circus acts that are beautiful, majestic, curious, and death-defying. Every season performers for these acts are chosen from the young men and women in each town, trained, and sent to perform in a live grand performance, performed literally to the death. Two performers from Sea Cliff, a beach town at the outskirts of The Center find themselves chosen to be in this Summer's Circus Act. Both must win at any cost, but could they ignore their feelings for each other? Leela Sinclair needs to win in order to get to The Center where she can get medical help from the best physicians for her ailing mother, plague with a condition no one have heard of. For Zachary Nile, his reasons for becoming a performer at the Circus is more mysterious.  Only the ringmaster and the Circus of Curiosities owner Dex Hightower (Dr. Dex) knows what the touring Circus is really about amidst the magic and splendor.  Despite the Great War and the poverty surrounding the land except for the towns fortunate enough to be near the Center, Dr. Dex and the Circus performers all know, "The show must go on."

~Review~

Cover Thoughts-

I like it. :) It has the circus feel to it with the horse rearing and the girl possibly Leela looking calm, collected, and determined.  

First Thought-

I have never heard of anything like this! A dystopian with killer circuses! This has got to be the next big thing in the book world. Secrets, romance, betrayal, and adventure await in this book.

What I liked-

The Show must go on! I see this whole book through a kaleidoscope of color and music for every action scene. Everything is so vividly detailed that I feel like I am there at every performance feeling Leela's fear and determination. My favorite scene was the one where Leela and Zachary know there true feelings for each other. I felt so entirely sad for Thomas, Leela's longtime friend. Leela has to get to the Center of The United. She believes they may have the cure for her mother. Her mother and brother only have Leele to take care of them so the circus might be exactly what she needs. Of course she heard rumors but she doesn't know what she got into until the first performer dies. It is then that she knows its a competition to the death. And only the top survivor makes it to the finals. Every death defying knife thrower, trapeze, fire eater, and animal tamer scene was awesome. Leela finds herself in the middle of a war between humans and the invaders who take over peoples bodies. Somehow they made into the Center. Now it isn't just about her mother anymore its about saving the entire United now. The end just blew me away. I wanted to know what was on the note the ringmaster gave Zachary the entire time and finally I figure out what was said. This is my next favorite dystopian series!
Here's a Quote:
What ifs. So many what ifs, and most of them are bad. There are so many ways my life can go wrong from here, and not very many it can work out well.

What I disliked-

I think it was too short. I felt like things were happening too fast. I wish I could have read a few more scenes with Leela and her mother. It seemed like she hardly saw her. The story would have been way better if there was more to it. Maybe a scene in Thomas's point of view or something. I also was reminded of The Hunger Games a lot. A love triangle, the girl and guy is part of the "games" one guy wishes he could take her place and the girl chooses the guy with her. The mother is sick and doesn't do much. There is a younger sibling. The girl does most of the work to keep the family going. I bet I could go on and on with similarities but I could also go on and on with differences. Circus Summer does have its own originality even if it is similar to The Hunger Games.

Overall Readability-

Very suspenseful and an all in one sitter. I wanted to stay up all night finishing it and I was very sad to know the second book won't be out for a while. :( I strongly recommend this book to The Hunger Games lovers or to people who just love reading dystopians (books set in the future with societies that fail).

My Final Thought-

If you want to live, protect the champion. *goosebumps*

5 out of 5 Haunted Roses

There is a $100 Amazon Gift Card contest! It is found within the pages of the Kindle edition of Circus Summer! 

~Author Information~

Kailin Gow uses her author platform to bring awareness to issues affecting young adult and women. She has appeared on national radio as a regular guest on topics such as body image, self-esteem, dating and sexual relationships, bullying, and more; often brought up in her fiction books for young adults and women. She has won multiple awards from the International Book Awards and the Green Book Festival. Selling over half a million books, Kailin Gow has been a bestselling author of over 100 distinct books which includes the Desire Series, PULSE, Wicked Woods, and the Frost Series. She has been professionally published since 2001. She was one of the first authors for young readers to write books for girls with supernatural elements. Her first book series about extraordinary girls guided by an angel in 2001, was a success, selling thousands of print copies in days, and inspiring girl book clubs around the U.S. In 2003, she came out with more series, including The Fairy Rose Chronicles, about fairies in Feyland. Her books have been recommended by PBS Kids, US Mental Health Association, the PTA, and homeschooling associations in the United States. 

Her Bitter Frost Series, PULSE Series, and other book series are being developed into MMO Games by SEE GLOBAL ENTERTAINMENT, one of the foremost entertainment developers in the world, known for developing world-reknown blockbuster films into games. The Frost Series and PULSE MMO Games are set to release late 2013 or early 2014. 

She is a graduate of the Annenberg School for Communications Masters in Management program in journalism, marketing and publishing at the University of Southern California.

You can find her here:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KailinGowBooks

Twitter: @kailingow

Her website: http://kailingowbooks.com/

Her Publisher's Site: http://www.theedgebooks.com

Official website and blog: http://www.kailingow.wordpress.com

Beautifully Broken By Sherry Soule Book Review

Title- Beautifully Broken (Spellbound novel #1)

Author-Sherry Soule

Source- ebook sent from author 

Pages- 330

Publisher- Moonlight Publishing

Publication Date- August 2011

Goodreads Summary-

Thirteenth Daughter. Heritage Witch. Demon Slayer.

They say every town has its secrets, but that doesn’t even begin to describe Whispering Pines. The townsfolk are a superstitious lot and the mystical disappearance of a local teen has everyone murmuring about a centuries old witch’s curse.

When sixteen-year-old Shiloh Ravenwolf takes a summer job at Ravenhurst Manor, she discovers a ghost with an agenda. That’s where she meets the new town hottie, Trent Donovan. But Trent may be the next victim on the supernatural hit list, and Shiloh is the only person with the power to save him. Complicated much?  

After receiving cryptic messages from a creepy wraith and frightening threats from a demon, Shiloh finally begins to understand the mysterious significance of the strange mark branded on her wrist. Now Shiloh must decide how much she's willing to sacrifice to protect the other teenagers in town.

Unfortunately, for Shiloh, not all ghosts want help crossing over. Some want vengeance. 

~Review~

Cover Thoughts-

Exotic and beautiful! It's perfect! The girl is obviously Shiloh and the cover gives me a better vision of her in my head. I'm also guessing the house under her is Ravenhurst Manor. The whole cover ties together nicely in a beautiful dark kind of way.

First Thought-

Thirteenth Daughter. Heritage Witch. Demon Slayer. With those 6 words you totally have my attention! Way to pull me in! This is diffidently a book I need to get started on!

What I liked-

The beginning totally caught my attention. I felt so bad for her not having a good home life or social life being the weirdest kid in town. It's not her fault she comes from a line of strong witches and rumors spread around like fire in a small town. The are more rumors too but mostly about the town being cursed and that might be why 1 child from the original 13 families are disappearing. Pore Shiloh is pushed into the middle of it though. She is constantly being followed by the whispering shadows. She believes in something that nobody else does but her new boss at Ravenhurst Manor. Together they hope to stop an evil demon before Earth becomes Hell. My favorite scene in the old thing was towards the end when Shiloh *falls* down the stairs. It is then that she knows who is on her side. She has so much to go through practically by herself. I wanted to cry a few times. At times I felt chilled to the bone because the detailing was so vivid. It was like I was feeling Shiloh's fear, her determination, and her tears. Beautifully broken is diffidently a book worth reading twice.  

Here is a quote I found:

"From an early age, I'd heard the rumors about the town curse. To others, the rumors were an urban legend. To me, reality. Because I saw what others only gossiped about."

What I disliked-

I wish I her home life would have been described more. I want to know so much more about what lead to Shiloh's betrayal. oops I let it slip. :p I also wished there was more romance. If she is so in love with Trent superhot badboy then why does like nothing happen? I would have thought Trent wouldn't hold back but he did. I noticed sometimes I had white knuckles clutching my kindle anticipating something killer to happen but I was just kinda left in the dust. The end did not let me down. It was explosively awesome compared to the rest of the story. 

Overall Readability-

Chilling, beautiful, and mystical. I got goosebumps at times reading the amazing details and rocking adjectives. I believe once you read Beautifully Broken that you will be forever part of Whispering Pines. I am 100% sure that if I ever go into a dark mansion I will think of this book. It was enjoyable and not one I will soon forget. 

My Final Thought-

Dang she is DETERMINED. I believe she will totally succeed.

5 out of 5 Haunted Roses

~Author Information~

Sherry Soule is a writer blessed with a vivid imagination and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She loves writing supernatural tales with kickass heroines for teens and adults. Sherry is on a constant literary diet that mostly consists of the young adult fiction genre, but she’s been known to occasionally stray into paranormal/romance or horror adult categories. She has a morbid fascination with haunted houses. She adores cats. Loves to watch scary movies. And she’s a total bookaholic. Aside from writing, Sherry enjoys reading poetry, online book shopping, digging through flea markets, and exploring old cemeteries and Victorian mansions.

TITLE'S AMAZON WEB PAGE: http://www.amazon.com/Beautifully-Broken-Spellbound-Sherry-Soule/dp/061550812X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1311452578&sr=8-2

PUBLISHER'S WEB PAGE: http://moonlightpublish.com

AUTHOR BLOG: http://sherrysoule.blogspot.com

BB BOOK TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uqVXKygvUs

SPELLBOUND SERIES UNIVERSE: http://thespellboundseries.blogspot.com

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/WriterSherry

TWITTER: @WriterSherry - https://twitter.com/#!/WriterSherry

GOODREADS:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4925996.Sherry_Soule

LINK TO READ AN EXCERPT: http://thespellboundseries.blogspot.com/2011/12/beautifully-broken-excerpt.html

#MMBlogTour Supernatural Urban Legends Guest Post By Sherry Soule

Supernatural Urban Legends

Hi everyone, I’m Sherry Soule—waving from California, where it’s getting pretty foggy! Well, it’s the start of summer here, and even with the fog burning off by afternoon, I’m cranking the air conditioner and chatting on Twitter about my love of YA books.

Thanks for letting me stop by today as part of my Moonlight Mayhem Blog Tour this summer. It’s a thrill to get to be a guest and fellow booklovers such as yourself.For those of you who haven’t heard of my epic blog tour, it’s not too late to join the fun!

To celebrate the release of Sherry Soule’s new YA novel, MOONLIGHT MAYHEM coming this July, she has put together a few mysterious and intriguingurban legends that surroundthe eerie township of Whispering Pines, California…

Urban Legend #1

Some researchersbelievethat certain demon races areactually the disembodied spirits of the Nephilim. (They are also considered to be Shadow People.) The origination of the Nephilim began with the legend of an archangel named Raziel.Urban legend states that Raziel escorted a sect of angels that were to instruct humans in morality.

Unfortunately, these angels began to educate man in sciences that God had deemed to be forbidden. These subjects included astrology, divination, and magic. The tutelage went on for centuries, until the angels began to pine for the human females.

After the fallen angels, or sometimes known as the Fallen, had sexual relations with the women, their unholy union resulted in the hybrid offspring called: Nephilim, whichare the direct descendants of the antediluvian Fallen. Nephilim are also known as the Grigori or the Watchers.

It has been insinuated that one of the main reasons for the great flood, was not only to punish man, but to cleanse the earth of the Nephilim created from the union of fallen angels and human women. The flood banished most of the Fallen and their offspring into a Sheol.

So, do you believe in the Nephilim? What do you think will happen if they are ever freed?

Urban Legend #2

One haunted house claim that continues to be an urban legend is the infamous, Ravenhurst Manor in Whispering Pines. Books and stories have been written based on its hauntings and its reputation as one of California's most ghostlyplaces.

Ravenhurst Manor’s first owner was a woman and dark sorceress named, Rowan Broussard. After her death, the estate was used as an all girl’s boarding school for many years. Thesixty room Gothic mansion was listed for sale with the resident ghosts. Other odd things that occurred in in this house were: doors and windows that opened or closed on their own, cold drafts, whispering voices,and some visitors even claimed to see a dark shadowy figure roaming the halls.

However, Ravenhurst is most famously linked to the disappearance of six children during the years of 1964 through 1967. (After the school was closed, the estate became the property of the town before it was sold to an wealthy, oil magnate.) After the children’s' bodies were discovered buried within the walls of the house, obviously from less than peaceful circumstances, the town buried them in Silent Hollows Cemetery.

Did these Children buried on unconsecrated ground, lead to the strange tragedy that would make this mansion so famous?

Urban Legend #3

Ah, let’s move on to the zombie apocalypse!

Another interesting urban legend states that on September 28, 1941, during an eclipse,a zombie was spotted in Whispering Pines. To make matters worse, a fire at the local mill had swept through town. As day turned to night, more zombies appeared. Many townsfolk mistook the undead for dazed mill workers. After the residents received hugs from the zombies, they were bitten by theseparanormals, and soon the epidemicspread across the town like wildfire. 

To make matters worse, the roads and bridges connecting Whispering Pines to the rest of the Bay Area had burned in the fire. The townsfolk had no way to escape. Scores of people become lost when they chose to venture into the dark depth of Deadwood Grove rather than face the insatiable zombie menace.

Within days, the Paranormal Research Group(PRG) converged on Whispering Pines in a variety of aircraft. They established a base on the south side of the forest and went about the process of extermination. It took two weeks to secure the town. A total of 500 people were plague-ridden, an enormous number considering that there wasn’t a zombie vaccine available at this time.

Whatever the case, Whispering Pines’s zombie outbreak affected just under 600 people, making it one of the worst cases in U.S. history.

Are you prepared for a zombie apocalypse? What if zombies start showing up again?

Twitter hashtag: #MMBlogTour

Otherworldly Creatures. Dazzling Magic. Fiery Romance.

Shiloh Ravenwolf thought she was getting used to the strange events in Whispering Pines, until the full moon brings another surge of supernatural threats to her coastal town. Ferocious wolves, deadly necromancers, and shambling zombies have descended upon the neighborhood, so Shiloh needs to gain control of her magical abilities—fast!

It sucks that she has a crippling fear of the dark, which for a demon hunter can be an epic problem.

When her classmates are attacked by a mysterious creature and her father is murdered, Shiloh vows vengeance. Forcing her phobias aside, she forms an unlikely coven of supernaturally gifted teens to help her eradicate this menace. Except that's not all Shiloh has to worry about. She’s battling a different monster within herself and struggling not to become the very thing she fights: evil.

But with demon blood inside her—anything can happen…

Places you can cyberstalk, Sherry Soule:

Official Blog: http://www.sherrysoule.blogspot.com

Official Spellbound Series Universe: http://thespellboundseries.blogspot.com

goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11634793-beautifully-broken

Twitter @WriterSherry: http://twitter.com/writersherry

Book Trailers on YouTube: http://youtu.be/5uqVXKygvUs

andhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o44sW-gFtvA

Dream Slayer Tour! Review and Giveaway!

Hello and Welcome! My stop on the Dream Slayer contains a fantastic review for a fantastic book and an awesome giveaway that you should totally check out! Read on!

Title- The Dream Slayer (Meadows Creek Novel #1)

Author- Jill Cooper

Source- eARC 

Pages- 312

Publisher- Create Space

Publication Date- July 25th 2012

Goodreads Summary-

When your dreams come true, sometimes you get more than you bargained for...

Natalie Johnson has always dreamed she’s someone else; calm, beautiful, in control. A chosen warrior with a maniacal arch nemesis and a dreamy boyfriend, the type that can make your knees melt and your heart quiver.

Real life is much different. She’s tormented by a bully and endures the sharp tongue of her father, but finds solace in her dreams.

When her bully ends up dead, de ja vu from a dream hits her hard as everything around her begins to fall apart.

Whatever killed Sarah in her dreams is now in reality, hunting her from the shadows. And it wants her dead.

Somehow as the lines between reality and nightmare blur, Natalie must discover hidden strength to pull her friends and family back from the brink of madness.

~Review~

Cover Thoughts-

Love it! The girl on the cover is probably Natalie and she is probably in her dream world because she is holding her sword thing. Bad ass covers like this is what really catches my attention.

First Thought-

Just what I was looking for! Romance, Adventure, Paranormal, and Slayers! I can not wait to get started on this book!

What I liked-

There is so much to like! First off Butt kicking heroins are my favorite characters. Natalie is basically a nobody wimp nerd by day and a somebody brave hero by night. In her dreams she defeats evil doers like Morach the Great. She has awesome skills using weapons and has a I'm better than you attitude. Everybody knows her name. And if your a demon you better hope you don't run into her. Then when she wakes up she is living her nightmare at home and at school. Dreams are her only escape. A little while into the book her dreams become reality and it becomes harder to escape them. The whole book is a dangerous middle between fantasy and reality. Somebody or Something is out to get Natalie and how can she overcome them when she is actually a little weak nobody? I was seriously swept in this tide of dreams throughout the whole book. I found myself comparing my dreams and even wishing I had such realistic ones like in The Dream Slayer. I even pictured myself exactly like the weak real Natalie. I guarantee this series is one I'll be following just because this book kept me on the edge all the way through. When I thought all evil was defeated at the end I was still wrong!  

What I disliked-

The beginning was so confusing! I struggled through the first couple chapters trying to keep up with the action and adventure and fierce fighting skills then a sudden weak girl who does nothing shows up. I finally got it after a few more pages. :) The idea is genius! Anyway that is really it. The Dream Slayer had everything I could want in a book; romance, fights, dreams, vampires, slayers, nerds, and bad ass girls like I want to be. I loved it!

Overall Readability-

A total top of the to read lister. I finished it all in one sitting because every page puts you on edge. You have to know what happens next. Everything is so beautifully detailed and totally fierce in the butt kicking. I actually am already thinking about rereading it. :) I recommend The Dream Slayer for people who love dreams and the paranormal.  

My Final Thought-

She blossomed! Once a wimpy nerd now a beautiful brave somebody!

5 out of 5 Haunted Roses

~Author Information~

Jill Cooper loves tea more than coffee and is obsessed over finding that perfect recipe. She lives in Danvers, MA with two cats, a toddler, a husband, and a 1964 yellow taxi. Her life is chaotic, but fun. She is currently working on a new Sci-fi thriller and the sequel to the Dream Slayer. 

She can be contacted at http://www.jillacooper.com

~Giveaway~

CLICK HERE TO WIN A KINDLE FIRE!