Book Review: Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Release Date: October 21st, 2014

Read: December 1st, 2014

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Series: The Darkest Elements #2

Format: Signed Paperback, 446 pages

Source: Bought

Description from GoodReads:

   Every touch has its price

   Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could.

   But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers begin to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay… 

Review:

I would know if a part of my heart was gone.
    White Hot Kiss was my first Jennifer L. Armentrout book, and I adored it. Once again full of sauciness, it's safe to say I was prepared for Stone Cold Touch. After WHK, all of Jennifer's books were automatic buys. 

   I've always been a sucker for best friends since birth relationships, so at the beginning of WHK you could say I was Team Zayne right away. But then we met Roth and he pulled at our hearts with everything he had and won me over in a snap. After that and the little heartbreak we had at the end of WHK I thought I'd forever be Team Roth. Of course Jennifer had to go and mess my heart up with SCT, now I am borderline and don't know what to do with myself. I wouldn't know what to do if I was Layla, so I can't judge the girl for wanting a little bit of both at the same time. I could go on and on about my likes about each hunk or about their flaws but for now I'm firmly going to say I'm Team Bambi because dang, this is the hardest decision ever.
   Besides both hunks we encountered throughout the book, I can once again say so much about Jennifer's writing. I adore her writing style, the way she practically morphs into a teenager and knows our humour, how we live and act and all of our insecurities. I feel like I am one with the book or I am the character when I read her books, which is exactly how I felt when I read SCT. I finished this book in entirely one day, I may or not have read during my teachers lectures or hid away from my friends and read through out the day, but we'll never know.
   Jennifer is also once again not afraid to show us the hormonal side of teenagers. When authors write Young Adult books you expect them to be in the life of teenagers. Where not all teenagers do or think of sex on a daily basis there are a lot of teens who do or have. So when Jennifer writes scenes like she does it actually feels nice to think she isn't sugar coating it and hiding it from readers. Us young adults have had our experience with drinking, drugs or sex. etc. I find it's better to be able to talk about it then leave it hidden where we can never learn from other's mistakes and end up making the same ones ourselves. So props to Jennifer for that.
   Once again I adore the wardens, we may not always get a sense of what they are but the thought of gargoyles make me happy. I grew up with them on TV or on local buildings, mythologies are my thing so learning the mythologies or hearing stories about them is really exciting for me. I hope we learn more about the gargoyles in Every Last Breath.
   Lastly, Layla is once again having boy troubles and I feel deeply for her in SCT. I don't know what she's going to, but I'm certainly routing for her!
   Stone Cold Touch was a favourite of 2014 and I'm 100% buying Every Last Breath when it comes out July 2015. This book killed me, brought me back then killed me again, so let me say this. Everyone out there who still hasn't read White Hot Kiss. YOU ARE MSSING OUT ON LIFE. Go get it now. Go. Now. You are missing out. You're not even alive yet.

Ohana Reads Review of White Hot Kiss.

Rating:

Favourite Quote:

   " I don't deserve you." ~ Layla

   " See that's where you are wrong... that's where you've always been wrong. You deserve everything." ~ Zayne

Recommend to People Who Enjoy:

Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, New Adult, Gargoyles, Demons, Lilith

Waiting on Wednesday (21)

Fairest

Author: Marissa Meyer

The Lunar Chronicles

Feiwel and Friends

Expected: January 27th, 2015

Description from GoodReads:

   In this stunning bridge book between Cress and Winter in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles, Queen Levana’s story is finally told.

   Mirror, mirror on the wall,

   Who is the fairest of them all?

   Fans of the Lunar Chronicles know Queen Levana as a ruler who uses her “glamour” to gain power. But long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress, Levana lived a very different story – a story that has never been told . . . until now. 

Why I Want It:

   The Lunar Chronicles are one of my favourite book series ever, so of course I'm going to be excited for the next up coming release! It's going to be different from the rest of the series of course because it's Levana's story of how she became the way she is, but at least it'll tie all the fans over until Winter releases! 

Why You Should Want It:

   Futuristic Fairytale retellings! Imagine Cinderella, Rapunzal, Red Ridding Hood in space! If you like fairytales, robots, and space then The Lunar Chronicles is seriously a series for you!


   That's my Waiting on Wednesday for this week! Will you being picking up Fairest? What are you waiting on this week? Let me know in the comments!

Movie Review: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

 

Catching Fire

( Contains Spoilers)

 

Movie:

Film Corporation: Lionsgate

Released to Theatres: November 22nd, 2013

Audience Rating: PG13

Length of Time: 146 minutes

Director: Francis Lawrence

(Movie Trailer)

Book:

Title: Catching Fire

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Release Date: September 1st, 2009

Format: Hardcover, 391 pages

Movie Review:

   Make them pay for it.
   The Hunger Games trilogy was once again another series that I just didn't love. The Hunger Games was definitely my favourite, but with Catching Fire I really loved the idea of the Quarter Quell. So here we are.
   I find that the first movie in a series always is more of a low budget then the rest of the series. That was the case with Twilight, and it was also the case with The Hunger Games. Catching Fire was organized and put together so much better then Hunger Games was. Add the new graphic effects and more intense backdrops, it was a beautifully put together movie. I can say it was my favourite movie adaption before If I Stay was released, now it is my second favourite adaption.
   From what I remember about Catching Fire the book, I believe the movie almost exactly on point with the movie. It introduced all our beloved characters from Catching Fire, it showed what happened to the characters after the games, and it showed all the character development. Out of all the characters in the book, I think Effie had the best character development. In the beginning of The Hunger Games Effie was excited for the reaping, she was glad to be there and thought the games were a wonderful experience. But for the reaping in Catching Fire, she was devastated. Effie had grown to love both Peeta and Katniss, now they were going to be put back into the games. She did not want to see her loved ones hurt again. By Catching Fire, Effie finally understood how terrible the games were.
   Finally I'd like to say that every time someone called Katniss the Mockingjay I would cringe. Katniss was never the Mockingjay, she was never the spark. Rue was, Rue was the spark that made Katniss want to change the games, made her want to change the districts. Rue is the Mockingjay, Katniss will forever be The Girl on Fire.
   I adored Catching Fire the movie, and couldn't enjoy the book. The same went for me with Mockingjay, I hope it turns out the same way it did with me and Catching Fire. Loving the movie and hating the book. Mockingjay is definitely a movie I want to see, I can't wait to see how it turns out!
 

Overall Rating:

Favourite Scene:

  My favourite scene in Catching Fire would have to be when Johanna started to strip in the elevator. Just looking at Haymitch's, Peeta's and Katniss's faces were the best thing pieces of beautiful ever.

Favourite Quote:

   " What about you girl on fire? Have any secrets worth my time?" ~ Finnick

Recommend to People Who Enjoy:

 Adventure, Sci-Fi, Action, Dystopian 

   What did you think of the movie? Let me know in the comments!

Book Blitz: Compulsion by Martina Boone

Hey y'all!

   Welcome to the Book Blitz for the stunning Southern Gothic Romance, COMPULSION (HEIRS OF WATSON ISLAND) By the lovely Martina Boone. We have some good stuff from the author for the Blitz that you DON'T want to miss, including one of Martina's fabulous giveaways!

Compulsion by Martina Boone

Release Date: October 28th, 2014

Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Simon Pulse 

Series: The Heirs of Watson Island #1

Description from GoodReads:

   Three plantations. Two gifts. One ancient curse.

   All her life, Barrie Watson has been a virtual prisoner in the house where she lives with her shut-in mother. When her mother dies, Barrie promises to put some mileage on her stiletto heels. But she finds a new kind of prison at her aunt’s South Carolina plantation instead–a prison guarded by an ancient spirit who long ago cursed one of the three founding families of Watson Island and gave the others magical gifts that became compulsions.

   Stuck with the ghosts of a generations-old feud and hunted by forces she cannot see, Barrie must find a way to break free of the family legacy. With the help of sun-kissed Eight Beaufort, who somehow seems to know what Barrie wants before she knows herself, the last Watson heir starts to unravel her family’s twisted secrets. What she finds is dangerous: a love she never expected, a river that turns to fire at midnight, a gorgeous cousin who isn’t what she seems, and very real enemies who want both Eight and Barrie dead.

Ohana Reads Review of Compulsion 

Buy the Book:

   Compulsion is available anywhere books are sold. Signed copies are available from One More Page Books. You can also order with the special “I have a Compulsion for reading” bookplate from Eight Cousins.

     

   Martina:

   When I first started writing Compulsion, the part of Barrie's godfather Mark was meant to be very small. But I ended up loving him and the relationship he has with Barrie so much that he stuck his size-fourteen Louboutins into nearly every chapter. Here's an example. We're starting with Mark talking to Barrie on the phone:  

   “Good. So tell me about this moonlit walk with your lucky number.”

   “Well, there was moonlight and there was walking.” Barrie drew her knees to her chest to try to hold herself together. But there were more and more pieces of her heart splintering off all the time.  “Then this morning he brought me a rose and took me to see sea turtles, and fed me the most amazing hot dog for lunch. A can’t-do-better-so-never-eat-hot-dogs-anywhere-else hot dog, so it’s a good thing I hate baseball, or I’d starve at the games. Have you ever heard of sweet potato mustard?”

   “Sounds too good to be true,” Mark said. “The boy, I mean, not the mustard.”Barrie thought of the way Eight pushed and acted like he knew everything, and she almost laughed.

    “Trust me, he isn’t too good. He is picking me up in an hour, though, so I have to hang up. Oh, and I lost my phone. Call Pru’s number if you need me.” Mark was quiet so long, she thought she’d lost the connection. “Mark?”

   “I’m still here. Quick, what shoes are you wearing?”

   

“Jeffersons.” As always, Barrie named the first shoes that came to mind, which was how the game was played.

   “Jeffersons? Huh. High and sporty. Kick-ass cute without making you seem like you’re trying hard. You be very careful now, sweetness. You’re not used to this, and the number’s still just a boy. You’ve got places to go. No falling for him.”No worries.Barrie didn’t need that kind of aggravation.

   Martina Boone was born in Prague and spoke several languages before learning English. She fell in love with words and never stopped delighting in them. She’s the founder of AdventuresInYAPublishing.com, a Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers site, and YASeriesInsiders.com, a Tumblr site devoted to news, giveaways, and insider secrets of much-loved and up-and-coming YA series. From her home in Virginia, where she lives with her husband, children, and Auggie the wonder dog, she enjoys writing contemporary fantasy set in the kinds of magical places she’d love to visit. When she isn’t writing, she’s addicted to travel, horses, skiing, chocolate flavored tea, and anything with Nutella on it.

Website | Blog | Tumblr | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter

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   Thanks for stopping by! I hope you guys end up getting Compulsion, and end up loving it!

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Waiting on Wednesday (20)

The Darkest Part of the Forest

Author: Holly Black

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Expected: January 13th, 2015

Description from GoodReads:

   Children can have a cruel, absolute sense of justice. Children can kill a monster and feel quite proud of themselves. A girl can look at her brother and believe they’re destined to be a knight and a bard who battle evil. She can believe she’s found the thing she’s been made for.

   Hazel lives with her brother, Ben, in the strange town of Fairfold where humans and fae exist side by side. The faeries’ seemingly harmless magic attracts tourists, but Hazel knows how dangerous they can be, and she knows how to stop them. Or she did, once.

   At the center of it all, there is a glass coffin in the woods. It rests right on the ground and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives. Hazel and Ben were both in love with him as children. The boy has slept there for generations, never waking.

   Until one day, he does…

   As the world turns upside down, Hazel tries to remember her years pretending to be a knight. But swept up in new love, shifting loyalties, and the fresh sting of betrayal, will it be enough?

Why I Want It:

   This is one of those reads that I just want to read because I can, of course I've heard it's supposed to be a Snow White retelling. Either way, I'm excited for it(:

Why You Should Want It:

   Snow White retelling, the gorgeous cover, and because Holly Black. Her tales tend to be utterly fantastic.

   That's my Waiting on Wednesday for this week! Will you be picking up The Darkest Part of the Forest? What are you waiting on this week? Let me know in the comments!

November Wrap Up!

Hey!

   In some ways November was a slow month, and in some ways I accomplish a ton. I didn't get a lot
of things done blog wise as you guys can see. Not many books read, missing a few days when it came to posting, etc. But on the other hand I finally had YALLFest this month, which took up a lot of my time along with catching up on homework that I missed from the trip. There was also a problem when it came to my school, so you could definitely say that school was taking up the rest of my free time. 

   YALLFest in all was such an incredible experience, and I am going into more detail in my two YALLFest posts along with my post for the Compulsion Tour which I promise are coming soon. ( First post) So I won't go into much here, but my god guys. I bought/got so many books signed at YALLFest it was unbelievable. Seeing so many authors in one spot at the same time was so exhilarating! I seriously had the time of my life.

   My hopes for December are that I hope to finish at least half of the books that I got in my book haul for this month, and that some of the things I have planned for you guys will actually happen! You'll hear about these soon! I'm excited about these so I hope you will be too!

   Also just a heads up! Ohana Reads's Blogiversary event is going to be the first few days after the new year, expect giveaways and maybe even a video or chat of some sort!

   That's all for this month, let's hope for a warm December this year! 

Books Read in November:

Lux: Consequences by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Compulsion by Martina Boone

December Releases I'm Excited For:

Wicked by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Book Haul for November:

Lux: Consequences by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Signed)

Compulsion by Martina Boone (Signed)

Just One Day by Gayle Forman (Signed ARC)

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Macbeth by William Shakespeare 

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Signed)

Scintillate by Tracy Clark (Signed)

Daughter of Smoke and Bones by Laini Taylor (ARC)

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (ARC)

Forbidden by Kimberley Griffiths Little (Signed)

Killer Instinct by S. E. Green (Signed)

Hollow City by Randsom Riggs

The Diviners by Libba Bray

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (Signed)

Book Reviewed:

Compulsion by Martina Boone

Movies Reviewed:

The Maze Runner

That's it for this month my lovelies! Until next month!

Ohana Talks: YALLFest 2014, The Penguin March/ Blogger Meet Up

Hey Y'all!

   It has taken me forever to actually write down all the events that happened at YALLFest 2014, but never the less I finally have them written down for you! I will have two YALLFest posts, one for Friday and one for Saturday. Then I will have one for the Compulsion Tour! I will link them all up at the bottom of the posts when they are all published. 

The Penguin March,

   When I started planning for YALLFest I never really understood why they called it the Penguin March until the first signing, we were constantly walking to each of the signings. James Dashner's line went on forever, and we were there thirty minutes before the signing even started. We waited in line for an hour and thirty minutes. This was the longest we waited throughout all of YALLFest. 

The far orange and black balloons were where James Dasher was signing, the close orange and black ones were for
the Michelle Hodkin's signing. 

But of course, no line is too long for a booknerdigan.

James Dashner signing my little sisters book.

James Dashner and my middle sister.

 

   That was was actually not the first time we saw James on the trip, he was my second author to ever see in person so the first time I saw him I froze up and was a complete fool. We went to Blue Bicycle Books the morning of the march, my sister was inside buying a last minute book and my mom, aunt and I were outside and my mom was about to take a photo of us. Being right in the heart of YALLFest I was on high alert trying to make sure I didn't miss an author walking by me. So mid-pose of a picture my mom was about to take I spotted James walking by, I turned into a deer in the headlights and after a second or two I bolted into the store to tell my sister. When he did walk in, my sister and I didn't know what to do. So awkwardly she said hi, he said hi back and that was all. It may have been a simple hello, but really just being at a a huge book convention was amazing and so very overwhelming that that simple gesture already had made my day.

 Up next was our meet up with Kiera Cass! But Kiera being so fabulous and all, her line was long too. So my aunt waited in her line while we snook off to meet Kathy and Brendan Reichs.

Kathy and Brendan Reichs

   We made our own T-Shirts to get authors who we didn't have books for to sign. So that we'd be able to get as many signatures as possible. 

   Finally after the long wait, my sister was able to meet her hero. 

   Kiera was one of the loveliest people I have ever met, seriously maybe in my entire life. I've come to realize later that all the authors ask'd this at one point in the signing, but after she signed our books Kiera asked us where we were from. Of course we told her Canada, she started to freak out and ask why we came so far. Well she was Lauren's favourite author of all time and her hero, so once again we told her. She started to tear up and ran around the table to hug us. She was so touched that we came all this way to see her. 

   After meeting Kiera, I waited outside of the tent and Lauren went and visited Scott Westerfield. Eventually the Penguin March official time ended, and Kiera Cass came out of the tent and asked everyone if they'd be cut off from her line. Then multiple people put their hands up, so Kiera immediately went and signed everyones books. She was incredible. After what she did there for the people who were cut out of her line, I officially adored her.

Me and Kiera Cass

  That concluded the Penguin March!

Blogger Meet Up,

   For my Friday night I hung out with a bunch of amazing bloggers from all over the US. We spent the evening just plain hanging out and discussing everything, including books. I'm so glad I met all those lovely ladies and I'm happy to have made some new friends!

Some of the lovely ladies I've met from the blogger met up are: Maggie, Joli, Regina, Lindsay, Heather, Lisa, Kristalyn, and Tiffani. ( Sorry if I forgot to list some of you!)

   And that concludes The Penguin March and Blogger Meet Up parts of YALLFest!