Review: The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

The Testing (The Testing #1)
by Joelle Charbonneau

Genre: Adventure, Dystopia, Young Adult
Publication: June, 2013
Format: ebook, 336 pages
Source: Own
Connect: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Who will be chosen to lead? The best...the brightest...the deadliest? There will be a testing. In the wake of the Seven Stages War, the government of the Unified Commonwealth devised The Testing to assess the instinct, intellect and sheer nerve among a select group of the population's young people. Candidates who pass, attend the University to become leaders of the Commonwealth; civilization's hope to transform a post-war wasteland into a peaceful and technologically advanced society. But progress comes at a price. Mechanically-inclined Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a candidate but on the eve of her departure, her father confides partial memories of his grisly experience as a candidate, still haunted by nightmares and living in fear of what he can't remember. It's not enough to pass the test, Cia will have to survive it "and "her deadly fellow candidates. To stay alive Cia will have to learn who she can trust and, if necessary, who she must kill.

Cia Vale was happy to be chosen for The Testing so that she can go to the University. No one knows much about The Testing. Even Cia’s father, a graduate, didn’t remember much about the test. But once Cia was chosen for the test, he told her about his nightmares and warned Cia to be really careful. 

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau reminds me of the Hunger Games, and I’m sure a lot of readers had compared the two books. I love this book. Once I read it, I just couldn’t stop until I find out what was going to happen next. I think that the testing parts were very exciting. I enjoyed reading about what the government had prepared for the test.

Cia, the main character was great. She’s humble and intelligent. Although did sound a little too perfect. It was like she had a six sense to get everything right. I wished that there were more interaction between Cia and the other characters, because I would love to know them as well. 

But still, The Testing was written brilliantly. I just can’t wait to see what will happen next to Cia and the others in the next book!

Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder

Magic Study (Study #2)
by Maria V. Snyder

Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
Publication: November, 2007 by Mira Books
Format: ebook, 284 pages
Source: Own
Connect: Website | Blog | Facebook

So far, I've managed to survive. You would think after being kidnapped as a child, imprisoned in my teens and released to become a poison taster, I would have endured enough. But no. The discovery of my magical abilities--powers forbidden in Ixia--has resulted in an execution order. My only chance is to flee to Sitia, my long-lost birthplace.

But Sitia is unfamiliar. I'm treated like an enemy--even by my own brother. Plus I can't control my powers. I want to learn about my magic, but there isn't time. A rogue magician has emerged and I'm targeted as his next victim.

Will my magical abilities save me...or be my downfall?

I love the previous book,  bought Magic Study as soon as I finished Poison Study. I just can’t get enough of Yelena, Valek and their friends. I couldn’t say that Magic Study was as good as Poison Study, but I still like it. Very much.

In this book, Yelena returned to her birthplace, Sitia after she was banished from Ixia. Yelena learned more about magic and how to control them from Irys, the fourth magician. Returning to Sitia means that she will be meeting her family for the first time since she was kidnapped. Her reunion, however, was not as she had expected. Her brother didn’t exactly welcome her return. 

The pace of the story was a bit slower than the first book. But it still has a very good storyline. I wasn’t too excited to see Yelena separated with her friends in Ixia, but it was interesting to see Yelena in a new environment. I was excited to see how Yelena reunited with her family. Her family members (especially her cousins) are very interesting. Yelena made a few more friends in Sitia (and a few more enemies). The new characters (I love the moon man and Kiki) made the story much more exciting, but I am so happy to see Valek, the Commander, Ari and Janco reappearance. 

If you enjoyed the first book, Poison Study, you'll definitely want to read Magic Study.

Release Day Blitz: Prosecco Pink by Traci Andrighetti - Giveaway

Prosecco Pink
by Traci Andrighetti

Genre: Chick Lit/Cozy Mystery
Publication: November 3
Connect: Website | Facebook | Twitter
Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Smashwords | Gemma Halliday Publishing 

For Franki Amato, life in New Orleans is anything but “The Big Easy.” When she met handsome bank executive Bradley Hartmann, she knew she’d finally found a man she could trust. But she can’t say the same for his sexy new secretary, who is about as trustworthy as Mata Hari and every bit as seductive. Meanwhile, Franki’s best friend and employer, Veronica Maggio, has named her the lead investigator in the murder of a gorgeous cosmetics CEO who was found lying dead in the master bedroom of a historic plantation home. Now the pressure is on Franki to figure out what a bottle of pink lip gloss and the legend of a pink diamond have to do with the bizarre killing. The problem is that the plantation is notorious for being haunted, and Franki is less than enthusiastic about the prospect of meeting a ghost. Adding to her stress, her Sicilian grandma is up to her usual meddling antics—this time planning Franki’s engagement to Bradley before he’s even considered popping the question. As Bradley grows distant and plantation employees begin dropping like Southern belles during a sweltering summer, Franki turns to a psychic with a phobia of ghosts to solve the mysterious murders and her own relationship fears.

Traci's bio:
Traci Andrighetti is the national and international bestselling author of the Franki Amato Mysteries. In her previous life, she was an award-winning literary translator and a Lecturer of Italian at the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned a PhD in Applied Linguistics. But then she got wise and ditched that academic stuff for a life of crime—writing, that is.

If she's not hard at work on her next novel, Traci is probably watching her favorite Italian soap opera, eating Tex Mex or sampling fruity cocktails, and maybe all at the same time. She lives in Austin with her husband, young son (who desperately wants to be in one of her books) and three treat-addicted dogs.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Thunder by Bonnie S. Calhoun

Thunder (Stone Braide Chronicles #1)
by Bonnie S. Calhoun

Genre: Adventure, Dystopia, Fantasy, Young Adult
Publication: September 30th, 2014
Format: ebook, 432 pages
Source: Netgalley
Connect: Facebook | Twitter

In post-apocalyptic America, Selah Chavez is crouched in long grass on a shore littered with the rusted metal remnants of a once-great city. It is the day before her eighteenth Born Remembrance, and she is hunting, though many people refuse to eat animal flesh, tainted by radiation during the Time of Sorrows. What Selah's really after are Landers, mysterious people from a land across the big water who survive the delirium-inducing passage in small boats that occasionally crash against the shoreline. She knows she should leave the capture to the men, but Landers bring a good price from the Company and are especially prized if they keep the markings they arrive with.

Everything falls to pieces when the Lander Selah catches is stolen by her brothers--and Selah wakes up the next morning to find the Lander's distinctive mark has suddenly appeared on her own flesh. Once the hunter, Selah is now one of the hunted, and she knows only one person who can help her--Bohdi Locke, the Lander her brothers hope to sell.

With evocative descriptions of a strange new world that combines elements of scientific advances, political intrigue, and wilderness survival, Bonnie S. Calhoun weaves a captivating tale of a world more like our own than we may want to admit.

On the day before her eighteenth Born Remembrance, Selah Chavez went hunting and found a Lander. She captured the Lander for money, but her capture was stolen by her brothers. When Selah woke up the next morning, she saw the Lander’s mark on her, forcing her mother to tell her the truth about who she really was. Now, Selah must run from her former life, if she wanted to live. And the person who can help her was Bodhi, the Lander she had caught.

I thought that Thunder by Bonnie S. Calhoun had a promising start. I do like the idea of the book. The plot sounds good. And Selah can be a good character, even though she can be childish at times. But the story was a bit too slow and too long to my likings. The plot was a bit messy. It was a bit confusing at times and I was not sure what was going on. I have to reread a few scenes a few times to understand what was going on. There was supposed to be a bit of romance between Selah and Bodhi, but I thought that the romance was going on too fast. There wasn’t much attraction between them, except for physical attraction. It was kinda disappointing, but, I’m sure that the book could have been better with more editing.

I received the copy of the book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Poison Study (Study #1)
by Maria V. Snyder

Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
Publication: November, 2007 by Mira Books
Format: ebook, 284 pages
Source: Own
Connect: Website | Blog | Facebook

About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooma in the palace—and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.

And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dust—and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison.

As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can't control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren't so clear...

I’ve previously read Storm Glass, and wanted to read the Study series before I continue with the next book. I instantly fell in love with the poison study, and I didn't want to put down. I loved it. This book was brilliant.

Yelena was to be executed for murder. She was offered to be a food tester for the Commander of Ixia or face her punishment. The chief of security, Valek fed her with a poison called, Butterfly Dust, so that Yelena cannot run. To survive, Yelena must take her daily antidote, or die from the poison.

I love Yelena. She’s a kick ass heroine. It was interesting to see how Yelena tried to stay alive in Ixia since there are a few people who wanted her dead. The other supporting characters made the story much more interesting. The chemistry between Yelena and the other characters was awesome. I fell in love with the characters and I just can’t get enough of them.

This book wasn’t what I was expecting. The plot was absolutely amazing. There was a bit of romance in the book that turned my fangirl switch on. I thoroughly enjoyed the book that I immediately purchased the next book of the series to find out what was going to happen to Yelena and the others. I highly recommend this book! 

On Tour: Crisis of Serenity by Denise Moncrief - Review + Giveaway

Denise Moncrief is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours with her book, Crisis of Serenity. Please visit her page for more blog stops and a chance to win $25 Amazon Gift Card.

Crisis of Serenity (Crisis #2)
by Denise Moncrief

Genre: Romance, Suspense

Publication: July 2014

Format: ebook

Source: ARC, CLP Blog Tours

Connect: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon

Tess Copeland lives a quiet life in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Thanks to the government’s witness protection program, she enjoys the freedom of never having to glance over her shoulder to see if someone is following her. Life has become safe, serene...and boring. Her heart longs for something more than just existing...until a ghost from her past shatters her serenity.

Once upon a time, Tess was caught between the FBI and the men the feds were trying to take down. Jake Coleman is the U.S. Marshal who extracted her from the jam she was in with the FBI, a man she could have fallen for...hard...if she had let herself. It’s been a year since she last saw Jake, and in all the months that have passed, he’s never tried to find her. The longer he keeps his distance, the more she wonders why his absence hurts so much.

When a stranger comes to town searching for her, all of Tess’ old fears are resurrected. Asking Jake for help with her current crisis might lure him into a dangerous trap involving murder, kidnapping, and revenge. When Jake and Tess come face-to-face with the past, they will have to use all their wits to survive.

I received a copy of  Crisis of Serenity by Denise Moncrief from the author/CLP Blog Tours as part of the book tour.

I didn’t expect that I would like this book so much, but I did. Tess Copeland was in the witness protection program and she was living in a quiet life in Gaitlinburg. One day, Tess found out that someone was searching for her. When Tess found out that her niece was kidnapped from her daycare, Tess had to ask for help from Jake, the U.S. Marshal who extracted her from the jam she was in with the FBI.

I haven’t read the first book of the series yet, but that doesn’t stop me from enjoying this book. The writing was really easy to get into and the story line was very exciting. I couldn’t stop reading the book and find out what will happen to Tess. Tess was a likeable heroine. She’s smart, brave and sassy. I love how she handled herself and the situation around her. The other characters made the book more exciting.  I enjoyed the romance between Tess and Jake. It was interesting to see how their relationship grew.

This book was worth reading. It had an interesting plot, packed with suspense,  a bit of humor, drama and a few twists. I look forward to read the other work from Denise Moncrief. 

Author Bio:

Want to know a little bit more about Denise? She's a Southern girl who has lived in Louisiana all her life, and yes, she has a drawl. She has a wonderful husband and two incredible children, who not only endure her writing moods, but also encourage her to indulge her writing passion. Besides writing romantic suspense, she enjoys traveling, reading, and scrapbooking.

Accounting is a skill she has learned to earn a little money to support her writing habit. She wrote her first story when she was a teen, seventeen handwritten pages on school-ruled paper and an obvious rip-off of the last romance novel she had read. She's been writing off and on ever since, and with more than a few full-length manuscripts already completed, she has no desire to slow down.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: All the Single Ladies by Jane Costello

All the Single Ladies
by Jane Costello

Genre: Chick Lit, Humor, Romance
Publication: July 2012
Format: Paperback, 496 pages
Source: Own
Connect: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Samantha Brooks’ boyfriend has made a mistake – one everyone knows he’ll live to regret. Jamie, the love of her life, has announced he’s leaving, out of the blue. Jamie is gorgeous, loving, intelligent and perfect for Sam in every way but one – he’s a free spirit. And after six years in one place, doing a job he hates, he is compelled to do something that will destroy his relationship with Sam: book a one way flight to South America. Only Sam isn’t giving up without a fight. With Jamie clearly still in love with her, she hatches a plan to make him realise what he’s giving up. A plan that involves dirty tricks, plotting and a single aim – to win him back. Only, by the time the tortured Jamie finally wakes up to what he’s lost, a gorgeous new pretender has entered Sam’s life. Which begs the question . . . will she still want him back?

Samantha Brooks had recently broke up with her boyfriend, Jamie. And Sam knew that he was making a big mistake—to book a one way flight to South America—when clearly, he was still in love with her. So, she made a plan. Sam pretended that she was doing okay without Jamie, and that her life was moving on without him. She tried to make  him jealous, but Jamie can’t seem to make up his mind. But when Sam met this gorgeous guy, she wasn’t sure if she wants Jamie back.

I love Jane Costello’s books. Her writing was very easy to get into and her characters are very likeable and relatable from the beginning. I love Sam. She’s funny and easy going. Although, there are times when I got frustrated at what she was doing. The secondary characters were very likeable and their stories made the book a lot more fun. All the Single Ladies was a very good read. It was a light read with lots of laugh out loud moments. I would definitely recommend this book to chick lit lover.