Julalicious Book Paradise: July 2016

Thursday, July 28, 2016

July's Owlcrate Unboxing

I received my second owlcrate box a few weeks ago. I was quite excited for this one. So without waiting more, let's starts unboxing this beautiful box.

Last time I had like 3 steps into this unboxing, but I'm going straight for the goodies :)

Soon, there will be a picture on my Instagram account with everything found in the box too. :)

Discovering the goodies in the box.

This month's theme was Good vs. Evil and you could get either of these boxes and so I ended up with the.... EVIL BOX. Wonder what it says about me hahaha

Next thing that I took out was this Pop! figure from Funko. So since I got the evil box, apparently, we could either get Draco or a Dementor and I got the Dementor. I won't lie, I was kind of disappointed because I was really hoping for Draco, but it's still awesome :)

Next i found this box from Vectorengracing.etsy.com and opened it to find this necklace. I don't know much about Star Wars though I did seem the first movies, but I don't remember much, but this is a engraved Death Star which is kind of cool :)

Of course I found an evil bookmark from Jane's Tiny Things. This represent the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland. Isn't it cute? I just love it.

Also, there was a bookmark to promote a new book by Kenneth Oppel called Every Hidden Thing and behind it, you could find a quote from the said book. It does sound interesting :)

I picked up after the sticker with the quote "Am I not merciful?" from the book Illuminae by Amy Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. A book I have gotten at bookcon last year and I have yet to read, but hopefully sometimes this year. This beautiful sticker was made by Drop and Give Me Nerdy.

After that, I found this YA Covers to Color which is pretty awesome. I might try to test my creative within those pages :)

Finally, I get to the bottom of the box and found this book I have heard so much about: This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab. I came also with a signed bookplate and a letter from the author. I haven't gotten around to read it. I really just opened the box and took pictures before putting everything back into it lol

Of course, I found the card with next month's theme box. Drumroll....

FAST TIMES AT YA HIGH!

and I'm really curious about which book it could be, but we are getting an exclusively designed piece of jewelry inspired by Elearnor & Park which I'm curious mostly because I haven't gotten around to read the book so it will be a complete surprise.

Second owlcrate unboxing is done. Next month, I will have a new one plus, I have subscribe to Uppercase so two boxes will be opened next month. Can't wait :)

Thursday: On My Wish List

Author: Lesley Livingston
Title: The Valiant

Add on [goodreads]

Coming out on February 14, 2017

Standalone

Summary

(from goodreads)

The youngest daughter of a proud Celtic king, Fallon has always lived in the shadow of her older sister Sorcha's legendary reputation as a warrior. But when Fallon was a young child, the armies of Julius Caesar invaded the island of Britain and her beloved older sister was killed in battle.

On the eve of her seventeenth birthday, Fallon is excited to follow in her sister's footsteps and earn her rightful place in her father's royal war band. But she never gets the chance. Instead, Fallon is captured by a band of ruthless brigands who sell her to an exclusive training school for female gladiators—and its most influential patron is none other than Julius Caesar himself. In a cruel twist of fate, Fallon's worst enemy, the man who destroyed her family, might be her only hope of survival.

Now, Fallon must overcome vicious rivalries, chilling threats and the dangerous attention of Caesar himself to survive the deadly fights that take place both in and out of the arena—and claim her place in history among the Valiant.

_____________________________________________________

About the author
[website] [facebook] [goodreads]

LESLEY LIVINGSTON is a writer and actress living in Toronto, Canada. She is the author of WONDROUS STRANGE, winner of the CLA Young Adult Book of the Year 2010, a White Pine Honour Book, and shortlisted for the Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Speculative Fiction. DARKLIGHT, the second book in this series was shortlisted for the Indigo Teen Read Awards. The concluding volume in the trilogy, TEMPESTUOUS, was released in January of 2011, and was a finalist for the Monica Hughes Award. These books have sold to more than ten countries to date, and WONDROUS STRANGE has been optioned for film/TV.

ONCE EVERY NEVER, a YA time-travel romance-adventure – the first in a trilogy – was shortlisted for the CLA and Stellar awards, was a Quill & Quire Book of the Year, and winner of the inaugural Young Adult Copper Cylinder Award. The second book in the series, EVERY NEVER AFTER, was released in March last year and also received the Copper Cylinder. The conclusion, NOW AND FOR NEVER, is in stores now.

Lesley also has a third trilogy in the works. STARLING, the first book in a new standalone series set in the same universe as WONDROUS STRANGE, was released in the fall of 2012. The second book, DESCENDANT, launched in August of last year and she is currently working on the concluding volume.

She is also working on a Middle Grade series, co-written with Jonathan Llyr, called THE WIGGINS WEIRD. The first book, HOW TO CURSE IN HEIROGLYPHICS in on shelves now. The second book, THE HAUNTING OF HECK HOUSE, will be out in the fall of this year.

For almost three years, Lesley hosted weekly late-night movie marathons on the nationally broadcast television show, SPACEBAR, as the Waitron-9000, a sparkly holographic waitress with an encyclopedic knowledge of obscure B-movie trivia. For almost two decades, she was a principal performer with Tempest Theatre Group, a Toronto-based Shakesperean theatre company.

Captivated at a young age by stories of mythology and folk lore, past civilizations, and legendary heroes, Lesley developed into a full-fledged Celtic Mythology Geek, steeped in stories of the Otherworld, Faeries and King Arthur. She went on to earn a Master’s Degree in English from the University of Toronto specializing in Shakespeare and Arthurian literature. Lesley is an unrepentant egghead – a character-trait that somehow doesn’t interfere with a love of shoes and shiny things.

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Review: Hell Breaks Loose by Sophie Jordan (Devil's Rock, #2) + GIVEAWAYS

Summary

(from goodreads)
Add on [goodreads]

Hell hath no hunger like a man let out of a cage . . .

Shy and awkward, First Daughter Grace Reeves has always done what she’s told. Tired of taking orders, she escapes her security detail for a rare moment of peace. Except her worst nightmare comes to life when a ruthless gang of criminals abducts her. Her only choice is to place her trust in Reid Allister, an escaped convict whose piercing gaze awakens something deep inside her. Reid is nothing like her other captors.

He’s tougher, smarter…and one blistering look from him makes her hotter than any man ever has.

Reid spent years plotting escape and revenge . . .years without a woman in his bed. For this hardened felon, Grace Reeves isn’t just out of his league—she’s from another planet, but that doesn’t stop him from wanting her. Escaping Devil’s Rock was tough, but resisting this woman could be the end of him. For a man with nothing to lose, protecting her . . . claiming her as his own, becomes more necessary than his next breath.

Read from: June 5 to June 6, 2016

Read on: ARC

Review:

You can't know how excited I was to be able to read this ARC. I needed like I needed my next breath or close enough hahaha It took me 2 days to read it, but only because I had a huge headache and had to nurse it but I was done by the next morning.

Okay... the review now...

When you start a book, you never know whether or not the characters will call to you. No matter how interesting the story can be, some characters can leave you with no desire to find out more about them and I can guarantee you that for me, this wasn't the case. I wanted to know more about Reid's past or Grace's life. I wanted to see behind whatever they were trying to project to the rest of the world and Sophie gives you just what you need.

Grace Reeves is a quite a relatable character. Sure, she is the first daughter and her life isn't ordinary per say but other then that, her feelings and actions could easily be expressed through anyone's life. The way I related to her though was the way she often let herself be brought down by people surrounding her. She let her father dictate her every move and life decisions and I believe that it was the sole reason to her akwardness to the public eye; she couldn't be herself. To me, Grace was a strong woman who had never gotten the chance to show it to the world and as I read the book, I really liked that her confidence was starting to show more and brought her a new insight for her future.

Reid had planned his revenge. Escaping prison was only one step towards making someone pay for what caused his falldown. Finding his way towards it was simple if not easy, but the kidnapping of Grace Reeves complicates things even more. Trying to seek revenge is one thing, trying to seek revenge while trying to make sure she doesn't get caught in the crossfire is another.

Reid's character is complicated. While he's not evil, he is not totally good either. He has darkness inside of him, fulled by revenge. Getting a bit more about his past, about how he ended up in prison was really interesting and I swear I wouldn't mind to hear even more. Reid's background will show you reasons why he came to be the man we know and maybe understand him more.

As for the two of them together, talk about hotness there. The chemistry building between them is obviously hard to handle for them; she wants to be free and he wants his revenge. I seriously wanted them to do it like bunnies so fast (yes, I do remember saying the same about the first book lol), but like always, the wait is always worth it. The relationship building between them isn't easy, but each of them learn from the other. He opens her eyes about the fact that she's capable of anything and to open up to her own desires of what she wants for her own life and she is bringing calm to the storm inside of him (which isn't an easy job, believe me).

Sophie's writing style will keep making you want to read more. She has a way to write scenes that will keep your eyes glued to the page until you know how it will all end. Grace and Reid's story is one I have enjoyed the most and is a must read.

Overall, this book was entertaining, steamy and got us wanting a excon for ourselves hahaha I can't wait for North's book.

I was giving an advance copy of this book by Edelweiss and Avon in exchange of an honest review.

!!!!GIVEAWAY!!!!

Gabrielle from My Reading Obsession Reviews and I have teamed up for a giveaway in honor of Sophie Jordan's newest release: Hell Breaks Loose.

Gabrielle will be giving away a paperback copy of Hell Breaks Loose and I will giving away a paperback copy of the first book of the series All Chained Up.

**This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL (wherever bookdepository.com ships)**

**This giveaway will end on JULY 29, 2016**

**FOR THE HELL BREAKS LOOSE GIVEAWAY, CLICK HERE**

**Also note that we are not responsible for lost or broken goods**

Good luck everyone!

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Thursday, July 21, 2016

Excerpt Tour: The Secret Language of Stones by M.J. Rose (The Daughters of La Lune, #2)

THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF STONES is a stunning historical gothic romantic suspense published by Atria, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, releasing on July 19th. Written to be a total and complete standalone novel, THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF STONES is the second title in M.J. Rose’s The Daughters of La Lune Series. Sexy, compelling, and seductive, be sure to grab your copy today!

Where to Buy it:

* [Amazon] * * [iBooks] *

* [Barnes & Noble] * * [IndieBound] *

Out NOW!

Book 2 in The Daughters of La Lune series

Here is a little bit about The Secret Language of Stones
Add to [goodreads]

As World War I rages and the Romanov dynasty reaches its sudden, brutal end, a young jewelry maker discovers love, passion, and her own healing powers in this rich and romantic ghost story, the perfect follow-up to M.J. Rose’s “brilliantly crafted” (Providence Journal) novel The Witch of Painted Sorrows.

Nestled within Paris’s historic Palais Royal is a jewelry store unlike any other. La Fantasie Russie is owned by Pavel Orloff, protégé to the famous Faberge, and is known by the city’s fashion elite as the place to find the rarest of gemstones and the most unique designs. But war has transformed Paris from a city of style and romance to a place of fear and mourning. In the summer of 1918, places where lovers used to walk, widows now wander alone.

So it is from La Fantasie Russie’s workshop that young, ambitious Opaline Duplessi now spends her time making trench watches for soldiers at the front, as well as mourning jewelry for the mothers, wives, and lovers of those who have fallen. People say that Opaline’s creations are magical. But magic is a word Opaline would rather not use. The concept is too closely associated with her mother Sandrine, who practices the dark arts passed down from their ancestor La Lune, one of sixteenth century Paris’s most famous courtesans.

But Opaline does have a rare gift even she can’t deny, a form of lithomancy that allows her to translate the energy emanating from stones. Certain gemstones, combined with a personal item, such as a lock of hair, enable her to receive messages from beyond the grave. In her mind, she is no mystic, but merely a messenger, giving voice to soldiers who died before they were able to properly express themselves to loved ones. Until one day, one of these fallen soldiers communicates a message—directly to her.

So begins a dangerous journey that will take Opaline into the darkest corners of wartime Paris and across the English Channel, where the exiled Romanov dowager empress is waiting to discover the fate of her family. Full of romance, seduction, and a love so powerful it reaches beyond the grave, The Secret Language of Stones is yet another “spellbindingly haunting” (Suspense magazine), “entrancing read that will long be savored” (Library Journal, starred review).

Praise for THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF STONES...

A dazzling mix of history, mystery and mystical arts . . . Rose's paranormal historical bewitches from start to finish. Her amazing ability to make her story line believable and her extraordinary protagonist relatable result in an unforgettable psychic thriller." (Library Journal (Starred review))

"An exciting mix of adventure, intrigue, and romance in this thrilling historical tale." (Booklist)

“Haunting, spellbinding, captivating; Rose's story of the power of love and redemption is masterful. More than a romance or ghost story, this is a tale of a young woman learning to embrace her unique qualities...So carefully crafted and beautifully written, readers will believe in the magical possibilities of love transcending time.” (RT Magazine (Top Pick))

“Rose follows up The Witch of Painted Sorrows (2015) with Sandrine’s daughter’s story, set against the tragic yet exquisite canvases of Paris, the Great War, and the Russian Revolution, and offers fascinating historical tidbits in the midst of bright, imaginative storytelling and complex, supernatural worldbuilding. A compelling, heart-wrenching, creative, and intricate read.” (Kirkus Reviews)

And don’t miss the previous books in The Daughters of La Lune series!

Title: The Witch of Painted Sorrow
Summary

(from goodreads)
Add to [goodreads]

Possession. Power. Passion. New York Times bestselling novelist M. J. Rose creates her most provocative and magical spellbinder yet in this gothic novel set against the lavish spectacle of 1890s Belle Époque Paris.

Sandrine Salome flees New York for her grandmother’s Paris mansion to escape her dangerous husband, but what she finds there is even more menacing. The house, famous for its lavish art collection and elegant salons, is mysteriously closed up. Although her grandmother insists it’s dangerous for Sandrine to visit, she defies her and meets Julien Duplessi, a mesmerizing young architect. Together they explore the hidden night world of Paris, the forbidden occult underground and Sandrine’s deepest desires.

Among the bohemians and the demi-monde, Sandrine discovers her erotic nature as a lover and painter. Then darker influences threaten—her cold and cruel husband is tracking her down and something sinister is taking hold, changing Sandrine, altering her. She’s become possessed by La Lune: A witch, a legend, and a sixteenth-century courtesan, who opens up her life to a darkness that may become a gift or a curse.

This is Sandrine’s “wild night of the soul,” her odyssey in the magnificent city of Paris, of art, love, and witchery.

Where to Buy it:

* [Amazon] * * [iBooks] *

* [Barnes & Noble] * * [IndieBound] *

Want a taste of what this book is about? Check out this excerpt below :)

Outside I found quiet. No sirens, few cars. The streets of Paris were eerily unwelcoming, but at least everything existed in three dimensions. Walking on cobblestones, looking above me at the stars, I focused on the facts of the world around me, not the fantasies I kept crafting in my little room. The buildings loomed large in the moonlight; footsteps of one other late-night pedestrian echoed in the still night. Glancing over I saw a lasciviously dressed woman hurrying in the opposite direction. Crossing rue Royale, I walked under the archway and into the Louvre’s courtyard and kept going until I reached the quai du Louvre. I descended the wide stone steps down to the path running along the river, the quai des Tuileries, and made my way as close as I could get to the water.

But this was nothing like walking by the sea in Cannes. I missed the scent of salt, the sound of the waves crashing, the give of the sand underfoot. Instead, the swiftly flowing river smelled cold and slightly metallic; the stones underfoot were uneven and unforgiving. Only the moon was the same. At that very moment, the same moon was shining down on the beach at home. And the soldiers in the field. And the tombstones in the cemetery.

The path appeared empty. I was alone. With no destination in mind, I just kept moving forward, hoping I might walk into proof that my mind wasn’t infected. Or even proof that it was. I just wanted an answer.

If I could just know I wasn’t insane, I could live with the discomfort. I could withstand the bittersweet romance with a lover whom I knew I would lose one day. I could tolerate the noise. But this lack of proof? This uncertainty? That’s what I couldn’t endure anymore. Were the voices in my head or in some other place? Was I making up Jean Luc, or was he a trapped soul communicating with me?

And if Jean Luc was real—if any ghost could be real—then this love affair was doomed, wasn’t it?

I’d reached the oldest bridge in Paris, the Pont Neuf, and stood underneath it. Water swirled in eddies around the bridge’s piles. So many had walked across its span since it had been built in the sixteenth century. How many times had my ancestor, the original La Lune, traversed it? Had she stood here and stared down at the water, missing her lover, wondering how she could live with the mistakes she’d made in trying to recapture what she’d lost, what she’d destroyed? Had she ever stood here and wondered if the river would welcome her and offer her the release she so badly wanted . . . freedom from longing, from loneliness?

Despondent, I climbed the stairs to the street level. I meant to turn away, not to walk out onto the bridge. But I did. I walked halfway out, stood at the railing, and stared down.

About M.J. Rose
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New York Times Bestseller, M.J. Rose grew up in New York City mostly in the labyrinthine galleries of the Metropolitan Museum, the dark tunnels and lush gardens of Central Park and reading her mother’s favorite books before she was allowed. She believes mystery and magic are all around us but we are too often too busy to notice… books that exaggerate mystery and magic draw attention to it and remind us to look for it and revel in it.

Rose’s work has appeared in many magazines including Oprah Magazine and she has been featured in the New York Times, Newsweek, WSJ, Time, USA Today and on the Today Show, and NPR radio. Rose graduated from Syracuse University, spent the ’80s in advertising, has a commercial in the Museum of Modern Art in NYC and since 2005 has run the first marketing company for authors – Authorbuzz.com

The television series PAST LIFE, was based on Rose’s novels in the Reincarnationist series. She is one of the founding board members of International Thriller Writers and currently serves, with Lee Child, as the organization’s co-president.

Rose lives in CT with her husband the musician and composer, Doug Scofield, and their very spoiled and often photographed dog, Winka.

Daughter of La Lune Pendant  Giveaway!

We're celebrating the release of THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF STONES by giving away a beautiful Daughter of La Lune pendant. Designed by Cadsawan Jewelry, the silver pendant contains a labradorite, a magical stone excellent for awakening one's own awareness of inner spirit, intuition, and psychic abilities.

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M.J. Rose’sTHE SECRET LANGUAGE OF STONES –
Review & Excerpt Tour Schedule

July 11th

What the Cat Read – Excerpt

Deluged with Books Cafe – Review & Excerpt

Fiction Adventures – Excerpt

July 12^th

Mes Livres – Review

Adventures in Writing – Excerpt

The Book Hammock – Review & Excerpt

July 13^th

Hart's Romance Pulse – Excerpt