Hi, Chantelle here and it's that time of the month again for me to Stack the Shelves with the books that I received, borrowed or bought this month!
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Friday, March 29, 2013
Review: Chemistry by Jodi Lamm
Title: Chemistry
Author: Jodi Lamm
Genre: Young Adult
Goodreads rating: 4.00 out of 5.00 (6+ ratings)
Goodreads link
You don’t want to read this book. I’m warning you. This isn’t a heartwarming, boy-meets-girl, high school romance. I wish it were—God, do I ever. No, if you read this, you’re going to be angry… with me, mostly. You’ll probably yell at me, if you’re the type of person who yells at books. You’ll tell me not to be so stupid, but I won’t listen. I’ll be exactly as stupid as I need to be to destroy everything I love because that’s who I am: a walking, talking tragedy. That’s who I’ve always been. But if you’re determined to read on despite my warning, I may as well introduce myself. My name is Claude Frollo, I’m nineteen going on ninety, and this is my story. It isn’t pretty, but it’s honest. And it’s the only story I have left to tell.
Review by Nara and Chantelle
Author: Jodi Lamm
Genre: Young Adult
Goodreads rating: 4.00 out of 5.00 (6+ ratings)
Goodreads link
You don’t want to read this book. I’m warning you. This isn’t a heartwarming, boy-meets-girl, high school romance. I wish it were—God, do I ever. No, if you read this, you’re going to be angry… with me, mostly. You’ll probably yell at me, if you’re the type of person who yells at books. You’ll tell me not to be so stupid, but I won’t listen. I’ll be exactly as stupid as I need to be to destroy everything I love because that’s who I am: a walking, talking tragedy. That’s who I’ve always been. But if you’re determined to read on despite my warning, I may as well introduce myself. My name is Claude Frollo, I’m nineteen going on ninety, and this is my story. It isn’t pretty, but it’s honest. And it’s the only story I have left to tell.
Review by Nara and Chantelle
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Signed up for Bloglovin'
Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Well, with the many, many rumours going around about GFC shutting down, Chantelle and I thought that we'd better claim our blog on Bloglovin' as a precautionary measure. So, if you use Bloglovin, follow us! (In case you didn't know, there are two links because both of us had to do a separate proof of claiming thing. They both link to the same page.)
Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Chantelle's ARC Review: The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa
Title: The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden #2)
Author: Julie Kagawa
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Dystopian Fantasy
Source: Harlequin Enterprises Australia & NetGalley
Goodreads rating: 4.51 out of 5.00 (180+ ratings pre-release)
Goodreads link
Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.
Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.
Review by Chantelle
** Contains spoilers for The Immortal Rules**
Author: Julie Kagawa
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Dystopian Fantasy
Source: Harlequin Enterprises Australia & NetGalley
Goodreads rating: 4.51 out of 5.00 (180+ ratings pre-release)
Goodreads link
Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.
Review by Chantelle
** Contains spoilers for The Immortal Rules**
Top Ten Books I Recommend The Most
Top Ten Books I Recommend The Most
Friday, March 22, 2013
ARC Review: Hidden by Marianne Curley
Title: Hidden (Avena #1)
Author: Marianne Curley
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Goodreads rating: 3.64 out of 5.00 (pre-release)
Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13265293-hidden
For as long as Ebony can remember, she's been sheltered. Confined to her home in a secluded valley, home-schooled by her protective parents, and limited to a small circle of close friends. It's as if she's being hidden. But something is changing in Ebony. Something that can't be concealed. She's growing more beautiful by the day, she's freakishly strong, and then there's the fact that she's glowing.
On one fateful night, Ebony meets Jordan and she's intensely drawn to him. It's as if something explodes inside of her--something that can be seen from the heavens. Ebony still doesn't know that she's a stolen angel, but now that the heavens have found her, they want her back.
Review by Nara
Author: Marianne Curley
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Goodreads rating: 3.64 out of 5.00 (pre-release)
Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13265293-hidden
For as long as Ebony can remember, she's been sheltered. Confined to her home in a secluded valley, home-schooled by her protective parents, and limited to a small circle of close friends. It's as if she's being hidden. But something is changing in Ebony. Something that can't be concealed. She's growing more beautiful by the day, she's freakishly strong, and then there's the fact that she's glowing.
On one fateful night, Ebony meets Jordan and she's intensely drawn to him. It's as if something explodes inside of her--something that can be seen from the heavens. Ebony still doesn't know that she's a stolen angel, but now that the heavens have found her, they want her back.
Review by Nara
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Waiting on Wednesday [2]
It's time for Nara's monthly Waiting on Wednesday post! This one will feature books which will be released in April. There are so many releases next month, it was difficult just to choose two. But here they are, the books that I would love to be reading right now:
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
ARC Review: Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Title: Walking Disaster (Beautiful #2)
Author: Jamie McGuire
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Source: Atria Books via NetGalley
Goodreads rating: 4.52 out of 5.00 (pre-release 1, 500+ ratings)
Goodreads link
Finally, the highly anticipated follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Beautiful Disaster. Can you love someone too much?
Travis Maddox learned two things from his mother before she died: Love hard. Fight harder.
In Walking Disaster, the life of Travis is full of fast women, underground gambling, and violence. But just when he thinks he is invincible, Abby Abernathy brings him to his knees.
Every story has two sides. In Beautiful Disaster, Abby had her say. Now it’s time to see the story through Travis’s eyes.
Review by Chantelle
** May contain spoilers for Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful #1)**
Author: Jamie McGuire
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Source: Atria Books via NetGalley
Goodreads rating: 4.52 out of 5.00 (pre-release 1, 500+ ratings)
Goodreads link
Finally, the highly anticipated follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Beautiful Disaster. Can you love someone too much?
Travis Maddox learned two things from his mother before she died: Love hard. Fight harder.
In Walking Disaster, the life of Travis is full of fast women, underground gambling, and violence. But just when he thinks he is invincible, Abby Abernathy brings him to his knees.
Every story has two sides. In Beautiful Disaster, Abby had her say. Now it’s time to see the story through Travis’s eyes.
Review by Chantelle
** May contain spoilers for Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful #1)**
Top Ten Books I HAD To Buy...But Are Still Sitting On My Shelf Unread
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme where book bloggers come up with their Top Ten list for a particular book topic. Here at Looking at the Panacea, Chantelle and Nara each pick their top five to give a combined list of ten. This week's topic is:
Top Ten Books I HAD To Buy...But Are Still Sitting On My Shelf Unread
Friday, March 15, 2013
ARC Review: The Sweetest Dark by Shana Abé
Title: The Sweetest Dark (The Sweetest Dark #1)
Author: Shana Abé
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Goodreads rating: 3.84 out of 5.00 (pre-release)
Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13257637-the-sweetest-dark
For fans of Lauren Kate and Libba Bray, The Sweetest Dark is filled with thrilling romance, exciting adventure, and ancient magic. Shana Abé brilliantly captures the drama of post-Victorian England, while unfolding a passionate love story that defies time.
“With every fiber of my being, I yearned to be normal. To glide through my days at Iverson without incident. But I’d have to face the fact that my life was about to unfold in a very, very different way than I’d ever envisioned. Normal would become forever out of reach.”
Lora Jones has always known that she’s different. On the outside, she appears to be an ordinary sixteen-year-old girl. Yet Lora’s been keeping a heartful of secrets: She hears songs that no one else can hear, dreams vividly of smoke and flight, and lives with a mysterious voice inside her that insists she’s far more than what she seems.
England, 1915. Raised in an orphanage in a rough corner of London, Lora quickly learns to hide her unique abilities and avoid attention. Then, much to her surprise, she is selected as the new charity student at Iverson, an elite boarding school on England’s southern coast. Iverson’s eerie, gothic castle is like nothing Lora has ever seen. And the two boys she meets there will open her eyes and forever change her destiny.
Jesse is the school’s groundskeeper—a beautiful boy who recognizes Lora for who and what she truly is. Armand is a darkly handsome and arrogant aristocrat who harbors a few closely guarded secrets of his own. Both hold the answers to her past. One is the key to her future. And both will aim to win her heart. As danger descends upon Iverson, Lora must harness the powers she’s only just begun to understand, or else lose everything she dearly loves.
Filled with lush atmosphere, thrilling romance, and ancient magic, The Sweetest Dark brilliantly captures a rich historical era while unfolding an enchanting love story that defies time.
Review by Nara
Author: Shana Abé
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Goodreads rating: 3.84 out of 5.00 (pre-release)
Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13257637-the-sweetest-dark
“With every fiber of my being, I yearned to be normal. To glide through my days at Iverson without incident. But I’d have to face the fact that my life was about to unfold in a very, very different way than I’d ever envisioned. Normal would become forever out of reach.”
Lora Jones has always known that she’s different. On the outside, she appears to be an ordinary sixteen-year-old girl. Yet Lora’s been keeping a heartful of secrets: She hears songs that no one else can hear, dreams vividly of smoke and flight, and lives with a mysterious voice inside her that insists she’s far more than what she seems.
England, 1915. Raised in an orphanage in a rough corner of London, Lora quickly learns to hide her unique abilities and avoid attention. Then, much to her surprise, she is selected as the new charity student at Iverson, an elite boarding school on England’s southern coast. Iverson’s eerie, gothic castle is like nothing Lora has ever seen. And the two boys she meets there will open her eyes and forever change her destiny.
Jesse is the school’s groundskeeper—a beautiful boy who recognizes Lora for who and what she truly is. Armand is a darkly handsome and arrogant aristocrat who harbors a few closely guarded secrets of his own. Both hold the answers to her past. One is the key to her future. And both will aim to win her heart. As danger descends upon Iverson, Lora must harness the powers she’s only just begun to understand, or else lose everything she dearly loves.
Filled with lush atmosphere, thrilling romance, and ancient magic, The Sweetest Dark brilliantly captures a rich historical era while unfolding an enchanting love story that defies time.
Review by Nara
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Waiting on Wednesday [1]
Hi! And welcome to Chantelle's post for Waiting on Wednesday, where I'll be spotlighting my most anticipated April releases! Let's just start by saying that April is the best month of the year. Not only is it the month of my birthday (WOOOO!) but, so many of my favourite authors are releasing sequels in April! Like I said, best month EVER!
This month, I am going completely crazy waiting for...
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Review: Scent of Magic By Maria V. Snyder
Title: Scent of Magic (Healer #2)
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Source: Harlequin (UK) Limited & NetGalley
Goodreads rating: 4.21 out of 5.00 (2, 200+ ratings)
Goodreads link
Hunted, Killed—Survived?
As the last Healer in the Fifteen Realms, Avry of Kazan is in a unique position: in the minds of her friends and foes alike, she no longer exists. Despite her need to prevent the megalomanical King Tohon from winning control of the Realms, Avry is also determined to find her sister and repair their estrangement. And she must do it alone, as Kerrick, her partner and sole confident, returns to Alga to summon his country into battle.
Though she should be in hiding, Avry will do whatever she can to support Tohon’s opponents. Including infiltrating a holy army, evading magic sniffers, teaching forest skills to soldiers and figuring out how to stop Tohon’s most horrible creations yet; an army of the walking dead—human and animal alike and nearly impossible to defeat.
War is coming and Avry is alone. Unless she figures out how to do the impossible ... again.
Review by Chantelle
** WARNING: contains spoilers for Touch of Power (Healer#1)**
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Source: Harlequin (UK) Limited & NetGalley
Goodreads rating: 4.21 out of 5.00 (2, 200+ ratings)
Goodreads link
As the last Healer in the Fifteen Realms, Avry of Kazan is in a unique position: in the minds of her friends and foes alike, she no longer exists. Despite her need to prevent the megalomanical King Tohon from winning control of the Realms, Avry is also determined to find her sister and repair their estrangement. And she must do it alone, as Kerrick, her partner and sole confident, returns to Alga to summon his country into battle.
Though she should be in hiding, Avry will do whatever she can to support Tohon’s opponents. Including infiltrating a holy army, evading magic sniffers, teaching forest skills to soldiers and figuring out how to stop Tohon’s most horrible creations yet; an army of the walking dead—human and animal alike and nearly impossible to defeat.
War is coming and Avry is alone. Unless she figures out how to do the impossible ... again.
Review by Chantelle
** WARNING: contains spoilers for Touch of Power (Healer#1)**
Sunday, March 10, 2013
ARC Review: Breathless by Brigid Kemmerer
Title: Breathless (Elemental #2.5)
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Fantasy
Goodreads
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Fantasy
Goodreads
Too many secrets. Not enough time.Review by Nara
Nick Merrick is supposed to be the level-headed one. The peacemaker. Since it’s just him and his three hotheaded brothers against the world, that’s a survival tactic.
But now he’s got problems even his brothers can’t help him survive.
His so-called girlfriend, Quinn, is going quick as mercury from daring to crazy. Meanwhile, Quinn’s dancer friend Adam is throwing Nick off balance, forcing him to recognize a truth he’d rather shove back into the dark.
He can feel it—-the atmosphere is sizzling. Danger is on the way. But whatever happens next, Nick is starting to find out that sometimes nothing you do can keep the peace.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Stacking the Shelves [2]
Hi! This time it's Nara for her first Stacking the Shelves post! As you would know from Chantelle's post, this is where I'll be showing you the books (both physical and electronic) that I've received the past month or so. Since in this one I'll be including two months' worth of books (Jan/Feb), I have quite a few books to show off :)
Friday, March 8, 2013
ARC Review: The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett
Title: The Nightmare Affair (The Arkwell Academy #1)
Author: Mindee Arnett
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Fantasy
Goodreads
Author: Mindee Arnett
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Fantasy
Goodreads
Sixteen-year-old Dusty Everhart breaks into houses late at night, but not because she’s a criminal. No, she’s a Nightmare.Review by Nara
Literally.
Being the only Nightmare at Arkwell Academy, a boarding school for magickind, and living in the shadow of her mother’s infamy, is hard enough. But when Dusty sneaks into Eli Booker’s house, things get a whole lot more complicated. He’s hot, which means sitting on his chest and invading his dreams couldn’t get much more embarrassing. But it does. Eli is dreaming of a murder.
Then Eli’s dream comes true.
Now Dusty has to follow the clues—both within Eli’s dreams and out of them—to stop the killer before more people turn up dead. And before the killer learns what she’s up to and marks her as the next target.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Review: Speechless By Hannah Harrington
Title: Speechless
Author: Hannah Harrington
Genre: Young Adult Chick-Lit
Source: Harlequin (UK) Limited and NetGalley
Goodreads rating: 4.12 out of 5.00 (2, 000+ ratings)
Goodreads link
Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can’t keep a secret
Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast—and nearly got someone killed.
Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she’s ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.
But there’s strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way—people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she’s done. If only she can forgive herself.
Review by Chantelle
Author: Hannah Harrington
Genre: Young Adult Chick-Lit
Source: Harlequin (UK) Limited and NetGalley
Goodreads rating: 4.12 out of 5.00 (2, 000+ ratings)
Goodreads link
Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can’t keep a secret
Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast—and nearly got someone killed.
Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she’s ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.
But there’s strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way—people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she’s done. If only she can forgive herself.
Review by Chantelle
Friday, March 1, 2013
ARC Review: A Shimmer of Angels by Lisa M. Basso
Title: A Shimmer of Angels (Angel Sight #1)
Author: Lisa M. Basso
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Mystery/Thriller
Goodreads rating: 3.64 out of 5.00
Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13572197-a-shimmer-of-angels
Sixteen-year-old Rayna sees angels, and has the medication and weekly therapy sessions to prove it. Now, in remission, Rayna starts fresh at a new school, lands a new job, and desperately tries for normalcy. She ignores signs that she may be slipping into the world she has tried so hard to climb out of. But these days, it's more than just hallucinations that keep Rayna up at night. Students are dying, and she may be the only one who can stop it. Can she keep her job, her sanity, and her friends from dying at the hands of angels she can't admit to seeing?
Review by Nara
Author: Lisa M. Basso
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Mystery/Thriller
Goodreads rating: 3.64 out of 5.00
Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13572197-a-shimmer-of-angels
Sixteen-year-old Rayna sees angels, and has the medication and weekly therapy sessions to prove it. Now, in remission, Rayna starts fresh at a new school, lands a new job, and desperately tries for normalcy. She ignores signs that she may be slipping into the world she has tried so hard to climb out of. But these days, it's more than just hallucinations that keep Rayna up at night. Students are dying, and she may be the only one who can stop it. Can she keep her job, her sanity, and her friends from dying at the hands of angels she can't admit to seeing?
Review by Nara
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