Tomorrow's Tuesday!

This book comes out tomorrow! It looks so good I can't wait to read it!

Touch of Power

by Maria V. Snyder

Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan absorbs their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Fifteen Realms, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.

Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life….

Review: Blood Warrior (Alexa Montgomery #1)

Title: Blood Warrior (Alexa Montgomery #1)
Author: H.D. Gordon
Rating: 4 of 5 stars


Goodreads Summary:
When her home is attacked by muderous vampires, 17-year-old Alexa is forced to leave her mother for dead in order to save her sister. She soon learns that she is the last known member of an elite race of supernatural Warriors, and is thrust into a world full of vampires and werewolves who all seem to regard her as some sort of savior. Meanwhile, Alexa battles a monster within herself that seeks to gain control; a monster that seeks blood.


The hidden city she kinds herself in appears perfect, but Alexa's instrincts tell her that all is not right within its walls. When she is asked to attend a school of fighters, whose exams consister of gladiator-style competitions, she must decide who she can trust among the smiling faces. And, when she meets Kayden, a vampire she feels undeniably drawn to, she must decide if she can trust herself.


My Take:


I really liked this book. A lot! Sorry this review is a bit long!

In the beginning, things were a uncomfortable for me. I honestly thought I was going to get a mentally & emotionally damaged character because there seemed to be some abuse happening. Luckily, that was not the case. The main character is Alexa and I was just as mad as she was in the beginning because we had no idea what was going on. Throughout the story you learn things just as she does and since she's been kept in the dark about everything, it was frustrating to watch her do things and not understand why. It keeps you interested though!

Alexa is a strong character, very strong, and sometimes her head gets in the way. I just wanted to shake her at some parts! Alexa is dealing wiith finding out who she is (the last sun warrior ever!), the death of her mother, and all the boy attention she is receiving! Luckily, for Alexa, she has her sister, Nelly, and Kayden to ease some of that fire. 

Oh, KAYDEN! Kayden is a tough cookie, and he's pretty BA, but he's also not at the same time. He's a great combo of a good guy and a bad guy if you ask me (AKA = PERFECT!). 

The suspense is great because most of the time we don't know what's going on and when we finally get the hang of things, new things keep popping up! For me Alexa took some things a little too easily - like going to school. It surprised me how easily she adapted to her completely different life. Nelly did too, but I think I kept picturing Nelly as so much younger, even though she was only a year younger. Maybe it was just because her personality wasn't very strong yet.

As soon as Alexa and her crew where taken into the city, Two Rivers, I was transfixed just as Alexa was. A whole new world for them and us! A place where two warriors duke it out just for show? A society where they don't even value their warriors lives, they just want them for protection and entertainment? Ya, different and enticing!

I do have to mention that I thought the book resembled to Vampire Academy a lot. I've only read three of their books but the similarities seemed to be hitting me in the face as I read this (I just read them recently too so that could be why). I won't get into how, but I do want to say that this didn't take from the story for me! This book had a lot of it's own originality. Things characters can do in this series, you wouldn't see in VA. There are more different races/species in this series than the other. I also have to point out that I like Kaydem more than I like Dimitri!! So if you liked Dimitri. Just wait for Kayden!! 

I also have to let Jackson have his piece. Jackson is Alexa's best friend, a werewolf, and he likes her. You can tell right from the beginning he does. And I liked him too! He's actually allowed to go to school within the same city as the warriors and searchers (both are vamps). If something happened to Kayden I would be perfectly OK if Alexa ended up with Jackson. 

This book was good. Really good. I will definitely be reading the next in the series. I thought it was already out so I was so angry yesterday when I found out it wasn't. Please get here soon! 

I'd also like to thank Nicole Marie for suggesting this book to me! Great pick :D

Top Ten Books I Want to Give as Gifts

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where there is a different list featured every week. Anyone can participate and if you link back to their site you might get a couple extra visitors!

Top Ten Books I Want To Give As Gifts 

(and to who...even if I won't actually give them!)

1. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver - to my teen cousin. I wish I had this book when I was in middle school or high school! It's such a moving story.

2. Good in Bed (Cannie Shapiro #1) by Jennifer Weiner - I haven't actually read this one but I have a two friends who don't know each other and they both like the same kinds of books. One of them (Nicole) recommended this to me to I'm recommending it to Katie.

3. Beg for Mercy (Cambion Series #1) by Shannon Dermott - to my youngest sister. This is definitely a book she would love because there is enough action to keep her interested! and lots of boys :D

4. SEAL Team Six: Memoirs of an Elite Navy SEAL Sniper by Howard E. Wasdin & Stephen Templin - I haven't actually read this one either but it sounds so good and something my dad would really enjoy!

5. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire - I throw a lot of my paranormal/fantasy YA books at my sister and I think she gets a bit tired of them so I would recommend this one. It's a contemporary romance that I fell in love with!

I can't think of any other to give to specific people so these are just others I would give away to anyone:

6. Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1) by Tahereh Mafi - I loved this books originality. Everything from the writing style to the plot. Amazing.

7. The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins - One of the best series I've ever read. Hands down. 

8. Born at Midnight (Shadow Falls #1) by C.C. Hunter - I'm also completely in love with this series. I think this series deserves more recognition than it gets!

9. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert - I have to say this book has played a big part of the person I am today. Will always suggest this one.

10. Madly (Madly #1) by M. Leighton - anyone that loves Indie authors will love this book. She's one of my favorite Indie authors and has some great series!

In My Mailbox #6

In My Mailbox in a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren and all you do is show off all the books you've collected for that week!

I got two books in the mail this week:

Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices #2)

by Cassandra Clare 

and I can't wait to start this one! Anyone read it yet? Whatcha think?

P.S. - so far I'm all for Jem! :)

Tantalize (Tantalize #1)

by Cynthia Leitich Smith 

I had to get this one because I bought the second one not knowing there was a first! Good thing I didn't read that one yet. 

Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy #6)

by Richelle Mead

I only just finished the third but I know I'll definitely be reading the whole series! If you haven't read it yet, I suggest it.

What did everyone else get?