Top Ten Tuesday #63

Top Ten Tuesday is a bookish meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's topic is: 

halloween freebie

Like the hosts, I've decided to go with creepy covers as well. I'll also throw in a few creepy reads if I can. So here's my list:

PLEASE TELL ME YOU AGREE WITH ME WHEN I SAY THIS: WHEN THERE'S A FEMALE FACE ON THE COVER WITH EYES WIDE OPEN, IT FREAKS ME OUT! I almost feel like if I stare at the eyes long enough, they'll blink or something. And if the eyes are closed, I feel like they will open or something. Ugh! Which is why, I cannot stare at these covers long enough, pretty as they are. Please assure me that I'm not the only one who finds this creepy! 

 

 

 

Not necessarily in a horror or negative way, but some books that have that creepy feel to it and gave me chills while reading, are: 

 

And finally, just because the theme is Halloween, here are two scary books that are awesome as well: 

 

Don't forget to link me up to your post in the comments below, so I can see your list. Thank you so much for stopping by, and happy reading! 

Review- The Many Lives of Ruby Iyer by Laxmi Hariharan

Goodreads Summary:

When her best friend is kidnapped, Ruby will stop at nothing to rescue him. 

Criminals run the streets of Bombay. Jam-packed with the worst degenerates. The city is a shell of the pride and joy it used to be. 

Ruby knows something must be done, but it isn’t until her best friend is kidnapped by the despotic Dr. Braganza that she knows that she and she alone must save city, save her best friend, save the world from total destruction. 

Armed only with with Vikram, a cop-turned-rogue they are about to embark on a road they may never return from. 

If you’re looking for fast-paced books like Hunger Games or dystopia fiction like Angelfall, the Ruby Iyer series is perfect for you. 

Ruby Iyer series: 

Ruby Iyer Diaries (Ruby Iyer Series #0.0 Companion novelette to The Many Lives of Ruby Iyer (Ruby Iyer #0.5)

REVIEW:

What I enjoyed most about The Many Lives of Ruby Iyer is the fact that the book centres around a kickass female protagonist. Although difficult to relate to and immature at times, Ruby Iyer was definitely a fresh change from the typical damsels in distress. Getting into her head got on my nerves sometimes, but it was amusing to read from her point of view. She and her love interest, Vikram Roy made for a very cool and new age couple, which was awesome. 

While I wasn't a 100% into the story as it didn't keep me as gripped and interested as I would have liked, it was still really good to imagine the city of dreams collapse and go from being hero to zero. Bombay was really well portrayed by author Laxmi Hariharan, who made it easy even for a person like me who isn't a frequent Bombay visitor, to imagine everything perfectly. Also, I found it so hard to even think of the same happening in reality because even though I am not the biggest fan of the city, even I know that Bombay is Bombay. 

Another really impressive part was the subtle combination of dystopian and fantasy that Laxmi nailed. It was fascinating on the one hand, to read the slight mythological references and on the other hand, the very futuristic aspirations that the villain, Dr. Braganza has for Bombay. I'm not sure if that was the intention of the author, but the two aspects stood out and made for a good combination. 

All the other characters were very well done as well. It's still confusing for me as to exactly where the story is headed and what the villain really wants, but I sure as hell am curious to know more. I just hope I get all the answers in the next instalment and the other books to come in the series. Overall, The Many Lives of Ruby Iyer was an enjoyable read that I would definitely recommend to fans of dystopian who want something different in the genre. 

*A copy of The Many Lives by Laxmi Iyer was provided by the author and Read Out Loud in exchange for an honest review. We thank them for the book. 

RATING: 

Feature Follow Friday #67

Feature and Follow is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read.

This week's question is:  If you could re write a book which one would it be and what changes would you make? via Go Book Yourself

My answer: I would either save Fred or kill George as well. Because it's Fred and George. Together. Always. 

Link me up to your posts in the comments below, so I can stop by and read your answers. Happy Friday, and happy reading, everyone! 

Review- Concentr8 by William Sutcliffe

Summary-

In a future London, Concentr8 is a prescription drug intended to help kids with ADD. Soon every troubled teen is on it. It makes sense, doesn't it? Keep the undesirable elements in line. Keep people like us safe from people like them. What's good for society is good for everyone. Troy, Femi, Lee, Karen and Blaze have been taking Concentr8 as long as they can remember. They're not exactly a gang, but Blaze is their leader, and Troy has always been his quiet, watchful sidekick - the only one Blaze really trusts. They're not looking for trouble, but one hot summer day, when riots break out across the city, they find it. What makes five kids pick a man seemingly at random - a nobody, he works in the housing department, doesn't even have a good phone - hold a knife to his side, take him to a warehouse and chain him to a radiator? They've got a hostage, but don't really know what they want, or why they've done it. And across the course of five tense days, with a journalist, a floppy-haired mayor, a police negotiator, and the sinister face of the pharmaceutical industry, they - and we - begin to understand why ...This is a book about what how we label children. It's about how kids get lost and failed by the system. It's about how politicians manipulate them.

Review-

Concentr8 by William Sutcliffe looked like an interesting read when I first got it. Concentr8 is a book about a bunch of kids who have ADD and are on a drug called as Concentr8 which seems to be doing more harm than good. The kids decide to kidnap a person and so the story goes over the course of 5 days. I couldn't relate to a single person in the book and that is why I didn't enjoy the book.

The book goes on from several different perspectives, the kids, the journalist, the mayor, the hostage. To make the book more authentic the kids' perspective is written in wrong English or I guess how you would expect a kid to think with ADD. There were no punctuations at all and the grammar was a mess. I get that it was done on purpose but I found myself getting distracted and paying attention to the grammatical details instead of the book itself.

Troy, Femi, Lee, Karen and Blaze had unique personalities and it was not difficult to differentiate between them. But again, and this may be my problem alone, there wasn't much of a dialogue or reason behind the actions. I got bored of reading pages full of paragraphs. It just couldn't hold my interest and I had to force myself to finish the book.

In the beginning of each chapter we get a paragraph which has extracts from various books regarding ADHD, how pills are doing more harm than good etc. It was really weird and sad and very creepy if children are actually being given drugs just to behave more obediently. The book is more like a documentary than anything.

I won't say the book is bad if you are interested in the subject matter and want to get the children's point of view where ADHD and such drugs are concerned. I on the other hand just felt like the book wasn't for me as I didn't enjoy myself while reading it nor could I immerse myself in the world. Concentr8 was an average read for me.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by Bloomsbury India in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

Cover Reveal- Aced by Jennifer Lane

ACED (Blocked #2) Cover Reveal

Title:  Aced

Series:  Blocked #2

Author:  Jennifer Lane

Genre:  New Adult Sports Romance

Cover Design:  Coreen Montagna (coreenm@gmail.com)

Release Date:  December 2, 2015

Blurb:

Volleyball wonder Lucia Ramirez found her love match in Blocked despite the glaring political spotlight aimed on her family. In Aced, the second book in Jennifer Lane’s Blocked series, it could be her brother Alejandro’s turn to get lucky in love.

Medical student Alejandro’s hot Latin looks get him plenty of attention, but his deep faith and admiration for his father keep him on a righteous path, with no time for something as frivolous as love. He strives to do the right thing—study diligently, take care of his siblings, represent the family well—so why does he feel so unfulfilled?

Enter Lucia’s friend and teammate Maddie Brooks, who shines at blocking the ball and acing the serve. Too bad this graduating senior isn’t so confident about her life off the court. Her longtime boyfriend has just bailed on her, and med school applications loom large. Oh, and a nerve-wracking tryout for Team USA also approaches.

Maddie meets Alejandro when he visits Lucia at school, and she’s soon drawn to his sharp mind. Alejandro is similarly intrigued by Maddie’s talent and strength. But will personal biases and family politics smother the slow burn of their attraction? Unless Maddie can learn to believe in herself, and Alejandro can become his own man, their kindling romance hardly stands a chance.

Will either of them be bold enough to try something new? Find out in this emotion-rich story that refuses to shy away from life’s hardest questions. Because love is worth the risk.

ADD TO GOODREADS

Book one BLOCKED on SALE for a limited time!

Excerpt from Aced:

I’d only seen Alejandro on TV, but his presence seemed magnified in real life. He was Jaylon’s height but probably weighed thirty pounds less. He moved like a panther, sleek and long in a black suit “dressed down” with no tie. His short black hair shone in the arena lights, and he appeared freshly shaven. Hot damn! He sure looked more suave than any college boy I’d encountered. Was that the typical dress for medical school at Johns Hopkins? Probably not. Something told me Alex did things his own way.

As Alejandro approached, Lucia stood to hug him, shaking her head. “Hey, what’re you doing here? You didn’t tell me you were coming.”

He smiled. “Could we go somewhere to talk?”

She glanced at me. “I don’t want to leave Maddie. I dragged her here, so it’d be rude to abandon her.”

“So this is the famous Maddie.” When Alejandro reached across to shake my hand, his dark eyes burned into me. “I’ve seen you play, but it’s good to finally meet. I’ve heard great things about you.” His handshake was firm, but his hand was soft and warm, zinging a surprising thrill right through me. I realized that for at least a few moments, I hadn’t thought about Jaylon. Alejandro let go all too quickly.

His expression sobered as he looked back at Lucia. “I want to talk to you about something in private.”

She folded her arms across her chest as they both sat. “I already said no, thank you. I can’t right now.”

He frowned and squared his shoulders. Then he leaned in to Lucia’s ear and spoke to her in Spanish. She bristled next to me.

“How dare you?” she hissed.

I leaned back. What had just changed my sweet Rez into a pissy hellcat?

Sign up for ACED Review Tour HERE.

Author Bio:

Get psyched for romance with psychologist/author (psycho author) Jennifer Lane! By day she’s a therapist, and by night she’s a writer. She can’t decide which is more fun.

Jen adores creating sporty heroines and hot heroes in her college sport romances. Volleyball wonder Lucia Ramirez found her love match in Blocked despite the glaring political spotlight aimed on her family. In Aced, the second book in the Blocked series, it’s her brother Alejandro’s turn to get lucky in love. Aced launches in December 2015.

A swimmer and volleyball player in college, Jen writes swimming-based romances as well: Streamline, a military mystery, and the free New Adult novellaSwim Recruit.

Stories of redemption interest Jen the most, especially the healing power of love. She is also the author of TheConduct Series, a romantic-suspense trilogy that includes With Good Behavior, Bad Behavior, and On Best Behavior.

Ultimately, whether writing or reading, Jen loves stories that make her laugh and cry. In her spare time she enjoys exercising, attending book club, and visiting her sisters in Chicago and Hilton Head.

Author Links:

WEBSITE / NEWSLETTER / AMAZON / FACEBOOK / TWITTER / PINTEREST / INSTAGRAM

Other Books by Jen:

Blocked New Adult Volleyball Romance...Top Seller in Volleyball Books

Streamline New Adult Swimming Romance

Swim Recruit New Adult Novella (free!)

With Good Behavior (The Conduct Series #1) Romantic Suspense

Bad Behavior (The Conduct Series #2) Romantic Suspense

On Best Behavior (The Conduct Series #3) Romantic Suspense

The Conduct Series Box Set

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I am super excited for Aced as I really liked Blocked, so I cannot wait to see what Jen has in store for us next. Plus, hot guy on the cover is already a huge tick. *winks*

Thank you so much for stopping by, and happy reading! 

Waiting on Wednesday #140

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. 

Cold-Hearted Rake by Lisa Kleypas

Publication Date: October 27th, 2015

Summary-

A twist of fate...

Devon Ravenel, London's most wickedly charming rake, has just inherited an earldom. But his powerful new rank in society comes with unwanted responsibilities . . . and more than a few surprises. His estate is saddled with debt, and the late earl's three innocent sisters are still occupying the house . . . along with Kathleen, Lady Trenear, a beautiful young widow whose sharp wit and determination are a match for Devon's own.

A clash of wills...

Kathleen knows better than to trust a ruthless scoundrel like Devon. But the fiery attraction between them is impossible to deny—and from the first moment Devon holds her in his arms, he vows to do whatever it takes to possess her. As Kathleen finds herself yielding to his skillfully erotic seduction, only one question remains:

Can she keep from surrendering her heart to the most dangerous man she's ever known?

I am super excited for a new book by Lisa Kleypas!

What are you waiting on? :)

Book/ Blog Tour- Metro Diaries by Namrata

Metro Diaries 

by 

Namrata 

The Blurb:

Love is one of the most amazing feelings on this earth, one that makes you the most powerful person or the most helpless person in a split second. These stories capture those feelings of despair, longing, love, lust, desire, want, dejection and admiration to create deja vu. Hold onto your hearts as you flip through these pages and take a walk down the memory lane, as "metro diaries" will revive your innermost feelings and imbibe in you the magic of love. Touching, amusing and deeply moving, metro diaries - love classics are tales that will hold you from start till end. 

Buy @ AMAZON (IN) 

Meet the Author:

Namrata is a prolific blogger known by the name Privy Trifles in the blogosphere who romances life through her writings and aspires to make love the universal language. She dons various hats between that of a contributing author to 8 anthologies a reviewer for leading publishing houses an editor to various books and a columnist. Apart from that she is also the editor for an online magazine called Writer's Ezine. Having mastered the nuances of finance till recently she also held the title of an investment banker closely to let it go to embrace her love for writing fully.

You can follow her @                

Check out The Book Club Tour Schedule 

This Tour is Hosted by 

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I'm so happy to have been part of this, and helped out my fellow blogger and friend Namrata with her book! I wish her all the love and success. 

Thank you for stopping by, and happy reading!