Thursday 19 September 2013

Review of #60 The Golden Couple (The Samantha Project #2) by Stephanie Karpinske


In this action-packed second installment of The Samantha Project series, Samantha and Erik go on a search to find a way to save themselves from the genetic time bomb ticking away in their cells. Along the way, they discover a shocking secret--one they wish they were never told! 

Although Samantha's boyfriend, Colin, is back now, her feelings for Erik are getting stronger by the minute. It isn't long before she finally learns the real reason why she can't resist Erik. But only after she's gone too far with him! So far that Colin may never forgive her. 

GlobalLife Genetics continues to pursue Samantha and they'll stop at nothing to get her. Sam still doesn't understand what GlobalLife's plan is for her but she knows it's something big. And she knows it isn't good.


My review:  =]

Hello again! I could finally post this review because the internet has been acting up lately.

First of all, Stephanie Karpinske is one my favorite authors and 'The Golden Couple' definitely blew me away!

The way she writes about the character, the flow of the story line and the chemistry between Sam + Colin and Sam + Erik and the building tension between Sam and Erik was absolutely explosive!

The second installment of The Samantha Project definitely surpasses my expectation and Stephanie Karpinske should be at the top with great authors like J.K. Rowling and Richelle Mead.

The Golden Couple actually introduced more characters into the picture as to the big players that funded The Samantha Project.

Expect awesome spy-like scenes, the jealousy and running emotions in my favorite main character, Sam, and the epic journey that Sam and friends had to go through just to stop their own ticking time bomb from shutting down their own bodies.

The Golden Couple is a thrilling ride, like a roller coaster with fantastic twist and turns that makes your stomach go, "Woohoo!".

P.S.
I know I've said this before but I'll gladly say it again. 
Stephanie...YOU'RE AWESOME!

Sincerely,
Selina.
 

Wednesday 18 September 2013

Review of #59 Crushing by Elena Dillon

Hey guys! I know its been really long since I've updated my blog. I've been busy with my college assignments and the internet has been really crappy. I can't even load the browser and it sucks. Anyways, I'm so happy to present Crushing by Elena Dillon. (P.S. She's oh-so-awesome)

As a pampered and adored daughter of a wealthy Southern family Rory's life was seemingly perfect until her troubled childhood crush moves back in across the street forcing her to choose between him and the life that has been chosen for her. 


As if that isn't enough, her quiet island town has turned dangerous. A good friend has gone missing, lending truth to the rumors of a serial kidnapper. In her quest to help she becomes a target and will have to make choices about love, friendship and the inevitable sacrifice that they both require.

My review:

Crushing is unlike any other books that I've read.

The intro is awesome, the buildup is awesome, and the ending the awesome.
Basically, everything about 'Crushing' is AWESOME.

I love the writing style because it flows really nicely and smoothly. The story line is absolutely adorable and breathtaking at all the perfect moments.

It really is an engaging read and you'll love every dip and turn of this roller coaster.

You can't help but fall in love with all the characters in the book because you just love them.


The chemistry between Rory and Gage is absolutely electrifying! 
There's so much mystery that surrounds Gage's character and you're constantly wondering whether Rory should trust him or not.




 

Monday 2 September 2013

Virtual Book Blog Tour & Review: Heavenly Hell by Aria Williams

Olla amigos! This is the blog tour and review of Heavenly Hell. :D

Take a look at the fantastic cover and the synopsis of it. My review of Heavenly Hell will be down below! 


Heavenly Hell
by Aria Williams
Release Date: 04/24/13


Summary from Goodreads:

You'd think being stuck in the body of a beautiful seventeen year old girl forever would be a gift. But when you are fallen, it is more like a curse. Indiana was a beautiful angel, enjoying the perks of Heaven, until she was tricked by a demon to fall in love with him. She was forced to fall from Heaven and remain in her seventeen year old form, banished to Earth, for all of eternity.

Now, unable to cope with her banishment, she is a seemingly normal sev
enteen year old girl by day, while she spends her nights punishing men for the wrongs they have committed against women.

Although Indiana has lived on Earth for thousands of years, she recently settled into a small town, where she has finally been able to make some lasting friendships. When a handsome, mysterious boy comes to town, Indiana knows something is not right. He might end up her ally, or she might end up in the fight of her life.



About the Author


I am an author with Limitless Publishing who loves to write YA and paranormal romance.

Author Links

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My review: =)

First of all, the cover is absolutely stunning. 

I love the electric blue, the background and the wings. It's really beautiful and it was the cover who'd caught my attention.

The story on the other hand has its good and bad side.

I loved the starting part. It was eye catching and the scene really called out to me because it shows a kickass girl kicking an a-hole. 

I loved how Aria described how the main character, Indy threatens the teacher who molested her close friend.

That was way cool.

The story was pretty nice until Nate  (he's the handsome, mysterious boy) comes into the picture.

He's all stone cold and stuff. It was kinda cliche and it gets annoying at times.

Not only that, the transition between conversations are really undefined. I get confused at times and I feel it needs more editing.

Not only that, the chemistry between Indy and Nate is kinda non-existent.

The games that they play is seriously weird. (They play weird games to show that they hate each other but don't wanna tell anyone)

Anyways, I give points for trying and the idea behind the story of Indy taking matters to her own hands in new for me so I believe this is one of the perks.

The ending is terrible because it was like a sudden stop. I have problems with the writing style but maybe its just me.

I give 3 out of 5 stars for Heavenly Hell.
Aria Williams definitely have the talent but with more editing, Heavenly Hell will be a great read.

Sincerely,
Selina.


Buy links!


P.S. For those of you who wants to check this book out but you wanna get it for free, do enter for the Heavenly Hell Giveaway down below. :D Enjoy!

***GIVEAWAY***
1-ebook copy of Heavenly Hell and swag pack (1x canvas print bag, 2x bookmarks, 1x key ring and 1x charm bracelet) (INT)



a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Thursday 29 August 2013

Review of #58 A Class Apart (Class Heroes #1) by Stephen Henning

A very good day (or night) to all my readers! I am so happy to present "A Class Apart" to all of you out there. I'll tell you why in a while. *wink*

First, take a look at "A Class Apart". :D


Teenage twins James and Samantha Blake are caught up in a seemingly random terrorist bombing while on a school trip. Many of their friends are killed. When the twins wake up in hospital, their lives have changed forever.

The doctors are amazed at the speed with which James and Sam recover from their injuries and, when the twins begin to exhibit extraordinary powers, it is obvious that something incredible has happened.

As James and Sam attempt to overcome their fears and embrace their new abilities, a series of murders and disappearances start plaguing the hospital. The twins aren’t the only ones with special abilities and it becomes apparent that someone is coming for them.

Will James and Sam be able to survive the nightmare into which they have been plunged? Who, or what, is behind the murders at the hospital? And was that terrorist incident quite so random after all?


Review:

The cover is absolutely stunning. I love the design of it because it has a sci-fi look to it yet the colors scream "VINTAGE" or old school blue.

At my first glance of the synopsis, I find the story to be really interesting.
It was similar to other stories yet it was really different as I started reading the book.

The introduction of the book was pretty normal, high school bullying and a really really mean girl.

I felt this was kinda cliche at first but it turns out to be a really explosive story.

As you read, you feel yourself getting pulled into the story. 

The bomb scene was pretty cool and I liked how Stephen wrote it all.

The main characters of the story (James and Sam) are these really interesting bunch of people.

I loved how their relationship as siblings made me feel, "Oh, wow. This is GOOD." in a story.

I loved the way how they function together as a family and seeing their ties getting stronger as the story progressed was really unique.

The one main thing that I really really REALLY loved about the story is THE SUSPENSE.

The utterly, exhilarating suspense of who-what-did-it kinda thing.

I was constantly wondering who the heck was the bad guy, who the heck was helping them, what was actually real and what was actually a dream.

I was CONSTANTLY STRESSED with these questions running through my head and I LOVED IT.

This was a really interactive experience and I truly enjoyed this book.

Some of you might be really surprised with the ending (which I did) but some of you may not. (I guess you're a genius then... which is good!)

Stephen Henning is definitely on my favorite authors list.

Sincerely,
Selina.





 

Wednesday 21 August 2013

Review of #57 The Coffee Shop by Lauren Hunter

Hello everyone! The internet has been a pain in the ass and there were some technical problems with everything! But now, let's rejoice and take a look at THE COFFEE SHOP!




If Derrick thought experiencing alternate timelines and glimpses into the future was strange, then he had no idea it was about to get a whole lot more strange.

When Derrick Sloane meets Annie Maddock and falls madly in love, he believes he's met the girl of his dreams. Only he then awakes to discover she is exactly that...nothing more than a dream. Disheartened, he goes to the first coffee shop he can find. There he meets Annie. She is at the same table, reading the same book, and he fast realizes his dream has shown him his own future. But when a misstep alters that perfect future he tries to fix it, every attempt only making it worse. 

Dreaming the future can be a nightmare when you see what's coming...and can't do anything to change it.

Review:

The Coffee Shop is an extremely engaging read. 

I really recommend all my blog readers to get this book because oh my... it is freaking good.

The storyline has a great flow, the characters are oh-so-romantic and I love the chemistry between Derrick and Annie.

Oh! If you love time travel, this book will be absolutely perfect for you.

In the beginning, it started out fantastic and I thought it was going to be like a normal romance novel. It was a really great start and I didn't expect the story to twist!

It was absolutely amazing how Lauren spun the story to a whole new level.
It could get really confusing at first with all the changing timelines but I love The Coffee Shop because there are different variations to the whole thing.

It was happy at one time, sad at the next, worse when Derrick changed a little of the time line and then it goes back to happy again.

It was like an emotional rollercoaster and I LOVED IT.

I really enjoyed The Coffee Shop journey and I'm re-reading it again!

Oh, thank you Lauren for the book! You're absolutely amazing!

Sincerely,
Selina.



 

Sunday 18 August 2013

Review of #56 Who is Audrey Wickersham by Sara Shrieves




I know everything that's happened is my fault. I try to tell myself that it's okay, I never wanted a normal life to begin with. But then I think about who's been hurt, and I wish that I could go back to the beginning. Back to when I was just a nobody wandering the halls of my high school, alone and unnoticed. Back to when I was completely oblivious to what killing somebody felt like.

You have to understand though, I had no choice.


My review: 

Hey guys and gals! I am SINCERELY SORRY for the silence. Especially to all my favourite authors who'd sent me emails! I am doing my best to get back to you!

Okay, back to the review!

Do you like the cover? I LOVED IT! It absolutely portrayed the character, Audrey, perfectly.

The starting part of the novel is really good. The story is slowly built up with perfect suspense and the momentum then carries out the whole story.

Overall, I love the starting part, the middle part and the last part but the transitions between them are not really enjoyable.

I've found myself loving and hating the main character, Audrey because she sounds like a brat sometimes but overall, the story is awesome.

I love her dad though because I can see that he was the constant rock in the whole story.
Not only that, he's like the perfect dad everyone wants. (Well, maybe not everyone. XD)

Overall, some of the characters in the story does not complement each but some do.

If you wanna read a story just for the heck of zombies (Though these are not the one that I like a.k.a. zombies like the Walking Dead) of zombie for that matter, this book is for you.

If you just wanna read a story just to go for an okay ride, this book will be perfect for you.

Sincerely,
Selina. 

 

Saturday 10 August 2013

Virtual Book Blog Tour & Review: Fevered Souls by S.K. Falls

Hello everyone!
When I first saw the cover of Fevered Souls, it was absolutely beautiful that it totally caught my eye.
Check out...FEVERED SOULS!!!

Fevered Souls  by S.K. Falls 

Series: Fevered Souls, Volume 1

Publication date: August 5th, 2013 

Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance

Goodreads

Amazon

Barns & Noble









Synopsis:
After I left for college, I thought I’d never see Eden again. But I found myself headed back four years later, destitute and unable to find a job anywhere else. Still, I was adamant nothing would keep me there for long.

Then I met the intoxicating Dax Allard. Copper-colored eyes, skin that emanated an exceptional heat, and a host of strange talents… It wasn’t long before I was drunk on him.

But Dax’s past was darker than mine, teeming with ancient secrets. Falling for him could cost me my life.

I had two choices: walk away or deal with the perilous consequences.

It was no choice at all.


My review:  =D

The cover of Fevered Souls absolutely took my breath away. I really love it when cover of books catches the readers' attention. I know that we should not judge a book by its cover but some of us mere humans can't help it. 

Looking at the cover of Fevered Souls made me wanna read the book because it gave a first impression on the theme of the story.

Reading the first few pages of Fevered Souls will absolutely suck you in like a dangerous whirlpool. 

The atmosphere is dangerous and every page is breathtaking (because there's too much *coughs* sexual tension in the book ) 

Fevered Souls is a fast-paced novel with beautiful and of course, complicated hot, guy in the story.

I thought the characters in the book will be the same as any other books but it turned out to be a fresh new surprise.

There are times, of course, that i would roll my eyes at Dax (The main, hot-as-god character) because he treats Cara (Main Character) like brittle glass but I still swoon over his actions.

*squeals at Dax*

I love how the story flows together. Oh and there's demons in it.

I adore S.K. Falls!! I love ya!! She is definitely in my favourite author's list. :D

Anyway, I assure you, Fevered Souls is a book to get. You'll love the storyline (even though at some places, its kinda too fast), the suspense of dying-to-know what's going to happen and you'll fall in love with the characters.

Sincerely,
Selina.

Check out the author's bio!

AUTHOR's BIO

A huge fan of spooky stuff and shoes, I enjoy alternately hitting up the outlet malls and historic graveyards in Charleston, SC where I live and imbibe coffee. 

My husband and two small children seem not to mind when I hastily scribble novel lines on stray limbs in the absence of notepads.

Since no writer’s biography is complete without mention of her menagerie of animals, you should know I have one dog that doubles as a footstool, a second that functions as a 
vacuum cleaner, and a cat that ensures I never forget that my hands are, first and foremost, for pouring cat food.

Here are some ways you can get to know S.K. Falls!


Okay then! Enjoy! :D
 

Wednesday 31 July 2013

MaFTA Session: Catherine Chant (Author of Wishing You Were Here)

Hello everyone! I'm so happy to present Catherine Chant for Books & Sweet Epiphany's MaFTA session!! *squeal*

She is one of my favourite authors and I had fun knowing her.
Take a look at the interview down below. :D



1. Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?

Although I’ve been writing since I was very young (heavily influenced by the Nancy Drew series in elementary school), I went to college and studied mathematics because all the adults around me said writing/art/theater wouldn’t get me a good job. While studying math, I took a little detour into computers and after graduation I worked in the technology field for fifteen years. So I guess you could say I’m a computer nerd at heart (which might explain my affection for video games as well.) :)

2. Who are your favourite authors?

I read across a lot of genres, but I think dark suspense is my most favorite, so authors like Brenda Novak, Allison Brennan and Harlan Coben always top my list. I just finished reading the “Gone” series by Michael Grant and really loved that! Couldn’t put those books down! You’d probably technically call that series sci-fi, but it’s got lots of suspense as well!

3. When did you decide to become an author?

I had two complete novels under my belt shortly after graduating from college, but the idea of becoming an “author” (selling what I write and making a career out of it) didn’t happen until fifteen years later when I left my full-time job in technology to become a stay-at-home mom to my new baby boy. I started freelancing (non-fiction articles, website content, etc.) when my son was about a year old and eventually revisited those novels I’d written way back when to see what I had there. Once I started reading them, I knew this was what I wanted to do from now on, and haven’t looked back since.

4. What made you decide to sit down and actually start something?

To be honest, I started my first book simply because I was bored. :) I had an office job at a not-so-busy office, and while teaching myself new word processing software I just started typing up my daydreams and random stuff from my imagination so I’d have some text on the screen to play with (like a practice document). Over time, that ‘stuff’ started to gel together into a cohesive story and I realized I might actually be creating something real here, not just doodle typing. That “doodling” eventually became my first completed manuscript a year or so later.

Since then, I’ve been more receptive to story ideas as they come to me and I recognize them as story ideas, not just random thoughts. As soon as I get one that I think is interesting enough to be a book, I write the idea down and store it in a special “ideas” folder I have.

5. So, what have you written? (*Include books, novellas, short stories, poems, blogs, awards or anything of interest.)

I’ve written tons of freelance material. Everything from how to grow your own vegetable garden to how to do something in one of the new Pokemon games. Mostly I’ve written a lot of technology articles, how-to software guides and things like that, since that’s my primary background. I continue to write similar articles in the blog section of my website from time to time. One article I’m particularly proud of is the one I wrote about ASCII Art for SchoolArts magazine a few years ago.

For fiction, I’ve written a few short stories over the years that have appeared in online and print magazines, but mainly I wanted to focus my energies on novels. I have several novels either completed, at the revision stage or currently in progress.

I put a list of these “Works-in-Progress” on my website:

I do have some awards listed on my website as well:

Most are from RWA (Romance Writers of America) unpublished writer contests, which I entered when I was just starting out to gain valuable feedback from the writing judges and improve my craft.

I’ve slowed down quite a bit on the contest circuit since finaling in the prestigious RWA Golden Heart® contest in 2008, but I did enter a couple published writer contests earlier this year with my novel WISHING YOU WERE HERE. The book was chosen as a finalist in Wisconsin RWA’s Write Touch Reader’s Award contest, so I’m pretty excited about that.

6. Are you working on anything currently? 

I am currently working on Book 2 of my Soul Mates series, the follow-up to WISHING YOU WERE HERE, and I’m also working on a new “top secret” paranormal project that if all goes well I’ll be able to say more about by the end of the summer. Waiting in the wings on the back burner are two completed novels that need some revising. One is a YA mystery/suspense and the other an adult romantic suspense.

7. Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?

I try very hard to treat my writing as a regular job. So I get up early, get my son off to school and then I go to my home office and work at the computer until about two in the afternoon. Then I have lunch and wait for my son to come home from school. I’m more of a “morning person” so I try to get my writing done first thing in the morning, but sometimes it’s hard because email and Facebook tempt me mercilessly. :)

8. What is the hardest thing about writing?

The hardest thing for me is procrastination, being distracted by things like email or Facebook when I’m supposed to be writing. :) And I think the second hardest thing is probably writing when you don’t feel like it, which isn’t really an option since this is my job.

9. Did any movies inspire you to write your book?

I wouldn’t say any particular movie inspired me to write the book (maybe La Bamba had a tiny bit of influence if I had to pick one), but a song definitely did, way back in the 1980’s. It was tribute song about two musicians from the 1950’s that I didn’t know much about, but the song made me want to learn more. When I looked the duo up, I discovered one of them sang a song I was very familiar with, so I was surprised his name hadn’t rung a bell. Then I read his biography and discovered he had died in a car crash several years before I was born, when he was only 20 years old. From my shocked reaction, the idea for WISHING YOU WERE HERE was born.

10. Who is your most favourite character in "Wishing You Were Here"? Why?

Wow, that’s hard to say because each of the characters, even the minor ones, have something I like about them (even mean ol’ Walter), but I think I’m going to go with a character that most readers probably like the least and that’s Sable Courtney. She just makes me smile when I think about her actions in the story. She tries so hard to be prim and proper and do what’s expected of her, but through Callie’s eyes she’s a bit of a drama queen. I’m toying with the idea of giving her a cameo appearance in the second book.

11. Are any of your characters based on anyone you know?

Nope. Every one of them I made up from my fertile imagination. Although the idea for the story was inspired by a real musician and his untimely death, everything about Joey Tempo (except maybe his choice of guitar) is totally different. Background, family, personality, all made up.

Likewise, although Callie’s reaction to Joey’s story is inspired by the shock I felt when I learned of that musician’s tragic death, she’s definitely not me. I did love classic rock ’n’ roll as a teenager, but I was ever as ambitious as she is at 17. I went off to college without any plan at all. I had no clue about what sort of job I’d have after I graduated. I even changed majors after my first semester because I was so unsure about what I wanted to do. Callie, on the other hand, has it all figured out. She’s very goal-oriented and knows exactly what she wants. (Just maybe not the best way to get it. :)  )

12. People always debate on traditional paper/hard back books and ebooks. What is your favourite?

As I write this I’m simultaneously reading a hard back, a paper back, and a book on my Kindle. So I love all formats! :) I find different formats good for different situations. The paperback, for example, is great to take to the beach (and that’s where I was the other day!). A hard back is too heavy to carry with all the other stuff you bring to the shore, and I’d never take anything electronic with me. Sand gets everywhere. I worry it could get in the e-reader buttons or scratch the screen.

On the other hand, ebooks are great for taking with you to places like doctor’s offices. The readers are so slender they fit right in your bag and off you go. Over the weekend I was at a horse show to support my sister and during the down time, I sat on a rock and whipped out my Kindle while waiting for the next event to start.

I tend to buy hard backs of books I want to keep in my collection, especially if it’s part of a set (like the Harry Potter novels, or a new Stephen King novel) because they look nice on the shelf all lined up, but I’d say without a doubt I buy most of my books on the Kindle now. So easy!

13. What is your favourite genre? Why?

Suspense all the way, but I also read many other genres because if you think about it, every story has some element of suspense in it or you wouldn’t be turning the pages. I especially love ghost stories, family secrets, and mysteries. But I also read a little bit of sci-fi and historical novels, like the Tudor books by Philippa Gregory. I’m not a huge fantasy fan, but I have the Game of Throne series on my TBR (to-be-read) pile and hope to get to it soon. (I love the TV show!)

14. I really love the cover of 'Wishing You Were Here'. Tell me about the cover and how it came about. 

I designed the cover myself, and initially I was planning something like an old postcard as a play on the title and the “Wish You Were Here” sentiment you often see on old postcards, but as I experimented with different nostalgic images (postcards or things from the 1950’s), it just seemed to give the book an “old” feel that didn’t look right for a young adult novel.

So I went back to the drawing board and decided to focus on the time travel aspect of the story instead and let the blurb on the back of the book relay the time period. Time travel got me thinking about doorways, tunnels, crossing boundaries, etc. and when I came upon the picture of the girl on the covered bridge it struck me as the perfect way to show someone traveling between two worlds. The empty grass on the far side of the bridge symbolized the unknown to me as well as the simplicity of a rural, southern town in 1957.

The image of the lone figure on the bridge also struck me as kind of romantic. It reminded me of someone waiting to meet her boyfriend, someone she probably wishes were here right now. That was my “Ah-ha!” moment in the design process. This single image said so much about what was going on in the story, I had to use it.

I did try to keep a hint of the original postcard idea, though, when I selected the typeface used for the title. I wanted it to seem as if Callie were writing those words in her own hand to Joey.

15. Do you think the cover plays an important role in the buying process?

Definitely! There are so many books available nowadays that when you look at a display of titles for sale it’s the cover that’s going to first draw your eye one way or the other. They say don’t judge a book by its cover, but many readers do. They may not buy the book solely on appearance, but usually it’s the cover that makes someone look at the back of the book or read the online description to see if the story appeals to them.

16. When you first published your novel, were you afraid or excited to read the reviews?

Probably a mixture of both. :) I was hoping people would like it, but at the same time I knew from having entered so many writing contests that not everyone loves every story. I also thought about my own reading choices and reactions to books that other readers might love, but I just didn’t get. I vowed to keep reviews in perspective and remember that they are subjective.

Mainly I was just very excited that the book was available for people to read. WISHING YOU WERE HERE has had a very lengthy journey to publication.

17. What are your thoughts on good and bad reviews?

I don’t know any author who doesn’t like a good review. LOL! And I am always eternally grateful for every positive review I receive. Each one is special to me and means a lot.

As a reader, if I’m considering buying a book, I usually look at good reviews for an indication of what about the story the reader liked. If it’s the same sort of things that appeal to me, then it might influence my purchase choices.

Similarly, as a reader, I might look at negative reviews to see what the issue was. Nitpicky reviews that talk about typos or other minutia don’t sway me in the least. I want to hear about the story (without spoilers, please!). And mean reviews that just want to tear someone down and have nothing to do with the story I disregard completely.

18. What is your favourite motivational quote?

I have three that stand out me:

“If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” – Stephen King 

(which translates into simply, “Read a lot. Write a lot.” That’s how you become an author.)

I don’t know who said this next one. I got it in a fortune cookie at a Chinese restaurant a long time ago and taped it above my computer:

“If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it.”

And this last quote is printed on a picture of a butterfly my son gave me for Mother’s Day one year:

Believe in the magic you can create.

19. When you want to relax, what do you do?

I usually will read, knit/crochet (that’s my favorite hobby away from books), play a little Sims 3 or another video game (I think I may have mentioned earlier I know a thing or two or three about Pokemon LOL!) or I watch TV. I’m a sucker for Lifetime TV movies, anything with Gordon Ramsay and the Nickelodeon shows I watch with my son.

20. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Keep writing. You only get better with practice, so if this is what you want to do don’t stop. Lots of people say they want to write a book, but few ever finish one. Show everyone you’re a finisher and keep going! And don’t forget to read a lot too! That’s very important. (As Stephen King reminds us in the quote above).

Also, write the book you want to read, because you’re a reader first.

21. Give a shoutout to all your fans out there. :D

{Big wave} Thank you all for stopping by to learn more about me and my novel Wishing You Were Here. If you feel like traveling back in time to 1957 for a little drama, a few life or death moments, and a lot of rock 'n' roll romance, please check it out.

And an extra big, super huge, enthusiastic THANK YOU to Selina for inviting me to Books and Sweet Epiphany today! It’s been a real pleasure to meet you and talk to you about my writing.


 Here are some ways you can get to know Catherine Chant. 








Not only that, here are some links to get Catherine's book, Wishing You Were Here. TO read my review, click here





Thank you Catherine for taking the time to answer these questions.

You're Awesome!!


 

Review of #55 The Faerie Prince (Creepy Hollow #2) by Rachel Morgan

Guardian trainee Violet Fairdale is just weeks away from one of the most important occasions of her life: graduation. After messing up big time by bringing a human into the fae realm, Vi needs to step up her game and forget about Nate if she hopes to graduate as the top guardian of her year. Everything would be fine if she wasn’t forced to partner with Ryn, her ex-friend, ex-enemy, current ‘sort of friend’. They might be trying to patch up their relationship, but does she really want to spend a week undercover with him for their final assignment? On top of that, the possibly insane Unseelie Prince is still on the loose, free to ‘collect’ as many specially talented faeries as he can find—and Vi is still at the top of his list. Add in faerie queens, enchanted storms, complicated not-just-friends feelings, and a murder within the Guild itself, and graduation is about to become the least of Vi’s problems.



Hey guys!

Remember the review I wrote for The Faerie Guardian a few hours ago? No?
Well, here it is! Click this to read the review of Book 1.

Like I wrote for the Book 1 review, the first book of the Creepy Hollow Series is absolutely fantastic.

Book 2 is no exception. In fact, Book 2 is getting better with all the suspense and *squeal* romance!

Sigh...the chemistry between Violet (main character) and Ryn is absolutely adorable. You will love them at first sight because everything they do in the story is beautiful.

My favourite quote in the book is "Glowing Butts"

I'm laughing right now as I'm writing this down. It's so hilarious.

Not laughing? Well, you gotta get the Creepy Hollow Series to understand it. It made my day so it'll definitely make your day too. :D 

It made me swoon from all of the romantic notions. *giggles like the weird girl*

Anyway, the ending was a HUGE surprise. I didn't like that part one bit but I'm sure the third book will be great!

I love Creepy Hollow!!
I love Rachel Morgan!!

Sincerely,
Selina.  

Review of #54 The Faerie Guardian (Creepy Hollow #1) by Rachel Morgan

Protecting humans from dangerous magical creatures is all in a day’s work for a faerie training to be a guardian. Seventeen-year-old Violet Fairdale knows this better than anyone—she’s about to become the best guardian the Guild has seen in years. That is, until a cute human boy who can somehow see through her faerie glamor follows her into the Fae realm. Now she’s broken Guild Law, a crime that could lead to her expulsion.

The last thing Vi wants to do is spend any more time with the boy who got her into this mess, but the Guild requires that she return Nate to his home and make him forget everything he’s discovered of the Fae realm. Easy, right? Not when you factor in evil faeries, long-lost family members, and inconvenient feelings of the romantic kind. Vi is about to find herself tangled up in a dangerous plot—and it’ll take all her training to get out alive.



Hello again! 

The synopsis of this book absolutely grabbed my attention.
I am so glad that I read this book because its absolutely amazing!

It's a fast-paced journey all the way. Lots of suspense and amazing writing style.

I love all of the characters and it was really touching to see how the characters evolve in the story.

I've read book 2 and I gotta tell you guys, you're in for a surprise.

There's a lot of shocking scenes in this book and I absolutely love that.

You'll want more and more of Violet as you read on. It pulls you into the story in such a scale that you can't help but keep reading, re-reading and reading and reading and reading.

Simply put it, The Faerie Guardian is a book NOT TO BE MISSED. ITS AMAZINGLY AWESOME!

Sincerely,
Selina.



 

Tuesday 30 July 2013

Review of #53 Jaguar Sun (Jaguar Sun #1) by Martha Bourke

Synopsis:
DECEMBER 21, 2012 Will that fateful day destroy our world, or did the Mayans have something else in mind? 

Maya Delaney knows. Unfortunately.

Maya Delaney is just an average sixteen-year-old. She’s busy dealing with exams, her soon to be ex-boyfriend and fitting in.

But Maya’s got bigger problems. She’s hiding a major secret from her dad and having strange visions she can’t control.

In her struggle to figure out who she is, she learns that she is meant to fulfill an ancient Mayan Prophesy and bring forth a New Age on earth.

Will the spirit magic Maya wields be enough to defeat Toltec, an evil society bent on keeping her from her                                                                   destiny?

                                                               Or will that destiny destroy her?


Hey guys! Check out the cover and synopsis of Jaguar Sun above. :D

I've received this book from Martha a long time ago and I've finally got the time to write the review for it. Sorry, Martha!

First of all, the cover....is AWESOME.
I love it when book covers catches my attention. I love the Jaguar at the background and it beautifully complements the theme of the book.

When I first started reading Jaguar Sun, I find it to be a really engaging read because it has the end of the world theme which I really love.

Maya (the main character) is just a highschool girl with normal issues until she saw her nightmare shadowing her. Of course, in this scenario, who wouldn't freak out?

Her grandma helped her alot and revealed that Maya was a shapeshifter.

The story is really nice to read (especially at night!) and I understand her situation really well because Martha wrote it excellently.

You can't help but be connected to Maya but sometimes you just wanna strangle her.
But, of course, you can't expect all main characters to be strong, kick-ass person all the time.

There were a few reason why I love reading this book:

ONE, I love the way Martha twist the Mayan prophecy to work for her. Imagine, it wasn't earthquakes or fires blowing up everywhere. Instead, it was a supernatural war during December 21, 2012.

TWO, I love humorous characters and there's a few of them inside.

THREE, There's shapeshifters! Most books out there are talking about vampires and stuff. Now, I get to read about shapeshifter. :D

In conclusion, (Hahaha, it's like an English essay) if you like Jaguars and twist to prophecies, Jaguar Sun is the book to get.

I'll be reading Jaguar Moon, the book 2 of the Jaguar Sun Series as fast as I can!

Sincerely,
Selina.


 

Monday 29 July 2013

Review of #52 The Reaper Within by Stephanie Jackson

Hey guys! I got this book and I gotta say, The Reaper Within is AWESOME. 
First of all, take a look at the cover. :D


Scary and haunting? The cover gave me the creeps but the story isn't like that at all. 
It was a blend of scary and interesting based on my opinion.

Take a look at the synopsis down below. 

Melissa Chaser leads what most people would think was an interesting life. Mel's job was to find wayward spirits and cross them over to the other side; she was a real life Reaper. It was a hard and dangerous job, especially when the spirits were wreaking havoc on people or property, but it was never anything that she couldn't handle.

And then she got the fateful call from Mrs. Mabry. There was a problem with a house she'd just purchased, and she needed Mel's help. It was just standard ghost stuff; things moving around, and a few disembodied voices, but nothing Mel hadn't seen a thousand times before. 

Little did she know who, or what, she would find when she stepped into the old Memphis mansion. Nothing about the ghosts in the home made any sense to her, and time was running out. Could Mel finish the job and get off the property before something in the house reaped her?


Review:
I gave this book "FIVE STARS" and you know why?
Cause its awesome.
Plain and simple.

Firstly, the writing style is great! 
Get ready for a lot of suspense because seriously, I really think this book needs a shrine dedicated to it.

I love how Stephanie created a twist to the whole "Reaper" story. The folklore, the myth of it all, well you can throw it out the door. 
If you keep an open mind, the type of Reaper that you're gonna know in The Reaper Within is going to blow your mind.

I admit, I am not a huge fan of horror movies but this book has the perfect blend of making me scared (because I love reading at night) to loving it in a blink of an eye.

I can see the Stephen King influence in the story and I gotta say, BRAVO!

Secondly, the characters compliments each other very well and I love the main character (Melissa)  because she is fearless.

If we were in her situation, we would be scared shitless. Not only that, if I have her ability, I would rather admit myself into a mental hospital.

Because, DUDE! If she decides to take a job, she will be stuck to that place until each and every spooky thingy at that place go to whatever place they're suppose to go. Oh and don't forget about those spooks who are absolutely terrifying, they're worse than The Exorcist but similar to the Black Widow.

Basically, most of the setting in the story is in this huge house which is absolutely perfect for the story.

Lastly, I didn't expect Melissa to fall in love. (You gotta read the book to know what I'm saying so I really really really think you gotta get this book. :D )
It was a really great twist to the story and I absolutely love it!!


All in all, The Reaper Within is a great read, Stephanie Jackson is an awesome writer and I really think that you will miss you if you don't get this book. It's awesome, awesome, awesome.

Sincerely,
Selina.