{BookTalk The Archived #1: Victoria Schwab

Rating: 78%

Series: The Archived

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult, Fiction,

Publisher: Hyperion

Publication Date: January 22, 2013

Page Count: 328

Format: eBook

Source: Amazon

The Book Depository | Barnes & Nobles | Goodreads | Amazon

Goodreads Synopsis: The dead rest on shelves like books. Each body has a story to tell, a life in pictures only Librarians can read. The dead, called 'Histories', rest in the Archive.

Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often—violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a tool for staying alive.

Being a Keeper is dangerous and a constant reminder of those she lost, Da and her little brother. Mac wonders about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. Yet someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall. 

Disclaimer: At Loving the Language of Literacy, a BookTalk means that there will be clearly marked spoilers interspersed throughout the review.

Would I Buy It?

40%
While I simply adore the cover, I didn't enjoy the book enough to go running out to buy a physical copy (because I read it as an eBook), but if there were a boxed set for purchase when the trilogy is completed, I would jump on a chance to own it. 

Background & Backstory?

There really isn't that much backstory behind my reading this book besides the fact that I was in a slump before I started reading it and am still in a slump afterwards. Don't get me wrong, this was a good novel and any other day, it would have been spectacular. I just keep hitting dud after dud and have yet to find a book that reminds me why I love to read.

What Was My Reaction Upon Finishing?

o_o

Premise/Writing Style | 98% Can we just talk for a few minutes about how amazing the premise of The Archived is? Even though you would have to classify it as urban fantasy genre-wise, it has some of the best, most complicated world building I have read in a long time. Something about Schwab's writing made me feel like I was floating on a cloud of mystery and death... which are two completely opposite things. The Archived just broke down all preconceived notions of mine for what a "paranormal" novel should be and I absolutely respect Victoria for whatever is going on in her brilliant mind.

Romance | 40% This was a complete personal preference issue, but I did not enjoy the romance because of the types of characters the two love interests were (if you have read the book, you'll know what I mean) as well as the fact that there were two love interests. With the kind of writing/story The Archived was, I didn't expect there to be a need for a love triangle.

***Start Spoiler***

Wesley seemed a little like the too-good-to-be-true, snarky, friendly boy-next-door who just happened to be a Keeper too. Of course, I know this is to help with the arc for the rest of the series, but I still dislike him. I also didn't understand the need for involving Owen romantically except for the fact that Mackenzie needed a distraction from the stress of her world, which vaguely reminded my of a paranormal DUFF. I thought it was kind of expected, but simultaneously a good decision that he ended up being a bad guy. The circumstances of them even KNOWING each other, let alone being romantically involved meant that they wouldn't end well.

***End Spoiler***

Pacing | 50% The reason I am in this darn reading slump is because I love my books fast-paced and unfortunately, with books as beautifully crafted and complicated as this one, the pace couldn't be lightning fast. It was extremely stimulating and thought provoking conceptually as events unfolded, but I wasn't able to fly through it.

Dealing With Tough Topics | 80% This is a completely new category in my reviews, but it is high time I had one considering I like reading books that feature them heavily. The premise alone tells you as the reader that you are going to be reading a lot about death. I thought the way Schwab presented death was interesting because of how she incorporated it into the something the reader should care/be aware about as well as part of what her story is relying on. The main character Mackenzie is forced to deal with the loss of her younger brother Ben as well as her grandfather Da. She's in the middle of grieving and Ben's death is the reason her family moved in the first place. Armed with her beautiful prose, Schwab presented grief in a conceivable, yet realistic way.

How Likely Is It That I Will Read Another Book By This Author?

70%
I just put the sequel, The Unbound, on hold for me at the library and have Vicious, which is Victoria's adult fantasy novel in my hands as we speak. I loved the beautiful writing style and want to read everything of hers.... just maybe not at this very moment because of this stupid reading slump.

Conclusion:

{Blog Tour+Giveaway+Excerpt} Lore Anthology

Authors: Brinda Berry, Cate Dean, Jayne A. Knolls, Karen Y. Bynum, Laura Diamond, Theresa DaLayne
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction,
Publisher: Sweet Biscuit Publishing LLC
Publication Date: March 22, 2014
Page Count: 284

Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ Barnes & Nobles

Synopsis: A collection of six folklore retellings that will twist your mind and claim your heart. 

SHIMMER: A heartbroken boy rescues a mermaid… but is it too late to save her? 

BETWEEN is about a girl, a genie, and a ton of bad decisions. 

SUNSET MOON: Eloise doesn’t believe in Native American magic–until the dreamcatcher spiders spin her down an unknown path. 

THE MAKER: An incapacitated young man bent on revenge builds a creature to do it for him. 

A BEAUTIFUL MOURNING: The story of a Maya goddess torn between duty and love, and the ultimate sacrifice she must make to achieve true happiness. 

THE BARRICADES: When a human girl risks everything to save the life of an Eternal prince, will their feelings for each other change the world they know, or tear it apart?

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Between by Karen Y. Bynum ~ 

God, what had Lucy done? She rubbed the butterfly charm at her throat. She should never have ignored Natasha’s calls. If Lucy had just sucked it up and broken up with her, Natasha wouldn’t have shown up at Gaston. And Lucy wouldn’t have belittled her in front of the Royals. Her stomach churned, and she clutched the charm. Natasha’s grandmother had given it to her, and she hadn’t ever taken it off—until the day she gave it to Lucy. She swallowed her own shame and ripped the chain from her neck. She couldn’t look at it anymore. Couldn’t stand to feel its guilt weighing her down. 

“I wish I could just forget you!” She threw the necklace into the abyss of the closet. Holding herself, she wept with her head pressed back against the wall. Slow, gasping tears quickly turned into sobs so gut-wrenching they made her teeth hurt. 

“You can’t wish to forget.” 

She froze mid-sniff. The blood must have drained from her face because her tears scorched as they rolled down her icy cheeks. A shadow moved in her peripheral vision. 

Slowly, she lifted her head. Gasping, she pressed her hands to the floor, ready to jump up and haul ass. But in car-wreck fashion, she couldn’t look away. Fire floated in front of her. Her heart pounded painfully against her ribs. Was the house burning down? Surely not. The flames didn’t seem to be spreading. Instead, they drew down, drew together until they had a distinctly human shape. And eyes. Oh, God, the eyes. They glowed a frightening green, dark and bright at the same time. 

This was just like every horror movie Lucy had ever seen. Her time had come. Either this thing would drag her to Hell or she’d be acting out The Exorcist any second. She wiped away a streak of tears. 

Forcing herself to stand, to acknowledge what she’d done, she said, “This is about Natasha. Isn’t it?” 

The figure didn’t move forward. It just lowered its arms, smaller flames sparking away from the movement. Why didn’t the closet catch fire? 

“I’m here,” it said, “to grant you three wishes.”

{Spoiler Alert} Dead Silence (The Body Finder #4): Kimberly Derting

Rating: 6/10
Series: The Body Finder #4
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Murder Mystery, Young Adult, Fiction
Recommended For Fans of The Dark Divine Trilogy and Pretty Little Liars
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: April 16, 2013
Page Count: 389
Format: eBook
Source: My Local Library

Synopsis: Violet thought she’d made peace with her unique ability to sense the echoes of the dead and the imprints that cling to their killers…that is until she acquired an imprint of her own. Forced to carry a reminder of the horrible events of her kidnapping, Violet is more determined than ever to lead a normal life. However, the people who run the special investigative team Violet works for have no intention of letting her go.

When someone close to Violet becomes a suspect in a horrific murder, she finds herself pulled into a deadly hunt for a madman with an army of devoted followers. Violet has survived dangerous situations before, but she quickly discovers that protecting those closest to her is far more difficult than protecting herself.

***I would normally write a spoiler free and spoiler filled version of this review, but that is nearly impossible since this is the finale of a series, and you would be spoiled about all previous novels in the series. So if you haven't read the book or series, you have been warned that this is just FULL of SPOILERS***

In my experience, after book finales, you are either "WTF" and speechless, or "WTF" and have so much to say you don't even know where to begin. For Dead Silence, its the latter. I've never reviewed another Kimberly Derting book on Loving the Language of Literacy before, but what I will say is that Kimberly Derting taught me that I do enjoy some paranormal romance novels, such as this series. But, with The Body Finder Quartet, I felt like everything good that happened, happened in The Body Finder. I don't know if this is because I expected more with each book, or if my standards became higher. Whatever the reason, I did not enjoy Desires of the Dead as much as The Body Finder and  I did not enjoy The Last Echo as much as Desires of the Dead and I did not enjoy Dead Silence as much as The Last Echo. I know I should have gone back and reread the whole series, but "Aint nobody got time for that." Besides the relationship progression and broad story arc, you can almost read every novel on its own.... so I don't think that was the problem. 

My overall critique is that I expected Derting to want to go out with a bang, which means heart-stopping romance and a breathtaking ride of thrills and chills. I know it will seem like a lot of critique, but what I want you to know is that I enjoyed Dead Silence.... just not as much as I thought I would and that's where most of the criticism comes in.

If you had just given Rafe happiness

Romance: I feel so bad for Rafe. I was totally Team Jay.... when he was the only contender for Violet's heart (Grady just doesn't count). I'm not saying that I'm a total turncoat, but I loved the idea of them in The Last Echo. I just hate that he was there to temper with one of my first OTPs, and that Violet had lingering feelings for him as well. Basically, we know Jaylet (Jay and Violet) is set, but I just wanted happiness for Rafe. It was vaguely hinted that Chelsea had met her match, and they could possibly be "a thing." Yet everyone knew he liked Violet. Somebody just please give that boy a big bowl of happiness soup! 

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Congratulations. Violet had stood there staring at the cake Chelsea had thrust out to her, wondering what she was being congratulated for exactly. Congratulations on being the long survivor of a serial killer? Or just your average, everyday, congratulations-for-killing-a-guy?

My I just say that I freaking LOVE this quote? This phrase is just one of many examples of Kimberly Derting's writing style and her talent for sneaking in humor even when the situation is a very serious one - such as your best friend buying you a "Congratulations" cake and bringing it to you so the two of you can enjoy, on the first occasion seeing each other after you were kidnapped. And just for the record, I still want to know which congratulations Chelsea intended the cake for.

"You were the White River student who found the bodies. And now you're here, watching their funeral." She frowned, confused all over again. Why? Why would you come here?"

This is a kind of ish spoiler (you know how those are), but this quote is said just before Violet finally tells Chelsea about her ability to find dead bodies. Chelsea, knowing Violet was acting weird, followed her to the funeral (I won't spoil who it's for), and is finally getting angry and confronting her best friend. I just think that this quote was plain annoying and Chelsea acted so clueless and flabbergasted when in my humble opinion, I don't think she should have been. Violet has been finding dead bodies for over a DECADE and you're so surprised that she is the unnamed White River student?

Why? Just Why?

WHY HADN'T VIOLET TOLD CHELSEA -HER BEST GIRL FRIEND (I only say that because Jay is her best friend)- ABOUT HER ABILITIES? I just don't understand why Violet hadn't told her or why Chelsea hadn't pursued the subject. I mean they had been friends since they were little girls. Why hadn't one of them felt guilty enough (Violet), or suspicious enough (Chelsea) to ask about the body finding thing? In this book especially, because of what happened with Chelsea's kidnapping and the foreshadowing leading up to it, we get told that Chelsea is an "I don't give a f*** if it's not my problem," no-nonsense person. So why hadn't she gotten it out of Violet sooner? I mean, I know she asked before. But WHHHHY did it take until book FOUR for it to be revealed? #itdoesntmakesense

And suddenly they were no longer standing apart; they were no longer separated by the breadth of their heartbeats. Jay was squeezing her against him, crushing her. Not hugging or stroking her, but crushing her. She felt his fingers clawing at the back of her shirt, balling the thin fabric in his fists as he clutched her to him, and she could feel the days and weeks and months of frustration and dear and whatever else he'd being holding back some pouring out of him as he groaned achingly into her curls....

Okay, so I have issues with this entire quote.... several issues. My first issue was the whole "crushing" ordeal. I GET that they have had their relationship problems -almost all revolving around trust- but the crushing thing is a bit of an overkill. On the other hand, I see how this is an extremely endearing moment for the two of them, and the final *crosses fingers that it's final* makeup between the two of them so that they could end the series on a good note relationship wise.

This is Taylor Swift just telling you to be a couple and stay a couple

This just segways into me being able to talk about some of my other issues with Dead Silence and the series as a whole. In the beginning of the series, Jay plays the role of "possessive boyfriend" and won't let her out of his freaking sight for a moment (it even gets to a point where he wants to stand outside her bathroom door). I remember thinking over a year ago that I like Violet, but I almost wish she would get into danger or get injured because of how often Jay had to save her. Then in Dead Silence, I stop feeling like they're madly in love anymore. This is for many reasons, mostly because Violet is still trying to recover from being kidnapped. She is a damaged person that basically has a serious case of PTSD now. So she withdraws into herself and shuts out the people she loves like her parents, friends, and especially Jay. I JUST DON'T GET IT! See, I even broke grammar rules because of this book. I don't get it why their relationship is so rocky when the events should have made them stronger. I'm just gonna go pout in a corner.... M'kay?

Ending: No! Just no. The ending to Dead Silence needed to be the part where Kimberly Derting dug out the firearms out of her arsenal and floored everyone with the ending. Why didn't that happen?!? WHHHHY?

Conclusion: While I enjoyed Dead Silence as a novel, I was disappointed that this was all that was left as the conclusion to The Body Finder Quartet, and believed that it could have been much better.

{Blog Tour+Giveaway+Playlist+Review} Dark Metropolis: Jaclyn Dolamore

Rating: 5/10
Series: Dark Metropolis #1
Genre: Young Adult, Fiction, Paranormal Romance,
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: June 17, 2014
Page Count: 304
Source: Netgalley
Format: eARC

Amazon ~ Goodreads

Synopsis: Cabaret meets Cassandra Clare-a haunting magical thriller set in a riveting 1930s-esque world.

Sixteen-year-old Thea Holder's mother is cursed with a spell that's driving her mad, and whenever they touch, Thea is chilled by the magic, too. With no one else to contribute, Thea must make a living for both of them in a sinister city, where danger lurks and greed rules.

Thea spends her nights waitressing at the decadent Telephone Club attending to the glitzy clientele. But when her best friend, Nan, vanishes, Thea is compelled to find her. She meets Freddy, a young, magnetic patron at the club, and he agrees to help her uncover the city's secrets-even while he hides secrets of his own.

Together, they find a whole new side of the city. Unrest is brewing behind closed doors as whispers of a gruesome magic spread. And if they're not careful, the heartless masterminds behind the growing disappearances will be after them, too.

Perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare, this is a chilling thriller with a touch of magic where the dead don't always seem to stay that way.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jaclyn Dolamore was homeschooled in a hippie sort of way and spent her childhood reading as many books as her skinny nerd-body could lug from the library and playing elaborate pretend games with her sister Kate. She skipped college and spent eight years drudging through retail jobs, developing her thrifty cooking skills and pursuing a lifelong writing dream. She has a passion for history, thrift stores, vintage dresses, David Bowie, drawing, and organic food. She lives with her partner and plot-sounding-board, Dade, and two black tabbies who have ruined her carpeting.

www.jaclyndolamore.com | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Playlist

What one has to know when reading and/or about to read Dark Metropolis is that this is not a normal book. The premise, plot, and characters are unlike any others that I have met before. When writing a playlist for a book, there is usually a defined feel of the book that will fit into a certain niche of music. For example, Legend by Marie Lu may have a more alternative, and rockish feel, while The Distance Between Us by Kasie West is more light and cheery pop and country. I personally can't get a real feel on what genre of music Dark Metropolis fits into, but I tried to pick songs that I feel had meaningful lyrics, or the ethereal vibe that DM gave off. 

"We were making history

                                                        Breaking rules and breaking free

Questioning the writing on the wall

Got wind from the underground

Laughing as were falling down

Soaking in the glory of it all"

Young Blood: Bea Miller ~ While I'm sure Bea Miller wasn't thinking of a teenager with magic going against his orders to revive people from the dead, the lyrics are very relatable to Freddy's struggle throughout the book, as to whether he should carry out his orders or not. 

"We wear a smile to hide that we’ve been hurt before
Keep our disasters in a suitcase by the door,
'Cause you know, you know we’re only human!"

Broken Ones: Jacquie Lee ~ It isn't so much as the lyrics that make this a good DM song, but the feel you get when hearing it, as well as the shivers that will run up your spine when listening to the vocals and then when you listen closely to the lyrics and their meaning.

Throw it Away: Kina Grannis ~ I have recently fallen in love with listening to Kina Grannis and her unique voice. Every song on Elements is completely different, and the way her voice just slides up and down embodies the almost creepy feel of Dark Metropolis.

Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley/Itching For Books Blog Tours in exchange for an honest review.

Pros:

The concept of Dark Metropolis was simply astounding. In the beginning of the novel, we learn that the story is set in the 1930s and one of the main characters -Thea- works in the Telephone Club which is a nightclub, and this just makes me imagine all the glamor of the 30s with the makeup and the fashion that reminds me of the Great Gatspy and flapper girls. With just the synopsis, you already know this story will be unique, and when the magic aspect gets added, it just improves the story.

***Spoiler Alert***

I don't particularly enjoy books about zombies, I don't know if it's because of the whole undead thing, but I don't think so because I actually think being undead is really cool. Anyway (you know how I can get sidetracked), while Dark Metropolis did not turn my opinion around about zombies, Dolamore did treat the subject very well, and shone some new light on them. While it wasn't explained in detail how Freddy's magic worked, it was still such an interesting idea that he could revive people from the dead. But (you know there has to be a but), these people aren't the same and will physically wither if they don't take a serum, and can't die again unless Freddy lets them go. Yet even though they're undead, they can still love people and care for them.

***End Spoiler***   

Something people were praising a lot was the romance and I completely understand why. The relationship between Thea and Freddy is slow, and there isn't any insta-love in the vicinity *sighs in relief* yet it's almost as sweet as a light contemporary novel when Thea gushes to Nan about Freddy and how they haven't kissed YET. And when a girl says, "yet," you know she wants and expects whatever the "yet" is pertaining to. 

There was almost a minor romance between Nan and another minor character (I don't want to spoil it) who was another girl. Jaclyn Dolamore probably wasn't considering this as a big deal, but I just love how it shows progression in YA and general literature in just the 21st century. It was so subtle and treated merely as an, "Okay, that's good the two of you like each other." thing instead of a big deal/  

Cons:

I have to admit, while I did enjoy Dark Metropolis, there were a number of confusing elements throughout the novel. These mostly had to do with the magic aspect of the novel which I don't want to spoiler for you. 

The pacing of Dark Metropolis was a bit slow during the first half, but eventually picked up until it had its explosive ending.

While I was reading reviews of the book, I noticed a lot of people had a tendency to like the characters and their personalities. I don't know if I just wasn't paying close enough attention, but I did not feel this.  As it happens with characters I don't enjoy reading from/about, it felt like they were just puppets being controlled by somebody, and they didn't feel very much like real people. 

I know I will usually root in favor of first person, and I truly think that it would have worked well with DM because the story is told by the three main characters -Freddy, Thea, and Nan. The story was written in third person, and would transfer every few chapters between characters. I also think that my lack of connection with the characters may have been non-existent if it was written in first person, giving me a behind-the-scenes look into their heads.

Conclusion: Dark Metropolis had a mind blowing concept including a blend of genres readers will not soon forget.

{Blog Tour+Giveaway+Review} Final Stand (Transhuman Chronicles #2): Rose Garcia

RELEASE: MARCH 24th 2014

YOUNG ADULT PARANORMAL ROMANCE

Dominique is still alive after killing Tavion, the Tainted who's hunted her for lifetimes. Yet her protectors still fear for her life. They force her to flee Houston and abandon the friends she loves. But they can't protect her from herself. When Dominique starts hearing Tavion's voice in her head, she realizes that her personal connection to the Tainted still exists. And when her car is ambushed, she discovers another frightening truth—someone close to her is a traitor.

Desperate for answers, Dominique seeks the aid of first lifers Trent and Infiniti. With their help, she hopes to find her new enemy. But things get complicated with Trent when she finally accepts her eternal love for Farrell, and even more complicated when the whispers in her head threaten her loved ones. Determined to live, Dominique decides to make a final stand against the forces that want to end her. For good.

GET THE FIRST BOOK IN THE SERIES

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Praise for Final Life...

"Rose Garcia will explode your mind with action packed scenes and emotional turmoil.” - Moonlight Book Reviews 

"The wholetranshuman concept had the whole Sci-Fi/Fantasy element going on, yet Rose Garcia has written it in a way that is both fresh and believable, with the classic good versus evil theme incorporated." - Always YA at Heart 

"Final Life is filled with magical moments, heart aching moments, action, and suspense. I look forward to the next chapter of Dominique's story." - WinterHaven Books 

TOUR SCHEDULE:

April 21

WOrkS of FiCTioN<3
– Teaser (http://bkwrm29.wordpress.com/)

Such a Novel Idea –
Excerpt (http://suchanovelidea.com)

April 22

Mythical Books –
Interview (http://mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/)

Deal Sharing Aunt –
Blast & Giveaway (www.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com)

April 23

Literary Winner –
Excerpt (http://literarywinner.com)

Chapter Break –
Review Final Stand / Interview (http://chapterbreak.net)

April 24

What's Beyond Forks?
– Review Both (http://www.whatsbeyondforks.com)

April 25

Musings of Immortals
– Teaser (http://readers2212.blogspot.in/)

April 28

Bookwyrming Thoughts
– Excerpt (http://bookwyrming-thoughts.blogspot.com)

Loving the Language
of Literacy – Review Final Stand (http://lovingthelanguageofliteracy.blogspot.com)

April 29

Bibliophile Mystery –
Excerpt (http://bibliophilemystery.blogspot.ro/)

April 30

A Leisure Moment –
Review Both / Interview (Www.aleisuremoment.com)

May 1

Book Club Sisters –
Review Both / Interview (http://bookclubsisters84.blogspot.com)

May 2

It's A Book Thing –
Review Final Life (http://herbookthoughts.tumblr.com)

Platypire Reviews –
Review Final Stand (http://www.platypire.com)

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ALL INTERNATIONAL READERS WILL AUTOMATICALLY WIN AN eBOOK copy of Final Life and/or a $25 Amazon/B&N Gift Card. 

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Rose Garcia is a lawyer turned writer who's always been fascinated by science fiction and fantasy. From a very young age, she often had her nose buried in books about other-worlds, fantastical creatures, and life and death situations. More recently she's been intrigued by a blend of science fiction and reality, and the idea that some supernatural events are, indeed, very real. Fueled by her imagination, she created The TranshumanChronicles--a series of books about people who have overcome human limitations.

Rose lives in Houston with her husband and two kids. You can visit Rose at www.rosegarciabooks.com

*There are some unavoidable spoilers for Final Life. If you haven't already, check out my review, here*

*I was given this book from Good Choice Reading which does not in the slightest affect my honest review of this book*

My Background: Of course, my background for this book is the fact that I read the first one for a review blast back in January, and now that there was a blog tour featuring the sequel, I had to sign up so I could find out what happened. I also hope, that I will have the chance to read and review the third no as well. 

Plot: Where do I begin with this book? While I had a few issues with it, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and fast pace. If there is anything Garcia knows how to do, it's write a good action-packed story. Normally while reading a book on the Kindle, I am praying that I can just get through it. With Final Stand however, I am practically flicking to through the pages. You know, instead of ripping through them, since it's an ebook. The story picks up right where Final Life dropped off, with Dominique, Caris (Mom), Stone (Dad), and Farrell fleeing Huston after Dominiq finally kills Tavern after a failed eight other attempts. Everyone is a little Lost because they have always died with Dominique, and never made it past killing Tavion, so for once, everything that happens is new to them, so they don't know what to expect. 

Characters: Most of the characters in Final Stand are ones we have already been introduced to in Final Life, although there are some new ones, like nuns from the 19th (I'm just going to let you guess about that one). That includes Trent and Infinite, who Dominique dragged into the story for special purposes. *Hint, they become a lot cooler* As readers, we learn a lot and Dominique, as person, and also and her past, like that little red splotch on the back of her neck.....*weird eyebrow raise* I actually liked her better in Final Stand, because she was a lot more heroic, and deeper than she was in Final Life. 

Romance: I didn't enjoy it that much in Final Stand, and I still did not enjoy the dynamics of the romanc in this book either. The love triangle felt like a plot device, only there because that's what other paranormal romances (I'm looking at you Twilight) are supposed to have. Treat and Farrel's swoon-worthiness factor declined a little because there was more focus on plot and circumstance than their love. However, there were some strange kisses....Just not on the particular side I was routing for. 

Writing Style: While I enjoyed the way Rose Garcia said things, and how she set up the scene in Final Life, I did not like if I'm Final Stand. It might have been the fact that my copy was an ARC, but I don't think she could have changed that many cliche phrases. By cliche, I mean that they have been used before. There are a dozen ways to describe kissing or getting into a fight, she just chose one that I wasn't the biggest fan of. 

Ending: Boy, do I love the ending of final Stand.  It was action-packed and somewhat thrilling. Even though some character's fates aren't the most desirable, Rose Garcia endings are what make her stories good. I don't aan to spoil anything, but brace yourself wen reading it. 

{Book Blast+Giveaway} Final Stand: Rose Garcia

RELEASE: MARCH 24th 2014

YOUNG ADULT PARANORMAL ROMANCE

Dominique is still alive after killing Tavion, the Tainted who's hunted her for lifetimes. Yet her protectors still fear for her life. They force her to flee Houston and abandon the friends she loves. But they can't protect her from herself. When Dominique starts hearing Tavion's voice in her head, she realizes that her personal connection to the Tainted still exists. And when her car is ambushed, she discovers another frightening truth—someone close to her is a traitor.



Desperate for answers, Dominique seeks the aid of first lifers Trent and Infiniti. With their help, she hopes to find her new enemy. But things get complicated with Trent when she finally accepts her eternal love for Farrell, and even more complicated when the whispers in her head threaten her loved ones. Determined to live, Dominique decides to make a final stand against the forces that want to end her. For good.

GET THE FIRST BOOK IN THE SERIES FOR ONLY 99¢ starting Monday! 

Amazon † Barnes and Noble

Praise for Final Life...

"Rose Garcia will explode your mind with action packed scenes and emotional turmoil.” - Moonlight Book Reviews 

"The whole transhuman concept had the whole Sci-Fi/Fantasy element going on, yet Rose Garcia has written it in a way that is both fresh and believable, with the classic good versus evil theme incorporated." - Always YA at Heart 

"Final Life is filled with magical moments, heart aching moments, action, and suspense. I look forward to the next chapter of Dominique's story." - WinterHaven Books 

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Rose Garcia is a lawyer turned writer who's always been fascinated by science fiction and fantasy. From a very young age, she often had her nose buried in books about other-worlds, fantastical creatures, and life and death situations. More recently she's been intrigued by a blend of science fiction and reality, and the idea that some supernatural events are, indeed, very real. Fueled by her imagination, she created The Transhuman Chronicles--a series of books about people who have overcome human limitations.

Rose lives in Houston with her husband and two kids. You can visit Rose at www.rosegarciabooks.com

{Blog Tour+Giveaway} A Touch of Honor: J.P. Grider

 

The Honor Trilogy: Books One, Two, and Three by J.P Grider

Genre: YA/Fantasy/Paranormal

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Published: January 24th, 2014

B&N | Amazon 

WHAT WOULD YOU RISK TO SAVE THE ONES YOU LOVE?

Honor Stevens feels the pain of the people around her. She thinks she is sick, that there must be something wrong with her, until she meets Ethan.

Ethan comes to town to find the empath that he knows is there. He never counted on falling in love with her. Now that he has, he regrets telling her what she can do with her gifts. He knows that with her empathy, using her gifts could cause her death.

Storm is Ethan's morally corrupt half-brother who has a dark past. But when he meets Honor, he can't help but fall in love with her as well.

Together, they will fight to stop a group of evil empaths who are after Honor, as they also try to hide their gifts from the Government. But...

Who will make the ultimate sacrifice to save Honor?

A Touch of Honor:

Rating: 6.75/10

Series: A Touch of Honor (The Honor Trilogy #1)

Genre: YA/Fantasy/Paranormal

Publisher: Fated Hearts Publishing

Published: March 13th, 2013

Page Count: 224

Format: Digital Kindle Book

Goodreads Synopsis: 

Honor hurts…all the time. The doctors say she’s fine – it’s all in her head. But Honor feels pain. What she doesn’t know is…it’s not her pain– it’s everyone else’s.

Seventeen year-old Honor Stevens is not an ordinary teenager. Sure, she looks like one on the outside…but on the inside, there’s a whole world of pain going on. Honor is an empath. That means she can feel other people’s pain – like that of the girl who is about to be raped in the woods, or the girl who is dying of cancer, or her mom…who is suffering a heart attack. What she doesn’t know is what Ethan Sutherland comes to town to tell her – she can save these people. But at what cost? For every life Honor saves, she knocks years off her own.

When Ethan comes looking for her, he isn’t counting on falling in love. Now that he has, he wishes he hadn’t told her about her abilities. Though he tries his best to talk her out of saving every soul, Ethan loses the battle – Honor’s too nice for her own good.

Then there’s the matter of Ethan’s estranged, morally corrupt half-brother, Storm – he loves Honor too. And because Honor is intrinsically empathic, she’s aware of Storm’s softer side and begins falling for him as well.

When the two brothers are forced to work together against a group of evil empaths who are after Honor, they need to put their differences aside and focus on saving the one girl they both love.

A Touch of Honor is a paranormal love story of a different kind. In a world gone mad with vampires and werewolves, A Touch of Honor tugs at the heartstrings with a girl out to heal the world…one person at a time.

Giveaway:

signed paperback copy of the whole trilogy, open to U.S. residents only AND a $50 Amazon gift card. Open to U.S. and CAN residents only. 

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About the Author:

J.P. Grider (1966 – ) born in Paterson, New Jersey as Julianne Pellegrino, was raised in Haledon, New Jersey, the oldest of six siblings. Her love of writing started early in her childhood, when she started writing poetry in-between homework assignments. As part of a school work program as a Journalism major in High School, J.P. Grider worked as a freelance reporter for a local newspaper, writing feature stories about exceptional high-school classmates. She studied Television Production and Film Writing at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, where she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications.

Two of J.P. Grider’s novels have won awards in the Textnovel Writing Contest, with her first published book – Unplugged (A Portrait of a Rock Star) – reaching Semi-finalist position. Though Unplugged is not her first novel written, it is the first to be published. Her second novel, Maybe This Life, published in 2012, was actually her first attempt at writing a novel. After completing the whole manuscript, Grider decided to scrap the whole thing and rewrite Maybe This Life from scratch. In Grider’s opinion, the difference between the two was night and day.

After writing in the Contemporary Romance genre, J.P. wanted to try her hand at the Young Adult Romance genre – the result, The Honor Trilogy.

Always looking to challenge herself, J.P. Grider is now working on writing in the New Adult Romance genre with a novel called Calling California which should release in the Fall of 2014.

                                           

My feelings about this book are quite mixed in a semi-good way. We have all read the cliche paranormal romance where the girl finds out she has these magical powers and that she has to save the world from mass destruction on top of dealing with school and choosing between two swoon-worthy guys. I have read so many of those books over the years, but what I do know is that these books have to have some special quality that sets them apart from the others, at least in the beginning. The two aspects of A Touch of Honor I truly enjoyed was what made the book seemingly unique at the beginning, and the quotes. By now, I am pretty sure you're aware that of all literary devices, I value quotes. You can't really blame me, I spent the entire summer of sixth grade pinning quotes on Pinterest. I have come to appreciate the extreme wisdom that comes from quotes that manage to express all my feelings in less than 20 words.

What makes A Touch of Honor unique is how Honor, Ethan, and Storm, the three main characters of the story, are Empaths which means they are extremely empathetic, and can take away other's pain just by touching them, which is where J.P. Grider obviously got the title. A Touch from Honor will bring you back from the dead, and cure any cancer. 

But not without a price.

As usual.

With every life she saves, she shortens hers drastically. Basically, she can cure people's cancer, and various ailments that seem unbeatable, but she is killing herself while doing so.

How convenient.

The concept of an Empath is extremely unique, and one that I haven't heard of before. There's been healing in books, and people with extreme compassion, but never something like this. Because of Honor being so compassionate with the ability to heal, that lead to the second reason I liked this book. I probably have two dozen quotes highlighted on my Kindle annotations. I never would have thought a Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy novel would have such good quotes besides, "His touch left a trail of fire," and "We talked about everything and nothing all at the same time."

One of the weird things I love doing is thinking about human ethics, and about God's work. One of the arguments Honor and Ethan have is about using their gift. Of course Ethan plays the annoying over-protective-boyfriend card and wants the two of them to grow old together. Which is a huge challenge when if one of them so much as touches a sick person has their lives shortened. Honor is one word; pure. She is a genuinely good human being (maybe no so human), that truly wants to use her gift for good, despite the consequences (how heroic of her). I am not certain where I stand on the whole God-sending-a-person-to heaven-or-hell thing. But I do wonder about if it is God's plan to save a life or God's plan to end a life. Honor, Ethan, and every other Empath have the power to tip the balance, or carry out God's will...whichever way you want to put it. I'm extremely conflicted with my own opinion, and I would love to hear yours.

"God put us here for a reason, Ethan. To help others. Yes, our lives are cut short, but we are doing God's work." "No," he insists. "It is not God's work to die saving others. It is His work to save them if they should be saved. Otherwise, it is their turn to die."

What comes with being an Empath is the choice to be distant from everyone, and to be isolated so as not to get hurt, or choose to feel pain every day of your life that others would be enduring. It's a tough choice to make. I think that closing your heart up to prevent being hurt is cowardess, but I also know that I probably wouldn't be brave or strong enough endure everything. Honor chooses to keep her heart open, to exude goodness, much to Ethan's dismay. It furthers my respect for the paranormal romance female lead. Usually they seem superficial, like divas, submissive, and all manor of negative character traits. I surprisingly liked Honor a lot because she was smart, independent, compassionate, and of course, empathetic.

"I've had eighteen years to get over that. You're just realizing what you're feeling - you'll learn to close your heart eventually."

What I wasn't the biggest fan of in A Touch of Honor was the plot and the romance. The plot leaned onto the cliche side, and the love triangle was basically helpless Honor that needed to choose between nearly-identical brother hunks; Storm and Ethan. Nevertheless, I was able to stick with the book. It exceeded my expectations, and stood out among the thousands of paranormal romance novels. This book is fun, quick read that you're sure to love. I will be reading the sequel, A Man of Honor.

"It's not so easy," he laments, "but you need to fell the connection...between the pain, your brain...and your heart." Nodding my head, I lean my head against his chest - embracing the thundering heart beneath his chest...wondering, is it his passion? Or a reflection of mine?

"My natural inclination, now that I know what I'm capable of, is to take away her hurt, but I don't concentrate on that. My intention now is to show kindness and compassion...so that she may learn to do the same."