Monday, December 29, 2014

Happy Holidays from Spiced Latte!


I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I really hope that this season will bring joy & happiness and all your dreams come true.

2014 has truly been something incredible and I still can't believe how fast it went by. So many different books read, so many new people met.. I am thankful for every single reader that stopped by the blog  & took their time to read my reviews. I definitely stepped up my game in reading this year and even though I kind of suck in documenting my stats, Goodreads done a great job in doing that.

Wooooo! 175 books out of my 150 goal that I wanted to reach. I'm beyond happy about that. Looks like I really have been focusing on ARCs this year which I am glad because I really appreciate all the books that are being sent to me. 

goals & vision for 2015


  • Get more personal - more details about my life & whereabouts
  • Quality posts
  • Better sense of bookish community
  • Commenting back & engaging with others
  • Bookish best friends please!
This that's it for now. Oh & if anyone wants to be my pen pal, I'm accepting applications hehe Hope everyone has great holidays & Happy New Year! Hope it will be a good one! :)

Monday, December 22, 2014

[NERD BLAST GIVEAWAY!!!] Where the Silence Gathers by Kelsey Sutton


Where the Silence Gathers
by 

In this companion novel to the critically acclaimed Some Quiet Place, Alex must choose between Revenge and Forgiveness.

For as long as she can remember, Alexandra Tate has been able to see personified Emotions, and she's found a best friend in Revenge. He's her constant companion as she waits outside Nate Foster's house, clutching a gun. Every night since Nate's release from prison, Alex has tried to work up the courage to exact her own justice on him for the drunk driving accident that killed her family.

But there's one problem: Forgiveness. When he appears, Alex is faced with a choice—moving on or getting even. It's impossible to decide with Forgiveness whispering in one ear . . . and Revenge whispering in the other.




ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Kelsey Sutton has done everything from training dogs and making cheeseburgers to selling yellow page ads and cleaning hotel rooms. She lives in northern Minnesota and received a BA in English from Bemidji State University. When Kelsey is not writing or trying out a new career, she can be found in the park with her dogs, ordering a coconut mocha at the local coffee shop, or browsing a bookstore.

  
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Wednesday, December 17, 2014

[Release Blitz + Giveaway] Bold Tricks by Karina Halle


Picture

Bold Tricks (The Artists Trilogy, #3)Bold Tricks
by 

The Faster They Live, the Harder They Fall . . .Raised by con artists, Ellie Watt has a lot of crazy childhood memories-but none crazier than being scarred with acid by the demented crime boss Travis Raines. Now Ellie is a full-grown woman who lives for revenge, and Travis is a full-blown drug lord who kills for pleasure. The sadistic bastard has kidnapped her good friend Gus as well as her mother, whom he's been holding as prized possessions in his heavily guarded lair. And Ellie has only one chance in hell of getting them out alive-using two dangerous men who love her to death . . .

One is Camden McQueen, a talented tattoo artist who's made a permanent mark on Ellie's heart. The other is Javier Bernal, her fiery ex-lover who's busted more than a few heads in his time. From the crime-ridden streets of Mexico City to the predatory jungles of Honduras, this unlikely trio forms an uneasy alliance in the deadliest game of all-a gun-blazing battle to the finish that will pit enemy against enemy and lover against lover. And Ellie must choose the right man to trust . . . or die.


excerpt

The motel room was a lot nicer than the one we stayed at before. Sort of a Best Western, middle-ground quality of place. No roaches on the floors, no geckos on the wall. Shit mattresses, I discovered as I pounded my fist on the bed, but I didn’t care.

Camden had just put the final box on my bed, Violetta sprawled out on hers in a state of drug-induced euphoria, when I noticed Javier lingering at the doorway.

“I’m going to be meeting Dom in about twenty minutes,” Javier said to me. “Is that enough time for you to get ready?”

I frowned and he quickly added, “You know he’ll want you there, if this is going to get anywhere. I figured you might want to shower and look nice.”

He rapped his fingers along the doorframe, his mouth opening as if to say something else, then he turned and walked off.

Camden eyed me. “I’m going with you.”

“You might be kind of drunk, Camden,” I told him, though the determination in his voice warmed me like the finest cognac.

“I’ve never felt better,” he said, enunciating each word. His eyes, my god they were still such a clear fucking blue, even in the pallid light of the hotel room. They bore into me with such startling clarity, sending shivers down my back like trailing fingertips. He would be coming with me.

I wished he’d be coming in me. A vision of us in this hotel room, alone, him nailing me to the bed, the headboard banging, slammed into my head.

“Are you okay with that?” he asked.

I suppressed the thought, the flare of heat between my legs, and smiled quickly. “Yes, of course.”

Meanwhile Violetta’s head flopped to the side, her arm still bound to her stiffly in the sling, and started snoring lightly. I motioned to her. “Do you think it’s safe to leave her here?”

He watched her for a few moments, blinking a few times, before saying, “I think she needs to sleep it off.” He went and sat down on my bed. “I’ll be here when you get out.”

I grabbed my bag of clothes I had brought out of the car and brought it into the bathroom. I had a quick shower, trying to rub off all the grim – both real and imagined – with the flimsy hotel soap, then picked through my clothes. Everything that had been in my trunk was musty and wrinkled, some even dirty. I had a packet of unopened (and decidedly unsexy) Hanes underwear, a bra, another pair of jeans, a pair of gladiator sandals that I thought were dressy enough, a pair of Timberland hiking boots, a plain white tee shirt, a couple of wife-beaters, a coral-colored blouse, a plaid shirt, and a light blue tank dress that went to the ground. I wasn’t exactly known for my fashion sense and even with the cherry blossoms covering the scars on my leg, bringing me beauty that I didn’t have before, I didn’t see myself branching out anytime soon. Dressing up in my old clothes for Javier hadn’t exactly helped either.

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[Novella Review + Giveaway] The Boyfriend Backtrack by Dawn Lanuza

The Boyfriend BacktrackThe Boyfriend Backtrack
by Dawn Lanuza
If they say that life flashes right before your eyes when you die, do you also get a flashback of your exes when your perfect boyfriend is proposing to you? 

At least that's the case for Regina Cortez. There's her dramatic high school boyfriend, her first college crush, the irresistible heart breaker, and the ever elusive one. 

By backtracking to her past, will Regina make it to 'I Do'? Or will she just keep running away?



I'm a big fan of novellas that actually make sense. & I don't mean just the story but it takes a lot of talent to put together a short story that will grasp reader's attention within such a short period of time and make them love you. 

Fortunately, that is exactly what Dawn Lanuza did. Her writing style is light, funny, and I felt very connected with the main character, Regina. When her boyfriend proposed to her, she got a flashback of every single boyfriend she had and now has to deal with her friends trying to "put all the loose ends together". The main question is if she's actually ready to marry Kevin or keep running away like she always does. 

My final thought? Loved it! Characters and the story was very genuine and felt a lot more like a good story for the holiday season even though it wasn't placed during that time. But it did made me feel cozy hehe

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Thursday, December 11, 2014

[$50 Book Blast Giveaway] Tears for a World by Alexander Fernandez

Tears for a worldTear for a World by Alexander Fernandez
The holy artifact bonded around Marisylia Malludar’s neck gives her incredible physical and magical powers—at a price. The bloody piece of vein is consuming Marisylia’s body inch by inch, her skeletal hands and feet only the beginning of a slow death. A cruel sorceress and her assassins are on the hunt for Marisylia to steal the artifact. Religious fanatics, volatile and unstable in their blind faith, also seek her to exploit the vein’s most dangerous purpose—liberating the erratic Creator of the World, Lysielle, from her 1,000 year incarceration. With the vein the key to Lysielle’s freedom, Marisylia must use her abilities to survive long enough to find Lysielle first. Then her most grim challenge awaits—deciding if the Creator has truly repented for attempting to destroy all life. To achieve global peace, Marisylia must discover faith in the unpredictable Lysielle or rely on her own instincts to set the world’s fate.
Excerpt:
Marisylia blinked and rubbed milk out of her eyes, but the mob wasn’t finished. A stiff hand shoved her from behind and she stumbled against the table. Unfinished slices of pie and rolls of bread pelted her.
With nowhere to hide, she dove into the horde and tried to shove her way out. Most of the people only yelled insults as they let her pass. Others bumped her roughly with their shoulders, tried to trip her, or pushed her around so she bounced back and forth between pairs of hands.
One woman caught Marisylia and carefully steadied her. She peered into the woman’s eyes, one friendly person amid the riled swarm. The lady smiled softly, then suddenly spit into Marisylia’s face.
When the saliva splattered her cheek, Marisylia stopped caring why the citizens acted like this. Whether due to fear of the religious power, worry that it would infest Three Fingers, or simply senseless anger, none of it mattered anymore since the time to quit had arrived.
All of her determination to succeed had been ripped to shreds by the crowd. Each hand that shoved, every object that struck, drained her enthusiasm. Her devotion to the religion had drowned in the woman’s spit. It was all too much. Marisylia didn’t have Milick’s iron skin or Shri Lilyn’s boldness. She had nothing, only the desire to run away and forget everything.
Praise:
“This is a fantastic story, and the various characters will blow you away. It’s one of the best reads I’ve had in a long while.” ~ Author Trana M. Simmons
AlexAuthor Alexander Fernandez
Alexander Fernandez was born in Santa Monica, CA and grew up in Rancho Cucamonga. Currently serving over 20 years in the United States Air Force, he lives with his wife Helem in Rocklin, CA.
Alex has been writing fantasy stories since early childhood for both school and for pleasure. He hopes to make a lasting emotional impact in his readers. He thrives in the exhilaration of creating memorable characters and adventures that become a part of the reader’s life.
50_Amazon_PaypalBook Blast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/31/14
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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Tuesday, December 9, 2014

[Book Review] This Beautiful World by Elisabeth Jackson

This Beautiful WorldThis Beautiful World
by 
She came home to the chilling mystery that had haunted her since childhood and found the one romance she always regretted not having...

As children, RaeAnne and her sidekick King were held captive after they discovered the body of a boy their age in a crate of apples in their small town's peculiar orchard. Now RaeAnne is grown and the mother of a troubled young daughter. After her mother is killed in an accident, she travels home to her father with her daughter. 

But RaeAnne finds that she is not welcomed by everyone, and frightening incidents start to happen involving her and her family. As RaeAnne unravels the mysteries of her childhood, including what happened to her older brother, who vanished on the same night RaeAnne and King found terror in the orchard, she reunites with King.



With great family dynamic and vibe overall, I couldn't get my thoughts straight after reading This Beautiful World. I loved ReaAnne and sympathized with her and her horrible past that she had to live through. She was very strong and I loved that she was so caring and open to new feelings after experiencing what she experienced. 

When Rea and King face some unexpected events, they would have to go through bricks to try and make their future better. Although to do that they would have to figure out the past and present first. 

Final thought? Definitely a great read for anyone who enjoys mystery with a slight flare of romance. Although the book started out kind of slow, it continued to grasp my attention the whole way through. 


Elisabeth JacksonElisabeth Jackson loves the outdoors and dogs, rescued dogs in particular. 

This Beautiful World is her debut novel and blends haunting childhood secrets, romantic themes, second chances, and a mystery in a small town setting. 

When she is not writing small town Romances and Mysteries, she works as a freelance business writer. Her characters are inspired by the rural towns she has visited and lived in.

Monday, December 8, 2014

[Book Review] Captive by Aimee Carter

Captive (The Blackcoat Rebellion, #2)Captive
by 
For the past two months, Kitty Doe's life has been a lie. Forced to impersonate the Prime Minister's niece, her frustration grows as her trust in her fake fiancé cracks, her real boyfriend is forbidden and the Blackcoats keep her in the dark more than ever. 

But in the midst of discovering that her role in the Hart family may not be as coincidental as she thought, she's accused of treason and is forced to face her greatest fear: Elsewhere. A prison where no one can escape. 

As one shocking revelation leads to the next, Kitty learns the hard way that she can trust no one, not even the people she thought were on her side. With her back against the wall, Kitty wants to believe she'll do whatever it takes to support the rebellion she believes in—but is she prepared to pay the ultimate price?



If you had something to tie you back to your old life, would you keep it or destroy it?

Captive is a very worthy sequel to the first book Pawn. I really appreciate when book titles actually make sense and in this situation it definitely does. And I love it. 

Something else I loved? Change of scenery. 

Kitty is fed up with Knox having to treat her like she is a nobody and wants to live her own life with Benjy. When she decides to leave with him forever, she gets caught and after a serious of events, ends up in Elsewhere. It was mentioned in the first book that Elsewhere is not what everyone thinks it is. Whether you are a hardcore criminal or just stole piece of bread to feed your family, you live forever. And whoever is born there, stays there forever. Being able to survive in Elsewhere takes a lot of effort and skills and for Kitty, her face being Masked as Lily Hart definitely helps the situation. 

Once in Elsewhere, the book picked up its pace. It was different and I loved it. The brutal details of Elsewhere and how everyone was treated there were incredible and I found myself flipping the pages nonstop. 

Final thought? Incredible follow up, I cannot wait until the next book comes out! Captive made me question the characters and not really know who is what side.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

[$50 Gift Card Giveaway] Epic: Fourteen Books Of Fantasy

EPIC CoverEpic: Fourteen Books Of Fantasy
For a limited time only!
The freshest voices in fantasy bring you fifteen New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestselling authors. With fourteen stories and over one million words of captivating fiction, this epic fantasy set will keep you entranced.
Delve into worlds where adventurers discover forgotten lands of wonder and fight ancient evil. Worlds where dragons soar, where heroes and heroines wield sword and magic to answer adventure’s call.
Get one of the largest bundles of page-turning epic fantasy today…before it’s gone!
Pre-order your copy NOW!
EPIC

Terah Edun – Blades Of Magic 
As an unstoppable war breaks out, a young girl enlists to find out the secrets that everyone is trying to hide. 

Daniel Arenson – A Legacy of Light 
War rages in Requiem, an ancient kingdom whose people can grow wings, breathe fire, and rise as dragons. 

Megg Jensen – Anathema 
A young slave girl discovers a world of magic she never knew existed and must face her enemies as prophecy unravels. 

Jeff Gunzel – Land Of Shadows 
A young blacksmith, born into a simple life, watches helplessly as the world he knew crumbles before his eyes. 

C. Greenwood – Mistress of Masks 
When an ancient evil stirs in Earth Realm, a group of unlikely heroes must find a way to stop the wave of darkness that is devouring their land. 

Dima Zales & Anna Zaires – The Sorcery Code 
Blaise’s magical creation is not an object of sorcery, but rather a beautiful woman who’s unlike anything their world has ever seen. 

Annie Bellet – Witch Hunt 
A cursed elven archer and her ragtag group of adventuring friends battle witches to stop a deadly plague and save a small village. 

David Adams – Ren Of Atikala 
Humanity is found in the inhuman when a “monster” is forced out of her home and into the world of elves, humans, and dragons. 

Joseph Lallo – Jade 
A little girl, selected as a sacrifice to end a mighty dragon’s reign of terror, instead finds both the protection and the family she so badly needs. 

K.J. Colt – Concealed Power 
Adenine has been quarantined for being the last carrier of a plague that killed thousands, but when trouble strikes, she is forced to leave her sanctuary and enter a world full of secrets, enemies, and plots. 

Lindsay Buroker – Encrypted 
After being kidnapped, linguist and code-cracker Tikaya Komitopis must work with her people’s greatest enemy to stop an ancient evil that threatens the entire world. 

Mande Matthews – Bonded 
Two children–one a born leader and the other a born servant–are bonded across worlds as Soul Warriors, but they must discover the secrets of their past if they hope to overcome the darkness that threatens their future. 

Brian Anderson – Starfinder 
Lee Starfinder embarks on his first adventure with a sword at his side and confidence in his heart, but he will soon discover that the perils of the world are far stranger than he had ever imagined. 

Ed Robertson – White Tree 
A young man is obsessed with mastering death magic, but his studies make him the key to resisting a powerful god–as well as the intended prey of the god’s dark acolytes. 
50_Amazon_Paypal
Book Blast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/22/14
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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Friday, December 5, 2014

[Win a Copy] Who R U Really? by Margo Kelly

who are youWho R U Really? by Margo Kelly
Thea’s overprotective parents are driving her insane. They invade her privacy, ask too many questions, and restrict her online time so severely that Thea feels she has no life at all. When she discovers a new role-playing game online, Thea breaks the rules by staying up late to play. She’s living a double life: on one hand, the obedient daughter; on the other, a girl slipping deeper into darkness. In the world of the game, Thea falls under the spell of Kit, an older boy whose smarts and savvy can’t defeat his loneliness and near-suicidal despair. As Kit draws soft-hearted Thea into his drama, she creates a full plate of cover stories for her parents and then even her friends.
Soon, Thea is all alone in the dark world with Kit, who worries her more and more, but also seems to be the only person who really “gets” her. Is he frightening, the way he seems sometimes, or only terribly sad? Should Thea fear Kit, or pity him? And now, Kit wants to come out of the screen and bring Thea into his real-life world. As much as she suspects that this is wrong, Thea is powerless to resist Kit’s allure, and hurtles toward the same dark fate her parents feared most. Ripped from a true-life story of Internet stalking, Who R U Really? will excite you and scare you, as Thea’s life spins out of control.
Praise for the book:
“Kelly’s first novel is a suspenseful page-turner with multiple suspects, a little bit of romance, and a strong but not overbearing message.” –Kirkus Reviews
“Suspenseful novel that’s guaranteed to give readers goosebumps–particularly as events heat up toward the end. A good choice for families to read together.” –School Library Journal
“Who R U Really? is a fantastically creepy book that is surprisingly realistic and totally engrossing…. Once I opened it, I couldn’t close it. Who R U Really is a satisfyingly unique YA thriller that left me guessing up until almost the very last page…. This book is very realistic and I really enjoyed the writing style.” –Tempest Books
“Based on actual events, the story should be required reading for all teens.” –VOYA Magazine

Excerpt

When Tim’s eyes, bluer than an Idaho sky, met mine, my mind turned to mush. He towered
above everyone else at the bus stop, and on this cold January morning he looked cuter than ever
with his bomber hat and rosy cheeks. He shoved his sidekick, Josh, jokingly, and a cloud of
white air escaped Tim’s mouth.

My best friend, Janie, whacked me on the hip. “Omigosh, Thea. Here they come. Smile.”

Her words bounced in rhythm with her black ringlets. She adjusted her new fluffy snow white
parka, and even though it had a hood, she would never smash her perfect curls simply to stay
warm. The crisp air made the tip of her nose red, but the rest of her face remained alabaster
white. We’d been best friends for years, and at fourteen, having a friend made the ninth grade
bearable.

Janie hoped Josh and Tim would ask us to the Winter Solstice dance, but I just hoped to
speak to Tim without sounding like a complete idiot. Tim walked in our direction with Josh right
on his heels. They stopped in front of us, and everyone else hovered to watch the show.
“Thea,” Tim said. I wanted to reply, but no words came.

Josh approached Janie, and I fidgeted with my favorite fuzzy pink scarf.

“Jan-eee,” Josh said, dragging out the last syllable of her name. He eyed her up and
down. “You look like a giant fat marshmallow.”

who are you (1)
Margo KellyAuthor Margo Kelly
Margo Kelly is a native of the Northwest and currently resides in Idaho. A veteran public speaker, she is now actively pursuing her love of writing. Who R U Really? is her first novel. Margo welcomes the opportunities to speak to youth groups, library groups, and book clubs.
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1 print copy of Who R U Really?
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Ends 1/12/15
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