Showing posts with label S.R. Johannes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label S.R. Johannes. Show all posts
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Random Reads #584, January 26th
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
S.R. Johannes Author Page
The Story: Well, S.R. Johannes contacted me about reviewing Untraceable, and yeah, it sounded really great, so I did, and I just loved it so much, and yeah, I've really been enjoying the series,and I'll have to reread it in preparation since the 3rd book just came out recently!
Website
Series: The Nature of Grace, Suffocate
The Nature of Grace: Untraceable and her site, my review, my reread, Unspeakable and my review, Uncontrollable and her site, my review, my reread, Unstoppable and her site, my review.
Suffocate: Suffocate and her site, my review, Choke and her site, my review, Exhale and her site.
Stand Alone's: On the Bright Side and my review.
Website
Series: The Nature of Grace, Suffocate
The Nature of Grace: Untraceable and her site, my review, my reread, Unspeakable and my review, Uncontrollable and her site, my review, my reread, Unstoppable and her site, my review.
Suffocate: Suffocate and her site, my review, Choke and her site, my review, Exhale and her site.
Stand Alone's: On the Bright Side and my review.
Monday, June 9, 2014
Unstoppable: Guest Post
So today I'd like to welcome over S.R. Johannes, author of Unstoppable, over for a guest post!
What makes a great protagonist?
Many people wonder what makes a book so good. It doesn't have to be YA. It can be adult or any genre. There are certain things I look for when I am reading or choosing a book.
Voice
You need a voice that is relatable. Someone you connect to. It's like when you meet someone for the first time. Most of the time, you know if you are going to be friends straight away. It's the way they talk, what they talk about, and how it makes you feel. It could be humor. It could be some snark. It could be based on your mood at the time. This is different for every person. One of my favorite examples is The Sky is Everywhere. They way the MC sees death is interesting to me.
Engaging
It has to grab me immediately. If the voice doesn't connect with me in the first few pages, I have a hard time continuing. One of my favorite examples is Devil's Kiss. Billy is tough on the first page.
Flaws
We need real characters with real flaws. And sometimes these flaws may get in the way. All humans have flaws so if a character is too perfect - it is boring to me. One of my favorites is Katniss. Her flaw is that she is too tough and too stubborn and it impacts her. But it makes her likeable.
Backstory
We need to understand where they came from. This does not need to be pages of narrative but we need to get a glimpse of their life and their back story and how it impacts the character overall. One of my favorites is The Duff.
Active
The character needs to be doing something. They can't be passive or whiny. We want to watch them fight through a mess they are in. Not be saved or wait to be saved. One of my favorites is Fault in Our Stars - even though the MC is struggling with her health - she doesn't whine and she sees the world in a different way.
Each person looks for something different in every book. But some annoying things that turn me off immediately are:
• Whiny - instead of doing anything they whine about it. To me, this is different than complaining.
• No redeemable qualities - like hates puppies and babies.
• Annoying habits - ones I just cant get past like picking their nose or something.
• Boring or unoriginal - I've seen the character before.
From Goodreads:
After everything that has happened, Grace moves to the Everglades to live with her grandmother, Birdee, and hang out with old man Rex, Birdee's "friend with benefits". Grace quickly befriends Dylan, Rex's nephew, and Dylan's girlfriend, Sadie, who is a die-hard teen activist. Sadie spends her time leading protests against the roadside zoos that run rampant in Florida with a total disregard for animals or the flimsy law.
One day while out in the marshes of the Everglades, Grace and her friends rescue an abused—and endangered—Florida panther. She and Birdee spend time rehabilitating the animal. But when the panther runs off, Grace follows it to Uncle Bob's, a large roadside zoo they all have been protesting. One that is illegally filled with a variety of endangered and exotic animals. Before she can rescue the panther, she and her friends are kidnapped by the ruthless owner and dragged deep into the Everglades for a hunting challenge.
Only this time, Grace is the prey.
During a sick game of cat and mouse, Grace and her friends are offered one chance at survival, but only if they reach civilization before being caught. With a small head start and very little supplies, only time and skill stand between the hunter and the hunted. But out in the Everglades, there may be more dangers than Grace realizes.
Against all odds, Grace must make it out alive and win, or everything she holds dear could be lost.
Bio:
I like dark chocolate and cheese dip (though not together) and the occasional straight up, extra filthy martini with extra olives.
I cry at everything. And if you cry around me (or if I even sense that you are about to cry), I cry. I'm a baby.
Even though I pretend like I'm tough, I'm extremely sensitive. My toughness is a total facade except for when I do Bikram yoga in 110 heat. then I'm way tough.
I am very honest. I will always tell it like it is. And that gets me into trouble... a lot.
I am an amazing multi-tasker. Ask my hubby. (I'm juggling 10 things as I write)
I love animals and nature and am completely heart broken at the way we treat both.
I love Milos Sweet Team and any kind of coffee - mostly flavored.
I love to laugh, especially at myself. I work hard to be a silly klutz - it does not come easy.
I am addicted to Delights White Chocolate Raspberry Creamer and horde bottles when it comes out every Dec. (Seriously, it is a problem.)
When I was 10, I got draggeddown an asphalt street by a big dog and my babysitter put band-aids on every single scratch. Taking off 3 boxes of bandaids hurts! (Needless to say my pet walking business was a total bust.)
I love to read in bed and am obsessed with T.V. (Walking Dead, The Following and anything CW).
I'm a slight hypochondriac. Seriously if I sneeze - it must be something serious.
My first car was an apple-red 1984 Toyota Celica Hatchback. By the time I turned it in, I had a boom box on the seat (the radio broke), no air-conditioning, and I had to pour a quart of oil in every morning just to get to work. (True story.)
I am a horrible cook. I can do it if I try, but hate to do it. My timing is always off!
I have two kids that make me laugh and who actually think I'm as funny as I think I am. :)
I worked in Corporate America for about 12 years and barely got out alive. Though my creativity managed to survive. I hope.
I am still seeking my true purpose and hope it helps people someday. I want to make a difference.
=========
Official Authory Bio to impress people :)
S.R. Johannes is the award-winning author of the Amazon bestselling thriller series, the Nature of Grace (Untraceable and Uncontrollable). Unstoppable (book 3) is scheduled for May/June 2014. S.R. Johannes is currently repped by Lara Perkins at ABLA. For foreign rights on the Nature of Grace series, contact Jennifer Custer at AM Heath (London).
S.R. Johannes is the YA advisor of ALLi and a winner of the 2012 IndieReader Discovery Awards (Young Adult category) as well as a Silver medalist (2nd place) in the IPPY awards for YA Fiction. She was also nominated for 2012 Georgia Author of the Year (Young Adult category), a Finalist in The Kindle Book Review’s Best Young Adult of 2012, and a YA Finalist in the US Book News Best Book of 2012.
After earning an MBA and working in corporate America doing marketing for over 15 years (Spanx and Good hair Products were my fav because of the perks :), S.R. Johannes traded in her expensive suits, high heels, and corporate lingo for a family, flip-flops, and her love of writing. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her dog, English-accented husband, and the huge imaginations of their little prince and princess, which she hopes- someday- will change the world.
What makes a great protagonist?
Many people wonder what makes a book so good. It doesn't have to be YA. It can be adult or any genre. There are certain things I look for when I am reading or choosing a book.
Voice
You need a voice that is relatable. Someone you connect to. It's like when you meet someone for the first time. Most of the time, you know if you are going to be friends straight away. It's the way they talk, what they talk about, and how it makes you feel. It could be humor. It could be some snark. It could be based on your mood at the time. This is different for every person. One of my favorite examples is The Sky is Everywhere. They way the MC sees death is interesting to me.
Engaging
It has to grab me immediately. If the voice doesn't connect with me in the first few pages, I have a hard time continuing. One of my favorite examples is Devil's Kiss. Billy is tough on the first page.
Flaws
We need real characters with real flaws. And sometimes these flaws may get in the way. All humans have flaws so if a character is too perfect - it is boring to me. One of my favorites is Katniss. Her flaw is that she is too tough and too stubborn and it impacts her. But it makes her likeable.
Backstory
We need to understand where they came from. This does not need to be pages of narrative but we need to get a glimpse of their life and their back story and how it impacts the character overall. One of my favorites is The Duff.
Active
The character needs to be doing something. They can't be passive or whiny. We want to watch them fight through a mess they are in. Not be saved or wait to be saved. One of my favorites is Fault in Our Stars - even though the MC is struggling with her health - she doesn't whine and she sees the world in a different way.
Each person looks for something different in every book. But some annoying things that turn me off immediately are:
• Whiny - instead of doing anything they whine about it. To me, this is different than complaining.
• No redeemable qualities - like hates puppies and babies.
• Annoying habits - ones I just cant get past like picking their nose or something.
• Boring or unoriginal - I've seen the character before.
After everything that has happened, Grace moves to the Everglades to live with her grandmother, Birdee, and hang out with old man Rex, Birdee's "friend with benefits". Grace quickly befriends Dylan, Rex's nephew, and Dylan's girlfriend, Sadie, who is a die-hard teen activist. Sadie spends her time leading protests against the roadside zoos that run rampant in Florida with a total disregard for animals or the flimsy law.
One day while out in the marshes of the Everglades, Grace and her friends rescue an abused—and endangered—Florida panther. She and Birdee spend time rehabilitating the animal. But when the panther runs off, Grace follows it to Uncle Bob's, a large roadside zoo they all have been protesting. One that is illegally filled with a variety of endangered and exotic animals. Before she can rescue the panther, she and her friends are kidnapped by the ruthless owner and dragged deep into the Everglades for a hunting challenge.
Only this time, Grace is the prey.
During a sick game of cat and mouse, Grace and her friends are offered one chance at survival, but only if they reach civilization before being caught. With a small head start and very little supplies, only time and skill stand between the hunter and the hunted. But out in the Everglades, there may be more dangers than Grace realizes.
Against all odds, Grace must make it out alive and win, or everything she holds dear could be lost.
I like dark chocolate and cheese dip (though not together) and the occasional straight up, extra filthy martini with extra olives.
I cry at everything. And if you cry around me (or if I even sense that you are about to cry), I cry. I'm a baby.
Even though I pretend like I'm tough, I'm extremely sensitive. My toughness is a total facade except for when I do Bikram yoga in 110 heat. then I'm way tough.
I am very honest. I will always tell it like it is. And that gets me into trouble... a lot.
I am an amazing multi-tasker. Ask my hubby. (I'm juggling 10 things as I write)
I love animals and nature and am completely heart broken at the way we treat both.
I love Milos Sweet Team and any kind of coffee - mostly flavored.
I love to laugh, especially at myself. I work hard to be a silly klutz - it does not come easy.
I am addicted to Delights White Chocolate Raspberry Creamer and horde bottles when it comes out every Dec. (Seriously, it is a problem.)
When I was 10, I got draggeddown an asphalt street by a big dog and my babysitter put band-aids on every single scratch. Taking off 3 boxes of bandaids hurts! (Needless to say my pet walking business was a total bust.)
I love to read in bed and am obsessed with T.V. (Walking Dead, The Following and anything CW).
I'm a slight hypochondriac. Seriously if I sneeze - it must be something serious.
My first car was an apple-red 1984 Toyota Celica Hatchback. By the time I turned it in, I had a boom box on the seat (the radio broke), no air-conditioning, and I had to pour a quart of oil in every morning just to get to work. (True story.)
I am a horrible cook. I can do it if I try, but hate to do it. My timing is always off!
I have two kids that make me laugh and who actually think I'm as funny as I think I am. :)
I worked in Corporate America for about 12 years and barely got out alive. Though my creativity managed to survive. I hope.
I am still seeking my true purpose and hope it helps people someday. I want to make a difference.
=========
Official Authory Bio to impress people :)
S.R. Johannes is the award-winning author of the Amazon bestselling thriller series, the Nature of Grace (Untraceable and Uncontrollable). Unstoppable (book 3) is scheduled for May/June 2014. S.R. Johannes is currently repped by Lara Perkins at ABLA. For foreign rights on the Nature of Grace series, contact Jennifer Custer at AM Heath (London).
S.R. Johannes is the YA advisor of ALLi and a winner of the 2012 IndieReader Discovery Awards (Young Adult category) as well as a Silver medalist (2nd place) in the IPPY awards for YA Fiction. She was also nominated for 2012 Georgia Author of the Year (Young Adult category), a Finalist in The Kindle Book Review’s Best Young Adult of 2012, and a YA Finalist in the US Book News Best Book of 2012.
After earning an MBA and working in corporate America doing marketing for over 15 years (Spanx and Good hair Products were my fav because of the perks :), S.R. Johannes traded in her expensive suits, high heels, and corporate lingo for a family, flip-flops, and her love of writing. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her dog, English-accented husband, and the huge imaginations of their little prince and princess, which she hopes- someday- will change the world.
Contact and Buy AKA Links:
Friday, June 7, 2013
Choke: Cover Reveal
So today comes out the cover for Choke by S.R. Johannes, the second book in The Breathless trilogy!
Monday, September 17, 2012
Uncontrollable: Guest Post and Review
Today, I'd like to welcome over Shelli Wells, author of Untraceable, and it's sequel, Uncontrollable, over for a guest post!
Writing Uncontrollable was mush easier than writing Untraceable.
Bio:
S.R. Johannes is the award-winning author of the Amazon bestselling Nature of Grace thriller series (Untraceable, Uncontrollable, and Unstoppable).
S.R. Johannes is a winner of the IndieReader Discovery Award in YA, an IPPY a Silver Medalist for YA Fiction, a Finalist in The Kindle Book Review's Best Young Adult Fiction, and a Finalist in US Book News Best YA Book.
Since leaving Corporate America, she has followed her passion for writing and conservation by working with The Dolphin Project, the Atlanta Zoo, other animal rescue organizations, and by weaving conservation themes into her books.
She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her dog, English-accented husband, and the huge imaginations of their little prince and princess, which she hopes- someday- will change the world.
Writing Uncontrollable was mush easier than writing Untraceable.
I had a
hard time with Untraceable’s plot. It
changed several times over the course of 3 years. It started out as Grace
finding a Jihad terrorist cell in the woods (yes I know pretty bad, right? It was only through critiques
and many rejections that the book moved toward more of a conservation angle and
ended up what it is today.
For Uncontrollable, ½ of it was done. I
already had setting and voice down. I knew the characters. I just needed to
focus on plot and Grace’s growth.
For plot
– it was hard to find a way to come up with a story that was as exciting as the
first. I needed just as many twists and turns, yet still find a way to weave in
a conservation message because that is what the books are about underneath.
For
character, I had to make sure I wrote Grace from a totally different mindset.
She went through a lot in the first book so I had to put myself in her shoes
and show how those events changed her. How would she be after the first book
ended? How would she handle the losses and revelations? Would she be more
scared or more reckless? Depressed or angry? Who would she still trust and
would she trust less or more? How would her relationships with her family,
friends, and nature change?
Once I
got down the plot and character arc, writing the book was easy. It just poured
out of me.
I hope
everyone will find Uncontrollable
just as good as Untraceable.
Admittedly in my experience reading, the 2nd books are never quite
as good as the first one in a series because you know so much about the
character and world. So it is not as new.
But I
wanted it to be good, thrilling, and memorable. I think there are just as many
twists and questions in the 2nd as in the 1st.
As Grace recovers from tragedy, her science class is chosen by Agent Sweeney at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to help with research on the new "Red Wolf Reintroduction Program".
While she's excited about helping with the conservation of the endangered wolves, Grace knows this means being outdoors in the worst winter recorded, in a place she no longer feels comfortable. It also means working closely with Wyn (her ex) and his annoying girlfriend (Skyler), a girl whose idea of getting close to nature is picking silk plants and growing fake plants.
After a couple of wolves show up dead, Grace almost quits. However, when a fellow project team member goes missing, Grace continues the assignment under a renewed suspicion that someone might be sabotaging the conservation program. She quietly begins to hunt for clues.
Little does she know, she is being hunted too.
My Review:
Fantastic book! It was great to see Grace again, and as S. R. Johannes said in her guest post, Grace is in a very different mindset, coping with the loss of her dad and Mo, all in 1 day. Then just as she's kinda starting to heal, to go back into the woods. And the wolves are dying. Which brings back her loss, and yeah,that's probably not the best thing for her, what with her need to protect the creatures of the woods. And yeah, just loved reading this book!
Reading this book after Untraceable, well, it's different. Grace isn't determined to find her dad, she's crushed at his death after all that determination. And then there's no Mo...and I'm not going to say anything else because this is a tour post and I don't want to do spoilers. So this was a very different book from Untraceable, though I really enjoyed the survival tips!
The mystery in this book, was similar, but different. Instead of bears being found dead, it's wolves. And Al's still alive, so that means that he could still do things. But while he wasn't in this book, I'm hoping for a 3rd book so he can get put down like he deserves! We got a bit into his past through another character, which was a turn I didn't see until the hot chocolate and marshmallow scene. Yep
Uncontrollable was a really excellent book! Great writing, and a plot that just grasps at your mind and heart, and tames them into making this a favourite book of all! So read it!!!
Author: S. R. Johannes
Fantastic book! It was great to see Grace again, and as S. R. Johannes said in her guest post, Grace is in a very different mindset, coping with the loss of her dad and Mo, all in 1 day. Then just as she's kinda starting to heal, to go back into the woods. And the wolves are dying. Which brings back her loss, and yeah,that's probably not the best thing for her, what with her need to protect the creatures of the woods. And yeah, just loved reading this book!
Reading this book after Untraceable, well, it's different. Grace isn't determined to find her dad, she's crushed at his death after all that determination. And then there's no Mo...and I'm not going to say anything else because this is a tour post and I don't want to do spoilers. So this was a very different book from Untraceable, though I really enjoyed the survival tips!
The mystery in this book, was similar, but different. Instead of bears being found dead, it's wolves. And Al's still alive, so that means that he could still do things. But while he wasn't in this book, I'm hoping for a 3rd book so he can get put down like he deserves! We got a bit into his past through another character, which was a turn I didn't see until the hot chocolate and marshmallow scene. Yep
Uncontrollable was a really excellent book! Great writing, and a plot that just grasps at your mind and heart, and tames them into making this a favourite book of all! So read it!!!
Author: S. R. Johannes
Series: The Nature of Grace #2
Read: September 17th, 2012
Source: Author for Review on Tour
Reason Why: Because I loved Untraceable, so I had to read Uncontrollable!
Publisher: Coleman & Stott
Expected Publication: September 24th 2012
Publisher: Coleman & Stott
Expected Publication: September 24th 2012
 |
| 5/5 Hearts |
 |
| 5/5 Books |
 |
| 4.5/5 Stars |
S.R. Johannes is the award-winning author of the Amazon bestselling Nature of Grace thriller series (Untraceable, Uncontrollable, and Unstoppable).
S.R. Johannes is a winner of the IndieReader Discovery Award in YA, an IPPY a Silver Medalist for YA Fiction, a Finalist in The Kindle Book Review's Best Young Adult Fiction, and a Finalist in US Book News Best YA Book.
Since leaving Corporate America, she has followed her passion for writing and conservation by working with The Dolphin Project, the Atlanta Zoo, other animal rescue organizations, and by weaving conservation themes into her books.
She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her dog, English-accented husband, and the huge imaginations of their little prince and princess, which she hopes- someday- will change the world.
Contact and Buy AKA Links:
Stops on the Tour:
Week 1
Sept. 4 – whoopeeyoo – Creating Covers
Sept. 4 - Froze8’s Blog – Getting Creative with Marketing (giveaway query/chapter critique OR marketing consultation)
Sept. 5 – Just Jemi – Writing short stories/novelletes (e-book giveaway)
Sept. 5 - Wall-to-Wall Books - Uncontrollable Review (e-book giveaway)
Sept. 6 - GeekeryDo - Uncontrollable Review (e-book giveaway)
Sept. 6 - Read Now Sleep Later - My Journey to self pubbing (e-book giveaway)
Sept. 7 – Supa Gurl Books – Writing Untraceable/Unspeakable (e-book giveaway)
Sept. 7 – Hypable – Stigma of self publishing
Week 2
Sept. 10 - Refracted Light - Grace's Wilderness Fashion Guide
Sept. 10- Heather Sutherlin- Writing advice for young writers
Sept. 11- Froze8’s Blog – Digital publishing/ebooks (e-book giveaway of ANY book)
Sept. 11 - SA Larsen - Vlog on Essentials when preparing for a book release
Sept. 12 - whoopeeyoo - Uncontrollable Review
Sept. 12 - The Writerly Rejects – Indie vs self pubbing
Sept. 13 - Always YA at Heart – Uncontrollable Review (e-book giveaway)
Sept. 13 – Write Stuff – Create Fast Pacing in Stories
Sept. 14 - Second Bookshelf on the Right – Interview (e-book and swag giveaway)
Sept. 14 - Bookend Crossing - Uncontrollable review (ebook giveaway)
Week 3
Sept. 17 - the "I love books" club - Uncontrollable review (e-book giveaway Suffocate)
Sept. 17- Froze8's Blog - Characterization
Sept. 18 – Words I Write Crazy – Challenges in Writing Uncontrollable and Review
Sept. 19 - Literary Rambles - Self pubbing marketing using Twitter (e-book giveaway)
Sept. 19 – the “I love books” club – Author Interview
Sept. 20 - The Bookish Brunette - Uncontrollable review (e-book giveaway)
Sept. 20 - Step Into Fiction - Adding humor into your writing
Sept. 21 - Supa Gurl Books – Uncontrollable Review
Sept. 21 - Always YA at Heart – Character Interview
Sept. 21 – Letters Inside Out – Writing to Playlists (e-book giveaway)
Week 4
Sept 24 - Mundie Moms - Launch Date! Special giveaway
Sept. 25 - Once Upon a Twilight - Uncontrollable Review (e-book giveaway)
Sept. 25 - Holly's Narrative Dream - Branding and marketing yourself as a writer
Sept. 26 - Book Snatch - Author Interview
Sept. 26 - YA-Aholic - Uncontrollable Review
Sept. 27- Basia's Bookshelf – Uncontrollable Review
Sept. 27- Confessions of a Bookaholic – Envisioning Setting (e-book giveaway)
Sept. 28- Living Fictitiously – Uncontrollable Review
Sept. 28 - We Do Write - Writing sequels (e-book giveaway)
Week 5
Oct. 1 – YA Book Queen – Uncontrollable Review
Oct. 1 – Words Escape Me – Essentials in plotting (giveaway of query or chapter critique)
Oct. 2 – Book Dreaming - Uncontrollable Review
Oct. 2 - YA Book Queen - Writing thrillers/suspense (e-book giveaway)
Oct. 3- Fantasy Book Chick - Touching on Conservation
Oct. 4 - Paper Cuts YA – Marketing Tips (e-book giveaway)
Oct. 4 – The Wormhole – Author Interview, Uncontrollable Review (e-book giveaway)
Oct. 5- Kristi Helvig – Uncontrollable Review (e-book giveaway)
Oct. 5- The Writer's Voice - Author Interview
Week 6
Oct. 8 – Moonlight, Lace and Mayhem - Tying together Untraceable and Uncontrollable
Oct. 8 - The Housework Can Wait - Building community (e-book giveaway)
Oct. 9 - Magnet4Books - Self editing tips
Oct. 9 - Katya Czaja - Uncontrollable Review (e-book giveaway)
Oct. 10 - I'm a Reader, Not a Writer - Author Interview
Oct. 10- Readinista - Changing industry of publishing
Oct. 11 - Girl Who Reads - Creating online platform
Oct. 11- Fictional Candy - Author Interview (swag and e-book giveaway of Untraceable)
Oct. 12 - Ren's Rambles - Nature of Grace Playlist Highlights
Oct. 12 - Reading Teen - Writing teen romance
Week 7
Oct. 15 - BiblioCrunch - "What is a blog tour?" Interview (Marketing giveaway)
Oct. 15 - Little Birdie Reviews - Untraceable Review (e-book giveaway)
Oct. 15 - reel life with jane - Strong female characters
Oct. 16 - Loves 2 Read - Uncontrollable Review (e-book giveaway)
Monday, May 21, 2012
It's Monday! What Are You Reading #50, May 21st
What happened in the past week:
Weekly Memes:
It's Monday! What Are You Reading #49
Teaser Tuesday #58
WWW Wednesday #58
WOW #54
Will the Time Come #50
Third Sentence Thursday #41
Random Reads #25
First Lines Friday #46
Follow that Blurb Reading Challenge Update 47
A-Z Book Challenge Update 20
The Reward Challenge Round 42 Part 2
Follow Friday #28
Last Letter First Letter Reading Challenge Update 8
Wrote That Review Update 1
2012 Dystopian Reading Challenge Update 18
In My Mailbox #49
I Have An Update #48
Week 20 Reviews:
You are So Undead to Me
Small Town Sinners
The Twilight Before Christmas
Oceans of Fire
Embrace
North of Beautiful
Angel Burn
Never to Sleep
Suffocate
Strange Angels
Tantalize
Frost
Tours:
77 Days in September: Review
Bout of Books:
Update 1
Update 2
Mini Challenge 2
Mini Challenge 3
Update 3
Update 4
Update 5
Mini Challenge 4
Update 7
Mini Challenge 5
Update 8
Update 9
Update 10
Mini Challenge 6
Update 11
Wrap Up
Random:
Some Interesting/Exciting Book Tweets
Wrote That Review
We Have a Title for The Chemical Garden #3!!!
Guess Who's Birthday It is? Suffocate's!
OK, so I got 52 posts in 7 days, which is mostly because of the Bout of Books Read-A-Thon, which is a good thing, must get more posts! And write more reviews! What about you guys, what did you do this week? Oh, and happy reading!
So this week I want to read A Storm of Swords, The Darkening Dream, Sleeping Tigers, Spectra, The Last Plea Bargain, and No Safety in Numbers. Well, A Storm of Swords is over 1100 pages long!
Currently Listening To: Days Go By by Keith Urban
Currently Reading: The Darkening Dream by Andy Gavin
Currently Watching: Awake! Almost caught up, like 3 episodes!
Even as the modern world pushes the supernatural aside in favor of science and steel, the old ways remain. God, demon, monster, and sorcerer alike plot to regain what was theirs.
1913, Salem, Massachusetts – Sarah Engelmann’s life is full of friends, books, and avoiding the pressure to choose a husband, until an ominous vision and the haunting call of an otherworldly trumpet shake her. When she stumbles across a gruesome corpse, she fears that her vision was more of a premonition. And when she sees the murdered boy moving through the crowd at an amusement park, Sarah is thrust into a dark battle she does not understand.
With the help of Alex, an attractive Greek immigrant who knows a startling amount about the undead, Sarah sets out to uncover the truth. Their quest takes them to the factory mills of Salem, on a midnight boat ride to spy on an eerie coastal lair, and back, unexpectedly, to their own homes. What can Alex’s elderly, vampire-hunting grandfather and Sarah’s own rabbi father tell them? And what do Sarah’s continuing visions reveal?
No less than Gabriel’s Trumpet, the tool that will announce the End of Days, is at stake, and the forces that have banded to recover it include a 900 year-old vampire, a trio of disgruntled Egyptian gods, and a demon-loving Puritan minister. At the center of this swirling cast is Sarah, who must fight a millennia-old battle against unspeakable forces, knowing the ultimate prize might be herself.
When Cam suddenly flees the country, Jordan follows, determined to bring him home. Her journey takes her to the farthest reaches of majestic Nepal, where she encounters tests—and truths—about love and family that she never could have imagined.
Funny, heartbreaking, and suspenseful, Sleeping Tigers reminds us all that sometimes it's better to follow your heart instead of a plan.
A biological bomb has just been discovered in the air ducts of a busy suburban mall. At first nobody knows if it's even life threatening, but then the entire complex is quarantined, people start getting sick, supplies start running low, and there's no way out. Among the hundreds of trapped shoppers are four teens.
These four different narrators, each with their own stories, must cope in unique, surprising styles, changing in ways they wouldn't have predicted, trying to find solace, safety, and escape at a time when the adults are behaving badly.
This is a gripping look at people and how they can--and must--change under the most dire of circumstances.
And not always for the better.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Guess Who's Birthday It is? Suffocate's!
It is May
21st and guess what that means?
S.R.
Johannes’ Suffocate is out today!
Suffocate is the first novelette
in The Breathless series. It is a 15,000 word young adult thriller that
combines the dystopic and science fiction genres.
Here’s a little about the novelette…
“For centuries, the world outside the Biome has
been unlivable. Today, marks the first time anyone will attempt to leave the
suffocating ecosphere. Eria is not worried because her scientist father
has successfully tested the new Bio-Suit many times. It's a celebratory day
until something goes horribly wrong. In the midst of tragedy, Eria uncovers
a deep conspiracy that affects the very air she breathes.
If those responsible find out what she knows,
they won't stop hunting her until she takes her last breath.”
The 2nd novella in the series, CHOKE, is
scheduled for Fall 2012. The 3rd, EXHALE, is scheduled for Winter 2013.
You can
purchase Suffocate for only 99 cents at
B&N
Also you
can add it on Goodreads!
And in
case you were wondering here is a bit about the author –
S.R. Johannes is author of the Amazon
Bestseller Untraceable and a current nominee of the Georgia Author
of the Year in the Young Adult category. After earning an MBA
and working in corporate america, S.R. Johannes traded in her expensive suits,
high heels, and corporate lingo for a family, flip-flops, and her love of
writing. She lives in Atlanta Georgia with her goldendoodle Charley
(notice he is listed first :), her British-accented husband, and the huge
imaginations of their little prince and princess, which she hopes- someday-
will change the world. You can find her hanging out online and visit her
at S. R. Johannes-Market My Words
And another thing you might want to check out, is my review, here! I kinda read it very quickly, and I loved it, so go over to the on of the buy links, it's only 99 cents! Read it!!!
In My Mailbox #48, May 20th-May Week 3
In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren to talk about the books we got in the mailbox or inbox as the case may be!
So I got:
For Review:
Open Hearts
Suffocate
The Woman's Ghost
The Mummy's Foot
The Fruits of Our Sins
The Third Fate
Riser
Section 132
Depths of Deception
Dead Meat
The Search for Artemis
Florence
Dead End Deal
The Brotherhood of Piaxia
Free:
The Ash-Born Boy
NetGalley:
Circle of Silence
Pushing the Limits
Summer Nights
In the Flesh
Almost a Scandal
The Oracle
Yeah, that's a pretty good collection of books, and I can't wait to read them! What about you guys? Happy reading!
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Week 20 Review: Suffocate
Suffocate is the first novelette in THE BREATHLESS series. It is a 15,000 word young adult thriller that combines the dystopic and science fiction genres.
For centuries, the world outside the Biome has been unlivable. Today, marks the first time anyone will attempt to leave the suffocating ecosphere. Eria is not worried because her scientist father has successfully tested the new Bio-Suit many times. It's a celebratory day until something goes horribly wrong. In the midst of tragedy, Eria uncovers a deep conspiracy that affects the very air she breathes.
If those responsible find out what she knows, they won't stop hunting her until she takes her last breath.
The 2nd novelette in the series, CHOKE, is scheduled for Fall 2012. The 3rd, EXHALE, is scheduled for Winter 2013.
My Review:
This was a great novelette! A quick read at 49 pages for the copy that I read, characters that you connect to in that time, and a plot that moves quickly, with every single work advancing it, because with only 15,000 words, each one has to count, and yeah, that was really great!
We get right in the action within the first 10 pages, and the background to the plot right away, with the death of her father, and then things just run and gain momentum like a snowball from Mt. Everest, bam, bam, bam, and plots are discovered, and friends are made, and discoveries are not all what they seem, and not everyone has the best interests at heart.
The characters really grip you, and are really interesting in what we were shown, and interest in how long hair is, to charming, hopeful, and smart, and witty. They care, and they are really great! They were a total part of the plot, and I hope to see them in more, since that isn't a guarantee with where Suffocate ended.
I am eager to read the next 2 books, I don't want to wait for the fall! Though I'm kinda thinking that Exhale will be released more winter 2012 then 2013, with summer, fall this year, then winter next year, it makes more sense that it's coming out this winter, which is what I'm hoping for, because I don't want the world to possible have ended and have not read the last novelette of this trilogy.
So I hope you guys check out this book, and the series as it comes out, because it's really good!
Author: S. R. Johannes
Series: Breathless Trilogy #1
Read: May 17th, 2012
Source: Author for review
Reason Why: It sounded really great, and I loved Untraceable, and it's a 2012 Dystopian novel!
Publisher: Coleman & Stott
Expected Publication: May 21st 2012
|
| 5/5 Hearts |
|
| 4.5/5 Books |
|
| 5/5 Stars |
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Bout of Books Update 7
OK, so I finished reading Suffocate, and I reviewed Suffocate.
What I've Done So Far:
Read:
The Twilight Before Christmas by Christine Feehan
Started On: May 14th, 2012
Finished On: May 14th, 12:08 PM
Pages Read: 284
Oceans of Fire by Christine Feehan
Started On: May 14th, 2012
Finished On: May 15th, 2:30 PM
Pages Read: 356
Embrace by Jessica Shirvington
Started On: May 15th
Finished On: May 16th, 11:23 AM
Pages Read: 369
North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley
Started On: May 16th, 2012
Finished On: May 16th, 720: PM
Pages Read: 373
Angel Burn by L. A. Weatherby
Pages Read: 284
Oceans of Fire by Christine Feehan
Started On: May 14th, 2012
Finished On: May 15th, 2:30 PM
Pages Read: 356
Embrace by Jessica Shirvington
Started On: May 15th
Finished On: May 16th, 11:23 AM
Pages Read: 369
North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley
Started On: May 16th, 2012
Finished On: May 16th, 720: PM
Pages Read: 373
Angel Burn by L. A. Weatherby
Started On: May 12th, 2012
Finished On: May 16th, 10:10 PM
Pages Read: 282
Never to Sleep by Rachel Vincent
Started On: May 16th, 2012
Finished On: May 16th, 10:55 PM
Pages Read: 55
Suffocate by S. R. Johannes
Started On: May 17th, 2012
Finished On: May 17th, 8:33 PM
Pages Read: 49
Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow
Started On: May 16th, 2012
Currently On: Page 2 of 293
Books Read: 7
Finished On: May 16th, 10:10 PM
Pages Read: 282
Never to Sleep by Rachel Vincent
Started On: May 16th, 2012
Finished On: May 16th, 10:55 PM
Pages Read: 55
Suffocate by S. R. Johannes
Started On: May 17th, 2012
Finished On: May 17th, 8:33 PM
Pages Read: 49
Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow
Started On: May 16th, 2012
Currently On: Page 2 of 293
Frost by Wendy Delsol
Started On: May 17th, 2012
Currently On: Page 7 of 257
Currently On: Page 7 of 257
Books Read: 7
Pages Read: 1768
Reading Next: Tantalize,
Reviews Written: 7
Books Reviewed: 8
Reviewed:
When the Heart Falls
Small Town Sinners (TBP 5/19/12, 10:05 AM)
Devoted
Air
You are So Undead to Me (TBP 5/19/12, 10:00 AM)
The Twilight Before Christmas (TBP 5/19.12, 10:10 AM)
Oceans of Fire (TBP 5/19/12, 10:10 AM)
Small Town Sinners (TBP 5/19/12, 10:05 AM)
Devoted
Air
You are So Undead to Me (TBP 5/19/12, 10:00 AM)
The Twilight Before Christmas (TBP 5/19.12, 10:10 AM)
Oceans of Fire (TBP 5/19/12, 10:10 AM)
Suffocate (TBP 5/19/12, 10:35 AM)
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Week 1 Review: Untraceable
16 year old Grace was reared in the wilderness. Her first pet was a bear named Simon. Her first potty, an oak tree. And, her first swing, a forest vine. Grace has lived in the Smokies her whole life, patrolling with her forest ranger father who taught her everything he knew about wildlife, tracking, and wilderness survival. But when Grace's dad goes missing on a routine patrol, unlike everyone in her sleepy mountain town, she refuses to believe he's dead. When a Cheetos bag and stolen government file materialize, Grace is convinced she’s one step closer to proving all the non-believers wrong.
Then one day while out tracking clues, Grace is rescued from imminent danger by Mo, a hot guy with an intoxicating accent, that's definitely not from her neck of the woods, and a secret. Grace has never felt a connection like this before, certainly not with her ex-boyfriend, the adoring, but decidedly unrugged Wyn.
Now with renewed confidence, Grace travels deeper into the wilderness that has always been her refuge only to learn that her father's disappearance is not a mere coincidence. Soon she's enmeshed in a web of conspiracy, deception, and murder. And it's going to take a lot more than a compass and a motorcycle (named Lucifer) for this kickass heroine to emerge from an epidemic that's spreading like wild fire, threatening everything and everyone she's ever loved
My Review:
This book was addictive right off the bat. Full of mystery, intrigue, and a dash of romance, it was a heart-pounding book, and I just needed to read more! It did help that there was a lot of little cool survival tips that were linked to what was happening in each chapter, making me think of why they might be there. That was a lot of fun!
I really enjoyed the mystery, and the romance, and how they blended together, because Wyn is something of a mystery, and yeah, there's the whole matter of her dad's disappearance, and the odd things that are going around town.
I had pretty much forgotten the prologue, and had kinda thought that this might have a supernatural element to it, what how the prologue was, but when we got to that point in the book again, I didn't get that same feeling, because hey, not that kind of book.
But that ending! I want to know more, I want to have the next book, because he's dead, and her dad did that for her, and yeah, it's a bit of a mess, and she's going to have some hard times ahead, dealing with that grief, and yeah, I want more answers!
This was a spectacular book, and I can't wait to read the next book!
Author: S.R. Johannes
Series: The Nature of Grace #1
Read: December 31st-January 1st, 2012
Source: Author for review
Reason Why: Sounded awesome! Wanted to read it!
Publisher: Coleman and Stott
Published: November 29th 2011
|
| 5/5 Hearts |
|
| 5/5 Books |
|
| 5/5 Stars |
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