Elemental Reality by Cesya Cuono

Title: Elemental Reality
Author: Cesya Cuono
Release date: August 21st 2011
Rating: 5/5 (AMAZINGG)
Publisher: Revolution Publishing
Book Summary:


NEW! Author Biography: Cesya MaRae Cuono hails from a small town in northeastern Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of Alvernia University where she majored in Business          Administration and also received her certificate of Multi-Media & Production makeup from Cosmix School of Makeup Artistry. You can find any updates from Cesya on her website at http://www.cesyacuonobooks.blogspot.com/.

Review:

So I haven't read many magic books in a very long time. Most of the books I've read have included werewolves and vampires (no, not The Twilight Saga. Haha.), or some other type of wierd magic power.

This book has really stood out.

It was diffierent from the rest of the books I've read and MAN was it interesting. I found myself saying "Okay, one more Chapter then go back to my summer reading book" about four chapters later I was saying that same thing.

I couldn't get enough of what Callie, and her sister Lola were going to do next.

Cuono's writing style was absolutely phenomenal as well! I could really fit in with what Callie was thinking and was doing which is always a big plus for me because when I can get into the character I'm all for the book! :D

There is also a lot of character development in this book which I also like to see. The character changing and learning as time goes on. It was absolutely perfect! I am defintiely looking forward to BATTLE SCARS which is set to release sometime during 2012.

I will definitely recommend this book to all who are reading this. Go on. If you're still reading then you're not going to go read it. Seriously. Go. Haha.

Thanks to Jennifer Baker at Revolution Publishing for allowing me to join the tour!

~M.A.Chase♥

When Callie Pierce was 10 her mother disappeared without a trace. 12 years later on the eve of her disappearance things become weird, supernatural even. Everything she was taught and learned over the    past 22 years was a lie to protect her. The truth is she's powerful and now she, along with her sister Lola, has to use that power to save her mother and family from the evil hands of fate that threaten to tear them apart.

Guest Post: Kathleen Gerard Author of IN TRANSIT

Today we have Katleen Gerard as our guest for today talking about why setting is important! Author of  IN TRANSIT


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Kathleen Gerard




The Importance of Setting in Fiction



 In fiction writing, a sense of place can anchor a story. But setting is also a tool for exploring character. Often a character's reaction and response to a place can reveal a lot about him or her. I couldn't set my novel, IN TRANSIT, anywhere but in New York City, as the NYPD Transit Division and the New York City Subway System are central to the plot. Also, the idea of the subway system--a dark, underground labyrinth--serves as a metaphor to reveal the secret lives and hidden motivations of many of the characters in the story. Rita Del Vecchio is the heroine of IN TRANSIT. At the start of the novel, she is a naive 22 year-old and NYC takes on different meanings to her at different points in the story. In the first part of the novel, Rita longs for Manhattan as though it were a "promised land" - a place of opportunity. As the story unfolds, the reader learns that Rita spent the first 12 years of her life growing up in the Bronx, a borough of NYC.

IN TRANSIT Cover Art

When her parents moved the family to a New Jersey suburb, ten year-old Rita sentimentalized her days spent in the Bronx and longed to return. Thus, when a psychic at a shopping mall reads Rita's Tarot cards years later and proclaims, "You're destined for greatness" and "You will marry a man in uniform," it's the push Rita needs to find a way to move back to the city she loves and has missed. By the time Rita graduates from the police academy and starts working for the NYPD, Manhattan becomes larger than life. This young woman and rookie cop, who thinks she is so tough and street smart, actually feels overwhelmed when embroiled amid the fabric of New York City. Patrolling the subways for the first time as a full-fledged officer during rush hour, she experiences a sort of culture shock.  As the story progresses, Rita gradually acclimates herself to NYC.  But the place she once deemed as a "promised land" now transforms into a place of danger.

People and places aren't always whom or what they appear to be. Rita is ultimately forced to confront the choices she has made -- the life she has created for herself in NYC -- and she is forced to rise up against the mighty city and the powers therein, refusing to be dominated by forces larger than herself. In Rita's case, it is only by making this journey to NYC, and facing each challenge, that she changes and grows. What about you in your own life . . . Have you always lived in the same place or have you moved around a lot? What does where you live say about you? Is there some promised land (a place of opportunity) you are longing for? Where is that place and what would you hope for in migrating there? Please share your stories with us...


To learn more about Kathleen Gerard and the story-behind-the-story of IN TRANSIT please visit http://intransit-thenovel.blogspot.comcopyright/ 2011 by Kathleen Gerard. All Rights Reserved.

~M.A.Chase♥

FANFARE by Renee Ahdieh

Title: FANFARE (Picture of the cover won't post)
Author: Renee Ahdieh
Release date: May 13th, 2011
Rating: 5/5
Publisher: Revolution Publishing
Book Summary:  


Review:


"It's anti-capitalistic to love someone" -Cris Pereira

When life gives you lemons, you make orange juice. Life was well and wonderful for Cris, but the the reality fell harder than ever. When her fiancée breaks of their engagement Cris is hurt beyond repair. . . Then she meets Tom. Can he change it all or is she going to end up locking herself in? It's not the average love story. ;D

I was so happy to find out that the MC was a Latina. THANK YOU. I haven't read a book yet that's had the MC as a Latina and let me tell you, I'm loving it. I'm a Latina myself and I just immediately fell in love with Cris. She's snappy, she's crazy, she's strong and determined. She's a great Female MC.

Renne Ahdieh's writing style is extremely SUPERB. I loved it very much. Just they way the words flowed and the way it just grasped your attention the minute you read it just was amazing. It's been a while since I've read a good contemporary fiction novel that has no vampires, no raising of the dead, no secret powers. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I was glad that at time I was laughing outloud to some of Cris' thoughts. They seemed so normal it was jut really funny.

I can say I really enjoyed this book from cover to cover.

~M.A.Chase♥

Posted June 20th, 2011

Cris Pereira hates starring in a cautionary tale. Alas, her recent heartbreak relegates her to this unbecoming fate. The only good thing about being dumped a foot from the altar is the newest layer to her punchy sarcasm. All she wants is a do-over, but this is not your average fairy tale, and wishes don't come true in the real world.

One Sunday afternoon, she meets a movie star. Tom Abramson is intelligent, charming, and impetuous. In other words, he plays the role a bit too well. She isn’t falling for it. She knows better. All British men are not descendants of Fitzwilliam Darcy, and movie stars are genetic mutations gone awry: X-Men with statistical disadvantages and emotional handicaps. Keep your knight in shining armor. A modern girl can rescue herself, thank you very much. After all, dreams are for the foolhardy, nightmares are just a part of life, and . . . this is not your average fairy tale.

Manga!

Haha, so I'm currently reading a manga called Dengeki Daisy.

I absolutely love it!

Well for people who don't know what I'm talking about manga is comic in Japanese. It's read from right to left.

Manga is basically a book so I will be talking about it thank you very much.

Dengeki Daisy is basically about this girl named Kurebayashi Teru. Her brother passed away when she was younger, but before he passed away he left her with a phone that can help her contact a guy named "Daisy." "Daisy" is supposed to replace him and help her brother after he passes away to take care of Teru.

Since that day she has been mailing "Daisy" about little things here and there at school.

She's never met "Daisy" in her life, though she trusts him dearly because, well, her brother trusts him.

She does meet him, though she doesn't know it's him. At least not at first.

I don't want to tell you TOO much information about it so if you're curious check it out. :P

I will say one thing: my favorite catch phrase from Kurebayashi Teru is; "Go bald, Kurosaki!"

Lmao.

I will disappear now!

Ja-ne!

~M.A.Chase♥

Descent of Angels Challenge

So, I was on Twitter the other day posting all the books I've read and will be reading and I get mentioned for the Descent of Angels challenge by @TruthBeToldBlog and @BooksOverBoys. Seeing as I've already read a few Angel books I said "Why not?"





So basically, what the Descent of Angels Challenge is, is I have to read one book every month until December 31st with a main character that's an Angel, or that the whole idea in the book is Angels.

Here's my list of books:

April: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick Review
June: Torment by Lauren Kate
July: Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
August: Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
September: still pending
October: Still pending
November: still pending
December: still pending
 ~M.A.Chase♥

Fallen

Title: Fallen

Author: Lauren Kate

Release date: 2009

Rating: 5/5

Publisher: Random House
Book Summary:

WHAT IF THE PERSON YOU WERE MEANT TO BE WITH COULD NEVER BE YOURS?


There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.


Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at Sword & Cross bording school in Savannah. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are screwups, and security cameras watch every move.

Except Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--he goes out of his way to make that very clear. But she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, Luce has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret. . .even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic FALLEN is a page-turning thriller and the ultimate love story.

Review:

This book was just as P.C. Cast described on the cover! "Sexy and fascinating and scary. . ."

Holy crap this book was good. It had a great plot, which I absolutely loved. It was goth. . . well not really. The school uniform, all black, church, Gothic style. That gave it a plus. I would have like gone to that school if it wasn't a boarding school for screwups. Really I would.

I loved the idea of her being attracted and having that vague feeling of familiarity to someone that she could swear she's only seen at this school. It made the story more alluring, more suspenseful, more thought provoking--I think. I could not stop reading! I would be in the middle of my Mathematics class rushing through the work--without making a mistake-- just so I could get back to reading about Luce and Daniel.

Which comes to my next thought, Daniel. Daniel, Daniel, Daniel. His personality I would give him like an A+ I love it. And his looks the way I thought them up? Oh. My. Gosh. I've tried to creat characters like this and I've never even come close to making it like that. I don't know I just fell in love with Daniel the minute he was introduced. If anyone, ANYONE would come up to me  and was like that I would be IN LOVE.

Luce. She's strong. Dedicated. Not a damsel in distress. And just like me. I love her. I was able to really relate and connect with this character. Even though the story was in third person I could really insert myself in the actions, in what was going on. I felt everything she felt and I could imagine Arianne and Gabbe.

This is DEFINITELY going to be recommended to my English class the next time we do book things.

Now. The cover.

I usually don't rate the cover of a book, I don't know, just never really thought about doing that. This cover gets a ten out of five. It is so beautiful. The girl, the dress, the way it is, is just so pretty. I absolutely loved it. This is one of those books that I judged the book by it's cover.  One of my friends too a look at the book and was instantly hooked.

Just everything about this book was awesome. If you haven't read this PICK IT UP!

~M.A.Chase♥

Pray for Japan

This morning I walk into my second period to see one of my friends (whom I call my Sensei because she teaches me Japanese) super sad. She tells me that Japan had just experienced a Quake and Tsunami.

I about died.

I love Japan and I love the people in it. I couldn't believe such a devastating thing happened to them. Eight-point-nine on the Richer Scale. You know what that is? It is VERY high. Then to top it off, the tsunami hits ten minutes later with no warning.

The death toll is in the thousands and thankfully I don't think it'll pass one thousand, but we never know.

I'm now praying for the families who've lost a loved one and who are now suffering due to the what has happened.

First Haiti,

Then Chile,

Then Japan,

California is definitely next.

Did you see how bad it was that in the MIDDLE OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN there was a WHIRLPOOL. I mean come on. In the middle of the Pacific? That is some intense stuff. The footage keeps playing on and on in my head.

Then to top off their bad news, that nuclear power plant is going to have a meltdown if it doesn't cool down soon. They've evacutated thousands of miles in radius of the area and they're slowly increasing that evacuation area. They're releasing radio active GASES into the atmosphere in order to think of any possible way to cool it down.

Just like in Haiti I feel absolutely helpless to the fact that I can't really do anything to stop this from becoming worse. Though, unlike Haiti, the people of Japan are well prepared for these sorts of things, their buildings withstood the earthquake, but unfortunately not all survived the tsunami. Another thing is, Japan will be able to rebuild itself from scratch, which is something Haiti wasn't able to do without the help of the United States and other countries.

More information on Japan is to come. I wait anxiously hoping and praying that things in Japan will stabalize for them. This isn't something I see everyday. You can see it in their faces in the videos taken by people that at first they thought it was something normal, a small quake that will pass just like the rest.

It wasn't. And they knew it even before the sirens went off that it was more than just an earthquake.

I'm currently watching the Japanese broadcast;

So far 430 people are confirmed dead and 200 are believed to be.

8000 Japanese troops are being sent to aid the earthquake-hit areas.

Please help pray for them as we prayed for Haiti!

~M.A.Chase♥