Free Books: Skankenstein by David Fumarola & Katie Rieter

Sometimes the ugliest monsters come in the prettiest packages:

Victoria Frank is the picture of teen perfection – she’s talented, witty, and ruthless – but being queen of tiny Geneva, NY isn’t enough. Tired of merely designing the perfect outfit, she sets out to design the perfect person. But by the time she realizes beauty is only skin deep, she’s already unleashed her monster on the world. Now it’s a race against time to stop the vile creature from destroying her life, and she has to do it in the most evil place of all – high school.

After ditching her horrifying creation in L.A., all Victoria wants is the perfect senior year, but it becomes impossible when the dreaded beast shows up in her own backyard. Armed with a new body, a new attitude and a new name, M turns the school hierarchy on its head. But when M suffers the embarrassment of a lifetime and sets her sights on revenge, our queen bee finds herself pitted in a cat fight to the death where kid sisters, boyfriends and tiaras are all fair game. It’s a twist on Frankenstein unlike any before, with an ending so explosive it’ll leave your bowels quaking.

From May 17th to May 21st, Skankenstein is available for free on Amazon HERE!!!

Review | Katana (Katana, #1) by Cole Gibson

Title: Katana

Author: Cole Gibson

Series: Katana, #1

Pages: 375

Date Released: March 18, 2012

 

Summary: Skater girl or supernatural samurai? Rileigh Martin wants to believe that adrenaline gave her the strength to fend off three muggers in the mall parking lot. But adrenaline doesn't explain the voice in her head giving her battle tips and warnings. While worrying that she's going crazy (always a reputation ruiner), Rileigh gets a visit from Kim, a handsome martial arts instructor, who tells Rileigh she's harboring the spirit of a five-hundred-year-old samurai warrior. Relentlessly attacked by ninjas, Rileigh has no choice but to master the katana--a deadly Japanese sword that's also the key to her past. As the spirit grows stronger and her feelings for Kim intensify, Rileigh is torn between continuing as the girl she's always been and embracing the warrior inside her.

For some reason, despite being almost 400 pages, Katana took me a fairly short time to read. In my opinion, it was a nice book, but nothing to phone home about. I liked Rileigh okay enough, but her voice was a little bit drab to me. Her reactions are a bit dramatic and overdone. I actually liked the supporting characters better then I liked her. Quentin, her best friend, was awesome. The action scenes of the book are wonderful and incredibly vivid. One thing I especially did not like about Katana was the whirlwind romance. I understand that Rileigh and Kim were soul mates, but as stated in the book, the people aren’t exactly the same. Still, it only took Rileigh and Kim a few chapters to proclaim their love for each other. All in all, Katana has potential. There is a sequel and I am looking forward to see what adventure they’ll go on next.

Author Website

Goodreads

 

Other Works

Medium Box of Young Adult Books | Ebay

Medium Box of Young Adult Books | eBay

Medium Box of Young Adult Books
Retail value: $160+

Hardbacks
Halo (Halo, #1) by Alexandra Adornetto
Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey
Elixir (Elixir, #1) by Hilary Duff
The Dark Divine (The Dark Divine, #1) by Bree Despain
The Lost Saint (The Dark Divine, #2) by Bree Despain
Tantalize (Tantalize, #1) by Cynthia Smith (no book jacket)

Paperbacks
Prom Crashers by Erin Downing
Snow in Love by Claire Ray
Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle
Kissing Tennessee by Kathi Appelt
Killing Britney by Sean Olin
The Twilight Companion by Lois Gresh
Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

2012 Challenges

Starting 2012, I, Keturah, has decided to have a more adventurous year and join a lot of challenges. This is the page where you can see my progress, view the books I've read, and even go to join in on the fun yourself!

2012 Debut Author Challenge

Hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren

My List

my debut-authors-2012 shelf:

Progress
Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
Illuminate by Aimee Agresti

Read: 2/12

Not Read: 10/12

YA Contemporary Challenge 2012

Hosted by Katie's Book Blog & Reading Angel

My List

1. The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen

Progress
Read: 1/16
Not Read: 15/16

 2012 Standalone Reading Challenge
Hosted by Icey Books & I Like These Books


My List
1. The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen


Progress
Read: 1/105
Not Read: 104/105

 2012 ABC Reading Challenge
Hosted by Gripped Into Books

My List
A.
B. Blind Faith Hotel, The by Pamela Todd
C. Choker by Elizabeth Woods
D. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
E. Eve by Anna Carey
F. Fine Art of Truth or Dare, The by Melissa Jensen
G. Ghost and the Goth, The by Stacey Kade
H.Heavenly by Jennifer Laurens
I. Isle of Night by Veronica Wolff
J. Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey
K. Kissing Tennessee by Kathi Appele
L. Living Violet by Jaime Reed
M. Melody Burning by Whitney Strieber
N.
O. Old Man and the Sea, The by Ernest Hemingway
P. Playing Hurt by Holly Schindler
Q.
R.
S. Saving June by Hannah Harrington
T. Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep
U.  Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, The by Michelle Hodkin
V. Vampire's Warden, The by S.J. Wright
W. Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergen
X.
Y.
Z. Zero by Tom Leveen

Progress
Read: 20/26
Not Read: 10/26

1st In A Series 2012 Challenge
Hosted by A Few More Pages

My List
1. Poison Study by Maria V. Synder
2. Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergen
3. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
4.  Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
5. Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep
6. Switched by Amanda Hocking
7. Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz
8. The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade
9. Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber
10. The Pledge by Kimberly Derting
11. Heavenly by Jennifer Laurens
12. Living Violet by Jaime Reed
13. Eve by Anna Carey
14. Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon
15. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
16. Legend by Marie Lu
17. Elixir by Hilary Duff 

Progress
Read: 17/12
Not Read: 0/12

That's it for now..... just for now. But I want to join 1 more challenge to make it a nice rounded 5. These lists here are in no way finished. I might discover more later on in the year or gather up enough energy to sort out my ridiculously full Goodreads list.  Whatever happens I want to have fun in 2012 and read a lot more books!

Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1) by Jamie McGuire

     The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate percentage of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance between her and the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University's Walking One-Night Stand.
     Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby needs—and wants—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.
                              
Beautiful Disaster is one of the best books I’ve read in a LONG time. It was everything I could ever wish for. My best friend and I, unknowingly bought the book at the same time. We decided to read it together. This was a first and it was awesome having someone to gush over Travis with.
Abby was a great character. She was running from her past and starting over at college. She was horribly oblivious to Travis and his advances, even as he fell in love with her. She was strong-willed and stood out. It was her resilience that attracted Travis to her. Travis was the ultimate bad boy. He drove a motorcycle, had tattoos, and even a reputation as a knock-out cage fighter. He was a bad boy without trying to be. He was intense. Anything he did, he did to the max as he did with Abby. He was possessive and hot-headed and just the most imperfect perfect boy ever. Their relationship was not without its bumps and bruises. They fought a lot and Travis was very overwhelming. At some points, I wanted to put the book down because it was TOO much drama, but Jamie had already gotten me too hooked to stop. Beautiful Disaster lived up to its name and was visibly and literally beautiful. It brought my best friend and I closer together and gained at least two solid and forever fans.