TGIF - Feature & Follow Friday #151

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY is a blog hop that is designed to provide as much exposure towards other bloggers as well as yourself, and to expand following. It's hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read, each whom feature a chosen blog for a week, it's also an interesting way to get to know one another bloggers.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
What blogger would you most like to meet in real life? Tell us about him or her. 

Actually I don't really know! In the world of bloggers, I have absolutely no idea on who I would like to meet... I guess I never really considered this... (ahahahha)

Review: The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

Title: The Summoning
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Release Date: !st July 2008
Publisher: HarperCollins
Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

Quick Review: My name is Chloe Saunders and my life will never be the same again.

All I wanted was to make friends, meet boys, and keep on being ordinary. I don't even know what that means anymore. It all started on the day that I saw my first ghost - and the ghost saw me.

Now there are ghosts everywhere and they won't leave me alone. To top it all off, I somehow got myself locked up in Lyle House, a "special home" for troubled teens. Yet the home isn't what it seems. Don't tell anyone, but I think there might be more to my housemates than meets the eye. The question is, whose side are they on? it's up to me to figure out the dangerous secrets behind Lyle House...before its skeletons come back to haunt me.

Detailed Review: Great job, Kelley. You did a great job there. And it's your DEBUT novel. Wow. I was just amazed.

That's what I was thinking the whole time after I read The Summoning. It's too good to be a debut novel but let's just say, the author is talented.

The Summoning is told from Chloe Saunder's POV. (How fitting, my co-blogger is also named Chloe) And I'm happy that it's told from her point of view. Because I know if it's told from the other characters' point of view, I. Would. Die. Of. Boredom. Full stop.

It's the way she tells her story that intrigues me so much. The way she portrays everything as a movie to get over some of her fears and solve problems. How many people do that? None.

When you say this book is paranormal, it totally hit that mark where it says PARANORMAL in big block letters. I'm not adding romance in it because there's none. Sorry, romance lovers.

The other characters in the book were very interesting too. Armstrong has managed to vary all of them so you wouldn't get bored.

So the story?

You see ghosts, people think you're crazy, you get sent to a group home for teenagers with mental illnesses, and then you discover that you ACTUALLY see ghosts and can also raise the dead. And then you find out that the other teens in the house are not normal too. One of them's a werewolf. One of them's a sorcerer. One of them is a poltergeist.

And then you discover a secret you're not meant to know. And then...

I was happy for once after reading a book with a cliffhanger. Yup you heard me right. You know how much I hate cliffhangers and to say that I'm ok with it? Impossible. But I'm making an exception. The cliffhanger provided does make you a squirm with a degree of desperation but does not make you go too over. So the cliffhanger was perfect.

Brief Review: So what can I say? It's just AMAZING. The author topped it off so well that I'm giving her a clap right now at this moment. If she can even make me have nightmares and do silent screams, then you will find yourself doing the same thing.



Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing'

QUOTE:

Just to honour Chloe (not the blogging one, the character in the book), 

No ghost was every seen by two pair of eyes---- Thomas Carlyle

Your Reviewer:

Waiting on Wednesday: Never Say Goodbye by Bethan Cooper

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by us, that highlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication 'can't-wait-to-read' selection is:

Title: Never Say Goodbye
Author: Bethan Cooper
Release Date: 20th July 2013
Publisher: Bethan Cooper
Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

Who said life was easy again?

When eighteen year old Ella Stone fell into his arms one July morning she encountered a man who was not only beautiful, but the most caring and loving she had ever met. She is lost in the distance to most and cares about nothing in her life. The only needs she craves is her best friend Jade and her trusty sky blue Ford Mustang. After losing someone who meant more to her than herself, her whole life changed for the worse.

When Luke James lean, beautiful and rich finds a small girl riddled with torment in his arms he can't help but want to put out that dark light inside of her. But when he leaves his high school girlfriend for her, trouble chases them both and the escape tries to break them apart.

On this emotional tormented roller-coaster, we find two people who should of never been introduced, but they are and the inevitable happens, For them both.

I know what will happen after I read this book. I'll probably cry and cry and cry. The cover is absolutely beautiful and the plot is something that would make me go "I'VE GOT TO READ THIS!". Yup, you get the gist.

Review: After Realm by Renee Travis

Title: After Realm
Author: Renee Travis
Release Date: February 2013
Publisher: CreateSpace
Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

Quick Review: Hellebella is not your average teenager. She is a demon princess from the underworld. She does, however, have teenager tendencies. She is outspoken, blunt, funny and rebellious. When a final act of rebellion sends her father into a rage, he sends her off to the North American School of Paranormal Princes-sing where he hopes she can learn to become a proper young lady and do something constructive with her life.

Not the only princess being sent away to the NASPP, Hellebella meets a lively bunch of girls from different paranormal kingdoms, including fairies, a vampire and shape-shifters. But not everything is light and happy at school. The girls find themselves entranced by a secret and mysterious club in another realm. There, they are forced to dance every night, and if they do not the consequences are dire. 

Helle, as her new friends call her, must find a way to break them free of the spell holding them hostage, figure out WHO is behind the malicious magic and struggle with her own love for her best friend’s brother. Hopefully she can save them in time, before they become ghosts powerless to stop the magic from harming someone else.

Detailed Review: This book far exceeded my expectations. Usually I expected quite little from self-published books but this book was just written with such amazing writing skills. This writer's words has the ability to transport you to the character's time and place with such vivid descriptions that you find you can't stop reading.

This books is actually a retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses in a gothic twist that is simple and interesting. It is told from Hellabella's point of view, who is one of the Princesses of the Underworld or just known as Satan's daughter. After her father finds out that she has gone lava hopping with her brothers, which he finds really unladylike and not suiting for a princess, he decided to send her to a boarding school, or more precisely, the North American School of Paranormal Princessing.

She is unhappy at being sent there. She meets other princesses from paranormal realms such as faeries and vampires. She finds the school ok but always gets bored of it. Her roommate Lillith also seems to be hiding someone or something from her. And guess who that is?

Lillth's brother, Roarke who according to the author is pretty hot. And Hella just falls in love with him. Love at first sight. How nice.

But then something else happens. Hella has also stumbled upon a doorway in one of the bathrooms that leads to another realm. So one day, all the princesses went there together and started dancing.  They went there every day. Nothing seemed wrong to them.

But there is something really wrong. Their powers are waning. They are not as strong as they were. They try to stop, but something seems to push them to go. They try to tell someone but they end up suffering. Once they did not go to the realm but they fell violently sick.

A conspiracy is forming and they need to do something before they are trapped in After Realm forever.

Brief Review: Equal parts romance, fear and mystery, this book is a great read for paranormal fans. I guarantee that you'll love it from beginning to end. You have my word

Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing'

QUOTE: 

To the princesses who attended boarding school together:

Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realise there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.-------Lao Tzu

Your Reviewer:

TGIF - Feature & Follow #150

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY is a blog hop that is designed to provide as much exposure towards other bloggers as well as yourself, and to expand following. It's hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read, each whom feature a chosen blog for a week, it's also an interesting way to get to know one another bloggers.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
The #FF is 150 years old! And we want to hear from you! What would you change about the top? What do you like about it? Or just suggest a question to be used next week? 

I don't know what to say except there's nothing bad or but it's really good as it is! I don't it has to change! Love the way it is already :)

Waiting on Wednesday: The Sound by Sarah Alderson

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by us, that highlights upcoming events that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication 'can't-wait-to-read' selection is:

Title: The Sound
Author: Sarah Alderson
Release Date: 1st August 2013
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

When aspiring music journalist Ren Kingston takes a job nannying for a wealthy family on the exclusive island of Nantucket, playground for Boston's elite, she's hoping for a low-key summer reading books and blogging about bands. Boys are firmly off the agenda.

What she doesn't count on is falling in with a bunch of party-loving private school kids who are hiding some dark secrets, falling (possibly) in love with the local bad boy, and falling out with a dangerous serial killer...


This book interested me in a spooky way. I got goosebumps when I read the description. Just imagine falling in love with a serial killer. And what if you're the next person he's targeting? Creepy... And the title and tagline doesn't make it any not scarier.

Review: Wakefield by Erin Callahan & Troy H. Gardner

Title: Wakefield

Author(s): Erin Callahan & Troy H. Gardner

Publisher: MuseltUp Publisher

Release Date: October 5th 2012

Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

Quick Review: Orphans Astrid Chalke and Max Fisher meet when they’re sent to live at Wakefield, a residential and educational facility for teens with psychiatric and behavioral problems. Astrid’s roommate cuts herself with anything sharp she can get her hands on and Max’s roommate threatens him upon introduction. 

Just as Astrid and Max develop a strong bond and begin to adjust to the constant chaos surrounding them, a charming and mysterious resident of Wakefield named Teddy claims he has unexplainable abilities. Sometimes he can move things without touching them. Sometimes he can see people’s voices emanating from their mouths. Teddy also thinks that some of the Wakefield staff are on to him. 

At first, Astrid and Max think Teddy is paranoid, but Max’s strange, recurring dreams and a series of unsettling events force them to reconsider Teddy’s claims. Are they a product of his supposedly disturbed mind or is the truth stranger than insanity?

Detailed Review: <<copy provided by author themselves>>

I found this book to be quite entertaining but it didn't suit my tastes. OK, it kinda did but it didn't... I didn't find this appealing to me but maybe if you are  into those kinda books about insanity, mystery and psychology with a touch of adventure, I was 'pleased' but not satisfied. 

The story about these  kids who are brought to psychiatric and behavioral problems where apparently some of the kids have these "special abilities" where they have to fend for themselves and mysteries start to happen. 

Sorry but I have to cut this short...  this book didn't appeal very much to me! I'm really sorry but I just didn't like it...

Brief Review: "It was not my kinda selection of genre where this was not my type of book. I recommend the authors should continue to improve their style of writing. In the future, I will be happy to review their latest book.

My Rating: 2/5  "It's OK but I didn't really like it"

Reviewer: 

Review: I'm Nobody by Alex Marestaing

Title: I'm Nobody
Author: Alex Marestaing
Release Date: 1st February 2013
Publisher: -
Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

Quick Review: Caleb Reed is losing his mind, at least that’s what his father thinks.

If it were only the show - America's Funniest Home Videos - the same taped episode he's watched every night for the last six years - then perhaps his parental unit wouldn’t worry so much. But there’s far more to the thirteen year-old’s manic daily regimen that makes even Caleb himself question his mental health. 

For starters, there's his obsessive worry about the abandoned mansion across the street, and then there's that curious note someone left on his doorstep. It's neatly folded, black ribbon wrapped, and signed by a stranger named Emily Dickinson.

"I'm nobody. Who are you?" it reads. "Are you nobody too?"

In time, more of these strange, poetic messages arrive, silently beckoning the agoraphobic seventh grader to venture further and further from the safety of his home in order to retrieve them. Are the notes from Iris, the YouTube obsessed eighth grader who has begun filming an indie film on his street? Has his deceased older sister returned from the grave to deliver some sort of message? Or are the pages actually from the pen of Emily Dickinson, the reclusive and long dead 19th century poet? 

With his sanity in question, Caleb Reed's entire existence depends on finding an answer.
Detailed Review: ARE YOU INSANE?!?

I was asking Caleb Reed this same question the whole time I was reading this book. And to those of you who want to know, he's not insane. He's just unique.

This book has a plot that's so intriguing that it would certainly leave your mind spinning because you have to find the balance between insane and sane, as Caleb does. 

MAGIC is the answer. It does question your sanity but in this book it exists.

It all started with the abandoned mansion from across the street. It's a monster, at least to Caleb and when he notices that one of the windows- which was supposed to be boarded up- is not boarded up, he starts freaking out.

And then Iris starts visiting him. She wants to film him for a documentary competition. And she's determined to get what she wants. 

And then comes the note. From an anonymous person. Is it from Iris? Or is it from the mansion from across the street. It questions his identity and who he truly is. 

And Emily Dickinson, who is she? Is she his long-dead sister, who he misses and loves so much- the reason to the non-ending routines of watching American's Funniest Home Videos?

What if someone tells you that everything you think is real is not? What if they tell you that everything was just your own doing? Would you believe them?

Caleb almost did at first, but then comes an event which changes everything and answers that very first question I asked: is he really insane?

*WARNING: Be prepared to cry, or to get angry or to just sit down on a chair with your mouth opened after reading the book. And be prepared for some poetry too.

Brief Review: Heart-breaking, mesmerizing, magical and painful, this book is all about finding yourself and being happy no matter what has happened. It is not a question of whether you're insane or not, but who you truly are. Weird and splendid are both mashed into the pages of this book. You can't afford to miss this. This can certainly be this decade's new 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower'

Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing'

QUOTE:

I'm going to take this from the book itself, since this is what everybody would feel like saying to Caleb:

I'm nobody! Who are you?

Are you nobody,too?

Then there's a pair of us-don't tell!

They'd banish us, you know

-----Emily Dickinson

Your Reviewer: 

TGIF - Feature & Follow #149

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY is a blog hop that is designed to provide as much exposure towards other bloggers as well as yourself, and to expand following. It's hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read, each whom feature a chosen blog for a week, it's also an interesting way to get to know one another bloggers.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: 
School is out! What is your favourite Summer Reading book?? 

Actually I can't say... why? Well, Malaysia's still having school here! But anyway, hmmm.... If I could pick any I would pick The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern. Really loved that book! ;)

Waiting on Wednesday: Love in the Time of Global Warming by Francesca Lia Block

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by us, which highlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication 'can't-wait-to-read' selection is:

Title: Love in the Time of Global Warming
Author: Francesca Lia Block
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Release Date: 27th August 2013
Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

Seventeen-year-old Penelope (Pen) has lost everything—her home, her parents, and her ten-year-old brother. Like a female Odysseus in search of home, she navigates a dark world full of strange creatures, gathers companions and loses them, finds love and loses it, and faces her mortal enemy.

In her signature style, Francesca Lia Block has created a world that is beautiful in its destruction and as frightening as it is lovely. At the helm is Pen, a strong heroine who holds hope and love in her hands and refuses to be defeated.

When I first saw this book, I was curious because of the title and the cover. Both sparked my interest at once. After I read the description, I was like 'oh yeah!'. Because actually to be honest, I'm a little sick of the romance that's been circulating in the YA industry lately and this, would certainly be a great source of fresh air. And seriously SOMEONE has to really care about the environment. You can certainly admire the cover forever! It's so beautiful!

STOP! READ HERE!

FROM TODAY ON... 

 WE, GITWRs WILL BE INTRODUCING A NEW FUNCTION! 

We'll be having an online chat so you can ask questions, raise awareness, and further more, you can get to know us plus just for randomness but obviously related to books! 

So start chatting with us! 

Bug us!!!

Review: When Boats Breathe and Cities Speak by Kevin McGill

Title: When Boats Breathe and Cities Speak
Author: Kevin McGill
Release Date: 4th August 2012 
Publisher: Aero Studios
Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

Quick Review: Nick and friends find themselves on a journey to the magical moon, Mon, and the great city of Huron. Called by the voice of Huron to stop the Merfolk’s advancement of evil, Nick’s first task is to alert the city council of Huron. Expecting his job to be an easy one, he quickly finds himself stopped by the wicked sheriff of Huron, Cyrus Gorringe. Meanwhile, Yeri finally delivers Lir, the merman’s message to Nikolas, but is his task complete?

Detailed Review: I have to say that this book is just awesome. It's just too good. I really have doubts if the author is a human being at all. Maybe he's a being from Moon that's migrated to the Earth. You'll never know right?

There were many good things about this book but one bad thing about this book.

The good things:

The characters were as funny as usual, especially Daniel and Xanthus. The story is just better than the first book. Everything was just down-to-earth flawless.

The bad thing:

THE AHC AT THE END. No thanks to the author. I just hate cliffhangers. It makes me want to die. But that means I wouldn't be able to know what happens next if I'm dead.

Here's the story:

Nick has travelled to Mon, where he is burdened by the job to be the steward of the city of Huron at the age of only eleven. Nobody believes him. He claims that Huron speaks to him of the Merrow's danger to her but still people remain ignorant. Now the sheriff, Cyrus Gorringe has taken charge.

Meanwhile, Yeri has managed to deliver the message to Nick but he is stopped by one of the Merrows when he finds out that Nick is against them. Fouls are attacking the Merrows and they need the steward's help but he just won't help them. Even he has his own problems as his best friend Xanthus is plagued by the same disease which is plaguing the Merrows.

His grandfather told him that he needs faith and also needs to put his faith in his friends but how can he do that if his friends are so intent of letting Xanthus die and not finding a cure for him? This is all thanks to Tim who has finally found a way to take the attention of off Nick.

I hate Tim. I just do. Nobody has damned him to hell yet. WHY?

Can Nick really do everything on his own without the help of his friends? I doubt it. I really can't believe Tim can treat his brother so badly. He's just so mean.

Brief Review: Again, I am impressed by the author. This book once again makes me dumbstruck and frustrated at the same time. Only a book as good as this is capable of doing so.

Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'

QUOTE:

My message to Nick and I hope he gets it. I hope he dares take that first step, with or without his friends:

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase-------- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Your Reviewer:

An Interview with Debbie Dee

After reading The Last Witch by Debbie Dee, I completely fell in love with the book and the author. Another reassurance was after I read The Underground Witch which was just amazing! So I just asked in a shy way if I could do an interview with her and of course SHE SAID YES. YESSSSSSSS. I felt so excited when I made up the questions for the interview and even the author says she's never had so much fun before answering questions. So this was ultimately a SUCCESS. The answers she gave was funny and but one was a bit intense.

Me: When did your interest in writing start?

Debbie: I’m not like all those other cool authors who say they have wanted to write since the day they were born. I didn’t realize how fun writing could be until about four years ago. I had just watched the movie “The Bucket List” with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson and was so fascinated with the idea of making a list of goals for myself. I put some pretty goofy things on my list– “ride a camel,” “kiss a frog,” but I also included goals that I knew would take more effort. When I scribbled “write a book,” I chuckled a little because I didn’t think it was something I could accomplish while chasing three small children. A few weeks later, an idea came to me that wouldn’t leave me alone, and in the spirit of checking off an item on my bucket list, I jotted it down. Before long, I found myself sneaking away to write more and soon realized I had a new passion in my life.

Me: What was your dream career when you were a kid?

Debbie: I wish I could remember! How lame is that? I do remember telling my sisters that I was an exiled princess from another land. So, perhaps I had my sights set on being a princess. 

Me: What is the most common problem you have always faced when writing?

Debbie: I can never seem to find enough time to write, or at least enough time to satisfy my craving! 

Me: Are you a perfectionist?

Debbie: Haha! I would say yes, but my family would probably say no because I often let the dishes and laundry pile up when I’m in the middle of writing. Alright, alright, there have been several times when I didn’t make my bed for days, BUT in my defense, I wrote some of my best stuff during that time.

Me: How would you feel if any of your books were promoted to be a movie?

Debbie: I’ve always seen my stories like a movie in my head, so it would be very exciting for me to see it on the big screen. But, I think I’d also be terrified that the movie would be a total flop or that the script would go into some crazy direction that I didn’t agree with.

Me: Are you happy with what you've accomplished in writing so far?

Debbie: I am! I’ve had so much fun sharing Emmeline’s story with others, talking with fans, and visiting fabulous blogs like this one. I write because I enjoy telling a good story and I feel very fortunate that I’m able to go on this adventure.   

Me: What was your first inspiration for the Incenaga Witches trilogy?

Debbie: I get my best ideas in the morning. However, this is when I get my worst ideas too! One morning I dragged myself out of bed and Emmeline’s story popped into my mind. Literally, my head was a fuzzy morning mess and then suddenly, I imagined a girl in a frightening situation. I jotted the idea down, hoping that as the morning wore on, and I had a chance to wake up a little more, I would still think it was a good idea. Trust me, there have been plenty of times that I’ve laughed over my cheerios at an idea I considered brilliant only moments before. But Emmeline’s story passed the breakfast test, so to speak, and after a lot sleepless nights, The Last Witch was born. 

Me:  Where did you get the idea of O'fin from? (He's really cute!)

Debbie: I love O’fin! I based him off my little boy, Ethan, who is the cutest, sweetest kid I know. My youngest daughter couldn’t say Ethan’s name for the longest time so she just called him, Oh-fin.

Me:  If you could be a character in your books, who would it be and why?

Debbie: I have a novel set in ancient Egypt due out fall 2013 that has a main character I find very endearing – Tiy. She looks nothing like an Egyptian and is very self conscious about it, especially when she is invited to attend the royal school and is bullied by the rich Egyptian girls. But, the Pharaoh’s son is fascinated by her and welcomes her into his close circle of friends. I love the adventures she has with Egypt’s prince and that she remains true to herself even when everything around her is telling her she should be something different. 

Me: Which book did you find harder to write: The Last Witch or The Underground Witch?

Debbie: They were both fun to write, but the editing process for The Last Witch was more difficult for me. I had no idea how intensive editing could be,

Me: Any advice to those who like to write?

Debbie: Take classes, go to writers conferences, and don’t be afraid to let people critique your work. And have fun! 

Me:  Can you please tell us what is going to happen in the last book of the trilogy? Please?!?

Debbie: I’ll give you a few hints: The villain isn’t who you’ll expect, someone loses their memory, and one of my favorite characters dies.

Me: Do you have a way to help you when you encounter a writer's block?
  Debbie: I usually step away from whatever project I’m working on and do something else, often something not related to writing at all. So far, this has helped!

Me:  What do you always have with you when you are writing?

Debbie: Hmmm. Good question. Other than my laptop, my sweet little dog is the only other consistent thing with me while writing. He always finds a way to cuddle by me.  

Me: If you are given the chance to kidnap an author and talk to him or her, who would it be and why?

Debbie: Such fun questions! Assuming I wouldn’t go to prison for life, I’d have to kidnap Shannon Hale. I just love her work and her overall persona. If you haven’t been to one of her book signings yet, you should definitely go. She is so down-to-earth, hilarious, and friendly. I was so nervous to meet her, but she was nice as pie, in fact, she gave out free pie! I remember thinking that I wanted to be just as cool as her someday. 

You can find a review of The Last Witch here.
You can also find a review of The Underground Witch here.