Making memories at the Shrine of Remembrance

Hi there!
Memories are a fickle thing. You create them, try to preserve them, and sometimes flick through them in your mind. I love making new memories, and of course, take photographs…
Recently, I went on a trip to Melbourne. What really made it more memorable was my company and hangin’ out with people you love.
Here are some of my pictures, if you wanna see them.
Lastly, on an a lighter note, Melbourne is so pretty you guys. I will definitely come back.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

Read more

Cover Reveal: The Dollhouse Asylum by Mary Gray

Hi guys! Another cover reveal on the blog today. This time, the presentation of the cover reveal is pretty unique and exciting actually. Since Monday, a piece by piece part of the book cover was revealed, until it’s now totally revealed! (As I’m making this post, it’s still Thursday, and I’m one of the lucky bloggers who saw the whole cover in advance, I feel flattered,ha!) This was the list of the blogs that participated on the cover reveal blog tour if you want to check it out:
The title is “The Dollhouse Asylum”, and from the title we can already deduce that it’s kinda scary/suspense.. There’s just something about the word “asylums” that makes me think of ghosts and it just gives me goosies. Anyway, this is another book from Spencer Hill Press (WEll, I haven’t read it yet but the cover and the blurb is so awesome and I haven’t read any unawesome-isthereevenaword?–unpleasant book from SHP …and I don’t think I will, because they publish good books. oh yeah!)
I honestly think SHP’s book covers just keep on getting better. See for yourself:
Title: The Dollhouse Asylum Publisher: Spencer Hill Press Release Date: October 22, 2013 A virus that had once been contained has returned, and soon no place will be left untouched by its destruction. But when seventeen-year-old Cheyenne wakes up in Elysian Fields–a subdivision cut off from the world and its monster-creating virus–she is thrilled to have a chance at survival. At first, Elysian Fields,with its beautiful houses and manicured lawns, is perfect. Teo Richardson, the older man who stole Cheyenne’s heart, built it so they could be together. But when Teo tells Cheyenne there are tests that she and seven other couples must pass to be worthy of salvation, Cheyenne begins to question the perfection of his world. The people they were before are gone. Cheyenne is now “Persephone,” and each couple has been re-named to reflect the most tragic romances ever told. Everyone is fighting to pass the test, to remain in Elysian Fields. Teo dresses them up, tells them when to move and how to act, and in order to pass the test, they must play along. If they play it right, then they’ll be safe. But if they play it wrong, they’ll die.
The cover is awesome, right? And oh my! AFter reading the synopsis, my heart fluttered a little! Can I smell dystopian in here? And tragic romances and is there some test to pass (hunger games-ish!). Ooh, it has everything I could ever hope for in a book! I must request an ARC for this. Oct 22 2013 is too far away! What do you think?

Read more

Blog Tour: Viper’s Creed by T.L. Shreffler

hi guys! today, we are having a tour stop from the Viper’s Creed blog tour. We have a guest post from TL Shreffler entitled “First Crush”. Enjoy reading the rest of the post!
Title: Viper’s Creed
Series: The Cat’s Eye Chronicles
Author: T.L. Shreffler
Release Date: October 31, 2012
Publisher: The Runaway Pen
Sora is having visions. Strange, terrifying visions brought on by her Cat’s Eye necklace, an ancient and magical device. Spurred to action, she leaves her mother’s cabin to find Crash, the mysterious assassin who once changed her life. She is certain that together, they can discover what the necklace is trying to tell her.
Crash is still on the run from the dark sorcerer, Volcrian, but now a plague is spreading across the land. Volcrian’s quest for vengeance has awakened something far more evil than himself; a force that could destroy the entire kingdom. Together, he and Sora must harness the power of the Cat’s Eye and kill the sorcerer before it’s too late….
by T.L. Shreffler
Orion was six feet tall with wispy black hair and olive green eyes.
He was my fencing teacher. I was a shy, freckly 12 year old, and he was a handsome, roguish-looking man, probably about 26. We had private lessons three times a week. I remember rushing home after school (7th grade), getting fencing gear, and sitting impatiently by the door, counting down the minutes to my lesson.
I would fall asleep at night imagining pirate ships, epic sword fights and Orion’s muddy, greenish eyes. I imagined a million times how we would run away together. I’d grow up to be a tall, athletic, feisty redhead (unimaginably beautiful, but completely oblivious to my good looks, of course.) At the very-grown-up age of 18, he would come to my birthday party, armed with a glistening silver rapier, and confess his undying love. Or, better yet, we would run into each other just outside the fencing studio. It would be late at night, and there would be an evil, bloodthirsty criminal trying to mug me. Then Orion would appear, dressed in full fencing regalia, and deter the robber with an elegant twirl of his sword. He would take me back to his one-bedroom apartment (romantically located above a run down antique shop), bandage my sprained ankle, and gift me with my very first kiss.
Alas, it was not meant to be! I learned to lunge, parry, repost, intercept, and eventually defeat him 2 out of 3 fights. He announced that I was too skilled to continue working with him, so I moved on to a new teacher, Mr. West, who was 40-something, balding, and much less romantic.
Needless to say, I quit fencing soon after. But a lot of that crush found its way into my YA Fantasy series, The Cat’s Eye Chronicles. Amazing what pent up hormones can do!

Read more

Carol Oates’s Iridescent: An AToMR Blog Tour

Hi guys! Thanks for dropping by for a tour stop on the blog for the Iridescent blog tour, hosted by AToMR tours My review for BOTH books: Ember and Iridescent can be found below. And, don’t forget to enter the tour-wide giveaway! Title: Ember Publisher: Omnific Pulishing Release Date: July 19, 2011 Source: publisher (for review/blog tour) When Candra Ember wakes up in hospital after a dangerous encounter with a red-haired woman, she is shocked to discover that seeing a winged boy wasn’t her imagination. Candra is exposed to a world of rivalry and sacrifice she never knew existed, and the aftermath of a war to save humanity thousands of years ago. Soon she finds herself relentlessly stalked by Sebastian, a beautiful and arrogant Watcher Angel and romantically pursued by his darkly seductive rival, Draven. Ultimately, dubious about her own goodness, Candra’s very existence compromises a tentative peace in the city of Acheron. My Review:
The last ‘angel’ book I’ve read was Entice by Jessica Shirvington, and that wasn’t even completely angel, but nevertheless angels were involved. So, I was kinda excited to read another one with more of it. Ever since Fallen (by Lauren Kate, even if that was kind of an annoyingly but addicting series), I’ve been attracted to this particular genre:) If you read my reviews frequently, you know how much I like love triangles, much more complicated and difficult-to-choose kinds. (insert glee!). I wasn’t disappointed with Ember. Just by it’s title, I already sensed it was a good read, and it honestly is! Moving on, one factor that is very much important to a story (besides the good plot) is a very engaging and great main character. From my reading experience, reading from unlikable MCs truly negates the whole book, because how can you learn to like the book if you hate the one narrating it? And in Ember? We have a great character- Candra. She’s easy to love, and though at times some of her actions tend to irritate me, but you can actually understand her decisions and opinions. The guys. Goodness. Sebastian. *sigh*. For some reason I am attracted to tortured guys (though it can be pretty annoying when in excess too). Then there’s Draven. I don’t want to choose between the two of them (but I honestly have one in mind already, but I’m trying to stay away from getting my heart broken, so I won’t choose yet..and just see where the story will go). The story. At first everything was so vague, there were so many unanswered questions and I was confused a lot. I wasn’t happy, honestly. Until, slowly when the answered revealed themselves, I was completely intrigued with the novel. I like how serious the tone of the book gets at times, and I like the fast paced, direct-to-the-point approach of the story. That’s how great books are written! Publisher: Omnific Publishing Release Date: October 16, 2012 Source: Omnific publishing for blog tour (review) Candra dreamed of saving the world one person at a time. She never expected to become an angelic weapon and the last hope in a battle against ultimate darkness. Falling for a Nephilim wasn’t part of Sebastian’s plan. Distraction is something he can’t afford when his rival, Draven, wants what Sebastian has. Lies, manipulation, and corruption are twisting the lives of the citizens of Acheron. The Arch is missing from heaven, and a demon is intent on claiming the city. At a time they should be growing closer, grief and paranoia are driving Candra and Sebastian apart. Soon, Candra must face a terrible choice. If the price of restoring heaven is a human soul, who deserves to be saved?
I’m now on the second book, and I can’t seem to stop. This book series is kinda addicting. Iridescent is the second book after Ember and starts where Ember left off. Here, we still follow Candra’s story/adventure. Honestly! I want to experience these kinds of adventure (though I think it’s highly impossible in real life), and I’m jealous that Candra gets to experience them. I don’t mind the dilemmas I may have to face. So long as there’s a Sebastian by my side,nyahaha. Anyway, on to the story.
I just like it when in every story we get to the point of not knowing whom to trust, and whether the MC will survive the next crisis or the current problem, and mainly just making a decision- a very hard one. It seems easy to say you want to be a hero and you’re willing to sacrifice your life, but when put to the test, we all get those little doubts. In the middle of the story, I kind of want to tell Candra “No pressure Candra, the world is not relying on you! (even if the world actually is). There’s something about being in these critical situations that make your hairs stand out and give you goosies! I had. It’s more intense and unbecoming. I also want to mention that while inside the tornado, people do drift apart. I’ve seen lots of those cases in other books, and we also see it here. It kinda breaks my heart, but anyway! The story building just gets higher as the stakes grows higher too.
A bit off topic, I can’t help but wonder what the butterfly in the book covers signify? Is it Candra? or the main situation they are in? I can’t wait for the next book and find out what happens next. The ending was unexpected and riveting.
you can view the trailer HERE The publisher is giving away (7) ecopies of IRIDESCENT. (INTERNATIONAL) Don’t forget to stop by these blogs:

Read more