BOOK TOUR: FATES DIVIDED BY JULES BARNARD

 

 

Today I am hosting the Fates Divided Book Tour which has been organised by YA Bound Book Tours. I received a review copy of this book via e-book in exchange for an honest review.

BLURB: 

Elena’s goals are simple: 1) be the first in her family to graduate college 2) become a kick-butt chemist.

Until she comes into her half-Fae powers from a mother she never knew.

The Fae are willing to harm the last of Elena’s loved ones if she doesn’t use her power over the elements to cure them of a deadly disease.

Her brooding neighbor, Derek, isn’t the friendliest guy, but he has access to an off-hours lab and is willing to help Elena create the antivirus. He has his own secrets to keep, and this business Elena is mixed up in could blow his cover.

But when Elena and Derek get together, more than chemicals spark fire–and they soon discover just how complicated attraction can get when they find themselves on the other side of the portal, fighting for survival.

Lives collide, and allegiance and love are tested, in Fates Divided.

 

REVIEW:

 

A new found diamond of a series.

I really enjoyed this book. At times it reminded me of Vampire Academy with the training in a school-like environment.

Also fairies (fae), who doesn’t like a new take on fairies.

I liked that this was the typical: girl turns a certain age, finds she has powers and must now use those powers to save a race of people she otherwise did not know about.

I think I enjoyed the scenes with the side- characters the most. I loved the room mate Reece and the fact that she is a pistol. I loved reading about her.

The romantic tension in the book was enough to cut with a knife. Content warning: there are scenes that are very descriptive in nature so please so in forewarned. I actually appreciated this and found it added to the romantic tension of the book. I particularly loved that Derek simply had to marry Elena after eating her food so that he could always eat such delicious food. I found that hilarious.

I’m am giving this book a rating of 4/5 and am going to have to research the other books in the Halven Series.

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

 

 

A RITA-nominated author, Jules Barnard began her publishing career in 2014 with Deep Blue, the first book in the contemporary Blue Series, hitting bestseller lists on Amazon, iBooks, and All Romance. In 2015, she launched Fates Divided, the first of a romantic fantasy series Library Journal calls “…an exciting new fantasy adventure.” Whether she’s writing about beautiful Lake Tahoe, or a Fae world embedded in a college campus, Jules spins suspenseful stories filled with realistic characters who have heart and humor.

When Jules isn’t in her sweatpants writing and rewarding herself with chocolate, she spends her time with her husband and two children in their small hometown on the California coast. She credits herself with the ability to read while running on the treadmill or burning dinner.

GIVEAWAY:

Click here to go to the Rafflecopter page and enter the giveaway for a $15 Amazon Giftcard

Thank you for reading this review as part of the Book Tour.

Keep Calm and Read On,

Kati

COVER LUST FRIDAY

Cover Lust Friday is a meme I have recently come across and it looked really fun. Cover Lust Friday is a weekly meme that’s all about covers. Alice from Alice Reeds is the host of this meme.

Pick a cover that stands out to you , add your reason why you’ve chosen that particular one or what you like about it. Let’s have fun and share some gorgeous covers.

 

 

THE COVER:

 

 

This is one stunning cover. I love the mirror images of the iceberg and the kingdom and am really keen to read this when it comes out in 2017. You should definitely check out this book on Goodreads.

Keep Calm and Read On,

Kati

MEMORABLE MONDAY

Memorable Monday is a meme hosted by Escape in a Good Book. I’m excited to join in on this one because I love quotes, which was the driving force behind the creation of Memorable Mondays.

So… how do you participate? It’s simple ~

1) Share a quote that has captured your interest lately in a Memorable Monday post on your blog.

2) Come back here and leave the link to your post in the comment box below. If you don’t have a blog, I’d still love to read your quote. Leave it in the comment box instead of a link to a non-existent blog.:)

3) Visit other participants if you have time. It’s always nice to have visitors. There’s no overstaying your welcome this way, and they don’t have to offer the obligatory drinks. Or clean.

4) If you tweet your posts, feel free to use the hashtag #MemorableMonday.

The quote for this week is:

 

 

This stunning bookmark has a quote from Six of Crows and is designed by Evie Bookish.

I haven’t read this book yet but I cannot wait to get started.

Keep Calm and Read On,

Kati

SEPTEMBER OWLCRATE UNBOXING

It’s here… it’s here. I love getting book mail and I got my September Owlcrate.

This is a U.S. Bookish Subscription Box that I absolutely love. And, let the unboxing commence…

The first item I found in the box was this cute berry smelling Fortune Telling Bath Bomb. The lovely people at Owlcrate said this reminded them of The Raven Boys. I really need to read this series… like yesterday.

Next was this amazing smelling bookish candle inspired by Throne of Glass.

This beautiful canvas pouch comes with a quote from Hollow City. I am going to use it to carry my postcards from my Subscription Boxes.

And wait… there’s more. I have not got to reading Six of Crows yet but this is a stunning bookmark.

We also got this little sneak peek at a new book by P.C. Cast that incoming out called Moon Called.

I am very interested in having a look at this first episode in a serialised novel.

And finally, it’s time for the book… this month it is Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake. This cover is stunning.

 

Each month the book comes with a signed book plate and a letter from the author.

This month we also got this little bonus item and I haven’t played this game since primary school.

 

As always, the spoiler postcards are just to beautiful for words.

Starting this month we are getting a little pin that is a reflection of the spoiler card.

 

Next month the theme is

Once Upon A Dream

 

And we will be receiving an item from: Whosits and Whatsits.

This is adorable… and I definitely will enjoy my adventure.

What do you think of this awesome box? I loved it.

Keep Calm and Read On,

Kati

 

REVIEW: GEMINI BY SONJA MUKHERJEE

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Date Published: 26th of July 2016

Pages: 336

BLURB:

Seventeen-year-old conjoined twins Clara and Hailey have lived in the same small town their entire lives—no one stares at them anymore. But there are cracks in their quiet existence, and they’re slowly becoming more apparent.

Clara and Hailey are at a crossroads. Clara wants to stay close to home, avoid all attention, and study the night sky. Hailey wants to travel the world, learn from great artists, and dance with mysterious boys.

As high school graduation approaches, each twin must untangle her dreams from her sister’s, and figure out what it means to be her own person.

REVIEW: 

The premise of this book was what really drew me in. I have never read anything about conjoined twins before.

This did not strike me as an examination of what it is like living as a conjoined twin in general, but more as a contemporary story with the main conflict being the perceptions of others about being conjoined.

The two protagonists are teenage girls in their final year of high school. These girls could not be more opposite, Clara has her head in the stars and loves science while Hailey is artsy with pink hair and tattoos. These girls could not be better friends.

These girls face the concept of the future and what this will mean for them when others can go off and live their lives without facing some of the issues and challenges that these girls would face.

The concepts of bullying, friendship and family are also explored. Another element I liked was that, while there was romance in the story, it did not overpower the story.

Overall, I really liked this book. It was a contemporary read that had main protagonists that I had never heard from before. I am giving this book a rating of 4/5.

Keep Calm and Read On,

Kati

COVER CHARACTERISTIC

It is Sunday again and that means it’s time for another Cover Characteristic meme post. This meme was created by Sugar and Snark. Every week a characteristic is chosen and we post 5 book covers with that weeks characteristic on it.

This week’s theme is the last one for a while as the lovely ladies at Sugar and Snark are going on Maternity Leave. Therefore, I may do previous themes that I think are interesting.

 

PREGNANCY

 

 

 

 

5. Hooked by Catherine Greenman 

4. Bumpology by Linda Geddes 

3. The Best and the Hardest Thing by Pat Brisson

2. Mothership by Martin Leicht

And, my favourite cover was:

Belly Laughs by Jenny McCarthy 

 

What do you think of these covers?

Keep Calm and Read On,

Kati

UNBOXING – FANDOM OF THE MONTH AUGUST BOX

 

Fandom of the Month Club is a monthly subscription box that provides subscribers with fandom related jewellery. Each month there is a different fandom represented in the box.

This month the fandom represented was Lord of the Rings.

Each box comes with this custom made post card based on the theme of the box.

I love these cool magnets. This months one was of Frodo.

These beautiful screen printed bags are amazing.

The first item I pull out are these hoop earrings designed like little rings.

The next item is this stunning bracelet that is styled after the necklace in the movie.

Finally, there is a little pocket watch necklace with a lovely silhouette design on the front. And when you pop it open…there is a compass inside.

And thats it for the August Fandom of the Month Box. What do you think of the contents of this box?

Keep Calm and Read On,

Kati

REVIEW: THE TRUTH ABOUT ALICE BY JENNIFER MATHIEU

 

 

 

 

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

 

Date Published: 3rd of June 2014

 

Pages: 209

 

 

BLURB:

 

Everyone knows Alice slept with two guys at one party.

But did you know Alice was sexting Brandon when he crashed his car?

It’s true. Ask ANYBODY.

Rumor has it that Alice Franklin is a slut. It’s written all over the bathroom stall at Healy High for everyone to see. And after star quarterback Brandon Fitzsimmons dies in a car accident, the rumors start to spiral out of control.

In this remarkable debut novel, four Healy High students—the girl who has the infamous party, the car accident survivor, the former best friend, and the boy next door—tell all they know.

But exactly what is the truth about Alice? In the end there’s only one person to ask: Alice herself.

 

 

REVIEW: 

 

You must make your way through the twisted web of rumours and agendas to find out the truth about Alice.

This is a contemporary story told in first-person perspective from five different characters perspectives. As you make your way through the book you find out more and more about what really happened.

Each of the perspectives represents a high school clique. I found that really intriguing and loved seeing the perspectives of each of these cliques.

I liked the different perspectives in different chapters. There was a lot of characters to keep track of but they all had a major role in the plot of the story. I found that I definitely enjoyed Kurt’s character the best in his retelling of the events. Everything the characters did in this book felt like a teenager very well could have done these things.

This was actually a really good book that I really enjoyed. I found it interesting how little slip ups from most of our characters lead to the bigger rumour and ultimate harassment of Alice. The moral of the story… just tell the truth. I am giving this book a rating of 4/5.

 

 

Keep Calm and Read On,

Kati

 

 

 

 

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

 

SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK:

 

 

THE CONTINENT BY KEIRA DRAKE 

 

 

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Date Published: 3rd of January 2017

Pages: 320

BLURB: 

 

For her sixteenth birthday, Vaela Sun receives the most coveted gift in all the Spire—a trip to the Continent. It seems an unlikely destination for a holiday: a cold, desolate land where two “uncivilized” nations remain perpetually at war. Most citizens tour the Continent to see the spectacle and violence of battle—a thing long vanished in the Spire. For Vaela—a smart and talented apprentice cartographer—it is an opportunity to improve upon the maps she’s drawn of this vast, frozen land.

But an idyllic aerial exploration is not to be had: the realities of war are made clear in a bloody battle seen from the heli-plane during the tour, leaving Vaela forever changed. And when a tragic accident leaves her stranded on the Continent, she has no illusions about the true nature of the danger she faces. Starving, alone, and lost in the middle of a war zone, Vaela must try to find a way home—but first, she must survive.

This cover was revealed yesterday and is absolutely stunning. Also, the concept of this book sounds amazing. I am eagerly anticipating this one.

Keep Calm and Read On,

Kati

UNBOXING: THE DRAGONS HOARD BOX – SEPTEMBER

The Dragons Hoard Box is a relatively new Book Subscription Box that is based out of Australia. I have been purchasing these boxes since they started the company and I have loved what they have sent out so far.

The theme for this month was:

THE TIES THAT BIND US

 

 

 

 

This is what I saw when I first opened the box.

The first item is this gorgeous smelling candle from Burning Pages Candles.

 

 

Next was this magnet and keychain from Create, Explore, Read.

A little teaspoon with “Let’s Spoon” stamped on it.

Finally, the book… Strings by David Estes. This one is a gender-bending Pinnochio retelling.

We also got some book swag with a signed bookmark.

 

 

Every month there is a pretty little postcard that explains everything in the box.

This book sounds really interesting and I’m keen to get started.

I love receiving this box every month and am very happy with what I have received in this months box.

Keep Calm and Read On,

Kati