Sneak Peek 2

Participating in an illegal underground fight club can't end well ...

See what's got Parker all twisted up in "Worth Fighting For" in the short story collection "From the Blue Room."

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Sneak Peak

An amateur horse race in an old town, with a disguised female rider and her filly ... things are going to get intense.

Read "Twice the Heart" in the short story collection "From the Blue Room."

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Goodreads

I've Published A Book!!

Hey everyone, I'm back! And for some self-promotion!!

Okay, so I kinda suck. A couple months ago I made a post about how I was going to get back into blogging, and then I . . . didn't. *whoops* sorry

I really did plan on blogging more, but then I got to study abroad and my days were filled with traveling and planning other trips to take. I don't have much excuse for this summer, except that I was working on this - my very own self-published collection of short stories! I want to use every platform available to me to spread the word, so feel free to share this along.

Here is the lovely cover

^ That's my name! On my book! Squee!!

Bonus - it's currently free on Amazon! So if you want to take a chance on it, just click this link and download it for the very small price of absolutely no money. If you read it cool, if you don't, just as cool - just know it's there, and for a limited time will not cost you anything to read (it's free until 8/22, then bumps back up to $2.99 - so get it while it's hot!). And if you read it and want to leave a review, well, that'd be pretty freaking awesome. 

Here's the link again: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074WHNXS9/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503025866&sr=8-1&keywords=from+the+blue+room+girardi


Thank you in advance! Here's a picture of an adorable baby pup to brighten up your day ~

*he's totally reaching for my new book*

Hello there ...

Hey everyone! Man, it's been awhile. I apologize for that. Between work and school, I just started to feel a bit overwhelmed, and keeping up with the blog kinda went to the backburner. But I want to get back to it, and start reviewing again. I read so many good books the past several months, and I want to share them with you. Not to mention watching some great new shows and movies, and finding some awesome albums to listen to! So, let's start with what I'm reading now ...

Don't Look Back

Okay, so I'm a pretty big fan of Jennifer L. Armentrout, or at least, I used to be. I'm finding out now that I can read her books, just in moderation, because they get to feel a bit ... repetitive after awhile. Reading a book by her every now and then? Good. Binge reading? Well, it kinda starts to feel like the same thing over and over again, just different character names. I'm not saying to not read her books, because they are quite fun, just not back to back to back. And I took enough of a break from her stories to really be enjoying Don't Look Back.

To give you some quick info, this novel is about a girl named Sam who has lost her memories after something terrible happened. Her best friend - best enemy? - Cassie is still missing, and Sam is determined to find out what happened that night. However, she's facing more complications than just lost memories. It turns out, Sam used to be a real queen bitch before and was not really liked by anyone at school, even though she practically ran it. There's also the pesky problem that someone else knows what happened that night, and they don't want Sam to remember.

To quote the end of the book info, "What if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?"

To get you guys a bit more interested, I'm going to post the first paragraph here. Creepy, dark, scary, and very intriguing, it had me hooked.

"I didn't recognize the name on the street sign. Nothing about the rural road looked familiar or friendly. Tall, imposing trees and overgrown weeds choked the front of the dilapidated home. Windows were boarded up. There was a gaping hole where the front door had been. I shivered, wanting to be far away from here ... wherever here was."

Creepy right? And it just seems to be getting better. Can't wait to solve the mystery of who-dun-it!

Goodreads Link

Amazon Link

Barnes and Noble Link

If you've made it this far down the post, I thank you. One more quick thing, I also have a Facebook page you can like/follow, and also feel free to follow me on Goodreads!

Facebook Page!

My Goodreads

Enjoy this picture of a cute baby cheetah! Thanks for reading.

Review - The Winner's Trilogy

The Winner's Trilogy

5 out of 5 Winning Stars

“If you won’t be my friend, you’ll regret being my enemy.” 

I love this series. I feel like I need to lead with that statement, because it's been awhile since I've read a complete series, beginning to end, back to back with no wait for the next installment, that have left such a great impression. The progression of the story, the pacing, the characters and themes, and how everything is connected and flows together so well is not easy to do. Ms. Rutkoski, you've created one hell of a series here. 

So a bit of information for you guys: this is a fantasy series, and Rutkoski has created a whole new world for us to read about. To sum it up really quickly, there's the country Valoria, whose emperor is on a power quest to conquer pretty much everything, and one of the conquered is the country Herran. Valoria's offer after conquering land is die, or be enslaved. The Herrani chose enslavement, and that's what their lives have been for the past ten years.

Kestral is the daughter of General Trajan, who is second only to the Emperor of Valoria. While dealing with the decision of joining the army or marriage, as all Valorians must do, she ends up buying a slave. There is something different about this slave, Arin, and though the two are enemies, the connection between them grows. But with this connection, there are unexpected consequences that Kestral could have never foresaw.

"Do you think I care how you won?" her father said softly. "You won. Your methods don't matter."
Kestral thought about the Herran War. She thoughts about the suffering her father had brought to this country, and how his actions had led to her becoming a mistress, and Arin a slave. "Do you really believe that?"

"Yes," he said. "I do."

The first book in this trilogy, The Winner's Curse, does have quite a bit of romance to it, but that's not all that is happening. There is action, trickery, deceit, violence, and so much more. As the series progresses, the stories become even more intricate and intense. There is so much more to The Winner's Trilogy than the relationship between Kestral and Arin. And the best part about their relationship is that it is believable; it doesn't feel forced, and just leads to more complications (and drama).

The Winner's Trilogy is a series about alliances and treachery, secrets and revenge, gambling and plotting, and, most importantly, slavery and freedom. What will you do for your freedom? What will you sacrifice for your freedom? Compelling storytelling, intricate relationships, high-packed action and strategic plotting, along with gambling and awesome battle scenes, and doing whatever it takes to win, The Winner's Trilogy is a cleverly-crafted, complex, fantastic series, with a perfect ending. Thank you, Ms. Rutkoski, for sharing this story with the world. It's going to stay with me for a long time.

“Happiness depends on being free, and freedom depends on being courageous.” 

Watching Wednesday - Containment

Containment

Okay, this post is going to be full of gushing, super-excited feelings. I love this show. Containment is seriously making its way up my favorite's list and I just need to share this with you guys so more people can feel what I'm feeling right now: trepidation, anxiety, fear, and a will to keep fighting, no matter how bad the odds are stacked against you.

For anyone now curious about Containment's plot, I'll give you a little info. A mysterious virus has broken out in Atlanta, and it has a 100% mortality rate. This has lead to a quarantine being enforced: no one in, no one out, no exceptions. Those inside are separated from their families and homes, and left to fight for their lives. Those on the outside are searching for a cure, but progress is slow and daunting. Violence is inevitable, and peace seems unattainable. 

There is an amazing cast for this show; the actors play their roles magnificently, and the characters are very interesting. There's police major Lex, who tries to keep the peace and protect his city, but this task is so much harder than he could have ever imagined. Matters become worse when he learns that his girlfriend, Jana, is stuck inside the cordon, along with Lex's police friend Jake. There's also school teacher Katie, with her son and students, and pregnant Teresa, whose boyfriend is outside the cordon. 

The separation between loved ones just makes matters even worse, and they get pretty bad. Containing the spread of the deadly virus is more difficult than imagined, and the violence inside the cordon is getting out of control. The fear and anxiety I feel are so real while watching Containment–seeing how people are in danger, how authorities are making decisions that are hurting more than helping, is scary. The despair the people inside the cordon must be feeling is terrifying.

The fact that Containment can make me feel so much is how I know this show is something special. I fear for the characters, I worry about how everything is going to play out. It's scary how real Containment is; if a virus like the one in the show broke out here, I could see real life progressing just like the plot of this show, and that's not okay. It's terrifying. Especially to see how quickly things can take a turn for the worst, and losing hope that it can get better.

I hope my feelings on this show has sparked your interest, and that you give it a watch. Containment is a limited series airing on the CW, Tuesdays at 9pm. We're about halfway through the series, so if you're interested in watching, I would check out the CW Website for episodes, or look for repeats on TV. This is not a show to miss.

*Shout-out to my sister for saving the recordings for me, and telling me how good the show is. I'm so glad I'm watching it!

Trailer Link

Spotlight Sunday - Author Marie Lu

LEGEND TRILOGY

I really, really love this series. I read it about two years ago now, and am already feeling a reread coming on. If there weren't so many other books and series to read, I would totally be reading the Legend series again this summer. But enough gushing, let me tell you guys what this series is about.

Legend is a dystopian novel, and the United States doesn't really exist. Instead, it has been split into two parts, The Republic of America covering the western area, and The Colonies of America in the east. The two sections are constantly at war, and the Republic is determined to win. They hold trials every year to determine who will fight in the war, or become part of the work force. 

One of our main characters, June Iparis, is part of an elite family in the Republic, and has the highest known score for the Trials. She is the prodigy of the Republic, and has no reason to cross the country's most wanted criminal, Day. No reason, that is, until Day becomes the prime suspect in the murder of June's older brother. Things start to get complicated pretty quickly.

I don't want to give too much away, but just know that this series is so much more than a dystopian-romance-YA novel. June and Day crossing paths is no coincidence, and the secrets of their country is more sinister than they could have ever imagined. The Legend series is filled with twists and turns, betrayal and action, and it only gets better and better with each book. You don't want to miss out on this one.

THE YOUNG ELITES

I read The Young Elites about a year or so ago, but it was around finals week and I actually don't remember too much about the first book. The story got pushed out of my mind to make room for study notes, haha. But anyways, I do remember liking what I read, and am definitely going to reread the first book, then make my way onto the second.

The Young Elites is a fantasy series, set in a different world that has been ravaged by a deadly virus known as the blood fever. Many died, but those who survived became a bit... different. Drastic changes to their appearances, like dark hair turning silver, is a small when compared to the manifestation strange powers. These survivors become known as malfettos and are hunted down by the Inquisition Axis.

Our protagonist, Adelina Amouteru, is a survivor of the blood fever. After discovering her own abilities, Adelina finds herself in a world where it seems everyone is an enemy and no one can be trusted. Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society, a group of Young Elites who tries to find others like themselves before the Inquisition does. Teren Santoro is part of the Inquistion and is determined to destroy the Young Elites. Quite a cast we've got here.

This book is so dark, and I absolutely love it. No one is good, not really, and the 'villains' have complex reasoning behind their actions. You can't trust anyone. It's addicting. Add in a plan to take the throne, which of course will involve deceit and murder and tons of other dark goodies, The Young Elites is quickly becoming one of my favorites.

*The last book in the series, The Midnight Star, is due to release in October of this year

Okay, I just have to throw this last thing on here: Marie Lu has a new book coming out in 2017, called Warcross, and it sounds so freaking awesome

"Warcross, according to the publisher, will follow two teenage bounty hunters who are 'hired by a young billionaire to catch a hacker in the world’s most phenomenally popular virtual reality video game.'"

Is it 2017 yet?? I need this book!