Book Review: Just a Few Inches by Tara St. Pierre

Just a Few Inches

by
Tara St. Pierre
Genre: Young-adult, Fantasy, Romance, Contemporary
All Carrie Roberts wants is to be a little bit smaller.

To fit into the perfect dress for the Valentine’s Day Dance. To look beautiful for her boyfriend, the school’s star basketball player. To keep his jealous ex-girlfriend, a rival cheerleader, away from him. And to be noticed by her classmates.

Exercising and dieting don’t work, but an advertisement for weight loss pills promises a quicker solution to her problem. As time runs out, she takes more than the recommended dose until she’s just a few inches slimmer. Heads turn when she arrives at the dance, and the wonderful night with her boyfriend is beyond what she dreamed it would be.

Days later, Carrie discovers that her body is changing in ways that should be impossible. While her doctor searches for a cure, she desperately turns to her friends and family for support. Everyone is noticing her now whether she likes it or not, and even the media is intrigued by her incredible story. Getting everything she once wanted has created new problems—problems that are growing more terrifying every day.

Because Carrie Roberts is shrinking.



Click here to read about my fun interview with the author and to get the chance to win a copy of this book! :)

"Funny how desperation allows you to bent the rules a little bit to suit your own purposes"

Personally, I think this is by all means a great and powerful book about one of the common issues that most teenagers deal with nowadays. The issue, which I think a lot of people will think petty, is really realistic and understanding and was handled in the book with a great deal of sensitivity. It was refreshing.

Carrie Roberts doesn't usually falls for the lies that the advertisement tells about the products they wanted to sell on TV. She knows how misleading those AD's can be... but she's desperate. She needs to fit in that beautiful red dress she bought for the Valentines dance and to look good for her famous basketball player boyfriend. So she decided to ignore the absurdity of the ads and actually try the diet pills.

"As I said, it was an act of desperation that led me to a method to take off those few unwanted inches."

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Book Review: Just a Few Inches by Tara St. Pierre

Author Interview + Giveaway: Tara St. Pierre of Just a Few Inches

Hi Guys! I managed to interview the Author of Just a few Inches(Click the link for the review ;) ), Tara St. Pierre! Read below to know more information about this incredible author and how she come up with this amazeballs and unique novel and to also get the chance to win an E-book copy of Just a Few Inches! :)

Tara St. Pierre has been writing for over two decades, but her muse only sporadically provides inspiration. Her laptop is filled with incomplete manuscripts and other plot outlines, and she feels blessed when one finally pushes its way through to completion--no matter how long it takes!

She enjoys classic science fiction movies and television shows. When driving, she sings along with the radio loudly and off key. She prefers tea over coffee, spring over autumn, vanilla ice cream over chocolate, and caramel over hot fudge. Though she lives by herself, one of her two cats enjoys cuddling with her.

About The Book

Just a Few Inches

by
Tara St. Pierre
Genre: Young-adult, Fantasy, Romance, Contemporary

All Carrie Roberts wants is to be a little bit smaller.

To fit into the perfect dress for the Valentine’s Day Dance. To look beautiful for her boyfriend, the school’s star basketball player. To keep his jealous ex-girlfriend, a rival cheerleader, away from him. And to be noticed by her classmates.

Exercising and dieting don’t work, but an advertisement for weight loss pills promises a quicker solution to her problem. As time runs out, she takes more than the recommended dose until she’s just a few inches slimmer. Heads turn when she arrives at the dance, and the wonderful night with her boyfriend is beyond what she dreamed it would be.

Days later, Carrie discovers that her body is changing in ways that should be impossible. While her doctor searches for a cure, she desperately turns to her friends and family for support. Everyone is noticing her now whether she likes it or not, and even the media is intrigued by her incredible story. Getting everything she once wanted has created new problems—problems that are growing more terrifying every day.

Because Carrie Roberts is shrinking.

Hello Tara!

First of all, would you kindly tell us something about yourself? Are you a lot like Carrie? Eg. Athletic, cheerleader etc.? Because that would be cool! Not that you’re not cool now because you are, err, sorry got carried away.

I’m not particularly athletic, and I wasn’t a cheerleader. I had to do some research into certain cheerleading terms to make that aspect of her personality believable! But she’s that way because I felt it was important for the story for her to be in a somewhat high-profile role in her school and to give her a believable reason to have a rival such as Janelle.

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Author Interview + Giveaway: Tara St. Pierre of Just a Few Inches

Book Review: Undertow by K.R. Conway

Undertow (Undertow #1)

by
K.R. Conway
Genre: Young-adult, Paranormal, Romance
Eila Walker knows luck is not a friend, so she is downright shocked to inherit a million-dollar Cape Cod home. And yeah, her new town isn't perfect: the cheerleaders are heinous clones, the local undertow can kill ya, and her Great Grams was supposedly fried by lightning in the harbor square. Still, Eila is hopeful her luckless days are in the past . . . until history decides to repeat itself.

When Raef O’Reilly becomes her friendly, yet weirdly protective shadow, Eila thinks life is pretty darn perfect – until she is hauled beneath the waves by an unnatural undertow. Revealing coal-black eyes and iron-like strength as he rescues her, Raef can no longer hide what he is . . . or what she can do. Eila, last of her kind, can supposedly channel the power of human souls, while Raef is more adept at stealing them. Even worse, the legend about her ancestor isn't such a myth, since Eila’s grandmother was one kick-butt warrior until her lightning-like power backfired. A power that is written all over Eila's DNA.

Determined to stay one step ahead of a dangerous clan that is hunting her, Raef, along with three unlikely allies, will do all they can to protect her. But as hidden pieces of their brutal histories unravel, Eila begins to understand just what went down in the harbor square. She soon realizes that following in her grandmother’s fearless footsteps may be the only way to save those she loves . . . including Raef.



Undertow contains majority of the things I hated in Paranormal Novel... Predictable plot, instalove, hot-transfer guy, common evil cheerleader squad, a couple of slut-shaming and a Mary Sue character, I shouldn't be able to like this book by default....

But damn, I had a blast!

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Book Review: Undertow by K.R. Conway

Book Review: Altaica by Tracy M. Joyce

Altaica
(The Chronicles of Altaica, #1)

by

Tracy M. Joyce
Genre: Young-adult, High Fantasy, Romance
“Look at her – she’s Hill Clan. Even the Matyrani don’t like them …”

Isaura – little is known about her race, but much is whispered. Born to refugees, she grows up enduring racism and superstition within a community that fears her. She has few friends, and those she treasures. Trapped, she longs for escape to a different life.

Escape is only the beginning of her troubles. Having fled an invading army with her friends, Isaura is faced with heinous choices in order to survive. Secrets from her past emerge to torment her and threaten to destroy all she holds dear. Her struggles forge a bond with an ancient power – a power which may transform or consume her. Old hatreds and superstitions are renewed and at her most vulnerable she learns the true nature of those around her.

Her only hope lies in a foreign land – a land rich in tradition; ruled by three powerful clans. A land with a history marked by warfare; where magic as we know it does not exist. Instead what is here, in abundance, is a more primal power.

Survival carries a high price.

Welcome to Altaica.

I have Altaica on my currently-reading shelf since September, a month and 3-4 books later, it's still there, unfinished, not for the lack of trying really, because I did try, multiple times.. until I just couldn't do it anymore.

"They're not used to seeing women fight, that's all. It's one thing for them to know you carry a bow to hunt, but another to see it used like that."

Seeing the cover for the very first time, I thought this was going to be a very interesting and kick-ass high fantasy read... I couldn't have been more wrong.

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Book Review: Altaica by Tracy M. Joyce

Feature & Follow #19: What Super Powers would you like to have?

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs!



This Week's Question:

If you could have any super power, what would it be? - Suggested by Jess Time to Read.

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Feature & Follow #19: What Super Powers would you like to have?

Waiting on Wednesday #18: The Sleeping Prince by Melinda Salisbury

The Sleeping Prince (The Sin Eater’s Daughter #2)

by
Melinda Salisbury
(Website|Twitter)
Return to the darkly beautiful world of The Sin Eater's Daughter with a sequel that will leave you awed, terrified . . . and desperate for more.

Ever since her brother Lief disappeared, Errin's life has gone from bad to worse. Not only must she care for her sick mother, she has to scrape together rent money by selling illegal herbal cures. But none of that compares to the threat of the vengeful Sleeping Prince whom the Queen just awoke from his enchanted sleep.

When her village is evacuated as part of the war against the Sleeping Prince, Errin is left desperate and homeless. The only person she can turn to is the mysterious Silas, a young man who buys deadly poisons from Errin, but won't reveal why he needs them. Silas promises to help her, but when he vanishes, Errin must journey across a kingdom on the brink of war to seek another way to save her mother and herself. But what she finds shatters everything she believed about her world, and with the Sleeping Prince drawing nearer, Errin must make a heartbreaking choice that could affect the whole kingdom.

Book Link:

(Goodreads)

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Waiting on Wednesday #18: The Sleeping Prince by Melinda Salisbury

Book Blitz + Giveaways:End of Day by Summer Lane

End of Day
(The Zero Trilogy #3)

Author: Summer Lane
Release Date: October 9th 2015
Genre: Dystopia, Young Adult
The end has come.

Elle Costas and her dog, Bravo, have survived the dangers of Hollywood and escaped the clutches of Slaver Territory. The apocalypse has been cruel, and the wasteland of California has forced them to seek shelter in a civilian refugee camp at a place called Bear Mountain.

Here, they meet Cheng, a mysterious boy with the skills of a samurai, and Luli, a steampunk warrior with a thirst for vengeance. But friends cannot always be trusted. When a horrific tragedy befalls Bear Mountain, Elle and Bravo come face to face with their most dangerous enemy yet.

Betrayal and heartbreak threaten to destroy the bonds of friendship. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Run, or be caught.
Kill, or be killed.
Fight, or be forced to surrender.

The end of the day will change everything.
Will Elle and Bravo survive?

The explosive, thrilling conclusion to the #1 Bestselling Zero Trilogy by Summer Lane.

Book Links:

(Amazon | Goodreads)

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Book Blitz + Giveaways:End of Day by Summer Lane

Book Blitz + Giveaways: Awakening by Catrina Burgess

Awakening
(The Dark Rituals #1)

Author: Catrina Burgess
Release Date: October 7th 2015
Publisher: Full Fathom Five Digital
In Awakening, the first installment in the Dark Rituals series, a former healer turns to the Death Arts to seek revenge.

Seventeen-year-old Colina was born a healer. But after a horrific event forces her to leave her clan, she becomes desperate to learn the dark magic of the death dealers, mages who draw their power from the spirits of the dead. Colina was taught to fear and hate death dealers, but becoming one of them is the only way for her to get the revenge she seeks—and the only way for her to survive.

Colina asks a young death dealer named Luke to help her, but he’s reluctant to train her in the Death Arts. Little does she know convincing him to teach her will be the easiest part of her journey. To become a death dealer, Colina will need to undergo three dark rituals, each more terrifying than the last. At the same time, she’ll have to deal with her growing feelings for her mentor. Too bad the first ritual involves him strangling her to death.

As Colina undergoes the trials, she discovers an untapped darkness within herself. If she survives the horrific rituals and gains dark power, what will she become?

Catrina Burgess’ Dark Rituals series originally appeared on Wattpad with over three million reads. Awakening is the first book of four and was named Wattpad’s Best Suspense Story of 2014.

Book Links:

(Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Google Play| Goodreads)

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Book Blitz + Giveaways: Awakening by Catrina Burgess

Author Interview: C.L Denault of Gambit (The Prodigy Chronicles #1)

Hello Everyone!

I'am so glad to announce that I have managed to interview one of the coolest author I've ever known- C.L Denault - Author of one of the best Dystopian book I read this year, Gambit(The Prodigy Chronicles #1)! Check out my full review of this awesome book here.

I hope you guys will enjoy this interview, get to know the Characters I learned to love and her debut novel, Gambit a little better!

Gambit (The Prodigy Chronicles #1)

by
C.L Denault
Genre: Young-adult, Dystopian, Romance
In Earth’s battle-ridden future, humans have evolved. Those with extraordinary skills rise to power and fame. Those without live in poverty.

Sixteen-year-old Willow Kent believed she was normal. But when a genetically-advanced military officer shows up in her village and questions her identity, long-buried secrets begin to emerge. With remarkable skills and a shocking genetic code the Core and its enemies will do anything to obtain, Willow suddenly finds the freedom she craves slipping through her fingers. Greed, corruption, and genetic tampering threaten every aspect of her existence as she’s thrust, unwilling, into the sophisticated culture of the elite Core city. To ensure peace, she must leave the past behind, marry a man she’s never met, and submit to the authority of a relentless officer with a hidden agenda of his own.

Her life has become a dangerous game. How much will she sacrifice in order to win?

Book Links:

(Amazon | Goodreads)

C.L. Denault is a speculative fiction writer who loves dreaming up tales of adventure and intrigue. A former systems analyst, she gave up her nerdy code-writing skills to stay home with her children (including a son with special needs), and currently lives among the vast stretches of cornfields in Illinois.

Writing and blogging are two of her passions, along with drinking coffee and watching sci-fi and horror flicks. When she’s not hanging out with her family, she can usually be found at a library or tucked away in the shadowy corner of a hip coffeehouse. She’s also been glimpsed sneaking into her garage, late at night, to work on her time machine.

She enjoys connecting with people (especially those from other planets, dimensions, and the future). To find her, just visit her website or The INFJ Café. Or use a Stargate. Whichever is easiest.

Hello Cary!

First of all, would you kindly tell us something about yourself? Do you somehow have special, awesome abilities like Willow Kent? :D

Let me start by thanking you for having me! I’m so happy to be on your blog today! Me, I’m pretty much an average American mom with a lot of wild ideas running around in my brain. They never leave me alone, so I started writing and blogging to get them out of my head.

Special abilities? Well, I do have a strong sense of intuition. It’s part of being an INFJ personality type. I get occasional premonitions, and I’ve even had dreams that later came true. So I gave that ability to Fenn and Willow, because it’s so personal to me. Still keeping my fingers crossed for telekinesis, though. :)

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Author Interview: C.L Denault of Gambit (The Prodigy Chronicles #1)

Book Review: Gambit by C.L. Denault

Gambit
(The Prodigy Chronicles #1)

by

C.L. Denault
Genre: Young-adult, Fantasy, Dystopian and Romance
In Earth’s battle-ridden future, humans have evolved. Those with extraordinary skills rise to power and fame. Those without live in poverty.

Sixteen-year-old Willow Kent believed she was normal. But when a genetically-advanced military officer shows up in her village and questions her identity, long-buried secrets begin to emerge. With remarkable skills and a shocking genetic code the Core and its enemies will do anything to obtain, Willow suddenly finds the freedom she craves slipping through her fingers. Greed, corruption, and genetic tampering threaten every aspect of her existence as she’s thrust, unwilling, into the sophisticated culture of the elite Core city. To ensure peace, she must leave the past behind, marry a man she’s never met, and submit to the authority of a relentless officer with a hidden agenda of his own.

Her life has become a dangerous game. How much will she sacrifice in order to win?



Do you ever read a book that made you want to unread them right after you finished reading it? No, not because it wasn't a pleasant experience but because you want to read it again for the very first time?

Gambit made that impact to me. I wanted to unread the book because I want to savor each moment. I finished this book all too fast, thanks to its fast-paced plot. Now I want to start and meet each and every character again. I want to go back, and meet Reece, Asp and Willow all over again.

"I sucked in a lungful of air and kept from heaving up the contents of my stomach. This was terrible. Our lives were in danger, and the girl with the strongest skill of all couldn't handle it. Some weapon I was turning out to be."

I was pleasantly surprised after reading Gambit. I'am honestly putting off writing review in this wonderful book because I'm so scared I won't be able to do this book justice with my review. But I have to try. I need to atleast try.

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Book Review: Gambit by C.L. Denault

Book Review: The Fate of Ten by Pittacus Lore

The Fate of Ten
(Lorien Legacies #6)

by

Pittacus Lore
Genre: Young-adult, Fantasy, Sci-fi
The sixth book in the thrilling, action-packed, New York Times bestselling I Am Number Four series! For years the Garde have fought the Mogadorians in secret. Now all of that has changed. The invasion has begun. If the Garde can't find a way to stop the Mogs, humanity will suffer the same fate as the Lorien: annihilation.

There is still hope. When the Elders sent the Garde to Earth, they had a plan—one which the Garde are finally starting to understand. In the climax of The Revenge of Seven, a group of the Garde traveled to an ancient pyramid in Mexico known to their people as the Sanctuary. There they awoke a power that had been hidden within our planet for generations. Now this power can save the world . . . or destroy it. It will all depend on who wields it.

"I wonder what will be left of us when this is over, Six. What we will be like"

"If there's anything left of us," I reply. "Big if, at this point"

So The Fate of Ten, 6th book in I am Number Four Series. Seriously, this is one of the few books that no matter how tired I'am at waiting yearly, I still can't get enough of it. I just have to get my hands on the new releases, every freaking year. How can I not? I started this series when I was in college and I never get the chance to move on. Sure, I get disappointed along the way, but seriously, no matter rant I do, I'm sure as hell still going to read the next book, I'm sure, I'm still going to anticipate for the next release, like I know I'm going to do now that I finished Reading this book.

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Book Review: The Fate of Ten by Pittacus Lore

Book Review: If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince? by Melissa Kantor

If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince?

by
Melissa Kantor
Genre: Young-adult, Contemporary, Romance
Wicked stepmother? Check. Evil stepsisters? Check. Miserable life? Check.

Lucy Norton’s life has all the makings of a Cinderella story. Her dad’s always away on business, leaving Lucy with her cruel stepmother and bratty stepsisters. She’s burdened with chores, and has a hard time fitting in at her new school. So when she sees Connor Pearson, the star player on the varsity basketball team, Lucy hopes her destiny has finally changed. With everything else going on in her life, doesn’t she at least deserve to get the handsome prince?

Melissa Kantor’s enchanting novel proves that sometimes the happy ending isn’t quite the one you’d expect. Lucy’s about to discover the truth about finding her real Prince Charming… and finding herself.



Well, for someone that claims, contemporary romance is her least favorite genre, I'm sure having a great time with back to back contemporary reads I recently had.

"You're doing a great job," said my dad when he came into the kitchen to get more ice. I was standing by the stove watching to make sure the spinach in phyllo dough didn't burn. "This is what I like to see." He came over and gave my shoulder a squeeze."This is the girl I always knew you could be."

He always knew I could be a maid?

I always had a soft spot for Cinderella retellings, being it my all-time favorite fairy tale.

Only, this isn't a contemporary retelling.

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Book Review: If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince? by Melissa Kantor

Book Review: Lumière by Jacqueline Garlick

Lumière

(The Illumination Paradox #1)

by

Jacqueline Garlick
Genre: Young-adult, Fantasy, Romance, Steampunk
One determined girl. One resourceful boy. One miracle machine that could destroy everything.

After an unexplained flash shatters her world, seventeen-year-old Eyelet Elsworth sets out to find the Illuminator, her father’s prized invention. With it, she hopes to cure herself of her debilitating seizures before Professor Smrt—her father’s arch nemesis—discovers her secret and locks her away in an asylum.

Pursued by Smrt, Eyelet locates the Illuminator only to see it whisked away. She follows the thief into the world of the unknown, compelled not only by her quest but by the allure of the stranger—Urlick Babbit—who harbors secrets of his own.

Together, they endure deadly Vapours and criminal-infested woods in pursuit of the same prize, only to discover the miracle machine they hoped would solve their problems may in fact be their biggest problem of all.

"Living in eternal twilight might sound romantic, but it's not. It's simply depressing"

Sounds intriguing right?

Tbh, Lumière got my attention with its gorgeous cover. But to be fair, this book totally sounds amazing as well.. it just didn't work out for me.

The plot was all over the place, confusing as hell world building in an alternate world of England, everything was spoon-fed to readers to the point that reading it get's totally boring, the characters were a total fail too. Sometimes, when a book tries so hard to portray the MC as strong and perfect, they most likely to end up as annoying and a stupid character on my eyes.

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Book Review: Lumière by Jacqueline Garlick