Black Heart by Holly Black

Black Heart
(Curse Workers, #3)
by Holly Black 
Released |April 3rd 2012 by Margaret K. McElderry Books|
Edition |Audio|
Source |Library|
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In a world where Magic is illegal.
Cassel Sharpe has the most deadly ability of all. With one touch, he can transform any object - including a person - into something else entirely. And that makes him a wanted man. The Feds are willing to forgive all his past crimes if he'll only leave his con artist family behind and go straight. But why does going straight feel so crooked?
For one thing, it means being on the opposite side of the law from Lila, the girl he loves. She's the daughter of a mob boss and getting ready to join the family business herself. Though Cassel is pretty sure she can never love him back, he can't stop obsessing over her. Which would be bad enough, even if her father wasn't keeping Cassel's mother prisoner in a posh apartment and threatening not to let her leave until she returns the priceless diamond she scammed off him years ago. Too bad she can't remember where she put it.
The Feds say they need Cassel to get rid of a powerful man who is spinning dangerously out of control. But if they want Cassel to use his unique talent to hurt people, what separates the good guys from the bad ones? Or is everyone just out to con him?
Time is running out, and all Cassel's magic and cleverness might not be enough to save him. With no easy answers and no one he can trust, love might be the most dangerous gamble of all

This was a fun and interesting trilogy that I enjoyed very much. I started the trilogy on a whim when I saw it at my library and I'm glad I did. The characters were very fun with their conning capabilities and throughout all the conning, there was some romance. I like the witchy element that goes along with the story. If you like that kind of a story I believe you should give the books a try. I believe this final book was probably my favorite and the most interesting of them all because it wrapped up nicely.

Wishlist Wednesday (56): Killer Instinct

Wishlist Wednesday is a book blog hop where we will post about one book per week that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added (it's entirely up to you), that we can't wait to get off the wishlist and onto our wonderful shelves.
Hosted by: Pen to Paper

Killer Instinct
by Shannon Greenland
Releases |May 6th 2014 by Simon Pulse|
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She’s not evil, but she has certain... urges.
Lane is a typical teenager. Loving family. Good grades. Afterschool job at the local animal hospital. Martial arts enthusiast. But her secret obsession is studying serial killers. She understands them, knows what makes them tick.
Why?
Because she might be one herself.
Lane channels her dark impulses by hunting criminals—delivering justice when the law fails. The vigilantism stops shy of murder. But with each visceral rush the line of self-control blurs.
And then a young preschool teacher goes missing. Only to return... in parts.
When Lane excitedly gets involved in the hunt for “the Decapitator,” the vicious serial murderer that has come to her hometown, she gets dangerously caught up in a web of lies about her birth dad and her own dark past. And once the Decapitator contacts Lane directly, Lane knows she is no longer invisible or safe. Now she needs to use her unique talents to find the true killer’s identity before she—or someone she loves—becomes the next victim..

Why I'm Wishing...
I stumbled across this and thought it sounded pretty interesting. I like mystery books and really want to try and read more of them :) The author's name on goodreads different than the one on the cover.

The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Traitor
(The Iron Fey, Call of the Forgotten, #2)
by Julie Kagawa
Released |October 29th 2013 by Harlequin Teen|
Edition |eARC|
Source |Netgalley|
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In the real world, when you vanish into thin air for a week, people tend to notice.
After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for-his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.
But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all.

You know what?! It's endings like this that drive me insane. It makes a person want to go crazy! As usual, I am dying to get my hands on the next installment. What am I suppose to do until then. Once the chick opened her mouth, I KNEW what was going to happen, but it was still like, NOOOOOOO! The torture of having to wait for the next book is real. What am I going to do until then?! Guru's words played through my head over and over again once I read that final page. If you have not read any of these awesome fairy books by Julie Kagawa, you should definitely give them a try :) And if you have read these books, you must read the sequel! OMG.

Requiem by Lauren Oliver

Requiem
(Delirium, #3)
by Lauren Oliver 
Released |March 5th 2013 by HarperCollins Children's Books|
Edition |Audio|
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They have tried to squeeze us out, to stamp us into the past.
But we are still here.
And there are more of us every day.
Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight.
After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor.
Maybe we are driven crazy by our feelings.
Maybe love is a disease, and we would be better off without it.
But we have chosen a different road.
And in the end, that is the point of escaping the cure: We are free to choose.
We are even free to choose the wrong thing.
Requiem is told from both Lena’s and Hana’s points of view. The two girls live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge.

I had mixed feelings about this final book in the Delirium series. I was kind of expecting a lot more of this without really know that I was. As a whole this book was okay and as a whole this series was just okay too. In this final installment, Lena reverted back to being an annoyance for me. She was the definition of WHINY. And listening to the audio book and having the narrator mimic the whining was annoying as hell, but also kind of cool since she sounded just like I imagined she would. The thing that got me with this book was that I enjoyed Hanna's parts more than I enjoyed Lena's parts. I liked being inside of Hanna's head because I found her to be an interesting character and also seeing the things that she was going through. But what really made me dislike this book was the Lena, Alex, and Julian thing. I don't even want to get started because if I did, I would reveal spoilers. Overall, I was kind of disappointed in this trilogy. That's just me being honest. Would I recommend it? Maybe.

Wishlist Wednesday (56): Embers and Ash

Wishlist Wednesday is a book blog hop where we will post about one book per week that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added (it's entirely up to you), that we can't wait to get off the wishlist and onto our wonderful shelves.
Hosted by: Pen to Paper

Embers and Ash
(Cold Fury, #3)
by T.M. Goeglein
Releases |July 10th 2014 by Putnam Juvenile|
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Sara Jane Rispoli is on the wrong side of the Russian mob, but closer to finding her family than ever. And she's willing to do whatever it takes to finally end this terrible journey even if the price is her own life.
The very cold fury that has seen her through the worst of her troubles is now killing her; she knows the cure, but she can't sacrifice the deadly electricity until she's rescued her family. But when she finally does rescue them, it's not the happy reunion she pictured. And the torment doesn't stop there, not even when she finally discovers Ultimate Power. Only destroying the Outfit completely can end this terrible nightmare.
Old enemies return to seek vengeance, double-crosses abound, and even more mysteries are uncovered as we rocket toward an end no one saw coming.

Why I'm Wishing...
This series is so fun! The mob and the mystery behind everything is so fun and suspenseful and I can't wait to see what happens in this final book :)

Other Books in the Series

Cover Re-reveal: Aurora Sky

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

 

 If there is one thing eighteen-year-old Aurora Sky wants, it's to get off the iceberg she calls home. Being kissed before she graduates wouldn't hurt either. Then a near-fatal car wreck changes everything. Government agents step in and save Aurora's life in exchange for her services as a vampire hunter in Alaska. Basically she's a glorified chew toy. All thanks to her rare blood type which sends a vampire into temporary paralysis before she has to finish the job...by hand. Now Aurora's only friends are groupies of the undead and the only boy she can think about may very well be a vampire. And if he's a vampire, will she be forced to kill him?   AURORA SKY: VAMPIRE HUNTER is the first in a YA Mature/New Adult paranormal fantasy series.

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Nook | Sony | Kobo | iTunes | Smashwords | Goodreads

 Love Bites. Probation sucks. Thanks to Dante's recklessness, Aurora is now partners with Valerie: the redheaded, backstabbing vixen. Dante is in full flirt mode. Fane's tactics are more ruthless. Something carnal has awakened in Aurora and neither boy is helping tame her cravings. When a member of the unit's team is found dead, Aurora and Valerie are sent after a vampire in Sitka, but Aurora suspects the killer's much closer to home.  

 Amazon US | Amazon UK | Nook | Sony | Kobo | iTunes | Smashwords | Goodreads

Cover Credits

Design and artwork: Claudia at Phatpuppy Art

Photos: Teresa Yeh Photography 

Typography: Ashley at The Bookish Brunette

Models: Gabriella (Aurora) and Alyssa Dearest (Valerie) 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nikki Jefford is a third generation Alaskan with a degree in journalism from the University of Alaska Anchorage. She loves fantasy, magic, fictional bad boys, and heroines who kick butt.

Nikki married Sebastien, the love of her life, while working as a teaching assistant at a high school in Amiens, France during the 1999-2000 school year. They now reside in the not-so-tropical San Juan Islands, 70 miles northeast of Forks, Wash. in a town without a single traffic light.

Follow Nikki on Twitter

Connect with her on Facebook

Visit her website.

Hereafter by Kate Brian

Hereafter
(Shadowlands, #2)
by Kate Brian
Released |October 1st 2013 by Disney-Hyperion|
Edition |eARC|
Source |Netgalley|
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Rory Miller thought her life was over when a serial killer set his sights on her and forced her into witness protection. But a fresh start on Juniper Landing Island was exactly what she and her family needed. For the first time in years she and her sister hang out at the beach, gossip about boys, and party together. She's also made friends with a local clique--including a magnetic and mysterious boy named Tristan.
But Rory's world is about to change again. Picturesque Juniper Landing isn't what it seems. The truth about the swirling fog that rolls in each morning, the bridge that leads to nowhere, and those beautiful locals who seem to watch Rory's every move is more terrifying than being hunted by Steven Nell. And all Rory ever wanted was the truth. Even if it means learning that she can never go home again. From the best-selling author of the Private and Privilege series comes the second novel in a heart-stopping trilogy about a girl who must pick up the pieces after the only life she's ever known ends.

I found Hereafter to be a fast paced read. It's was filled with a ton of fast paced and action packed moments that leave you with a feeling of anticipation. I thought the book was suspenseful, but it was also a light read all the same. I was really excited to back into this world on Juniper Landing because the ending of the first book left me curious and confused and I wanted to know what exactly was going on. In this installment, Rory and her friends have noticed that things are going wrong in Juniper. Things are happening that are inexplicable and she wants to know why. But Rory also has found out information that she can't reveal to her family. So the secrets began! (Okay... So that's the best I could do without giving any spoilers. I thought the characters were pretty interesting in this book. I really like Rory's personality and I really liked seeing more of the other characters.

Book Hauling It Up (72)

Hey Everyone,

This week's haul consists of the last 3 weeks worth of books (includes books I got for my bday)!
Oh, and yesterday makes 2 YEARS BLOGGING for me! And it completely skipped my mind lol
I'm so excited :) I cannot believe it has been 2 years since I've started blogging.
A giveaway will be up sometime within the next week for it!
Yesterday I also watched the live book discussion for House of Hades by Rick Riordan (on youtube with Polandbananabooks, Katytastic + more) and it was a fun experience.

I took a bit of a blogging break because I had a lot going on, but I want to thank everyone for the birthday and the feel better comments! I meant a lot to me :) I'm feeling extremely better and have finally started back reading.

Library

I have already listened to the audio and enjoyed it :)

Bought Ebooks and Print Books

The House of Hades was awesome!

Cover Reveal: Embers and Ash by T.M. Goeglein

Embers & Ash

(Cold Fury, #3)

by T.M. Goeglein 

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Sara Jane Rispoli is on the wrong side of the Russian mob, but closer to finding her family than ever. And she's willing to do whatever it takes to finally end this terrible journey even if the price is her own life.

The very cold fury that has seen her through the worst of her troubles is now killing her; she knows the cure, but she can't sacrifice the deadly electricity until she's rescued her family. But when she finally does rescue them, it's not the happy reunion she pictured. And the torment doesn't stop there, not even when she finally discovers Ultimate Power. Only destroying the Outfit completely can end this terrible nightmare.

Old enemies return to seek vengeance, double-crosses abound, and even more mysteries are uncovered as we rocket toward an end no one saw coming

"Cover reveal - EMBERS & ASH by Ted Goeglein, the final installment in the COLD FURY trilogy from Penguin Books, coming in August 2014! (Book II, FLICKER & BURN, is out now!) http://www.tmgoeglein.com/index.php."

Other Books in the Series

Red Glove by Holly Black

Red Glove 
(Curse Workers, #2)
by Holly Black
Released |April 5th 2011 by Margaret K. McElderry Books|
Edition |Audio|
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Curses and cons.
Magic and the mob.
In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth — he’s the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything — or anyone — into something else.
That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she’s human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila’s been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion-worker mom. And if Lila’s love is as phony as Cassel’s made-up memories, then he can’t believe anything she says or does.
When Cassel’s oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue — crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too — they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can’t trust anyone — least of all, himself?
Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose

I decided to give the audio book for book 2 a try even though I had a few problems with the audio for book one. But I'm glad that I didn't have any problems with this one. I became use to the male narrator and started to really enjoy his reading style. I wasn't put off by it in this book. But anyways, I really enjoyed the sequel to White Cat. It was a fun mysterious adventure and really left you wanting to find out what happens next. In this book, Cassel is searching for his brother's killer and is also dealing with Lila being worked to love him! The DRAMA! This was very fast paced :)

Wishlist Wednesday (55): Endless

Wishlist Wednesday is a book blog hop where we will post about one book per week that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added (it's entirely up to you), that we can't wait to get off the wishlist and onto our wonderful shelves.
Hosted by: Pen to Paper

Endless
(Shadowlands, #3)
by Kate Brian
Releases |July 22nd 2014 by Disney-Hyperion |
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An unthinkable betrayal threatens everyone Rory loves in the third installment of our dark, thrilling Shadowlands series from New York Times best-selling author Kate Brian.
Rory Miller didn't just fall in love with Tristan Parrish. She fell in love with the idea of forever. He was the one who told her the truth about her existence in Juniper Landing: that her mortal life is over, and she will now spend eternity on the island, helping others in limbo move on.
But like Juniper Landing, a bright island with dark secrets, Tristan is too good to be true. The mysterious, heartbreakingly beautiful boy Rory thought she knew is responsible for unthinkable evil-sending good souls to the Shadowlands in order to get himself a second chance at life on Earth. He has already claimed Rory's friend Aaron and her own father, but when Tristan sends her sister, Darcy, to the Shadowlands, too, Rory decides to take matters into her own hands. She will do anything to save her family, even if it means going to hell and back.

Cover Not Final

Why I'm Wishing...
I recently finished the second installment and enjoyed it and I'm curious to see how the third will turn out.

Other Books in the Series

Cover Love (24)

Hey Everyone,

While I was on my 'blogging break' I came across quite a few covers :)
Any specific ones you like or are dying to read?
I'd love to know!

I really want to give the Wendy Higgins and Kelsey Sutton books a try :) And it's nice to finally see a cover for Heart Beat since I have a copy for review. 

I really need to start the Soul Screamers series and continue on with the of poseidon books as well. I want to check out After the End.

Those Miss Peregrine's books have the creepiest covers lol

Is that a cover change for the Inventor's Secret?

Inhuman by Kat Falls

Inhuman 
(Fetch, #1)
by Kat Falls
Released |September 24th 2013 by Scholastic|
Edition |eARC|
Source |Netgalley|
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In a world ravaged by mutation, a teenage girl must travel into the forbidden Savage Zone to recover lost artifacts or her father’s life is forfeit.
America has been ravaged by a war that has left the eastern half of the country riddled with mutation. Many of the people there exhibit varying degrees of animal traits. Even the plantlife has gone feral.
Crossing from west to east is supposed to be forbidden, but sometimes it’s necessary. Some enter the Savage Zone to provide humanitarian relief. Sixteen-year-old Lane’s father goes there to retrieve lost artifacts—he is a Fetch. It’s a dangerous life, but rewarding—until he’s caught.
Desperate to save her father, Lane agrees to complete his latest job. That means leaving behind her life of comfort and risking life and limb—and her very DNA—in the Savage Zone. But she’s not alone. In order to complete her objective, Lane strikes a deal with handsome, roguish Rafe. In exchange for his help as a guide, Lane is supposed to sneak him back west. But though Rafe doesn’t exhibit any signs of “manimal” mutation, he’s hardly civilized . . . and he may not be trustworthy

Inhuman was an interesting read for me. I found that I enjoyed the story overall. I thought the book was fun and entertaining. It was also action packed and fast paced! I thought the dystopian world was okay. I didn't think it was the best and have felt like I have read many like this, but it was still interesting to read about. I really liked the way the author went with the virus. I liked how the people are being infected with different kinds of animal virus and I thought that was an interesting concept to take on. This book seemed to be more about the journey that Lane went on during the fetch instead of the actual fetch itself.

A week break from blogging...

Hi everyone,

I'll be taking the next week off from blogging just to take a little break.
I'll still be on twitter and goodreads, but I'm going to take a break from the blog for a week.
I'm sort of still grieving for the death of my dog that died on the night of my birthday. I think the hardest part is that he died on my birthday. I feel like I've lost a family member or a friend and it still hurts every time I think about it. I've had him since I was 16 and I'm now 23 so he was very much apart of my family.

So I just want to take this week to further clear my mind and relax since I'm on break from school as well. But I will surely be back and all comments will be returned if my blog has been visited during the week or the past few days.

Away for the weekend

Hey everyone,

I hope everyone is having a great weekend :) Saturday, October 5, is my birthday and I will really busy and will be going out of town Friday with a few friends. I will be back blogging Monday and will definitely have a birthday haul next Saturday!

And this 8week semesters is now over but I will be back at my classes in 2 weeks. But yeah, just wanted to let everyone know :)  I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Pandemonium
(Delirium, #2)
by Lauren Oliver
Released |February 28th 2012 by HarperTeen |
Edition |Audio|
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I’m pushing aside
the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana
and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.

I've kind of been on the fence about what to rate this. I enjoyed it, but it took me awhile to fully get into the story. I've been really wanting to read it and have had the paperback on my shelf for awhile, but new I wouldn't be able to read it anytime soon, so I decided to get the audio from my library. I really like the world that Lauren Oliver has created for us with the whole idea of love being a disease. It makes things so intriguing, but I did have quite a few problems with the book that kept me from enjoying them.

Wishlist Wednesday (54): Expiration Day

Wishlist Wednesday is a book blog hop where we will post about one book per week that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added (it's entirely up to you), that we can't wait to get off the wishlist and onto our wonderful shelves.
Hosted by: Pen to Paper

Expiration Day 
by William Campbell Powell
Releases |April 22nd 2014 by Tor Teen|
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What happens when you turn eighteen and there are no more tomorrows?
It is the year 2049, and humanity is on the brink of extinction….
Tania Deeley has always been told that she’s a rarity: a human child in a world where most children are sophisticated androids manufactured by Oxted Corporation. When a decline in global fertility ensued, it was the creation of these near-perfect human copies called teknoids that helped to prevent the utter collapse of society.
Though she has always been aware of the existence of teknoids, it is not until her first day at The Lady Maud High School for Girls that Tania realizes that her best friend, Siân, may be one. Returning home from the summer holiday, she is shocked by how much Siân has changed. Is it possible that these changes were engineered by Oxted? And if Siân could be a teknoid, how many others in Tania’s life are not real?
Driven by the need to understand what sets teknoids apart from their human counterparts, Tania begins to seek answers. But time is running out. For everyone knows that on their eighteenth “birthdays,” teknoids must be returned to Oxted—never to be heard from again.