Christmas present

Happy new year, and I hope you all had a great holiday.  Check out the book art my brother made me for Christmas!  Each letter was made by folding about 70 pages, and it took him 1.5 hours for each letter, I think.

How was your holiday?  What are you looking forward to in 2017?

Available Now: More than Friends by Monica Murphy

More than Friends by Monica Murphy

Release Date: November 14th, 2016
Genre: Young Adult Romance

Cover Designer: Hang Le

He's not perfect, but he's all I want...

I’m your average girl at your average high school, trying to figure out my place in life. After catching my now ex-boyfriend messing around with my now ex-best friend, I’ve made some big changes. No more band, no more backstabbing friends and no more boring old life. Now I have new friends, a new job and new interests.

But there’s a certain someone who’s interested in me, and I don’t get it. Jordan Tuttle could have anyone he wants. He’s the most popular boy in school. Rich, gorgeous, smart and the star quarterback, he’s perfect. Yet he acts like he wants no one else but…me.

So despite my fears and doubt, I let him get close. Probably too close. I discover that he’s not so perfect after all, but it doesn’t matter. I’m falling for him, even though he runs so hot and cold. I know someday he’s going to break my heart.

And I’m going to let him.

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32027656-more-than-friends

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2f4jdwJ

iBooks link: http://apple.co/2elBtCx
Nook: http://bit.ly/2e4sAPn
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2fwwj9U
Amazon US (print): http://amzn.to/2e4tjAa

Read the prologue, One Night

Free on All platforms or on Wattpad:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2dYSIO3
iBooks: http://apple.co/2dafC0z
B&N: http://bit.ly/2d7e63f
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2drEMeF
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2dkFokE

Wattpad:

https://www.wattpad.com/story/79420939-one-night

About the Author:

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she's not writing, she's reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She's a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

Connect with Monica:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MonicaMurphyauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MsMonicaMurphy
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2c9ViiI
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2bRP5bR
Website: http://monicamurphyauthor.com
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/IW5U0y

Book Haul: Phoenix Books, Burlington VT

I am in Vermont for the summer, and of course I visited their bookstores.  Off of Church St in Burlington lies Phoenix Books.  It is a small store filled with the bestsellers and bookish art that you'd find on Etsy.  Downstairs is the bargain basement.  Here are the remainder marked books which I absolutely do not like buying for my collection.  However, I picked up a remaindered Vegan Express.  Who cares if a cookbook is remaindered?  Someone will probably spill food on it anyway.

Another thing I got from the Bargain Basement was an iPad case.  There are cats on it!! And it was $5.

From upstairs, I grabbed The Fireman by Joe Hill (which I still have not started, bad Carly).  The bookseller told me that the book is getting great review but the sales are poor.  How sad, but once I start reading it and liking it, I will promote it.

I liked Phoenix Books better than Crow Bookstore (Booksellers?) on Church St.  There, everything is jammed into small space, and it feels claustrophobic and not relaxing like how a bookstore should be.




Check out both stores, and tell me what you think of them!  What do you think of my iPad case?

Remember to support your indie booksellers!

Barnes and Noble Teen Book Festival

I was really excited for Barnes and Noble's Teen Book Festival. It was last weekend, and author events, swag giveaways, and teen book trivia happened all at the same time in stores across the country. Only, I didn't show up at the correct time. I missed one of the events and was too early for another.

On the way up to the teen/ young reader department of the store, we passed by a table. It was covered in a whiteboard table cloth and around it were a few young girls (elementary maybe middle school) and three adults. The adults were the founder of Young Writer's Project, a program/community that encourages young people to write and be confident about their work, an author, and someone whose position I've forgotten.

The man asked us if we wanted to do a writing exercise, and I felt obligated to say yes so my friend and I sat down though we obviously were much older than the rest of the participants, and it seemed like they had signed up for the activity.

The activity was to pick words out of a bucket and write a story including all of those words in 7 minutes. This was really hard. My words were DJ, Pacific Ocean, and break. So, I picked another slip and got "Bill-28 hates his job, thinks he is stuck." What did other people get? Train station, crashing, aliens. Easy and creative. 

When I looked around after 7 minutes, people had mini novels written it seemed. I think I had 3 sentences.

My story was about Bill who works a 9-5 in a cubicle and decides to go on a solo sailing trip for a year, starting off in a port in the Pacific Ocean.

In the end, I liked this activity and was glad we sat down. First, writing on the table was great. Second, it was challenging to write continuously for 7 minutes and also to get creative and make something up that sounds interesting.  You should try this exercise too. It may make you more confident in your writing abilities, and it feels good to get out of your comfort zone.

Check out the beautiful pen and bookmark I got from the Young Writer's Projwct. Seriously, Geoff has some nice swag!

 

Author Event: David Levithan, Andrea Cremer, A.R. Kahler, TommyWallach, and Goldy Moldavsky

Hi all!
I was back in PA this week for spring break and there happened to be a fun event going on at Haverford's Children's Book World.  Coincidentally, I looked on their website yesterday and found that they were having an event today!

Who was there?

David Levithan- Another Day

 Andrea Cremer- The Conjuerer's Riddle (The Inventor's Secret #2)

A.R. Kahler- Shades of Darkness

Tommy Wallach-Thanks for the Trouble

Goldy Moldavsky- Kill the Boy Band

Each author read a passage from their newest book.  Some even had other authors playing different characters in their books, and the atmosphere was cheery and jovial.  

Some interesting things I learned tonight: 

• There will be a sequel to Dash and Lily's Book of Dares.  It will be Christmas themed.
• Andrea Cremer contributed to an anthology about women that came out yesterday on International Women's Day.  It's called A Tyranny of Petticoats
• Alex Kahler killed off the character based off of his ex.
• Tommy Wallach used to hang out in hotels in NYC often while he studied at NYU.
• Goldy Moldavsky thinks Justin Timberlake was the worst member of NSYNC because of his ramen noodle hair.

Signed books from tonight

Beautiful A Tyranny of Petticoats poster

Were you at this event?  Did you read any of the book written by the authors that visited?

  

Review: The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey

THE FIFTH WAVE by Rick Yancey
My rating: 5 stars
Goodreads rating: 4.17 stars

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it's the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth's last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie's only hope for rescuing her brother--or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up. 

Here I am making use of time while my flight is delayed;)

Overall, as you can see by my rating, I really enjoyed The Fifth Wave.  I picked this book up when it first came out because it had been getting good reviews, but I never read it until now to get ready for the movie.  In fact, I wasn't really sure what the book was about until I saw the movie trailer.  

The plot is engaging, and Yancey writes the prose in such a way that is exciting, thrilling, and intense.  Intense enough to make me question what the movie was going to be rated.  The choices for the waves are interesting and very believable of being capable to wipe out the planet.  If I hadn't read a spoiler, I would have been shocked at one of the plot twists.  I was on the edge of the pages of the book it was so exciting.  As another reviewer mentioned this book lies between Ya and adult which was nice since I'm trying to move away from YA.

I enjoyed the characters as well.  Cassie is brave, but I like her humor the most.  She is a bit childish in the beginning, but she was only sixteen then, and she grows over thee course of the book.  However, I have to say my favorite character is Evan.  Though some reviewers said his relationship with Cassie was creepy, I liked him.  Maybe their relationship had an unconventional start, but he treats her well and his flirty sense of humor is appealing.  Another favorite of mine was Ringer who took no nonsense from anyone and was very headstrong.

Go read the book.  It's great.  Don't watch the movie unless it is purely to stare at the beautiful actors.  I will be posting a review of the movie soon.

Quick update

Finished The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey.  It was great.  Review to come.

Started the sequel, The Infinite Sea last night.

Excited to see The 5th Wave movie.

You should read this too.  Young adults and adults will like it.

2016 Reading Challenge

In the past, my reading goals have been around 50 books, but I've found that I haven't been reading as much because of lack of time.  Also, I don't include the readings for courses as part of my goal despite how lengthy they are.  So, this year, I've set the number to much lower.  10.

I've already read one, and I'm going to finish my second by the end of this week.  While I'd like to read more books for pleasure, I'm not disappointed.  What's important to me is that I'm still reading and that the material is intellectual and contributing to knowledge expansion.

Good luck on your goals!

Reminder: SHADOWHUNTERS PREMIERE TONIGHT

Hi Rafael!

Shadowhunters tv show based on Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series will premiere on ABC Family tonight at 9/8 c.  I'll be watching it despite that President Obama's State of the Union will be on at the same time.

This will be the first tv show that I watch in a long time, and I'm excited but doubtful after having seen the terrible Mortal Instruments movie.

I have some reviews of the books on the review page.

Leave a comment if you are going to watch tonight.

Review: Will Travel For Vegan Food: 2 Years, 48 States, 547 Restaurants, +39,000 Miles by Kristin M. Lajeunesse

Will Travel For Vegan Food: 2 Years, 48 States, 547 Restaurants, +39,000 Miles by Kristin Lajeunesse

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Current Goodreads rating: 3.51

In September 2011 Kristin Lajeunesse set out on a journey that would change her life forever. With the goal of dining at and writing about every single vegan restaurant in the United States, Kristin spent eighteen months living off of donations and out of a renovated sports van, driving up and down the entire country. After 48 states, 500+ restaurants, and 35,000+ miles Kristin shares her uplifting journey filled with risk, laughter, love, and heartbreak. Tear-jerker ALERT: there is one particular story about a teddy bear that will break your heart and put it back together again city after city.

First, yes I am vegan, so I should be inclined to love this book.  But, I didn't... I loved the concept and enjoy traveling to find good vegan restaurants and would like to visit every single vegan restaurant in the country.  However, this book was not what I was expecting.  Like many other reviewers, I was expecting the book to include more on the actual places she ate at and what she ate.  That information I can find on er blog, which I will check out later.

Overall, I was not pleased with the book though I wanted so badly to like it.  At times, I wanted to stop reading it and just look at the blog, but I couldn't give up on a fellow vegan.  Plus, I met the author at Veg Fest Boston this year, and that's why I bought the book.  Again, I love the journey Kristin went on, and I think it is a very important one.  However, the execution of the book was not that thrilling, and I was bored as well as often times confused about the timing and organization.  I see that this book was trying to go for an inspiring self discovery angle, but the prose was flat, and the romance was even dull.

Do I recommend this book? No, but I will try to read the WTF Vegan Food blog.  Very clever name:)

View all my reviews

Book Con 2015

Hey!

So, I went to Book Con last year with my daddy instead of senior prom.  Yes, that is book nerd commitment!! Last year was no fun, as it was the first year and organization was absolutely atrocious.  Let's be fair, there was no organization it seemed because staff was not ready for the amount of crazy book lovers who attended.  I went to one panel in the very beginning and one autograph session because the lines were nuts.  I only got autographs because Libba Bray was nice enough to sign even after her session ended.

This year was different.  My friend Danielle and I were determined to see Johnny Green at the Paper Towns panel!  And we did:)

Preparation for the big day began the night before in Danielle's kitchen.  Yes, we typed up a legitimate itinerary starting with a 3:50 AM alarm.

4:20 AM and we had already had a quick breakfast and were out the door!

4:40 something AM and we made a wrong turn and ended up taking a detour in a sketchy neighborhood with a lot of cats hanging out in the street.  No, we didn't run over any kitties!!!

4:50 something AM- We made it early to the train!

5:03- 6:35 AM- Making jokes and talking on the train while everyone else was sleepy and frowning

6:50 AM- Javits Center, Whoa there is a line!

7:00 AM- Why isn't will call open when Book Con said it would be?!

8:10 AM- Danielle goes to get our tickets and begs the staff to let her get mine

"Do you have her [my] photo ID?"

"No, but please let me get hers!"

"What does she look like?"

"She's Asian and she's really sweet."

I think the part about me being Asian is what convinced them to hand over the ticket.  You can always trust Asians.

9:00 AM-Make a mad dash to the wristband line to get in line for John Green.

If we didn't run, crazy teenage John Green fans would have trampled us.

9:01 AM-Out of breath, but we're near the front of the line!

9:30 ish AM- Something gets in my eye, and my contact bothers me all day.  My left eye looks like this plus swollen, and I'm tearing.

The joke of the day is that if I don't get into  panel or autograph session, I don't even have to act sad.  My eye is already producing tears.

(Don't worry, I'm ok now.  Two days of red eyes was worth the pain.)

10:30 ish- Got our bands!

10:40- Visit the restroom and take creeper shots of the line from one floor above and revel in the fact that I am no longer in line which had severely died down but still was by no means short.

11:00-11:45 AM- SUNSHINE, BADASS AND LIFE ON WHEELS: Three Breakout Authors Share Their Stories of Getting Published (Jen Sincero, Paige McKenziw, Tessa Elwood)

I enjoyed this panel because Jen (You are a Badass) was funny and had good writing advice.  Tessa seemed really nervous and shy but nice (Inherit the Stars).  Paige (The Haunting of Sunshine Girl) was an arrogant, rude girl who got really lucky to have gotten a book deal.  I don't like that her book is co-authored either.

12:30 PM- In Booth Signing of EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING by Nicola Yoon
Signed ARCS.  The book comes out on 9/1/15.  I just finished it and I really liked it.  It's a YA about a girl who is allergic to everything and can't leave her house but falls in love with her neighbor.  Pretty cute illustrations in it from Nicola's husband.

12:45-1:45 PM- ROOM panel with Emma Donoghue and the cast of the film (Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay)

This was my favorite thing of the day.  Yes, more than Paper Towns panel.  By a lot.  The author and Brie Larson were very well spoken, and Jacob was the cutest little boy.  His answers were hysterical, and I wish that I could find a video of the panel.  He had the whole room laughing.  I'm excited to see the film now and read the book.

1:50 PM-Uh oh, Maggie Stiefvater signing is full
Uh, let's go to Star Wars
Awkward encounter with a security guard who why trying to hook us up and get us into Taye Diggs panel, but we have no idea who that is

2:00- 3:00 PM NEW ADAPTATIONS OF THE STAR WARS SAGA (Adam Gidwitz, Alexandra Bracken, Tom Angleberger, Tony DiTerlizzi)

I'm not a Star Wars fan.  I don't know a whole lot about the saga, but I quite enjoyed the panel.  These guys were crazy Star Wars fans. and their nerdiness was super cute.  They all had the challenge of taking a part of the movies and adding something new to it without changing what was already there.  I'm pretty sure these books are for elementary/middle school kids, but the whole audience was adults.  I wasn't surprised.

3:00-3:45 PM WANDS NOT REQUIRED! AN EXPLORATION OF EPIC FANTASY FOR READERS AGES 10 THROUGH 110 (David Baldacci, Maggie Stiefvater and Jackson Pearce, Kevin Sands, and David Levithan)

If David Levithan is moderating, it is a good panel.  All of these authors talked about their middle grade fantasy books and on writing advice.  It turns out that Maggie Stiefvater attempted to major in music, art, and writing but got rejected from all of the programs.  Instead, she majored in history.  Now, she is a bestselling author, so never give up if you want to be a writer.

Until the 6:00 Paper Towns panel started- Waiting in line for the panel to start
Everyone in line reads a book :)

Again with the running when the doors are open.  I can't keep up with these girls.

6:05 PM? Panel begins
Worst moderator ever.  She read off an iPad the whole time and spoke when people were clapping so you couldn't hear.  She also assumed that everyone was there because they thought the cast and crew were cute, according to Danielle.

Overall, I don't think the Paper Towns panel was worth getting up that early for.  Yes, Nat, Justice, and John were cute and funny, but I didn't feel as though I would have missed anything if I hadn't seen the panel.  Well, at least I can cross off seeing John Green on my bucket list though he was nowhere near me.  Perhaps, though, my eyeball pain was interfering with my ability to enjoy the show.

7:00 PM Paper Towns panel ends

8:03 PM Train home

10:00/10:30 PM I'm home and rip out that dastardly contact.

11 something PM-  I crash into bed

Overall, it was a good day.  Quite a crazy day.  I've never woken up that early for anything in my life.  Organization improved from last year and I got to do a lot more, but the organization still lacked.  Also, the Javits Center is a bad location to hold Book Con.  Way too small.  I guess that's why it's being held in Chicago next year.

Wanna see my swag?  I only spent money on the Book Con ticket, train, and parking.  Not even food.

Got posters, bags, and a couple of samplers

Exclusive Excerpt: Alpha Wolves by DJ Swykert

Hello!
Today, I'm bringing you an exclusive excerpt from Alpha Wolves, the sequel to Maggie Elizabeth Harrington.

The first love of Maggie Harrington’s young life, Tommie Stetter, has returned to Central Mine to attend his father’s funeral. She finds herself as powerfully attracted to him as ever, but another man, a handsome and abiding one, Jeremy Paull has also found his way into her heart. Maggie finds herself conflicted as she loves both of these men. This is the catalyst that brings the two Alpha Wolves into competition and forces Maggie to make a difficult decision, one that contradicts her own idealism and the teachings of the church and community.

Alpha Wolves is a historical romance, a love triangle, set in Central Mine, Michigan, which is now a ghost town. In 1893 it was a thriving, bustling community with mining and the Methodist Church at the center of its social fabric. There were more fortunes made during the northern Michigan copper boom than in the California gold rush. At thirteen young Maggie Harrington ran off into the wilderness with Tommie Stetter and a pack of young wolves to protect the wolf pups from a bounty hunter. They were ultimately caught and young Tommie sent back east to school. Ten years have passed. Maggie still lives in Central Mine, still harbors a powerful love for Tommie, but is moving on with a new man, a handsome and very good man, Jeremy Paull. Now she has a pair of Alpha Wolves in her life.

*********

EXCERPT: MAGGIE, WHO DO YOU LOVE?

I tightly held his hand, knowing that Tommie loved me, that whatever I had done was done out of love. But I am not totally naïve. I know that our declaration of our love for one another, our act of expressing this love that has endured for ten years, would create a new set of problems for both of us. I am not sorry, though. I am still glowing inside, basking in the warm feelings of having finally experienced the man that I have always loved, and that I now know still loves me. That is very important to me, knowing that Tommie Stetter still loves me. And I will face the consequences of this knowledge later. I will not let it take this moment I have waited my whole life for.

When we reach the road, Tommie stops and stands in front of me. He takes my hands and he kisses me sweetly on the lips. I drop his hands and I put my arms around his neck and kiss him even harder. It is a long, abiding kiss, like our love, and we are both somewhat lost in the magic of this moment. We hold each other for a long while, neither of us wanting to end the embrace. Tommie puts his head alongside of mine and I can feel him just inhale the natural fragrance of my hair, like he is trying to draw my scent inside him to remember me by, so that I may be with him until we see each other again. And I am sure there will be another time, I am as sure of that as I am of anything.

“I love you Maggie,” Tommie whispers in my ear. “I have never stopped loving you. Not for a day, not for a moment, not forever.”

I continue to hold Tommie, and I can feel his love, his words, filling my body, the same as they did years ago. I feel almost redeemed for all the years of waiting and wondering, I am feeling fulfilled.

“I love you, too,” I say. “And I have never stopped loving you. I will never stop loving you, Tommie.” I squeeze ever harder, holding him like I am never going to let go of him again.

Tommie relaxes his hold on me. He runs his hand through my hair and then teasingly touches my cheek with his finger. He looks into my eyes and we are inside one another, as always. I look into those brown eyes of his that glisten, that have always known me, and I can feel him inside me, right where I want him to be. At this moment I can think of nothing else, not my impending marriage to Jeremy, my father, Mrs. Daume, nobody. I am powerless to think of anything except how much I love Tommie Stetter, and how fulfilled I feel on this day that I have learned he still loves me.

“Maggie, I have to go. I need to get to the mine. But I want to see you again. Not tomorrow, I can’t, but Wednesday.  Meet me at the blind for lunch. We need to talk. There is much we need to talk to about, say to one another. Things that have been left unsaid for too long now,” Tommie says to me. Then he steps back and withdraws from me. He takes a look, straight at me, and waits for me to answer.

I simply nod my head, in agreement; what else could I do? I am powerless to refuse Tommie Stetter anything. I give him a little smile, and try to hide the excitement I am feeling, this feeling of being powerless. I do not want him to know how at his mercy I am.

“I will meet you Wednesday,” I answer, and then watch as he disappears east off of the road and takes the path around the dam down to the mine. I walk very slowly, savoring the feeling of him that is still lingering inside me, is still warm and wet on my lips as I follow the road back down to Central Mine.

At dinner that night, for a change, I am very silent, and my father actually talks.

“You look rather subdued, Maggie Elizabeth. Are you alright?”

I do not think my father has asked me that more than a few times in my entire life. And I am alright, I am ecstatic, but I am also reflecting on the events of the afternoon. I am also perhaps a little anxious about facing Jeremy, as I am sure he will stop by this evening, with Wolf, as he always does. Do I tell Jeremy, do I end our engagement that has only just begun, and that I had pretty much negotiated? There are so many thoughts running through my head, and not the least of which is that in another day I will once again be with Tommie.

About the Author

DJ Swykert is a fiction writer living in the Cincinnati area. His work has appeared in The Tampa Review, Detroit News, Coe Review, Monarch Review, the Newer York, Lunch Ticket, Gravel, Zodiac Review, Barbaric Yawp and Bull. His books include Children of the Enemy, Alpha Wolves, The Pool Boy’s Beatitude and The Death of Anyone. You can find him at: www.magicmasterminds.com/djswykert  He is a wolf expert.

Review: Fury (The Seven Deadly #3) by Fisher Amelie

Fury by Fisher Amelie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Current Goodreads Rating: 3.95

Can be read as a standalone.

Revenge is an euphoric thing. Trust me on this. Nothing compares to the release you get when you ruin someone’s life. When they’ve stolen important things. Things that didn’t belong to them. Things I revel in making them pay for.

What? Have I offended you? I’m not here to appeal to your delicate senses. I have no intention of placating your wishes or living within your personal belief system nor do I care if you hate me. And you will hate me. Because I’m a brutal, savage, cold-blooded murderer and I’m here for my revenge.

I’m Ethan Moonsong…And this is the story about how I went from the world’s most sacrificing man to the most feared and why I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

Characters: 

Ethan- This story is really just Ethan's, and everyone else in the book plays minor roles, though I'm sure some readers would disagree with me.  Initially, I thought Ethan was absolutely insane.  I suppose that just goes to show what heartbreak can do to you.  However, as the story progresses his character develops, and you realize that he has good, honorable qualities, though he makes some mistakes in the process and loses himself which I did not like because I was applying logic when he was using his emotions as the impetus for action.  For me, Ethan was not a very likable character because of his way about going the problem which is probably what Fisher Amelie was aiming for, but I didn't change my feelings even at the end.

Finley- I wish that I had seen more of Finley.  She is very selfless, brave, and generous despite her past.  That's really all I can say about her really.  Even when she narrated, I didn't learn anything new about her except that she was pining for Ethan, and I didn't really need her to say it to know it were true.

Plot:

I had no idea what the plot was.  Having read GREED, I thought that FURY was going to be Ethan trying to get Cricket back using any means necessary.  The beginning of the book made it seem like this was the case, but then Ethan met Finley again and the whole plot changed to something I never expected.  The plot was exciting... for a little while.  But then, every scene seemed like a repeat of the last one, and I found it boring.  Additionally, I thought the relationship between Ethan and Finley needed more emphasis.  I wanted to experience them falling in love, and this part seemed rushed.

Overall, FURY is a good book, but it was my least favorite of the series.  VAIN is still one of my favorite books, so I'd recommend reading that.

I have reviews for VAIN and GREED.

View all my reviews

Release Day Blitz: Fury by Fisher Amelie

 

We have been dying to bring you this Release Week Blitz for Fisher Amelie's FURY! FURY is a New Adult Contemporary Romance and the third book in Fisher Amelie’s The Seven Deadly Series!! Grab your copy today and if you haven't had a chance to read the entire series yet, get on it IMMEDIATELY!

 

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble  ** Kobo

FURY Excerpt (YOU WON'T FIND IT ANYWHERE ELSE!):

I took a deep breath as my fingers found their purchase and pulled out my keys. The key I needed somehow hit home and the lid sprang open, the knives staring at me, daring me. I watched them, waited for them to tell me what to do, but nothing came. They laid still, gleaming in the moonlight waiting for me too, it seemed. I sat in the passenger side seat, one boot still on the gravel, and made the first move. Raising a trembling hand toward the temptation, my fingers felt the cool length of each blade.

The rage still burned in my veins and I felt myself sobering, hesitating. No, I kept hearing. Pick them up, a voice said, so I did. Their weight felt good in my hands, comfortable. I breathed three breaths before gripping their handles and twirling them quickly in my palms. Even drunk, I could slaughter anything that moved. I was made to hunt. And hunt you shall, the voice urged.

I nodded and stood, shutting the passenger side door, tucking the blades into the back of my jeans, and camouflaging them with my shirt. My boots echoed with each step back toward the bar, heavy and dark like the night that surrounded me, like the thoughts in my head.

The adrenaline seared through my body, heightening every nerve, intensifying every sense. My heart pounded like a bass drum in my chest, pressing painfully against my ribs. My skin burned with anticipation.

I reached for the door handle.

“Where do you think you’re going?” a voice whispered, startling me.

I stopped, one hand on the handle. “Finley, go home,” I ordered her.

She stood from her leaning position against the outside wall of the bar, out of the shadows, and walked toward me. Her eyes seared through me. She came to me, stood closely, the heat from her body enveloping me.

“No, I don’t think I will,” she told me, looking up into my eyes. “At least not alone.”

She stood tenaciously, fearlessly. I noted how much taller she was than Cricket and it was a little bit intimidating to me, like what she said was going to happen whether or not I liked it. I respected her and I didn’t know why. I stared at her hard, but she didn’t budge. No, instead, she strengthened her own resolve, her jaw tightening with the decision and glared back even harder. She said and did things with such righteous authority, I felt powerless to her. I’d never felt that way before about a woman. It wasn’t pushy or irrational, it was simply as it was going to be.

My eyes and face relaxed the moment I acquiesced. “Fine.”

Her body followed suit and she nodded once, grabbing my arm and leading me toward my truck. Her hand reached into my jeans pocket, sending an inexplicable electrical charge through me, which I promptly chose to ignore, and yanked out my keys.

“Get in,” she ordered and I obeyed.

She threw herself into the driver’s side and slammed the door shut, sticking the keys in the ignition and turning only once. The engine started, daring not to further goad her. The stereo kicked on, belting something indicative of the moment we were leaving behind us, full of bass and a sharpness so edgy it echoed through my chest and head.

She shoved the truck in reverse, throwing her arm over the back of the bench, and her stare found mine. It was a solid look, packed full with a storm of unspoken words. Without breaking her gaze, she shifted into drive. She held there for a moment, driving her disappointment in me deep down into my soul before finally looking ahead to the end of the parking lot. I know I’m toxic, Finley, I thought, but that didn’t stop my mouth from retching awful thoughts.

“You have no reason to be pissed at me,” I told her, practically begging her to speak.

She didn’t say a word as she pulled out onto the road with more punch than the Finley I knew normally would have, turning toward the interstate. I had no clue where she was taking us, but I wasn’t about to ask.

Just make her turn around, I thought. Tell her you won’t do anything.

I opened my mouth to speak but caught a glimpse of her hair whipping about her determined face from the open windows and forgot what I was going to say. I turned my gaze toward the windshield. The light from the headlights exposing just enough of the road to make me nervous at the speed we were traveling. One hand found the dash to steady myself.

“What’s wrong, Ethan?” she asked.

“Huh?” I asked, whipping my head her direction.

“Too fast for you?”

“No.”

“Liar,” she said, calling me out.

I wiped my palms down the thighs of my jeans. “Slow down,” I said, swallowing.

“Oh, now you want to play it safe?” Her eyes narrowed. “You’re so selfish, you know that?” she asked. I was taken aback. She’d never talked to me like that.

She leisurely drove across lanes as if traveling more than a hundred miles per hour was completely normal.

“What?” I demanded, feeling alert. The adrenaline had sobered me quickly.

“You’re selfish. And stupid. Let’s not forget stupid.”

My blood boiled. “Whatever, Finley.”

“Whatever, Finley,” she mocked. “Don’t you know I’m suffering? That I’m the only person in the world who suffers? Can’t you see that I’m determined to be foolish, Finley?”

“What do you know of suffering?” I asked, incensed.

Wide eyes met mine and her jaw clenched as she pulled over, slamming us to a stop. Her hair flew forward from the force before settling onto her chest and shoulders.

“I know more about suffering than you could ever possibly imagine. You don’t know shit! So you got your heart broken. So what! There are worse things, you know. There are things out there that would curl your toes to know about, Ethan.”

       FURY Synopsis: Revenge is an euphoric thing. Trust me on this. Nothing compares to the release you get when you ruin someone’s life. When they’ve stolen important things. Things that didn’t belong to them. Things I revel in making them pay for. What? Have I offended you? I’m not here to appeal to your delicate senses. I have no intention of placating your wishes or living within your personal belief system nor do I care if you hate me. And you will hate me. Because I’m a brutal, savage, cold-blooded murderer and I’m here for my revenge. I’m Ethan Moonsong...And this is the story about how I went from the world’s most sacrificing man to the most feared and why I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

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Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cx22kmwqGXo

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SEVEN DEADLY Series on Goodreads

 

And don’t miss the first two books in the Seven Deadly series!

 

VAIN

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GREED

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  About Fisher Amelie: Fisher Amelie resides in the South with her kick ace husband slash soul mate. She earned her first ‘mama’ patch in 2009. She also lives with her Weim, Jonah, and her Beta, Whale. All these living creatures keep the belly of her life full, sometimes to the point of gluttony, but she doesn’t mind all that much because life isn’t worth living if it isn’t entertaining, right? Fisher is the author of The Seven Deadly Series, The Sleepless Series, and The Leaving Series, and was a semi-finalist in Amazon’s Breakthrough Novel Award.    

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