Sunday, January 15, 2012

Review: Everblossom: A Short Story and Poetry Anthology by Larissa Hinton

Book: Everblossom: A Short Story and Poetry Anthology
By: Larissa Hinton
Publication Date: August 12, 2011
Publisher: Self Published
Description: An anthology that will quench your thirst for more than the ordinary. 

Everblossom is a journey through poems and short stories that may seem ordinary on the surface but dig a little deeper and the world not only shifts. It changes. 

From the author who brought you Iwishacana/Acanawishi, she now brings you a dash of everything from dark fantasy to the paranormal to even romance. So prepare yourself to delve into the three stages of the flower from bud to blossom then back to seed, you'll go through them all with a whole new perspective on what it all truly means.


My Thoughts: I normally avoid posting bad reviews, but in this case, the author who requested the review requested that I post the review despite my hard feelings. I had many high hopes for this book after reading the synopsis, and I felt I was completely let down. I would like to point out though that, although I did not like this book, I did read many good reviews which lead me to believe this book just wasn't for me.

Everblossom was told through a series of poems and short stories relating to the growth of a flower. I love poetry, and although I thought this poetry was interesting, it just seemed elementary (again, in my opinion). There were none I actually liked. The short stories were somewhat better although not much. They all seemed too short and rushed. I couldn't get into any of the stories and as soon as I felt an inkling of interest, the story ended and my interest dissipated. At 61 pages, I was sure that the author could have added something that would have made the book more interesting. It seemed as if it was written in a short amount of time.

As my encounter with a book by Larissa Hinton, I was disappointed to read the others. There were plenty of stories that had the potential to be wonderful books but they were too short here for me. I give this book 1 star, for the potential of what it could have been had the stories been a bit longer. Remember, this is my opinion, you may feel differently.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Disclaimer and Review: Everybody is Sombody's Inspiration (EISI) by J Morgan

I have never done a review for a friend. Why? First, because I don't didn't have any friend who wrote any books; second, because I didn't want to feel pressured to write a good review because they're my friend and "Hey, you want me to do well dont you? What if I fail because of your review;" and third, because I am almost 100% sure that my decision will not be counted because everyone will think I gave them a good review just because they're my friend and if someone else buys the book they'll find out it's really a crap box of crap that they hate.

Then, when my friend, J Morgan asked me to review his book for my blog I (surprisingly) said yes. Why? Well he's the only friend I know in real life who actually likes books (albeit different books than me) and likes them enough to discuss them with me, and the only one who actually looked at my page to see what all the fuss was about (he wasnt interested in being a devoted, read-every-post follower but still, the one time visit spoke volumes). I was also a bit happy that he thought about me as soon as the book was written.

That being said, I want you all to know that this review is written as if he was not my friend. Did he get special treatment? YES! His book was pushed to the top of my list, but that's there the special treatment ends. If anything, I'm more stringent on him than I am on others b/c I want to be able to brag and not look like a fool. "Don't embarrass me J Morgan!" Ha! He asked that I provide a critical review and I take that as my cue to bash him if the book is horrible and scold him for ruining my life. (I'm a great friend, right?) Here goes....

Book: EISI (Everybody is Somebody's Inspiration: 1st Edition)
By: J Morgan
Publication Date: January 22, 2012
Publisher: Self Published
Description: People often look at a single person’s success and only see the end result. Many of them do not understand the underlying factors that go into turning a dream into a reality.

“Everybody Is Somebody’s Inspiration” is a culmination of different poems and essays that were written after an experience, or an interaction with one or more of the people who inspire me. Whether you realize it or not, you provide inspiration for someone’s life. This is not a difficult role to fulfill, but its importance is unmatched. Simply being who you are, and doing things the way you do is more than enough to fill that role.

Who will you inspire?

My Thoughts: This book doesnt fit into my parameters of normal reading. I like the unreal, paranormal, romance type of stuff, and this book is real; very, very, real.... but in a good way.

Told from the point of view of an African American male, this short series of poems and short stories is very deep. It embodies Soul and Rhythm and digs into your mind in ways I haven't encountered in quite some time. If the ideas and thoughts of a man were written, this would be it. Like a man, this book felt raw, rugged and unedited. I must warn you that it does reference some sexual content in certain poems, but it does so in a way that is classy and musical. I read it in about 20 minutes because I couldn't put it down (Its only about 30 pages or so) and it left me begging for more. There were so many poems I loved; "Laugh," and "Just another D**n emotion" were of my favorites. I literally almost cried while reading them. There were times when I wanted to laugh or cry or just wanted to hug someone. This series of poems induced so many feelings in me that I wasn't quite sure which way was up once I finished. I loved it. I believe there is a poem in here for everyone despite it's male POV.

That being said, there were a few things I would have liked to see differently. First, some of the poems seemed like they needed more verse, or perhaps I was being greedy. Regardless, on 2 of the poems I had hoped there would be a bit more poem to go along with my feelings, but of course, there were plenty of other poems that fulfilled. Second, I would have also liked to see some different points of view. I like getting insight into the way a man's mind works but I would have loved to see if he could have carried his poetry over to the woman brain. At times, because I'm a woman, I couldn't really understand the feelings he was explaining and so I couldn't really connect. Third, I wish the entire book would have been focused on one category. Although most of it related to romance and dating, there were a few others that seemed more like self help. It changed my mood too much at times. An alternative would be to separate the poems by type. If, for example, the book were segmented by the categories romance, self help, inspirational, etc. I would have felt better. The issues I had with the book were quite minimal though and didn't take anything away from my overall love of it.

J Morgan knows poems. EISI made me want to tear up, tingle, laugh, cry, be consoled, console, and everything else imaginible. Even more than that, EISI awakened me to the uncertainty of love and passion. This would be the perfect book for an audiobook or author reading because you would be able to really feel the flow of the poems. I give it 4.5 stars, not because the author is my friend, but because this book is just that amazing and thus, deserves it.
Okay, here come's the special treatment.... J Morgan's book will be available via Amazon's Kindle Edition here on January 22. Buy it! It's only $2.95. If you're interested in reading more about J Morgan before you go and buy his book, check him out at his locations:

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Review: Blood Rights by Kristen Painter

Book: Blood Rights (House of Comarre Series #1)
By: Kristen Painter
Publication Date: October 1, 2011
Publisher: Orbit
Description: Born into a life of secrets and service, Chrysabelle's body bears the telltale marks of a comarrĂ© -- a special race of humans bred to feed vampire nobility. When her patron is murdered, she becomes the prime suspect, which sends her running into the mortal world...and into the arms of Malkolm, an outcast vampire cursed to kill every being from whom he drinks.
Now, Chrysabelle and Malkolm must work together to stop a plot to merge the mortal and supernatural worlds. If they fail, a chaos unlike anything anyone has ever seen will threaten to reign.
My Thoughts: Blood Rights is a book that takes a common theme, and turns it into something so amazingly uncommon you can't help but love it.

I can't even find words to explain how I felt about this book. It's so different, yet so familiar. I absolutely love the idea of a vampire food source that's bread to be so. We all know vampire stories and what to expect, but trust me, you don't know this book at all. I loved the characters and genuinely cared about what happened to them. My heart sped at the right times and I (almost) cried at others. It was absolutely great and refreshing.

Blood Rights is told in multiple points of view. Although I am not really a fan, it didn't take anything away from the overall feel of the book. It was realistic and, like real life, there was not always a good ending or a bad ending, things just happened naturally. The storyline was really thought out and at times it was so fast that I may have missed a few points (I'll just read it again, don't worry *wink*) This book is a must read in my opinion. I can't wait to read the next one. You should read this one!

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Young Adult Faeries and Fantasy Giveaway Hop - Jan 6-12


Hello new and old visitors and welcome to my blog! It's great to see you ;-)

Despite the many asignments I have to do for school, I have decided to continue my plan to participate in the giveaway hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and vvb32reads! I had a wonderful time on the last one and am excited to see how well this one turns out.

The giveaway is international so everyone has a chance to win, and it will run from 12:01am EST on January 6-January 12. As you will see, there are 3 possible prizes. The first is mainly for international entrants (so pretty much everyone can get this one) and the second and third are for US only (sorry) THERE IS ONLY 1 WINNER. I had planned to have more, but with Christmas and New Years recently passing and my birthday coming up (ahem, the 18th, I'll be 23, birthday wishes are welcome *wink*) I just don't have the resources to do it, so it's only one.

The winner has the option of one of the following prizes:

The Entire Faeriewalker Trilogy by Jenna Black. (INTERNATIONAL WINNERS as long as the Book Depository ships to you) I absolutely loved these books when I read them and I am excited to have others read them:
Book: GlimmerGlass
By Jenna Black
Description: Dana Hathaway doesn't know it yet, but she's in big trouble. When her alcoholic mom shows up at her voice recital drunk, again, Dana decides she’s had enough and runs away to find her mysterious father in Avalon: the only place on Earth where the regular, everyday world and the captivating, magical world of Faerie intersect. But from the moment Dana sets foot in Avalon, everything goes wrong, for it turns out she isn't just an ordinary teenage girl—she's a Faeriewalker, a rare individual who can travel between both worlds, and the only person who can bring magic into the human world and technology into Faerie.
Soon, Dana finds herself tangled up in a cutthroat game of Fae politics. Someone's trying to kill her, and everyone seems to want something from her, from her newfound friends and family to Ethan, the hot Fae guy Dana figures she’ll never have a chance with… until she does.  Caught between two worlds, Dana isn’t sure where she’ll ever fit in and who can be trusted, not to mention if her world will ever be normal again…

Book: Shadowspell
By: Jenna Black
Description: On top of spending most of her time in a bunkerlike safe house and having her dates hijacked by a formidable Fae bodyguard, Faeriewalker Dana Hathaway is in for some more bad news: the Erlking and his pack of murderous minions known as the Wild Hunt have descended upon Avalon. With his homicidal appetite and immortal powers, the Erlking has long been the nightmare of the Fae realm. A fragile treaty with the Faerie Queen, sealed with a mysterious spell, is the one thing that keeps him from hunting unchecked in Avalon, the only place on Earth where humans and Fae live together. Which means Dana’s in trouble, since it’s common knowledge that the Faerie Queen wants her – and her rare Faeriewalker powers – dead. The smoldering, sexy Erlking’s got his sights set on Dana, but does he only seek to kill her, or does he have something much darker in mind?


Book: Sirensong
By: Jenna Black
Description: When Dana is invited to Faerie to be officially presented at the Seelie Court, it’s no easy decision. After all, everyone knows Titania, the Seelie Queen, wants her dead. But Titania claims not to be the one behind the death threats; and her son, Prince Henry, makes the decision a whole lot easier when he suggests Dana might be arrested for (supposedly) conspiring with her aunt Grace to usurp the Seelie throne. So she and her father better do as they're told…
The journey through Faerie is long – and treacherous. Dana thought it would be a good idea to have friends along, but her sort-of-boyfriend Ethan and her bodyguard’s son, Keane, just can’t seem to get along, and Kimber’s crush on Keane isn’t making things any easier. When a violent attack separates Dana from their caravan, the sexy Erlking saves her just in the nick of time… and makes it clear that he hasn’t given up on making her his own.
Arriving at Titania’s beautiful palace should be a relief. But Dana is soon implicated in an assassination attempt against Titania’s granddaughter, and is suddenly a fugitive, forced to leave her father behind as she and her friends flee for their lives. Will she be able to prove her innocence before the forces of the Seelie Court – or, worse, the Erlking –  catch up with her? And will she save her father before he pays the ultimate price in her stead?
OR

Grimm's Complete Fairy Tale's  (Barnes and Noble Leatherbound Classics) - ONLY US ENTRANTS!!

Description: With the words “Once upon a time,” the Brothers Grimm transport readers to a timeless realm where witches, giants, princesses, kings, fairies, goblins, and wizards fall in love, try to get rich, quarrel with their neighbors, and have magical adventures of all kinds—and in the process reveal essential truths about human nature.
When Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm set out to collect stories in the early 1800s, their goal was not to entertain children but to preserve Germanic folklore—and the hard life of European peasants was reflected in the tales they discovered. However, once the brothers saw how the stories entranced young readers, they began softening some of the harsher aspects to make them more suitable for children.
A cornerstone of Western culture since the early 1800s, Grimm’s Fairy Tales is now beloved the world over. This collection of more than 120 of the Grimms’ best tales includes such classics as “Cinderella,” “Snow White,” “Hansel and Grethel,” “Rapunzel,” “Rumpelstiltskin,” “Little Red Riding Hood,” and “The Frog Prince,” as well as others that are no less delightful.
This new edition features beautiful full-color illustrations throughout to provide even more magic to these beloved tales.

OR

Hans Christian Anderson: The Complete Fairy Tale's  (Barnes and Noble Leatherbound Classics) - ONLY US ENTRANTS!!

Description: All of the magic and wonder of Complete Fairy Tales and Stories: Hans Christian Andersen is brought to you in this elegant leatherbound edition. Featuring beautiful detailing and eye-catching end papers, you'll want to keep this book where everyone can see it.

Complete Fairy Tales and Stories: Hans Christian Andersen is part of Barnes & Noble's series of quality leatherbound volumes. Each title in the series presents a classic work in an attractively designed edition bound in genuine bonded leather.




PLEASE SPECIFY YOUR LOCATION AND THE PRIZE YOU PREFER!!! As you can see, only the first prize is international. I would have only had the first prize as an option, but I recently got the latter two for Christmas, and loved them and wanted to spread the joy! Nothing against my international followers, I love you just as much, Barnes and Noble just doesn't ship for free to you. :(

Any who, To be entered you:
  1. MUST Be a Follower via GFC. (required entry new and old followers welcome!) -edit- leave your email address in this section.
  2. Comment on this post with your preferred prize selection and location (US or International is all that is required)
  3. Add me as a friend on goodreads (old friends count as well)
Enjoy, and enter already!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Blah, Blah, and oh...Blah

Hello Everyone.
There will not be a WoW post today, mainly because I just dont have the time, but I wanted to say hi anyway just to let you know that I love you all and that I hope not to get too sidetracked this semester due to school. Thats right, my classes have started today, and you know what? I am already in over my head. I am taking a 6 credit course crammed into 10 weeks (the norm is 15 weeks, go figure) and there is so much I need to get done before next Tuesday that I can't even hope to read in between assignments (although knowing myself, I'll probably read during dinner, lunch, walking my dog, brushing my teeth, riding the elevator, and any other time I can). Dont worry though. I just finished a book last week that I need to write my review for and I am in the middle of 2 additional books that I plan to be finished soon. The stress is building........cross your fingers for me!!!

Talk toeveryone soon!!

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy New Year!

Hello Everyone.

This will be a short post.

I just wanted to wish you all a very Happy New Year.
I hope you all are celebrating and enjoying this new year with Friends and Family. Have Fun!