Waiting on Wed: PODs by Michelle K. Pickett

Waiting on Wed is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine
It's something that she does every Wed where we pick a book that hasn't been released yet.

 

AUTHOR: Michelle Pickett
EXPECTED PUBLICATION: June 4th, 2013
PUBLISHER: Spencer Hill Press
OUTLINE:
Seventeen-year-old Eva is a chosen one. Chosen to live, while others meet a swift and painful death from an incurable virus so lethal, a person is dead within days of symptoms emerging. In the POD system, a series of underground habitats built by the government, she waits with the other chosen for the deadly virus to claim those above. Separated from family and friends, it’s in the PODs she meets David. And while true love might not conquer all, it’s a balm for the broken soul.

After a year, scientists believe the population has died, and without living hosts, so has the virus. That’s the theory, anyway. But when the PODs are opened, survivors find the surface holds a vicious secret. The virus mutated, infecting those left top-side and creating... monsters.

Eva and David hide from the infected in the abandoned PODs. Together they try to build a life--a new beginning. But the infected follow and are relentless in their attacks. Leaving Eva and David to fight for survival, and pray for a cure.

Why I chose this:

Spencer Hill Press always seems to have really good stories. This one definitely is no different. It just sounds really interesting to me. Sorry I'm not more explanatory. 

 

What are you waiting on this week? 

 

Book Trailer: The Forsaken by Lisa Stasse

I haven't posted a book trailer in awhile and today I received an email from the author of The Forsaken who gave me the link to the books trailer. I went and watched it and absolutely fell in love with it. It's amazing to see how they turn books into these little trailers. After watching certain book trailers I always think this book would make for an interesting movie, and this was no exception.

AUTHOR: Lisa Stasse
PUBLISHER: Simon and Schuster
PAGES: 384
STAND ALONE/SERIES: Series (book1)
PUBLICATION: July 10, 2012
OUTLINE:

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As an obedient orphan of the U.N.A. (the super-country that was once Mexico, the U.S., and Canada), Alenna learned at an early age to blend in and be quiet—having your parents taken by the police will do that to a girl. But Alenna can’t help but stand out when she fails a test that all sixteen-year-olds have to take: The test says she has a high capacity for brutal violence, and so she is sent to The Wheel, an island where all would-be criminals end up.

The life expectancy of prisoners on The Wheel is just two years, but with dirty, violent, and chaotic conditions, the time seems a lot longer as Alenna is forced to deal with civil wars for land ownership and machines that snatch kids out of their makeshift homes. Desperate, she and the other prisoners concoct a potentially fatal plan to flee the island. Survival may seem impossible, but Alenna is determined to achieve it anyway

TRAILER:

Don't Stare at Me Project

Hey fellow bloggers/readers!

If you've kept up with me these past couple of months then you know I've had some wonderful things happen in my life: my boyfriend, the engagement, getting our own apartment. As awesome as this all is I've learned about things I never would have known about otherwise like epidermolysis bullosa (EB)
Below is just a little insight on what it is and somethings they can deal with.

Imagine Your Child:

Having Up to 85% of their body covered in blisters or open wounds.
Wearing bandages all over their body to feel almost safe.
Worrying first thing in the morning that their pajamas are stuck
to their skin.
Fearing bath time, because it can take 3 hours and be very painful.
Being unable to swallow their own saliva.
Losing the use of their hands and feet by the time they are 5.
Battling Cancer when they are only 11.

Now Imagine:

Having to pay $10,000/month for bandages knowing your insurance
company will only pay $1,500 a year.
Watching your child scream in pain because she is taking a bath.
Bringing your child to an operating room 6 times a year so they can
swallow liquid.

So if you're still with me then continue to read on, and learn why this now has a special place in my heart.


Until a few years ago I had no idea what Eb was, and I'm still learning now. I'd never heard anything about it, I never knew anyone who was diagnosed/born with it. It's not like other disabilities that get enormous amounts of publicity. Like walks, and other things.  Research for anything is always a good thing, and I appreciate everyone who supports things, and takes part in helping. I don't want to sound like I'm knocking any other causes here.  I think what really hit me and prompted me to want to try and help is something that my fiancee said to me a few weeks ago. "Where's the research/funding for my disorder?' That may have not been his exact words, but something along those lines. (It's not that there isn't any research/funding for it...it's that there's not much from what he has told me.) Do you know what it's like to hear those words? It was like he was asking "Why doesn't anyone care about me and the things I go through?" and that hurts.   (Sorry if I come off sounding stupid or rude. That's far from my intentions.) How many of you have actually heard of this before now? How many could tell me what it is without looking at the link above first? It hurts me though to listen to my fiancee when he talks about it. He doesn't do it often, and I try and not bother him about it because he's dealt with people always questioning him and asking about it all his life. That's the last thing I want to do. When we first started dating he would ask me if I had any questions, or why didn't I ever ask him about it. I told him because I didn't want to be one of those people who looked at him differently. I wanted to know who he was beyond just his disability. I think he appreciated that, at least I hope he did.

Now that I know a little more about it through living with him the past few months I would do anything for him because I can see the kind of daily struggles he goes through. Not everyone can see those struggles. So when people say crap I want to tell them "You don't know the half of it." He's a very strong, opinionated person, but even then sometimes shit gets tiring. We both work together so when someone says something to him, or about him when he's not around I stand up for him. Yes, he takes breaks, but that's so he can continue to do his job like everyone else. Sometimes I want to say why don't you take a moment and step in his shoes then you can be a bitch.

I can't honestly say I know what having EB is like, but I'm trying to understand it, and I want others to understand it too. Not for me but for my Fiancee. I hear the hurt in his voice when he tells me about those people who are afraid to touch him, shake his hand because of the blisters, or just look at him differently. I want people not to be afraid when they see someone who is different because they're just like you and me. They've just been dealt a different hand at life.

I want to help now. I want him to know that there is one more person in this world that knows about it and is willing to help him and everyone else. Even if they don't know him personally. Ryan is an awesome person, and he would do anything for his friends. He would do anything for me. In return, I would do anything for him, and if just by writing this and sharing it with the few people here on my blog is all I can do then it's something.

If you want to learn more or have questions feel free to leave a comment or email me. I get the comments and emails directly on my phone so I'm usually good about answering right away.
If you want to help visit my fund-raising page Don't Stare at me (I don't get any of the money it goes to the site it's hosted on, and if you want to learn more about that site you can check it out.)

Sites to check out:
Debra of America: What is EB?

Books read in 2012

This year is half over and I have really slacked on my reading. So far only 21 books compared to last years 63 books. I honestly don't see how people read so many in a year.

• Arena One (I only read 3 chapters because I didn't realize when I got the ebook it wasn't the whole story which kind of pissed me off.)
• Dark Mirror by M.J Putney (review)
• Never eighteen by Megan Bostick (review0
• Fast Tracked by Tracey Rozzlyn
• Insurgent by Veronica Roth
• Spellbound by Rachel Hawkins
• Turned by Morgan Rice (review)
• All Hallows Moon by S.M Reine (review)
• A Touch Morbid by Leah Clifford (review)
• Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder
• The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
• Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
• The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
• Half Blood by Jennifer Armentrout (review)
• Vampire Kisses 1 by Ellen Schrieber
• Wither by Lauren DeStefano
• The Golden lily by Richelle Mead
• The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
• Breathe by Sarah Crossan
• Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Denard
• Pushing the limits by Katie McGarry

Reading right now

• Matched by Ally Condie
• The Scorpio Races by Maggie S.
• Scored by Lauren Mclaughlin
• Bumped by Megan Mcafferty
• In the path of falling objects by Andrew Smith
• Wild Ink by Various people
• From fame to shame by Veronica Blade

Covers Revealed: The story continues

Guess what time it is? That's right I've collected more awesome book covers that have been revealed in the past month or two (maybe 3 I can never remember) Sorry if you've already seen them, but I like to do a post with more then just one that way we can love them all at once. :)

To learn what series they belong to just hover over the picture. :) Along with that I added my own little thoughts. I can be clever when I want. :)

I hope in doing this I'm able to bring you some covers you may have not seen.

So what do you think of all these covers? I know most of these have been out quite some time, but I'm just now getting back into the swing of things here.

Book Cover Reveals: Main

This is where I will share all my links to book covers that I've revealed.

It looks like I may do this as a once a month thing, and then again a certain book cover may along that I absolutely love and want to share by itself. We shall see. :)
Book Covers Revealed in November (2011)
Book Covers I revealed in October(2011)
Book Covers Revealed in July (2011)
Book Covers revealed in June (2011)
More Book Covers revealed in June (2011)
Book Covers Revealed in July 2012
Book Cover Revealed June (2013)
Book Covers Revealed in April (2014)



Book Covers I like so much they're alone:
As bad as it gets Cover and Title Reveal (Bad Girls Don't Die Book 3)
In a handful of Dust by Mindy Mcginnis (Companion Novel to Not a drop to drink)

I miss my blog

Alright, I know it hasn't actually gone anywhere, and for the most part I haven't either. I've been lazy and just not up to doing much on it. If you look back the past couple of months it kind of shows. The most I've posted in a month is 9 posts, and compared to last year that sucks. Today I was really able to sit down in my "junk" room and think and write some of the posts I have sitting as drafts. Like this discussion one "When is to many...too many?" or some reviews like Dark Mirror and Half-blood. I realized that I miss doing these things and I miss working on my site. I miss the interaction I get to have with everyone. So the next couple of days I'm going to try and put up some reviews that I have sitting in draft form and maybe do a cover reveal post with some covers that have been out and about that I never got to show but think need to be shown.

There's actually one post I have ready to publish, but I'm kind of iffy on it because it's not really book-related. It's more of a personal post dealing with something I think not many people know about, but would really mean the world to me if people would take the time to read. It's dealing with a genetic disorder. Let me know what you think. Should or shouldn't I post it?

Also I was thinking about changing my design again either to something new, or back to the old blue layout I use to have because I actually liked that one. i would like something new and easy on the eyes, but still sticking to the theme of bookaholics anonymous. The whole group around a table with books or something. last time Small Review helped with the banner and I adored it.

Much love my bloggers and readers. <3

Discussion: When is too many...too many?

There's a few reasons why I decided to write this post.


Reason # 1
I was relaxing in the tub reading yet another book, and after you read this post you'll understand why I worded it like that, I hope. Anyways, I was reading Matched by Allie Condie and it hit me (not the book...the thought) this is like the fourth or so book that I've started in the past few weeks. It's not that I don't like the books I start it's that I have this bad habit about starting a book, and then getting the fever to read something a little different. When that happens I put down the book I was reading, and start a new one. I hate that I do this, but honestly I don't know what to do about it. I mean am I the only one who does this? Do any of ya'll pick up another book just because you want something different, even though you still have one that's not even half way through. I can understand it if I have a problem with the book, and it doesn't catch my attention most of the time though I'm enjoying the book. I'm not talking like two books. I'll lay out what I have started right now just because of my weirdness, and to give you an idea of what I'm rambling about.
1. The Scorpio Races (This one I can kind of understand because I couldn't get into it)
2. Matched (I really do enjoy this and want to know the outcome, but I keep switching to others)
3. The Golden Lily (I can't complain to much because I just started and I love it. I'm actually rooting for Adrian and Sydney.)
4. Scored (It's another dystopian that I enjoy so far.)
5. Bumped (I think I started this because at one point I couldn't find where I had placed Matched or scored and was in the mood for a dystopian.)
6. In the path of falling objects (I'm usually not much into books that aren't paranormal, but I wanted something different at the time I started this and a friend said it's really good. She's usually pretty good about what I would like.)
So do you see my dilemma? I'm so tempted to start others too. I have to tell myself Ashley finish the ones you have going first.

So that was the first reason.

Reason #2
Do you really ever have too many books?  I mean yeah sure you may not get to read all of them in your lifetime, unless of course you read super fast. It still amazes me how some people can read 2 to 3 hundred books in a year if not more. I can barely read 100. I feel like such a horrible reader sometimes. It really doesn't matter though if I never get around to reading them because I still continue to buy. These pictures I have on here are just some books. You can barely see the stacks behind, and then all of them I still have yet to get out of my trunk and backseat because I don't want to carry them down stairs and then upstairs. What's worse is I'm pretty bad about getting read of any. If I have a duplicate it or something I'll usually give it away, but that's rare that I do.

Having so many books to read it's always hard for me to decide what I'm going to read next. As stated in the above paragraphs where I have boocoos of books started. How do I narrow it down to what I want to read? I've tried thinking ok this month I'll read these type of books. For the most part I'm doing pretty good. I'm trying to read dystopians right now, but sometimes you have that itch to read a paranormal or contemp. So what do you do. Sorry this is going back to reason one it seems. I've tried putting myself on book buying bans until I can read a good number of books, but it doesn't really work out to well for me. I haven't the strength to say NO to a book that has a pretty cover, or one that's been sitting on my wishlist for awhile.

Let's discuss....

Book review: Half Blood by Jennifer Armentrout

AUTHOR: Jennifer Armentrout
PUBLISHER: Spencer hill press
PAGES: 281
STAND ALONE/SERIES: Series (book1)
SOURCE: Bought
OUTLINE:
The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures. Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden. Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck

MY THOUGHTS:

I didn't read any reviews to this before I went and read it. All I know is a lot of readers enjoyed it, and now that I read it I can understand why. It wasn't horrible by any means. There was one problem I had with it, and I'm not sure whether I see it as a big problem or not. It didn't help the way I rated it on goodreads though. It was just way, WAY to similar to another series to give it any higher then 3 stars. I mean the first couple of pages I could tell. I know this may sound ridiculous, but I even made a list of the similarities. (I may or may not put it up. I don't wanna be that person.) Also, it seemed a bit predictable after reading further along in it. You knew Alex was different from what the daimon said and when you met some of the others characters, and learned some of the history it clicked. (at least it did for me) So with this being said I did enjoy the few things that were different. I loved that it had to do with the gods and those type myths. I personally haven't read many dealing with the gods yet. I do own a few books though.

Aside from the similarities with the characters/plot. I enjoyed the characters. I suppose any characters that can pull off a Rose/dimitri thing I'll enjoy.

Alex was definitely that kick-butt heroine that I've grown to love in other stories such as Vampire Academy, Divergent, and others. She has that I'll hit you now and think about it later personality which most the time will get her in trouble, but it really doesn't seem to bother her. She's strong when she needs to be. She's got that snarky attitude. She one of those characters that I would love to see grow in the next book.

I'm hoping with the next book it'll be different so that I can appreciate it more.