July Wrap Up

July Wrap Up:

Challenges

Another good month for reading, I'm slowly getting caught up on reviews too! Man that week away in the sun was great for reading. How are your challenges going? Read anything great this month?

Women Author Challenge - COMPLETED

1. Pandora Hearts Volume 2 by Jun Mochizuki

2. The Archived (Sneak Peak) by Victoria Schwab [review]

3. Word and Breath by Susannah Noel

4. Princess by Courtney Cole [review]

5. Geek Girl by Holly Smale [review]

6. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire [review]

7. Dahlia by Christina Channelle [review]

8. Fallen Tears by Christina Channelle [review]

9. Hot Ticket by Olivia Cunning

10. Demon Possession by Kiersten Fay

11. Imaginable by J. Meyers [review]

12. Rowan by Christina Channelle [review]

13. A Unique Rabbit by Red Tash

14. Pandora Hearts Volume 3 by Jun Mochizuki

15. Pandora Hearts Volume 4 by Jun Mochizuki

16. The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood

17. Before the Moon Rises by Catherine Bybee

18. Marked by P.C. Cast

19. Death Dealer by Ashley Robertson [review]

Total: 19 / 10

Dystopia Reading Challenge

1. Extras by Scott Westerfeld [review]

2. Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion [review]

3. Word and Breath by Susannah Noel

4. Boarded Windows by Isaac Marion

5. Word War Z by Max Brooks

Total: 5 / 6

Indie-Fever Reading Challenge - COMPLETED

1. The Unwords by Unauthor [review]

2. Snow White Blood Red by Cameron Jace [review]

3. Ashes to Ashes & Cinder to Cinder by Cameron Jace [review]

4. Beauty Never Dies by Cameron Jace [review]

5. Ladle Rat Rotten Hut by Cameron Jace [review]

6. Mary Mary Quite Contrary by Cameron Jace [review]

7. Blood Apples by Cameron Jace [review]

8. Once Beauty Twice Beast by Cameron Jace

9. Moon and Madly by Cameron Jace

10. Princess by Courtney Cole [review]

11. Word and Breath by Susannah Noel

12. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire [review]

13. Dahlia by Christina Channelle [review]

14. Fallen Tears by Christina Channelle [review]

15. Demon Possession by Kiersten Fay

16. Imaginable by J. Meyers [review]

17. Rowan by Christina Channelle [review]

18. A Unique Rabbit by Red Tash

19. Before the Moon Rises by Catherine Bybee*

Total: 19 / 16

*Please note: I'm unsure whether to count this book because she has been published before but this particular book was self-published so?

TBR Reading Challenge

1. Extras by Scott Westerfeld [review]

2. Pandora Hearts Volume 2 by Jun Mochizuki

3. Vampires Werewolves Zomvies Compendium Monstrum by Bruce Waldman

4. Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life by Bryan Lee O'Malley [review]

5. Lost at Sea by Bryan Lee O'Malley [review]

6. Word and Breath by Susannah Noel

7. Princess by Courtney Cole [review]

8. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire [review]

9. Pandora Hearts Vol 3 by Jun Mochizuki

10. Pandora Hearts Vol 4 by Jun Mochizuki

11. The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams

12. A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin

13. World War Z by Max Brooks

Total: 13 / 20

(Ongoing) Millionaire Challenge:

21,821 (+ 7 unknown) pages down!

A-Z Book Challenge:

A - Ashes to Ashes and Cinder to Cinder 25.01

B - Beauty Never Dies 25.01

C - A Clash of Kings 17.07

D - Dahlia 25.03

E - Extras 08.01

F - Fallen Tears: A Blood Crave Novella 28.03

G - Geek Girl 07.03

H - Hot Ticket 05.04

I - Imaginable 05.05

L - Ladle Rat Rotten Hut 26.01

M - Mary Mary Quite Contrary 28.01

O - Once Beauty Twice Beast 04.02

P - Pandora Hearts, #2 08.01

R - Rowan 14.06

S - Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life 13.01

U - The Unwords 03.01

V - Vampires, Werewolves, Zombies Compendium Monstrum: From the Papers of Herr Doktor Max Sturm & Baron Ludwig Von Drang 09.01

W - Warm Bodies 12.01

X - xkcd 17.07

Total: 19 / 26

Shelf Stacking
I actually bought some ebooks this month thanks to humble bundle, it was only cheap and a percentage of the money went to charity too. But again most were free, won, gifts or for review.

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion - Review

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Publisher: Vintage
First Published: 1st January 2010
Genre: Young Adult / Horror / Romance
Series: Warm Bodies #1
Page Count: 240

Synopsis: 'R' is a zombie. He has no name, no memories and no pulse, but he has dreams. He is a little different from his fellow Dead.

Amongst the ruins of an abandoned city, R meets a girl. Her name is Julie and she is the opposite of everything he knows - warm and bright and very much alive, she is a blast of colour in a dreary grey landscape. For reasons he can't understand, R chooses to save Julie instead of eating her, and a tense yet strangely tender relationship begins.

This has never happened before. It breaks the rules and defies logic, but R is no longer content with life in the grave. He wants to breathe again, he wants to live, and Julie wants to help him. But their grim, rotting world won't be changed without a fight..

Review:
5 / 5 stars

Well... where do I start with this beauty? I feel like I remember every part of this book so clearly, I mean obviously I don't because I have the worst memory ever but I truly loved every moment I spent reading Warm Bodies.

Which wasn't very long because I read it all in a day.

Warm Bodies follows R who is dead, a zombie, as he goes about his day to day life. Its basically an internal monologue or diary and its very comical, in a twisted kind of way. I mean he is a zombie after all. Oh and Marion's writing is so very beautiful, its almost poetical how he goes about some of the descriptions.

One of the aspects that I thought was most interesting was even though they were no longer human, many of them clearly hung onto human aspects of their previous lives, for example we're shown a zombie wedding, the building of a family, hunting to eat and re-enacting sex, like the main instincts are still there and to me, it all boils down to the different types of hunger we more often than not have as a human - hunger to have someone who we love to spend our lives with, hunger to start and create our own family and hunger for food. I mean sure there is more to life than this but its almost like the zombies have zoned in on these things specifically.

I'm babbling a little here aren't I?

Anyway what I am trying to say is that it was really interesting seeing these everyday aspects of our lives to be recreated by zombies, for zombies and from a zombie's point of view.

Once Julie enters the scene things continued to hold my interest at a pace that held my attention more than any book I've read in a long time, we get to see R's world start to change for the better and the development of the relationship between the two is far from boring. What is also enjoyable is noticing the change and development in R himself as he slowly starts to form and hold onto more and more human notions, whilst being tasked with fighting a war not only with humans that aren't open to the idea that zombies can come back from death, but also with the elder zombies who do not welcome change.

I could probably go on more and more about this book whilst continuing to praise every aspect from it but I think what I've written has done the job and you'll see I haven't a negative bone to pick with this at all. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't thank my Dad enough for buying it me for Christmas.

GR
Amazon: UK*
Isaac Marion: Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

* When purchasing through this link, I will earn a small amount, once I have enough saved up I'll put it towards a giveaway.

Vamps vs Zombies Event

My Shelf Confessions is having a month long event celebrating all things Zombie and Vampire! Which monster reigns supreme?! There will be a Giveaway Blog Hop, a Linky Up Challenge where you can link your Vampire/Zombie themed posts from the month of August, a Books, Brains ‘n Blood Read-a-Thon, lots of Hosted Challenges, author guest posts/interviews, twitter parties, reviews and giveaway gore galore!!

I've signed up to Read-a-thon and hope to be able to take part in lots of the other events going on too, stop by MSC to find out more guys :)

Review: Death Dealer by Ashley Robertson + Giveaway

Death Dealer by Ashley Robertson

Published: July 2013

Publisher: Obsidian Publishing

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Series: A Death Angel Novella (#1)

Page Count: 140

Synopsis: Death: a word Mia Baron was all too familiar with since the murder of her parents when she was a young girl. Her drive for vengeance was the reason she became a Death Dealer—a soul guide through the spirit realm—signing her life away in her own blood. Pain forged a concrete wall around her heart and no one or nothing would ever penetrate it…until she got what she desired most—revenge.

Deacon Gage craves justice for his own horrific tragedy that forced him into the same life Mia chose, with the same promise of vengeance dangling just out of reach. His expert training makes him an Elite—one of the few Death Dealers to ever achieve such a status—and no one can shift his focus from the blood he seeks.

But when the two are partnered for yet another job and a heart-shattering case rips open Mia’s heart, Deacon realizes he’s the only one who can save her…at a price that might be too much to pay: opening his heart to her. The clock is ticking and her life hangs on the balance of whether he can truly let go or will hold onto his desire for blood.

Review: 

3.5 / 5 stars

I have been lucky enough to receive an ecopy of Death Dealer as part of a book tour hosted by IMR Blog Tours,which does in no way reflect my opinion of the book. 

Death Dealer is only 140 pages so like with all novella's I'll try not to give too much away. 

What I first noted and loved throughout the whole of the book was the world building, because whilst it's set on Earth as we know it, the characters spend a lot of their time in the Spirit Realm which is obviously something we have no knowledge of. I love the description for this world, the dangers it held and how spirits reacted to being here.

Also I really loved the whole concept of Death Dealers, they're regular people like you and I who are approached to become a Death Dealer who after training is allowed to collect the souls of the dead, transport them to the Spirit Realm and guide them to the correct gate - Heaven or Hell - but of course its not always that easy, some spirits aren't happy with the decision and well there are other dangers in the Spirit Realm.

Demons attack Mia and Deacon at every opportunity in the Spirit Realm and this is great because not only is it interesting to see how the spirits react but also to see them fighting, I love fight scenes especially when the fighter *cough*Deacon*cough* has to prioritise his fighting over checking that someone *cough*Mia*cough* is okay - his internal struggle was lovely.

The only thing I didn't like about this book was some of the "romancy-er" (I know this isn't a word) scenes were at really awkward times, like you know over the dead body of a murderer. It just felt a little out of place. But seeing their relationship grow - at none awkward times - was great. I just wish characters weren't as oblivious to their own feelings.

I'm looking forward to the sequel, now that their relationship has been established there shouldn't be any of that awkward "why do I feel this way?" and we got a teaser of Blood Promise (A Death Angel Novella #2) at the end of the book which was a nice way to make us eager.

Goodreads

Amazon * | B&N

* When purchasing through this link, I will earn a small amount, once I have enough saved up I'll put it towards a giveaway.

Giveaway!

One ecopy of Death Dealer.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Bio:

Ashley Robertson

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Ashley Robertson resides in sunny Orlando, Florida, and loves writing about anything paranormal. She also composes poems and songs, though she learned long ago she doesn't have a singing voice. When she isn't writing you'll find her spending time with family and friends, training in her home gym, travelling and exploring new places, and drinking fine wines and gourmet coffees from her Nespresso machine.Visit her website to learn about her upcoming releases, guest blog posts, and featured giveaways at: AshleyRobertsonBooks.com
2013 National Indie Excellence Awards Finalist of the Fantasy genre for her book Unguarded.

Wishlist Wednesday (54)

Yet more books by Kelley Armstrong, this time it's The Summoning and Bitten, I just really want to read all her books!

GR synopsis for The Summoning: 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 any more. 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 house mates 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.

GR synopsis for Bitten: Elena Michaels seems like the typically strong and sexy modern woman, She lives with her architect boyfriend, writes for a popular newspaper, and works out at the gym. She's also a werewolf. 

Elena has done all she can to assimilate to the human world, but the man whose bite changed her existence forever, and his legacy, continue to haunt her. Thrown into a desperate war for survival that tests her allegiance to a secret clan of werewolves, Elena must recon with who, and what, she is in this passionate, page-turning novel.

Wishlist Wednesday is a book blog hop hosted by Pen to Paper where we share and post about a book that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added, that we can't wait to get off the wishlist.

Book Blast: Epiphany by Christina Jean Michaels & Giveaway

Thanks to Xpresso Book Tours I get to squeal and celebrate the release of the following book with you, my lovely readers, by sharing an excerpt from the book and giving you TWO giveaways to enter.

Epiphany by Christina Jean Michaels
Published: 19th July 2013
Genre: NA/17+ Romantic Suspense
Goodreads
Amazon UK*
Amazon US
* When purchasing through this link, I will earn a small amount, once I have enough saved up I'll put it towards a giveaway.

Synopsis: “I had my first psychic dream when I was nine. Psychic implied power, and powerful wasn't a word I’d use to describe myself. I couldn’t foretell the future or conjure visions at will, but I couldn't think of a more fitting word to describe what I sometimes saw in my dreams.”

For 23-year-old Mackenzie Hill, tossing her life down the garbage disposal is easy after a painful incident shatters her life. Her heart is bleeding, and moving to Watcher’s Point is a chance to start anew, only she isn’t prepared for the guy who walks out of her dreams and into the flesh. Literally . . . because she’s been dreaming about this sexy stranger for years.

Mackenzie is even less prepared to face the dark nature of her dreams. They've turned disturbingly gruesome, full of blood and murder, and when they begin to coincide with the media’s headlines, she and Aidan realize her visions might be the key to stopping a madman from killing again.

Only Aidan has painful secrets of his own, and perhaps the biggest danger of all is falling for him.

Author Bio:
Christina Jean Michaels
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Christina Jean Michaels was born in Paradise, California, but she has found the true home of her heart in Eugene, Oregon where she finds plenty of inspiration for storytelling. 

When she was young, her mother said she hated words. Now she can't imagine not writing. She became an avid reader when she was thirteen and discovered the world of Sweet Valley High. About a year later she realized she could play God and write about her own characters. She has been writing in some form ever since.

She lives with her husband and their four children—three rambunctious UFC/wrestling-loving boys and one girl who steals everyone’s attention.

Excerpt:

A half hour later, after three rounds of drinks and a dozen lurid jokes, I extracted myself and was certain four pairs of lascivious eyes were glued to my ass.

Six grabbed my arm mid-stride and gestured toward Aidan. “Talk to him. It won’t kill you, I promise.”

I wasn’t so sure about that—I’d been trying to talk to him all week, but he’d been tight-lipped. The band went to break, and I kissed my excuse to duck and hide goodbye. Six gave me a final nudge in his direction.

“How’s it going?” I asked, gripping the counter for support. His eyes answered for him. Troubled and drawn, they indicated a sleepless night. Two full shot glasses sat between his hands; three empties had already been pushed aside.

This couldn’t be a good sign.

I said the first thing that came to mind. “No costume tonight?”

“I’m not really in a festive mood.” His eyes traveled the length of my body, and the corner of his mouth crept up in a lopsided smile. “Nice hat,” he said, swaying in his seat, “but Bonnie was blond.”

“I don’t play well with hair dye or wigs. It’s a character flaw.” What had gotten into me? Talking to the opposite sex had never come so easily, especially with a man as attractive as Aidan.

Sexy. Gorgeous. Hmm . . . wonder what’s underneath those clothes?

I swallowed hard. Now who had lascivious eyes? Time to pour cement into my mind’s gutter.

“You’re right. I can’t picture you blond.” He swayed on the barstool again, and I figured he must have hit the bottle before arriving. “Where’s Clyde hiding?”

“Bonnie’s an independent woman. She’s going solo.”

“Maybe you’ll get into less trouble that way.” He downed the remaining two shots without warning. The last hit the counter with a racket. “Can you believe today is my birthday?” The scorn in his tone confused me. Most people didn't get so bent over a birthday.

I wasn't sure how to reply. Somehow I guessed “happy birthday” wasn't what he wanted to hear. I silently waited, hoping he’d shed some light. Even in my dreams - where I learned of things I had no way of explaining to others - he remained a mystery.

“I’ll take another round,” he said, gesturing toward the empties. “Make them doubles.”

I swallowed hard. “You sure? You've had a lot already.”

He flashed that crooked smile again, and I wondered if he realized how disarming it was. “You’re worried about me?” he asked.

I hesitated. “Yeah, I am.” Way more than I wanted to admit. Tonight was Halloween, after all.

Sounds good huh? I hope to read it one day but my to be read list is already much longer than my own arm hah! Also I'm pretty sure its going to take a lot for "Aiden" to become a book boyfriend to me, not matter how hot and swoon-worthy he's described - simply because that is the same name of my boyfriends brother haha! Anyway, giveaway time! First up the grand prize one:

Giveaway #1

A signed copy of Epiphany and 25$ Amazon gift card

International

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway #2
An ecopy of Epiphany (mobi or epub)
International
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bought, Borrowed & Bagged (49)

BB&B (Bought, Borrowed and Bagged) is a weekly meme hosted by Braine and  Debbie @ Talk Supe where we share with you the books that we have bought, borrowed or bagged (won or gifted) plus a recap of the previous week's reviews, upcoming reviews, on going events and book movie or television news and The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news; a post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. As you can see I've decided to link on another weekly haul/wrap up meme because I'd like to start visiting some new blogs on the atmosphere and I find meme's are the best way to do so!

- Bought -
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and one of the Assassin's Creed books?
Purchased from WHSmiths at the airport, I couldn't resist! It was buy one get one half price, in fact I think my boyfriend spent his money rather than mine so I'm pretty sure these don't count as bought but more bagged ;) Also the AC book was for him and I don't know which one he picked up!



- Bagged -
Endure by Laura Diamond, The Companions by R. A. Salvatore, The Godborn by Paul S. Kemp and By Blood by Tracy E. Banghart
These are all review books, received from various places


Imitation by Heather Hildenbrand and King of Darkness by Elisabeth Saab
Both of these are ecopies that I won, thanks to Talk Supe and Indie-Fever Read and Review Challenge

Goddess Legacy by M.W. Muse
Freebie from Amazon


This fortnight on Northern Plunder:
Wishlist Wednesday
Enders Game: To See or Not?
Review: The Grimm Diaries Prequels by Jace Cameron
Progress Review Part One
Progress Review Part Two
Review: Geek Girl by Holly Smale


Upcoming on Northern Plunder:
Book Blast: Epiphany
Wishlist Wednesday
Review: Death Dealer
Review: Warm Bodies
July Wrap Up


Progress:
Read in 2013: 38 / 60
Gen Volume 1 by Shige Nakamura
Boarded Window by Isaac Marion
Death Dealer by Ashley Robertson
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams
A Clahs of Kings by George R. R. Martin
XKCD Volume 0 by Randall Munroe

Currently Reading:
World War Z by Max Brooks
Endure by Laura Diamond
The Companions by R. A. Salvatore
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins


News from Lauren:

Yikes I read a lot whilst I was on holiday, and I had a really great time. I'll include a few of my holiday photos below too and I didn't tan the slightest because I spent all my time in the shade and when I ventured out I was wearing factor 50!