Showcase Sunday #39

 

Showcase Sunday is a new weekly Meme that I am taking part of. This weekly meme is hosted by Vicky over at Book, Biscuits and Tea and for more info click on the SS image which will take you straight to the blog. Click images to take you to Goodreads.

 

Physical Books

 

  

  

 

 

 

Kindle Books

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BOTM #9

I have read quite a few books this month so for this months Book of the month I have decided to do a vlog version which is where you will find out what I read and the winner or you can take a peek at the BOTM tab at the top of the blog.
Let me know what you thought of the books that I read? and did I pick the right one? which would you guys have picked?

It's Monday What Are You Reading #32

It's Monday What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey in which we plan our reading week!
(Click on images to send you to Goodreads)

Finished Reading

(Click on title for review)

Raised By Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Witchstruck by Victoria Lamb

The Shapeshifter's Secret by Heather Ostler

Currently Reading

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

Both of these book I have only read the first couple of chapters so I'm not too sure what I think about them just yet but the do seem interesting looking forward to see what happens next with them both.

Reading Next

The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

Looking forward to reading this as I enjoyed the first one I'm just hoping that I enjoy more than what I did.

This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

Can't remember what this one was about but the cover looks intriguing so I'm hoping that it will be a good read.

That's what I am planning on reading this week, what's on your reading list for the week?

Book Review: The Shapeshifter's Secret

The Shapeshifter's Secret by Heather Ostler

Format: e-arc
Publisher: Cedar Fort
Published: 12th June 2012
Pages: 328
Main Characters: Julia
Date Started: 24th May 2012
Date Finished: 3rd June 2012
Rating Given: ***

Blurb from Netgalley:

She tried telling herself to stop, but it was useless. Something had fully claimed her mind and body. A sound began to erupt from inside her chest, a deep sort of growl that seized her entire being. She felt as if there was a grizzly bear inside her, trying to escape. And then a deafening roar echoed from her mouth, only inches away from Lancer’s face. It took everything inside of her not to attack him.
In Julia’s life, timing is everything. Like the time her paranoid father put bars on her window so she wouldn’t sneak out at night—even though she’s never given him a reason not to trust her. Or the time this weird new kid showed up at her school and pretty much every girl in sight instantly and inexplicably fell in love with him. What was up with that?
But as time moves on, things in Julia’s life go from strange to seriously impossible. Now it’s all she can do to keep herself and the life she’s always known from falling apart.
This fast-paced action-adventure story is packed with humor, romance, and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing to the very last page. Get lost in a world of hidden royalty, shifting alliances, and dangerous vendettas, but don’t ever forget: nothing is what it seems.

For me the reason why I wanted to read this particular book wasn't the cover as I couldn't see it at the time or even the blurb but the title. The Shapeshifter's Secret it just says it all. Shapeshifter's I have read about before and they are usually good and then the word secret got me intrigued I just had to read it and I am kind of glad that I did.

Like I said I couldn't see the cover straight away as it was a couple of weeks before I found an actual cover and I must admit I'm still not sure whether I like it or not. I love the pattern in the background and even the font especially the S which I have just this second realised that it's important to the story. The girl however doesn't look right I know that it's showing that she is a shapeshifter but for me it just doesn't work as you can actually tell that it's fake as other books that I have seen with mythical creatures on the cover look real but in this case it just doesn't look right.

Heather Ostler was able to create a beautiful world that I for one could visualise very well it sounded like a place that I wish was real so I could visit. Ostler was also able to make me want to read more and more about what was going on even when I wasn't sure that it was the greatest book that I have read I still was thoroughly enthralled I just needed to know what was going to happen.

This book has confused me in the way in which I didn't like the characters but I still wanted to know more it's not very often that a book can do that to me. At the beginning it was a bit juvenile and I really didn't want to read the rest of the book yet somehow I ended up hooked so much so that if there was another book to this series I would read it. There was parts that did make me laugh out loud or just smile but there was also boring parts that just glossed over things that was happening that could have been more interesting. I found that things would happen rather randomly and just didn't get what was happening. There was a bit of action right at the end but again I thought it was rushed I would have loved to have seen more of the action.

Like I said above I wasn't that impressed with the characters. Julia was very annoying at the beginning and also very shallow but I did like that she wasn't afraid to take action when everyone around her was saying no. There was other characters but I don't think that we got to know much about them. Terrance was a descent enough character but all the way through I was expecting him to turn on the good guys. Caleb was a good character although there was times when I would have liked to shake him but apart from that he was one of my favourite characters. The relationship that Julia had with her guy I didn't get as I thought she liked someone else but then it just changed randomly. I think if there was another book I think they all might improve as some books that I have read I hated the characters but by the end of the series I loved them all.

Overall I liked this book but things that happened did make it hard to love it.

Teaser Tuesday #24

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!




My teasers:

Raised By Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

No! The word exploded in my brain, and with it came paralysis. It washed over my body, taking first my legs and then my torso, my arms, even my lips, until I couldn't manage a single cry when Sora's fist crashed into my face again.
I wouldn't fight this.
I couldn't.
My field of vision exploded, first into red, then into black, and then into nothing. Blessed nothing, and numbness, and as black faded to star-tinged gray, I crumpled to the ground.
Unconscious. - Page 191

A really good book so far as loads of things keep happening yet they keep you guessing as well. Looking forward to find out some things.

      The Shapeshifter's Secret by Heather Ostler

It seemed somehow ironic that only yesterday Julia had wanted to make sure things didn't get complicated with this new by she had met. Now, as she crouched low in the dark tunnel, trusting Caleb with her life, she knew things could only be complicated between them. - Page 44

Not a bad start but it does seem a little too juvenile for me but maybe things will pick up soon as I'm not that far into the story.



The Shapeshifter's Secret is a e-arc so therefore the quote may differ to final copy.

It's Monday What Are You Reading? #31

It's Monday What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey in which we plan our reading week!
(Click on images to send you to Goodreads)

Finished Reading

(Click on title for review)

Torn by Stephanie Guerra

Burn Mark by Laura Powell

Currently Reading

Raised By Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

I'm nearly halfway through this book and I'm really enjoying it I just hope it continues which I think it will as it's just got very entertaining!

The Shapeshifter's Secret by Heather Ostler

Not a bad start but things are now starting to come to light now so we will see if it makes any improvements to it.

Reading Next

Witchstruck by Victoria Lamb

I received this a little while ago now so thought I best get reading it as it's a review copy and it will be coming out soon.

Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

This sounds and looks good which I am hoping it actually is good.

That's what I'm planning on reading this week, what's everybody else's plans?

In My Mailbox #22

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that is hosted by The Story Siren. This is where we show what we have either bought or was given throughout the week gone by.









I got a couple of books this week so here goes.

13 To Life by Shannon Delany

I received this book as a RAK from the lovely Elodie at the beginning of the week which also included some bookmarks as well. I was so excited when I found out that this was the book that I was given as I have been after it for ages now so I can't wait to read it.

Thanks Elodie :)

Ally Condie

I received this as a swap from over at UK Swap Shop over at Goodreads. I must admit when this first came out I wasn't that excited about it but when everyone kept raving about it I knew I would end up trying it so now I am looking forward to seeing what the hype is about.

Another week and another week browsing Netgalley. Every week I say to myself that I will stop getting books from here until I have read what I need to get done on there first but alas I just couldn't stop myself.

Tomorrow Land by Mari Mancusi

The Shapeshifter's Secret by Heather Ostler

Yesterday by C.K. Kelly Martin

So that's what was in my mailbox this week what was in yours?