Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy New Year means Happy New Books!


Happy New Year everyone! 2012 had been a blast year for me and for Book Overdose. I discovered, learned and experience a lot of things throughout the year. I had my first author interview, first physical ARC, first blog tour, first giveaway, first blogversary all in the year of 2012. And now that 2013 has come I plan to make it just as much fun or even better as it had last year.

I know my blogging has gone a bit lethargic the past few months and I know I did mention an advance new year's resolution to blog more and write reviews but with my situation right now - I'm on my final semester of my final year in college and with my internship and all - there aren't just enough time for me to be really active the past few months. Seriously, I don't know how those bloggers who have jobs and families to take care of do this. You guys are amazing! But I'm trying my best to manage my time since  after I graduate in a few months now this will be my life so really, bear with me if sometimes I don't update my blog for a whole week. Don't think I'm dead! Lol. I've fallen in love with reading books and blogging so I don't plan on stopping anytime soon. I'm still adjusting with this new schedule and once I get used to it I know I'd be able to regularly update and work on my blog.

So anyhoo, 'nuff with my explaining, I know we book lovers are even more excited this year because new year means new books too! Lot of books will be coming out this year! And it makes the waiting a little more bearable and a little less long knowing the number in our dates ends with 2013 already. Ha!

Let me share you some of the books I'm really looking forward this year.




So there, these are just some of them. I actually have tons of books I'm really excited coming this year. Oh yes, there's also Origin (Lux #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout and of course, the second book of Angelfall by Susan Ee! Ooh, just thinking about them makes me really excited. Haha! How about you guys? Are you excited for these books too?

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday (#25)

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine, that spotlight upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" is... 

Author: Daisy Whitney 
Publisher: Little, Brown
Expected Publication: June 2013
Filled with humor, raw emotion, a strong voice, and a brilliant dog named Sandy Koufax, When You Were Here explores the two most powerful forces known to man-death and love. Daisy Whitney brings her characters to life with a deft touch and resonating authenticity.

Danny's mother lost her five-year battle with cancer three weeks before his graduation-the one day that she was hanging on to see.

Now Danny is left alone, with only his memories, his dog, and his heart-breaking ex-girlfriend for company. He doesn't know how to figure out what to do with her estate, what to say for his Valedictorian speech, let alone how to live or be happy anymore.

When he gets a letter from his mom's property manager in Tokyo, where she had been going for treatment, it shows a side of a side of his mother he never knew. So, with no other sense of direction, Danny travels to Tokyo to connect with his mother's memory and make sense of her final months, which seemed filled with more joy than Danny ever knew. There, among the cherry blossoms, temples, and crowds, and with the help of an almost-but-definitely-not Harijuku girl, he begins to see how it may not have been ancient magic or mystical treatment that kept his mother going. Perhaps, the secret of how to live lies in how she died.
A male lead and a Tokyo setting?! Give me this book! This sounds like an emotional read yet a fun one too. I haven't read that much contemporary narrated in a guy's pov so after seeing this and then learning that the setting will be in Tokyo, which is one of my most favorite cities in the world, I realized I need to have this book. Hopefully this will be a really good one. 

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Blog Tour: Mia's Heart by Courtney Cole (Review + Giveaway)



Title: Mia's Heart (Paradise #2)
Author: Courtney Cole
Publication: November 13th 2012
Publisher: Lakehouse Press
My name is Mia Giannis. I am seventeen years old. I live in Valese, Caberra.

This has become my mantra and my lifeline, having recently lost my memory due to a scary natural disaster.

Yeah. I have amnesia. Messed up, right? You don't know the half of it.

Not remembering anything has turned my world upside down. My parents try their hardest to “remind” me of who I was, but it doesn't feel right. Or, if what they're saying is true and that really was me, I'm not sure I like that person very much.

And then there’s my love life. Apparently, Gavin Ariastasis is my oldest and best friend in the world. Also, apparently, we’ve never dated. But now, noticing him for what feels like the first time, he’s making my heart do somersaults. He knows me inside and out—the real me. Plus, he’s sexy and charming as hell. Sounds perfect, right?

But then... there’s the new guy. Quinn McKeyen – tall, gorgeous and deliciously American. His mischievous grin and slow Midwestern drawl turn my insides to mush in two seconds flat making me question who I really am and what I really want.

Seriously. What am I supposed to do with all that?! I feel torn between them, but I barely even know who I am, let alone what I want.

I just hope my indecisive heart will clue me in. And sooner rather than later…before I lose what little of my mind that I have left.
Mia's Heart was a fun, quick and lovely read. Although it has two of the things I wouldn't want together in a book - amnesia and love triangle - I was surprised to find myself not at all really bothered by it and I actually sped through this! However, I had some slight issues with it that prevents me from really liking it. Still, I enjoyed most parts of it. 

Mia Giannis was a character I wasn't really sure about when I first read her. I liked the fierceness and the bad ass vibe about her but I'm not quite fond of her initial image before the amnesia. So when she lost her memories that had me pretty interested. I wanna see how this new Mia will turn out, I was fascinated by how she rediscovered her memories and found her true self.

Quinn MacKeyen and Gavin Ariastasis were the two love interest in this story. Now, love triangle isn't something I'm very fond of. As much as possible I avoid and steer clear of them however when I started this I didn't know this has one. Fortunately, the love triangle here wasn't the kind that is headache inducing. I admit that I'm a little sad because I was cheering the wrong team still I wasn't really devastated by it. Or maybe I was a little uncaring by it? 

Now with the boys, Gavin Ariastasis was a fun fun character! I liked him instantly. He was Mia's best friend. He's a character that is laid back, easy going and yes, cocky. Yet, there's something in him that tells he's a pretty deep character. Quinn MacKeyen, well, like Mia said he's "deliciously American". Despite his good looks he was a really humble character. He could be every girl's dream of a boyfriend. However, he was described too perfectly and well, that's just boring. I was looking for flaws, even tiny bits, but nothing, he was too good to be true. So in the end, I guess, I just grew pretty indifferent about him. 

I liked the story, but not like really like. Some parts I found quite shallow and the writing was a little more on telling that showing. Some things were handled lightly though I think they should be told with more depth. Nonetheless, despite the issues I had, I did enjoy most parts of this book. Almost all the characters were likable and I liked most was how the friendship between all of them grew. If you're looking for a light, fun and sweet read, you might want to check this out.

3 stars

Thanks to Courtney Cole and Kismet Book Touring for providing a review copy of this book.

***GIVEAWAY***
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Learn more about Courtney and her books at www.courtneycolewrites.com

Friday, December 14, 2012

Cover Reveal: Camp Boyfriend by J.K. Rock

Hi guys! Today I'm happy to present to you the first cover reveal for the YA Contemporary imprint of Spencer Hill Press: Camp Boyfriend by J.K. Rock! Check out the lovely cover below and the synopsis.

Title: Camp Boyfriend 
Author: J.R. Rock
Publisher: Spencer Hill Contemporary
Expected Publication: July 2, 2013
The summer of her dreams is about to get a reality check.

They said it couldn't be done, but geeky sophomore Lauren Carlson transformed herself into a popular girl after moving to a new school halfway across the country. Amazing what losing her braces and going out for cheerleading will do. Only trouble is, the popular crowd is wearing on Lauren's nerves and she can't wait to return to summer camp where she's valued for her brain instead of her handsprings. She misses her old friends and most of all, her long time camp-only boyfriend, Seth. This year she intends to upgrade their relationship to year-round status once she's broken up with her new, jock boyfriend, Matt. He doesn't even begin to know the real her, a girl fascinated by the night sky who dreams of discovering new planets and galaxies.

But Matt isn't giving her up without a fight. As he makes his case to stay together, Lauren begins to realize his feelings run deeper than she ever would have guessed. What if the guy she thought she was meant to be with forever isn't really The One? Returning to Camp Juniper Point was supposed to ground her uprooted life, but she's more adrift than ever. Everything feels different and soon Lauren's friends are turning on her and both guys question what she really wants. As summer tensions escalate, Lauren wonders if she's changed more than she thought. Will her first big discovery be herself?

I'm so exited for this first book from the new contemporary imprint of Spencer Hill! The blurb sounds interesting and the cover is just lovely. It's so very contemporary romance-y! After receiving an email for the cover reveal I requested this right away. I hope Spencer Hill approve it (they usually do! So generous!) Haha! This will come out mid-year next year. We have to wait a little too long but hopefully it will be totally worth it. 

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Review: Deity (Covenant #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Deity (Covenant #3)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Published: November 6th 2012
My rating: 5 stars
"History is on repeat, and things didn't go so well the last time. "

Alexandria isn't sure she's going to make it to her eighteenth birthday--to her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she's a goner... and so is Aiden.

If that's not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time "training"--which really is just Seth's code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time--she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome.

But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she's caught between love and Fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed... and destroyed.

Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate...

In this third installment of the Covenant series, Armentrout delivered us a blast of twists, revelations, surprises and an explosion of love and intimate emotions that had me on the edge of my sit but also giddy and in love on the other side. Reading Deity was one exhilarating ride and an utterly brilliant experience. This is so far my favorite among the series and am absolutely satisfied with where the story is going (despite that cliffhanger of an ending).

I was glad to see Alex's character developed vastly in this book. Her being reckless and taking actions without thinking was one of her distinctive character trait that although annoyed me most times, is probably also the most appealing thing about her. In this book though Alex seems to have learned to think first and tried to consider things before deciding and taking any actions. She matured in a lot of ways through all the things that had happened and she experienced from the previous books and in this one. But one thing I'm most happy about was when she finally become completely honest with her feelings and chose who she really loved.

Aiden, oh boy, I don't even know where to start with this guy! He had me melting in a puddle of goo almost every freaking time. The dedication, the patience, the loyalty and the undying love of this guy to Alex are just very impressive and absolutely amazing. He isn't flawless but with all those thing he'd done for Alex he could be all be nothing but perfect. And the moments with the two? Wonderful. Just wonderful. The love and care were practically oozing out of the pages.

As for the plot, it was just incredible! So many things happened and almost all of them left me in total surprise. Some had me confused and frustrated but others just made me thrilled and excited. Secrets and intentions were revealed and although some complicate things it also made the story even more interesting and fantastic.

Overall, I am absolutely satisfied and happy with this book. I loved how things went although the ending left me a bit in disarray. Still, the things that happened and took place in this book were great and served a lot for the credibility of the story and to developed and enhance the world Armentrout created remarkably. The characters are one hell of an awesome set, from the main characters, supporting and even the villains! If you haven't started this series yet I recommend you start it now! You're missing a lot.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Blog Tour: Touch of Death by Kelly Kashway (Review + Giveaway)

Title: Touch of Death (Touch of Death #1)
Author: Kelly Hashway
Expected Publication: January 15th 2013
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
My rating: 3.5 stars
Jodi Marshall isn’t sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she’s in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she’s being stalked by some guy no one seems to know.

After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he’s not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she’s part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendents of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned blood writhing in their veins.

Jodi’s deadly to the living and even more deadly to the deceased. She has to leave her old, normal life behind before she hurts the people she loves. As if that isn’t difficult enough, Jodi discovers she’s the chosen one who has to save the rest of her kind from perishing at the hands of Hades. If she can’t figure out how to control her power, history will repeat itself, and her race will become extinct.

Touch of Death was a fun and quick read. It was easy to get with the flow of the story and with the characters and understand what was really happening. It offered interesting points especially in mythology plus adding some twist about zombies. I actually sped through this! However, comes with its fast-paced writing was the feel that everything was happening in a rush. Thus also makings some part predictable and a little unconvincing. 

The main character, Jodi Marshall, was a character that is easy to like. She played a very special and powerful character in the story however I couldn't seem to find some distinctive trait and quality in her that would have compelled me to really really like her and admire her character. Making her a little bland for my taste. Having said that she wasn't really a bad case of a main character. She has good qualities and principle but nothing really powerful or unique.

Alex, the love interest, started as a very intriguing character. I liked the bad boy and wicked side he'd shown in the beginning. I would have loved it even more if it hadn't been that toned down that much around the middle of the book when he and Jodi are finally learning and knowing each other. Still he's probable my most favorite character in this story. 

I liked how Hashway combined the idea of Mythology and zombies. Adding to that, the mythological side wasn't really that conventional since it put one of the most known villains in the mythology on the good side. The only problem I had was that it felt rushed and quite predictable. I wouldn't have mind it being a little longer if it would make everything more credible and thrilling.

Overall, Touch of Death is a pretty entertaining and interesting read albeit a little lacking with some elements that might have made it even better. Still, I really did enjoy the overall. If you're looking for a fun, quick and unique paranormal read but doesn't have that too complex and mind-boggling world and plot, this is the right book for you.

Thank you Spencer Hill Press for providing me a copy of this book.

***Giveaway***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Mia's Heart by Courtney Cole - Release Day Blizz



Title: Mia's Heart (Paradise #2)
Author: Courtney Cole
Publication: November 13th 2012
Publisher: Lakehouse Press
My name is Mia Giannis. I am seventeen years old. I live in Valese, Caberra.

This has become my mantra and my lifeline, having recently lost my memory due to a scary natural disaster.

Yeah. I have amnesia. Messed up, right? You don't know the half of it.

Not remembering anything has turned my world upside down. My parents try their hardest to “remind” me of who I was, but it doesn't feel right. Or, if what they're saying is true and that really was me, I'm not sure I like that person very much.

And then there’s my love life. Apparently, Gavin Ariastasis is my oldest and best friend in the world. Also, apparently, we’ve never dated. But now, noticing him for what feels like the first time, he’s making my heart do somersaults. He knows me inside and out—the real me. Plus, he’s sexy and charming as hell. Sounds perfect, right?

But then... there’s the new guy. Quinn McKeyen – tall, gorgeous and deliciously American. His mischievous grin and slow Midwestern drawl turn my insides to mush in two seconds flat making me question who I really am and what I really want.

Seriously. What am I supposed to do with all that?! I feel torn between them, but I barely even know who I am, let alone what I want.

I just hope my indecisive heart will clue me in. And sooner rather than later…before I lose what little of my mind that I have left.

**Excerpt**
I flip over and suddenly, I’m terrified. 
I’m panicky.
The sea is so very vast. 
And I’m so very alone.
I scream.  I can’t help it.  And as I do, I accidentally gulp in a huge mouthful of water.  Everything that follows is a blur. 
I start coughing and flailing my arms and even though I’m wearing a life-jacket, I’m thrashing around like a lunatic.  I hear the boat motor start up and then I feel the wake of the boat as it crests up to me.  Gavin is next to me and before I know it, he’s hauling me over the side of The Shining. 
I’m in his lap, on the floor of the boat and he is holding me and I am shaking.
OhMyGod.
I’m such an idiot. 
I’m such an idiot.
And I must be repeating it out loud, even though I don’t mean to, because Gavin is telling me, “No, you’re not.”
But I am. 
I really am.
“I don’t know why I got so afraid,” I tell him.  “I think I had a panic attack.”  My voice sounds pathetic and I hate it.
Gavin tightens his grip on me, his strong arms are wrapped around me and I suddenly realize that his skin is pressed against mine and it feels really, really good.  I push into him harder and clutch him to me.
Because for some insane reason, I’m still unnerved.
“It’s okay,” he tells me softly.  He’s stroking my back and I’m trying to catch my breaths like a normal person.  “You’ve been through a lot. I shouldn’t have let you float like that alone.  You seemed like you were doing fine, so I climbed up onto the boat to watch you and I must have fallen asleep.  I’m so sorry.  This is my fault, Mi.”
I look up at him.  He’s so sexy and concerned and my heart melts.
“It’s not your fault that I’m insane,” I tell him firmly.  “I don’t know why I panicked. I can’t even explain it. Everything just all of a sudden felt so big and I felt so small and alone.  I guess I kind of freaked out.”
Understatement of the year.
Gavin’s dark eyes are soft as he stares at me.  He brushes a thumb across my cheek and says that he is so very sorry. 
“It makes sense, Mia,” he tells me.  “You can’t remember who you are.  So you feel sort of alone in the world.  And when you fell asleep while you were floating and woke up, the sea felt big.  And everything came down on you at once.  It’s okay. I get it.  But you’re never alone.  I want you to know that.  You will always have me. You always have and you always will.”
My heart swells until it might burst. 
It feels so incredibly, amazingly good to have this beautiful boy tell me that.  To know that he has always been my friend, that he knows me inside and out.  And then I do something unexpected.
I lean up and kiss Gavin. 
On the mouth.
Sweet Angel of Mercy.
His lips are soft and warm from the sun.  I can taste the sea on them and I weave my hands into his hair, pulling him closer.  He tightens his grip on me and kisses me back; hard, hard, harder.  He tastes like fruit and smells like sunshine. 
It’s really nice. 
Wonderful.
Amazing.
My heart is doing flip-flops when I finally pull away. 
Gavin stares down at me in shock.
“I’ve always wondered what that would be like,” he admits.  “Kissing a firecracker, I mean.”  I smile. 
“And?”
“It’s really too difficult to say from just one kiss,” he says, his dark eyes twinkling.  “We should try it again so that I have more to go on.”
He cups my face in his hands and dips his head, his lips meeting mine. 
He tastes of butterscotch and man.
Twenty-five beats of my heart later, he pulls away. 
“And?” I breathe. 
“You’ll do,” he grins.  
Check out Dante's Girl - the first book in the Paradise Diaries Series  

**Giveaway**

During the Release Blizz Courtney offers one signed copy of Dante’s Girl to one lucky winner! US/Can only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Courtney Cole is a novelist who would eat mythology for breakfast if she could.

She has a degree in Business, but has since discovered that corporate America is not nearly as fun to live in as fictional worlds.

Every Last Kiss is her debut novel and she followed it with the rest of The Bloodstone Saga (Every Last Kiss, Fated, With My Last Breath and My Tattered Bonds).

Courtney lives in quiet suburbia, close to Lake Michigan, with her real-life Prince Charming, her ornery kids (there is a small chance that they get their orneriness from their mother) and a small domestic zoo.

Learn more about Courtney and her books at www.courtneycolewrites.com

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