Dreamland Book Blog: September 2014

Tuesday, September 30, 2014 1 comments

Friday, September 26, 2014 4 comments

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Rainy Day Ramblings discussing a variety of topics from books to blogging and everything else! If you are interested, simply just post your own answer in your blog and join in the fun!

This week's TMST:

Are you comfortable with the direction NA is going.... with all the erotic scenes and steamy covers?

I am a huge softy for romance and erotic scenes are just part of the package. To me there are basically two general types of romance novels, those that have sex scenes, and those that have none. NA lies in the shades of grey between yes and no and if the writing isn't good, that is when I get really uncomfortable.

Erotic scenes portray some sort of intimacy between the characters. I do understand that as we mature we get more physically attracted to the opposite sex, which is what NA is trying to convey. It goes way beyond light caresses and gentle peck on the lips, but not to the extent of well, having descriptive sex. However, I get irritated and confused when the writing starts to take an erotic turn, and I have to stop to remind myself that I am in fact reading a NA romance novel.

A pattern that I noticed in all these books is (as what Heidi from Rainy Day Ramblings mentioned) that the plot is always centered on a coming of age character with a tragic past/issue, which gets rather typical after a while. I could not even remember how many books that I had encountered that has the element of bully, abusive/broken family, rape and murder. Maybe it's written in a different setting happening to different protagonists, but it all comes back to the same theme.

However, I rarely encounter NA genre books with steamy covers so my opinion on that will be invalid, although I do prefer abstract-designated covers.

I am still a huge fan of NA genre because I feel that I can relate to the protagonists as we are almost of the same age, but I would love to see more variety in sense of setting or plot wise.

Among some of the NA novels that I feel are outstanding (WARNING: content might be inappropriate to some readers):

She is pretty and talented - sweet sixteen and never been kissed. He is seventeen; gorgeous and on the brink of a bright future. And now they have fallen in love. But... they are brother and sister.

Seventeen-year-old Lochan and sixteen-year-old Maya have always felt more like friends than siblings. Together they have stepped in for their alcoholic, wayward mother to take care of their three younger siblings. As defacto parents to the little ones, Lochan and Maya have had to grow up fast. And the stress of their lives—and the way they understand each other so completely—has also also brought them closer than two siblings would ordinarily be. So close, in fact, that they have fallen in love. Their clandestine romance quickly blooms into deep, desperate love. They know their relationship is wrong and cannot possibly continue. And yet, they cannot stop what feels so incredibly right. As the novel careens toward an explosive and shocking finale, only one thing is certain: a love this devastating has no happy ending.

He’s saved her. He’s loved her. He’s killed for her.

Eighteen-year-old Archer couldn’t protect his best friend, Vivian, from what happened when they were kids, so he’s never stopped trying to protect her from everything else. It doesn’t matter that Vivian only uses him when hopping from one toxic relationship to another—Archer is always there, waiting to be noticed.

Then along comes Evan, the only person who’s ever cared about Archer without a single string attached. The harder he falls for Evan, the more Archer sees Vivian for the manipulative hot-mess she really is.

But Viv has her hooks in deep, and when she finds out about the murders Archer’s committed and his relationship with Evan, she threatens to turn him in if she doesn’t get what she wants… And what she wants is Evan’s death, and for Archer to forfeit his last chance at redemption.

Happy Tuesday!

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Tuesday, September 23, 2014 3 comments

Saturday, September 20, 2014 No comments

Friday, September 19, 2014 12 comments

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Happy Wednesday!

September updates:

Hi!

As some of you might know, I haven't been in touch with the blogging community for almost 2 years, and to be honest so many things have changed that I was in a sudden culture shock. However, I have came up with a 'September Resolution List' that I aimed to fulfil for the month, meaning I will be returning to my favourite hobby! - Blogging.

Resolutions:
#1 Reconstruct my blog - I am currently in the process of updating my followers' databases, adding new widgets is not as easy as it sounds!

#2 My Bloggersary will just be in days! I am still deciding on events I should organize, however I just got the blogging buzz going on again, so for this year maybe I'll start off with something small.

#3 Actively participate in weekly memes.

And now for today's post.

Judge a Book by its Cover (#JBC) is a feature that I had created for my blog a few months back where I would post pictures of books that caught my eye when I was browsing GR or my local bookstores during the week.

For this week's theme:

Theme: Cover Girl

Title : Echoes of Us (The Hybrid Chronicles #3)
Author: Kat Zhang
Published: 16 September 2014

Blurb

All Eva ever wanted was the chance to be herself. But in the Americas, to be hybrid—to share your body with a second soul—is not tolerated past childhood. Now Eva and Addie, her sister soul, are constantly on the move, hiding from the officials who seek to capture them. But the tide is changing. A revolution is brewing, and people are starting to question the hybrids' mistreatment.

Then Marion, an ambitious reporter, offers Eva and Addie a daring proposal: If they go undercover and film the wretched conditions of a hybrid institution, she will not only rescue them, she'll find a way to free Jackson, the boy Addie loves. It's risky, and Eva will have to leave Ryan and her friends behind, but if she succeeds, it could also tip the scales forever and lead to hybrid freedom.

As Eva and Addie walk into danger, they cling to each other and the hope of a better future. But the price they might pay is higher than they ever could have imagined.

Judge & Jury: I haven't read the first and second book of the series but the cover really caught my eye! It's simple yet appealing, and I've never read any books about hybrids. Definitely going to give it a try!

Wednesday, September 17, 2014 No comments

Firstly, I would like to start off by saying how much I missed this meme from 2 years ago and can't believe that it is still going around! It took me a few research to findd out that a different host has took over the memes (it was originally hosted by Cambria Hebert ). I had also disappeared for the last 2 years because of uni and stuff, but now I am starting to pick up the blogging pace again. Hopefully I will be around more often!

This week's TMST:

Do you feel like if a book is priced for $.99 or even free that it is a lesser quality book?

This is a real toughie.

Can I say that I am ashamed for doing so? I have my fair share of books ranging from pure dreadful to okay and amazing! When I first started reading I always thought that the pricier the books are, the better the content they will have. It is symbolic to the food we eat, we would often opt for pricier food because we assume it guarantees a better quality. But I was surprisingly mistaken.

I have gained respect for indie authors because I have been amazed by their works throughout the years, sometimes even better than the ones I bought from the bookstores. I have no longer allow the price to fool me and has became very much adventurous when it comes to selecting book genres. Among the few "un-commercialized" books that I have redeemed from smashwords or netgalley that still sticks with me to this day are:

Hushed by Kelley York
Published: December 6th 2011

He’s saved her. He’s loved her. He’s killed for her.

Eighteen-year-old Archer couldn’t protect his best friend, Vivian, from what happened when they were kids, so he’s never stopped trying to protect her from everything else. It doesn’t matter that Vivian only uses him when hopping from one toxic relationship to another—Archer is always there, waiting to be noticed.

Then along comes Evan, the only person who’s ever cared about Archer without a single string attached. The harder he falls for Evan, the more Archer sees Vivian for the manipulative hot-mess she really is.

But Viv has her hooks in deep, and when she finds out about the murders Archer’s committed and his relationship with Evan, she threatens to turn him in if she doesn’t get what she wants… And what she wants is Evan’s death, and for Archer to forfeit his last chance at redemption.

Zero by Tom Leveen
Published: April 24th 2012

For aspiring artist Amanda Walsh, who only half-jokingly goes by the nickname Zero, the summer before college was supposed to be fun—plain and simple. Hanging out with her best friend Jenn, going to clubs, painting, and counting down the days until her escape. But when must-have scholarship money doesn't materialize, and she has a falling out with Jenn that can only be described as majorly awkward, and Zero's parents relationship goes from tense to relentless fighting, her prospects start looking as bleak and surreal as a painting by her idol Salvador Dali. Will life truly imitate art? Will her new, unexpected relationship with a punk skater boy who seems too good to be real and support from the unlikeliest of sources show Zero that she's so much more than a name.

Lisez la Fleur by Alexandra Lanc
Published: February 14th 2013

Twenty-year-old Lorine Stringfield’s life is about to change forever, and she doesn’t even know it.

Weighted down by the death of her father, her overbearing mother, and the sadness of her little brother, Lorine has less than high hopes for her family’s trip to France. But all of that changes when she is invited to visit the illustrious Chateau du Jumeaux – a premiere nightclub that only the most privileged attend. Lorine jumps at the chance to do something for herself, but gets more than she bargained for when she discovers the terrible truth: the chateau isn’t a nightclub at all, but a feeding ground for perhaps the most ruthless of beings, the creatures known as vampires.

And right now I am currently reading (which I got for free):

Elementris by Christina Mobley
Published: July 11th 2012

There are people born in this world with a powerful connection to the earth itself...

They have an unbreakable and extraordinary bond. Every seven years, five people are born on the same day, at the exact same time. The elements bind them; earth, fire, wind, water, and spirit. They call them, Elementris.

Ava Vangeretta is seventeen years old and different. Unlike most born of the element, she was born alone. She has the power of all five elements. Ava is the first True Elementris to be born in many years. As her eighteenth birthday approaches she is faced with a choice. Give up this rare gift and live the normal life she has always craved or accept it and challenge the current True Elementris in a battle to the death!

Ava's past haunts her as she struggles to decide. In her present, the seasons are colliding together, storms are destroying lives, and love is a dangerous curse. The current True Elementris is behind it all and she will do whatever necessary to keep Ava from making it to her eighteenth birthday. Ava's decision threatens the lives of the two people she cares about most. Can you choose between love and friendship?
Get ready for the storm...

I enjoyed most books I've reviewed for free and today I no longer allow the price to cloud my judgement. Don't judge a book by its price :P

Next week's TMST:

Are you comfortable with the direction NA is going.... with all the erotic scenes and steamy covers?

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Tuesday, September 16, 2014 2 comments

Cover Reveal: September 16, 2014

Release Date: October 7, 2014

Cover Design By: Louisa Maggio @ LM CREATIONS

It all started with sex on the beach…the drink, not…you know.

As a bartender, Mason Cambridge often charmed beautiful women who ordered up cocktails on his shift. It was part of his job after all, and he needed the tips—badly.

When Lexi Swafford plopped her pretty little tail down on the bar stool, Mason offered her a drink. He had no idea that he would soon be working with her or that he’d be letting her room with him until her new apartment was ready.

In fact, once Lexi Swafford landed in Creekview, Tennessee, life as Mason Cambridge knew it would cease to exist…because after a night of drinking away the agony of his loneliness, one touch from her would change everything.

WASTED is a new adult contemporary romance recommended for adult readers due to mature content. WASTED is the first book in the WHISKEY NIGHTS series. Since each book focuses on a different couple, they can be read as stand-alones, but many readers may prefer to read them in order for maximum enjoyment.

EXCERPT:

A muffled string of slurred expletives drifted down the hall. I jumped to my feet and listened at the door—more mumbling. Grabbing my robe from the closet, I wrapped it around me, tied the belt, and peeked out my bedroom door.

“Shit,” Mason muttered, followed by another thump.

I opened the door wider and ventured into the hallway, walking toward the source of the noise. The apartment was pitch black, so approaching the end of the hall, I groped the wall, searching for the light switch.

Finally, my fingers found it, and I flipped it on about the same time that Mason plowed into me. His arm wrapped around my waist, though I wasn’t sure whether he was trying to steady me, him, or both of us. The strong scent of alcohol hung heavy in the air.

“Dammit,” he whispered as he stumbled forward, tried to straighten up, and fell backwards instead, bringing me with him as we landed on the floor in another thud.

I could feel my breasts pressed against his hard, muscular chest as his arm still held me firmly against him. His head was tossed back, his chin jutting in the air, a deep rumble of laughter reverberating through his torso.

He lifted his head and looked at me, his lips still curled into a grin. His eyes were the color of whiskey, which, considering he reeked of alcohol, seemed fitting. “Sorry, roomie,” he slurred. “What was your name again?”

“Lexi,” I ground out between clenched teeth as I scrambled to get off him.

He released a cry of pain.

Realizing that I’d accidentally kneed him in the groin, a flood of heat exploded in my chest and torpedoed up my face. “Sorry,” I mumbled, relieved when my knees firmly hit the floor and I could push myself to my feet.

He attempted to raise himself up on his elbows, failing miserably.

I maneuvered behind him, slipping my hands beneath his arms, and tried to give him enough leverage to sit up.

It worked.

“Can you stand?” If not, then he’d just have to sleep in the hallway.

After a lot of fumbling and with my grip firmly on his arm, he finally stood.

“You didn’t drive, did you?”

“No. I never drink and drive. My friend owns a caxi tab.” He stumbled a few steps. “A caxi tab.” He shuffled forward again. “A caxi….”

“A taxi cab,” I supplied, gripping his arm tightly.

“Yeah.” He pointed his finger in the air. “One of those.”

I pushed his door open and flipped on the light. With his arm draped across my shoulders, we staggered into his bedroom. He lurched across the floor and fell onto his unmade bed. Relieved to be free of his weight, I straightened and swept my eyes across the room. It was sparsely furnished with a bed and a chest of drawers. Some change, a photo, and an empty glass sat on a small table, which served as a nightstand. “You okay?” I asked, turning my attention back to him.

“I’m good.” He never opened his eyes, but a slight wave of his hand seemed to motion to me that I could leave. My eyes turned back to the photo, and letting my curiosity outweigh my discretion, I walked over and picked it up. A beautiful girl looked at me, her smile wide and her mouth slightly parted as if she were laughing. Mason hugged her to him, his profile facing the camera as he pressed a kiss to her temple.

Realizing I was invading his privacy, I quickly put the photo down and walked toward the bedroom door.

“Lexi?”

I didn’t know whether I was more surprised that he said my name or that he actually remembered it. I turned back to him. “Yes?”

He opened his eyes and smiled, a flash of dimples in his cheeks. “You remember how to make a Devil’s Handshake?”

I hoped he wasn’t about to order one. I didn’t know how much he had drunk while he was out, but the last thing he needed was more alcohol. “I think so.”

“Good. Tomorrow, you can look forward to a Sloe Comfortable Screw.”

I assumed that was the name of another drink. As I watched the roguish grin spread across his handsome face, I realized that I’d shaken hands with the devil today, but it had nothing to do with an alcoholic beverage.

PREORDER LINKS:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Wasted-Whiskey-Nights-Suzannah-Daniels-ebook/dp/B00NCG0LCG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410219267&sr=8-1&keywords=suzannah+daniels+wasted

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wasted-suzannah-daniels/1120323133?ean=2940046148367

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/wasted/id916315822?mt=11

Suzannah Daniels has had an affinity for words for as long as she can remember. She grew up in North Georgia with four brothers, so she learned at an early age to admire snakes and motorcycles. When she wasn't pestering her brothers, she could usually be found reading or writing.

She has an Associates Degree in Electrical Engineering, but her passion is writing.

She is the author of Viking's Embrace, a historical romance, and Ghostly Encounter, Book One of her Ghostly series (young adult paranormal romance).

Currently, she lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee with her husband and her teenage daughter. Her son lives nearby. The family pets include a Lab mix, a Basset Hound, a Shih Tzu, and a sweet, little kitty.

She loves to hear from her readers. Her email address is SuzannahDaniels@epbfi.com.

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Tuesday, September 16, 2014 2 comments

The Maze Runner (Maze Runner #1)

Published October 6, 2009

If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human.

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone.

Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade.

Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive.

Everything is going to change.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.

Remember. Survive. Run.

I admit, the main reason for me to get into this book is because of Dylan O'Brien *fangirl*

I have never stopped wondering why I avoided this book

I have seen this book around on GR and in the book stores around my place as if the covers were shucked into my face relentlessly, and after all the years of avoidance (and still wondering why), I finally gave it a try. Having experiencing through the Hunger Games, I always thought that any other dystopia would pale in comparison to Collins' brilliance, The Glade proved me absolutely wrong.

I am a huge fan of dystopia ever since Hunger Games and have came across numerous books of the same genre, but never quite like The Maze Runner. Often I recognize a similar pattern in those books, for one, they often portray females as the leading, strong character. Take Katniss from Hunger Games and Tris from Divergent as an example. So, having Thomas for a change was extremely intriguing. What I do enjoy about The Maze Runner is that it is in fact written by a male author, hence it gave me a greater insight on the male's perspective. I never had much exposure towards books written by male writers, with a few exceptions such as John Green and Jefferey Archer, definitely going to add Dashner's books into my top 10 reading list!

And now for my review....

*I solemnly swear that I will TRY to avoid spoilers*

Mostly I was feeling this.

What was a-MAZE-ing

You do not easily read 100 books per year without expecting to develop a kind of readers' skill - prediction. Personally, it would be a real bummer to me if the hints dropped by the author were too obvious that I was able to pick it up from the beginning of the story, making the ending very much as I expected. Maze Runner was anything but. I could not help but be amazed by the amount of plot twists and climax in the story that made the story seemed fast paced and adrenaline junkie! Every single day marks a new beginning for the Gladers, and every single day there will be a unique agenda that kept me on the edge of my seat. Dashner is brilliant in that sense, he never made the days boring (and do not mention about the nights).

The Maze Runner was a cross between Inception and The Cabin in the Woods, having so many stories going on at the same time makes it confusing yet entertaining, and the idea of being part of an experiment by The Creators reminded me of the brutality and horror from TCITW. I was quite surprised that the Maze Runner also shares similar gore, with its descriptive writing it was easy for me to replace images from the movie with scenes in the maze runner. I was absorbed into the world that Dashner had created, a world of desperation and frustration, of never giving up hope, and of being strong.

Everything was awfully creative, Dashner has grotesquely weaved The Maze Runner into a storyline that leaves readers feeling claustrophobic due to frustration, knowing that there will never be a solution out of the maze.

What I did not like

Even though so many interesting characters were created, I felt as if my meeting with them was brief, and there was not much character development, especially for the secondary characters: Minho, Alby and Gally. I have taken special liking for Chuck and Newt though. Often their behaviour left me asking the question,why??, but Thomas was too focused on asking other questions rather than acknowledging them.

And then there's Thomas. I have expected more of him considering he is the shinning star of the story, but his growth throughout the story was minute and disappointing. I feel as if Thomas was lacking in personality and authority and just wished he would be as acclaimed as he is supposed to. I was also similarly disappointed with Teresa, who I expected to have bigger roles than to be addressed as Thomas' girlfriend.So much character build up when she was in coma only resulted in a disappointing awakening. My only hope is that I will get to know them better in the The Scorch Trials.

Despite it all, the ending was brilliant and certainly not the way I predicted it to be! The Maze Runner has branded into my mind as being one of the darker dystopia I have read, I recommend it to anyone who loves a bit of a..maze.

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