Book Review: Embrace

Title: Embrace.
Author: Jessica Shirvington.
Format: Paperback.
Pages: 369.
Series: The Violet Eden Chapters #1.
Source: Purchased, Amazon.
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire.
Links:
Goodreads
Barnes and Noble

Summary:

"It starts with a whisper: "It's time for you to know who you are..." On her 17th birthday, everything will change for Violet Eden. The boy she loves will betray her. Her enemy will save her. She will have to decide just how much she's willing to sacrifice. Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, EMBRACE is a compelling novel of good and evil, seductive desires and impossible choices. A centuries old war between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity chooses a new fighter. It's a battle Violet doesn't want, but she lives her life by two rules: don't run and don't quit. If angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden."

Cover:

The cover of Embrace us extremely pretty. I like the fact that it includes various parts from the story inside; it really gives the readers an idea of what Embrace could be about. Covers are first impressions, which are everything. They really set the vibe for the entire book. And the cover of Embrace does exactly that, the girl, the wings, and the title. Love it!

My Thoughts:

Her seventeenth birthday is just around the corner, and unlike any other teenage girl, Violet is only excited to get it over with. Violet doesn't feel like her birthday is something to celebrate, instead her birthday is something she wishes she could avoid. Every year, her birthday just reminds Violet of her mother's death.

While her best friend, Steph is trying to keep Violet's mind on the positive side of her birthday, Violet tries to keep her mind completely off the whole thing. To do that, she spends a lot of her time working out with her trainer and close friend Lincoln. Spending so much time with him, Violet starts to feel more for Lincoln, but she already knows he would never feel the same, especially because he is a few years older than her.

Just a day or two before her birthday Violet's dad, gives her a box that contains a letter and a bracelet from her mother. Not really understanding what each means, Violet tries to figure it all out.

Attempting to clear her head, Violet makes her way to Lincoln's house to yet again workout; kick box, run, or even rock climb, just anything to forget everything that's going on. Arriving to the first step, Violet can hear Lincoln's voice along with another arguing and discussing her...and being an angel...

This couldn't be happening, Violet could never be an angel, she's just normal, like everyone else!

Embrace follows Violet in her journey and decision in becoming an angel, dealing with that, a normal life, and a triangular love life. Embrace gave me a fresh view of angels, and the becoming of.

I can't wait to get my hands on the second book, Entice!

TBR: October (My Birthday's Coming Up!)

Welcome to Turning Pages!

And to another TBR post, for the month of October! I love October, not only because my birthday is on the 29th, but I also love the fall time, the way the weather cools down, the way the leaves change color, and especially Halloween! There's no month better than October...expect maybe December (:

Besides on planning to read scary and paranormal books, I hope to have at least one or two giveaways; one for my birthday and another for Halloween! So make sure to keep your eyes open for that!

The books I hope to read this month are...

Marked by P.C. and Kristin Cast.

"The House of Night series is set in a world very much like our own, except in 16-year-old Zoey Redbird's world, vampyres have always existed. In this first book in the series, Zoey enters the House of Night, a school where, after having undergone the Change, she will train to become an adult vampire -- that is, if she makes it through the Change. Not all of those who are chosen do. It's tough to begin a new life, away from her parents and friends, and on top of that, Zoey finds she is no average fledgling. She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess, Nyx. But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers. When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite club, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny--with a little help from her new vampyre friends."

Unbelievable, by Sara Shepard.

"Behind Rosewood's grand facades, where the air smells like apples and Chanel No. 5 and infinity pools sparkle in landscaped backyards, nothing is as it seems. It was here, back in seventh grade, that five best friends shared everything--Seven jeans, MAC makeup, and their deepest, darkest secrets. For Aria, Spencer, Hanna, and Emily, it was a dream come true . . . until Alison, the most beautiful of them all, suddenly vanished. Now someone named A has turned their charmed lives into a living nightmare. Emily has been shipped off to her hyper-conservative cousins in Iowa. Aria is stuck living with her dad and his home-wrecker girlfriend. And Spencer fears she had something to do with Alison's murder. But Hanna's fate is far worse than all of that--she's clinging to life in the hospital, because "she knew too much." With A's threats turning dangerous and Ali's killer still on the loose, the girls must uncover the truth--about A, about Ali, and about what happened to Hanna--before they become A's next victims. But as they unravel Rosewood's mysteries and secrets, will it bring an end to the horror . . . or is this just the beginning?"

Chime, by Franny Billingsley.

"Briony has a secret. It is a secret that killed her stepmother, ruined her sister's mind, and will end her life, if anyone were to know. She has powers. Then Eldric comes along with his golden lion eyes and a great mane of tawny hair. He is as natural as the sun, and he treats her as if she is extraordinary. And everything starts to change . . . Chime is a haunting, brilliantly written novel that will stay with you--its magic, its romance, its world like none other."

Drought, by Pam Bachorz.

"A young girl thirsts for love and freedom, but at what cost? Ruby dreams of escaping the Congregation. Escape from slaver Darwin West and his cruel Overseers. Escape from the backbreaking work of gathering Water. Escape from living as if it is still 1812, the year they were all enslaved. When Ruby meets Ford—an irresistible, kind, forbidden new Overseer—she longs to run away with him to the modern world where she could live a normal teenage life. Escape with Ford would be so simple. But if Ruby leaves, her community is condemned to certain death. She, alone, possesses the secret ingredient that makes the Water so special—her blood—and it’s the one thing that the Congregation cannot live without. Drought is the haunting story of one community’s thirst for life, and the dangerous struggle of the only girl who can grant it."


Misfit, by Jon Skovron.

"Jael Thompson has never really fit in. She’s changed schools too many times to count. The only family she’s ever known is her father, a bitter ex-priest who never lets her date and insists she attend the strictest Catholic school in Seattle. And her mother—well, she was a five thousand year old demon. That doesn’t exactly help. But on her sixteenth birthday, her father gives her a present that brings about some unexpected changes. Some of the changes, like strange and wonderful powers and the cute skater boy with a knack for science, are awesome. But others, like the homicidal demon seeking revenge on her family? Not so much. Steeped in mythology, this is an epic tale of a heroine who balances old world with new, science with magic, and the terrifying depths of the underworld with the ordinary halls of high school."


Angel Burn, by L.A. Weatherly.

"They're out for your soul. And they don't have heaven in mind... Willow knows she's different from other girls, and not just because she loves tinkering with cars. Willow has a gift. She can look into the future and know people's dreams and hopes, their sorrows and regrets, just by touching them. she has no idea where this power comes from. But the assassin, Alex, does. Gorgeous, mysterious Alex knows more about Willow than Willow herself does. He knows that her powers link to dark and dangerous forces and that he's one of the few humans left who can fight them. When Alex finds himself falling in love with his sworn enemy, he discovers that nothing is as it seems, least of all good and evil."

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs.

"A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs. Fiction is based on real black and white photographs. The death of grandfather Abe sends sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, and explores abandoned bedrooms and hallways. The children may still live."

The Brides of Rollrock Island, by Margo Lanagan.

"On remote Rollrock Island, men go to sea to make their livings--and to catch their wives. The witch Misskaella knows the way of drawing a girl from the heart of a seal, of luring the beauty out of the beast. And for a price a man may buy himself a lovely sea-wife. He may have and hold and keep her. And he will tell himself that he is her master. But from his first look into those wide, questioning, liquid eyes, he will be just as transformed as she. He will be equally ensnared. And the witch will have her true payment. Margo Lanagan weaves an extraordinary tale of desire, despair, and transformation. With devastatingly beautiful prose, she reveals characters capable of unspeakable cruelty, but also unspoken love."

Comment below with the link to your October TBR list! I would love to see what others are reading !

What's Coming This Week?

Welcome to Turning Pages! And to this week's "What's Coming This Week" post !

*The title of each book is a link, so in case you're interested and want to learn more about that specific book, the link will take you to its Goodreads page!*

Paperback:

Whispers at Moonrise (Shadow Falls Series #4), by C. C. Hunter.

City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments Series #4), by Cassandra Clare.

Stealing Parker, by Miranda Kenneally.

Black Dawn (Morganville Vampires Series #12), by Rachel Caine.

Where There's a Wolf, There's a Way (Monster High Series #3), by Lisi Harrison.

Palace of the Damned (Saga of Larten Crepsley Series #3), by Darren Shan.

The Fame Game (Fame Game Series #1), by Lauren Conrad.

Shatter Me, by Tahereh Mafi.

Between the Sea and Sky, by Jaclyn Dolamore.

Keturah and Lord Death, by Martine Leavitt.

Darkness Falls (Immortal Beloved Series #2), by Cate Tiernan.

The Faerie Ring, by Kiki Hamilton.

Hardback:

Poison Princess (Arcana Chronicles Series), by Kresley Cole.

Promised (Birthmarked Trilogy Series #3), by Caragh M. O'Brien.

Send Me a Sign, by Tiffany Schmidt.

Magisterium, by Jeff Hirsch.

Kiss & Make Up, by Katie D. Anderson.

Lucid, by Adrienne Stoltz, Ron Bass.

WWW Wednesday!

Welcome to Turning Pages!

And to another WWW Wednesday! 

What am I currently reading?

Right now I'm in the middle of Stage Fright, by Marianne Delacourt! Even though I'm about 80 pages into it, I'm really starting to enjoy it, and can't wait to see what it has in store.

What did I just finish reading?

Last week I finished reading Embrace by Jessica Shirvington, and loved it! I'm excited to finally get the time to write and post my review, make sure to stop by when I do!

What do I plan on reading next?

I'm actually not sure as of right now, because I haven't decided on the books I plan on reading in October, but my TBR for next month will be posted by the 1st! 

Thank you so much for stopping by, make sure to comment with the link to your WWW Wednesday post!

Waiting On Wednesday

Title: Sever.
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Summary:

"Time is running out for Rhine in this conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Chemical Garden Trilogy. With the clock ticking until the virus takes its toll, Rhine is desperate for answers. After enduring Vaughn’s worst, Rhine finds an unlikely ally in his brother, an eccentric inventor named Reed. She takes refuge in his dilapidated house, though the people she left behind refuse to stay in the past. While Gabriel haunts Rhine’s memories, Cecily is determined to be at Rhine’s side, even if Linden’s feelings are still caught between them. Meanwhile, Rowan’s growing involvement in an underground resistance compels Rhine to reach him before he does something that cannot be undone. But what she discovers along the way has alarming implications for her future—and about the past her parents never had the chance to explain. In this breathtaking conclusion to Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden trilogy, everything Rhine knows to be true will be irrevocably shattered."

Release Date: 2/12/13

What's Coming This Week?

Welcome to Turning Pages, and Happy Weekend!

If you're weekend hasn't been so "happy", don't fear, tons of great books are here! Don't be shy, the links will take you to each books Goodreads page, where you'll be able to read more about it!

Paperback:

Covet, by Melissa Darnell.

Leverage, by Joshua C. Cohen.

Swear, by Nina Malkin.

Hardback:

Alice in Zombieland, by Gena Showalter.

Confessions of a Murder Suspect, by James Patterson.

Dodger, by Terry Pratchett.

Shadows (Ashes Trilogy Series #2), by Ilsa J. Bick.

A Fractured Light, by Jocelyn Davies.

The Mephisto Kiss : The Mephisto Covenant Book 2, by Trinity Faegen.

The Other Normals, by Ned Vizzini.

The Blessed, by Tonya Hurley.

Giveaway Reminder!

Welcome to Turning Pages!

This is just a quick reminder, I have a giveaway posted! With three awesome books to win, three winners will be chosen and it doesn't end until October 13, which is plenty of time to still enter!

The books that are up for grabs are..

If you're interested in winning one of the books above, go to the original giveaway post and make sure to enter!

CLEARING MY SHELVES GIVEAWAY POST!!!

WWW Wednesday!

Welcome to Turning Pages!

And to WWW Wednesday! This week's post has tons of fantastic books, that you really should check out! A review of Demonglass is already up, so if you want to see what I thought about it, and if I enjoy it or not, check out my review!

What am I currently reading?

I'm currently indulging in Embrace by Jessica Shirvington, and I'm loving it so far! I hope to have my review up within the next two days, and on the burnbright.com.au by the end of the month!

What did I just finish reading?

About five or six days ago I finished Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins, and even though it doesn't beat Hex Hall for me, it was still pretty awesome! So if you want to check out my review, click here.

What do I plan on reading next?

The next two books I plan on reading are, The Brides of Rollrock and Unbelievable!

Comment down below with the link to your WWW Wednesday, and I'll make sure to stop by and check it out!

Waiting On Wednesday!

Title: Prodigy.
Author: Marie Lu.
Summary:

"Jan. 4. 1932 Hours. Ocean Standard Time Thirty-Five Days After Metias’s Death June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector. It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long. But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengence, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?"

Release Date: 1/29/13

What special book are you waiting for?!

Book Review: Demonglass

Title: Demonglass.
Author: Rachel Hawkins.
Format: Hardback.
Series: #2.
Source: Purchased.
Publisher: Hyperion.
Published Date: 3/22/2011.
Links:
Goodreads
Barnes and Noble

Summary:

"Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch. That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth. Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a risky procedure that will either destroy her powers forever — or kill her. But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new housemates? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Acher to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?"

First & Last Line:
"At a normal high school, having a class outside on a grogeous May day is usually pretty awesome."
"Then I stepped through the doorway."

Cover: 

The most obvious thing about the covers in this series, is the reflection of the girl. These covers are the bright colors, and all the details used in the background are unique and interesting! Cuuuute!

My Thoughts:

*Warning! Spoiler Alert!* Sophie Mercer has endured her first year at Hex Hall; she made a new best friend, Jenna, she kissed Archer Cross (right before he was taken away, for being part of The Eye) and learned to fight and kick butt!

But the year has come to an end, and where most kids would be happy that summer is just around the corner, Sophie's dad asks her to join him and the council for the ENTIRE break. Not always having been around, Sophie gives her dad this chance, and agrees to go as long as Jenna can too. Besides inviting Jenna, Sophie's dad also invited Cal, the Hex Hall healer. (a.k.a. Sophie's soon to be husband, due to an arranged marriage)

Arriving at the HUGE mansion, Sophie, Jenna and Cal can't believe it's size, with over twenty kitchens, and three hundred bedrooms! But while things seem like paradise, thoughts are still running through Sophie's head; The Eye, Archer, her extremely strong powers, the removal, and yes, even Cal.

When things go bad, and The Eye are after Sophie and her loved ones, Sophie has no one to rely on but herself!

Even though Hex Hall, the first book, is still my favorite, I loved the ending to Demonglass! I loved the new characters Nick and Daisy and I can't wait to see how Sophie's adventure continues!