Teaser Tuesday [5]

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB from over at Should Be Reading. It is a great way to tease your fellow readers with the book[s] you are currently reading. Because everyone loves a good tease right? Well...most people. Sound fun?! Want to play along with the rest of us? Well you totally should! So go on, get to it! You know you want to. It is super simple, trust me!

Here is how you do it:

• Step 1: Grab your current read. 
• Step 2: Open to a random page. 
• Step 3: Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page. Be careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others. 
• Step 4: Make sure to share the title and the author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR piles!

 A Million Suns

Beth Revis

Released: January 10th 2012

The tube bends--the Feeder Level has a curved roof, and the angle makes me feel as if I'm not just falling down, but falling on top of Elder. I think about wiggling away, but my body doesn't want to abandon the safety of Elder's arms.


As we step onto the trail, our shoulders brush. I step away and walk a little in front of him.
"Come on," I say, unable to meet his eyes.

pg. [167]

So, the only reason this was my teaser today was because my nook charger cable finally died on me, a year and 3 days old. Poor thing. So sadly I can not read any of the review books I have on my nook for a few more days. But honestly, I feel like it was a gift. I have been wanting to get to this book ever since it arrived at my house last month and I am flying through it. It is so much better than I imagined it to be and people, if you haven't read Across the Universe or even A Million Suns yet I highly suggest you do so! You can check out A Million Suns by clicking on the cover, don't miss out!

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Oh people! This book! I know me not being able to read my review books is a bad deal but I am so glad I'm reading this. Might as well enjoy my lull hum? What are your teasers this Tuesday? Leave your own Teaser Tuesday link or just drop a comment. I would love to see what you have to tease me with this week. ; ]

Musing Mondays [5]

It is that time again folks! Monday rolling around means that it is time for another fun edition of Musing Monday. Musing Monday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB from over at Should Be Reading. Each week there is a new book related question asked and we get to respond with witty remarks, or you know, regular ones... Either way, it is a great way to meet some new friends and find some new blogs worth following. [:

This Weeks Question Asks...

Did you do any reading in lieu of watching the football game, yesterday, or were you foregoing reading to watch the game? If you read a book (or books) what did you choose?

I wasn't necessarily foregoing reading due to the football game but that is how yesterday paned out for me. I was actually not reading yesterday because I had 3 reviews to write and I didn't want to add another book to that pile just yet. But I definitely wasn't reading during the game. I am a huge football fan so it was a must watch for me. Though, I wasn't very happy how the game ended up. I'm a Brady fan when it comes to Manning. Oh well, there is always next year. Kansas City Chiefs all the way baby! ;]

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What about all of you? Do any reading yesterday? Did you only pause reading to watch the commercials? Leave me your own Musing Monday link or just comment below and let me know how you spent your Super Bowl Sunday. [:

Review: Shift [The Protector #2] by M.R. Merrick

Shift
The Protector #2
M.R. Merrick
Released: February 1st 2012 by M.R. Merrick
( Amazon / Goodreads )

Devastated by the loss of his mother, Chase is trying to balance the life he’s been left with, a family he’s still getting to know, and power he never thought he’d have. He doesn’t understand why the Goddess has named him the Protector and granted him two gifts: the Mark, a tattoo that now covers his back, and the ring. But between getting interrogated by the Circle and psychic attacks from Riley, the Mark is the least of his concern. There’s a demon inside Rayna that’s fighting to be released, and it’s not her inner witch. It’s something else–a monster threatening to tear her apart. 

As Chase struggles to control his magic, his enemies are closing in. Everyone has staked a claim on his ring, and destroying it may be his only chance to stop Riley. But Chase must decide if stopping him is worth risking the lives of everyone he cares about, or if protecting the ring will be enough to save his world.

-Goodreads

*An eARC was provided to me by the author for review purposes*

Thoughts/Review:

Wait. Could you just give me like 2 seconds? I can’t catch my breath from all the sheer awesomeness that I just witnessed. Yeah, that’s right, I said witnessed. Because what I just experienced wasn’t just reading. I don’t know how M.R. Merrick does it but he took me on an all-out thrill ride with this one folks. It’s no surprise to you, if you have read his first book Exiled, that we are dealing with an action guru and [I didn’t think it was possible] he stepped up his game. I am always a bit nervous reading the second book in a series. It’s a make or break kind of thing and M.R. made it his bitch. Sorry for the language, I am just all pumped up! Blame Merrick!

Shift starts right where Exiled left off, which I loved. Because to be honest, I was a tab bit [okay, a huge bit] scared of how Chase would cope with all that happened to him. Chase has this wall around him and I was scared he was going to let it crush him. So, this book had me biting my nails like, the whole time. If not worrying about Chase I was freaking out about Ryan [who is a badass heroine if I EVER saw one. Seriously. She is the shit.] or having my mind blow at the changing roll Willy [my dear dear Willy] endured. I really wish I could go on this big long ramble about what I am actually trying to say to you guys, but really. You HAVE to read this book and see for your own eyes. I want you to feel what I felt when I was flipping these pages!

If you ever read my reviews, you might get the hint that I LOVE books that have character building. Most books do, I know, I know. But I was already super in love with Chase from Exiled and getting to see him open up and trust people was just like, awegasmic. The character building wasn’t the only thing that took my breath away in this book. It was the sense that the whole time I was reading I was seriously right there with them. And with Shift focusing on these characters finding out about and facing all these demons within themselves it blew me away. I seriously wonder if Merrick doesn’t have some kind of portal that allows him to travel to these people. Honestly, M.R. is there something you’re not telling us?! I’m on to you. [And if you really do have said portal, can I come with you?!]

Overall, I think it is pretty safe to say this book blew my mind. I couldn’t have dreamt of a better way of continuing not only Chase’s story but those around him and I can’t wait to see where we will be taken next. But, let me warn you. Once you pick it up, you truly can’t put it down. So turn off the television put the kids to bed and buy this book. Have your coffee ready in the morning though, you will need it after that all night reading binge.  

Rating:

★★★★★

Five Action Packed Stars

[I warned you people]

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People. If you have not read Exiled yet then you need to head on over to my review page, check it out and go buy it! In fact, I think it is still on sale over at Amazon. So I will even make it easy for you. Click here to nab that sucker up! Then when you are done you can enjoy all the epicness that is Shift. Happy reading all!

In My Mailbox [5]

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It is the one day of the week we get to share what we have bought/received/borrowed throughout the week. This week I was suppose to be on a buying ban, but I am going to let you in on a little secret. It didn't last very long. *covers eyes* I know! I can't last on a book buying ban! It is just way too hard and my poor mind can't take it. So this week is a mixture of bought and received for review.  Okay, enough with my babble! On to this weeks books!

For Review:

Bought nookBooks:

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 I am going to be part of the On the Island blog tour and was SUPER excited to get started reading that book. I have already finished and can't wait for you guys to see what I thought. I was also flabbergasted and thrilled when I received the eARC of Because of Low from Abbi Glines!! She is so amazing, and so is that book! I devoured it like I was a starving. Watch out for the review here in a few days. The books I bought for my nook were on sale or someone *cough* Tara *cough* talked me into buying it because of its sheer amazingness. I also won a $15 Amazon gift card from Tara's 50 follower giveaway over on her blog Tater's Tall Tails.

Don't forget, you can check any of these books out and add the to your own tbr shelf by clicking the cover.

So what about all of you out there? Leave me your own In My Mailbox link or just comment below and tell me what you got! I would love to see what made its way into your mailbox this week.

Blog Awards!

Holy crap guys! Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I would be getting my 2nd and 3rd blog awards this fast! What?! You don't know what I am talking about?! Well Victoria from over at Confessions of a Twenty Something Fiction Writer has nominated me for two, yes I said two, more blog awards! How amazing could one gal be?!

Now, since I am doing both of these awards at once I am going to bend the rules just a tiny bit. Because if I used the guidelines for both I would be nominating so many blogs my head would spin! So I am going to go ahead and give you the deets for both and then let you know how I am going to spin it up! Sound good? Great! [:

Okay, so, for being nominated for the Versatile Blog Award means I get to do the following:

1. Nominate 15 fellow bloggers for The Versatile Blogger Award.
2. Add an image of the Versatile Blogger Award.
3. In the same post, thank the blogger who nominated you in a post with a link back to their blog.
4. In the same post, share 7 completely random pieces of information about yourself.
5. In the same post, include this set of rules.
6. Inform each nominated blogger of their nomination by posting a comment on each of their blogs.

And for the Kreativ Blog Award I have to:

Post 10 random facts about myself and then pass on the honor to 6 other worthy bloggers.

Which brings me to what I am actually going to do:

I am going to post 10 random facts about myself and nominate 10 other bloggers for both of these awards. I figured that would be the best way to do it so it is even across the board! So here we go folks...Let the random facts of myself begin!

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-10 Things You Really Don't Want To Know- 
-About ShawnaLeAnn-

[But I'm telling you anyway]

1. I'm a huge band geek. Yes, as in marching band. The clarinet rocks my world people, get use to it. [:

2. I am a mommy to a wonderful almost 3 year old boy. He is crazy and eats everything in sight.

3. I have this fascination with sea otters that no one fully understands. Those little buggers are cute and I will get one some day!

4. I am the biggest Kansas City Chiefs fan you will ever meet. Okay, well maybe not the biggest but you know. GO CHIEFS! ;]

5. I refuse to squat outside and use the bathroom. No camping for this gal, unless plumbing is involved.

6. I have been put on probation once in my life. It was for truancy my freshmen year of high school. I'm such a rebel and trouble maker. [Oops.]

7. I hate pop. I am a 100% water drinker unless I am in a tea mood. Oh, and I drink cappuccinos but you know, those are addicting, so I am not at fault here...

8. I refuse to wear shoes if I don't have to. Therefore my feet are tough. You can put a cigarette out on my heel and I don't feel a thing.

9. I have only been to one live concert in my life. This fact is extremely distressing to me.

10. I can not stand to watch or even look at anything having to do with the movie Chucky. You know, that crazy doll that kills everyone? Yeah, childhood fear that has somehow stuck with me. That doll is creepy and I will run away screaming.

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Okay, yeah so, now you know all this odd and not so odd stuff about me. I tried to mix it up a bit for you all. Did you learn something new about me? Now, on to the bloggers I am nominating!! These are in no particular order mind you! Except maybe alphabetical. ;]

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And the Nominees Are...

Between The Lines

Books, Biscuits & Tea

Book Whales 

Brooke Reports

Literary Exploration

Stepping Out of the Page

Tater's Tall Tails

The Autumn Review

The Bookish Babes

Word Spelunking

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Well there you have it folks! Crazy facts and bloggers that you definitely need to check out! Thank you all so much for stopping by and seriously, go check these guys out! They all rock. [: