Jun 30, 2016

The Crown's Game ( The Crown's Game, #1)

☆☆☆

the crown's game.
Crown's Game#1
Evelyn Skye
Publisher  Balzer+ Bray
Publication Date: May 17,2016
Genre:YA  Fantasy| Historical Fiction | Romance. 
Format|Pages:  Hardcover|399.
 Source: Goodreads|Library.















Vika Andreyeva can summon the snow and turn ash into gold. Nikolai Karimov can see through walls and conjure bridges out of thin air. They are enchanters—the only two in Russia—and with the Ottoman Empire and the Kazakhs threatening, the Tsar needs a powerful enchanter by his side.



And so he initiates the Crown’s Game, an ancient duel of magical skill—the greatest test an enchanter will ever know. The victor becomes the Imperial Enchanter and the Tsar’s most respected adviser. The defeated is sentenced to death.



Raised on tiny Ovchinin Island her whole life, Vika is eager for the chance to show off her talent in the grand capital of Saint Petersburg. But can she kill another enchanter—even when his magic calls to her like nothing else ever has?



For Nikolai, an orphan, the Crown’s Game is the chance of a lifetime. But his deadly opponent is a force to be reckoned with—beautiful, whip smart, imaginative—and he can’t stop thinking about her.



And when Pasha, Nikolai’s best friend and heir to the throne, also starts to fall for the mysterious enchantress, Nikolai must defeat the girl they both love... or be killed himself.



As long-buried secrets emerge, threatening the future of the empire, it becomes dangerously clear... the Crown’s Game is not one to lose.



 
 


I have been hearing about CROWN’S GAME for a while, most of others have been craving about this novel. It wasn’t till I saw the cover, which I knew that I had to check it out. Even before I read the blurb, I knew fact that it takes place in Russia. I love reading historical based books about Russia, especially since I’m from there. So of course Russian history is interesting to me. The thought of Crown’s Game was interesting to me, and fact that there is magic in this book, how can I not be curious about the story? After picking it up and reading the first few pages, I found myself hooked, in both Vika & Nikolai’s stories. Once the game started, I found myself at lost because I liked them both, and I didn’t want neither of them to die. There was a part of me that wondered that maybe they would be able to go around there, find a way out of it, where nobody had to die. It wasn’t long that I could tell that there was some sort of connection between Vika & Nikolai, mostly how they were around each other, and how they would occasionally look out for one another. I loved the connection that the two of them seem to have, and there was a part of me that hoped that two of them would end up together.



Now Pasha, I’m not sure what to think about him. In a way, I kept going back and forth how I felt about him. Now the ending, I was not happy with his decision, I understand that he was upset, but what did he think would happen? I wouldn’t be surprised if Vika wouldn’t forgive him for what happened, and how she acted with him at the end of the book, it feels that she might not or it would take her a long time to get there. I’m still in shock of what happened with Nikolai, even I didn’t see that coming. Besides Vika, he was my favorite character and it feels as if I lost him too, that I was as upset, as angry as Vika had been. The emotions in CROWN’S GAME were astonishing, I could feel all the feeling that both Vika and Nikolai felt through this book. All the pain, anger, fear, betrayal, hope. I hoped that both of them could made it through this. That ending, it has me wishing that next book in series was out, so I can see what’s next for Vika.



CROWN’S GAME was beautifully written, it was so visual that I felt as I was back in Russia, where I haven’t been in years. All of the descriptions were so right on the point. One of best books that I read that were based in Russian, I loved the descriptions, the history. It was amazing. I feel like I already know that EVELYN SKYE is an author that is going go a long way, that will have you looking forward to her next adventures. I know that I am. I cannot wait what she has in store for Vika and Pasha next. A Must Read for 2016.



Staying Strong : 365 Days A Year.

☆☆☆
staying strong
365 days a year.
demi lovato.

Publisher : Headline.
Publication Date: November 19,2013
Genre: Memoir| Mental Health.
Format|Pages: E Book|365.
 Source:  Goodreads| Bought.
















”Be grateful for your journey because It is yours alone” 




 




Demi Lovato wakes up each morning and affirms her commitment to herself—to her health, her happiness, her being. Those commitments are the bedrock of her recovery and her work helping other young people dealing with the issues she lives with every single day.



Demi is a platinum-selling recording artist whose latest album—DEMI—is already a smash hit. She’s about to embark on her second season as a judge on X-Factor, and just launched The Lovato Treatment Scholarship Program. And she is an outspoken advocate for young people everywhere.



Demi is also a young woman finding her way in the world. She has dealt deftly with her struggles in the face of public scrutiny, and she has always relied, not just on friends and family, but daily affirmations of her self-worth and value. Affirmations that steady her days and strengthen her resolve.



Those affirmations have grown into STAYING STRONG, a powerful 365-day collection of Demi’s most powerful, honest, and hopeful insights. Each day will provide the readers with a quote, a personal reflection and a goal.



These are Demi’s words. Words she lives by and shares with the people she loves and total strangers alike. They are a powerful testament to a young woman standing up and fighting back 





 





I have been fan of Demi Lovato, since Disney years. I own most of her CD’s as well. Of course when I found out that she wrote a book, I had to check it out. I had STAYING STRONG: 365 DAYS A YEAR on my Nook for couple years but didn’t get around to reading it till recently. Now that I had, I wished that I have read it sooner that I had. It was unique, and unlike any of the books, memoirs that I had read before. To me, it felt more like an advice, encourage book. Demi went through tough time, and I feel like it could inspire a lot of others out there, cause it is likely that they gone and dealt with the issues that she had dealt with. Like Demi, I had dealt with bullying and depression earlier in my life, so in a way I knew how she was feeling. I felt like I could relate to her, even though I don’t actually know her but once I read the book, I felt like I did. Reading STAYING STRONG: 365 DAYS A YEAR I realized how tough she had it, but she didn’t give up, she kept on going.



I loved all those goals that she posted at the end. I feel like this book could be Self Help book as well. Despite the mixed reviews about this book, there wasn’t anything that I didn’t like about it. I was hooked from the first page, till I reached the last page. There was part of me that felt that I got to know her more after reading the book. I also loved the cover, just looked at it, It’s beautiful in every way, just like the novel was. I did not want to put it down, not till I reached the end. It had me thinking as well. Right now, I am going through a bit of a tough time and in a way STAYING STRONG: 365 DAYS A YEAR , it helped me a bit. Demi has a way with words that you can’t help but think about them afterwards. I know that I was.



Unforgettable. Inspirational.



Cover Reveal: The Portal To Kerberos ( Elementals,#4) By Michelle Madow



Elementals 4: The Portal to Kerberos Cover & Blurb Reveal Kit

Filled with magic, thrilling adventure, and sweet romance, Elementals 4: The Portal to Kerberos, is the latest installment in Michelle Madow’s exciting Elementals series. Follow Nicole and her fellow Elementals as they journey to a new and dangerous world to save one of their own, battling monsters and trying to keep their sanity in a prison dimension designed to make them lose their minds.



Title: Elementals 4: The Portal to Kerberos

Author: Michelle Madow

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Release Date: September 20, 2016

Publisher: Dreamscape Publishing

Series: Elementals #4

Format: eBook and paperback





Synopsis:

She will venture into hell to save the one she loves.

After being betrayed by one of their own, Nicole watches helplessly as Blake is snatched into the prison world of Kerberos—along with Medusa’s head, which is the one item they need to stop the Titans from rising again. Now Nicole and the other Elementals must enter the portal, find Blake, and bring him and Medusa’s head back to Earth before the deadly monster Typhon returns and wreaks havoc on the world. But there’s one catch—their elemental powers don’t work in Kerberos. In a dimension designed to make those within it lose touch with reality, and that's filled with dangerous creatures who want to stop them from completing their task, will they make it out alive?

In this penultimate book of Nicole’s story, join the Elementals as they journey through hell to save the world… before it’s too late.

Pre-order:  Amazon



The adventure began in the first book in the series, Elementals: The Prophecy of Shadows. To grab a copy of the first book for free, visit www.michellemadow.com.


Giveaway:

Michelle is hosting a giveaway for a Kindle Fire! To enter the giveaway click here!


About the Author:



Michelle Madow writes fast-paced YA (young adult) fiction that will leave you turning the pages wanting more!

She grew up in Baltimore, and now lives in Boca Raton, Florida, where she writes books for young adults. Some of her favorite things are: reading, traveling, pizza, time travel, Broadway musicals, and spending time with friends and family. Michelle went on a cross-country road trip from Florida to California and back to promote her books and to encourage high school students to embrace reading and writing. Someday, she hopes to travel the world for a year on a cruise ship.

Visit her website,
www.michellemadow.com, to get books of Michelle's for FREE!

Connect with Michelle:  Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  Goodreads




 

Story For Dessert Published @ 2014 by Ipietoon