Katie's Corner

Thursday, 17 September 2015

Manga Review : Lovey Dovey by Aya Oda

Title: Lovey Dovey

Original Title: Lovey Dovey

Author: Aya Oda

Artist: Aya Oda

Year of Release: 2006

Genres: Romance, School Life, Shoujo, Smut,

Status: Completed

Chapters (Translated in English): 29.5

Volumes & Chapters:

Volume 1 Chapters 1-6 Volume 4 Chapters 19-24
Volume 2 Chapters 7-12 Volume 5 Chapters 25-29.5
Volume 3 Chapters 13-18

Mangafox – Goodreads

Summary

For 10 years Saika has done everything she can to get close to her love Keishi. She followed him to the same high school, joined the same committees, and even changed her outward personality to become the right match for Keishi. One day, looking for Keishi in the special section of the school, she runs into the school's trouble-maker Kirisaki Shin. As he begins to bully her, her true personality comes out: loud-mouthed and violent. To her dismay, Kirisaki decides that he likes that kind of girl. Lovey Dovey is the story of Saika's trials and tribulations in a love triangle at a school where "Love is Prohibited."

My Thoughts

Review covers 29 chapters

Hello everyone and welcome back to Katie’s Corner! Today is a manga day and I have quite a nice manga for you. Yes, yes, it’s a smut genre, but it’s not all showing as Minami Kanan works, but do you see quite a lot. But let’s get back to the story itself. The story may be your average love-story, where the girl loves one boy, but due to some circumstances a “delinquent” is chasing her and so in the end she does fall in love with him and they start to date. You get my point? Well, add to the mix the school that forbids love (relationships) and you get a rough story of our heroes. Oh, I forgot to add that there would be some love rivals to test our lovebirds’ relationship; you get my drift, right?

I loved the story a lot. It was really good and with a lot of funny moments that would crack you up even if you had the worst possible day ever. The best parts of curse were Saika’s. The way she transforms from a nice and ladylike into a killing machine is something fabulous. Oh, and her futile, but not always, efforts to shake of Shin’s advances, can’t leave anyone laughing. On he other hand you have Shin. Well, he’s from that male population that says: “I want it and I’ll get it.” In the very, very beginning, he’s just a frustrating negative character, but to the end of the 1^st or 2^nd chapter, he becomes your either first or second favourite characters, depends how you like Saika.

I enjoyed this story a lot. I mean really a lot. The whole concept of a school, which banned relationships, was quite new to me, not really new, I’ve either read or watched something with similar idea behind, but how Oda-sensei managed to describe it and actually bring it to life is absolutely amazing. The way characters interact is as if you were just plunged into high schiil, I mean, I graduated high school about 2 years ago and it was the first time I missed it, because it was too similar to my own high school years. I really enjoyed reading about Saika and Shin’s relationship. They cracked me up, but at the same time their interaction was sweet. I was having a lot of fun reading about Shin. Whenever he was turned down and afterwards got his revenge on Saika. The way they looked for secluded places to be alone at school. But that just arose a question within me: couldn’t they spend their spare time together? Was it really necessary to “fool around” at school?

I hope you will find some time to read this story. It’s fast paced and you just can’t put it down even for a minute. Are you ready to get acquaintance with Saika, Shin and many more amazing characters? Then, what are you waiting for? Start reading it now! I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did and don’t forget to share your thoughts below. Stay tuned for more reviews as well as promos here, on Katie’s Corner! Happy reading!

XOXO

Katie

Rating

Cover Reveal: Fated to be Mine by Jodie Larson (Fated #2)

Title: Fated to be Mine (Fated #2)

Author: Jodie Larson

Release Date: Oct 6, 2015

I've made a mistake...Can we find our way back?

They say that distance makes the heart grow fonder, or that time heals all wounds. What they don't tell you is that it doesn't lessen the pain. I don't think those people have experienced a loss like this.

I left my heart in London, and I'm not sure I'll ever get it back.

But fate has a plan of her own. She keeps me guessing and hoping that not everything is as it seems.

Hearts can be shattered but can also be put back together. Especially when love doesn't give up on you, even if you think it has.

I grab another flute of champagne from a passing waiter and partake in my favorite pastime. I don’t know one single person here, outside of my dad, Sharon and Michael. These are all of my dad’s friends and associates and I’m sure several people from their country club. I’m pretty sure I recognized the mayor and his wife, but I can’t be positive. I’ve only seen them in pictures and never actually met them in real life. There are at least two hundred people in attendance, making it easy for me to be the wallflower that I like to be.

My phone beeps in my clutch as the champagne bubbles tickle my nose. I roll my eyes, guessing that it’s Kara wanting the gossip on what’s going on or how my date is going so far. But nothing prepared me for seeing Andrew’s name on my screen, making my eyes go wide as saucers.

My darling, beautiful Tessa. I love the way you look with your hair swept back behind your shoulders in soft, delicate curls. I can see you in a blue strapless gown with intricate silver designs, and diamond earrings gracing your delicate lobes. Nothing compares to your smile which outshines the soft glow of the candles that surround you. ~A~

I freeze and nervously start looking around me. Either he has a very active imagination or…or. I don’t even get the chance to finish that thought as I feel him come up behind me, running his hands down my arms, leaning so close to me it sends a chill across my skin. My body erupts in goose bumps and desire takes the place of surprise.

Oh. My. God. He’s here. He’s really here.

“I also imagine your soft pink lips, slightly parted as a small gasp escapes them. The same sound you make when you’re sleeping next to me or making love with me,” he whispers in that soft, sexy British accent of his. My breathing accelerates and I shift in my chair. My head turns slightly, needing to see those bright blue eyes that I’ve longed for. The air has been completely drained from my lungs as I stare into Andrew’s gorgeous face. A face that has haunted my waking dreams, causing my heart so much pain and yet so much longing. Those full lips that I want to kiss caress my cheek as his fingertip ignites a trail of fire down my neck.

“It’s so good to see you, Tessa. I’ve been counting the days until we would be reunited again. I’ve done nothing but dream of you every second of every day since we departed last.” Andrew’s warm breath tickles the area behind my ear, allowing his lips to explore the area. I feel dizzy with pleasure, my eyes closing as my breath comes in short bursts. I feel as if we’re making a scene, or at least we could be. However, when I look around, I realize that no one is looking at us. Not one person is aware of the reunion taking place, of the man who melts my soul and completes my very existence.

I turn in my chair, needing to fully see him as he takes the seat that Michael occupied not less than an hour ago.

“What are you doing here?” I whisper hoarsely. Andrew knows exactly how he affects me, how to turn me into a raging pile of hormones without actually having to touch me or do anything. His blue eyes shine in the soft glow of the candlelight, making my heart leap inside my chest.

“I came here for you. It couldn’t wait one more week. I needed to see you right away.”

He came for me. He wanted to see me, no, needed to see me. How do I respond to that? Do I say how big of a fool I was for leaving like I did? Or that I needed to see him too? My hungry eyes take him in, admiring his freshly shaven face, his beautiful masculine features, and that sexy dark hair I love running my fingers through. And he’s wearing a tux. Holy shit. If I thought he was hot in tailored suits, he’s to die for in a tux.

I swallow past the lump in my throat, needing to regain some control of my body.

“Why?”

Need and desire mix together as I nervously canvas the room again, hoping that Sharon isn’t watching. My hand rubs the area above my heart, trying to ward off the pain. Andrew ignores my question and grabs the hand at my chest, bringing it up to his lips before pressing it against his own beating heart.

“You don’t have to hurt there anymore, love. I promise you will never have to hurt there again as long as I’m here.” He leans forward, pressing our foreheads together, leaving my hand to cover his heart. “I’ve missed you so much, Tessa. I’m so sorry, more than you will ever know.”

We close the distance to each other, pressing our mouths together in a whisper soft kiss. My lip trembles slightly as a flood of memories assaults my mind; each memory bringing back all the joy and pleasure those lips have brought me. My body takes over and I wrap my free hand around his neck. Pulling him closer to me, we seal our mouths together, succumbing to the kiss I’ve longed for since I last felt it. A kiss that is so perfect and natural. It’s a kiss I could see myself giving and receiving for the rest of my life.

Jodie Larson is a wife and mother to four beautiful girls, making their home in northern Minnesota along the shore of Lake Superior. When she isn’t running around to various activities or working her regular job, you can find her sitting in her favorite spot reading her new favorite book or camped out somewhere quiet trying to write her next manuscript. She’s addicted to reading (just ask her kids or husband) and loves talking books even more with her friends. She’s also a lover of all things romance and happily ever afters, whether in movies or in books, as shown in her extensive collection of both.

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Wednesday, 16 September 2015

Waiting on Wednesday #60 The Unrequited Past

Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine It’s a chance to showcase upcoming releases we are interested in or drooling over.

The Unrequited Past by Kelly Armstrong

Secrets #1

27 September 2015

Goodreads

You can only hide from the truth for so long.

Tess has always been tormented by waking visions that make her question her sanity. When the orphanage she lives in burns down, she decides to face her fears and find out once and for all what is wrong with her. She believes the truth must lie with her parents, and so, armed with only an address and phone number, Tess travels to a crumbling mansion in rural Quebec, where she discovers evidence of mistreatment of mental patients. She also makes an unlikely ally and gradually unearths her family’s sad history—and finally accepts the truth about her paranormal powers.

What's on your waiting list?

Tuesday, 15 September 2015

Book Tour & Review : The Call of Agon by Dean F. Wilson (The Children of Telm #1)

Title: The Call of Agon

Author: Dean F. Wilson

Release Date: 19 February 2013

Publisher: Dioscuri Press

Goodreads – Amazon

Summary:

THE LAST LINE. THE LAST WORDS. THE LAST CHANCE.

Ifferon is one of the last in the bloodline of the dead god Telm, who mated with mortal women, and who imprisoned the Beast Agon in the Underworld. Armed with a connection to the estranged gods in the Overworld and a scroll bearing Telm's powerful dying words, he is tasked with ensuring the god's vital legacy: that Agon remain vanquished. Fear forces Ifferon to abandon his duty, but terror restores his quest when the forces of Agon find his hideaway in an isolated coastal monastery.

Weighed down by the worries of the world, but lifted up by the companions he encounters along the way, Ifferon embarks on a journey that encompasses the struggles of many peoples, the siege of many lands, and discoveries that could bring hope to some—or doom to all.

~ Excerpt ~

A terrible howl went before each hound, as if carried by an evil wind from Halés. As the Felokar wolves charged fort, Délin could see that their eyes were ablaze with an inner fire, sparking and singeing their fur and the land around them. Their coats were of brown and black, though these too were tinted red, perhaps from the char of their eyes or some other fire still concealed. They seemed to blend into the blackness, as if they were not altogether present, but sight or no sight, Délin unsheathed his great two-handed sword and swung to meet the flame and shadow.

“Flee!” he cried to his companions. “These are the wolves of the Underworld. There is no valour to be won here—only death!”

There was a great sound of steel ringing through the air, as if it too made a howl to match the one unleashed by the wolves. Then there was a sound of rending flesh as the sword sliced through the nearest wolf, which leapt into the air and came down on the knight with a shriek and a clang against his armour. Blood sprayed into the air and then seemed to dissipate, for these were the wolves of Halés, and their flesh and blood were more illusion than reality. Délin did not think of this, for the wolf had dented his armour and caused him to lose his breath, and the pain was altogether real. He faltered for a moment, losing his grip on the sword, and his helmet rolled off in the fray. Suddenly there were three wolves upon him, snarling and tearing. He held his gauntleted arms before his face, but still the claws and teeth tore at him, wearing down his defences.

“Las Ardúnin de’Lamarin!” he called, and he felt a sudden strength within, as if the very mention of the Lady had set her potent gaze upon him, filling him with the waters of vitality and the rivers of courage. He leapt forward as if he too were wild, and he threw the wolf from him and came down on it in a frenzy. They rolled in the dust and the shade, and the other wolves came racing down on them, tearing and gnawing at all, wolf and man.

It seemed that an age was passing before Délin’s eyes, an age of struggle, where limb met with claw, and the harsh glare of the wolves was met with a glower of rage and defiance. One wolf pinned his left arm in its jaws and shook its head violently, trying to rip off his limb. He beat at its head with his other fist, roaring and shouting in an attempt to frighten them off, and also from the pain of the ever-piercing teeth, which tore through his armour as if it were flesh. For a moment he was relieved of two of the wolves, for they broke off to fight amongst themselves over their prey, but the larger one soon returned, fresh blood thick upon its teeth.

Ever did Délin clamber and toil with his foes, beating off wave after wave of the onslaught against him. He strayed on the path to Halés, for each volley of battering limbs drained his will, and each flurry of scratching claws drained his blood. Time passed slowly in that struggle, and so too did Délin pass under the shadow of weariness and into the clutches of death.

~ Review ~

Hi everyone and welcome back to Katie’s Corner! Today I’m having a great fantasy novel for you! If you love a good fantasy novel then this trilogy is for you. To say the truth I’m very picky when it comes to reading fantasy. That maybe because no one in my family reads fantasy (except for my dad) so I didn’t really had anyone recommend something. Sci-Fi is another issue, therefore I got that very picky attitude, especially after reading Tolkien’s books. For me he’s like fantasy God, but let me return to the book.

I enjoyed it, thought, I had a bit of difficulty with starting it, as I lost the thread too many times, soon enough I was sucked into it and I didn’t want it to end. The characters and the plot were flawlessly retold. That’s due to an amazing writing style of the author. He opening, the poem is fantastic. It actually made me shiver, because the description of darkness and loneliness was epic. The story follows Ifferion - a person who is hunted by his past and by his destiny. In order to find himself he goes on a journey to understand if he is him or just what everyone believes him to become. The author stresses a lot on the issue of destiny and one self. He as if wants to ask us a question: does the destiny rule our lives or we are the ones in control?

Would you like to find out what happens in this fantastic book? Are you ready to come face to face with human nature as well as their darkest desires? Will Ifferion find himself during the journey and how will his battle end? But be patient as the story has its own pace and it may be a bit confusing in the beginning. You will need to put everything in place by yourself. But then again that’s what great fantasy books are about! You need to live them, not ask explanations on every corner. I hope you’ll find some time to read this great book; I myself am looking forward to starting a new one. Enjoy it to its fullest and don’t forget to share your thoughts below! Stay tuned for more reviews as well as promos. Don’t miss your next favourite book or manga! Happy reading!

XOXO

Katie

~ Rating ~

~ About the Author ~

Dean F. Wilson was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1987. He started writing at age 11, when he began his first (unpublished) novel, entitled The Power Source. He won a TAP Educational Award from Trinity College Dublin for an early draft of The Call of Agon (then called Protos Mythos) in 2001.

He has published five novels to date, and is working on several others.

Dean also works as a journalist, primarily in the field of technology. He has written for TechEye, Thinq, V3, VR-Zone, ITProPortal, TechRadar Pro, and The Inquirer.

~ Other Books in this Series ~

Title: The Road to Rebirth

Series: The Children of Telm #2

Release Date: 31 January 2014

Goodreads | Amazon

Summary:

THE DYING BREATH. THE DYING WILL. THE DYING HOPE.

After the catastrophe of the Call of Agon, Ifferon and his companions find themselves in the unenviable situation of witnessing, and partaking in, the death of another god—this time Corrias, the ruler of the Overworld.

With Corrias locked inside the corpse of the boy Theos, he suffers a fate worse than the bonds of the Beast Agon. Yet hope is kindled when the company find a way to restore the boy, and possibly the god, back to life.

The road to rebirth has many pitfalls, and there are some who consider such meddling with the afterlife a grave risk. The prize might be life anew—but the price might also be a second death.

Title: The Chains of War

Series: The Children of Telm #3

Release Date: 12 August 2014

Goodreads | Amazon

Summary:

THE FINAL HOUR. THE FINAL FIGHT. THE FINAL WAR.

The first of Agon’s chains has broken, and the others are straining. It is only a matter of time before he is free, before the world is engulfed in chaos and death.

There are few left to stop him. Most of the gods can only sit and watch in horror from their prison in the heavens, but the resurrection of the father god Corrias gives the people of Iraldas a sliver of hope, a fighting chance.

Yet the memory of Corrias' failure to defeat Agon in ages past plays heavily on all minds. Many know that it is only the might of the Warrior-god Telm that can defeat the Beast. That god is dead, but his power lives on in his bloodline, in Ifferon and others like him, and they are tasked with waging a final war against the Beast.