Enter to win a Signed/Personalized copy of Fever by Lauren DeStefano here

Friday, February 17, 2012

Follow Fridat (16)



Hey everyone! So posts have been sporadic this week because my computer crashed and I've had to use my desktop which is ANCIENT! But I'm here, for another Follow Friday and ready to go. This meme is hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee and features up and coming blogs along with a book related question. This week's question is...

Q: What’s the most unique character name you’ve come across?

I don't mind when books have unique names. It helps set the characters apart from any other book.  There is one author who never fails to impress me with her name choices and that is Sarah Dessen. I always joke that I'm going to use her books as a baby name book if I ever have kids. The names she choses are always so unique: Auden, Remy, Colie, Macon and Dexter. They're just different enough to stand out but not so crazy that you can't take them seriously. Those are my favorite kind of names!


Check out my giveaway (ends 2/20) for a chance to win a signed/personalized copy of Fever by Lauren DeStefano here

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Until Next Time by Amy Lignor

How does a girl choose between the one who steals her heart and the one who owns her soul?

Matt and Emily were created for a specific job. Raised and trained as the ultimate angel/warrior team, they are sent down to save, defend, judge and forgive, depending on the 'life' they've been assigned. What they don't realize is that the power of human emotions, such as love, anger, passion and fear can take over even the best of souls, causing them to make mistakes and follow paths that lead to confusion and heartache.


Until Next Time is the heart warming story of an angel, Emily, and her partner warrior, Matt, as they undergo their first angelic mission as information gatherers for the archangels. The two teens are bound to one another with an innate relationship that runs deeper than most. However, when entering the world as humans, Emily, now an Irish bar owner, begins to wander with her feelings after meeting the traveler, Jason. With no recollection that she is an angel and bound to her partner Matt, Emily must accept her humanity and uphold her unknown duties.

I found the concept of this book to be very well thought out. The reader bounces back and forth between Emily in her angelic form and in her human form as Lizzie while she completes her first mission. The switching of perspectives is well crafted and doesn't leave the reader confused or boggled. I loved that when Emily is Lizzie she has no memory of being an angel or that she loves Matt which creates some very stick situations.

My favorite part of this book is the archangels. Gabriel, Matt, and Mark are all hilarious! The comedic light that they are portrayed in provided the perfect amount of relief during the seriousness of the situations Emily is put in. Between gambling for kit kat bars and coming up with cliche sayings I was cracking up!

I do wish that the relationship between Emily and Matt was more developed. There is the pretense that they are innately bound to one another as partners, but I never really felt the fire in their relationship. This may be due to the fact that there aren't a lot of scenes between Matt and Emily and so we never get a true feeling of love between the two of them. Therefore, when Emily (as Lizzie) meets Jason, I didn't feel the intensity of a love triangle. I immediately rooted for Jason and their relationship.

My biggest complaint about this book however was the inconsistency with the time period. The story takes place in Ireland during the 1800's. However, the dialogue was very modern. At one point, Jason refers to Lizzie as "damn sexy". I'm pretty sure that type of language wasn't used back then.

If you don't mind a strong religious undertone in your stories, then Until Next Time is the book for you. There are some amazingly developed characters and some sweet romance that will melt anyone's heart. The book itself is a fast read and has opened up the potential for future books. If you can look past some minor inconsistencies then you will be sure to enjoy this angelic read!

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Follow Friday (15)


Hi everyone! Its another Follow Friday (Thursday night) post here at Lost Amongst the Shelves. Follow Friday is hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee and features up and coming blogs along with a book related post. This week's question is...

What would you prefer: reading your favorite book over and over again until you got sick of it or reading 100s of mediocre books? And why?

I'd rather read my favorite book until I got sick of it. Even though I doubt I'd ever get sick of my favorite book, I'd much rather relive that adventure over and over than waste my time on a book that only leaves an impression of mediocrity.  Besides, if the book isn't anything special, then I just get this desperate feeling of wanting it to end and fast. That's not why I read. If I love a book then I never want it to end!

A Witch in Winter by Ruth Warburton

Anna Winterson doesn't know she's a witch and would probably mock you for believing in magic, but after moving to the small town of Winter with her father, she learns more than she ever wanted to about power. When Anna meets Seth, she is smitten, but when she enchants him to love her, she unwittingly amplifies a deadly conflict between two witch clans and splits her own heart in two. She wants to love Seth, to let him love her – but if it is her magic that's controlling his passion, then she is as monstrous as the witch clan who are trying to use her amazing powers for their own gain.

A Witch in Winter is an incredible tale of one unknowing witch who falls into a world she never knew she belonged in. After accidentally casting a love spell on her crush, Anna soon realizes that she's much more powerful than the average teenage girl- she's in fact a witch. With new friends and a newfound power, Anna is faced with making the decision to control her magic under a power hungry witch clan or remain true to herself and those she loves.

This story had some fantastic elements that really sets it apart from other paranormal reads. I loved that the focus was solely on witches and no other creatures. Too often paranormal books focus on the vampires or werewolves (who I still love) but its really refreshing to have a new creature take the spotlight. However, I would have liked to have seen a stronger focus on the witches. This book really reads like a contemporary, where the witchcraft doesn't feel as prominent as it could have (at least not until the very end). There were some scenes where magic is used, but it kind of just felt like Anna focuses her mind and something happens. There wasn't any real wow factor about it.

I did enjoy the relationship Anna had with her crush, Seth. The two have a bit of a rocky start, especially when he realizes he's been cursed, but there is still an underlying connection. The love spell really hides the fact that there is insta-love in this book which is a positive because it wasn't as noticeable as I would have thought. Anna herself was a likeable character. There wasn't anything too outstanding about her, but I definitely didn't find any annoying features either. I wasn't completely sold on Seth as a love interest right away, I had more of a 'book connection' with the character Abe actually, but around halfway through the book I started to soften up to the idea of Seth. This may have something to do with a comic drunk scenario that left me grinning!

The other characters, including Anna's new magical friends, were my favorite part of the book. Their banter and instant connection was hilarious and the needed comic relief to this story. Abe in particular has some great one-liners. Anna's dad is one of those, not-always-present types, which is frustrating because of its unrealistic nature.

I do see the potential that this series has. I know that the first book isn't always the strongest and so I have high hopes in the developing story. If you're looking for a new spin in the paranormal genre, then I recommend checking out A Witch in Winter!

Monday, February 6, 2012

Must Read Monday

Fans of Fiction
Monday's here and the start of another week. What better way to celebrate than with a Must Read Monday?! Hosted by Jenna at Fans of Fiction, MRM gives bloggers the chance to showcase their creativity! Each week is a different theme with the chance to create an acrostic puzzle and gain more followers! This week's theme is...

A Fictional Character You'd Want As Your Best Friend
I instantly thought of Halley from Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen!

        sHe's always felt hidden in the shadows when
compAred to her best friend Scarlett, but when
  ScarLett learns she's pregnant and the father no longer
         Living, Halley becomes the support Scarlett needs.
   WhEn the world turns its back on her and Scarlett is a child herself
         You'd want a friend like Halley to be there till the end. 

Sunday, February 5, 2012

In My Mailbox (15)


Hi everyone! Its Sunday and time for another In My Mailbox post =) IMM is hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren and allows bloggers to share what books they bought, received or borrowed over the course of the week.

This week was pretty epic for me. I bought a TON of books and received my first package from a publishing company with books for review. A definite milestone for Lost Amongst the Shelves.


 
Ok so this was my first IMM vlog ever and so the editing is pretty pathetic and I look a little lost, but I'm hoping to get the hang of it soon! Here is a list of all the books mentioned with links to their Goodreads pages.


Received for Review from Hachette:
Heaven by Christoph Marzi
A Witch in Winter by Ruth Warburton
Slated by Teri Terry

Bought:
Bloodrose  by Andrea Cremer
Hallowed by Cynthia Hand
Tempest by Julie Cross
Jessica Rules the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams
Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey
Article 5 by Kristen Simmons
Callum and Harper by Fisher Amelie
The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe
Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Follow Friday (14)


Hi everyone! Its another Follow Friday (Thursday night) post here at Lost Amongst the Shelves. Follow Friday is hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee and features up and coming blogs along with a book related post. This week's question is...

Define what characteristics your favorite books share. Do they all have a kick ass heroine or is the hot love interest the Alpha Male?

I LOVE a strong and independent heroine. I can't stand when the girl is wishy washy or dependent on a guy. I want some girl power! I also love when the love interest is witty and a bit brooding. And if he can make me laugh with saracstic one liners even better. I know its kind of overdone: girl falls in love with the 'baddish' boy, but I'm just a sucker for when opposites attract. My favorite quality of a book though is when the relationship struggles and you can see love acutally develop just like in real life. I want to see the turmoil and the boy fight for the girl and the roller coaster of emotions all over a normal period of time. NO INSTA LOVE!

This could be the requirements for any genre too. I could see this fit into a contemporary as well as a paranormal so I could go either way.

What about all of you? Leave your comments and links below and I'll check out your book must haves!

And don't forget to check out the giveaway for a signed/personalized copy of Fever by Lauren DeStefano here

Heaven by Christoph Marzi

The night that Heaven lost her heart was cold and moonless. But the blade that sliced it out was warm with her dark blood...David Pettyfer is taking a shortcut over the dark rooftops of London's brooding houses, when he literally stumbles across Heaven: a strange, beautiful, distraught girl who says that bad men have stolen her heart. Yet she's still alive...And so begins David and Heaven's wild, exciting and mysterious adventure - to find Heaven's heart, and to discover the incredible truth about her origins. Part thriller, part love story and part fairy tale, this brilliantly original novel from a bestselling German author will take your breath away...

This was such a thrilling story that sucks the reader into a whirlwind of mystery and fantasy that leaves you feeling for your own heartbeat. The adventure starts with page one, where the protaganist, David, discovers Heaven on the rooftops in London after she's just been attacked and had her heart cut out. From there, its a chaotic race to find the answers to what Heaven is and elude the two men who are out to finish the job. There are ghosts, hybrid creatures, whimsical fairy tales and a blossoming romance admist this incredible fight to stay alive.

The main character, David, was a refreshing MC. Not only is the book in the male perspective, but despite being a flawed male, he is not the typical hormonal teenager. He has no ulterior motives for helping Heaven and is truly working to aid her in solving this mystery. Although the story takes place over three days, the developing feelings between David and Heaven is slow and a background in comparison to the adventurous journey to finding the answers about Heaven's heart.
The story itself is sprinkled with the paranormal as well as fantasy that makes it a fantastic blend of genres. I really enjoyed the mystery of this story set during the chilly winter of London. The reader is left with so many questions from the start about Heaven and her heart and its an insanely good time trying to solve these questions along with David and Heaven. The story is a fast paced ride through some of the most terrifying and heart wrenching scenarios that will just strengthen you love for this book. I highly recommend this book to those who love story that'll keep you on edge from start to finish with a mystery that leaves you lost until the very end.