It's Monday! What are you reading?

It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a fun weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey where we share what we've read and reviewed over the past week and what we plan to read next.

Last week I didn't get as much read as I planned to. So I'm still working on 2 of my picks last week! It was my birthday weekend, so I'm gonna use that as my excuse to not reading much. LOL. Anywho, I'm gonna throw one more into the mix this week and see how I do.

Footsteps in the attic. Toys that play by themselves. A dark presence in an upstairs room. 

Paranormal investigator Ellie Jordan faces a difficult new case. Her new clients are a family haunted by multiple ghosts and a poltergeist that wrecks their home at night. Their seven-year-old son’s invisible friends may not be imaginary at all, but the restless spirits of dead children. 

To clear her clients’ house of the dangerous entities, Ellie must unravel the mysterious deaths of another family who lived in the old mansion more than a hundred and sixty years ago—and she must do it before the ghosts can carry out their malevolent designs on her clients and their children.

 

What are you reading this week? I hope y'all are doing better than me!

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REVIEW: Amaranth (The Resistance Trilogy #1) by Rachael Wade

Title: Amaranth (The Resistance Trilogy #1)
Author: Rachael Wade
Publication Date: July 27, 2011
Source: Via the author in exchange for review.

Hoodoo-influenced Southern Louisiana seems like the perfect place for Camille to escape her abusive past and dysfunctional family. She doesn’t expect to fall in love with the handsome Gavin Devereaux and plummet into the world of Amaranth, a place of exile for reformed vampires.

Wrestling to escape a deadly ex-boyfriend while giving Gavin a chance, Camille is confronted with decisions that threaten not only her life, but the lives of her inhuman friends she has come to love. Entangled in her friends’ quest for freedom, she dives into their realm and faces the threats of Amaranth’s ruler—the mother of all vampires—and her own inner demons.

Now Camille must decide whether she will derail her life and make the ultimate sacrifice for the monsters that interrupted her bumpy path back to sanity—what she still wants so desperately—or escape with Gavin before it’s too late for both of them.

AMAZON // BARNES & NOBLE // KOBO // GOODREADS

I went into Amaranth with magical expectation. Southern Louisiana, Hoodoo and Vampires sounds like perfection to me. But I finished feeling a little bit let down.

Our main character, Camille, settles down in Southern Louisiana after running from an abusive relationship. After 2 years and another abusive boyfriend in her new home, she meets an unexpected stranger. Once Camille and Gavin's paths cross, her world is turned completely upside down. She's introduced to another place and creatures that she never knew existed in real life.

I wanted to like Camille, I really did. But I found her really hard to relate to. She's gone through so much abuse in her lifetime. I just couldn't understand her ability to fall in love with Gavin so easily. Especially when he always acted so shady. I did like Gavin. He always had good intentions, He just didn't execute things properly.

I felt like the story progressed to quickly. Once Camille found out the Gavin was a vampire, BAM!, we're thrown into the fight of our lives. Amaranth is the hidden world for reformed vampires and they believe that it also holds the cure. Amaranth was very fast paced and a quick read. I made it through in one sitting. I absolutely loved the plot for this story. I just closed the pages feeling like I could have learned so much more!

Rachael Wade's writing style was easy to follow. The only real "peeve" I had was that the story contains the phrase, "I let out the breath I didn't realize I was holding." TWICE! I loathe that phrase.

Overall, Amaranth was a good read. It has a great story line and some really good characters. I just wish we'd had the chance to learn more about them. This is a series, so perhaps that's something that improves in the next couple books.


At some point I may continue on with The Resistance Trilogy but for now, I'm good with stopping at Amaranth.

3 Hearts!

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Challenges for 2015!

This will be my first year attempting Reading Challenges, except for the Goodreads one. And I have epicly failed that one for the past 2 years. So I'm aiming high with a goal of 100 books for 2015. That really shouldn't be that hard to do as long as I don't hit a reading slump like I did this past year. You can add me on GR if you'd like and we can keep up with one another's progress! Aside from Goodreads, I'm participating in 2 other challenges.

 

The Read Your Freebies Challenge hosted by The Book Vixen. I'm really digging this one because I have so many books on my iPad that I've purchased from Amazon for free. SO MANY. And I haven't read a single one yet. So I'm excited to now have some motivation to dip into these books that looked so good! I'm shooting for 36 books this year. I feel like that is a decent amount to start with. And it helps knock down that GR 100 book challenge! You can get more information about this challenge over at The Book Vixen and keep up with my progress on my Challenge Page!

The Library Challenge is hosted by Book Journey. This one really stood out to me because I miss going to the Library. I practically lived there growing up but haven't been a whole lot in the last 10 years or so. I'm planning to change that! I'm committing to 20 books for this challenge. Maybe more, who knows? I'm just excited to get back into my local Library! You can get more information about this challenge at Book Journey and keep up with my progress on my Challenge Page!

And that pretty much sums it up. Sweet and Simple. So, what challenges are you participating in this year? How many books are you wanting to read in 2015?

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REVIEW: Whisper by Heather Hildenbrand

Title: Whisper
Author: Heather Hildenbrand
Publication Date: August 13, 2014
Source: Via the author in exchange for review.

The Cherokee believe when a person dies, their soul is reborn. Life is repeated. An endless cycle of lessons to be learned, love to be found, destiny to be fulfilled. For the past six months, in every flower, every bird, I've imagined my parents, relieved of their human forms. Now, after five months at the Skye View Wellness Center, it was summer. A time for parties and friends, but that's the last thing I want to do. So when my best friend Erin convinces me to attend a bonfire at Eagle Point, I can't handle the crowd full of sympathetic stares or drunken class clowns who would use my tragedy as a way into my heart - or my pants. The solitude of the woods offers an escape, until I stumble upon a boy, unconscious and bleeding, his pockets stuffed not with identification but with poetry illustrating the beauty of dying. I've seen enough death. I will not leave this boy's side. Even after he wakes, when the only thing he can remember are visions of events that haven't happened yet... 

AMAZON // KOBO // GOODREADS

Whisper by Heather Hildenbrand is an amazing story of love and grief. I turned the last page feeling all the feels. Not many books can do that to me. I have a heart of stone...

Whisper is a cCherokeegirl who experiences the tragic loss of her parents. She suffers to the point of attempted suicide and being admitted to a mental hospital. After being released and knowing how to cope with her grief, she tries to move on with her life. Then enters Dylan. A boy she finds badly hurt and helps nurse him back to life. Dylan awakens things in her that she didn't know existed. He is the key to her life, past, present and future.

Once again, Heather has blown me away. Not only is her writing captivating, but she knows how to pull you into her stories. You don't just read Heather's books, you live them.

I completely fell in love with every character in Whisper. From Whisper herself, to even the bad guy. Whisper is strong, caring and independent. She has been through hell, but she came out on top. She stood for what she believed in and took no crap from anyone. Her instant connection with Dylan was fantastic. In the process of saving his life, he saved hers. Dylan was everything. Gorgeous, protecting and loving. He awakes from his injuries with amnesia. The journey of him remembering who he is, is fascinating. One of my favorite book boyfriends to date!

Heather tackles so many issues in Whisper. Attempted suicide, tragic loss, murder, the list goes on. Whisper is full of Cherokee folk lore, magic and a sense of family that lasts hundreds of years.


I could talk about Whisper for hours, but I won't. What I will say is do yourself a favor and get your hands on this book. I absolutely loved it and I know you will too!

5 Hearts!

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It's Monday! What are you reading? (#1)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a fun weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey where we share what we've read and reviewed over the past week and what we plan to read next.

Since we are starting a new year, I'm kind of starting fresh with my reading. I've been in sort of a "not wanting to read" mood the last couple of months. So I don't have any recently read books to tell you about today. Only current and upcoming!

Ellie Jordan’s job is to catch and remove unwanted ghosts. Part detective, part paranormal exterminator, Ellie operates out of Savannah, Georgia, one of the oldest and most haunted cities in North America.

When a family contacts her to deal with a disturbing presence in the old mansion they’ve recently purchased, Ellie first believes it to be a typical, by-the-book specter, a residual haunting by a restless spirit. Instead, she finds herself confronting an evil older and more powerful than she’d ever expected, rooted in the house’s long and sordid history of luxury, sin, and murder. The dangerous entity seems particularly interested in her clients’ ten-year-old daughter.

Soon her own life is in danger, and Ellie must find a way to exorcise the darkness of the house before it can kill her, her clients, or their frightened young child. 

(My copy was provided by the author in exchange for a review. Be sure to check back on the 20th to see what I thought!)

  

That's about it for my first round of It's Monday! Short and sweet. So what are you guys reading this week? I'd love to hear! I'm always looking for more books to add to my ever growing TBR pile!

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Fated Release Blitz & Giveaway

The Fated 5 have come together to bring you a collection of five steamy new adult urban fantasies about sacrifice, second chances, destiny and love against all odds.

With fan favorites from new adult and urban fantasy bestsellers Rachael Wade, Nikki Jefford, Stacey Marie Brown, Alyssa Rose Ivy and Heather Hildenbrand.

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

***Available for a LIMITED TIME only!***

Five full-length novels only 99 cents.

Amaranth by Rachael Wade – Camille moves to Southern Louisiana to escape her abusive past, not expecting to fall in love and plummet into the world of Amaranth, a place of exile for reformed vampires.

Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter by Nikki Jefford– Thanks to her rare blood type, Aurora’s forced to hunt vampires in Alaska. Now Aurora’s only friends are groupies of the undead and the only boy she can think about may very well be a vampire.

Darkness of Light by Stacey Marie Brown – Ember has never fit in. After she lands herself in a facility for troubled teens, she meets the darkly mysterious and hot as hell, Eli Dragen who is keeping secrets that can’t stay hidden much longer.

Flight by Alyssa Rose Ivy – A summer in New Orleans leads to a chance encounter with the infuriating yet alluring Levi. Allie finds herself at the center of a supernatural society and forced to decide between following the path she has always trusted or saving a city that might just save her.

Whisper by Heather Hildenbrand – Five months after Whisper is released from the Skye View Wellness Center she stumbles upon an unconscious boy at a bonfire party who holds the key to breaking her curse.

Enter to win a custom Fated charm bracelet.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sign-up for a free Fated Bonus Bundle and chance to win a $50 Gift Card and Live Chat with the Fated 5.

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RELEASE DAY: WHISPER BY HEATHER HILDENBRAND

Title: Whisper
Author: Heather Hildenbrand
Genre: New Adult Paranormal

The Cherokee believe when a person dies, their soul is reborn. Life is repeated. An endless cycle of lessons to be learned, love to be found, destiny to be fulfilled. For the past six months, in every flower, every bird, I’ve imagined my parents, relieved of their human forms. 

Now, after five months at the Skye View Wellness Center, it was summer. A time for parties and friends, but that’s the last thing I want to do. So when my best friend Erin convinces me to attend a bonfire at Eagle Point, I can’t handle the crowd full of sympathetic stares or drunken class clowns who would use my tragedy as a way into my heart – or my pants. The solitude of the woods offers an escape, until I stumble upon a boy, unconscious and bleeding, his pockets stuffed not with identification but with poetry illustrating the beauty of dying. I’ve seen enough death. I will not leave this boy’s side. 

 Even after he wakes, when the only thing he can remember are visions of events that haven’t happened yet…   

ADD TO YOUR GOODREADS TBR

OR PURCHASE FROM:

SMASHWORDS / AMAZON

Author of Across the Galaxy, Whisper, and the Dirty Blood series. I write, read, and fuss at my kids. Oh, and I do laundry, lots of laundry. I’m pretty good at it, too. Sometimes I even read WHILE doing laundry – and fussing at my kids. I’m a multi-tasker.

For more information on my books, release dates, or just general stalker material, um, I mean FAN material, visit my website. www.heatherhildenbrand.blogspot.com. I love hearing from readers!

Likes and dislikes? I love vintage tees, hate socks with sandals, and if my house was on fire the one thing I’d grab is my Amazon Fire TV! (oh yeah, I’m a fan of puns.)

Website / Facebook / Twitter

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Review: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

Title: Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
Author: April Genevieve Tucholke
Publication Date: August 15, 2013
Source: Read via my local Library.

You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand…

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town… until River West comes along. River rents the guest house behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. 

Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more?

Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery... who makes you want to kiss back. 

Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

Blending faded decadence and the thrilling dread of gothic horror, April Genevieve Tucholke weaves a dreamy, twisting contemporary romance, as gorgeously told as it is terrifying—a debut to watch.

ADD THIS TO YOUR GOODREADS TBR

OR PURCHASE FROM:

AMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE / KOBO

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, in my opinion, was fantastic. It's gothic and haunting mixed with love and friendship. A fabulous story of a girl who falls in love with a boy who isn't what he seems. Classic "never judge a book by it's cover" scenario.

Violet lives in a small little town by the sea. She spends her time with her best friend, Freddie and her brother. Her parents are always traveling and it seems that this last trip, they've forgotten they even have children back home. When money gets tight, Violet rents out their guest house to River. A stranger in town. And that's when stuff hits the fan.

“River had never lost his cool, not since I'd know him. That was the thing about River. He was calm. Calm as a summer's day. Calm as a gentle nap in the sun. Even when girls were fainting and men were slitting their throats in front of you.” 

River is dark and mysterious. A cool cat. (did i really just say that?) He's essentially a devil in disguise. He befriends Violet, Freddie and Violet's brother. I loved River. He was bad boy to the bone. Devil may care attitude. Everything that makes a girl's heart swoon. Violet adored him. Even after she became wary of what he may really be, she couldn't get enough.

April Genevieve Tucholke's writing style is hypnotic. She shares just enough creepy descriptions to really get your mind rolling. I loved the vintage feel that this story had. Like a quaint, little town that was lost in a time warp. Between The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea will suck you in and spit you out before you know what hit you. It's disturbing, fascinating, upsetting and witty. I literally paused my life until I was done reading.

From the local legends of mysterious cave men and missing children, to the horrific scenes that play out before your eyes, BtDatDBS is full of everything you could want in a horror story. 

“Sunshine, if I ever disappear, please tell people that I ran after the Devil, trying to get my soul back.” 


Hands down, one of my favorite reads so far this year. If you can stand a little grit, then I urge you to give Between The Devil in the Deep Blue Sea a read. I'm pretty sure it'll top your list too!

I give Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea 5 Hearts!

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