Review: The Garden of Eden By L.L. Hunter

 The Garden of Eden
Author: L.L. Hunter
Released: August 30 2012
Purchased from Amazon

(This book is book one of a novella spin-off of The Chronicles of Fire and Ice)

Eden Daylesford is a sixteen year old Nephilim girl stuck smack bang in the middle of a war between angels and demons. And the bad thing is that she shares both of their blood. When her mother takes her to the Michaelite Sanctuary in London to try to get rid of the deadly trait that has started to appear – one that hasn’t been seen in a long time – it could stop Eden from forming any sort of relationship with anyone, including the tempting Asher. Eden has no idea just how powerful she is…

Will she learn to embrace her new ability and accept her new role, or go back to her old life of an ordinary human teenager?

Will she be tempted?

The enticing first book in the spin off novella series to The Legend of the Archangel. Set after events in The Chronicles of Fire and Ice.

I don't do recaps because the way I look at it, that's what the blurb is for. :)

So here are my thoughts:

I didn't know anything about this series before picking this book up. I chose to read it because the author is super nice and the cover is pretty--yes, I'm totally guilty of judging a book by it's cover.

I didn't realize that it is not only a novella (it's pretty decent size for a novella by the way--156 pages) but it is also a spin-off of another series. However, I didn't feel like I "missed" anything so I think it can definitely be read alone but after reading it, I'm intrigued to read other books in this world!

This is great Young Adult Fantasy!

 

Finally finishing books!

After an entire summer of not reading anything I've finally started reading again.  I mean, I've started so many books, but it was a tough summer for me.  My dad was seriously ill, I was flying and driving back and forth across the country helping my mom move and my dad passed away a couple weeks ago. So I had a lot on my plate!
So what was my first book after a long slump? In The Shadows by Erica Cope!!! I kind of feel like I was just waiting for it.  I knew she was almost done with it and it would have a fall release so I just gave up on everything else and held out for it.  And let me tell you, it as worth the wait!! I loved it so much.  I don't usually like second books, they tend to be boring, but In the Shadows was awesome! Eek! I can't wait for the third book to come out.
Then I read Divergent.  I know, I know, I'm a little late getting into it, but I loved it!  I loved the story and the characters and the dynamic between Tris and Tobias.  I'm about to start Insurgent.  I read some reviews and it seems that some people didn't like it.  They thought it was unbelievable as a story line and compared it to The Hunger Games.  I mean, it's distopian, and a book, and the author can build her world how ever she wants.  I found it extremely interesting.  Would the Chicago ever end up with five factions like that? Who knows.  Will the world ever end up like the Hunger Games, probably not.  But don't we read books to escape our own world for a bit?
And it's not only paranormal/distopian stories that I sometimes fine unbelievable, there are plenty of real life stories I have a hard time believing.  Like for real, who would ever fall in love with Rush Finley? Sure he's good looking, but he's a flake and can't make up his mind.  I for one wouldn't stick around to find out if he decided to be with me or his sister.

Anyway, off my rant box.  I loved Divergent and can't wait to start the next book.  I decided to pick up Finding Cinderella by Colleen Hoover because it was free.  So far its good and kind of predictable.  We'll see if Colleen throws a twist in there somewhere.  Its a novella so there isn't much room for too much drama.

This weekend Komal, Erica, and I are attending the Indie Author Mash Up in Springdale Arkansas, hosted by This Redhead Loves Books.  I can't tell you how much I"m looking forward to this event. It's my first time at something like this.  I can't wait to meet all the authors and other book lovers like me!

Look for a blog next week telling you all about it!

Indie Author Mash-Up

What the heck is an Indie Author Mash-Up you ask?  

Well I'll tell you!  Tiffany Tillman of This Redhead Loves Books, is hosting a huge event in Springdale Arkansas where you (the reader) can get up close and personal with some of your favorite authors! How awesome is that?  I know I love reading and I take book and author recommendations very seriously, so when I heard about this event, I knew I had to go. 


So what is an Indie Author? 

Great question! An Indie Author is one who self publishes, does his or her own advertising and relies heavily on word of mouth and social media as a way get their books out there.  I have a special place in my heart of Indie Authors.  They work hard at what they do and are some of the nicest people I've ever met. I know several personally, and I'm definitely looking forward to meeting so many more at the Mash-Up.
Hey Heather, how do I sign up for this and get in some awesome Indie Author action? 
Head over to Facebook and join the event!
https://www.facebook.com/events/588778474497692/
Then you can go here to buy your tickets:
http://www.indieauthorevent.com/

Hotel costs are extra, but I believe a light lunch/snacks will be provided at the event (from 10am-4pm on Saturday October 26th). And if you choose to attend the after party, dinner will be served! And you get to party all night with the authors, muses, and models! Yay!  So I'll be there representing A Dash of YA.  Komal and Erica will be there representing themselves as authors and Michelle will be a ninja in my phone participating all the way from New York! 

So go get your tickets now!  Now!

Oh yeah, also! Proceeds from this even will benefit Haley's Second Chance. You can learn more about this cause here: https://www.facebook.com/events/751999794814308/

Yay Avery's Designs! Design giveaway!

A dear book buddy of mine is promoting the fact that she is now stating a design service. I posted this on my personal site on the 17th, but i felt one more time couldn't hurt! 

See below!

Avery's Designs, a design service run by fellow blogger Avery of Avery's Book Nook (and whose goal is to make blog design easy and affordable- with blog packages, including a header, button, and avatar, for $25), is having is having a grand opening celebration and you are invited! Enter to win one of two complete blog makeovers (including winner's choice of her premade designs and installation of said design- $35 in value)! 

This is the perfect opportunity for those who have always wanted to start a blog, but have yet to do so, or for those seasoned bloggers who feel like their blog could use a facelift! Make your blog stand out with her one-of-a-kind, professional designs!

I don't know about you - but I am illiterate when it comes to sprucing up my blog - I am in fact hoping to win the prize for hosting this to spruce mine up - so join the giveaway! Let me know if you need anything!!!

Congrats Avery!!!! So proud!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Reading Slump

Oh Geez, has this one been bad! Nothing is keeping my attention.  I didn't read anything on my summer list and I have a laundry list of half read books on my Kindle. In my defense, I had a busy summer full of travel back and forth from Virginia and trips up to visit my Dad (his not well :( ).  I've also been busy with school work and recently discovered Pretty Little Liars. I watched the whole series (well, what was on Netflix and Hulu) in one week while the husband was gone.  Yeah, I know, I could have read, but I didn't! I lounged around and watched TV for a whole week!
So anyway.  Erica Cope and Komal Kant have books coming out soon so I'm hoping they get me out of my slump.  They did last time so I have high hopes :).  No pressure or anything.

So this is just a short sweet post about nothing in particular, but I haven't blogged here in a while so I thought I'd say something.

OH YEAH! I'm going to the Indie Author Mash-Up in Arkansas next month! You should come too and hang out with me.  The only people I know who are going are authors and they'll be busy at their tables signing stuff and I'll be wondering around aimlessly finding cool people to hang out with...So hang out with me!
Here's the link :)
https://www.facebook.com/events/588778474497692/

Love you all!

Thoughts on Writing

Since I'm still reading The Mortal Instruments therefore I don't have any reviews to share with you, I decided to blog about something different today. Another passion of mine: Writing.

Sometimes my brain is so flooded with random stories that I think have some serious potential so I start writing them only to discover that I'm about 100 pages short of a full length novel and not really sure where to go from here.
 
That is how I feel right now about one of my WIPs so I've just left it be. I printed it off, hole-punched it and placed each page neatly in a black binder and let it sit there on my desk, just waiting for me to feel inspired to finish it.

Does this happen to any of you writers out there?

I really love these characters I've written so I don't want to forget them but I don't know how to tell their story either. It's a frustrating place to be.

Well, yesterday while chatting with Komal about my real-life love story (seriously folks, for those of you who think that "insta-love" doesn't really exist, let's chat. I'll tell you the story of how I met my  husband), the wheels started turning in my head and suddenly a new idea started brewing.

I started outlining chapters and brainstorming plot twists and imagining conversations.

Little by little these new characters started to emerge....

I remembered a blog by one of my favorites writers, Amanda Hocking, where she talked about how she had an idea for a series but it wasn't working. However, she liked certain parts of it so she used those parts in a different series. I don't know why that memory chose to resurface yesterday but it did and I was like DUH--I can do that too!

So that's what I'm doing. Taking bits from stories that I've written that I love and piecing them together into something new that I hope other people will enjoy reading.

It's in the works people. 

And in the meantime, In the Shadows (Lark #2) releases in two weeks--OCT 1st! 

Yes, I just shamelessly plugged my own book. I only feel slightly guilty about doing that. :)
 

 

What I'm reading (or should I say what I'm STILL reading?)

Yep, still working on The  Mortal Instruments City of Bones. It's soooo good, but I'm just seriously lacking in free time lately. After I publish In the Shadows I'm going to take two weeks off and catch up on as much reading as I can possibly squeeze into those two weeks before starting my next project. So if you have any recommendations, leave them in the comments!
On my list for sure is to finish TMI, then  Origin by JLA,and of course  Sometimes it Lasts by Abbi Glines.
I ALWAYS read their books because they are amazing and I love them.
I'm also planning on reading Wrong Side of Town by Komal Kant but I'll probably be doing that BEFORE my own release date, (right, Komal???).

Speaking of that, today is KOMAL's BIRTHDAY! So go give her some Birthday Love on her page!
Then come back and tell me which recent releases I must read once I get a chance!