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Justine's books

Last Sacrifice
My Soul to Take
My Soul to Save
My Soul to Keep
My Soul to Steal
Wings
Spells
Illusions
Sing Me to Sleep
Girl Stays in the Picture
The Eternal Ones
Beastly
Ash
Huntress
Secret Society
The Trust
Ascendant
Rampant
0.4
Fairy Tale


Justine's favorite books »

Wednesday 31 October 2012

Review #27: Marked A Two Halves Novella- Marta Szemik

Title: Marked A Two Halves Novella
Author: Marta Szemik 
Pages: 110
Rating: 3/4 Stars
Review: I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This novella is about twin shape shifters who must choose their destiny. They need to become marked with either the water mark of the keepers of the sphere of the underworld. Xander and Mira have a rough decision because they have to make the same choice because they are twins. The hard part is Mira is in love with Eric, who carries a watermark, but Xander fell in love with a dark witch who is marked by the sphere.
I'm not sure about this book. I felt at the beginning as thoug I was just dropped in the middle of the book and was missing chunks. Maybe after I read the second book things will clear up for me. 
I would classify this novella as new adult because its for an older audience and the characters are very mature. I liked the characters I found them to be strong and to do what is right even if they are being influenced to do the wrong thing. I can't wait to see if these characters are in the next book.

Tuesday 30 October 2012

GIVEAWAY!!!!

Hey everyone!! There is a giveaway going on over on Facebook. You could win one of three ribbon and diamond necklaces to promote The Diamond Mini Series by J. M. Zuniga. All you have to do is head over to amazon like and tag these links and let me know what numbers you are. (Open to continental US only). Contest ends Nov 2nd at midnight PST.
Authors Page: J. M. Zuniga
Book 1: Under Ground
Book 2: The Core
Thanks!! Good Luck!!

Review #26: Daughter of the Red Dawn- Alicia Michaels

Title: Daughter of the Red Dawn
Series: The Lost Kingdom of Fallada
Author: Alicia Michaels
Pages: 211
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Review: I recieved this book as a prize in a giveaway from the author. 
First off I LOVE the cover. I love the red hair, the red cape, the forest background and the wolf. So awesome!! I liked the prologue and epilogue, how it was narrated by someone other then the main character and gave extra information to the story. I loved the "Litttle Red Riding Hood" mess to the story, but how it was nothing like the original story at all.
I enjoyed all of the characters, but especially our main character Selena who started off as a loner and basically overnight had to become the leader of a nation and be strong enough to defeat an army of evil. I enjoyed the romance, even when at times it was a bit cheesy with the whole "love at first site", but otherwise tolerable. Even thought Titus was a werewolf (I'm super afraid of them), I decided that he was probably pretty hot and had redeemable characteristics. Also, I liked how "gram" was thrown into the mix. 
I can't wait for the next book. Hopefully there will be seven books, each about one of the missing princesses and that they are all based on more fairytales characters. Thanks Alicia for the great read!

Sunday 28 October 2012

Review# 25: Haunted Moon- K. B. Miller

Title: Haunted Moon
Series: A Moon Coven
Author: K. B. Miller
Pages: 42
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Review: This is a novella by K. B. Miller about a young soon to be witch.
Leeny is in line to become a powerful witch like her mother is and grandmother was. Leeny is lead the coven someday. She is prepared until one night a vampire attacks her and her mother Rose. Rose stakes the evil vamp. Leeny watches it all unfold and from then on doesn't want to become a witch if that is what it entails. This really upsets her younger sister who keeps being told that she isn't mature enough to be a witch just yet, but who wants to be a witch so bad. Then Leeny saves her sister from an one hundred year old vamp and Leeny then decides that she can do this.
This was a great, short read that left me wanting more. What a great intro into The Moon Coven Series. I can't wait to find out what happens next!!!!

Review# 24: My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century- Rachel Harris

Title: My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century
Author: Rachel Harris
Pages: 304
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Review: This is the debut novel by author Rachel Harris, and I must say its an awesome start! I liked this book right off the bat. I think that the cover is so fitting and funny at the same time once you have read that book. When I read the book blurb I fell in love the storyline. It would be so awesome to travel back in time. Especially to the renaissance period (big dresses). Plus I thought that it was hilarious about how there was the My Super Sweet 16 Spoof of the MTV show.
I really enjoyed the characters. I loved Cat, other then I find that she accepted the time travel too readily, where I would have been pooping my pants. Also she was worried about getting home for a small period then forgot all about home for most of the book. I wished that we had learned more about Cat's mom. I found Reyna to be super mysterious, and hopefully we learn more about her in the future.then there was Lorenzo (swoon). How hot is he. I loved his player reputation. But he was also sweet and romantic. I'm just sad that things between him and Cat had to end. :(
Then Rachel leaves me hanging on a cliff lol with the ending!!! Can't wait for the next book!!!!

Thursday 25 October 2012

Review #23: The Keeper- Katherine Rochholz

Title: The Keeper
Author: Katherine Rochholz
Pages: 4
Rating: 5/5 Starts
Review: WOW!!! This short story had so much emotion packed into it that it was unbelievable. I could almost feel the pain, the heartbreak and the depression seeping from the books every pore.
Katherine Rochholz is one of the most amazing writers that I have had the privilege of reading. The underlying message is so powerful. Please everyone read this book.

Review #22: The Core- J. M. Zuniga

Title: The Core
Author: J. M. Zuniga
Pages: 40
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Review: I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Amazingly this story started exactly where the first one ended. It didn't even skip a beat, which is awesome. Although, I also would have enjoyed if it was one big book so then we didn't get the crazy, insane cliffhangers. I actually think this story is shorter then the second one if that's even possible haha.
I liked how the three new characters have been introduced, and we learn a little bit about each one of them, but I still can't decide if they can be trusted. I loved all the descriptive language that the author uses throughout the book. The only part that I hated was the cliffhanger ending. URGH!!! Can't wait for Ransom!
Thanks again J. M. Zuniga for another awesome read!!!

Wednesday 24 October 2012

FREE TODAY!!!!!

FREE TODAY ONLY on Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Core-Diamond-Mini--Book-ebook/dp/B008Q3VQSS/ref=la_B008L2578O_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1351140769&sr=1-1

Review #21: Under Ground- J. M. Zuniga

Title: Under Ground
Series: The Diamond Mini-Series
Author: J. M. Zuniga
Pages: 37
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Review: I received this book free for the author in exchange for an honest review.
This book, well short story of 37 pages packs a punch. I don't even know how to describe what I just read. I want want to cry and scream. How can all that have happened in a mere 37 pages. MIND BLOWING!!!! I can't believe that my heart could be broken in so little time. But at the same time so much mystery was built up. I'm begging on my hands and knees to know what happens next.
Thanks you J. M. Zuniga for giving me this opportunity to have my mind blown.

Review #20: Path of Needles- Hannah Kollef

Title: Path of Needles
Author: Hannah Kollef
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Review: I received this book in a Read 2 Review for free for my honest review.
This is the second novel that I have read by Hannah Kollef. I must admit that I liked this book much better then her first novel.
Our main character Kat and her twin brother Roger live a fairly lavish life in New York City with their father, and their Uncle also lives close by. Their Uncle is an artist and after one of his art shows, Kat and Roger's father goes missing. The twins, along with their best friend Jim go on a twisty adventure to find their father. 
This novel blends fairytales with modern day. There a a ton of secrets that turn up but nothing really gets answered in this book. Their are lots of different creatures like fairies, kelpies and werewolves. The only smidgen of romance in this novel is that Jim has a crush on Roger. No love triangles YEAH!! I liked the references to the Path of Needles and the Path of Pins. I had never heard if them before. 
So I recommend that if you read Hannah's fist book and were like me and didn't enjoy that much to give this one a try. Like I said earlier its much better. Thanks Hannah!! Can't wait to read the rest in the series!!!!!

Monday 22 October 2012

Free Book for Review!!!!

Hey if anyone wants a free copy in exchange for a review.
Left alone in a secret room after their parents were kidnapped, Diamond and Obsidian must take care of their younger siblings. But how? They are facing both the threat of intruders and the threat of starvation. Will they survive or will their fate fall into the hands of the intruders? Or worse yet, will they starve to death?

Enter the world of The Diamond Mini-Series. It is a mini-series of short stories, each one picking up where the other one left off. Follow Diamond on her journey of survival and life.





Please leave me your email and I can send you the code for smash words!!!!

COVER REVEAL!!!! Ransom- J.M. Zuniga

Okay so here it is!!! The cover reveal for the third book in J.M. Zuniga's Diamond Mini- Series.
RANSOM!!!

And no matter how hard you try you probably won't be able to read the note hahaha.

Title: Ransom
Author: J. M. Zuniga

I will share more when I know.

Check out J. M. Zuniga's Facebook page HERE!

Sunday 21 October 2012

I'm my Mailbox #4



In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over The Story Siren at Let us know what books you've bought, borrowed or received for review!

Okay this week was so awesome!!! I had joined a few "parties" on Facebook where they had tons of prizes. Ad I must say I did quite well. So here's my week in a nutshell.

Won
I won these books from the Paranormal Days Anthology Launch Party!
And I won some swag, and will post when I received it.


I won this ebook on the Young Adult and Teen Readers Facebook page.
I won this from Apirl Ethridge on a Courtney Cole Promo featured on April's Blog.

For Review

This week I also recieved a few books for review. Some of them I have reviewed already but I 
will still post.





 








Saturday 20 October 2012

Review #19: Destine- Katherine Polillo

Title: Destine
Author: Katherine Polillo
Pages: 255
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Review: I received this book free for a honest review.
OMG!!! Loved it! This book was mindblowing! It's not your typical angel, demon story oh no it's that and so much more.the book starts off with our seventeen year old female character living her everyday normal teenage life with her dad, mentally unstable mother, and a sister-like best friend. Then in walks hot new guy. Michelle's live is turned upside down. This is not just any boy, he is the "fallen" Archangel Gabriel. The same one who came to her mother while she was pregnant and warned her of angels and demons to try and protect her unborn daughter, leading to Michelle's mothers illness. Gabriel is blessed with the task of telling Michelle that she is the one destined to save all of humanity from the four horsemen of the Apocolypse. 
I found this book chalked full of quick whit. There was not a dull moment throughout the entire novel. The biblical essence did not bother me one bit, because it was used very tactfully. The storyline was so original. At one point I was almost in tears. I loved how Michelle grew from the wallflower to the sword wheelding, scythe swinging herione. I fell in love with Gabriel, who wouldn't. I can't give this debut novel enough praise. Everyone needs to read this book. 
I can not wait for the next book! Hopefully it won't be too long.

Friday 19 October 2012

Review #18: Waffles and Pancake A Lesson in Bullying- Cindy Springsteen

Title: Waffles and Pancake A Lesson in Bullying
Author: Cindy Springsteen
Genre: Children's
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Review:  I received this book free from the author for my honest review.

This is the continuation of Cindy Springsteen's children's book about two cute hamsters and their owners. In the story, the hamsters are being bullied by a guinea pig, while their owners are also being bullied. Everyone learns to talk about their problems in order to solve them. By the end, the boy' bully realizes that bullying isn't nice and they become friends. The hamsters bully also realizes that bullying is wrong. 
Again a cute story. Love the characters. If I had kids I would definitely read them these books!!!

Review #17: Waffles and Pancake a Lesson in Friendship- Cindy Springsteen



Title:Waffles and Pancake A Lesson in Friendship
Author: Cindy Springsteen
Genre: Children
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Review: This short story was given to me by the author for an honest review.

First off, the illustrations in this book are excellent! The story is quick and to the point. You learn the value that the author is trying to portray very quickly without it being naggy. Secondly, the story was so cute I almost cried. The tears were there but they just didn't fall. 
Thanks again Cindy for the awesome read!!!!!

Review #16: Soul Sisters- Janiera Eldridge


Title: Soul Sisters
Author: Janiera Eldridge 
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Review: I recieved this book free for an honest review.
At the beginning I didn't ink that I would enjoy this book as much as I did considering it is new adult, bordering an adult novel. But I was wrong. I really enjoyed it. I really liked the flashbacks in this novel between modern times and olden times. I felt that in this book it worked. It was used to give background information, and it helped the book not hindered it. Also I liked the whole idea of being soul connected. Where a human gives up a part of their soul to save someone and becomes immortal, also making another "life", even if that life is technically a dead vampire. The part where the soul connected are twins added that much more to the story where the vampire twin is like a guardian to the human twin for all of eternity. And there was just enough romance for the book to not be gross lol.
There was not only one kick- ass herione in the book there was two, which made it doubly as good. The characters were fun and relatable (well as relatable as a vampire and werewolf can be to a human)
These are my predictions for book #2: remember when Ali was sick in the morning? I think that she is pregnant. Also the somewhat cliffhanger at the end of the book? I think that because Donovan was the creator that he can out his soul in the ring and the next creator to wear it will be possessed by his soul. We will find out if I am right when the next book comes out.
Overall the book was a good read and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a quick read full of action and just enough romance. Also includes vampires and werewolves.

FLIRT SQUAD!!!!!





Hey everyone! So I just wanted to share with you that I am no an honorary member of Rachel Harris' Flirt Squad. What is this you ask? Well Rachel just released her novel My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century. So for fun she has made her street team the Flirt Squad where you can do tasks for points to earn swag! And who doesn't love easily earned swag while promoting an awesome author.

Watch the trailer HERE,


If you want more info on the contest go to Rachel Harris' Blog.

If you like what you see and feel like joining the Squad please mention my name.
Thanks and have fun.

Thursday 18 October 2012

Review # 15:All That We See or Seem- Tempest C. Avery

Title: All That We See or Seem
Author: Tempest C. Avery
Rating: 3/5 Stars
Review:I received this book from the author for a honest review. 
Four teenagers reside in our world, and keep having nightmares of another life. Theya re brought back to the world after three hundred years in the human world. The friends find out that they have a prophesy to complete when they returned. Did I mention that they have no recollection of this world which makes it difficult when they are the ones prophesied to save it. 
I found that the beginning of this book was very confusing because there wasn't really any information of that time, then suddenly they are in this new world. Also there are so many characters that it is hard to follow who is who. And there were not paragraphs to separate when the characters switched from one to the next. Also I found that the beginning was slow, it did pick up in the end, but then the book ended.
I did think the premise was good and I liked some of the characters. I will read the next book just to see where it goes and what happens to the characters that I liked. Also I liked that different types of paranormal a were included such as witches, faeries, shades and shape-shifters. 
Also I learned that they is a "first book" called "Where Thy Dark Eye Glances" which would have been nice to know before I read this book. So I feel that if people read the first book, and if this book gets more editing and has less confusion it could be a much better read.

Sunday 14 October 2012

I'm My Mailbox #3

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over The Story Siren at Let us know what books you've bought, borrowed or received for review!

This week I got a few things that I will share with you. 
Bought 

WON!!!!
I won this over at Paranormal Days Anthology Launch Party on Facebook, hosted by Melissa Ringsted. They had an awesome evening of games, prizes and giveaways! I won more and I will share when I receive it.

For Review
I revived this book for review from the amazing author DeAnna Kinney after I reviewed the first book in the series Charity Moon. Can't wait to get started on it.


Friday 12 October 2012

Review #14: Charity Moon- DeAnna Marie Kinney

Title: Charity Moon
Author: DeAnna Marie Kinney
Pages: 307
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Review: Charity Anna Bell is your average 18 year old, finishing up her last year of high school. Well, other then the fact that she has to hide herself; for example when she comes home from school she goes directly to her room, locks the door and props a chair under the door knob for the last three years; to keep her pervert stepfather out of her room. Because of this Charity has "male issues" and does not allow herself to get close to guys. That is until the day that Levi Drake transfers to her school. 


Levi is the epitome of hotness. Every girl at Charity's school is drooling over him. Levi seems to be somewhat interested in Charity and she feels a spark, but Charity does not want to give him the time of day due to the above stated "daddy issues". She is downright rude to Levi, but Levi can handle himself. He is used to fighting for what he wants. On at least two separate occasions Levi saves Charity. He soon learns her "dirty little secret", then she learns his. He is not what he seems.



I quite enjoyed this book. At times it was a little Twilightish for me (I won't go into details because I want you to read the book and find out for yourselves about the paranormal surprise). Never the less, I still took joy in reading this novel. There was not a love triangle but what I would call a love trapezoid lol. 

But Charity and Levi only had eyes for each other, they were soul connected. And had matching markings to prove it. They even went as far to prove their love as continuosly risking their lives for each other and they proved that they would rather die they be without one another.



The only thing that I felt was snuck into the book was I found a lot of "God" references that kind of made me uncomfortable. Otherwise I really enjoyed this book. I read it in a few hours. I will be looking forward to reading the next instalment..

Thursday 11 October 2012

Review #13: Henrietta the Dragon Slayer- Beth Barany


Title: Henrietta the Dragon Slayer
Author: Beth Barany
Pages: 236
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Review: This book is about a 17yr old ex-military and ex- dragon slaying girl, who once again finds herself on a quest which should end in a dead dragon. Along the way Henrietta picks up a few tag-alongs, Franc, a knight sent to return her to his King, Jaxter, and bard folli for another tale to tell and Paulette, a young witch sent along to be safely returned to her hometown. During their adventure, the group meets some evils, gain power and mature. 

The reason for their quest in the first place is that Henrietta hears that her old mentor had fallen ill and the only way to save him is defeat the Dragon, Mimoto and take its Dracontias, a stone with healing properties and give it to Master Chen. 
Through the course of her experience, Henrietta ends up making friends, returning a lost king and freeing a nation from a terrible spell.
I enjoyed this book because firstly, there was a kick- ass herione. Secondly, the story is fast- paced and action- packed. And thirdly, it's an overall great read for people of any age. 
I grew fond of the characters. I liked how they didn't like each other at the beginning of the novel but then slowly their relationships bloomed into friendships and even a possibly love. I felt that I learned quite a bit about each character and their backgrounds which helped put the way that they acted sometimes into perspective. I also loved watching them grow and mature.
My only complaint is I want to know what happens with Master Chen. Otherwise this was an awesome find and a great read. Hopefully there will be more stories of the gang.

Saturday 6 October 2012

Review # 12: Piercing the Fold- Venessa Kimball

Title: Piercing the Fold
Author: Venessa Kimball
Pages: 350
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Review: I was given this book from the author as an incentive to read and review her book by October 7, 2012, and enter the huge giveaway that she is hosting.

I would definitely define this book as new adult, between YA and adult. I really enjoyed this book. I found it to be interesting and held my attention throughout. It was action packed and I just wanted to keep reading it right until the end. The only thing that I didn't like was all the physics and talk of wormholes, etc in the very beginning chapters. But other then that this was an awesome book. 

I love the characters!!! Jesca, which I think is pronounced Jessica, is the main character and is a very strong willed female lead. She was orphaned and adopted at a young age, and later learns that her biological parents were guardians and so is she. She is whisked away by her mentor Ezra, and trained and gets educated on everything that she has missed in the last 15ish years of her life. 

She finds not one but two possible loves in this story, and I can't wait until the next book to see who she chooses. I also like how the novel unfolds and as you read more, secrets are being reviled, secrets that I would have never even guessed. All I can say is SHOCKER!!! 

Thank you Venessa Kimball for the great read!!!

Thursday 4 October 2012

Review #11: The Future of Us- Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler

Title: The Future of Us
Authors: Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler
Pages: 356
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Review: This book was picked for me in a "pick it for me" challenge where you are assigned a partner and you pick books for each other from your TBR pile.

I hadn't got to this book yet because every time I picked it up I wasn't feeling the contemporary genre. Well and I guess it's a little futuristic lol. But the book sounded really awesome or I wouldn't have bought it. This novel is different from Jay Asher's other books, mostly because he had help writing it haha. 

I enjoyed the book. I read it in just a few hours. It's a quick and easy read. I like the idea of being able to "see your future" from Facebook which in the books time was not invented yet. If that happened to me I would totally be on there every second seeing what was going to happen to me and how things would change from little "ripples". Then only thing was the book was somewhat predictable.

I didn't think that the characters grew as much as I would have wanted them too. I found them both to be rather shallow, but I guess that's really how high school kids are. At times Emma could be a little annoying with her whining and having to always be dating or crushing on guys. I liked Josh better but he was also shallow. I liked him because you could tell that he had always cared for Emma and wanted her back. 

Overall this was a relatively good book. I would like to see a second book only because I want to find out more about Kellan and Tyson.

Wednesday 3 October 2012

Review #10: Pledged- Gwynneth White

Title: Pledged
Author: Gwynneth White
Pages: 506
Rating: 2/5 Stars
Review: I received this book as a Read to Review book from the author free of charge for my honest review. 

At first this book sucked me in talking about archeology and how the two main characters were off to Africa to meet with their siblings who were getting married. The first few chapters lead me to believe that the book was about archeology and diamonds, with a paranormal twist,  then it turned into a whole new story. 

Our two main characters Seth and Erin meet some dead people and end up going back in time and to me it was like these characters were watching a movie because they could see and hear everything that was going on but were invisible to the other people. I just found it weird and I was very confused throughout most of the book. It was just weird how everyone was related and this curse/ prophecy had been going on for centuries and the characters kept doing the same mistakes and the curse never ended and tow these two characters are expected to break the curse when no others could. I don't know. 

The characters were okay. I found Erin to be a know it all, which I think the author wanted but at times it was super annoying. Seth was decent but then he kind of turned, he couldn't decide if he wanted to break the curse or give the stone to his brother. I don't know even it just wasn't a book for me.


Advanced Screening of The Perks of Being a Wallflower!!

So about a week or two ago I received this email after entering a contest on www.indigo.ca.
Then a few days following that one I received this one!

So, I won tickets to The Perks of Being a Wallflower!!!
Off me and my friend Stephanie went to the theatre to see the advanced screening.
http://stephsfunwithbooks.blogspot.ca/
Steph's blog so add her!!!
                

Here we are waiting to see the show!!
Steph and Me.
We also received a free Subway gift card and got to enter a draw to win $600. Saweettt!!!
The movie was awesome by the way. I was scared about how they would make it similar to the book with the whole writing letters thing, but surprisingly it was very well done. The hardest part for me was Emma Watson not having an accent so her voice was a little strange at first but once I got into the movie I didn't notice. I almost think that the movie was more emotional then the book because you had real people doing the actions and you could watch their facial features. I was still laughing and crying throughout the movie so that part didn't change. But overall it was really great!! Everyone needs to go see this movie!!