Night Creatures Reviews & Series Giveaway!

It has been an exciting month for us and we are at the end of our Aussie August!  We decided to go out with a bang and what better series to do this with than the Night Creatures series??!  Arlene and I have been long time fans of this series and so we decided to leave this month with our reviews and a giveaway! 

Burn Bright by Marianne de Pierres

Arlene's Thoughts:
Imagine a place where there are no elders, no rules, no punishment; only music, laughter and freedom. Welcome to Ixion! Island of ever-night, ever-youth and never-sleep. BURN BRIGHT! This is the place where modesty is kin to sin and baby bats run to in search of pleasure. But remember, when you live in darkness, you also live with creatures of the dark.

Woah! What a creeptastic book in the best possible way!

Burn Bright definitely commands your attention from page one as Marianne de Pierres takes you on a journey filled with bizarre twists, sinister settings, and uniquely subtle characters. I found myself captivated as I traveled an undefined time and place along the paths of Ixion leaving me continually on the edge of my seat.

This book is a definite contender for top-spot among note-worthy ya-dystopic novels that deserve a captive audience! Now if only US Publishers will start picking up these worthy books and making them available to us avid readers so we don’t have to scour the net and pay hefty shipping prices in order to own these little gems, but I digress…

As I mentioned, the setting is so completely vivid that it just feels dark and sinister as you turn the corners and walk down dark paths with the cast of this book. The characters are carefully crafted that it’s impossible not to fall for them, but simultaneously wonder what their hidden agendas might be. Retra was a worthy main character as her journey throughout the book was one of growth, constant challenge and increasingly bold moves. Markes and Lenior added a good balance to the mix of intriguing characters where they all played equally vital roles none commanding the stage more than others.

Marianne de Pierres cleverly adds several moving parts such as established gangs, including the White Wings, Freaks, Ghosts and League who oppose the Ripers (or Guardians) that are in place to protect the baby bats. There is also the Youth Circle which somewhat serves as the judicial system within Ixion, but isn’t highly trusted by the inhabitants especially the gangs. Lastly, there are the outlaws headed by Ruzalia, who execute rescue missions for the inhabitants on the verge of being faded out of the system. All very clever and unique, which provides for constant surprises and twists.

Now the writing.. What can I say that I haven’t said before about Aussie writers? They come from this mystical land filled with magical water or food… maybe it’s the vegemite. I don’t know. But it goes without saying, their writing sets them apart and their prose is elegantly crafted. I can’t for the life of me figure out how so many Aussie writers so seamlessly dominate the literary world with their fantastical stories! Unlike vegemite, though, their books are easy on the palate and leave you craving for more. They feel completely real and full of depth and Burn Bright is no exception.

I will warn you now, this story grabs your attention from the beginning, so if you start this book late into the evening, you’ll likely be pulling an all-nighter. So, take the journey to Ixion, it’s well worth the adventure.

Thanks to my Street Corner Booker friend Nomes for rec’ing this story to me. I can’t wait for the next installment!

4 Snowflakes

 Angel Arias by Marianne de Pierres

Arlene's Thoughts:
Completely Addicting!

Angel Arias is the second installment in the Night Creature series and I have to say Marianne de Pierres sure knows how to world build and create a dark and compelling setting that has you sitting at the edge of your seat! Great addition to the series that has me excited to see how this story unfolds.

In Angel Arias Retra, now called Naif, travels back to Grave with her fellow run-away Markes to try and find a way to reverse the effects of the badges they got on Ixiom which is shortening their lives. Ixiom is in turmoil and the Ripers that watch over the runaways and enforce the rules are not what they appear to be. They’ve been seen back at Grave talking to the Elders. So Naif and Markes head back in the hopes of discovering what the Ripers and Elders are conspiring and how they can save their friends back at Ixiom. In their quest, they learn that Angel Arias is the night song that plays to let the run-aways of Grave know when the barge is coming to lead them to Ixiom. But who controls that song? Who is truly luring them to Ixiom and for what purpose?

It was great to see Naif’s character continue to grow in this story and become the strong, quiet leader that intrigued me in the first book. In Angel Arias she continually takes risks and pulls through for her friends to help them survive the dangers of Ixiom. I was confused about her relationship with Markes as opposed to Lenoir, but I’m certain that was purposeful on de Pierres part. I’m really curious to see the direction she is headed with these three main characters. The new set of secondary characters where a great addition to the story. Perfectly done!

I won’t offer any spoilers, but I will say Wow! Just wow! I did not see that coming until the final hour. What Naif and Markes discover at Grave is sure to cause an explosive conclusion. Excitement!

 4 Snowflakes

Shine Light by Marianne de Pierres

Crystal's Thoughts:
I started the Night Creatures series just over two years ago I believe and every book has just gotten better and better and this last book Shine Light was the perfect ending to an amazing series.

Shine Light is the conclusion to Marianne de Pierres frightening world and it picks up where Angel Arias left off, with Naif going back to Ixion to stop the Rippers from killing innocent people.  She definitely has her work cut out for her and Lenoir, the leader of the Rippers, isn't going to make it any easier on her.  Naif fights with everything she has to stop the corruption and save the ones she loves.

This final book is a very quick read but it packs a lot of punch.  I devoured every single word and I am really going to miss this world.  It is creepy, dark, and just amazing.   The characters were fantastic and while I do wish there would have been some resolution to certain relationships I do understand that not everything can be wrapped up in a bow.  I m craving one more chapter though, one that describes what happened to everybody and the Elders.  After everything we learned I really wanted to know what happened after certain events took place.

Marianne de Pierres is definitely one of my favorite authors and I am going right now as type to order her other series.  Her creativity amazes me and I would love nothing more than to get lost in another one of her worlds.

4 snowflakes

 Giveaway time!  We are giving away the set of 3 books to one luck reader!

 Believe me you won't want to miss this series so make sure to enter below! 

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Stacking the Shelves (58)

A weekly meme hosted by, Tynga's Reviews, that features the books we bought, borrowed, were gifted, and were given for review.

Our Recap for the past week!

Reviews:

Saltwater Moons by Julie Gittus

Conjured by Sarah Beth Durst

Shooting Scars by Karina Halle

Addicted to You by Colina Brennan

Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

Beatle Meets Destiny by Gabrielle Williams

Interviews:

Sarah Beth Durst 

Giveaways:

Conjured by Sarah Beth Durst 

Winterhaven Memes:

Teaser Tuesday

Waiting on Wenesday

What landed in our happy hands this week!

 

For Review:

 Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

Her Dark Curiosity by Megan Shephard

Won:

 Attitude by Robin Stevenson

*Special thanks to Balzer & Bray, Eldeweiss, & LibrayThing*

That's it for us this week!  Leave me a link so I can see all your pretties!

Aussie Review: Saltwater Moons by Julie Gittus

Saltwater Moons by Julie Gittus

Published: August 7, 2008

Publisher: Lothian Books

In the beginning it seems so simple. A poem in the mail. A weekend invitation to the coast. But when Sun says yes to a midnight walk, her life becomes suddenly complicated. Saltwater Moons tells the story of Sun Langley during her final months of Year Twelve. There's the intensity of her first relationship, complicated by the fact she continues to exchange poems with her boyfriend's best mate. It's a story about love and betrayal, about constantly longing for the things we can't have.

My Thoughts

Another Aussie Hit!
It’s a true testament to how much I enjoy a book when I forego an entire sunny afternoon to curl up on my couch and read a book from beginning to end in one sitting. I find I do that quite often with books penned by Aussie writers. It’s like there’s a magic and realism about them. Something like tuning into a story you're already familiar with to get another few chapters of someone’s life… someone you feel you know and a story that seems so real. I don’t know how else to put it, but that’s what these books do to me and Saltwater Moons is no exception.

I really came to like Sun, Tycho (pronounced TySHO) and even Mark in some form or fashion. They each had a sort of vulnerability that was expressed so honestly that I wanted to give them all a big hug. So as far as the cast of characters go, they were awesome. I’m probably one of few readers that came to like Mark. Now don’t get me wrong, what he did at the end was wrong, but the entire time I saw him for what he was… sad, flawed and somehow broken to the point that you really had to look closely to sense his desperation and that broke my heart. I wish he didn’t do that one thing that was meant to destroy his character at the end, but other than that, he was your typical guy that makes mistakes when it comes to girls, lust and love. I tried to understand why Sun made the choice she made that sealed her fate between her and Tycho and I don’t think it was a strong enough reason to set Tycho aside, but she realized that. Tycho was definitely someone that deserved more then he got, but unfortunately he didn’t cease the moment and it passed him right by. But I did have hope for Sun and Ty at the end after all was said and done.

Overall, the storyline was right up my alley. This book to me is about beauty and hope and most importantly wanting something that seems unreachable. It’s also about betrayal and learning to trust again, all the real feelings that come with loving someone you can’t have and being with someone that doesn’t feel quite right. Julie Gittus manages to share all of these feelings without rushing the story. Her pace and delivery has that special element that you feel you’re deep into the story and before you know it, the main character is ending her narrative and you don’t feel hurried along or left with a sense of longing. It’s wrapped up, not in a pretty bow, but packaged in a way that you feel complete.

P.S. To all of the Aussie writers out there, there’s something simply magical about the stories you share. They might not all be earth shattering or life changing, but definitely special and emotional in the best kind of way. So keep drinking the water or eating the vegemite, basically keep doing whatever it is you do that fills the pages you write with that something special that makes me crave just one more page before I close my eyes at night… just one more page… May the well never run dry down under. ~sigh~

4 Snowflakes

Interview, Giveaway & Review: Conjured by Sarah Beth Durst

Today on WinterHaven Books we have the lovely Sarah Beth Durst with us! She has kindly answered a few of our questions!!  We also have a chance for our readers to win an ARC of Conjured!

Conjured by Sarah Beth Durst
Publisher-Walker Childrens
Released- Sept 3rd 2013
Pre-Order-Amazon / B & N / Chapters

Eve has a new home, a new face, and a new name—but no memories of her past. She’s been told that she's in a witness protection program. That she escaped a dangerous magic-wielding serial killer who still hunts her. The only thing she knows for sure is that there is something horrifying in her memories the people hiding her want to access—and there is nothing they won’t say—or do—to her to get her to remember.At night she dreams of a tattered carnival tent and buttons being sewn into her skin. But during the day, she shelves books at the local library, trying to not let anyone know that she can do things—things like change the color of her eyes or walk through walls. When she does use her strange powers, she blacks out and is drawn into terrifying visions, returning to find that days or weeks have passed—and she’s lost all short-term memories. Eve must find out who and what she really is before the killer finds her—but the truth may be more dangerous than anyone could have ever imagined.

My Thoughts:
I've been a big fan of Sarah Beth Durst since her debut novel, Ice. Since then, I always look forward to anything this women writes. Her stories are always so full of life, bursting with imagination and cunning creativity and always so much  fun to lose myself within these pages. Once again, Durst brings out the larger then life quality she pours into her books, with her newest novel, Conjured. Only, this time she took it one step further, bringing in an animated cast and story line fit for a magical mystery and whimsical journey of self-discover, power and truth.

To be honest, this story line is very different then anything I've read from Durst before. I've read magic in books before, but the way this was delivered was unusually unique, unpredictably strange and evasively written. Some may say that this was confusing and even frustrating, and well, they'd be right, and yet I still found myself mesmerized  by this odd little book with even odder characters. But I figured out something while reading. I think that this book isn't meant to be read from just Eve's point of view, but actually read through her. Once I got that mind-set, It was easier to be invested with Eve's story right till the very end and appreciate Durst vivid vision and delicious dedication to making this book standout in a creepy, crafty and clever way.

This plot is more then a typical story about a girl named Eve who has no memories. She's lost and broken in every way possible. All Eve knows at this point is that she has a new face and a new body and that she's been in the witness protection program for months, hiding from someone or something. She knows that Malcolm is kind and considerate and that 'Aunt' Nicki thinks she's a waste of perfectly good space. She knows that she can't remember and has to be taught the basics of everyday functions; objects, places and people. She also loses time and has problems with her short term memory. When she does finally remember something it's in the form of flashes of unhinged visions of an eerie carnival, a story-teller and a madman,  that is followed every time she does something magical. Magic, yes, Eve can do magic, but she doesn't know why or how.

Ever inch of this book is covered with questions and I constantly felt like I was missing something. The dialog read like I was already in the middle of whole conversations but not understanding the whole picture, back and forth banter, punch lines or the inside jokes. There were gaps of time that skips and jumps ahead which made this feel very disconnecting and peculiar, but still bizarrely intriguing. We are meant to be frustrated and confused right along with Eve. We are meant to learn with her. Eve seems to be the missing link. She's the answers to everything. The case, Zach, Aidan and even the deranged killer, but her own answers turned out to be very different and when we get to those revelations, everything about this odd little book will just click beautifully and disturbingly into place.

I really enjoyed all of these characters. They were all eccentric and wonderfully weird in their own ways.

Eve is a child-like character that felt like she was in pieces throughout the entire story. Twisted and tormented by the horrific and strange visions that don't make any real sense, but it's the only thing real that she has. She doesn't know who she can trust or believe in and who is really out to help her or harm her. She's sweet and gentle and kind, but she's also determined and brave. Her story is a a sad one and my heart goes out to her.

Zach is a very random and boldly honest character who is very intense and passionate. He doesn't lie and later we find out why. The connection he has with Eve doesn't have any rhyme or reason to it. It just is. They give a whole new meaning to magical kisses and breathing each other in. They give us a reason to believe and hope and they made me smile.

Malcolm was one of my favorite characters. He greatly cared about what happened to Eve and it showed with every kind gesture. 

Aidan was more a means to an end, but he played his part well and brought in conflicting emotions that stirred the story line perfectly.

All in all, I had a lot of fun with this book. It's dark and twisted and It bends your mind and makes you believe in the impossible. It takes fantasy into that unknown dimension where everything and anything can happen. It's the stuff that makes Durst books great. She's not afraid to be daring and different and it shows with this extraordinary novel. Conjured is an entertaining and engaging escape fit for fans who like their books a little above abnormal but still just as amazing and fantastical as we come to expect from this wonderful talent. I look forward to seeing what Durst has in store for us next. Bravo!

Find the author:
Goodreads / Website                              4 Snowflakes

About this author

Sarah Beth Durst is the author of Vessel, Drink, Slay, Love, Enchanted Ivy, and Ice from Simon & Schuster, as well as Into the Wild and its sequel Out of the Wild from Penguin Young Readers. Her next book for teens, Conjured, comes out in September 2013 from Bloomsbury/Walker. Her first book for adults, The Lost, comes out in June 2014 from Harlequin/Mira. She has been writing fantasy stories since she was ten years old and holds an English degree from Princeton University, where she spent four years studying English, writing about dragons, and wondering what the campus gargoyles would say if they could talk. Sarah lives in Stony Brook, New York, with her husband and children. For more information, visit her at www.sarahbethdurst.com.

Interview with Sarah Beth Durst

1) Your books are always filled with great imagination. Is there something that inspires you to create such compelling characters in a fantastical setting?

Chocolate. Lots of chocolate.

Seriously, what inspires me is a desire for magic. That's why I read and that's why I write. I want that feeling of being transported into another life, another world, and taken on a journey -- and then brought back again, perhaps slightly changed.

2) You've already tackled fairy tales, paranormal, magic and fantasy genre's, could you see yourself writing contemporary, horror or sci-fi?

No, sort of, and yes.

I don't think I could ever write contemporary because that's not how my brain works. If a character opens a closet door, I automatically assume there's a portal or a monster or at least a talking dust-bunny in there.

As for horror... CONJURED isn't horror, but it is the creepiest novel I've ever written, by far. There were times while writing when I refused to go in the basement after dark. Not that my basement has anything to do with girls with amnesia, creepy carnivals, or magic-wielding serial killers. But better safe than sorry.

As for science fiction... I don't have any immediate plans to write SF, but I do love it and might someday.

3) Do you have a favorite book or character among your novels and which was the easiest to write?

I can't choose a favorite book! I'd hurt their feelings.

But I can say that DRINK, SLAY, LOVE was the easiest to write. DRINK, SLAY, LOVE is about a vampire girl who is stabbed through the heart by a were-unicorn. She's evil, and it was so much fun. Essentially, all I had to do to write Pearl was think about what I'd never do or say -- and have her do and say that! I highly recommend writing evil characters.

4) All your books are stand-alone. Did you ever want to write a series or maybe add a sequel to one of the books already established?

I love both standalones and series. There's something really gratifying about wrapping up a story in a single volume, and there's also something wonderful about not having to say goodbye to characters at the end.

I am currently working on a trilogy for Harlequin/Mira -- the first book (THE LOST) will be out in June 2014.  And I am also working on another YA standalone that will be out from Bloomsbury/Walker in fall 2014.

5) Being a huge fan of your books, I got to know. What do you have planned next?

See above.  :)

I actually will have three books out next year: THE LOST (June 2014), MIND OVER MAGIC (fall 2014), and THE MISSING (Dec 2014).

Thanks Sarah for being on the blog today to answer some of our questions!!

If you would like to win an Arc copy of Sarah Beth Durst new novel, Conjured, then just enter the contest below. US/Canada only. Good luck!

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Review: Shooting Scars by Karina Halle

Shooting Scars (The Artists Trilogy #2) by Karina Halle

Published: August 20, 2013

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Sometimes the right choice can be the deadliest.

When Ellie Watt made the ultimate sacrifice for Camden McQueen, she never thought it would be easy. But walking away with her ex-lover, Javier Bernal, in order to ensure Camden’s safety has brought a whole new set of dangers. With Javier’s plans for Ellie growing more secretive by the moment, Ellie must find a way to stay ahead of the game before her past swallows her whole.

Meanwhile, Camden’s new life is short-lived. Fueled by revenge and pursued by authorities, he teams up with an unlikely partner in order to save Ellie. But as Camden toes the line between love and retribution, he realizes that in order to get back the woman he loves, he may have to lose himself in the process. He might just turn into the very man he’s hunting.

My Thoughts

FIVE SHOOTING SCTARS

"A love that starts off under a lie is bound to kill you, and sometimes you live to tell the tale."

"She took a piece of me that I was unable to get back until I was inside her, feeling her heart and her sins in my hands... She really was the only one I truly, drowning in passion, loved."

Shooting Scars is nothing shorts of a TRIPLE THREAT -Amazing, Addictive and absolutely Awesome!! What a rush!!

I knew Karina Halle would not disappoint with her sequel to Sins & Needles. After meeting her captivating cast and being left with a cliffhanger in book one, I’ve been pining for Shooting Scars for most of the summer. Totally worth the wait and then some!!

Shooting Scars picks up immediately where Sins & Needles left off where Ellie cuts a deal with Javier to keep Camden safe. The novel is told in dual perspectives between Ellie and Camden, which simply adds even more fuel to this explosive sequel. Being forced to execute Javier’s plan of revenge, Ellie has no choice but to travel to Mexico with him to bring Travis Raines down. When Camden follows Ellie to this cartel infested country and risks his life to bring her back, they both fall prey to Javier’s wicked ways.

I have to admit that I absolutely loved Camden’s character in this novel. He was reckless, loyal and passionate all in the name of love and when you mix that with ink and glasses, what normal girl would not swoon over this guy? In any other series and setting, I’d be Team Camden all the way and quite frankly, I do quietly root for him, but when he’s bumped up against the dark, dangerous and wicked Javier, I’ve got to embrace my twisted side and root for Team Javier. I’m not even sure what I want his prize to be, I’m just simply attracted to this character in the worst way. HA!

There were a few scenes that had me a bit conflicted and where my wicked side was pleased to see Ellie fall to temptation a few times, I have to say in the end it sort of hurt when I witnessed how this would break Camden. Not going to say much more, but let me just tell you… Shooting Scars is nothing short of a RUSH! I can’t wait for the next installment and despite who comes out on top (no pun intended…really) I’m excited to see how Ellie, Camden and Javier fare in this battle of passion and revenge. Loved it!!

"For all she'd done, for the heartless, cruel, selfish person she could be, there was an innocence deep inside...who never learned to love without repercussions."

"Aren't you tired of searching for that something to put your demons to rest?"

5 Snowflakes

Waiting on Wednesday, #49

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we can't wait to get our hands on.

Here's my selection for this week...

Bold Tricks (The Artists Trilogy #3) by Karina Halle

Expected Publication: October 15, 2013

Publisher: Forever

With more lives at stake and games in motion, Ellie, Camden and Javier form an uneasy alliance that will take them from the treacherous streets of inner-city Mexico to the wilds of the Honduran jungles in order to find their freedom. But with liberty just on the horizon, the cost might come at their own redemption.

I am a huge fan of The Artists Trilogy. Having recently finished the second book titled Shooting Scars, I am even more excited to see what Karina Halle has in store for us with her next installment. Her writing is edgy, her characters are explosive and Halle just never disappoints. Bold Tricks marks the finale in this trilogy and I am very eager to see how Ellie, Camden and Javier fare on their war of love and revenge. Excited!!

Sooo, what book are you waiting on???

Teaser Tuesday, #41

Welcome to Teaser Tuesdays! Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: Grab your current read Open to a random page Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser Tuesday is for the following...



Origin (Lux, #4) by Jennifer Armentrout
Publication Date: Today!!! August 27, 2013
Publisher: Entangled Teen






Teasers are from ebook pages: 351 & 359

He silenced me with a kiss--a sweet, tender kiss that eclipsed all my words. "I need to tell you something," he said. "You might hate me afterward."

They had no idea what I was truly capable of.




If you haven't read this series, I would highly recommend you do. Origin is released TODAY! If you haven't had a chance to read this yet, you will not believe what happens. It's a nail biter!

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here if you don’t have a blog Thanks!

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Addicted to You by Colina Brennan

Today, WinterHaven is excited to join xPresso Book Tours for the Addicted to You blog tour!  

For our stop, we have the book details, a review and a tour-wide giveaway. Enjoy!

Addicted to You by Colina Brennan
Publication Date: June 25, 2013
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult

Purchase Links: Amazon  |  B&N

When twenty-one-year-old Leah Carter’s latest one night stand burglarizes her apartment, her roommate forces her to attend therapy for sex addicts. Leah insists she isn’t a sex addict; she just doesn’t do relationships. After all, sooner or later, everyone lets you down.

At first, the group sessions are little more than an education on how to be promiscuous. Until she meets the newest addict—blue eyes, killer body, and a smile that tempts relapse.

Psychology student Will McLean is posing as a fellow addict while researching a case study on unusual addictions. But the more he learns about Leah, the more certain he is that his desire to break through her walls and unearth her secrets has nothing to do with his assignment.

As the uncertainties spike alongside the sexual tension, the only thing Leah knows for sure is that falling in love would be disastrous. Too bad love might be one addiction she can’t kick.

My Thoughts

Addicted to You is a fun and entertaining New Adult romance that is perfect for a quick reading fix. As of late, I’ve been having a hard time diving into a book… possibly because of the summer heat or simply due to the fact that nothing seems to grab my interest. Well, thank you Colina Brennan for quickly catching my attention with your likeable characters and keeping me interested in their story with their entertaining dialog and tension filled romance.

In Addicted to You, Leah and Will meet in the most unlikely of circumstances. Leah is attending sex therapy lessons as a hefty price when a one-night stand of hers burglarizes her apartment and her roommate forces her to pay for her reckless ways through therapy. Will is a student at the local university and is working for a professor when he’s asked to attend the sessions as part of a research project. When Will and Leah meet, the sparks begin to fly. However, they each have a past that seems to influence their actions.

Overall, I liked Leah and I quickly came to sympathize for her character. Hearing her backstory and reading how close she was with her brother Elijah, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness for Leah despite how guarded and standoffish she was towards others. I completely understood why she protected herself against relationships and friendships. Will was not hard to fall for. I mean what girl is immune to boyish charm wrapped around a Scottish accent? Will was a perfect compliment to Leah hard edges and it was fun to see these two collide.

Together they made the perfect pair and I rooted them on from the very beginning. Where Addicted to You surprisingly falls short on the steam-factor, there’s no lack of chemistry between these two characters, and I enjoyed their story immensely! Well done!

3.5 Snowflakes

About the Author

I’m a new adult author with a love for the fantastical and the romantic. My new adult contemporary novel ADDICTED TO YOU will be available June 25.

Follow this Author

Website  |  Goodreads  |  Facebook  |  Twitter

As part of this blog tour, xPresso Book Tours is giving away one paperback for US only residents, and two ebooks for INTL. Please review the rafflecopter or xPresso Book Tours site for giveaway details.

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Aussie Review: Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

Published: February 14, 2012

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Senior year is over, and Lucy has the perfect way to celebrate: tonight, she's going to find Shadow, the mysterious graffiti artist whose work appears all over the city. He's out there somewhere—spraying color, spraying birds and blue sky on the night—and Lucy knows a guy who paints like Shadow is someone she could fall for. Really fall for. Instead, Lucy's stuck at a party with Ed, the guy she's managed to avoid since the most awkward date of her life. But when Ed tells her he knows where to find Shadow, they're suddenly on an all-night search around the city. And what Lucy can't see is the one thing that's right before her eyes.

My Thoughts

Love.love.loved it!!
What a great story! I enjoyed it from cover to cover with not a moment of downtime.

This was an Aussie wonder that was filled with moments of laughter and nothing but love for the characters ofGraffiti Moon. I was an instant fan of Cath Crowley when I came across her beautiful story A Little Wanting Song, but now with Graffiti Moon I know for a definite fact that I can’t pass up anything by this great Australian writer.

Lucy and Ed made a great pair as they shared their story using alternate POVs. I laughed and I sighed as Crowley packed a full adventure these two accomplished in one night.

The writing was vivid as I could clearly picture the art Shadow tagged around the town and the glass blowing projects Lucy created. I’ve never been a fan of graffiti and glass blowing is interesting, but this story made it come to life and bring on a whole new meaning for me. Impressed!

Definitely a book I highly recommend as it’s worth the time and emotional investment. Awesome Aussie book!

5 Snowflakes

Aussie Review: Beatle Meets Destiny by Gabrielle Williams

Beatle Meets Destiny by Gabrielle Williams
Published: November 9, 2009

Publisher: Penguin Books

Imagine your name is John Lennon, only everyone calls you Beatle.

And then you meet your Dream girl and her name is Destiny McCartney.

But what if you're already with the perfect girl?

A novel about change, chance and everybody doing the wrong thing.

My Thoughts

If I was ever asked if I could fall for a male protag that was a cheater, accidental stalker, and a former pot smoker, I’d respond HELL.TO.THE.NOOO! So leave it to an Aussie writer like Gabrielle Williams to work her literary magic with Beatle Meets Destiny and create a cast of fully flawed characters that had me rooting for them the entire time.

This book is filled with hot mess guys and girls that share their hilarious, slightly cringing story and leave you with an awe-inspiring feeling that you won’t soon forget. Applause to these brilliant Aussie writers for penning books filled with magic, love and laughter. Beautifully done!

The main character in this novel is named John Lennon… aka… Beatle and on an off chance day, he stumbles across Destiny and not just any Destiny but Destiny McCartney. What are the chances? Well, did I happen to mention it’s also Friday the 13th? Yeah, well that’s how stars align sometimes, right? So after some great conversation and an unforgettable kiss, Beatle finds himself in a quandary. See he has a girlfriend, and she’s great, and she also stood by him while he recovered from an uncommon stroke for his age that left him with a limp and a slightly bruised ego after a string of bad luck. So what’s a guy to do? I’ll tell you… make a bad situation even worse after it’s all said and done. LOVED.IT.TO.PIECES!!

I recommend this book to absolutely everyone that enjoys YA contemporary. I read it so quickly and enjoyed it completely that it’s definitely moved to my top shelf of faves. Absolutely awesome!

Finally, the last scene where Beatle walks out of the theater holding hands with that certain someone, this song played in my head:
Song Choice: Best of Me - Sum 41 

Favorite Quote I won’t soon forget.

Life throws up lots of stuff at you. You’ve already had more than your fair share for an eighteen-year-old, but as life goes on, you’re going to have other hard times. And the hard times are good in their own way, too. Because the only way you can achieve true happiness is if you experience true sadness as well. It’s all light and shade. Balance.

5 Snowflakes

Stacking the Shelves (57)

A weekly meme hosted by, Tynga's Reviews, that features the books we bought, borrowed, were gifted, and were given for review. 

Our Recap for the past 2 weeks!

Reviews:

A Little Wanting Song by Cath Crowley

Fire and Ash by Jonathan Maberry

Eona: The Last Dragoneye by Alison Goodman

Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta

The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta

Blood Song by Rhiannon Hart

Deception by C.J. Redwine

Countdown by Michelle Rowen

Antigoddess by Kendare Blake

Giveaways:

Fire and Ash by Jonathan Maberry--Signed ARC

Saving Francesca & The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta

Antigoddess by Kendare Blake

Cover Reveals:

Trust in Me by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Special Features:

Authors are Rockstars--Mindy McGinnis

Authors are Rockstars--Gayle Forman

WinterHaven Fun:

Teaser Tuesday

Waiting on Wednesday

What landed in our very happy hands this week!!

For Review:

Scorched by Mari Mancui

The 100 by Kass Morgan

Rags & Bones by Melissa Marr

Unbreakable by Kami Garcia

The Waking Dark by Robin Wasserman

Two Boys Kissing by David Leviathan

Fractured by Sarah Fine

*Special thanks to Sourcebooks, Little Brown Books for Young Readers, Knopf Books for Young Readers, Random House Kids, Skyscape, Amazon publishing, & Netgalley*

That's it for us this week!  Leave me a link so I can see all your pretties!