Ohana Reads' 5th Blogiversary!

Hello friends! It's certainly been a year, and I haven't spent as much time here as I would have liked. Where I miss posting all the time, I just haven't been able to get into a routine of things anymore. I think saying that, I've come to terms with it. I'm officially okay with being that person who just posts randomly, I hope you guys are alright with that too.

Even though I haven't posted a bunch on the blog, I've still been very active on Twitter and in the book community. So if you ever want to chat, don't be afraid to hit me up!

Anyways, time for me to tell you about how my 2018 went:

Break Down of the Year:

Over 203, 672 Total Page Views

247 Published Comments

462 Published Posts

My Top Series Enders of 2013 being my most viewed post...at 47, 352 views

The Ohana Reads' 4th Blogiversary Post being my most viewed post of 2018... at 300 views

28 GFC Followers

1, 386 Twitter Followers

532 Instagram Followers

Like every year, I wouldn't have been able to survive the year without the help of some amazing friends and people in my life. Here are the people that made my year amazing.

Blog Tour: Invictus by Ryan Graudin

   Hello and welcome to the Invictus Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours! I am so happy to be apart of the tour, and an not wait to introduce you to the book! I'm a huge fan of Ryan Graudin and I hope you will be too! Today I have for you my review of the book as well as a giveaway, I hope you enjoy!

Invictus by Ryan Graudin

Release Date: September 26th, 2017

Read: September 20th-28th, 2017

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Series: Standalone

Format: ARC, 464 pages

Source: Publisher in exchange for honest review

Description from GoodReads:

   Time flies when you're plundering history.

   Farway Gaius McCarthy was born outside of time. The son of a time-traveling Recorder from 2354 AD and a gladiator living in Rome in 95 AD, Far's birth defies the laws of nature. Exploring history himself is all he's ever wanted, and after failing his final time-traveling exam, Far takes a position commanding a ship with a crew of his friends as part of a black market operation to steal valuables from the past. 

   But during a heist on the sinking Titanic, Far meets a mysterious girl who always seems to be one step ahead of him. Armed with knowledge that will bring Far's very existence into question, she will lead Far and his team on a race through time to discover a frightening truth: History is not as steady as it seems.

Review:

   Make a wish. Make it count.

   Three years ago I received a copy of Wolf by Wolf and could not put it down. It was full of action, adventure and mystery. Since then Ryan Graudin has become an instant buy for me, Invictus was one of those buys.

   I couldn't help but fall in love with the story of the time keeper and gladiator. The small bits we got at the beginning of the novel and at the end just weren't enough to satisfy me. I honestly could have read an entire book about the two of them, if Ryan announced a book tomorrow about the two of them I'd be the first one to pre-order.

   I found Invictus to be a little different when it came to the romance aspect of the novel. Most of the time the main characters will find love at some point in the novel, but in this case Far was already in a relationship when we met him. The developing romance were more focused on the secondary characters, and I couldn't have been happier about that. Everything about the romances in the novel were exceptional, they weren't the main focus of the novel, and they weren't anything but innocent and fun. I found their relationships rather fun to read.

   The story itself was exciting to read, I loved that they were able to time travel to whenever they wanted just because of the bargain they made. I understood how and why Far failed his exam, but I couldn't help but wonder what the story would have been like if he had passed. That's another book I would gladly read, an actual story about a time keeper going through time recording things. If she just wrote the story about Far's mom and the gladiator, and how she records time I would be so happy.

   Time traveling pirates, that's what I was expecting from Invictus. The description of the book tells us about a time traveling team who steals artifacts from historic events, oh and the captain just happens to be the product of a roman gladiator and a time traveling time keeper. Even with not particularly enjoying time travel, the premise sounded perfect. Unfortunately after reading the book I feel like the synopsis of the book did not suit the overall story that took place in the novel. In fact I feel like it put your heart in a different direction than what actually happens in the novel. Or at least, that's how it was for me.

   Invictus ended up being something completely different than what I initially expected, but I enjoyed it nevertheless. I can not wait to see what Ryan Graudin has in store for us next! Hopefully it'll be the story of his mom.... just saying.

Rating:

Favourite Quote:

"Are you you without your memories? If not, who do you become?"

Recommend to People Who Enjoy:

Young Adult, Time Travel, Saving the world, Villains turned hero, alternative universes, Guardians of the Galaxy

Ryan Graudin grew up in Charleston and graduated from the College of Charleston with a degree in Creative Writing in 2009. She is the author of All That Glows and The Walled City. She resides near Charleston with her husband and wolf-dog. You can find her online at www.ryangraudin.com. 

3 winners will receive a finished copy of INVICTUS, US Only.

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   Thank you so much for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed the tour!

Week One:

9/25/2017- Mary Had a Little Book Blog- Review

9/26/2017- The Petite Book Blogger- Review

9/27/2017- Seeing Double In Neverland- Review

9/28/2017- Mom with a Reading Problem- Review

9/29/2017- That Book Gal- Review

Week Two:

10/2/2017- Feed Your Fiction Addiction- Review

10/3/2017- The Book Nut- Review

10/4/2017- Omg Books and More Books- Review

10/5/2017- Wonderland Novels- Review

10/6/2017- Ohana Reads- Review

Book Blitz: A Cold Legacy by Megan Shepherd

Hey!

   So a couple of you may have noticed in my last post, I was in a bit of a hiatus. I was super busy for the past two weeks with exams and final projects. I guess at one point I had signed up for this amazing book blitz but ended up forgetting to post it! So feeling bad that I broke a promise to have it up for the 27th, I decided to post it today! I hope you guys don't mind, and I hope you guys end up enjoying The Madman's Daughter!


   If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author Megan Shepherd, be sure to check out all the details below.


   This blast also includes a giveaway for a signed copy of the book and swag courtesy of Megan and Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

A Cold Legacy by Megan Sheperd

Release Date: January 27, 2015
Publisher: Balzer+Bray/HarperCollins
Series: The Madman's Daughter #3
Format: Hardcover, 400 pages

Description from GoodReads:

   After killing the men who tried to steal her father’s research, Juliet—along with Montgomery, Lucy, Balthazar, and a deathly ill Edward—has escaped to a remote estate on the Scottish moors. Owned by the enigmatic Elizabeth von Stein, the mansion is full of mysteries and unexplained oddities: dead bodies in the basement, secret passages, and fortune-tellers who seem to know Juliet’s secrets. Though it appears to be a safe haven, Juliet fears new dangers may be present within the manor’s own walls.

   Then Juliet uncovers the truth about the manor’s long history of scientific experimentation—and her own intended role in it—forcing her to determine where the line falls between right and wrong, life and death, magic and science, and promises and secrets. And she must decide if she’ll follow her father’s dark footsteps or her mother’s tragic ones, or whether she’ll make her own.

   With inspiration from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, this breathless conclusion to the Madman’s Daughter trilogy is about the things we’ll sacrifice to save those we love—even our own humanity. 

p.21-24

   Montgomery stopped the horses outside a tavern. He came to the carriage door, opening it just a crack to keep the rain from drenching us. “I’m going to ask directions. We can’t be far now.”

   We watched him saunter over the muddy street as though he didn’t even feel the bite of freezing rain. A face appeared in the tavern window. The door opened and he spoke to a woman in a wool dress for a few moments, then stomped back through the mud. “This village is called Quick,” he told us. “The manor’s only five miles from here.”

   “Did you hear that?” Lucy murmured to Edward, still stroking his hair. “We’re almost there. Just hold on. Everything will be all right once we arrive.”

   Montgomery’s eyes shifted to me. Neither of us wanted to remind Lucy that the prospect of Edward’s fever breaking—and the Beast’s reappearance—was almost more frightening than the fever itself. Delirious, he was less of a threat.

   “Let’s go then,” I whispered to Montgomery. “And quickly.”

   He closed the door and in another moment we were moving again, passing through the rest of Quick. Then all too soon the village was nothing but fading lights. The storm grew and the road became rougher, and all the while Edward’s eyes rolled back and forth beneath shuttered lids.

   Thunder struck close by, and Lucy shrieked. Montgomery whipped the horses harder, pulling us along the uneven road impossibly fast, trying to outrun the storm. I twisted in the seat to look out the back window at the pelting rain. A stone fence ran alongside us.

   “We must be getting close,” I said.

   “Not soon enough,” Lucy breathed. “We’re going to crash if he keeps driving like this!”

   The road widened, straightening, letting us travel even faster. Lightning struck close by, blinding me. The horses bolted. Lucy screamed and covered her eyes, but I couldn’t tear mine away. The lightning had struck an enormous oak tree, twisted from centuries of wind. The oak took flame, blazing despite the rain. A smoking gash ran down the trunk—the lightning’s death mark. I watched until the rain put out most of the flames, but it still smoldered, billowing hot ash into the night.

   The horses pawed the earth, and I grabbed the window to steady myself. At this wild speed, just hitting a single rock at the wrong angle would send the carriage shattering to the ground. It was madness to go so fast. Couldn’t Montgomery calm the horses?

   Just when I feared the carriage would careen out of control, it stopped short, throwing me against the opposite wall. I tangled in Lucy’s limbs as the chains around Edward’s body clinked. Balthazar grunted, jerking awake at last. We scrambled in the bottom of the carriage until the door flew open.

Montgomery stood in the pelting rain. I feared he’d say we’d broken another strut or the horses had gone lame or we’d have to spend the night in the harsh storm.

   But then I saw the lights behind him, and the night took shape into a turreted stone manor with bright lamps blazing and gargoyles on the roof vomiting rain into a stone courtyard.

   Montgomery’s eyes met mine beneath the low brim of his hat.

   “We’ve arrived,” he said.

   Hello! 

   I’ve been many things, like a professional exchange student, park ranger in Montana, and LOST enthusiast, but what I am now is a writer.

   I think it’s fair to say I was born into it. I grew up in the mountains of North Carolina, raised behind the counter of my parents’ independent bookstore, Highland Books in Brevard. Ah, so many free books. But I never thought being a writer could be a real career. After college I thought I’d end up as a foreign service officer somewhere dashing and exotic, like Canada. I studied French, Spanish, German, and Russian and still speak a few of those. Then I joined the Peace Corps and spent two years in Senegal, where I learned a few more languages I’ll never speak again and lived in a mud hut with no electricity or running water. You can probably imagine how that experience went, but if you’re curious, here are the dirty details. 

   It wasn't until a chance aquaintance read something I wrote and said, "have you ever considered being a writer?" that something clicked and I realized it was possible. My husband encouraged me, and I quickly fell head-over-heels in love with writing and children's literature in particular. I started out writing articles, which have appeared in Faces, Appleseeds, and Calliope magazines, and stories for younger children. I soon realized I wasn’t sweet enough to write fiction for that age and found myself writing young adult literature instead, which doesn’t require nearly as many tender moments and includes a lot more cursing.

   When I'm not writing, I can usually be found horseback riding, day dreaming at coffee shops, or hiking in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina. I love to hear from readers, so please drop me a line!

   I am represented by Josh Adams of Adams Literary.
Author Photo by Kristi Hedberg Photography.

Giveaway Details:

   1 winner will receive a signed copy of A COLD LEGACY and swag! US Only.
Ends on February 6th at Midnight EST!

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   Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoy A Cold Legacy!

My First Blogiversary!

   One. Whole. Year.

   Oh my goodness how time has flown. Who would have thought I would have been blogging for a whole year? I sure didn't. When I first started blogging I would never have thought I'd have been so successful with everything, always posting, page views, blogger friends, actually getting ARCS. When I first started my blog, to be honest I only had one goal in mind, and that was to practice my writing skills.

   In 2010 when I first became obsessed with books, I couldn't get rid of the idea of having my own book published and on shelves in stores. Of course, my mom being a mom kept on telling me each day to practice writing. Being a procrastinator and a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to writing, I kept on putting it off. Eventually after some time my mom suggested starting a book blog, I decided to give it a chance. Now look where I am today!

   

   This year has been one of the most astounding years I've had in a while, not to mention one of the fastest. In the past year I started High School, I made a bunch of new friends in school and I've been always working and running my blog.

   When I first started my blog I thought I'd get maybe a few pages views a day. Little did I expect people would actually be interested in seeing what I post. 

   This is my break down for the year.

Over 60,000 page views

76 Published Comments

120 Total Posts

My Top Series Enders of 2013 being my most viewed post...at 2,713 views

14 Bloglovin Followers

11 GFC Followers 

522 Twitter Followers

75 Facebook likes

311 Instagram Followers

   While I obviously use some of my social media sites more often then others (*Cough* Twitter all day everyday. *Cough*)  I still think I've done pretty good otherwise.

   If there was one thing that I learned about blogging in the past year, it was that you couldn't do anything without the support of my fellow bloggers or who I now call friends. I wouldn't be who or where I am today without the following friends;

Stephanie @ Doodle's Book Reviews 

Crystal @ Crystal in Bookland

Jess @ Stuck in Books

Emily @ Tea & Fangirling

Matt @ That Crazy Fanboy

Jessica & Amber @ The Book Bratz

Stacie & Kayla @ A Wonderland of Reading

Meredith @ Pandora's Books

Emma @ Awkwardly Emma

Regina @ The Sunflower Pages

And a few others that I didn't mention!

   Along with meeting all these fabulous bloggers I also joined a few street teams which also helped me meet so many people! I even made my own street team with a few people, and let me tell you being apart of these teams is like being apart of a family.

   Along with Stephanie (Doodle's Book Reviews), Matt ( That Crazy Fanboy), Kira, Eli and Krystan. We started out little group on Twitter, and since we are always talking, books, movies, everything. These people are some of my favourite people to talk too, and I'm definitely glad I meet them this year. Like I said above, we are one big Gummy Bear Family.

Other Street Team's I joined :

(I have a few other, I just don't have any buttons for them. Check out my Street Team page for more info)

    I also got to meet many different authors and become great friends with them along the way, online and in person.

Highlights of Ohana Reads 2014:

   Everyone has their own highlights of the year, mine just happen to narrow down to 3 particular events.

1. Requesting ARC's for the very first time and actually being accepted and having them come in the mail. ( Burning Kingdoms by Lauren DeStefano & Eternal by C.C Hunter)

2. Getting an ARC of Diamonds in the Rough by Michelle Madow in the mail and discovering my name in the acknowledgements page. This event was one of the best events of 2014, having my name in a book was apart of a dream of mine and to have it fulfilled was heart whelming. I cried. 

3. Finally going to YALLFest 2014, since I became a book nerd I'd only had one author come to Winnipeg, and that was Kelley Armstrong. I have no problems with that, but I would have loved another chance at meeting authors. So when YALLFest finally come around, I was in heaven. Having meet some of my bookish idols was incredible. Then being able to be in my zone with hundred of other book people, I couldn't have been happier. 

Goals for 2015:

   2014 for me was the year of buying books (Oops) so hopefully 2015 will be the year of actually reading them. So you could say that that'll be my goal for 2015, to catch up on my reading from last year.  Another goal of mine for 2015 is to actually find a blog layout that I like, as you can see I'm still messing with the designs and such, so hopefully I'll find something that is right for me.


  2014 was way better then I could have ever asked for, and I hope to that 2015 will be just as great and maybe better. Without everyone that's helped me out throughout the year I definitely wouldn't be here today. From Jess helping me get set up last year and answering all my questions ( Girl you are my absolute favourite, thank you for all your help. I heart you.) to having all my friends on Twitter help me whenever I needed it. Thank you all so much, you don't understand how much it means to me that you guys are always there for me. Thanks again.


   To end my post, and say a finally thank you I have a giveaway for you all.

   Today's giveaway I have for you, is for 2 Compulsion by Martina Boone book pendants along with a bunch of Heir's of Watson Island book swag to go with it! The reason I picked Compulsion for my giveaway is because I am apart of her street team! So I thought I'd share my love for the team and book here!

Rules:

-Ohana Reads Giveaway Policies apply. (Check out the policies page)

-Open to US/CA only. (Sorry INT. peeps I'm broke!)

- Giveaway runs from January 3rd, 2015 to January 17th, 2015 12:00am

- Examples of my book pendants can be seen in my Book Jewellery page.

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   Check out Twitter for another Ohana Reads Blogiversary Giveaway!  (Link)

   Once again I'd like you thank you all for making 2014 so wonderful and welcoming Ohana Reads and I with loving arms. I hope you'll stick with us for another year and see what 2015 brings us!

The Queen of Zombie Hearts Cover Reveal!

Ladies and Gentlemen the wait is over.... Gena Showalter's cover for THE QUEEN OF ZOMBIEHEARTS is finally here! I'm out of this world excited!! I've loved this series since I picked up Alice in Zombieland, I just needed another Gena Showalter fix after finishing Twisted! 

First there was the horrific beauty that is ALICE IN ZOMBIELAND...

Then came the devouring sequel THROUGH THE ZOMBIE GLASS...

Now are you ready to EAT YOUR HEARTS OUT!!

May I introduce you to THE QUEEN OF ZOMBIE HEARTS!

"We're all mad here."

Here is the official description from Harlequin Teen!

I have a plan.

We'll either destroy them for good, or they'll destroy us.

Either way, only one of us is walking away.

In the stunning conclusion to the wildly popular White Rabbit Chronicles, Alice "Ali" Bell thinks the worst is behind her. She's ready to take the next step with boyfriend Cole Holland, the leader of the zombie slayers…until Anima Industries, the agency controlling the zombies, launches a sneak attack, killing four of her friends. It's then she realizes that humans can be more dangerous than monsters…and the worst has only begun.

As the surviving slayers prepare for war, Ali discovers she, too, can control the zombies…and she isn't the girl she thought she was. She's connected to the woman responsible for killing—and turning—Cole's mother. How can their relationship endure? As secrets come to light, and more slayers are taken or killed, Ali will fight harder than ever to bring down Anima—even sacrificing her own life for those she loves.

The book is to be released on Tuesday September 30th, 2014.
So add it to your TBR! and Add it to your TBR on Goodreads!
or check out the official White Rabbit Chronicles website!

Official White Rabbit Chronicles website

Then pre-order your copy!

 Amazon, Barnes & Noble,  Chapters

        

         

About Gena:

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of the wildly popular White Rabbit Chronicles, the Angels of the Dark, the Lords of the Underworld, and the Otherworld Assassins series.  In addition to being a National Reader's Choice and RITA nominee, her romance novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazine, and have been translated in multiple languages.  She lives in Oklahoma with her family and menagerie of dogs, and truly believes love conquers all.

Follow her on:

Website/Twitter/Facebook/The White Rabbit Chronicles Facebook

Now it's time for a Giveaway!

Giveaway Details:

1 complete set of The White Rabbit Chronicles (first 2 sent as soon as the giveaway is over and the winner will get the first hardcover of book 3 when it's available!) US/Canada Only

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