Review: Masquerade by Cambria Hebert

Title: Masquerade (Heven &Hell Series)

Author: Cambria Hebert

Publisher: Otherworld publications

Publication Date: December 16, 2011

Genre: YA

Main Themes: Mutilation, Angels/Demons, Supernatural, & Romance

Pages: 591 (ebook)

Plot: ( From Goodreads)

Before.  Everything was sos much better Before.  I wasn’t haunted by nightmares, my place at school was secure and my face was flawless.  Now, I’m a freak and everything has changed.  The worst part is that I can’t remember the night I was sentenced to the shadows.  The memory has been stolen from me and I just can’t shake the feeling that someone is out there- watching.

Just when I think I have my life handled, Sam, with his intimidating golden stare and shiver inducing voice, makes me see that my scars don’t matter.  That they never mattered.  I can’t help but fall for him, completely unknowing that he knows exactly how I got this way. Not knowing he was involved.

***

Heven has no idea how closely death stalks her.  She has no idea what I have done to keep her alive.  I fear the day she learns my secrets, finds out what I really am.  But even then I cannot stop, I vow to make things right.  Finally her hunter will be hunted, Heaven and Hell, faith and sin will battle, and we will be victorious.  But first, Heven must learn to be what she never imagined.  I know her strength is there – I feel it.  If we are to overcome all odds, she must push past her flaws – her frailties – to become much more. 

This is one novel that I have been eyeing for way too long.  It was a spectacularly gorgeous cover and I have seen nothing but great reviews.  I decided to take a review copy of Charade (Heven and Hell #2), so I would have to get to it and read the first one.  This is one novel that I wish I never would have waited so long to read!

Masquerade was deviously stunning, maliciously fierce, and wickedly conspicuous!  This staggering novel made me fall out of my chair a couple of times!  Every time I thought I knew what going to happen; I would get slapped in the face by the next page.  Really, this book is that good!

Cambria Hebert has a refreshing writing style that oozes with originality and flows right of the page.  Her world is so believable that if I didn’t know better I might fall right into it (oh, wait I kinda did…I fell off the chair).  Hebert’s story is told from four points of view and it was intriguing watching how they all came together.  Wrapped altogether with characters that were remarkably genuine and sincere and you get one hell of a ride….no pun intended.

This startling tale centers around a girl, Heven, who is a tormented soul and battles everyday as a survivor.  As the plot tells you she was brutally attacked and left for dead but she lives and is left with a horrible and ugly scar, dismembering half of her once beautiful face.  The poor girl had so many issues that you can’t help but want her to stop curtaining herself and start to believe that she still can have the life that she thought she lost or at least build herself a new and better one.  Heven’s main influence in creating her new life was Sam and he holds many mysteries.  Your going question him continuously but still you can see that he is an honorable, caring, selfless, determined, and very protective. 

Masquerade is a book that I would highly recommend to my readers and my friends.  This riveting tale has most certainly not gotten the hype that it deserves and I hope others will jump onboard in giving it a read and love it as much as I did!  If you end up by loving it, as I’m positive that you will, then you should check out Charade- book two in the Heven and Hell series….I’m about to!

Masquerade Trailer



Review: Caged by Amber Lynn Natusch

Title: Caged

Author: Amber Lynn Natusch

Publisher: Amber Lynn Natusch

Publication Date: December 1, 2012

Genre: Urban Fantasy/ Paranormal Romance

Main Themes: Romance, Tragedy, Supernatural, & Betrayal

Pages: 265

Plot:  (From Goodreads)

I stood in the middle of the room, unmoving – I barely breathed.  My life had just become surreal, impossible, and one enormous lie.  I needed to go somewhere, anywhere to beat back reality that was rapidly closing in around me.  The image of him was burned into my retina, flashing over and over again like a warning.  He was trapped somewhere between human and decidedly no, and I realized that was my new reality.

I was too.

After the death of her parents, Ruby awakens from a lifetime of shadows and finds herself alone, thrust into a world of lies, deceit, betrayal and the supernatural. 

As her quest for truth continues to come up short, she realizes that maybe some questions really are best left unanswered

When her true identity is finally unveiled, she is forced to choose between two of the mysterious men who continually seem to crop up in her life

She chooses poorly

Now abandoned, Ruby must learn to call on the darkness within to survive, or spend a hellish eternity imprisoned because of it.

I was asked to partake in this wonderful blog tour and after reading that synopsis, how could I say no.  I was immediately intrigued and this novel was no let down!  So thanks for considering me and allowing me a copy for review!  I now have to hunt down the next installment!

I found Caged to be tragically sinister, gruesomely menacing, and deceitfully heart rendering.  This insanely ominous novel hooks you in and its nails dig in deep filled with treachery and romance but then it throws you across the room when reality itself is flipped upside down and filled with the unknown.

Amber Lynn Natusch has taken the modern world and filled to the brim with mysterious supernatural qualities, highly educated individuals, painstaking sedition, all consuming lust, and a touch of insanity mixed altogether for an astonishing and staggering read!  Her descriptions were imaginative, without over doing it and taking away from the story or scene or characters.  The dialogue was sarcastic, humorous, and at times hurtful and angry, but altogether very realistic.    

This is really a hard novel to review without giving to much away, my rule is to not give more than the synopsis- and although that’s the gist of the story…. it doesn’t leave me much room.  The main character is Ruby, and I absolutely adored her!  Ruby is a very independent, sarcastic, sassy, antisocial, artistic, fashionable, and damaged.  She was blind and sheltered her entire life until one tragic incident restored her vision and took her family.  Now on her own with her eyesight she has still got a lot to learn.  Sean was a dream really, the knight in shining armor.  Although he was very mysterious; he also was charming, charismatic, protective, and has sense of goodness.  Eric on the other hand was passionate, electric, outgoing, emotional, and thrilling.  He was the complete opposite of Sean in everything and yet still compelling and alluring.

This is definitely a novel that deserves much more hype than it has received and I would highly recommend to other readers!  Although this is not really a Young Adult book as there is a lot of R rated scenes and language.  The great thing is that there will be four books published on September 24, 2012 and you don’t have to wait for the next installment because I know that I won’t!

Review: The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

Title: The Golden Lily

Author: Richelle Mead

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: June 12, 2012

Genre: YA

Main Themes: Vampires, Alchemists, Magic, Romance, & Secret Societies

Pages: 418

Plot: (From the Dust Jacket)

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist , one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires .  Alchemists protect vampire secrets – and human lives.

Sydney would love to go to college, but instead, she’s been sent into hiding at a posh boarding school in Palm Springs, California- tasked with protecting Moroi Princess Jill Dragomir from assassins who want to throw the Moroi court into civil war.  Formerly in disgrace, Sydney if now praised for her loyalty and obedience, and held up as the model of an exemplary Alchemist.

But the closer she grows to Jill, Eddie, and especially Adrian, the more she finds herself questioning her age-old Alchemist beliefs, her idea of family, and the sense of what it means to truly belong.  Her world becomes even more complicated when magical experiments show Sydney may hold the key to prevent becoming Strigoi- the fiercest vampires, the ones who don’t die.  But it’s her fear of being just that- special, magical, powerful- that scares her the more than anything.  Equally daunting is her new romance with Brayden- a cute, brainy guy who seems to be her match in every way.  Yet, as perfect as he seems, Sydney finds herself being drawn to someone else- someone forbidden to her.

When a shocking secret threatens to tear the vampire world apart, Sydney’s loyalties are suddenly tested more than ever before.  She wonders how she’s supposed to strike a balance between the principles and dogmas she’s been taught, and what her instincts are now telling her.

Should she trust the Alchemists- or her heart?

Bloodlines left me wanting so much more that I could not wait to get my hands on The Golden Lily; and now that I have finished it I can’t wait to read the next installment!  Richelle Mead never lets me down; it’s always a wonderfully exciting and tantalizing read!  The Golden Lily was no exception as I plucked away at the pages, devouring all that was laid before me!  When I finally reached the last sentence and found myself turning the page looking for more but distressingly realizing that was it.

The Golden Lily was deliciously heartrending, magnetically charming, and charismatically fierce!  This book was an emotional rollercoaster that kept me my hands white knuckled and desperately clinging on for the next plunge, twist, & twirl!

As our loved “family” finds themselves in yet another chaotic situation that needs a crazy amount of damage control; Sidney also finds her position and assignment to be even more challenging then she thought.  Sidney is still the same classy and brainy character that she has always been but now we’re starting to see something more… Sidney values are becoming puzzling and she is realizing that she wants more.   Adrian continues to be his usual witty self, with all his tricks up his sleeve and his charms that will keep you in the palm of his hand, nevertheless he left me hurting whenever he felt pain.  But as we all know he may have his vises but he doesn’t give up that easily!  Don’t forget that you will see more of Dimitri and Sonya but I don’t want to give anything away…

Overall this novel was another engrossing and thrilling read that is going to eat at you until you can get your hands on The Indigo Spell!  So don’t read too fast that last scene will leave you breathless and teary eyed!

The Golden Lily Book Trailers

Giveaway!!!! SIGNED copy of Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Today I went to the Richelle Mead signing and launch party for The Golden Lily and it was a lot of fun!  But I don't go to a signing without thinking of all my wonderful followers!!!!  So for you I bought an extra copy of Bloodlines (For those of you who haven't read the series yet) and I got it signed for one really lucky winner of this giveaway!!!!

This giveaway follows all My Hidden Bookshelf's giveaway policies.  Just enter the rafflecopter giveaway form to enter to win!

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Covel Reveal

The Halflings Network recently revealed the covers for Book 2 and 3 of the  Halflings series by Heather Burch, for everyone to share... So I thought I would share them all with you!




Guardian (Book 2)
Expected Publication: October 9, 2012

Vigilance. The mission to safeguard Nikki Youngblood depends on the fragile alliance of two half-angel, half-human guardians, both struggling with intense feelings for the girl who has been assigned to their care. Mace, steadfast and deeply in love, wants to protect Nikki at all costs, while Raven's loyalty to Nikki finds him advocating for her independence and battling his own darker inclinations. At the same time, Nikki finds it harder and harder to choose between the two heavenly beings she may never have. Dangers intensify, and tensions between Mace and Raven flare as the purpose of their mission becomes clear. Can their defenses hold up to master manipulator Damon Vessler and the powerful secret he holds regarding Nikki's heritage? Can anyone protect Nikki from her true purpose and destiny? (From Goodreads)

Avenger (Book 3)

Expected Publication: Febrary 2013

Review: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

Title: City of Lost Souls

Author: Cassandra Clare

Publisher: McElderry Books

Publication Date: May 8, 2012

Genre: YA

Main Themes: Supernatural, Demonology, Romance, Secret Societies, & Magic

Pages: 534

Plot: (From Dust Jacket)

“The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace freed from captivity.  But when Shadowhunters arrive, they find only blood and broken glass.  Not only is the boy Clary loves missing, so is the boy she hates: her brother Sebastian, who is determined to bring shadowhunters to their knees.

The Clave’s magic cannot locate either boy, but Jace can’t stay away from Clary.  When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s magic has wrought-Jace and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace had become a servant of evil.  The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other.

Only a few people believe that Jace can still be saved.  Together, Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle bargain with the sinister Seelie Queen, contemplate deals with demons, and turn at last to the merciless, weapon-making Iron Sisters, who might be able to forge a weapon that can sever a bond between Sebastian and Jace.  If the Iron Sisters can’t help, their only choice is to challenge Heaven and Hell- a risk that could claim their lives.

And they must do it without Clary.  For Clary is playing a dangerous game utterly alone.  The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul.  She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him?  Or is he truly lost?  What price is too high to pay, even for love?”

The City of Lost Souls has landed on the shelves and again Cassandra Clare has blown us away!  After impatiently waiting an entire year, I ran into Barnes and Noble on May 8 to get my copy… along with a few others because May held so many great releases!  I eagerly gobbled it down, every waking minute I had until I reached the last page and was left flabbergasted!

Only Clare can create a tale that continues to wash over you and make you fall even deeper into a series than you though humanly possible!  Every character that you have come to love has some major tribulation that they have to overcome and it is heart wrenching.  This book is action packed and is nonstop as its setting up the final book to be overwhelmingly incredulous!!!!

 As you have gotten to know and care for all the wonderful characters in The Mortal Instruments series, this book gave a new insight to all of them.  As they all band together to form “Team Good” and search to save Jace they all still have their own insecurities that they are working to overcome.  As always Clary looks for trouble and continues to keep herself in dangerous situations.  As she leads the fight to recover the real Jace you see so many sides of her and she still remains as a force to reckon with!  Then there’s Isabelle and she still the strong and hardheaded girl she has always been but you get to see a sensitive and vulnerable side that makes you feel for her.  Of course Simon is always the selfless nice guy and always goes out his way to help out his best friend but it this part of the tale I wondered if he had his head under a rock…  You got a lot more insight into the relationship of Alec and Magnus, and let’s just say there were many times I wanted to scream at Alec for his decisions!  Of course we all can’t forget Jace; I was disappointed that I didn’t see the normal Jace.  I know, I know, it was made very clear at the end of book four that we weren’t going to have the regular Jace.  But I missed the normal Jaceyness that he always brought to the table!

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed City of Lost Souls, and I really I’m not looking forward for another LONG wait for the final installment (that won’t be released until late next year)!!!!   But until then I will have to get my shadowhunter fill with the Clockwork Prince that will be coming out at the end of the year!  If you are a fan of the series you need to catch up because it really was a perilously enchanting read that will blow your mind! 

Book Trailer

GIVEAWAY!!! Signed Copy of Goddess Interrupted

Hello my beautiful followers!  First off I would like to apologize for being off my blog for the past month... I'm so sorry!  I just bought a house and have given every waking moment to fixing it and making it livable.  Between that and having to earn my living, well let's just say that it has been an exhausting month.  I've also been without internet for a month... it was horrible!  I can live without TV but without internet....

Okay now to celebrate making my comeback and to apologize to all of you... I did make time to go to Aimee Carter's signing in Ann Arbor.  So for all of you, I got a signed copy of Goddess Interrupted!!!!  This giveaway follows all of my giveaway policies, to enter fill out the rafflecopter giveaway form!

For my review- Click Here

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