Waterfell by Amalie Howard Review and Giveaway!

Name: Waterfell

Author: Amalie Howard

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Release Date: October 29th, 2013

Format: E-Book ARC
Buy the book on Amazon

Summary:

The Girl Who Would Be Queen

Nerissa Marin hides among teens in her human form, waiting for the day she can claim her birthright—the undersea kingdom stolen from her the day her father was murdered. Blending in is her best weapon—until her father's betrayer confronts Nerissa and challenges her to a battle to the death on Nerissa's upcoming birthday—the day she comes of age. 

Amid danger and the heartbreak of her missing mother, falling for a human boy is the last thing Nerissa should do. But Lo Seavon breaches her defenses and somehow becomes the only person she can count on to help her desperate search for her mother, a prisoner of Nerissa's mortal enemy. Is Lo the linchpin that might win Nerissa back her crown? Or will this mortal boy become the weakness that destroys her?

Goodreads

My Review:
Overall, I really enjoyed Waterfell by Amalie Howard! It was a great new take on the genre of mermaids and science fiction (mixed with realism of course!).

At first, I thought this was going to be the typical mermaid story, but I was so mistaken once I continued reading this book! I really loved how the author was able to make a spin on the "classic mermaid tale" making the story unique and different. I thought the plot of this book really was fantastic..it was fast paced and definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. I also really liked how descriptive Amalie Howard was with her characters. I really could imagine the characters while I read the book and that definitely was a great aspect.

I thought that the characters developed really well throughout the novel. Nerissa was a really great character and I thought she was a very relatable character. She is going through problems that regular teenagers face (school, falling in love) but also has to deal with the fact that she is an exiled mermaid princess!

Overall, I really enjoyed Waterfell! It definitely was a refreshing take on a genre that I love, and I can't wait for the next book in the series!

My Rating:

GIVEAWAY WINNER!!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered the Catching Books Two Year Blogoversary Giveaway!! It really means so much that all of you have stuck by us the past two years! And so...I present to you the two giveaway winners!

Marissa 

and 

Allie Liang!

Thanks so much for everyone who entered!! Be on the lookout for more giveaways in the future :)

-Sarah

Giveaway Reminder!!!

Hey guys!! Just wanted to remind you all that Catching Books' two year birthday giveaway is ending soon!! Make sure to enter (posted below is the link to the giveaway) and share with all your friends!!

http://sarahcatchingbooks.blogspot.com/2013/06/two-year-blogoversary-giveaway.html

lots of love and thanks for sticking with us!!

xx Sarah and Jaime

Deity Blog Tour: Character Interview!

I am extremely honored to be a part of this EPIC blog tour!  You can check out the full schedule HERE!

 

For Catching Books' stop on the tour, we get to interview the gorgeous Aiden! 

Below is the interview:

Describe your relationship with Alex in three words:
He sighs. "So very complicated."

If you could take Alex on a date anywhere, where would you go and why?
His eyes light up, turning a deep silver. "Easy. I'd take her to a petting zoo. Sounds lame, but she'd love that."
 

What's your favorite part about being a pureblood? Least favorite part?
"The expectations of our society, that we should behave a certain way is my least favorite part. And I don't think I even have a favorite part. Maybe it's the freedom, but the fact my kind subjugates another kind of takes away from that."

What's your favorite song?
"Brown eyed girl."

Favorite movie?
"Any James Bond movie."
 

Favorite memory?
"I have two: the last summer my parents were alive and the first time I saw Alex."

 

Isn't Aiden the best? Anyways I hope that gets you all super excited for Deity! Be sure to enter the following giveaways below:

 

 

  

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Gravity Tour: Excerpt, Author Spotlight and Giveaway!!

Hi everyone! Today Catching Books is participating in the Gravity Tour! Make sure to enter the giveaway at the bottom of the post :)

 Excerpt from Gravity

Everyone and everything is silent. My gaze holds on Jackson. I try not to notice the way his blond strands shadow his eyes or the way his body flexes as he prepares to fight. These aren't things to notice in an opponent - especially not now. I feel my breathing escalate, hear it release in short bursts. I attempt to close down my mind, but I'm wrecked with thoughts and worry. 

What if he kills me during the fight with one of his abilities so I don't expose him? No, that would be too obvious. He'll have to fight like a human, and I can' beat a human. 

Suddenly, anger that he's been fighting me for months now, all the while pretending to be human yet knowing he had the advantage as an Ancient pits my stomach. I rush forward and jab, just as Jackson spins out from the contact. He wraps his arms around my waist, tosses me to the mat, and pulls back his arm to punch. I leap backwards and bounce around. I can't be on the defensive. I can't lose control. I pull my arms tight, adjust my focus, and force all fear from my mind. 

 I am the next Commander. 

 I whip around,surprising Jackson with a kick in the gut. He stumbles back with a breathless laugh. "Oh, really?" he says. Then he's in my face."Sorry, Alexander." And he punches me in the jaw. 

My head snaps back, my mouth fills with a metallic taste. I lick away the blood from my bottom lip and try to shake away the throbbing pain. Anger bubbles from my chest and I lunge for him, kicking and swinging, unsure of anything but the force of my movements. I want to beat him. I'm going to beat him. I pull away and he stumbles again, shock written across his face. I fight the urge to spit at him and instead push him further backwards. 

"Bring it," I scream, and then narrowing my eyes and lowering my voice, I whisper, "I'm not afraid of you." 

The arrogance drips from his face."You should be." And he flips forward, but my dad taught me well. I know the flip will alter the cushion around his brain just enough so when I slam my fist into his face it will do more than cause blood; it will lay his ass on the ground.

Summary:
In the future, only one rule will matter:

Don’t. Ever. Peek.

Seventeen-year-old Ari Alexander just broke that rule and saw the last person she expected hovering above her bed — arrogant Jackson Locke, the most popular boy in her school. She expects instant execution or some kind of freak alien punishment, but instead, Jackson issues a challenge: help him, or everyone on Earth will die.

Ari knows she should report him, but everything about Jackson makes her question what she’s been taught about his kind. And against her instincts, she’s falling for him. But Ari isn’t just any girl, and Jackson wants more than her attention. She’s a military legacy who’s been trained by her father and exposed to war strategies and societal information no one can know — especially an alien spy, like Jackson. Giving Jackson the information he needs will betray her father and her country, but keeping silent will start a war.

Expected Publication: October 30th, 2012

Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Goodread

Author Spotlight:

Melissa lives in a tiny suburb of Atlanta, GA with her husband and daughter. She pretends to like yoga, actually likes shoes, and could not live without coffee. Her writing heroes include greats like Jane Austen and Madeleine L'Engle. 

She holds a B.A. in Communication Studies and an M.S. in Graphic Communication, both from Clemson University. Yeah, her blood runs orange. 

Official links: http://www.melissawestauthor.com/

http://twitter.com/MB_West

http://www.facebook.com/MelissaWestAuthor

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5287439.Melissa_West

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Follower Appreciation Giveaway!!

Hi everyone! I know things have been a little quiet at Catching Books lately and I am so sorry for that! Things have just been busy with college, and life, etc. We are reading every single one of your comments though and we appreciate every single one!! Even though we can't reply back to every single comment they do mean a lot to us and don't think we are ignoring you!

Anyways...in honor of all of our awesome followers Catching Books is hosting a two month long Follower Appreciation open to EVERYONE! Yup, that means this giveaway is international!! The winner will receive their choice of TWO of the books that are below!

So here's your options of what you can pick from:

Just enter the rafflecopter giveaway below! Good luck everyone and we appreciate you all so much :)

-Catching Books

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Giveaway winners!!

Hi everyone!! So it's that time where I announce my blogoversary giveaway winners!! 

****Epic Drumroll Please****  

The winners are: Caroline and Cheyenne (from the Hollow Cupboards!!)

Thanks everyone who entered :)

Happy Blogoversary Catching Books!!

Woooo today is Blogoversary Day!! It's also the day I graduate high school..weird huh? One year ago today I started my blog, Catching Books!

Looking back over this past year I can see how much I've grown on this blog! Seeing some of my first reviews still makes me cringe at times, but I'm glad to see how I've progressed as a book blogger and a reader!

Here's some highlights of this year on my blog:

First Review Ever Written: Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

First Waiting on Wednesday: Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay

First Follower: My Best Friend Jaime! She's been here with my every step of the way, helping me make my blog awesome :)

Blogger friends who have helped me every step of the way..I want to thank you all! If I had room I would list every blogger who has inspired and supported me to continue blogging! Thank you all :)

Alison @ Alison Can Read

Lalaine @ FicBookReviews

Amanda @ Stuck in YA Books

Sarah @ saz101

Rachel @ Parajunkee

Lea @ LC's Adventures in the Library

Jenny @ Books to the Sky

Giselle @ Xpresso Reads

 Mesa @ The Sagacity Quest

Patricia @ Book Exhibitionism

Don't forget to enter my Blogoversary Giveaway to help me celebrate! The link is underneath. Thanks again for everyone's support and I can't wait for more blogging to come :)

http://sarahcatchingbooks.blogspot.com/2012/06/one-year-blogoversary-giveaway.html

One Year Blogoversary Giveaway!

One year ago from Friday I started Catching Books, and it has been the best experience ever! I have made so many awesome friends and I even got to go to BEA! Here's for an awesome year at Catching Books and I want to thank you all for being on this amazing journey with me!

So in honor of my blogoversary I am giving away not one..but TWO boxes of mystery books! Yes that's right, two boxs! Now I'm not going to tell you what's going to be in what boxes..that would ruin the surprise!

So here's the rules:

1. You must be from the United States

2. The Giveaway ends on July 22nd!

3. Winners must reply within 48 hours otherwise another winner will be chosen!

Thanks again everyone and be on the lookout for my EPIC blog post on Friday with a highlight of my blog for the year!

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Giveaway Winner!!

Hi everyone!! We have a winner for my giveaway of Silence by Michelle Sagara West!!

And the winner is..

Tiffany D.

Thanks to all that entered and be on the lookout for my epic 1 year blogoversary giveaway!!

Giveaway Time!!

Hi everyone!! So it's that time again when I am hosting a giveaway!! I am giving away ONE copy of Silence by Michelle Sagara West!

Here are the rules: 
1. You must be 13 years or older to enter 
2. You must be from the United States 


Good luck!! The giveaway ends June 1st :) a Rafflecopter giveaway

1 year Blog-O-Versary Giveaway @ Bookish!!

Hi everyone!! Evie at Bookish just reached her one year blogoversary!! Yay!! Don't forget to stop by her blog and enter the giveaway!!

Click here to go to the link

Congrats again Evie!!

Giveaway Winner!!

Hi everyone!!

We have a winner for Oppression (Children of the Gods # 1) by Jessica Therrien!!

The winner is....

Savanna!

Thank you to everyone who entered and thank you Jessica for letting me host this giveaway!!

 

400 Follower Giveaway Winner!!

Hi everyone!! Thanks to everyone who entered my 400 follower giveaway!!

And so..the winner is..Sarabara081!!

Thanks again everyone and be on the lookout for other giveaways soon :D

Oppression Author Interview and Giveaway!!

Hi everyone!! Today I have Jessica Therrien, author of Oppression (Children of the Gods Book 1).

Can you tell us a little about your novel, Oppression (Children of the Gods Book 1)?

The best way to do that is to give you the back cover blurb, so here you go :)

Elyse knows what it means to keep a secret. She's been keeping secrets her whole life. Two, actually. First, that she ages five times slower than the average person, so that while she looks eighteen years old, she's closer to eighty. Second, that her blood has a mysterious power to heal. For Elyse, these things don't make her special. They make life dangerous. After the death of her parents, she's been careful to keep her secret as closely guarded as possible. Now, only one other person in the world knows about her age and ability. Or so she thinks. Elyse is not the only one keeping secrets. There are others like her all over the world, descendants of the very people the Greeks considered gods. She is one of them, and they have been waiting for her for a long time. Among so many of her kind, she should not be very remarkable--except for the prophecy. Some believe she will put an end to traditions, safeguarded by violence, which have oppressed her people for centuries. Others are determined to keep her from doing just that. But for Elyse, the game is just beginning--and she's not entirely willing to play by their rules.


What is your favorite part of the writing process?

My favorite part is finishing the first draft and reading through it for the first time. That’s when I get to make all of the fun changes without worrying how they will affect the rest of the book. Putting the finishing touches on the manuscript is a lot of fun.

Where did you get the idea for this series?

I knew I wanted to write a YA paranormal type of novel, and I remembered learning that some places in Greek mythology are actually thought to exist in the world today (the city of Troy for example). That got me thinking, what if the Greek gods were real too, but people only mistook them for gods. If people had supernatural abilities back then, society would have most likely treated them like gods. It was a cool concept that seemed like a feasible explanation for a paranormal storyline.

I know Oppression (Children of the Gods Book 1). is the first of many in this series, how many books are you thinking of writing for Oppression (Children of the Gods Book 1)?

Oppression is one of three books in my Children of the Gods series. It’s possible there will be more than that, but I’m aiming for three.


Do you plan on writing any other books in different genres?

Yes. I’d love to write a memoir. I really do love YA, though. I have a few other YA ideas that keep popping into my head from time to time.


What was your favorite book growing up and why?

Harry Potter. No question. Those books made me realize I truly loved to read. They changed how I thought of books. I’ll always have a special place in my heart for Harry Potter, as I’m sure the rest of the world will, too.

Are there any books you would recommend to fellow bloggers and readers out there?

BLOOD RED ROAD!!! I honestly don’t know if I’ve read anything so genius in my life. It’s BRILLIANT. I really envy Moira Young for her talent. It’s the kind of book I read as an author and think, I want to write like this.

Thanks so much for stopping by Jessica!

So here is the giveaway information:

• to enter, please fill out the form below
• you must be 13 or older to enter
• this contest is open to everyone
• please don't leave your email in the comments

400 Follower Giveaway!!

Hi everyone!! So I just reached 400 followers last week..and to celebrate I have decided to giveaway one of my favorite books ever..Anna and The French Kiss!

To enter please fill out the form below..and unfortunately this giveaway is only for US residents only!! Sorry international friends!!

Good Luck everyone..the giveaway ends March 24th!

Giveaway Winner for Above World!!

Hi everyone!! I recently hosted a giveaway for an ARC copy of Above World!!

The winner is..Nikki!!

Congrats!! Thanks to everyone else who entered and be on the lookout for another giveaway soon :)

ARC Giveaway of Above World!!

H everyone!! I am giving away one copy of Above World by Jenn Reese! See my review here!!

Here are the rules:
1. You must be from the United States or Canada
2. Please enter the contest below :)

Goodluck everyone!! The contest ends January 18th!!

The Dig (Zoe and Zeus Trilogy #1) by Audrey Hart Giveaway!

Yesterday I posted an awesome interview from Audrey Hart, the Author of the Dig!

I am hosting a giveaway for ONE copy of this book!

Some Rules:
1. You must be 13 years or older
2. You must be from the United States


Good luck everyone and the winner will be posted next week! :)

300 Follower Giveaway Winner!

Hi everyone! As you know I hosted a 300 follower giveaway on my blog of Legacy by Cayla Kluver!

Unfortunately we didn't reach quite 300 followers to make it a 300 follower giveaway! I only need 12 more!

But..I bet you are all wondering who won!

The winner is...Larissa!

Thanks so much for everyone who entered and be on the lookout for another giveaway soon :)