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March 30, 2015

Bookmark Monday #1

Bookmark Monday

So, you know I like memes but I'm awful participating in them all weeks. But I find this cool feature at Guiltless Reading and wanted to show you all my pretty bookmarks hehe. If you want to join this week, just go here.

Bookmark from Puerto Varas, Chile

I got this pretty bookmark at Chile. It was crafted by artisans from Puerto Varas. I've never seen other like this, so it's unique!


Did you like it? Do you have pretty bookmarks I can admire? Let me know in the comments, I want to know if I'm the only one obsessed with these beauties. :)

March 28, 2015

Book Review: Infinite by Jodi Meadows

Infinite by Jodi Meadows
Newsoul #3
Published January 28th 2014 by Katherine Tegen Books
DESTRUCTION
The Year of Souls begins with an earthquake—an alarming rumble from deep within the earth—and it’s only the first of greater dangers to come. The Range caldera is preparing to erupt. Ana knows that as Soul Night approaches, everything near Heart will be at risk.
FLIGHT
Ana’s exile is frightening, but it may also be fortuitous, especially if she can convince her friends to flee Heart and Range with her. They’ll go north, seeking answers and allies to stop Janan’s ascension. And with any luck, the newsouls will be safe from harm’s reach.
CHOICE
The oldsouls might have forgotten the choice they made to give themselves limitless lifetimes, but Ana knows the true cost of reincarnation. What she doesn’t know is whether she’ll have the chance to finish this one sweet life with Sam, especially if she returns to Heart to stop Janan once and for all.
With gorgeous romance and thrilling action, the final book in the Incarnate trilogy offers a brilliant conclusion to the compelling questions of this fascinating world, where one new girl is the key to the lives of millions.
1 - Incarnate

*this review might have spoilers, don't read unless you've read the previous books*

Finally I read Infinite, the final book from the Newsoul series. I've enjoyed this series a lot, Ana is a newsoul and she sees things different from the oldsouls, things that are so obvious to us are wrong and unknown for the oldsoulds.

In this book, Ana is finally actively looking for answers to stop reincarnation. It's a long and dangerous trips, but she's with friends and Sam. Sometimes these chapters were too long for me, specially because it seemed like Ana could do anything but at the same time feel so bad every time one of her friends mistreated her. I kind of hated her friends and Sam sometimes because they were just to 'oldsouls'...they were mean and really childish and I wished Ana would have ditched them. They weren't obliged to be with her and didn't help her much.

The story has many turns and lots of actions. I loved to read about dragons (because I love dragons) and the sylphs.

I liked it but honestly I didn't understand a lot of the ending with Janan. It seemed like so easy or simple, it wasn't what I was expecting. There were so many things untold. But I can't tell you more because I will spoil you and there are somethings you should discover yourself!

Overall, the Newsoul series is a great YA fantasy saga. It has a very different story from every other books I've read. Infinite is a good ending, it will surprise you.


More about this book at Goodreads, Amazon, The Book Depository.

March 25, 2015

WoW: Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Waiting on Wednesday
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon


This innovative, heartfelt debut novel tells the story of a girl who's literally allergic to the outside world. When a new family moves in next door, she begins a complicated romance that challenges everything she's ever known. The narrative unfolds via vignettes, diary entries, texts, charts, lists, illustrations, and more.

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I'm allergic to the world.I don't leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He's tall, lean and wearing all black--black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can't predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It's almost certainly going to be a disaster.
Expected publication: September 1st 2015 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

March 19, 2015

Novella Review: Phoenix Overture by Jodi Meadows

Phoenix Overture by Jodi Meadows
New Soul #2.5
Published September 3rd 2013 by Katherine Tegen Books
This breathtaking and lyrical novella captures a thrilling and momentous decision for a young man and the people he loves. Told from the perspective of Sam, the sensitive musician from Jodi Meadows’s Incarnate series, lifetimes before he meets Ana, Phoenix Overture is a story of love and loss, strength and courage, and facing the consequences of the hardest of decisions.

Phoenix Overture offers existing fans a deeper insight into a favorite character and the intriguing history of Heart, while new readers will find a stunning introduction to this rich world and the romantic, captivating fantasy of the Incarnate series.

In the wilds around the Community where Sam and his family have taken shelter, life is dangerous. Dragons, trolls, centaurs, and other monsters fill the world. The word comes from the council that everyone must leave and journey to rescue their leader, Janan, who has been abducted by a mysterious new enemy in the north. Faced with overwhelming threats that bring death and destruction, Sam and the others reach the northern Range and, reunited with Janan, are given an unimaginable opportunity. Although it would give them the privilege to live and learn and love without fear, the choice is not without its own dire consequences. And lives—though not theirs—are sure to be lost. Just how much are they willing to give up to save themselves?
2 - Asunder

*this review might have spoilers, don't read unless you've read the previous books*

Phoenix Overture is a short novella where you can read more about Sam's first life, how he discovered music and how Janan convinced all of them to join him for immortality. It's very quick to read, sometimes I thought everything was happening too fast to sound believable, but it was nice to meet this Sam, who is very different from the Sam we know in the books. He's very insecure, there are reasons for him to be that way, but also loves music.

Not only Sam, but other characters from the books are also present and you can get a glimpse on their previous life. I was specially interested in what made them choose immortality and this novella answered some of my questions.


More about this novella at GoodreadsAmazon.

March 18, 2015

WoW: Immaculate by Katelyn Detweiler

Waiting on Wednesday
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Immaculate by Katelyn Detweiler
Mina is seventeen. A virgin. And pregnant.
Mina is top of her class, girlfriend to the most ambitious guy in school, able to reason and study her way through anything. But when she suddenly finds herself pregnant—despite having never had sex—her orderly world collapses. Almost nobody believes Mina’s claims of virginity. Her father assumes that her boyfriend is responsible; her boyfriend believes she must have cheated on him. As news of Mina’s story spreads, there are those who brand her a liar. There are those who brand her a heretic. And there are those who believe that miracles are possible—and that Mina’s unborn child could be the greatest miracle of all.
Well, I usually don't read about religion but I'm really curious.

Expected publication: May 26th 2015 by Viking Books for Young Readers

March 16, 2015

Spring 2015 Bloggiesta To-Do List

BloggiestaHi! Bloggiesta is just around the corner, yay! Bloggiesta is a blogging marathon where bloggers make to-do lists to improve their blogs and help each other. In case you want to know more about it and want to join us please go here.

This is my to-do list:
  1. Change blog banner
  2. Update Google+ profile
  3. Update Facebook profile
  4. Update Twitter profile
  5. Schedule more review tweets
  6. Visit all participating blogs (or at least 10)
  7. Change social media icons
  8. Update 'About' page
  9. Schedule 5 WoW posts
  10. Participate in a mini challenge. 
  11. Attend the PEOPLE: Giving ad Getting Comments and Followers twitter chat party :(
  12. Back up blog
Maybe I'll add something later, I'm still thinking about more tasks. I'm excited, I'll take some vacation days at 'Isla de Margarita' and arrive just in time for Bloggiesta with my batteries charged :)

Updates:

Tasks: 
I'm done with my tasks except visiting all participating blogs. I'm not sure that is possible hehe but I'll try. I also want to read other people's tasks to see if I can do more for my blog, there is still time!

Mini Challenges:
I wanted to participate in a mini challenge and ended participating in two three!! Pinterest Challenge: Pin your Author Interview, Using Trello to Organize All the Things & Organize your Reader. You can see my new Author Interviews board at Pinterest:

Sigue el tablero Author Interviews de Gaby en Pinterest.

Also, Trello is great! I'm still learning how to use it but I believe it's a great tool.



And....unexpectedly, I could manage to organize my reader! I use Bloglovin' to follow all blogs, and I have a problem....I follow lots of blogs! It's impossible to read them all but I like to have the possibility to read them. But Estella taught us how Organize your Reader and she kind of opened my eyes. I already had some categories to organize the blogs but she gave us the idea of organize them like this: daily - weekdays - weekend. I never thought to do it that way, so I'm going to try with a new 'daily' category to see if it works for me :) Also, I spent a lot of time erasing dead blogs...



Twitter party!:
I wanted to attend the People twitter chat party but couldn't do it, but I did attend to the REVIEWS and Other Content Ideas twitter chat and it was great!! :) Now I'm waiting for the Feedback and Free for All chat.

Overall, I think this bloggiesta was a success!! I can't believe I was so productive and also discovered so many new bloggers! Definitely waiting for next bloggiesta :)

March 13, 2015

Book Review: Dark Wolf (Christine Feehan)

Dark Wolf (Christine Feehan)
Dark Saga #25
Published January 7th 2014 by Penguin Group
Where Dark Lycan ended, Dark Wolf begins...

In Dark Lycan, author Christine Feehan journeyed into the heart of the Carpathians, and into the souls of two lifemates stirred by the flush of passion and the threat of annihilation.

In Dark Wolf, the breathtaking story continues as the bonds of family are imperiled, and the fate of two lovers lies hidden in the seductive shadows between life and death.

Skyler Daratrazanoff always recognized the miracle that was Dimitri Tirunul, a man beyond any dream that had ever engaged her nights. But she was human. Vulnerable. He was Carpathian. Nearly immortal. She was nineteen. He was an ancient. Yet she held half his soul, the light to his darkness. Without her, he would not survive.

Caught between the two warring species, Dimitri has spent centuries hunting the undead to keep his people free, and humans safe. He had survived honorably when others had chosen to give up their souls. But now, marked for extermination by the Lycans, Dimitri found himself alone, and fearing for his life. But salvation was coming…

No Lycan would ever suspect someone like Skyler to dare mount a secret rescue operation. A teenage girl. A human of untested abilities. But she had something no one else had. She was predestined for Dimitri - as he was for her. And there was nothing stronger for Skyler than her desire to see her life-dream come true. Whatever the risk.
I started to read the Dark Saga, The Carpathians, many years ago. I liked the first books, but there were two characters, Skyler and Dimitri, that immediately caught my heart and I wanted so much to read their story! 25 books later, finally, the author gave them their own book: Dark Wolf.

I enjoyed it, but it kind of was a disappointment too. Skyler is a character that it's first introduced as a young girl who has lived many many sexual abuses, and Dimitri, her lifemate, was a lonely Carpathian that recognized her as his lifemate when she was just a girl but didn't claim her because she was too young.

Their relationship at that moment was very intense even when it was on hold. Believe me, I was waiting for Skyler to grow up for forever. But now she is all grown up now and it was like I didn't even recognized her. I wanted to see how she was going to overcome her fears, but I just didn't think it was realistic how fast and easy it was. Skyler suffered so much, I didn't expect her relationship with her lifemate was going to see so easy. Also, she's only nineteen and even when I'm not bothered by that age (maybe because over here you are an adult at 18), I couldn't believe she forgot so easily about her studies and suddenly she's starting to talk about babies. Mmm, what? Dimitri, too, was different to the silent and powerful warrior I first met.

But I like the team Skyler and her friends, Josef and Paul, make and I'm glad they had an important role in this book.

As I said before, I did enjoyed Dark Wolf but it just didn't feel like Skyler and Dimitri. Also, the fertility ritual was a little weird. Sadly, I feel like this series is losing the touch. The books started to have the same formula....I've even skipped a few. There are so many characters, new characters, and sometimes I forget about them or don't really care. The male characters all started to sound the same to me....and now that I finally read about the couple I was curious, I'm not sure I'm going to continue with this series, although the plot get more twisted with every book.


More about this book at GoodreadsAmazon, The Book Depository.

March 11, 2015

WoW: Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson

Waiting on Wednesday
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson
The first book in a new trilogy from acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Rae Carson. A young woman with the magical ability to sense the presence of gold must flee her home, taking her on a sweeping and dangerous journey across Gold Rush–era America.

Lee Westfall has a secret. She can sense the presence of gold in the world around her. Veins deep beneath the earth, pebbles in the river, nuggets dug up from the forest floor. The buzz of gold means warmth and life and home—until everything is ripped away by a man who wants to control her. Left with nothing, Lee disguises herself as a boy and takes to the trail across the country. Gold was discovered in California, and where else could such a magical girl find herself, find safety? Rae Carson, author of the acclaimed Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy, dazzles with this new fantasy that subverts both our own history and familiar fantasy tropes.

Walk on Earth a Stranger, the first book in this new trilogy, introduces—as only Rae Carson can—a strong heroine, a perilous road, a fantastical twist, and a slow-burning romance. Includes a map and author’s note on historical research.
I really liked The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson so I can't wait to read what the author brings with this new series.

Expected publication: September 22nd 2015 by Greenwillow Books

March 8, 2015

Book Review: Shades of Earth by Beth Revis

Across The Universe #3
Published January 15th 2013 by Razorbill
Amy and Elder have finally left the oppressive walls of the spaceship Godspeed behind. They're ready to start life afresh--to build a home--on Centauri-Earth, the planet that Amy has traveled 25 trillion miles across the universe to experience.

But this new Earth isn't the paradise Amy had been hoping for. There are giant pterodactyl-like birds, purple flowers with mind-numbing toxins, and mysterious, unexplained ruins that hold more secrets than their stone walls first let on. The biggest secret of all? Godspeed's former passengers aren't alone on this planet. And if they're going to stay, they'll have to fight.

Amy and Elder must race to discover who--or what--else is out there if they are to have any hope of saving their struggling colony and building a future together. They will have to look inward to the very core of what makes them human on this, their most harrowing journey yet. Because if the colony collapses? Then everything they have sacrificed--friends, family, life on Earth--will have been for nothing.
3 - Shades of Earth

Across The Universe es one of the series I've enjoyed more, maybe because I wasn't expecting to enjoy science fiction so much. Shades of Earth is the conclusion of Amy and Elder's story, when they finally leave Godspeed, a home and a jail.

I tried to read this book last year, but I don't know why I couldn't read it, even when I was very curious. So I left it on my bookshelf for months until a couple of days ago I decided to give it a second chance and wow! I stayed up until 1 am to finish it.

It kind of felt too short for an ending. There were so many different things in this new and unknown planet called Centauri-Earth. Besides, it wasn't really easy to decide to go to a new world and leave Godspeed behind, the place that has been a home for many years to must of them, to a planet where there are monsters and the Frozens and Shipborns will have to share everything without forgetting about Orion's warning about soldiers and slaves.

The story is a mix of secrets, problems and discoveries that made me ate the whole book in a couple of hours. I simply couldn't stop reading, I love how the author wrote about the social issues between this new colony and how it affected them to survive in Centauri-Earth.

Also, I admit it, I was very curious when it started to be obvious they weren't alone in this planet... they were supposed to be the firsts one here. But they have been orbiting in Godspeed more years than what was planned so it wasn't an idea so crazy. Are they aliens? Monsters? I started to suspect the truth very early in the book, and although I was right, the story threw me a lot of plot twists that surprised me a lot. I wasn't expecting that ending at all!

That is the main reason I loved the Across The Universe saga. I think Science Fiction is a genre that hasn't been very explored in YA books, but Beth Revis wrote a very interesting story, full of plot twists that always surprised me (which hasn't been easy lately) and where she writes about many social issues that we live daily in our reality and always change the story. It has the right amount of romance to not make it only a romance story, and although Shades of Earth has some kissing scenes that I believe where out of place sometimes (and a maybe-love-triangle that I'm very happy it didn't work), I think it's a very good and surprising ending, but too short. It could have been a little bit longer, specially the last chapters, I simply wanted more details. I wanted more!. It all ended too fast and sometimes seemed like unrealistic because there might be safe now, but still have a lot to face in this new world!


More about this book at Goodreads, Amazon US, The Book Depository.

March 6, 2015

Guest Post by Megan Tayte: Writing ‘mature’ young adult fiction

Hi guys!! Please welcome author Megan Tayte. She was very kind to offer a guest post for all of you readers, I really enjoyed reading it and have the same opinion myself, so I hope you enjoy it too!:)

Writing ‘mature’ young adult fiction

‘Write about what you know’ is an old adage, but a good one. I could write fiction about my life these days – about being a frazzled businesswoman and mum who’s bumbling from one culinary disaster to the next. But, frankly, it doesn’t appeal. Instead, I cast myself back to my teens – when life was stretching out in front, full of possibility; when love was new and exciting and full of lessons to learn; when the potential to screw up hilariously and horrifically was enormous; when being myself was essential, but frequently difficult. I write the kind of books I’d have loved to have read in my teens – and that I love to read now. Books full of wit and sass and poignancy and emotion.

Young adult fiction.

A reviewer of my book Death Wish recently pointed out that it’s ‘mature’ YA. I think that’s a pretty good term to describe my writing in the genre. Why aim for mature? Why not simple and light? Well…

1. The YA readership not only handles depth well, but seeks it in novels. Pretty much any subject is up for discussion in YA, and that’s one of the reasons I love the genre. In the course of my first book, Death Wish, I deal with some difficult themes – suicide, grief, isolation, disability, depression – some intrinsic to the story depth, some just briefly touched upon. There are touches of humour to balance as well, but overall I’m not afraid in the book to dig deep. The YA genre is liberating in that sense: I feel I have free rein as an author to step into the shadows.

2. YA readers don’t require dumbed-down narratives and writing style. I work in publishing, and I’ve been hired in the past to strip back YA books with seventeen-year-old heroines like mine: all sentences short; all words the shortest, simplest possible; little description; little depth. I’m not convinced that’s necessary. Even back when I was at the younger end of the teen spectrum myself, I was reading complex adult fiction quite happily. Sure, there’s no need to be overly verbose or complicated in writing. But deliberately opting for ‘immature’? Seems unnecessary to me.

3. Many readers of the YA genre aren’t young adults at all. A Publishers’ Weekly survey found that 55% of readers are over the age of 18. Writing ‘mature’ YA makes a lot of sense, then, if you’re writing for the market.

Writing in any genre comes down to having a lot of respect for your readers, whoever they are, whatever age, whatever persuasion, whatever walk of life. I love the YA genre because its readers are an inspiring, thoughtful, imaginative, courageous, dedicated and yes, mature, bunch. There’s no one else I’d rather write for.


Death Wish by Megan Tayte

IN SEARCH OF THE MEANING OF DEATH, SHE’LL FIND THE MEANING OF LIFE.

Seventeen-year-old Scarlett Blake is haunted by death. Her estranged sister has made the ultimate dramatic exit. Running away from school, joining a surfing fraternity, partying hard: that sounds like Sienna. But suicide? It makes no sense.

Following in her sister’s footsteps, Scarlett comes to the isolated cove of Twycombe, Devon, with grand plans to uncover the truth. Alone. But she hasn’t reckoned on meeting two boys who are determined to help her. Luke: the blue-eyed surfer who’ll see the real Scarlett, who’ll challenge her, who’ll save her. And Jude: the elusive drifter with a knack for turning up whenever Scarlett’s in need.

As Scarlett’s quest for the truth unravels, so too does her grip on reality as she’s always known it. Because there’s something strange going on in this little cove. A dead magpie circles the skies. A dead deer watches from the undergrowth. Hands glow with light. Warmth. Power.

What transpires is a summer of discovery. Of what it means to conquer fear. To fall in love. To choose life. To choose death.

To believe the impossible.

(only 0.99$)

Author's Bio

Once upon a time a little girl told her grandmother that when she grew up she wanted to be a writer. Or a lollipop lady. Or a fairy princess fireman. 'Write, Megan,' her grandmother advised. So that's what she did.
Megan Tayte

Thirty-odd years later, Megan writes the kinds of books she loves to read: young-adult paranormal romance fiction. Young adult, because it's the time of life that most embodies freedom and discovery and first love. Paranormal, because she's always believed that there are more things in heaven and on earth than are dreamt of in our philosophy. And romance, because she's a misty-eyed dreamer who lives for those 'life is so breathtakingly beautiful' moments.

Megan grew up in the Royal County, a hop, skip and a (very long) jump from Windsor Castle, but these days she makes her home in Robin Hood's county, Nottingham. She lives with her husband, a proud Scot who occasionally kicks back in a kilt; her son, a budding artist with the soul of a paleontologist; and her baby daughter, a keen pan-and-spoon drummer who sings in her sleep. When she's not writing, you'll find her walking someplace green, reading by the fire, or creating carnage in the kitchen as she pursues her impossible dream: of baking something edible.



March 3, 2015

Book Review: One Wish Away by Kelley Lynn



Published November 24th 2014 by Bloomsbury Spark
Be careful what you wish for…

Lyra has always been ahead of the curve. Top of her class in school, a budding astronomer, and with a best friend like Darren she barely has time to miss the mother who abandoned her family years ago. She's too busy planning to follow in her father's footsteps, and to become the youngest astronomer at Space Exploration and Discovery.

When a star goes missing Lyra is determined to get to the bottom of it only to discover her braniac dad is the mastermind of a top-secret government experiment. They promise to build a perfect world, one galaxy at a time, but with every tweak of the present, a bit more of the future starts to crumble.

Lyra has to go undercover to reveal the truth and let humanity decide if the consequences are worth more than wishing on a star.
One Wish Away is the story of Lyra, a very intelligent girl who wants to be an astronomer as her father. One day a star goes missing and Lyra knows her father has answers, but wasn't expecting to discover that he is working on a top secret mission that involves wishes and stars, a mission that can change the world without anyone realizing it.

Lyra was intelligent but not very interesting and very stubborn, and she has a very good friend, Darren, who is also her romantic interest. I liked him more, he wasn't the typical bad boy, but actually a good boy. He is one of the main reasons why Lyra starts to get worried about this secret project and the consequences, she's afraid to loose him. Their relationship was very cute and innocent, I really liked them together (and no love triangle!).

But I didn't buy the story when it was revealed, although the idea was pretty interesting. But it has much more potential, maybe a more believable scientific explanation and more realistic characters would be better. I didn't find believable the character's reactions sometimes, specially the adults.

Also, I wasn't expecting a cliff hanger at all at the end. I hate when this happens but at least the story has an interesting twist and I'm curious about what's going to happen with Lyra and Darren.

Overall, One Wish Away was enjoyable but not a page turner for me. It took me more time than the expected to finish this book, I couldn't really connect with the story. It's interesting and original but too simple and not really believable, but the plus side was the cute couple, Lyra and Darren, and I'm pretty sure the story is going to get more exciting.


More about this book at GoodreadsAmazon.