Guest Post {Review} Dare You To

Guest Post
Nikki from Fiction Freak has graciously offered to do a guest review of


Dare You To. It was disappointing and I wasn't the biggest fan. Not to say it didn’t have its good moments—it did! Just not enough to make me love it as much as I wanted. Which sucked since it got off to an absolutely GREAT start and I loved.

I had a lot of issues with this book, namely the characters. I pushed through this book though because 1) I kept hoping it would get better and 2) I really wanted to see Echo and Noah and Isaiah again. 

Now, if you ask Annabelle, she can probably send you all my reactions since I texted her all of them. And none of them were particularly…good. I alternated between hating and loving all the characters, wanting to punch someone and wanting to tackle hug them. I guess you could call them brilliantly flawed, but they seemed more moody and hypocritical to me, though they did have their moments.

So I’m going to basically talk about the characters in this review.


Main Characters

Review & Recipe #3: 13 Reasons Why & Spin Dip

Contemporary


I started a new meme here where I will be posting mini reviews  on the 1st of every month along with a recipe I've created or found that relates to the book.  To join me, add the image above to your post and link up below.


Sorry I'm a little late this month!


Mini Review:
My cousins let me borrow this one and said it was fantastic.  What they forgot to mention was that it is also really depressing and kind of frustrating.  It wasn't a two boxes of tissues-ugly crying- way, but it was more upsetting that this girl took her life and then blamed everyone else and no one saw the signs to help her.  

 The main character clay was so sweet and I loved that it was in his perspective listening to the tapes the girl left behind.  The way the story went back and forth between how he was reacting to the tapes and the story of the girl's life was so fast paced I couldn't find a place to stop.  Which means I basically read this book in a day.  It's pretty short so it wasn't hard.  

 I thought it was a pretty realistic story.  When I was in high school one of my classmates hung himself.  I didn't really know him well.  Never had classes with him or anything, but it still really bothered me.  After reading this, I wondered how his friends and other people in his life felt after he was gone.  Did he leave them any explanation?  This happens more than it should and I think it's great the author took the time to write something to get teens to start recognizing the signs of depression.  He might have saved someone's life.

Recipe:
Spinach Artichoke Dip / Stuffed Mushrooms

If you're going to read something as sad as Thirteen Reasons Why, you're going to need some comfort food.  This snack is pretty healthy, but tastes even better than Applebee's Spin dip!  You won't need to bust out the elastic sweatpants for these  

 When cooking for my sister's Bridal Shower I accidentally used up all the Spinach when making the spin dip.  I needed a gluten free option for one of the guests so I took the spin dip and stuffed some mushrooms with it and they ended up being a big hit.  So whether you're looking for a fun dip during game nights or a grain free option this recipe will not disappoint.

Ingredients:

 1 (13 oz) jar of artichoke hearts
1 bag frozen spinach
1 clove garlic
1/2 cup greek yogurt (plain)
1/2 cup light mayo
2/3 cup parm cheese
4 oz mozzarella cheese
1 bag pita or tortilla chips 
1 pkg. of mushrooms
salt and pepper

1. Preheat oven 375 degrees.
2. Microwave the spinach until it's soft. (1 min or 30 seconds)
3. Throw the spinach, artichoke, yogurt, and mayo in the food processor until it's finely ground.
4. Mince the garlic and throw it in too.
5. Add the mozzarella and parm cheese and salt/pepper to taste.
6. Once it's all blended you can either bake it in a pan for 20-25 mins or...

 7. Wash mushrooms and cut out center stem.
8. Fold in Feta cheese to the spin dip and stuff the dip into mushrooms.
9. Place on tray and bake for 10-15 minutes.

{Review} The Madman's Daughter by: Megan Shepherd

4 Stars

Number of Pgs. 432 (Hardcover)
Publication date: June 29, 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, Mystery, Horror
How I got the copy:  Won from Epic Reads!
Rating:  4 Stars
From Goodreads:
In the darkest places, even love is deadly.

 Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

 Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.

 Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect.

I've been using a new way of reviewing that I saw over at Making the Grade.  It breaks the book down and makes it easier to rate.  The way it works is each category gets a score out of ten points.  Then you add them all up + 50 (50% automatically for each book) and that's your score out of 100.
8/10:  I'm surprised to say that I like the Historical Fiction genre now!  Especially ones that have mystery aspects to them like this one did.  This story was not predictable.  When things were revealed later in the book I was like "Why didn't I see that coming?!"  I love when stories are able to trick me.  This book was equal parts creep and thrilling.   
7/10: Juliet is really bad ass for a female character in that time period.  She isn't afraid of much and is so strong from having to fend for herself at a young age.  Although her one weakness, her father, kept getting in the way of her seeing what was really going on.  But I get it. She wanted acceptance from the father she hadn't seen in years.

 Edward was so mysterious.  He just shows up and I wanted to know more about him.  I was really surprised when more about him was revealed.  I honestly didn't see that coming.

 Montgomery kinda reminded me of Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights.  He's the servant that the rich girl falls for.  

February 2013 Wrap Up

challenges


Can you believe it's already March?  How did that happen so fast.  I decided to start doing wrap up posts sorta like the ones I've seen over at Katie's Book Blog so I can see my progress!  I did pretty well I think.    


 Posts:
Review & Recipe #1
Passion for Bookish Fashion #2: The Madman's Daughter
The Carrie Diaries Read Along & Giveaway
Harley's Hall of Bookish Fame: Auntie Spinelli Reads
Valentines Day Match Ups: romance movies to contemp books
Can Blogging Have a Negative Effect on Our Reading Experience?
Quiz: Which literary character are you?

 Reviews:
Dance of Shadows by: Yelana Black
The Ruining by: Anna Collomore
The Truth About Letting Go by: Leigh T. Moore
Beautiful Bastard by: Christina Lauren

Books Read But Not Reviewed:
Lola and the Boy Next Door
Unraveling
Boundless
The Carrie Diaries
The Madman's Daughter

 Pg Count Challenge-goal: 10,000 pages
3,712 pages

 Seriously Series & Sequel Challenges- goal: Seriously Spectacular Series Star  
Boundless
The Madman's Daughter
Dance of Shadows
Article 5

 New Adult Challenge- goal: 10 books
Beautiful Bastard
The Ruining
The Truth About Letting Go

 Classics Challenge- goal: 5 books
none

 A-Z Challenge- goal: 26 books
9 books 

Review & Recipe #2

Dystopian


I started a new meme here where I will be posting mini reviews  on the 1st of every month along with a recipe I've created or found that relates to the book.  To join me, add the image above to your post and link up below.

Mini Review:

Can someone please explain to me why I waited this long to read this book? Seriously, if you haven't read this book drop whatever you're doing (well finish reading my review first) then go get this book.  It was so action packed and had such a scary realistic dystopian world I literally could not put it down.  

 So much happens in this book yet it only takes place within a few days.  I loved Ember's character.  While she's stupid at times and puts herself in unnecessary danger, she's also really good at getting herself out of it.  And Chase was the dark brooding hunk that is just a teen trying to figure out his life in the middle of a crazy post war world.  

 Breaking Point just came out and it's taking everything in me not to just go spend money and buy it right this second.  That's how you can tell I love a book...when I'm willing to just go buy the book right away!  Seriously go read it!  
Mexican Lettuce Wraps

Recipe:

This meal seems so intricate, much like Article 5, but underneath the wraps it's actually quite simple and enjoyable!  My cousin and I love to get together and try to make healthy recipes out of ones we already have.  One day we raided the pantry and came up with this version of a mexican layered dip that my family has made for years.  It's healthy and obnoxiously delicious.

Ingredients:
1 can refried beans
4 tbs. plain greek yogurt (or you can use sour cream)
1/2 pkg taco mix
1 cup cheddar cheese (I used reduced fat cheese)
1/3 cup onion chopped
1/3 cup tomato chopped
1/3 cup black beans
1/3 cup corn
1 cup ground turkey
1 head of lettuce (I like Iceberg for this)

 1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. On the stove brown the ground turkey until cooked.  Stir in the taco seasoning.
3. Add to the pot: onion, black beans, corn and stir till mixed. 
3. In a 9in pan layer refried beans, greek yogurt, meat mixture, tomatoes, cheddar cheese.
4. Bake for 10 minutes or until cheese starts to bubble.
5. Serve on lettuce (or if you want to be a little unhealthy chips work great too!)  
6. Sit back and relax while everyone praises your delicious cooking.




{Review} & {Recipe} #1 Sweet Evil

Recipe

I started a new meme here where I will be posting mini reviews  on the 1st of every month along with a recipe I've created or found that relates to the book.  To join me, add the image above to your post and link up below.


Mini Review:
A few months ago I went to my friend's bachelorette party that was four hours away. I knew I was going to be in a car with people I didn't know too well for that long time so I got Sweet Evil ebook out from the library on my phone. I figured if things got boring or awkward I could just pretend I was on facebook or something. Volcanoes could have been erupting outside my window and I wouldn't have noticed. I was so entranced in this story. I loved the idea of each demon having it's own sin that they encourage and spread. Kai's character was unique because not many guys jobs are to seduce women. What makes for a better story than two people who aren't allowed to fall in love? And Anna is sweet and kind.  The two shouldn't work together, but somehow they're a perfect match. I ended up finishing this book in the span of the trip. While reading in the car, One More Night by Maroon 5 came on, and it immediately fit with the scene I was reading. Kai and Anna were in a hotel room and things were getting heated. I'll leave it at that. Basically, this book was great and I can't wait for Sweet Peril to come out!
Recipe:

This recipe, much like Sweet Evil, is sinfully sweet.  I created it a few days ago since there isn't much I can eat right now.  My stomach's still all messed up.  I started throwing crap in a blender to get some protein and nutrients in me and here's what I came up with.  

I swear the first gulp I took a little light shown down from heaven and angels sang.  Not sure if it tasted so amazing because I've been living off toast and eggs for a few weeks.  But regardless this is a healthy alternative for ice cream that'll knock your socks off.

Ingredients:
2 vanilla yogurt cups
2 bananas
2 tsp coconut oil (this stuff is like crack. It tastes just like inside of a mounds bar!) 
1 tsp chocolate syrup (live a little!)
1 scoop protein powder
A splash of water
Ice (optional-if you're going to freeze it don't add this)

Throw all these ingredients into a blender and mix.  You can try adding peanut butter too maybe.  I also have frozen this into popsicles which are fan-freakin-tastic.  And I even froze it in a container.  Tastes like banana ice cream.  Enjoy!  



Guest Post & Giveaway: Susan Dennard

Blog Tour Stop
I'm so excited to welcome Susan Dennard, author of Something Strange and Deadly, to Harley Bear Book Blog!  Thank you Susan for taking time out of your busy schedule to do a guest post!


On this blog tour stop, she will be telling us a little about the main characters in her book and what they wore.  Something Strange and Deadly takes place in 1876 so fashion showed your social status and gender.  


I wish I had seen this post before I read the book so I could picture the characters even more clearly.  If you want to see what I thought about the book my review can be found here.  Don't forget to scroll down and enter the GIVEAWAY!




One of the most fun things to research for Something Strange and Deadly was the fashion--at least for
Eleanor. Men's fashion in Victorian days was rather drab. Frock coats, top hats, and a nice tie--boooring.



Fortunately, my three main characters in men's garb are so different, they demand different styles. For Joseph
Boyer--leader of the Spirit-Hunters and son of a plantation owner--only the finest, most elegant clothes will do.
And, as a young gentleman, he would never leave home without his top hat, nor would
he EVER be seen without his gloves. He's a firm believer in cleanliness being next to godliness.

Jie Chen, the Spirit-Hunters' "muscle", said good-bye to Chinese garb in favor of an
American boy's fashion. Trousers, a waist coat--or more often, just suspenders--and a bright red tie leave this brawl-loving character happy...and more importantly, mobile enough to knock skulls when needed.

In fact, the only thing still Chinese about Jie--other than the lovely facial structure, of
course--is the Manchu Queue, which was required for all Chinese men (punishable by death!) and leaves the front
half of the head bald with a long braid behind.


As for Daniel Sheridan--the inventor for the Spirit-Hunters'--fashion is about as important
to him as...well, snowfall in Antarctica (not at all, in other words). That said, he does care what people
think of him, so he's been known to clean up on occasion. But, when it comes to working in the lab, he's most
comfortable in loose trousers and a baggy white shirt--collar scandalously unbuttoned at the top and hands
glove-free (gasp!).
Oh, and we can't forget his flat cap--which he never leaves the lab without. I imagine it
looking exactly like this:
Daniel would NEVER be seen in public without it...at least not in book 1. In A
Darkness Strange and Lovely, well...let's just say, things change.
Finally, we have the heroine of the story, Miss Eleanor Fitt of the
Philadelphia Fitts. Though she was born into privilege, her family has fallen on some seriously hard times. No more
new wardrobe each season; no more scouring the pages of Godey's and Harper's
Bazaar for a new walking gown; and no more worrying about which parasol would look best with which hat.
I had so much fun finding somewhat plain--though still stunning--gowns for
Eleanor since she needs things that will stay as timeless as she can make them. Even though she may
not care about fashion, her Mama does as well as all the people in her social circle. When the book opens, she's
wears something like:
And then later on, she gets to dress up all fancy like this:
But by the end of the book, Eleanor has pretty much taken to no corsets...and no skirts
even! (It's not like it's easy to fight the dead in layers of petticoats and bustle!) Yet, by the end of the
trilogy, Eleanor has gone back to skirts because--despite her love of mobility--she's still a curvy young woman and proud of it. I imagine her dressing in something of her own design, similar to this image by anndr on Deviantart:
Oh, and let's not forget her parasol--the perfect protection against the sun
and zombies! As Jie teaches her, Aim for the Knees!

You tell me: What do you think of Victorian fashion? Are you a
fan of all the ladies' frills or more into the simplicity of men's clothes?


I love dresses and am glad that girls are starting to wear them again.  Not sure if I'd like to wear one with all the frills every day though.  I don't like corsets so I would probably be like Eleanor and complain about it all the time.  The men's clothes are nice.  Daniel's hat reminds me of what Noah (Ryan Gosling) wears in The Notebook lol so of course I like that!  What do you guys think?


Susan, thank you again for stopping by! 
I can't wait to find out what happens next for the spirit hunters in book 2!


Check out other blog tour stops at Itching for Books
or enter the giveaway!


a Rafflecopter giveaway




Author Spotlight:

Susan Dennard is a reader, writer,
lover of animals, and eater of cookies.

She is a writer turned marine biologist turned
writer again. Among the traits she shares with
her heroine Eleanor are a weakness for
Shakespeare quotes, a healthy appetite for
baked goods, and an insatiable curiosity.
Sadly, Susan does not get to wear a corset or
wave a parasol on a daily basis.
She lives in Germany with her French husband
and Irish setter, and you can learn more about

her crazy thoughts and crippling cookie-addiction on her blog, twitter, facebook, or Goodreads. Something Strange and Deadly is her debut novel.




{Review}{Interview}{Excerpt} I Am Me by: Ram Sundaram

4 Stars


Title: I Am Me

Author: Ram Sundaram
Publisher: iUniverse
Publication date: December 22, 2011 
# Of Pages: 276 Paperback 
How I got the copy: From author in exchange for an honest review

From Goodreads.com

Everyone in this world faces choices every day. In ten pairs of short stories, Ram Sundaram depicts each tale in two distinct ways, offering readers a duo of choices-to reside exclusively in a realistic world or to indulge in the realms of fantasy. As Sundaram examines different stages of life-from birth to death and beyond-through the lenses of fact and fiction, he incorporates romance, humor, horror, and fantasy in an effort to portray the duality of existence.
Sundaram introduces an eclectic group of characters. In Ishvar's world, faith and hope are best friends, but when that world suddenly shatters, Ishvar begins running from his memories. A lonely boy who stammers and believes his older brother would never hurt him finally discovers the true meaning of friendship in a girl named Emma. Two birds named Max and Macs are born in the same apple tree. As the birds battle over what each thinks is his territory on a branch, they soon discover that their differences are what will bring them together.
"I Am Me" is an inspiring collection of short stories that encourages others to dream, imagine, and ponder their own worlds through two lenses.

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

My Review:

Review: Socialpunk by Monica Leonelle & GIVEAWAY

4 Stars
Blog Tour Stop:


Title: Socialpunk  
Author: Monica Leonelle 
Publisher:   Spaulding House  
Publication date: March 27, 2012 
# Of Pages: 275 ebook
How I got the copy: author 


From Amazon

Ima would give anything to escape The Dome and learn what’s beyond its barriers, but the Chicago government has kept all its citizens on lockdown ever since the Scorched Years left most of the world a desert wasteland. When a mysterious group of hooded figures enters the city unexpectedly, Ima uncovers a plot to destroy The Dome and is given the choice between escaping to a new, dangerous city or staying behind and fighting a battle she can never win.



My Rating: 4/5 Stars

My Review:
þ Characters with depth
þ Strong female lead
þA plot that twists and turns in every chapter

Like every other first installment in a trilogy there was a lot of build up.  Unlike every other first book, Monica Leonelle was actually able to give the reader the back story in pieces while still providing lots of action, a new world setting, and a splash of romance.  The prologue gives us a look into this new world and it's creator.  We learn that he has created a son who he intends to give to one of his creations to make her happy in her last months of life.  Then we meet the that creation, the main character Ima (aka "E").  She's just like any other girl who struggles with abuse and confusing crushes.  She sees herself as weak and an outsider until later when she is forced to acknowledge her strength and finally embraces it.  I loved watching her grow and develop into a powerful female lead.  Since this story was very mature for the YA genre I was glad that despite Ima's abusive father and neglectful "boyfriend" she was still able to channel her strength in the end.  Young girls need a role model like Ima.


The plot took so many twists that I didn't see coming.  It seemed like every other chapter something big happened and I was holding my breath hoping the characters would make it out of whatever bind they were in.  I also liked that this dystopian was very subtle and unlike any other I had ever read.  I didn't even realize it was a dystopian at first.    


I'm excited to read the next book in this trilogy because the first book was left on a cliffhanger and I simply need to know what Ima will face next.  I can't wait to watch her grow even more and see what happens with the few romantic sparks she had in book 1.  I also can't wait to see what happens with Dash and the epic twist Monica laid on us in the very end of the book.  


I will be honest, this wasn't my all time favorite book in the world, but it definitely was a lot more intense and inventive than I had expected it to be.  I liked the actual writing style of the author and the characters so I would definitely suggest it to friends.  Lucky for you guys Monica is hosting a giveaway where you could win a copy of her book or you know...AN IPAD 3 OR KINDLE (where you can then buy her book and read it on your new tablet!)              

GIVEAWAY
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly

4 Stars

 
Title: Angel Burn  

Author: L.A. Weatherly 
Publisher:  Candlewick Press 
Publication date: May 24, 2011 
# Of Pages: 449 Hardcover 
How I got the copy: Library 


From Goodreads.com

Willow knows she's different from other girls, and not just because she loves tinkering with cars. Willow has a gift. She can look into the future and know people's dreams and hopes, their sorrows and regrets, just by touching them. she has no idea where this power comes from. But the assassin, Alex, does. Gorgeous, mysterious Alex knows more about Willow than Willow herself does. He knows that her powers link to dark and dangerous forces and that he's one of the few humans left who can fight them. When Alex finds himself falling in love with his sworn enemy, he discovers that nothing is as it seems, least of all good and evil.



My Rating: 4/5 Stars

My Review:
þAttraction, tension, and a growing romance.

þA corrupt race of angels with an evil plan

þNonstop Fast paced action 

This book had gotten mixed reviews on goodreads, but I decided to get it anyway because my book club was reading all Angel/Demon books for the month of April.  I am so glad I didn't let the bad reviews determine whether I read it or not because I loved it!  It starts out giving background on both main characters Willow and Alex from each of their perspectives.  We see Willow living with her aunt and mom (who has lost mental capacity over the years), and we see how she is different from her classmates.  She a little eccentric, works on cars, and gives people psychic readings.  Then we see Alex, a 17 year old living on his own and trained to kill angels for the rest of his life.  I liked that the action began within the first few chapters.  The author didn't wait to start the car chases and electric attraction between Alex and Willow.

Review: Hex Hall by: Rachel Hawkins

5 Stars

Title: Hex Hall

Author: Rachel Hawkins

  • Publisher:      Hyperion Book CH

  • Publication date: March 2, 2010

  • # Of Pages: 336 Hardcover

  • How I got the copies: Library

My Rating: 5/5 Stars (I would give it more if I could)
  • Goodreads Summary
    Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.
    By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.
    As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.
    My Review: 
    þWitches, Demons, Vampires, Shapeshifters, etc.
    þMystery 
    þMagical new world and school
    þHumor
    To be honest,  I didn't expect much from this book.  I read it because it was the book of the month for my goodreads group.   This is why I love book clubs.  If I wasn't in one I would have never read this book and I would have been missing out.  Rachel Hawkins was able to produce a new magical world that is unlike Hogwarts or any other magical school you might have read about.  What makes it so different?  It feels exactly the same as any human boarding school, but the students there just happen to do magic.  I loved the different types of students.  Elodie is the typical witch with a capital B, well actually she is a witch in a coven, but you get my point that she's the snotty pretty girl who makes the main character's life hell.  Archer is your typical hot sexy warlock.  He is so swoon worthy Sophie's roommate, Jenna, says there should be a class on it.  Jenna, the vampire, was one of my favorite characters.  Jenna is really funny and a great friend.  Too bad she is also the one being accused of killing her old roommate Holly.  We see her through Sophie's eyes which are different than the others at the school, because unlike other students Sophie was raised by a human.  Sophie is hilarious with her 16 year old mind and somewhat angsty thoughts.  She kind of reminded me of Jessica Darling from Sloppy Firsts.  Here are a few lines that had me laughing:

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