Book Fanatics

Waiting on Wednesday: Live Through This

2012-02-15T15:40:00.000-07:00

Live Through This by Mindi Scott

October 2, 2012

Sometimes hiding the truth requires more than a lie . . .

From the outside, Coley Sterling’s life seems pretty normal . . . whatever that means. It’s not perfect—her best friend is seriously mad at her and her dance team captains keep giving her a hard time—but Coley’s adorable, sweet crush Reece helps distract her from the annoying drama. Plus, she has a great family to fall back on—with a stepdad and mom who would stop at nothing to keep her and her siblings happy and safe.

But Coley has a lot of secrets. She won’t admit—not even to herself—that her almost-perfect life is her own carefully-crafted façade. That for years she’s been burying the shame and guilt over a relationship that crossed the line. Now, Coley and Reece are getting closer, and as Coley has the chance at her first real boyfriend, a decade’s worth of lies are on the verge of unraveling.

Mindi Scott offers an absorbing, layered glimpse into the life of an everygirl living a nightmare that no one would suspect in this unforgettable powerhouse of a novel

I loved Mindi Scott's debut novel, Freefall, and I can't wait to read this one. It sounds so heartbreaking yet so good.

Top Ten Tuesday (11): Books that Broke My Heart

2012-02-14T14:31:00.001-07:00

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. For more information or to participate visit here.

This week (in case you couldn't figure it out from the post title) is books that broke my heart. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. There are books that broke my heart in the best possible way.

Looking for Alaska by John Green- This books was so sad yet so good. It really had an impact on me.
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green- On the same vein, another fabulous yet heart-breakingly beautiful novel by John Green.
Sweethearts by Sara Zarr-I have no idea why this book affected my the way it did. Nothing particularly sad happens in this book, yet, once I finished, I just felt sad and depressed. And I didn't get over it quickly, either.
Before I Die by Jenny Downham- This broke my heart in the worst way possible. Yes, I should have been expecting that. Yet I read it when I was fairly young and just getting into reading. I think I bit off a little more than I could chew with this one.
Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers- There was so much truth in this one. This is the book that made me fall in love with Courtney Summers' writing. I haven't like one of her books quite as much as this one.
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta- One of my favorite books. So heart-breaking yet so good!
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak- You can tell just from the subject-matter how heartbreaking this book is going to be. Yet it was so beautiful and so truthful.
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins-(Spoiler alert!) Out of all the books in this series, definitely the most depressing. I still haven't quite recovered from Finnick dying. Prim, eh. But Finnick, hell, no.
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver- This one was really good, yet very sad.
Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly- Another so good yet so sad one.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Review: A Million Suns

2012-02-13T18:21:00.000-07:00

A Million Suns
Beth Revis
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: January 10, 2012
Pages: 386

Godspeed was fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos. It's been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. And everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to enact his vision - no more Phydus, no more lies. But when Elder discovers shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier, unable to fight the romance that's growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart. In book two of the Across the Universe trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Beth Revis mesmerizes us again with a brilliantly crafted mystery filled with action, suspense, romance, and deep philosophical questions. And this time it all builds to one mind-bending conclusion: They have to get off this ship.

Across the Universe was good, but it wasn't my favorite. I was hoping for better from A Million Suns, and I got it, though it still wasn't everything I hoped for.

It seems that A Million Suns had a lot of the same problems as Across the Universe. It was so slow. Fortunately, it was more entertaining throughout the book. I was always intrigued by the mystery and the story. But I felt that it didn't really pick up until the last hundred pages or so. But once it did pick up, it was very addicting.

Elder is still my favorite out of the two main characters. I seemed to like Amy more in this book, but she was still bothersome at times. I was glad to see Elder stick up for himself more in this one.

And the ending! Ah, man. After reading Across the Universe, I was intrigued enough to read the sequel but wasn't necessarily excited. But after finishing A Million Suns, I need the next one now.

A Million Suns was overall more enjoyable than its prequel. I'm hoping for the best for the next and final book in this trilogy.

In My Mailbox (85)

2012-02-12T11:37:00.000-07:00

We have Kristi at The Story Siren to thank for hosting IMM every week.

Review:

The Rivals by Daisy Whitney

NetGalley:

Magic Under Stone by Jaclyn Dolamore

Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta

Library:

Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

Everneath by Brodi Aston

Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder

What did you get this week?

Charming Covers [28]

2012-02-09T16:47:00.002-07:00

Charming Covers is a feature here at Book Fanatics where I show off recently revealed covers/covers that I've recently found.

Nevermore by James Patterson

August 6, 2012

One last chance...
for Max, Fang, and Dylan...
before it all ends.

Are you ready for the final chapter? Are you ready for the ultimate flight? Because THIS IS IT. One last incredible, explosive adventure with an astonishing ending that no one could have seen coming.

I think this is the best cover in the series. The covers here have a tendency to be really cheesy. This is far better than the over covers.

I loved the first few books in this series. But as it kept going, it got kind of old and overdone. But I kept with it because it was still interesting and I really liked the characters (most of them anyway). So I can't wait to see how it all ends.

Review: The Iron Knight

2012-02-08T12:46:00.001-07:00

The Iron Knight

Julie Kagawa

Publisher: HarlequinTeen

Release Date: October 25, 2011

Pages: 361

Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl...and all for nothing.
Unless he can earn a soul.
To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.
Then Meghan Chases--a half human, half few slip of a girl--smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.
Withe the (unwelcome) company of his arch rival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end--a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan's side.
to survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. at least, not one has ever passed to tell the tale.
And then ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

I am probably one of the only ones who isn't in love with this series. I like it, I do. But I am not as intense about it as other are. Nevertheless, I was excited to get back into the world and read the final installment of this series.

This wasn't my favorite book int the series. I still liked it; it was very enjoyable. I just didn't think it had the same quirkiness as the others.

The main reason of this is that the main character in this is Ash, not Meghan. I love Ash and loved getting inside his head. He was so heartbroken and my own heart went out to him. Although I missed Meghan, I did quite enjoy the story from Ashe's perspective.

I love the world that Kagawa has created, and I was most excited to dive back into it. I loved the adventure in this book. Though it was serious at times, it was still really fun.

I am very happy with the ending of the series. Though it wasn't my favorite, The Iron Knight was a good addition and ending the the Iron Fey series.

Top Ten Tuesday (10): Books for Those Who Don't Read

2012-02-07T14:30:00.000-07:00

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and Bookish. To learn more or participate, visit here.

This week is the Top Ten Books we'd hand to some one who says they don't read.

Some of these depend on those who I am recommending the book to; they may not be for everyone. I'm going to mostly focus on people my own age for this list (hence, a list filled with young adult novels).

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins- This is a given. I think everyone can enjoy this book, even if they don't read. There is something in this for everyone.
Graceling by Kristin Cashore- This action-packed high fantasy would be great for those who don't read.
Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles- For those who I'd believe would prefer contemporary, I would recommend this book.
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins- Ditto
Any Sarah Dessen novel- I know a lot of people who don't particularly like to read but read these anyway. These are the kind of books that you don't have to like reading to like.
Divergent by veronica Roth- Action packed and addicting. Good for those who don't like to read.
Vampire Academy series-Again, I have seen people who don't like reading reading these. A very good series filled with romance, action, mystery, magic and more. There's something in this for everyone!

Review: Pure

2012-02-06T16:22:00.001-07:00

Pure
Julianna Baggott
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Release Date: February 8, 2012
Pages: 448

We know you are here, our brothers and sisters...
Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives teh her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost--how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers...to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged and weak, to be sued as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.
Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash...
There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss-maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it's his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a lipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks hi life to leave the Dome to find her.
When Pressia meets Partridge, their world shatter all over again.

If I had to describe this book in one word it would be creepy. Not just certain things or events, but just the atmosphere of the book gives off creepy. And I don't mean that in a bad way. I really enjoyed, even appreciated, that aspect of the book. You can't argue that Pure isn't different or unique.

The story and world was very captivating. Like I said, this is different than any other book that I've read. This is a world not long after ours, complete with allusions to our world. This is the kind of dystopian I find most interesting (for the most part) because it seems more real.

There is an interesting cast of characters in Pure. Not just the two main characters Pressia and Partridge, but others including El Caption and Pressia's grandfather. But on another note, I didn't really feel connected to the main characters. Interested in, yes. Connected to, no.

I enjoyed this book as a whole, but I did feel that at times it seemed to be trying too hard. I felt that there were a couple of parts that seemed to be more of feeling than anything else.

Although it's not my favorite dystopian story, I did enjoy it. A very unique and fascinating, if not a little terrifying, world that I'm sure will find it's way onto many a bookshelf.

Charming Covers [27]

2012-02-03T12:59:00.000-07:00

Charming Covers is a feature here at Book Fanatics where I show off covers that have recently been revealed/recently found.

Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols

July 10, 2012

A sexy and poignant romantic tale of a young daredevil pilot caught between two brothers.

High school senior Leah Jones loves nothing more than flying. While she’s in the air, it’s easy to forget life with her absentee mother at the low-rent end of a South Carolina beach town. When her flight instructor, Mr. Hall, hires her to fly for his banner advertising business, she sees it as her ticket out of the trailer park. And when he dies suddenly, she’s afraid her flying career is gone forever.

But Mr. Hall’s teenage sons, golden boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson, are determined to keep the banner planes flying. Though Leah has crushed on Grayson for years, she’s leery of getting involved in what now seems like a doomed business--until Grayson betrays her by digging up her most damning secret. Holding it over her head, he forces her to fly for secret reasons of his own, reasons involving Alec. Now Leah finds herself drawn into a battle between brothers--and the consequences could be deadly

I'm so excited to get back into the world of Jen Echols!

I like this cover because unlike her other serious contemporaries, there is just a girl by herself here. I think it's very pretty.

This sounds different than anything I've come across, as usual with Jen Echols. Hopefully this will be as good as all her others!

Waiting on Wednesday: Stealing Parker

2012-02-01T14:22:00.000-07:00

Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally

October 2012

About a 17-year-old girl named Parker who falls for the new 23-year-old coach of the baseball team.

Catching Jordan was very good, so I can't wait to read it's companion!

And even though it doesn't have a full premise yet, I love the short description it does have!

Review: Try Not to Breathe

2012-01-30T16:46:00.000-07:00

Try Not to Breathe
Jennifer R. Hubbard
Publisher: Viking
Release Date: January 19, 2012
Pages: 272

Learning to live is more than just choosing not to die, as sixteen-year-old Ryan discovers in the year following his suicide attempt. Despite his mother's anxious hovering and the rumors at school, he's trying to forget the darkness from which he has escaped. But id doesn't help that he's still hiding guilty secrets, or that he longs for a girl who may not return his feelings. Then he befriends Nicki, who is using psychics to seek contact with her dead father. This unlikely friendship thaws Ryan to the point where he can face the worst in himself. He and Nicki confide in one another the things they never thought they'd tell anyone-but their confessions are trickier than they seem, and the fallout test the bounds of friendship and forgiveness.

I was so excited to read Try Not to Breathe. It sounded heartbreaking yet so good. Try Not to Breathe was different than I expected, but it was still good.

Try Not to Breathe wasn't as hard to read as I thought it would be. Considering the subject matter, it was surprisingly not hard to get through. It was still heartbreaking in its own way, but it wasn't super intense. I appreciated this a lot, because the subject of suicide can be a very difficult topic to tackle.

I was expecting this book to be more romantic than it was. Not that this is a bad thing. It is more of a story about healing. Not just for the main character, Ryan, but for others such as Nicki herself, and Ryan's friends Val and Jake.

I grew to like Jake. His own story and past wasn't very intense, but I still felt for him. And I think he really grew during this book. Nicki wasn't my favorite part of the book. She seemed immature at times, which put me off a bit. But I grew to feel for her and like her. I kind of wish we could have seen more of Val's and Jake's story, especially Jake. I would have liked to see a little more of Jake's healing process.

Overall, Try Not to Breathe was a very heartbreaking novel. I loved seeing everyone's healing process.

In My Mailbox (84)

2012-01-28T16:14:00.000-07:00

We have Kristi at The Story Siren to thank for hosting IMM every week.

Library:

The Wood Queen by Karen Mahoney

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Try Not to Breathe by Jennifer R. Hubbard

What did you get this week?

Charming Covers [26]

2012-01-26T16:14:00.000-07:00

Charming Covers is a feature here at Book Fanatics where I show covers that have recently been revealed/that I've recently found.

Taken by Storm

Jennifer Lynn Barnes

May 22, 2012

3rd book in the Raised by Wolves series

This is one of my favorite werewolves series. There is no description yet, but I can't wait to see what's in store in this installment!

I like this cover. I don't like it as much as the first, but more than the second. Beautiful!

Waiting on Wednesday: The Unnaturalists

2012-01-25T17:51:00.001-07:00

The Unnaturalists by Tiffany Trent

August 14th 2012

In an alternate London where magical creatures are preserved in a museum, two teens find themselves caught in a web of intrigue, deception, and danger.

Vespa Nyx wants nothing more than to spend the rest of her life cataloging Unnatural creatures in her father’s museum, but as she gets older, the requirement to become a lady and find a husband is looming large. Syrus Reed’s Tinker family has always served and revered the Unnaturals from afar, but when his family is captured to be refinery slaves, he finds that his fate may be bound up with Vespa’s—and with the Unnaturals.

As the danger grows, Vespa and Syrus find themselves in a tightening web of deception and intrigue. At stake may be the fate of New London—and the world.

I love the premise to this. It looks so unique and interesting!

Top Ten Tuesday (8): Books I Wish I Owned/ Need to Buy

2012-01-24T14:24:00.002-07:00

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. For more information or to participate, visit here.

This week is a freebie. I decided that I want to compile a list of books that I have read, loved, and yet do not own. I do not buy a lot of books, I mostly borrow them from others or the library or receive them for review. Sometimes I run into a book that I absolutely loved and yet do not own, but still want to.

Anna and the French Kiss- I have actually checked this out from the library a couple of times to reread.
Lola and the Boy Next Door- On the same vein, this one is also amazing and I need to add it to my collection, too.
If I Die by Rachel Vincent- This is my favorite series. I own all of them except for this last one, which of course is my favorite. I think this needs to be the next one that I buy.
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta- This is one of my favorite books. I read it a long time ago and need to get it not only to have, but to read again and again.
The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti- Everything I said about Jellicoe Road also applies to this one. One of my favorite books!
The first two Vampire Academy novels- I have every book in the series except for the first two. I need to get them to complete my collection.
The first two in the Luxe series-Ditto.
Unearthly by Cynthia Hand- I loved this one. I recently received Hallowed, and now I got to get this one. I promised myself I would get it when it comes out in paperback, but, alas, I did not.
Where She Went by Gale Forman- This one was so beautiful; I loved it. I liked If I Stay, but this one was amazing.
Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson- Another favorite that I need to get!

Looking at my list, I realize that I have a lot of favorites that I don't own. There are probably more of my favorite books that I don't own than that I do own, which is really sad. I need to get on that.

(I also realize that most of my favorites are contemporary. I've never noticed that before.)

Are there any books that you don't have but need to buy?

Review: Forbidden

2012-01-23T14:39:00.001-07:00

Forbidden
Syrie and Ryan James
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: January 24, 2012
Pages: 411

She Should not exist.
He should not love her.
Claire Brennan has been attending Emerson Academy for two years now (the longest she and her mom have remained anywhere) and she's desperate to stay put for the rest of high school. So there's no way she's going to tell her mom about the psychic visions she's been having or the creepy warnings that she's in danger.
Alec MacKenzie is fed up with his duties to watch and, when necessary, eliminate the descendants of his angelic forefathers. He chose Emerson as the ideal hiding place where he could be normal for once. He hadn't factored Claire into his plans...
Their love is forbidden, going against everything Alec has been taught to believe. But when the reason behind Claire's unusual powers is revealed and the threat to her life becomes clear, how far will Alec go to protect her?

I am a huge angel fan and Forbidden seemed right up my ally. I wanted to love Forbidden. I really did. But I just did not get into it like I would have liked. It was an entertaining and enjoyable story, but I had a few problems with it.

The main problem that I had with this book were the characters. While watching Claire with her friends was fun at times, most of the time she was very immature. One thing that I really do not like in my heroines is immaturity. And Alec. I wanted so much to be romanced by him. And while he had his moments, he was just not my favorite part of the book.

Another thing that I didn't like was Alec and Claire's relationship. While it wasn't insta-love, the two were very inf actuated with each other, becoming way to dependent of the other.

There were parts of Forbidden that I did like. I loved the idea and the story and the world. It was very interesting and I loved learning about this world of angels. And while the books was a little slow at times, it was very enjoyable.

Overall, while Forbidden isn't my favorite angel book, there was still an enjoyable quality to it.

In My Mailbox (83)

2012-01-21T21:03:00.000-07:00

We have Kristi at The Story Siren to thank for hosting IMM every week.

For Review:

Life is but a Dream by Brian James

(From NetGalley)

Bought:

The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti

(Such an amazing book. Glad I finally got a copy.)

Library:

(As always, I got a ton from here.)

Wildefire by Karsten Knight

The Splendor Falls by Rosemary Clement-Moore

Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev

A Million Suns by Beth Revis

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Personal Demons and Original Sin by Lisa Desrochers

Love and Leftovers by Sarah Tregay

I don't know about you, but I better get reading. I've got a lot of good books to get through!

What did you get this week?

Review: Virtuosity

2012-01-20T16:30:00.000-07:00

Virtuosity
Jessica Martinez
Release Date: October 18, 2011
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 294

Now is not the time for Carmen to fall in love. And Jeremy is hands-down the wrong guy for her to fall for. He is infuriating, arrogant, and the only person who can stand in the way of Carmen getting the one thing she wants most: to win the prestigious Guarneri competition. Carmen's whole life is violin, and until she met Jeremy, her whole focus was winning. But what if Jeremy isn't just hot...what if Jeremy is better?
Carmen knows that kissing Jeremy can't end well, but she just can't stay away. Nobody else understands her--and riles her up--like he does. Still, she can't trust him with her biggest secret: She is so desperate to win she takes anti-anxiety drugs to perform, and what started out as an easy fix has become a hungry addiction. Carmen is sick of not felling anything on the stage and even more sick of always doing what she's told, doing what's expected.
Sometimes, being on top just means you have a long way to fall...

I was not expecting to like this book as much as I did. I thought it would just be a quick read (which it was) but it was so much more.

I really felt like I could relate to the subject matter as playing an instrument myself. Although I play the cello instead of violin and I'm nowhere near as talented as Carmen is. But I do think that those who don't have a musical background can also enjoy this book.

Carmen was my favorite part of this book. I loved watching her grow throughout the book. She learned how to decide for herself what she wants and what she does. She was a little weak in the beginning, which was a tad bothersome, but she grew and became a stronger person, which I liked that about her.

Virtuosity is a fantastic debut--one that I wasn't expecting to like so much. Even with its short length, there is an addictive quality to it and wonderful character.

Waiting on Wednesday: Something Like Normal

2012-01-18T14:43:00.001-07:00

WoW is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Something Like Normal

Trish Doller

June 19, 2012

A powerful debut novel about a young Marine's return home from Afghanistan and the new life and love he finds while fending off the ghosts of war.

When Travis Stephenson returns home from Afghanistan, his parents are on the brink of divorce, his brother has stolen his girlfriend and his car, and nightmares of his best friend getting killed keep him completely spooked. But when he runs into Harper Gray, a girl who despises him for trashing her reputation with a middle school lie, life actually starts looking up. As Travis and Harper see more of each other, he starts falling for her and a way through the family meltdown, the post-traumatic stress, and the possibility of an interesting future begins to emerge.

His sense of humor, sense of his own strength, and incredible sense of honor make Travis an irresistible and eminently lovable hero in this fantastic and timely debut novel.

This looks so heartbreaking yet so good! This one may be a bit hard to read for me, but I bet it will be worth it!

Review: Hallowed

2012-01-16T16:26:00.000-07:00

Hallowed
Cynthia Hand
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Release Date: January 17, 2012
Pages: 416

For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose--the task she was put on earth to accomplish--is not as straightforward as she though. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. and, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

I loved Unearthly. I was a little concerned that Hallowed wouldn't live up to it's predessor. I am glad to say that Hallowed was every bit as good as Unearthly.

While I am a huge fan of angels and their concept, I haven't encountered many angel books that I've absolutely loved. After reading this book, I've decided it's the only series in which I love. I don't know if it's the creative concept or the characters or the combination of both.

I have to say, Clara is pretty kick-butt. And yet I love how compassionate she is. And I do feel that she has grown over the series, and even this book.

While I don't typically like love triangles, I fell that the one in this series is very well done. I believe each boy has gotten an equal chance in these two books. And while Tucker still holds my heart (just barely more than Christian) I know that he isn't as good for Clara as Christian is. In the end, I am team Clara; whoever she chooses is good enough for me.

Some major bombs are dropped in this installment. While I could see some things coming, there were quite a few surprises, too.

I was not disappointed with this installment of a fabulous series. I am mad, though, because I have to wait so long for the next one!

In My Mailbox (82)

2012-01-14T20:34:00.000-07:00

We have Kristi at The Story Siren to thank for hosting IMM every week.

For Review:

Jersey Angel Beth Anne Bauman

Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

Someone Else's Life by Katie Dale

(All from NetGalley)

Library:

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer

The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten

What did you get this week?

Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

2012-01-12T15:52:00.001-07:00

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
Jennifer E. Smith
Publisher: Poppy
Release Date: January 2, 2012
Pages: 236

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?
Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting are. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18C. Headley's in 18A.
Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love fins you when you're least expecting it.

What a cute and endearing story! This was a quick read, yet filled with laughs and maybe even a tear or two.

I grew to really like Hadley. Even though this books is based over such a short period of time, I found that she still grew a ton. I also found her really funny. And Oliver. I had a hard time figuring Oliver out. At first when he told Hadley that he was going to a wedding, too, I knew he was not telling her something. I had a terrible feeling he himself was getting married. But the more I got to know him and when I found out what really happened, my heart broke for him, making me love him even more.

I loved Hadley and Olliver's relationship. It developed at a good pace. Hadley and Oliver were hilarious together. They also helped each other grow, making the other better. Together they made a dynamic duo.

So much happened over this 24-hour period. It was packed with so much I'll say one thing: this book was never boring or had any unnecessary material.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight was a great contemporary. Fun, charming, witty and emotional, this was a great story of love at first sight and so much more.

Waiting on Wednesday: Unbreak My Heart

2012-01-11T13:18:00.003-07:00

Unbreak My Heart by Melissa C. Walker

May 22, 2012

Sophomore year broke Clementine Williams’ heart. She fell for her best friend’s boyfriend and long story short: he’s excused, but Clem is vilified and she heads into summer with zero social life.

Enter her parents’ plan to spend the summer on their sailboat. Normally the idea of being stuck on a tiny boat with her parents and little sister would make Clem break out in hives, but floating away sounds pretty good right now.

Then she meets James at one of their first stops along the river. He and his dad are sailing for the summer and he’s just the distraction Clem needs. Can he break down Clem’s walls and heal her broken heart?

Told in alternating chapters that chronicle the year that broke Clem’s heart and the summer that healed it, Unbreak My Heart is a wonderful dual love story that fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Susane Colasanti will flock to.

From what I've read of Melissa Walker, I've really liked. And this seems like such a cute book, and one right up my ally.

What I Miss

2012-01-10T14:34:00.005-07:00

Over the past few weeks while I was off of school, I've had a lot of reading time. Which is great; I got a lot of reading done and caught up on what I needed to. I would tend to read a book all at once. Not necessarily in one sitting, I would take breaks, but I would still be able to finish a book pretty much at once. I was able to get more reading done this way, sometimes even reading more than one book a day.

But, I realized I miss something that didn't happen when doing this. I miss missing a book.

You know when you are reading a book, and you have to stop reading to do something else. If the book is really good, all you want to do is get back to that book. You just want to read more. It wasn't until this started happening again that I realized I missed it.

So, I know this is a short post but I just wanted to share this with you all.

Do you like reading a book all at once, or do you like missing a book?

Review: Winter Town

2012-01-09T16:05:00.001-07:00

Winter Town
Stephen Edmond
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: December 5, 2011
Pages: 336

Every winter, straight-laced, Ivy League bound Evan looks forward to a visit from Lucy, a childhood pal who moved away after her parent's divorce. But when Lucy arrives this year, she's changed. The former "girl next door" now has chopped dyed black hair, a nose stud, and a scowl. But Evan knows that somewhere beneath the Goth, "Old Lucy" still exists, and he's determined to find her...even if it means pissing her off.

I ended up enjoying Winter Town more than I thought I would. I found it full of wit; very funny and cute.

I really grew to like Evan. He was smart and funny. Dorky, but in a cute way. Even I was a bit put off by his obsession with Lucy, I still found his loyalty to her and finder her old self again charming. And I loved how he was with his family, or more specifically, his Gran. Very cute. In the beginning, Evan was trying to please everyone, especially his father. But in the end of the book, I felt that he had grown into himself.

I wasn't a huge fan of Lucy. She just didn't seem like a good fit for sweet Evan. But as I learned more about her, I was able to understand her more.

I loved the illustrations. I thought they were charming and added to the story. I would love to see more of this, when appropriate, in YA books.

Even though it's not my favorite, I liked the charm and wit of Winter Town. A very cute, fun read.

In My Mailbox (81)

2012-01-07T21:23:00.000-07:00

We have Kristi at The Story Siren to thank for hosting IMM every week.

So, this is a few weeks worth of books. This probably isn't all that I've gotten in the past couple weeks, but it's what I can remember and dig up.

For Review:

Winter's Kiss by Jennifer Echols and Catherine Hapka

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Forbidden by Syrie James and Ryan M. James

And Winter's Kiss is signed!

Gifted:

Crossed by Ally Condie

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost

From Michelle Zink:

Library:

The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff

Deadly Little Voices by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep

What did you get this week?

Review: Under the Never Sky

2012-01-05T22:08:00.000-07:00

Under the Never Sky
Veronica Rossi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: January 3, 2012
Pages: 400

Aria is a teenager in the enclosed city of Reverie. Like all Dwellers, she spends her time with friends in virtual environments, called Realms, accessed through an eyepiece called a Smarteye. Aria enjoys the Realms and the easy life in Reverie. When she is forced out of the pod for a crime she did not commit, she believes her death is imminent. The outside world is known as The Death Shop, with danger in every direction.
As an Outsider, Perry has always known hunger, vicious predators, and violent energy storms from the swirling electrified atmosphere called the Aether. A bit of an outcast even among his hunting tribe, Perry withstands these daily tests with his exceptional abilities, as he is gifted with powerful senses that enable him to scent danger, food and even human emotions.
They come together reluctantly, for Aria must depend on Perry, whom she considers a barbarian, to help her get back to Reverie, while Perry needs Aria to help unravel the mystery of his beloved nephew’s abduction by the Dwellers. Together they embark on a journey challenged as much by their prejudices as by encounters with cannibals and wolves. But to their surprise, Aria and Perry forge an unlikely love - one that will forever change the fate of all who live UNDER THE NEVER SKY.

As I finished Under the Never Sky, I had mixed feelings about it. In the end, I really enjoyed it. I liked the characters and there was this addicting quality in which I found that I couldn't put the down.

Initially I wasn't sure what this was about. Or more accurately, what it was. Dystopian? High Fantasy? I just didn't know. As it turns out, it was a mix of both, among other things. I liked the concept of this, although the world was the main problem I had with this book. In the beginning, it jumped right into the story, not explaining much. I was very confused, and there really was no remedy to this. I was confused as the book went on, though I was able to get over this for the most part.

On the other hand, I really liked the characters. Perry and Aria--I enjoyed so much getting to know them. Aria, who was very curious and venerable, yet was able to find her strength with the help of Perry. And Perry--so loyal and sweet. I enjoyed getting to know his layers.

I also liked how their relationship developed. They were always kind to each other, curious of the other. Their loved developed at a good pace.

Under the Never Sky is a novel of intrigue. This is the perfect example of the fact that characters matter. I was a little put of by the world (or more of the way the world was presented), the novel was redeemed by the characters. I can't wait to see more of Aria and Perry.

Review: Don't Breathe a Word

2012-01-04T22:14:00.000-07:00

Don't Breathe a Word
Holly Cupala
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: January 3, 2012
Pages: 299

Joy Delamere is suffocating... From asthma, which has nearly claimed her life. From her parents, who will do anything to keep that from happening. From delectably dangerous Asher, who is smothering her from the inside out. Joy can take his words - tender words, cruel words - until the night they go too far. Now, Joy will leave everything behind to find the one who has offered his help, a homeless boy called Creed. She will become someone else. She will learn to survive. She will breathe... if only she can get to Creed before it’s too late. Set against the gritty backdrop of Seattle’s streets and a cast of characters with secrets of their own, Holly Cupala’s powerful new novel explores the subtleties of abuse, the meaning of love, and how far a girl will go to discover her own strength.

There are very few books that I've encountered that can pack a punch like this one. Don't Breathe a Word was an intense story that has the power to impact a person.

I was a huge fan of Holly's debut novel Tell Me a Secret, but I think I like her sophomore novel even better. I love Holly's lyrical way of storytelling and the way she can impact me so much.

I was a bit weary of Joy at first. She seemed weak in her decisions. But as I got to know her and see her grow, I really started to like and understand her. I also grew very attached to the other characters: Creed, May and Santos. They all had their secrets and stories. When discovering their stories and personalities, I was more interested in them. Even though May and Santos made some bad decisions I still felt for them. And Creed. Oh Creed. He was so strong yet so vulnerable. He was another character that grew so much through the book. And I liked him even more the more I learned about him.

This book tackles a tough subject that has not been covered much before. Seeing all the teens on the street, both Creed's group and others, was heartbreaking. But it's definitely a subject that needs to be covered.

Don't Breathe a Word was such a powerful and impactful novel. Holly Cupala is not one to miss.

Top Ten Tuesday (9): Books I'm Excited for in 2012

2012-01-03T16:37:00.001-07:00

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. For more information visit here.

This week is Top Ten Books I'm excited for in 2012, in case you couldn't figure it out from the title of the post.

So, without further ado, here is my list in no particular order.

In Honor by Jessi Kirby- This books looks so amazing, everything about it from the description to the cover. I can't wait to get my hands on this one!

The Savage Grace by Bree Despain- This is one of my favorite series. I was so bummed when it was pushed back from December to March. I'm really hoping the wait will be worth it. I'm sure it will be.

Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols- a) it's Jennifer Echols b) it sounds amazing and so different from everything else these days, and c) it's Jennifer freaking Echols.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth- I loved Divergent and can't wait to see what happens next!

The Calling by Kelley Armstrong- Not a lot happened in the first book, or at least not until the very end. I think this one will be different. Plus, only one more book until they meet up with the characters from The Darkest Powers series! Which is the main reason I'm continuing with this series.

Wings of the Wicked by Courtney Allison Moulton- One of my favorites, if not my favorite, book of 2011 was Angelfire. I need this book now!

Isla and the Happily Ever After- Enough said.

The Fault in Our Stars- It's John Green.

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver- Delirium was a fascinating dystopian. Plus, with a cliffhanger like that, I need the next one!

Thou Shalt Not Road Trip by Antony John- Road trips are my favorite subject matter, so I can't wait for this one!

What are you most excited for this year?

The Hunger Games Music

2012-01-03T14:28:00.000-07:00

I actually found this a few weeks ago (Christmas) but I didn't share it. I'm not sure why.

But without further ado, here is a the song from the Hunger Games soundtrack, by Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars.

When I first heard Taylor Swift was doing a song for this, I was very apprehensive. I was expecting her usual upbeat happy song. But I think this actually fits The Hunger Games.

Review: Cinder

2012-01-02T13:43:00.000-07:00

Cinder
Marissa Meyer
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: January 3, 2012
Pages: 387

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

I thought that Cinder would be an amazing read--and I was right. It had everything I hoped it would: romance, intrigue, kick-butt characters.

This may be based on Cinderella, but it is so much more. I quite enjoyed something different from the home by midnight/ glass slipper scenario. And considering this isn't what I thought it would be, I was quite surprised by the ride that was Cinder.

I found that I got quite attached to the characters. From Cinder to Kai to Peony. I really grew to like Cinder, and really felt for her through the book.

One aspect of the book that I could have enjoyed more was the world. With cyborgs and living on the moon and everything, it was more sci-fi than anything else. And I just am not a sci-fi fan, which caused trouble getting into this world. That's not to say that others will have this problem; it's just a personal issue.

I think that Cinder is one that all can enjoy. I can't wait for the next installment.

2012 Book/Blog Resolutions

2011-12-31T13:36:00.000-07:00

As the New Year approaches, I decided to make a few bookish resolutions for next year.

Review more non-YA books- Since a big chunk of what I read is adult, I figure I should start to review them more. Not on my blog, since it is strictly YA, but on other sights such as Goodreads.
Interact more with the blogging community- I've actually been doing a pretty good job with this the past month or so. Maybe not since the holidays, but before that. But I figure there is always room to grow in this area. I'll do this by 1) commenting more, and 2) talking more on twitter and such.
Get reviews up in a more timely manner- Sometimes I'm good with this, sometimes I'm not. I figure I should try to be more consistent, though.
Finish more books than this year- I have to add this one in; I do it every year. My goal this year was to read 200, and assuming I make that, next year will be 201.
Reach my monthly goal- This may be something along the same lines of the one above, but it is something I need to work on. Every month I have a goal of how many books I am going to read. There were many a month this year when I did not reach this goal. I wouldn't be scrambling to reach 200 this year if I had reached this.
If I don't like a book, don't read it- This may seem obvious, but when I start a book, even if I don't like it, I still finish it. I'm making it a rule that if I can't get into the first 100 pages of a book, to just set it aside. There are so many other books I could be reading than one that I don't really enjoy.
Expand my reading- I tend to read the same genres, so I'm going to try to get out of my comfort zone a little. A part of this is going to be trying to tackle a few classics.

What are some of your bookish New Year's resolutions?

End of the Year Survey

2011-12-30T17:21:00.001-07:00

The Perpetual Page-Turner is hosting once again the End of the Year Book Survey. I've been meaning to do a post like this, and here is one waiting for me! To participate visit here.

Best Book Read in 2011:

It's hard picking one, but if I had to this would be it.

Most Disappointing Book/Book You Wish You Loved More Than You Did?

Don't hate me. It's not that I didn't like this book, but after months and months of anticipation and all of that buzz that surrounded this book, I felt that it wasn't as good as I thought it would be. I wanted to love it. But I think my expectations were too high.

Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2011?

Wasn't expecting this to be so good.

Book you recommended to people most in 2011?

Very addicting and enjoyable read. I'd recommend this to anyone, even if they don't read a lot.

Best series you discovered in 2011?

I really enjoyed the first 2 books in this series. One of my favorite YA series of the year.

Favorite new authors you discovered in 2011?

I read both of these books in 2011, and absolutely loved them. Stephanie Perkins is amazing!

Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

I started reading more adult fiction this year and loved it. I loved the Stray series, but there were several others that I read and enjoyed as well.

Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2011?

Yes, this one again. This was very addicting.

Book you most anticipated in 2011?

I was very excited for this pretty much all year. And now I'm the same way with the next one.

Favorite cover of a book you read in 2011?

I can't deny this cover is amazing!

Most memorable character in 2011?

I loved how much Carmen grew during this book. I really enjoyed her.

Most beautifully written book read in 2011?

Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2011?

Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2011 to finally read?

Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2011?

I just think perfection and lasting through the ages is for Greek statues, not us mere humans.~The Fox Inheritance by Mary E. Pearson

Book That You Read In 2011 That Would Be Most Likely To Reread In 2012?

Oh, there it is again

Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!

I'd have to say the end of this book about killed me

Charming Covers [25]

2011-12-29T14:51:00.000-07:00

Charming Covers is a feature where I show recent cover reveals/that I've recently found.

Before I Wake by Rachel Vincent

July 2012

Yay! I love this series and now that the 6th one has a cover I'm even more excited for it! After the last book, I'm doing to know what happens next.

This isn't my favorite cover in the series, but it didn't fail to be absolutely gorgeous.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Vicious Deep

2011-12-28T17:32:00.000-07:00

The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Córdova

May 12, 2012

Set against the backdrop of a Coney Island summer comes The Vicious Deep, the story of sixteen year old Tristan Hart whose life is turned upside down when the mermaids make an unscheduled return to land in search of their new king.

When a sudden storm pulls Tristan from lifeguard duty into a deadly riptide, he discovers what he really is—a prince of the Sea Court. Turns out, his girlfriend hopping and talents as a swimmer aren’t caused by his teenage prime hormones after all.

In this modern Arthurian tale with a twist, when all a guy wants to do is get The Girl and enjoy the freak show that is a Coney Island summer, Tristan has to fight for his life, the lives of his friends, and his humanity, if he still wants it, as he’s caught in a race for a throne that is as ancient as the gods.

This one looks so interesting. Mermaids and Coney Island? Heck yeah! Can't get much better than that.

Wrapping Up Read-a-thon Update #1

2011-12-27T22:13:00.000-07:00

Hosted by Jessie at Remarkable Reads.

Over Christmas and Christmas Eve, I was slacking with this read-a-thon. So, I'm just now catching up.

Here's what I accomplished so far:

~read The Future of Us

~read Catching Jordan

~finished Lover Revealed

~read Virtuosity

Hopefully from now until Saturday I'll get a lot of reading done. Next up I'm going to read First Drop of Crimson.

How are you doing with this?

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T23:30:00.002-07:00

Wrapping Up Read-a-thon Starting Post

2011-12-22T18:02:00.001-07:00

So, I'm a little late with putting this up, but never late than never, right?

Anyway, Jessie at Remarkable Reads is hosting a Wrapping Up Read-a-thon, starting today and running until January 1. For more info go here.

Even though I am just now putting this up, I still have been reading. I've already finished Catching Jordan and am off to start another.

A few books that I hope to get done:
1. Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala
2. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
3. The Future of Us by Jay Ahser and Carolyn Mackler
4. Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward
5. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Probably a few others but that's a good starting point.

I probably won't be doing much reading on Christmas Eve, Christmas, or New Year's Eve, but all of the other days I'll try to read as much as I can.

I also probably won't be posting much in the mean time; between this and the holiday I'll be pretty busy. But I will when I can. I'll try to put up some wrap up posts for the read-a-thon for most days.

I'd also like to point out to everyone that I have blog survey and would love it if you could take the time to fill it out here. Thanks!

Happy Reading everyone!

2011 Blog Survey!

2011-12-20T22:44:00.001-07:00

So, if you are not completely tired of filling out blog surveys yet, I would greatly appreciate it if you would fill out mine. I'm sure like many others, I really want to improve my blog in the new year. I would love any and all suggestions. It is anonymous, so please be honest!

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And, to return the favor, if you have a survey you want me to fill out, leave a link in the comments. I've already filled out a few, but I would love to help out other bloggers.

Review: Sometimes it Happens

2011-12-20T17:02:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it Happens
Lauren Barnholdt
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Release Date: July 12, 2011
Pages: 320

This novel opens on the first day of Hannah’s senior year, but the story really starts on the last day of her junior year. That’s when Hannah not only gets dumped by her boyfriend, Ryan, but she also finds out her best friend, Ava, is going to be gone for the entire summer. But Ava’s boyfriend, Noah, is definitely around—and such a good guy that he snags Hannah a job at the diner where he works. Hannah and Noah move from coworkers, to friends….and one night, to something more.Now it’s back to school, where Hannah will see Ryan, Ava, and Noah all in one place. Over the course of the day secrets and betrayals are revealed, and alliances are broken and reformed. In the end, Hannah will learn a lot about love, friendship…and herself.

I'll be the first to admit that I really don't like the 'hooking up with best friend's boyfriend' plot. I try to avoid it as much as possible. Why did I read this book, the very thing I was avoiding? Because I love Lauren Barnholdt. I'll read anything by her. And there's a reason for that. She managed to take a plot that I really don't like and turn it into a book I really enjoyed.

The story is told through two different times: the summer, when everything happened, and the first day of school, when everything blew up. This book didn't make me mad like I thought it would. It was actually very engaging and done well for what it was.

Hannah wasn't my favorite female character, but I still liked her. Even though she was whiny at times, she was still a good person. And Noah didn't come across too shabby himself, either. Very swoon-worthy. The one who I had a problem with was Ava. She was very manipulative, always acting superior to Hannah. I also liked other characters, including Lacey, as quirky as she was. I think the characters are a big part of what made this book good.

Another good book to add to the awesomeness that is Lauren Barnholdt. A very engaging and somewhat addicting novel, Sometimes it Happens is a great contemporary.

Charming Covers [24]

2011-12-19T16:27:00.000-07:00

Charming Covers is a feature I have created where I highlight covers recently revealed/ that I've recently found.

Destiny's Fire by Trisha Wolfe

January 10, 2012

Sixteen-year-old Dez Harkly is one of the last of her kind—a part of a nearly extinct race of Kythan descended from ancient guardians who protected the pharaohs of Egypt. As Shythe, they must keep their shape-shifting ability and electric power hidden from the humans of their steam-powered world.

It’s the year 2040 and the Shythe Council has lowered their barrier, allowing the Narcolym—the dominant race of Kythan whose Flame ushered in the steam era—to enter their haven. As the Narcolym airships get closer, Dez secretly trains for an attack that her best friend Jace believes is coming despite the Treaty Act. Not only is Dez wary of war, and her growing affection for Jace, but she fears the change her fast-approaching birthday will bring.

When her power rockets out of control, Dez knows she’ll never attend the Shythe Academy with her friends, and worse, her mother’s planning to run. But a Narco named Reese could change her fate . . . if she can trust him. After Dez discovers why the Narcos have really come to Haven Falls, her guarded world crumbles. She’s forced to choose between the race who’s raised her and the enemy she’s feared her whole life.

DESTINY'S FIRE is an emotional journey of Dez’s struggle to overcome her fear and embrace her power—her destiny

There was a different cover released for this that I didn't like. At all. But then I saw this one, and I think it may be the final cover. (Correct me if I'm wrong.) Anyway, I love this cover so much more. It's pretty and it gives off a real steampunkery feel. I'm very excited for this book!

Review: Soul Thief

2011-12-15T17:35:00.001-07:00

Soul Thief
Jana Oliver
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: August 30, 2011
Pages: 339

Riley Blackthorne is beginning to learn that there are worse things than death by demon. And love is just one of them…

Seventeen-year-old Riley has about had it up to here. After the devastating battle at the Tabernacle, trappers are dead and injured, her boyfriend Simon is gravely injured, and now her beloved late father’s been illegally poached from his grave by a very powerful necromancer. As if that’s not enough, there's Ori, one sizzling hot freelance demon hunter who’s made himself Riley’s unofficial body guard, and Beck, a super over-protective “friend” who acts more like a grouchy granddad. With all the hassles, Riley’s almost ready to leave Atlanta altogether.

But as Atlanta’s demon count increases, the Vatican finally sends its own Demon Hunters to take care of the city’s “little” problem, and pandemonium breaks loose. Only Riley knows that she might be the center of Hell’s attention: an extremely powerful Grade 5 demon is stalking her, and her luck can't last forever…

I liked The Demon Trapper's Daughter more than I thought I would. I enjoyed that one, and I couldn't wait to see more of Riley in this book. While I didn't find this one as charismatic as the first, I still enjoyed it.

One thing that bothered me about this book was the romance. In the first one, there was a romance, but it took more of a backseat in the story. And I liked that. I mean, I like me my romance as much as the next person, but it was refreshing. But I felt that it took up a bigger part of the story in this book. Which would be fine. But I felt that it was more forced than it should have been. It introduced more characters liking Riley in this book, even if she doesn't know all of them do. At times it was a bit over the top, but it probably would have been a different story without it. And while I'm on the subject I must put out there that I'm team Beck all the way.

This is one of the more creative and interesting worlds that I've read about in a while. I love the idea of it. And I feel that none of the demons seem too cheesy or overdone, which could have easily been done.

I really liked Riley. The thing about her and about this book is that we see more of the kind of person Riley is from other people, such as Beck. We still see plenty from her, but I think it adds to it. She is a very kick butt heroine. There were times in this book that the decisions she made annoyed me, but not too much. And while there are plenty of guys pining for her, her main focus is still getting her father back.

I cant' wait to see more from this world and its characters. The ending of this book left me dying for the next.

Waiting on Wednesday: Enchanted

2011-12-14T14:56:00.001-07:00

Enchanted by Alethea Kontis

May 8, 2012

It isn’t easy being the rather overlooked and unhappy youngest sibling to sisters named for the other six days of the week. Sunday’s only comfort is writing stories, although what she writes has a terrible tendency to come true.

When Sunday meets an enchanted frog who asks about her stories, the two become friends. Soon that friendship deepens into something magical. One night Sunday kisses her frog goodbye and leaves, not realizing that her love has transformed him back into Rumbold, the crown prince of Arilland—and a man Sunday’s family despises.

The prince returns to his castle, intent on making Sunday fall in love with him as the man he is, not the frog he was. But Sunday is not so easy to woo. How can she feel such a strange, strong attraction for this prince she barely knows? And what twisted secrets lie hidden in his past—and hers?

I love fairy tale retellings, and this one sounds so good! I can't wait to read it!

Dark Inside

2011-12-12T17:28:00.001-07:00

Dark Inside
Jeyn Roberts
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
Release Date: September 2, 2011
Pages: 368

Since mankind began, civilizations have always fallen: the Romans, the Greeks, the Aztecs…Now it’s our turn. Huge earthquakes rock the world. Cities are destroyed. But something even more awful is happening. An ancient evil has been unleashed, turning everday people into hunters, killers, crazies.

Mason's mother is dying after a terrible car accident. As he endures a last vigil at her hospital bed, his school is bombed and razed to the ground, and everyone he knows is killed. Aries survives an earthquake aftershock on a bus, and thinks the worst is over when a mysterious stranger pulls her out of the wreckage, but she’s about to discover a world changed forever. Clementine, the only survivor of an emergency town hall meeting that descends into murderous chaos, is on the run from savage strangers who used to be her friends and neighbors. And Michael witnesses a brutal road rage incident that is made much worse by the arrival of the police--who gun down the guilty party and then turn on the bystanding crowd.

Where do you go for justice when even the lawmakers have turned bad? These four teens are on the same road in a world gone mad. Struggling to survive, clinging on to love and meaning wherever it can be found, this is a journey into the heart of darkness – but also a journey to find each other and a place of safety.

This book read like a movie. The whole time I was reading, I could just imagine actually watching this. I haven't read a book like that in a while, if ever. And that is what I really enjoyed about this book.

This is an apocalyptic book, but in this it's during the apocalypse, which is something that hasn't been touched on as much as post-apocalyptic. And I didn't think of this much before. But I much appreciate this book for bringing a new take into this type of book--not quite dystopian, but apocalyptic nevertheless.

I also like the monsters of this book. It was something of a mix of The Crazies with a more coherent person. And something about that was frightening--that they were still people, but with a desire to hurt and kill. This is also something new that I appreciated.

I think one place that this book fell flat is the characters. While I still really enjoyed this book, it was not because of the characters. It's not that I didn't like any of the characters. It just wasn't a strong point of the book.

Jeyn Roberts brings something new to the YA genre. I've seen these things in other places, but not in YA. And it was very refreshing and something that I really enjoyed.

In My Mailbox (80)

2011-12-11T00:19:00.000-07:00

We have Kristi at The Story Siren to thank for hosting IMM every week.

For Review:

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
(From NetGalley)

Bought:

Impossible by Nancy Werlin

Ophelia by Lisa Klein

Considering each of these were about 2 bucks a piece, I couldn't pass them up.

Library:

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez

What did you get this week?

Review: Untraceable

2011-12-07T17:45:00.002-07:00

Untraceable

S.R. Johannes

Publisher: Coleman & Stott

Release Date: November 29, 2011

Pages: 315

16 year old Grace has lived in the Smokies all her life, patrolling with her forest ranger father who taught her about wildlife, tracking, and wilderness survival.

When her dad goes missing on a routine patrol, Grace refuses to believe he’s dead and fights the town authorities, tribal officials, and nature to find him.

One day, while out tracking clues, Grace is rescued from danger by Mo, a hot guy with an intoxicating accent and a secret. As her feelings between him and her ex-boyfriend get muddled, Grace travels deep into the wilderness to escape and find her father.

Along the way, Grace learns terrible secrets that sever relationships and lives. Soon she’s enmeshed in a web of conspiracy, deception, and murder. And it’s going to take a lot more than a compass and a motorcycle (named Lucifer) for this kick-butting heroine to save everything she loves.

Untraceable was different than anything that I've read. It wasn't what I was expecting, but it was still interesting.

I have to say, Grace is very kick-butt. It's refreshing to see a heroine who can take care of herself. From the beginning she was the only one who believed her father was still alive. She may have been tough on the outside, but as we read through the book we see that she has a heart filled with loyalty and compassion. When she set her mind to something, she didn't give up, even when everyone told her otherwise. She also has amazing survival and tracking skills. We could probably all learn a lesson from her. On some level, however, I never really connected with her. This usually causes problems but I was able to over look it here.

Untraceable a lot in it: mystery, romance, danger. Not everything was completely unforeseeable, but there were also quite a few surprises that I din't see coming. I quite enjoyed watching Grace on her journey to find her father. And I must say I quite enjoyed Mo, too. I got kind of worried about about that toward the end, but it was okay in the end.

Overall, Untraceable was a refreshing and thrilling ride. Very different from what I've read before, in a good way. An interesting story to go with a beautiful cover.

Top Ten Tuesday (8): Childhood Favorites

2011-12-06T17:20:00.016-07:00

Top ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and Bookish. For more information, visit here.

This week is Top Childhood Favorites. I'm not going to lie, I wasn't a huge reader when I was a kid. I liked to read, but I didn't read nearly as much as I do now. I had this nasty habit of reading about halfway through a book and stopping, leaving it never to be finished. Thankfully, I've gotten over that and actually read a whole book now.

Anyway, here are some books that I actually got through in entirety.

(Some of them are series, not specific books)

Goosbumps by R.L. Stine- I read through these books like no other. I've always been into horror, whether it be books or movies. I've read a ton of these, but few really scared me. I remember the ones that did creep me out, though were the Night of the Living Dummy ones (there was 4 or 5 of them). Dolls have always freaked me out.
Animal Ark by Ben M. Baglio- I've always been an animal person. Anything with an animal in it, I absolutely adored. I loved this series, too. I had a million of them, but how many I actually read, I couldn't tell you.
Bud not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis- This is one that my teacher had read to the class in about fourth grade, I believe. I remember I loved it. Now, I had a couple other teachers read it to me in later years, so it got a little old, but I still remember liking it the first time.
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo- This is one that I read when I was a little bit older, but I still loved it. It's been a while since I've read it, but from what I remember, I still think it was amazing.
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo-Another DiCamillo book. These are the only two books I've read by her, but based on them, I wish I had read more. Edward Tulane is my favorite, but this one was pretty good, too.
There's a Wocket in my Pocket by Dr. Suess- This list wouldn't be complete without Dr. Suess. And while everyone else loved The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham, There's a Wocket in my Pocket was and remains my favorite Dr. Suess book.
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner- Who didn't read these? I remember a time when I read through several in no time at all.
Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park- I remember my mom reading these to me before bed every night. There are a lot of memories along with these books.
The Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne- These are classics. I remember reading and owning a ton of these.
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume- This is another that the teacher read to my class. I read some of the other Fudge books, but none of them compared to the first.

Wow, I'm feeling really nostalgic after making this list. I kind of wish that I had some of these now.

Anyway, what books did you love as a kid?

November Wrap Up

2011-12-05T17:17:00.000-07:00

I know this is a few days late, but better late than never.

I didn't get as much reading done in November as I would have like. But that may have something to do with NaNoWriMo. And yes, I am a NaNoWriMo winner. So, I'm using that as an excuse for not read as much.

Anyway.

Books Read:

1.) Amplified by Tara Kelly

2.) The Night Circus by Erin Morganstern

3.)Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

4.) Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

5.) The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

6.) The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stievfator

7.) Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent

8.) Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward

9.) Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning

10.) Legend by Marie Lu

11.) Perfect Fifths by Megan McCafferty

12.) Untraceable by S.R. Johannes

13.) The Next Door Boys by Jolene B. Perry

14.) Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward

Other Reviews:

Saving June by Hannah Harrington

Touch of Frost by Jenifer Estep

In My Mailbox (79)

2011-12-03T15:45:00.000-07:00

We have Kristi at The Story Siren to thank for hosting IMM every week.

So, I tried something different this week. I want to do an actual vlog, but every time I try the sound gets jacked up on the computer. I don't know if it would just be on my computer, or if the sound is too quiet for everyone to hear, because it's fine on my camera. So, I figured this would be something different, a video, but not quite what I want.

Anyway, if you don't like it, let me know and I won't do it again. If you do, tell me that, too!

And I promise there will be better music next time if I do it again!

Review:Legend

2011-11-28T16:53:00.002-07:00

Legend
Marie Lu
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Release Date: November 29, 2011
Pages: 305

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

There has been quite a bit of buzz revolving around Legend for a while now. I was extremely excited when I got a chance to read it. And I do believe that it deserves the buzz that it was gotten.

I was instantly drawn to Day. He's the most wanted criminal. Not only was that interesting but I was completely drawn to his character. I first noticed how compassionate he was. He would have done anything for his family. It took me a little bit to warm up to June. I never liked her as much as Day, but after a while I liked her more. One thing I liked about her was how attuned she was to every little detail. I've never read about a character who does that, and it was very interesting to read about.

Legend was fast paced and action packed. I never wanted to put it down, always needing to know what happens next. I do wish there was more, though. It's not that there wasn't enough. It was just so good that I would have loved to see more. More of the characters, of the story. It wasn't a very long book, but what was there I really enjoyed.

I do love when in dystopian novels, it is so close to our world. It makes them seem that much real and plausible. And that's how it was in this book. It made connections to our world and society.

Legend was a fantastic debut. It was as addicting as it was fantastic. I can't wait to read more of the characters and this world.

2012 YA Contemporary Challenge

2011-11-27T12:33:00.001-07:00

I'm a huge fan of challenges, and now is the time to sign up for all sorts for 2012.

This year Katie at Katie's Book Blog and Reading Angel are hosting the 2012 YA Contemporary Challenge

Rules:
You can read any contemporary YA novel that is published between January 1, 2012 and December 30, 2012 but you must read them in 2012! (All formats accepted: paperback, ARC, e-book

You can get to different levels:

Level 1: 5+ books
Level 2: 10+ books
Level 3: 15+ books

I'm personally going to go for level 3. I think out of everything, I read the most contemporary, so 15 books in a year should be no problem for me.

I'll be listing books as I read them here.

To sign up or for more information, go here.

In My Mailbox (78)

2011-11-26T16:09:00.000-07:00

We have Kristi at The Story Siren to thank for hosting IMM every week.

For Review:

New Girl

Paige Harrison

Allegiance

Cayla Kluver

Random Acts of Kindness:

Blood Bound

Rachel Vincent

Timeless

Alexandra Monir

Lover Eternal

J.R. Ward

Thank you so much to Lori at Romancing the Darkside and Jen at At Random for the amazing random acts of kindness!

Did you have an amazing Thanksgiving for those of you in the U.S. I know I did and I ate a ton.

What did you get this week?

Happy Turkey Day!

2011-11-24T12:16:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday: Bitterblue

2011-11-23T11:13:00.000-07:00

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

May 1st, 2012

Bitterblue is a companion book to both Graceling and Fire and takes place in the seven kingdoms eight years after Graceling. This third book will tie all three books together in some way. Bitterblue is the sixteen-year-old protagonist, and Katsa, Po, Giddon, Helda, and other characters from Graceling will be part of the fabric of the book.

It's about time this book came out. I've only been waiting for it forever!

Oh, well. I guess all the waiting just means it's just going to be even more awesome, right?

I can't wait to see what happens in this one!

Review: The Pledge

2011-11-22T18:40:00.000-07:00

The Pledge
Kimberly Derting
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Release Date: November 15, 2011
Pages: 323

In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed.

Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

I'm a huge fan of Derting's The Body Finder series. I was so excited to read this new one book by her. Unfortunately, I didn't love it as much as I hoped I would.

I think where the book fell flat for me was the characters. This is a place that can either make it or break it with a dystopian novel. And there may be some people who disagree. But I never really connected with any of them, especially the main character, Charlie. It's not that she bothered me or that I didn't like, I just never cared about her specifically enough to keep going. It was the story that kept me captivated enough to move along.

The world was fascinating to read about. I loved the idea of every cast having a different language. Very original and intriguing. And the book was fast-paced and action-packed.

I think what saved this book for me was the ending. I don't know why, but I loved the ending. It wasn't entirely unpredictable, but I was still happy. I think this is the reason That I'm going to keep reading this series.

A very original and unique story. I was enticed by the story but put aback by the characters. But it's the captivating ending that has me moved me on to read the next book in the series about a fascinated world.

Review Format

2011-11-21T18:32:00.000-07:00

So I've been thinking about playing around with the format of my reviews.

Right now, in my reviews, I just write them in one long review, not breaking it up. (By this I mean I don't have it split up into more parts.)

I've been thinking about changing it so that it would look more like this:

Overview:

my opinion

Plot:

My opinion

Characters:

my opinion

Writing:

my opinion

Miscellaneous:

This is where I say anything that I want to add about the book that doesn't fit in the categories above.

(It won't actually be called miscellaneous)

Rating:

Which is where I post my rating.

I'm not sure if those will be the actual categories, but you get the idea.

I like this because it may be easier to write the review if I split it up. I can be more specific.

But I also feel that this has potential to be limiting.

So, I'm asking you! What kind of review format do you prefer? How I write them now, where it's just random and one thing, or split up into categories.

I may do a few like this and if I don't like it, just totally trash the idea and go back to the way I had it before. I'll play around with a few different things.

Also, if you don't like any of these ideas, let me know how you like to read reviews!

Let me know!

Review: Silence

2011-11-17T13:55:00.000-07:00

Silence
Becca Fitzpatrick
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Release Date: October 4, 2011
Pages: 438

The noise between Patch and Nora is gone. They've overcome the secrets riddled in Patch's dark past...bridged two irreconcilable worlds...faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty and trust...and all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth. Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in one another, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they've worked for—and their love—forever.

I was very surprised by Silence. I really liked Hush, Hush, but I didn't get as into the sequal, Crescendo, as much. I wasn't sure how I would feel about Silence. But it brought this series back to life for me.

When the book started out, I was just as clueless as Nora. Well, almost. We start out when Nora wakes up in a grave yard with no memory of the past few month. She doesn't remember Patch or the Nephilim or anything. At first, I wasn't sure I would like this. Whey do we need to rediscover everything again. But, it didn't linger on anything too much.

Nora and Patch's on again off again relationship is driving me nuts. Either stay together or don't! (I was hopping for the former.) But, I think that after the second half, that will be permanent. I hope.

I do think that the first part dragged a little. There were things that happened, but I was just waiting for Nora to either remember or figure everything out. But then about half way through it got a lot more interesting.

And the ending! I was surprised. But then again I feel like I should have seen it coming.

I'm glad I liked Silence because it got me into this series again. I love angels and this is a great story. Now I'm dying for the next one.

Charming Covers [23]

2011-11-16T17:34:00.000-07:00

Charming Covers is a feature where I show off covers that have recently been revealed/ that I've recently found.

Arise by Tara Hudson
July 5, 2012

Amelia—still caught between life and death—must fight for every moment of her relationship with the human boy Joshua. They can hardly even kiss without Amelia accidentally dematerializing. Looking for answers, they go to visit some of Joshua’s Seer relatives in New Orleans. But even in a city so famously steeped in the supernatural, Amelia ends up with more questions than answers…and becomes increasingly convinced that she and Joshua can never have a future together.Wandering through the French Quarter, Amelia meets other in-between ghosts, and begins to seriously consider joining them. And then she meets Gabrielle. Somehow, against impossible odds, Gaby has found a way to live a sort of half-life...a half-life for which Amelia would pay any price. Torn between two worlds, Amelia must choose carefully, before the evil spirits of the netherworld choose for her.

I enjoyed the first book, Hereafter, although it wasn't my favorite. I'm very much looking forward to the sequel.
I really like this cover. I can't tell if I like it more or not than the first. Either way, it's very pretty.

2012 Debut Author Challenge

2011-11-15T13:20:00.001-07:00

Yay! It's that time of the year to sign up for next year's challenges! And one of my favorites (and one of the only ones I actually keep up with) is the DAC hosted over at The Story Siren!

I'm super excited to start this because there are already so many debuts coming out next there that I can't wait for! They all look so good!

For all the info, go here.

To sign up, go here.

Is anyone else planning on doing this?

What other challenges are you planning on do next year? I would love to hear about them!

Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone

2011-11-14T14:40:00.001-07:00

Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Laini Taylor
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Release Date: September 27, 2011
Pages: 420

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

A lot of buzz has been generated around this book. I was very much looking forward to it; it looked so different and unique. Unfortunately, I didn't love it. I very much enjoyed it, but I was anticipating a lot more out of it.

You can't deny that this book is unique. Everything about it is original: from the character's names to the story to the characters themselves. That is one thing that I really enjoyed about it.

For whatever reason, I had a hard time getting into this book. It wasn't that it was slow, I just couldn't get into it. This got better about halfway through, but then I lost interest again. I guess you could say it was kind of a roller coaster for me.

I think one reason I didn't like this book as much was the characters. I never really connect with them. This may be due to the originality. Not that originality is a bad thing, but when the characters are so different, I can't connect with them and bring myself to truly care about them. This may just be me, though. I'm sure other people really like this aspect.

Overall, Daughter of Smoke and Bone was not what I was expecting. In some ways it was a nice surprise, but in others it was a bit lacking. It's not that I didn't like it, because it was enjoyable and very entertaining. Again, what I didn't like about this book may be what others truly enjoy.

In My Mailbox (77)

2011-11-13T10:57:00.001-07:00

We have Kristi at The Story Siren to thank for hosting IMM every week.

This is actually a couple weeks worth, since I am trying to cut back on getting books from the library. I've done better, but no much.

Plus, I've been waiting for them to get Timeless for forever. They finally got it in.

Library:

Timeless by Alexandra Monir
Sometimes it Happens by Lauren Barnholdt
Amplified by Tara Kelly

So that's it.

What did you get this week?

Review: Touch of Frost

2011-11-11T17:55:00.000-07:00

Touch of Frost
Jennifer Estep
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
Release Date: July 26, 2011
Pages: 350

My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy — a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest.

But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why—especially since I should have been the one who died. . .

Touch of Frost was a surprisingly fun and adventurous novel. I wasn't expecting much out of it when I first started, but I enjoyed both the story and the characters.

One thing I loved, loved about this book was the atmosphere. There was something very... mystic and creepy about it. Surprisingly, it's been a while since I've read about a boarding school that was more than a boarding school. There are so many of these out there, and I usually tried to avoid the setting because it seems so overdone, but I liked this atmosphere and setting.

I really liked the fact that Gwen was a Gypsy. I know that it's not the kind of gypsy that we normally think of, but it was still fun. And I liked Gwen in general. I thought that at times she was pretty kick-ass. One things that bothered me, though, was how little she though of herself. She was going through a hard time and through the book she belittled herself a lot. I would have liked if she didn't do this as much.

I keep saying how 'fun' this novel is, but don't get me wrong. There's definitely a darker aspect to this book. And that's part of what I liked.

One thing that did kind of turn me off to this book at times was the cheesey-ness of it. And this may be the part that everyone else liked. But for me, it was just a little too much. But it didn't bother me enough to not like the book.

I think Touch of Frost is a unique tale. I can't wait to see what's in store for Gwen next.

Review: Amplified

2011-11-10T16:44:00.001-07:00

Amplified
Tara Kelly
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Release Date: October 25, 2011
Pages: 304

When privileged 17-year-old Jasmine gets kicked out of her house, she takes what is left of her savings and flees to Santa Cruz to pursue her dream of becoming a musician. Jasmine finds the ideal room in an oceanfront house, but she needs to convince the three guys living there that she's the perfect roommate and lead guitarist for their band, C-Side. Too bad she has major stage fright and the cute bassist doesn't think a spoiled girl from over the hill can hack it. . .

In this fresh new novel by critically acclaimed author Tara Kelly, Jasmine finds out what happens when her life gets Amplified

I was a huge fan of Tara's first book, Harmonic Feedback. From the description and the cover I knew that Amplified would be just as amazing. And I was right. Amplified was such an amazing, unique novel with a fun and spunky attitude.

One thing that I loved about this book were the characters. I loved all of the band members: Veta, Sean, Felix. Even Bryn was a unique character, though he got on my nerves sometimes. All of them were very colorful.

Even though Jasmine was very spoiled in the past, she didn't seem like it. Her dad (whom I did not like) had taught her to do everything for herself and never ask for help. I never thought of her as a brat. Although, there were times when I wished she would stop complaining about things and do something. But eventually she did.

I'm a huge fan of books with an emphasis on music. And this was one of them. I think that Amplified brings something new to the YA table. I haven't ever read a book like this, or at least not one that was done this well. I was a little worried about the actual music scenes, that I wouldn't be able to picture it well. But I was wrong. All of the performances were described wonderfully.

I keep going back and forth about the ending. On some level I wish it was wrapped up more nicely, but I think it ended well. It left just enough loose ends for me to draw my own conclusions.

Amplified was a fantastic and creative contemporary. It just made me even more of a fan of Tara Kelly, and I can't wait to read more by here.

Charming Covers [22]

2011-11-09T17:39:00.000-07:00

Charming Covers is a feature where I show off covers that have recently been revealed/ I've recently found.

Dreamless by Josephine Angelini

May 29, 2012

Sequel to Starcrossed

I wasn't a huge fan of Starcrossed, though I did enjoy it and am interested to see what happens next. I also like the pretty cover. I don't like this one as much as the last, but I like the light compared to Starcrossed's dark.

NaNoWriMo

2011-11-06T10:49:00.000-07:00

Since there is no IMM for me this week (I only got one book), I decided to do something a little different.

I am participating in this year's NaNoWriMo. I know it's already a few days into November, but I thought I should share this with you.

I "participated" in this last year. The reason I say it like that is because I didn't find out about NaNoWriMo into about a week in, and I didn't have a book planned out or anything. I failed miserably. But this year I've actually been planning and am really excited to write this book. I think I can reach the goal of 50,000 words.

What is my book about? I don't want to say too much, because it may change, but I will say that it's inspired by Florence and the Machine's song Howl and based off of an Italian myth. It's a werewolf story, nevertheless. But I think (hope) I bring something new to the table, as far as werewolves go.

Is anyone else participating this year? Leave your link or username in the comments and I'll be sure to check it out.

And if you are interested, here's a link to my profile page.

Library Books

2011-11-04T17:22:00.001-06:00

I'm going to start this post out by saying I love my library. Love it. The almost always carry the books that I want to read. And if the library that I usually go to doesn't have it, I can reserve it and pick it up there. I'm not going to lie (and this is terrible) I hardly ever buy books anymore. I know, I'm probably the only one. But I buy about one book a month, sometimes with several months in between without buying any.

But, in my defense, I don't have a book store near me. I know, it's terrible. I'm not a big fan of ordering online because I just like going to the store and picking out a book. But I do order books from Amazon and The Book Depository occasionally.

Anyway, that's not the point of this post.

I have too many library books.

It's like an addiction for me. I go about once a week and get at least three or four more to add to my already huge pile. And if I don't get to them before they are due, I just recheck them out. Sometimes five or six times.

So, I'm going to make it a goal to try to reduce that pile. It may never be completely gone, but I want to reduce it tremendously. The reason for this is because I already have so many on my TBR pile that own that I need to read, and I can't get through them if I'm always trying to read library books before they are due.

So, for the next two or three weeks, I'm going to make it a goal to get rid of my huge pile. I think if I only read library books from now on, I can do it.

Here's a list of all of the ones that I have now:

As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott

Beautiful Days by Anna Godbersen

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan

Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

The Fox Inheritance by Mary E. Pearson

Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward

Perfect Fifths by Megan McCafferty

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvator

Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

Soul Thief by Jana Oliver

Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep

You Against Me by Jenny Downham

Now, I have some that should be coming in that are reserved, so I'll get those, but other than that, I'm going to try to not check any more out.

And, after I have reduced it, I'm going to take a bit of my TBR pile.

So, on November 13, I'll check back in to see how I'm doing on this.

Let me know, which books should I read first?

Review: Saving June

2011-11-03T18:17:00.001-06:00

Saving June
Hannah Harrington
Publisher: Harlequin
Release Date: November 22, 2011
Pages: 336

When her older sister commits suicide and her divorcing parents decide to divide the ashes, Harper Scott takes her sister's urn to the one place June always wanted to go: California. On the road with her best friend, plus an intriguing guy with a mysterious connection to June, Harper discovers truths about her sister, herself and life.

Saving June is a breathtaking and heartbreaking novel. I loved every minute of it, from the premise to the characters. It has everything that I love in a good contemporary: music-heavy, a road trip, a hot guy, a well-done friendship.

Even though this book may seem a bit depressing, I think that in the end it can be uplifting. The main story line is about a girl going across the country to spread her sister's ashes after she commits suicide. But even though it's the main thing, throughout the book it takes a back seat. The books deals with so much more. That's one thing I really liked about this book: how real it was.

I also really liked the characters of the book. Harper was grief-stricken from her sister's suicide. One of the things she always struggled with was that her sister was the good, perfect one, and Harper, well, wasn't. I found that despite everything she was going through, Harper was still very selfless. Most the time she would put other people before herself, although I would understand if she didn't.

One thing I really liked about this book was the friendship. Now and days, you really don't find a good friendship in YA. Usually the best friend is rude or annoying or selfish, in a way meant to juxtapose the main character. But that wasn't the case in Saving June. But that wasn't the case with Laney. I felt that Laney and Harper's friendship was real.

Two things a love to read about: road trips and an emphasis on music. This book had both. I loved reading and hearing about the different bands and songs throughout the book. And I just love road trips, so that was a plus.

There were a few cliche's in this book, like any contemporary with a mourning sibling. But I was able to overlook those.

Overall, Saving June was a great read. Like I said, even though it's a book about grief, I think that it has on overall uplifting effect. I was fully invested in all of the characters. Definitely a book I recommend.

Charming Covers [21]

2011-11-03T16:27:00.001-06:00

Charming Covers is a feature where I show covers that have recently been revealed/ that I've just found.
I've got a few for you today.

Until I Die by Amy Plum

May 3, 2012

Sequel to Die for Me.

I enjoyed Die for Me, but it's not one of my favorites. I am, however, intruiged enough to see what happens in the next book.

Although this cover isn't as pretty as the last, I still like it. I like how it's darker compared to the lighter cover of Die for Me. Still pretty.

Timepiece by Myra McEntire
June 12, 2012

Sequel to Hourglass

Oh, I really liked Hourglass. I know there were quite a few who didn't like it as much, but I did.
I love both of these covers. They are so interesting and eye-catching and unique. I'm not quite sure, but I think I may like this one better than the first. But Hourglass cover is pretty awesome, too.

So what do you think of these?

Top Ten Tuesday (7): Books I had Strong Emotions For

2011-11-02T16:45:00.000-06:00

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and Bookish. To find out more, visit here.

This week is Top Ten Books I Had Strong Emotions for (such as laugh, cry, etc.).

This is a harder one for me. It shouldn't be, but it is.

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta- I read this one quite a while ago, and I just remember this one really hit me emotionally. I remember just balling to this one. But it is so amazing. One of my favorites.
The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti- This one was a different kind of emotion. It didn't bring me to tears, but I was so emotionally attached to the story and characters. Amazing.
Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty- I was laughing out loud to this one, and this series in general. Loved it.
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins- I was so invested in these characters through the series. When the last book came around... I was heartbroken.
Where She Went by Gayle Forman-Again, I was so invested in the characters from the past book. But I wasn't heartborken with this. I just absolutely loved it.
Willow by Julia Hoban- Again one of my favorites. I cried so much to this one. I got super emotional, but in a good way.
Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers- This one didn't really hit me until after I finished it. I remember lying in bed right after finishing, and finally crying. It really stuck with me.
Sweetheats by Sarah Zarr- I don't know why this one got me so emotional. It's not like anyone dies or anything. But I remember finishing it and just feeling depressed. I'm not sure if that's a good thing.
The Truth about Forever by Sarah Dessen- This one was just so amazing. You can't help getting emotional.
Hate List by Jennifer Brown- So sad. This was really good though.

Review: Don't Stop Now

2011-10-31T16:43:00.002-06:00

Don't Stop Now
Julie Halpern
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: June 7, 2011
Pages: 224

On the first day of Lillian’s summer-before-college, she gets a message on her cell from her sort-of friend, Penny. Not only has Penny faked her own kidnapping, but Lil is the only one who figures it out. She knows that Penny’s home life has been rough, and that her boyfriend may be abusive. Soon, Penny’s family, the local police, and even the FBI are grilling Lil, and she decides to head out to Oregon, where Penny has mentioned an acquaintance. And who better to road-trip across the country with than Lil’s BFF, Josh. But here’s the thing: Lil loves Josh. And Josh doesn’t want to “ruin” their amazing friendship.

Josh has a car and his dad’s credit card. Lil has her cellphone and a hunch about where Penny is hiding. There’s something else she needs to find: Are she and Josh meant to be together?

Let me start by saying, I love books about road trips. It makes me want to go on one so much! Of course when I heard about Don't Stop Now, I was instantly intrigued. Road trip, cute boy, a little bit of mystery, sounds right up my alley.

Now, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I wanted to. It was enjoyable but nothing quite... remarkable. It was a fun, quick novel. But I wouldn't put it up on my favorites shelf.

Let my start by saying that I found the premise a bit...out there. I mean, a girl who fakes a kidnapping? And then Lillian just jumps right up to go find her, and they aren't even that good of friends. Her parents were okay with it. She didn't get in trouble. There was someone there to pay for it all without any problems. Really? But, although I couldn't really take it seriously, it just added to the quirkiness of the novel. It was certainly fun and light.

I liked the character okay. Lillian, the main character, was overall not quite selfless, but a good person. I liked watching her on her journey. And Penny. At first I was uncertain about her. There was an overall creepiness about her. But once her story unraveled more, I was more sympathetic to her. I wouldn't go as far as saying I liked her, but it was easier to empathize with her. I'm not going to lie, I didn't love Josh. He was a realistic teenage guy who doesn't know that he's going to do with his life, but he came off kind of jerkish. He was rude and selfish. I just wanted to fall in love with him, but I didn't.

Although Don't Stop Now is an overall light novel, there were a few serious moments. I think that if we looked more into what happened with Penny, and got more of her story, it would have been better. And it goes into the whole post high school grad, what do I do now question, which I liked.

Like I said, Don't Stop Now is a quick read. As long as you take it as face value, and don't take it seriously, this is a great novel. Road trips novels are awesome, and I'm glad to see that more are coming.

In My Mailbox (76)

2011-10-29T19:11:00.000-06:00

We have Kristi at The Story Siren to thank for hosting IMM every week.

For Review:

Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Library:

Soul Thief by Jana Oliver

Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep

Beautiful Days by Anna Godbersen

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvator

(Note: Even though it's pictured, I did not get Silence this week. I just had an incredibly dumb moment.)

What did you get this week?

Charming Covers [20] {The Lucky Ones}

2011-10-25T17:18:00.001-06:00

Charming Covers is a feature where I show some covers for upcoming books that have recently been revealed/ I've recently found.

(Sorry it's so blurry; the only one I could find was tiny)

The Lucky Ones by Anna Godberson

Third book in the Bright Young Things series.

I'm not going to lie: I don't like this series nearly as much as I did The Luxe. But, I will continue reading it and maybe it will get better. I haven't read the second one yet, so who knows. Maybe it's amazing.

Anyway, I like this cover. I can't really see it very well (again, sorry it's blurry) but from what I can see, i like it better than the first, and maybe the second. It's hard to tell.

I can't wait to see where this series will lead us to.

Review: If I Die

2011-10-24T16:59:00.004-06:00

If I Die

Rachel Vincent

Publisher: Harlequin

Release Date: September 27, 2011

The entire school's talking about the gorgeous new math teacher, Mr. Beck. Everyone except Kaylee Cavanaugh. After all, Kaylee's no ordinary high-school junior. She's a banshee—she screams when someone dies.

But the next scream might be for Kaylee.

Yeah—it's a shock to her, too. So to distract herself, Kaylee's going to save every girl in school. Because that hot new teacher is really an incubus who feeds on the desire of unsuspecting students. The only girls immune to his lure are Kaylee and Sabine, her boyfriend's needy ex-girlfriend. Now the unlikely allies have to get rid of Mr. Beck…before he discovers they aren't quite human, either.

But Kaylee's borrowed lifeline is nearing its end. And those who care about her will do anything to save her life.

Anything.

I was a little worried about reading this book. Thanks to my own stupid curiosity, I pretty much knew everything that happens in this book from looking at reviews and such. So I knew that depending on how everything played out, I would either love it or hate it.

As it turns out, I loved it. A lot. I think it's my favorite book in the series. Which isn't surprising because this is a series where every book gets better.

The first half of the book was kind of eh. I think I was just so anxious to get to certain parts and see how everything played out that I just raced through the first half. So that was my fault. If I would have taken my time and quit worrying about what was going to happen I would have enjoyed it more.

Let me tell you, Kaylee makes me feel like a total bitch. She is so selfless. Even when she is dying she is only mostly worrying about what is going to happen to other people afterwards. A part of my wanted to scream at her "you're dying! It's okay to be a little selfish now!" But then that wouldn't have been Kaylee. And that's part of what I love about her.

Other than that, I think she really grew into herself in this book.

And what we've all been waiting for. The love triangle. I've been team Tod every since he punched Nash out in book 3. But I've never really had a problem with Nash either. Until now. Man, in this book, he really screwed up. I know he was upset but should not have done what he did. Which is, by they way, the only part that I didn't see coming. (Sorry about being cryptic, but I'm trying not to give anything away.)

And I love Tod. that's all I need to say.

If I Die is definitely a game changer for the series. It's my favorite and I cannot wait to read the next.

In My Mailbox (75)

2011-10-22T21:38:00.000-06:00

We have Kristi at The Story Siren to thank for hosting IMM every week.

Library:

Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

And this isn't really book related, but I got this cool steampunk type necklace at a craft fair this weekend. Well, I thought it was pretty cool anyway.

What did you get this week?

Review: Bunheads

2011-10-20T17:18:00.001-06:00

Bunheads
Sophie Flack
Publisher: Poppy
Release Date: October 10, 2011

As a dancer with the ultra-prestigious Manhattan Ballet Company, nineteen-year-old Hannah Ward juggles intense rehearsals, dazzling performances and complicated backstage relationships. Up until now, Hannah has happily devoted her entire life to ballet.

But when she meets a handsome musician named Jacob, Hannah's universe begins to change, and she must decide if she wants to compete against the other "bunheads" in the company for a star soloist spot or strike out on her own in the real world. Does she dare give up the gilded confines of the ballet for the freedoms of everyday life?

I've always been interested in the ballet--the dancers in particular. Bunheads gave a look inside this world and what it means to be a ballet dancer.

To be honest, I was expecting a little more out of the book itself. I didn't enjoy it as much as I would have liked to.

There's nothing specifically wrong with the characters. No one really bother me specifically. But they were just ultimitaley.... forgettable. I found that I wasn't truly invested in them or really cared what happened to them.

Believe me, I'm the last person to think would ever say this... but I almost wish there was no romance. It just felt so... forced. It would have been better if it was more focused on the romance or not at all. I would have liked to be more focused on the ballet aspect of it.

The dancing part of the book, though, is one part that I really enjoyed. I could see the author's own experiences and background on the subject. Like I said, I've always been interested in the ballet and dancer's life. I have no doubt that this is what really does on in the world of ballet.

I definitely would have liked to enjoy this book more. I was glad I could get a look into this world, because there really hasn't been much of an opportunity before in YA. But the execution could have been better.

Charming Covers [19] {The Savage Grace}

2011-10-19T16:35:00.000-06:00

Charming Covers is a feature where I show some covers for upcoming books that have recently been revealed/ I've recently found.

The Savage Grace by Bree Despain

March 13, 2012

A troubled soul. An impossible choice. A final battle.

Wrestling with the werewolf curse pulsing deep inside of her, Grace Divine was finally able to find her brother, but it nearly cost her everything.

With her boyfriend, Daniel, stuck in wolf form and Sirhan's death approaching, time is running out for Grace to stop Caleb Kalbi and his gang of demons. If she fails, her family and hometown will perish. Everything rests on Grace's shoulders.

The final installment in The Dark Divine trilogy brings Daniel and Grace's love story to a breathtaking conclusion.

Ahhh.... Let me just say that I love this series so much... It's one of my favorites out there. And when I found out that they were pushing this one back, I was raged in despair (okay, that's a tad dramatic). And now that I've seen the cover and read the description, I'm even more excited for it.

I love these covers. And while I don't like this one as much as the others, i like how it's different. I like that you can see her back and arms.

Oh, Savage Grace, how I covet thee.

Top Ten Tuesday (6): Covers and Titles that Made Me Buy It

2011-10-18T16:45:00.000-06:00

To find out more about Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, go here.

This week is top ten Covers and Titles that made me buy the book. I'd like to say that I haven't bought a book solely based on the cover or title, but I would be lying.

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick- all I have to say is Yum-my!
My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent- I thought this cover was gorgeous, so I got it. And can I say I am glad I did! Love these books!
The Demon's Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan- I really liked the cover, and it was 3 bucks at Borders when they went out of business, so I got it.
Blameless by Gail Carriger- Ditto.
John Belushi is Dead- Same. But I especially loved the pink hair on the cover and the title alone make me want to read it.
Swoon by Nina Malkin- I was very drawn to this cover. I didn't like the book as much as I would have liked, though.
The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong- I was very intrigued by the cover and title. I'm glad I got it, though because I love this series.
Fallen by Lauren Kate- Again, such a pretty cover. But, like Swoon, I didn't like it as much.
A Great and Terrible Beauty- I was very drawn to this title in particular. The cover just added to it.
North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley- Between the title and cover, I had to have it.

So there you are. Have you ever bought a book because of the cover or title? Tell me about it!

Review: Exile

2011-10-17T17:09:00.001-06:00

Exile
Anne Osterlund
Pushlisher: Speak
Release Date: April 28, 2011

Crown princess Aurelia is a survivor. She survived attempted assassination. She survived the king's rejection. She survived her mother's abandonment. And now, in exile, she must survive her kingdom-from hostile crowds to raw frontier to desert sands. But even as unknown assailants track Aurelia and expedition guide Robert, she knows her greatest risk is falling in love...

It's been quite a long time since I've read Exile's predesor, but I remember really enjoying it. As it turns out, I really liked Exile, too.

Like I said, it's been a long time since I read Aurelia, but I was able to get into Exile withough difficulty. The book is very fast paced, so it was very easy to get into.

This isn't like most historical fiction. It was a fun adventure, and one that I really enjoyed. I really liked experiencing the journey with Aurelia and Robert.

I liked the romance in Exile. There was always some tension between Aurlia and Robert, but their romance wasn't quick; they didn't just jump into it When they finally did get together, I was jumping for joy (figuratively). I thought they were very good together.

And, I love Aurelia's character herself. She was very strong and loyal, which I liked. She was also independent, which I don't think we see enough of.

Overall, I really enjoyed Exile. It was fun and very enjoyable. I, for one, never found it slow or boring.

In My Mailbox (74)

2011-10-16T13:00:00.000-06:00

We have Kristi at The Story Siren to thank for hosting IMM every weekend.

For Review:

Everything We Ever Wanted by Sara Shepard

Library:

If I Die by Rachel Vincent

Faithful by Janet Fox

Enthralled

You Against Me by Jenny Downham

So, that's all that I got this week.

I must apologize for being absent this past week. I've just been really busy since last weekend. Between PSATs, Homecoming, work, my AP class, and I have to perform a cello duet in front of the OPT (to show that orchestra is worth keeping at my school...no pressure) and just in general hanging with friends, my blog life has been non existent. But, I should be back in action this week.

Again, I apologize for being absentee.

Anyway, what did you get in your mailbox?

Charming Covers [18] (Bitterblue)

2011-10-11T17:15:00.001-06:00

Charming Covers is a feature where I show some covers for upcoming books that have recently been revealed/ I've recently found.

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

May 1, 2012

3rd to the Seven Kingdoms (trilogy?)

This book has been pushed back so much. I remember it was supposed to come out about a year after Fire, which came out in Fall 2009. Yeah, I'd say it's about time this came out. Hopefully with the cover, that means that the release date is a tad more permanent.

I loved the first two, so to say that this book has been long awaited is an understatement.

I don't like this cover as much as the other two, but it's still pretty cool. I'm wondering how the keys will fit into the story, like the sword and the bow and arrows on the first two.

Is anyone else excited for this book?

Review: Small Town Sinners

2011-10-07T16:37:00.002-06:00

Small Town Sinners

Melissa Walker

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Release Date: July 19, 2011

The story of Lacey Anne Byers, a small town girl who is excited to star in Hell House, her church's annual haunted house of sin, until a childhood friend reappears and makes her question her faith.

Small Town Sinners is one of the more real books that I've read in a while. And I really enjoyed it. I loved the real characters and problems it had. How it made me think. The questions it brought up.

I really liked the characters in this book. Lacey's friends, Starla Joy and Dean. They were fun, but they had their own problems, which I liked. I loved Ty. And I liked Lacey Ann. As the book goes on, she learns how to question and make up her own mind about things.

I was intrigued the whole time I was reading this book. There was drama, but it was real issues, not just like a soap opera.

This is not a book for closed-minded people, in either direction. But I liked it. Like I said, I liked how it made me think. This book is not one sided. It allows you to draw your own opinion.

I found this to be a fantastic contemporary. I would recommend this to anyone who is willing to listen with and open mind.

Spread the Word (3)

2011-10-06T17:01:00.001-06:00

Spread the Word is a feature that I came up with where I share some quotes that I like.

I went ahead and put these quotes onto some pictures as well.

How often do I do it? Not often. Every few weeks when I feel like I need to share or I need something else to post.

Where do the quotes come from? I'll try to mix it up sometimes, but the quotes today are some of my favorite song quotes.

Spread the Word 1
Spread the Word 2

Waiting on Wednesday: Born Wicked

2011-10-05T16:40:00.001-06:00

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

February 7, 2012

A Great and Terrible Beauty meets Cassandra Clare in this spellbinding fantasy

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word . . . especially after she finds her mother's diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family's destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren't safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other.

This one sounds really good and interesting. Great and Terrible Beauty meets Cassandra Clare? Totally love both of those, so this is right up my alley.

What are you waiting for this lovely Wednesday?

Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

2011-10-04T17:48:00.001-06:00

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
Michelle Hodkin
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Release Date: September 27, 2011

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.

She's wrong.

So, I think it's safe to say that this book has created quite a buzz. for at least since BEA, but probably before then. And I've been wanting to read it ever since.

And it was really good. One of the better books this year.

I must say that I didn't absolutely love it like I thought I would. Don't get me wrong, it was really, really good. But I won't be putting it on my 'favorite' shelf. Yet. I think I need to reread it to really get my full enjoyment out of it.

This book was not what I expected. In a good way. I wasn't quite sure what it would be about. But the mystery was very intriguing. There was something very addicting about this book. It's 450 pages, but it didn't seem like it.

I really liked Mara. I mean, there were times that she bothered me a tad, but I could really feel her pain and confusion.

And Noah. He goes on my list of hottest guys with accents, right up there with Bones and St. Clair.

I must say, I am so tired of cliffhangers. They don't even affect me anymore like they used to. They just mostly piss me off that I didn't have enough resolution. But, I still want to read the next one.

Did I love this? No. Did I really, really enjoy it? Yes. I think I need to read it again to fully appreciate it.

September Wrap Up

2011-10-03T16:18:00.001-06:00

October is drawing in as September comes to a close. I can't help but think about how fast September went by. I mean, it just flew by! Does anyone else feel like this?

Anyway, here's the books I read this month:

One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
The Mephisto Covenant by Trinity Faegan
At Grave's End by Jeaniene Frost
Destined for an Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost
Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink
Eve by Anna Carey
Dark Lover by J.R. Ward
There You'll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones
Call Me Irresistable by Susan Elizabeth Philips
Siren by Tricia Rayburn
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning
This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker

Not bad. Now, my goal for each month is actually 17, but 15 isn't bad either. I probably should catch up.

Other Reviews:

Always a Witch
Fateful by Claudia Gray

Now, review-wise, I'm a little behind. I usually do at least two book reviews a week, but I think for September I only did one a week. I need to get back to doing my normal two a week.

So, overall, September was a pretty good month.

What about you?

In My Mailbox (73)

2011-10-02T12:18:00.000-06:00

We have Kristi at The Story Siren to thank for hosting IMM every week.

Won:

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Bright Young Things by Anna Godberson

(Thank you Not Another Book Blog)

RAK:

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

(Thank you Paper Cuts for sending me this!)

Library:

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

(Yes, i've already read this one, but I wanted to reread it. Again. So I got it from the library. Again. I know what you're thinking. You don't you just buy a copy. Well, I need to. I want to. I just need to bite the nail and do it.)

Exile by Anne Osterlund

What did you get this week?

Favorites of 2011

2011-10-01T13:01:00.000-06:00

For a mini-challenge over at Princess Bookie's Contest Craze, it says to list my favorites of 2011.

So far, honestly, the books that have come out haven't been fantastic. Don't get me wrong, there are some really good ones. But overall, there haven't been that many that I've wanted to put on my 'favorite' shelf on my bookshelf. (Yes, I have a shelf specifically for my favorites.)

But, here are some of the better ones. (Honestly these probably aren't my favorite favorites of the year, but I'm drawing a blank here. These are some darn good ones, though)

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton- Really, really good. This one is actually on my favorites shelf.

Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles

Not my favorite in the series, but still pretty good. Extremely sad that this series is over, though.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Again, really, really enjoyed this one. I know some people didn't like it as much, but I really did.

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

You know this book is amazing just by looking at the cover. What's inside is pretty darn good, too.

Vanish by Sophie Jordan

Becoming one of my favorite series. Love these books.

What books have been your favorite in 2011?

Impromptu Read-a-thon

2011-09-30T11:56:00.000-06:00

So, April at Good Books and Wine is hosting an impromptu read-a-thon this weekend. I decided since I don't have any plans this weekend, I can jump on and so this. I do need to catch up. Hopefully I'll read about six books or so, or maybe more, but I never reach my goals with these things, so I'm not setting my goals too high.

I'll let you know at the end of the weekend, I'll do a post about everything I've read.

To sign up of for more info, go here.

Anyone else doing this?

Waiting on Wednesday: Kiss Crush Collide

2011-09-28T15:40:00.001-06:00

Kiss Crush Collide by Christina Meredith

December 27, 2011

Leah has the life most high school girls would kill for—popularity, glowing grades, a rich, athletic boyfriend. So why does she feel like she can’t breathe? And why can’t she stop thinking about the boy from the country club? The one who isn’t her boyfriend, the one that her mother would never, ever approve of, the one that her perfect older sisters would never, ever look at twice. The one who is always looking back at her. Irresistible attraction, smoldering glances, the bad boy and the good girl—Kiss Crush Collide has everything that a steamy forbidden romance should, and then some.

With graceful and honest writing and an electric love story, this is a book about growing into your own skin. For fans of Perfect Chemistry, Sarah Dessen, and John Green.

I, personally think this book sounds amazing. If it's anything like Perfect Chemistry or Sarah Dessen's books, I'm sure I'll love it.

Top Ten Tuesday (5): Books I want to Reread

2011-09-27T16:00:00.001-06:00

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. For more information, go here.

This week is Top Ten Books I Want to Reread

Anna and the French Kiss- I am one of the many who loved this book. I do not own it, though I wish I did. Since it's in paperback, though, I should get on that.
Amy and Roger's Epic Detour- I also loved this one. I would love to reread it, and this is another that I need to buy now that it's in paperback.
Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles- This one is kind of a joke, since I reread it all the time. But it's been a while, so I'm thinking I should reread it again.
The Adoration of Jenna Fox- I remember really liking this one a few years ago, and I just got the second, so I' thinking I should reread this one.
Fire by Kristin Cashore- I recently have reread Graceling, so now I'm wanting to reread Fire.
The Luxe series- I loved this series, and I would love to go back and reread a book or two in it, or maybe the whole thing.
The Nature of Jade- Absolutely loved this book. One of my favorites. It's been a couple years since I read it, so I need to read it again.
The Dark Divien/The Lost Saint- one of my favorite series. And since the third one has been pushed back until March, I'm going to need something to help tie me over.
Delirium by Lauren Oliver- It's been about a year since i read this one, and with the next coming up next year, I should probably read this again.
Angelfire- One of my favorites of this year. I loved it, and would really like to experience it again.

Would books do you want to reread?