Spine-tingling Saturday #4: Ghostly Messages

Title: My friend randomly messaged me in the middle of the night. I don't think it was her.
Author: vaivaikar
Posted on: July 11-15, 2014
Location: Reddit

As I'm writing, I'm about to have a fit to get back to Reddit. You may or may not recall last week's post, Infected Town. In that post I said that I was keeping my fingers crossed for more updates. Well, my wish has been granted. It took two updates for Reddit to catch on, but this is definitely a continuation of that series. I've only read the first three parts, but I can only imagine the remaining two parts are epic. Instead of describing what the series is about, here's a link to last week's post where I describe it in detail.

Again, I highly recommend this series, though you really should start from part one! 

Enjoy! 

i am fine. 

Feature & Follow Friday #7

Happy Friday, fellow book lovers! Feature & Follow is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. The goal of Feature & Follow is to meet new bloggers, make friends, and gain readers.

This Week's Question: 

Post a funny Youtube video
(doesn’t have to be book related).

I love, love, LOVE Honest Trailers by Screen Junkies! They take the obvious and make fun of it. Game of Thrones is one of my favorite shows, so I got a really good laugh out of this one!

Mini-Review: Unhinged by A.G. Howard

Title: Unhinged (Splintered #2)
Author: A.G. Howard
Publication Date: January 7, 2014
Publisher: Amulet
Pages: 400
Add to Goodreads
Reviews for book 1, book 3, and book 3.5

Alyssa Gardner has been down the rabbit hole and faced the bandersnatch. She saved the life of Jeb, the guy she loves, and escaped the machinations of the disturbingly seductive Morpheus and the vindictive Queen Red. Now all she has to do is graduate high school and make it through prom so she can attend the prestigious art school in London she's always dreamed of.

That would be easier without her mother, freshly released from an asylum, acting overly protective and suspicious. And it would be much simpler if the mysterious Morpheus didn’t show up for school one day to tempt her with another dangerous quest in the dark, challenging Wonderland—where she (partly) belongs.

As prom and graduation creep closer, Alyssa juggles Morpheus’s unsettling presence in her real world with trying to tell Jeb the truth about a past he’s forgotten. Glimpses of Wonderland start to bleed through her art and into her world in very disturbing ways, and Morpheus warns that Queen Red won’t be far behind.

If Alyssa stays in the human realm, she could endanger Jeb, her parents, and everyone she loves. But if she steps through the rabbit hole again, she'll face a deadly battle that could cost more than just her head.

Me, throughout the first 90% of this book: 

I read some mixed reviews for Unhinged before I started reading and I have to tell you I was a little scared that I might be let down. I was not. This book is just as good as the first, albeit a little different. I would have loved to have seen more of Wonderland, but the setting is still fantastic and A.G. Howard's descriptions remain impressive. I love reading about the outfits each character wears. I am not a very fashion savvy person, but even I can appreciate Alyssa's fashion sense! 

My dedication to Team Morpheus is more concrete than ever - Jeb is far too self-absorbed for my liking, not taking Alyssa's wants and needs into account. Morpheus is more of the same: mysterious and sexy as ever! My favorite Morpheus quote was his speech at location 3499 on my Kindle: 

"One day and one night...That's the price...Fair warning, I intend to make good use of that time. I will be gentle, but I will not be a gentleman. You will be the center of my world. I'll show you the wonders of Wonderland, and when you're drunk on the beauty and chaos that your heart so yearns to know, I will take you under my wings and make you forget the human realm ever existed. You'll never want to leave Wonderland or me again." 

Ohmygod I'm literally melting. Team Jeb people... I just don't know about you. 

The end wasn't anything like what I was expecting! I was thrown completely off guard, did not expect it, almost fell out of my chair, etc. 

Me at the end of this book:

All said and done, I CANNOT WAIT for Ensnared next January! Read this book! READ IT!

Book Blitz! Excerpt & Giveaway - Tortured Souls by Kimber Wheaton

Title: Tortured Souls (Orion Circle #1)

Author: Kimber Leigh Wheaton

Release Date: July 2014
Publisher: Sea Dragon Press
Pages: 227
Add to Goodreads

Sometimes Rest in Peace isn't an option.

Kacie Ramsey sees ghosts—and it's ruining her life. Her mother left, her father blames her, and no matter how hard she tries, she can't keep the ghosts away. Now a new power has emerged. Nightly visions of grisly murders and a relentless predator draw her to the brink of insanity.

When the phantom appears at a party, Kacie's longtime crush, Logan, saves her. He invites her to join the Orion Circle, a group of supernatural hunters with chapters in schools all over the country. Through the Circle, Kacie learns to embrace her spiritual powers, and for the first time in her life she feels in control rather than a victim.

But the Foxblood Demon will not give up so easily. A demented serial killer in life who trapped the souls of the thirteen children he murdered, imprisoning them within the walls of his mansion. Now in death, he plots his return while drawing power from the pure souls of the children. He recognizes something in Kacie he's never seen before—a medium powerful enough to provide a vessel for his tainted soul.

Kacie can't ignore the tortured souls of the children crying out to her every night. With Logan at her side, she will fight the Foxblood Demon. But can they banish this powerful phantom, or will Kacie lose not only her body, but her eternal soul to the monster.

Praise: 

“Tortured Souls was a wonderful YA read. It was light and enjoyable all the way through. From the romance, to the thrills, this book was fantastic. YA lovers, this is definitely a book you'll want to check out.”
~ Farrah at Imagine a World

“Tortured souls by Kimber Wheaton........ omg!! Great book!!!! This is one you don't want to miss out on.
~ Paranormal Romance & Authors That Rock 

“The plot is wonderfully spooky with just the right amount of suspense and mystery to keep the pages turning.”
~ James Luby– Amazon Reviewer

Excerpt from Chapter One: Something Wicked

Deafening music shakes the walls, vibrates the floor, and pounds a rhythmic beat in my skull. Gyrating bodies turn every bit of space into a dance floor. Sweat breaks out on my forehead, and my heart races. Strobe lights flash, teens dance with wild abandon. Shrieking laughter bubbles around me.

“Gotta take a leak!” my dance partner shouts over the music.

He races off, weaving through the thick wall of bodies. Mike or Mick or something—I didn’t catch the name he yelled when he asked me to dance. Doesn’t matter, he wasn’t my type at all. I mean, the guy guzzled beer while dancing. After grabbing a diet soda from a nearby cooler, I’m about to search for my friends when a dark feeling washes over me. My feet refuse to move, and I stand rooted in place.

The once loud music is now hollow in my ears. I gasp for breath, choking on the lack of air around me. Tiny hairs on the nape of my neck rise to attention. Something wicked is behind me. I know I’m the only one here who feels a difference in air pressure. An oppressive weight presses against my skin, making me feel as though I’m underwater. I blink a few times, watching the people around me continue their manic dancing—oblivious to the bogeyman that just entered the room.

Afraid to turn around, I stand my ground, sipping my soda. I pretend I’m unaware of the shuffling noises behind me, sounds I shouldn’t be able to hear over the blaring music. Swaying my hips, I hum along with the music, trying to ignore the ominous presence crushing me.

Whatever it is, I can’t let it know I sense it. Evil pours off it in waves, blanketing the entire room. I close my eyes, willing the creature to go away, return to whatever mausoleum or grave it calls home. Malevolent spirits feed on fear. I must control mine at all costs.

When I open my eyes, I’m gazing into the face of an angel. Not literally, but he may as well be in my book. Logan glances behind me, and I know he sees the spirit. He doesn’t gasp or scream or faint dead away. His golden eyes narrow as though he’s in a staring contest with the specter.

“You’re not welcome here,” Logan says to the presence behind me. He meets my gaze again. “You know it’s there.”

It’s not a question but a statement. I nod, a weak bob of my head, unsure whether this intimate moment with my dream guy is a good thing or not. Meeting over a nasty phantom is not my idea of romantic. And yet I can’t stop staring at the way his blue t-shirt hugs his broad shoulders and chest—how his light brown hair curls around his earlobes. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. For six weeks I’ve wanted out of the friendship box with Logan, but I was hoping for girlfriend, not crazy girl.

“Kassandra,” a voice rasps behind me.

About the Author:

Kimber Leigh Wheaton is a YA/NA author with a soft spot for sweet romance. She is married to her soul mate, has a teenage son, and shares her home with three dogs, four cats, and lots of dragons. No, she doesn’t live on a farm, she just loves animals. She is addicted to romance, videogames, superheroes, villains, and chocolate—not necessarily in that order. (If she has to choose, she’ll take a chocolate covered superhero!) She currently lives in San Antonio, TX but has been somewhat a rolling stone in life, having resided in several different cities and states.

Author Links:

   

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"Waiting on" Wednesday #6: Ensnared

Happy Wednesday, fellow book lovers! This week's "can't wait to read" is: 

Ensnared
by A.G. Howard

Publication Date: January 13, 2015

Blurb: 

After surviving a disastrous battle at prom, Alyssa has embraced her madness and gained perspective. She’s determined to rescue her two worlds and the people and netherlings she loves. Even if it means challenging Queen Red to a final battle of wills and wiles... and even if the only way to Wonderland, now that the rabbit hole is closed, is through the looking-glass world—a parallel dimension filled with mutated and sadistic netherling outcasts.

In the final installment of the Splintered trilogy, Alyssa and her dad journey into the heart of magic and mayhem in search of her mom and to set right all that’s gone wrong. Together with Jeb and Morpheus, they must salvage Wonderland from the decay and destruction that has ensnared it. But even if everyone succeeds and comes out alive, can they all truly have their happily ever after?

Coming off the Splintered/Unhinged high, what else could I talk about besides Ensnared, the third and final book in the Splintered trilogy? I'm basically dying now that I've finished the previous two books and have to wait until January for the third (fingers and toes are crossed for an ARC). If you haven't read this series, do it! If you're not quite sure, here's my review of Splintered and a mini-review of Unhinged is going up tomorrow! 

I'm also hosting a book blitz and giveaway today! 

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"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Top Ten Tuesday #2: Favorite Movies and TV Shows

Today's Topic: 

Top Ten Favorite Movies & TV Shows

I'm just warning you in advance, this list is going to be all over the place... I've decided to divide it up into top five movies and top five TV shows, each with honorable mentions because ohmygod I love so many (and basically I can't decide). 

Top Five Movies

#5: Taken

Are there actually people who don't like this movie? Liam Neeson is the biggest badass of all time. I absolutely adore watching him hunt people down. And "I will find you and I will kill you." Seriously, chills. There are honestly just days when you need to watch the good guy win and this movie fulfills that need and so freaking much more. Because Liam Neeson. 

#4: The Matrix

When I first saw this movie, it was just an amazing movie that kept me glued to the screen. As I've gotten older, it has become a movie that makes me question everything. Neo is literally the role Keanu Reeves was born for and, frankly, the only role I can tolerate him in. He's totally convincing and you just want him to win. Sure, the sequels got a little meh, but it's still one of the better trilogies out there and the original Matrix is hands down one of the best films ever made. If you haven't watched it (because, you know, it's fifteen years old) you really need to stop by Netflix (or Amazon or whatever) and give Neo a couple hours of your life. You will not regret it. 

#3: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

If you read my Harry Potter post last week, you might be aware that I was really late to hop on the Potter bandwagon. My parents didn't allow me to have anything to do with the books or movies growing up, so my first experience was with the movies in 2006, after I'd moved out of my parent's house. I now re-watch these movies about once a year. I finally read the books in 2011 - back to back to back (to back to back to back to back), a first for me. Usually I read other books in between the books of a series and come back, but Harry Potter just wouldn't let go. I recently re-watched them all and made a list of my favorites in order from most to least favorite: Order of the Phoenix, Deathly Hallows (1 &2), Prisoner of Askaban, Sorcerer's Stone, Goblet of Fire, and Chamber of Secrets. How does your list compare to mine? 

#2: Star Trek: Into Darkness

This movie surprised my pants off (not literally, that would be awkward). I enjoyed the first one okay, so when I went to the theater to see Into Darkness, I was expecting a good movie (I really just went for Spock), but I ended up loving it to a possibly unhealthy degree. I believe I saw it five times in theaters (twice in IMAX 3D, twice in Real 3D, and once standard) and then preordered the 3D blu ray and watched it twice more. It's just so... good. The feels are very strong with this one. It inspired me to watch The Original Series, (though I still haven't seen the original movies) and start reading the comics. It would honestly have the number one spot on my list if it wasn't for my first love... 

#1: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

While I admittedly had a hard time ranking my top ten (as evidenced by the honorable mentions), there was never any contest for number one movie. The Lord of the Rings and I go way, way back. Because I was a super sheltered child, I discovered The Fellowship of the Ring in my friend's movie cabinet (on VHS) in early 2003, during my sophomore year in high school. I remember my friend saying it was boring. I took it home, put it in the VCR (some of you might have to google that. Haha!), and did not move from my seat til it ended. Thus began my love affair with Lord of the Rings. I saw Return of the King in theaters twice (which was a big deal when I was 15, cause I was broke) before I started collecting every LotR thing I could get my hands on. Galadriel is and will always be my favorite. I have all the movies in extended edition on DVD and Blu ray, the books, the Silmarillion and the Histories of Middle Earth, Galadriel Barbie (ha), and two LotR (Galadriel) inspired tattoos. It's safe to say I'm an addict. 

Honorable Mentions

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Top Five TV Shows

#5: Spartacus

This is my number five because it is just epic. It also happens to be one of only two TV shows I've ever actually purchased - because it's worth watching again and again. The entire show is so over-exaggerated (if you've watched it, you know what I'm talking about). Spartacus is quite simply blood and sex just for the sake of blood and sex. I was devastated when Andy Whitfield died, but I feel confident in saying Liam McIntyre did an admirable job filling his shoes (erm... sandals). If you like Ancient Rome and lots of fighting, this show is definitely for you. And if not, that's just more for me!  

#4: American Horror Story

Specifically Murder House. This is number four on my favorite TV show list and number two on my TV-shows-I've-spent-money-on list. I originally watched it for Zachary Quinto (swoon), but I stayed for the cringe-worthy scares. This show tells a story that will creep you out and make you really uncomfortable all at the same time. It certainly is not for the faint of heart! 

#3: Downton Abbey

Okay, I know what you're thinking: "AHS followed by a bunch of snobby rich people?" Um... I did warn you that my TV habits are a little erratic. Truth: I have no idea what I love so much about this show. It's a guilty pleasure of mine that I found last summer. I blew through the first two seasons is about three days and I am not ashamed because it was amazing. Every time an episode ends I basically stare at the screen while my heart falls out of my chest. I love it. 

#2: Doctor Who (2005)

Oh, please. Like you didn't see that coming. Though I'm displaying the Capaldi poster, Ten is my favorite. He always has been and always will be. My favorite companions are Donna followed closely by Amy. My least favorite companions are Rose, Martha, and that new girl (in that order). It's not so much that I don't like Clara. It's just that I don't -know- her yet. I am not a Capaldi hater. I'm super excited for him! I have mourned Matt Smith and moved on. 

#1: The Vampire Diaries

Okay, seriously, please don't judge me. When I was deciding which show was my number one, I seriously considered which one I'm currently dying to watch and this one is it. I just love The Vampire Diaries and The Originals (which I'm counting as one) so much. They intertwine and the story... well, first of all, it's better than the book. But I'm going to let you in on a secret because we're friends: two of the main reasons I watch the show are Damon and Klaus. In my opinion, these are the two deepest characters - much more so than Elena or Stephan. So now you know my dirty secret. I hope you're happy.

Honorable Mentions

After completing this list, a few things have occurred to me. First, ranking my top ten is literally the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I feel like I need to reevaluate my life. Second, I'm old. Third, I have literally no "chick flicks" on this list with the exception of Downton Abbey, The Vampire Diaries, Revenge, Buffy and Beauty and the Beast (if those count). This must be why my husband loves me. 

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Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish -  a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers. Each week they post a new Top Ten list and everyone is welcome to join. Click here to get involved!