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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

E-book Deal!

I am pleased to announce that The Dark Divine and The Lost Saint are available in ebook for for only $1.99! It's just in time for the third and final book in the series, The Savage Grace, which comes out March 13.  Now if I were you, I would take advantage of this offer. This is a fabulous series, one of my favorites as a matter of fact.
The Dark Divine (The Dark Divine, #1) The Lost Saint (The Dark Divine, #2)
This offer only runs for two weeks so get them soon!

Monday, February 27, 2012

Review: The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers

The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers

The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers
Lynn Weingarten
HarperTeen
December 27, 2011

If there’s an upside to having your heart broken, it’s this: A broken heart makes you brave. 
The first day of sophomore year doesn’t go the way Lucy planned. After a summer apart from her boyfriend, she’s ready to greet him with a special surprise and instead gets a shocking one in return: He’s breaking up with her. Beyond devastated, Lucy has no idea how she’s going to make it through homeroom, let alone the rest of her life. 
Enter three stunning girls with the unnatural ability to attract boys and an offer Lucy can’t refuse: They can heal her heart in an instant. And then she’ll be one of them—a member of a sisterhood that is impervious to heartbreak and has access to magic distilled from the tears of brokenhearted boys. But to gain their power, Lucy must get a guy to fall in love with her the old-fashioned way, and then break his heart in the next seven days. 
While the sisterhood may need another Heartbreaker, Lucy’s only desire is to get her ex back. But how far is she willing to go, and who is she willing to cross to get what she wants?


I was excited yet a little reluctant to read The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers. It seemed very unique and cute but I had a hunch that there would be a few issues. I was right. While The Secret Sisterhood was a fun read, there were a few problems.

The premise to this book was very intriguing. And it was a fun adventure. It had it's more serious moments, too, but overall very cute.

My main problem with this book was Lucy herself. She was very immature--a characteristic I just can't handle. On top of that she was needy--another aspect that I can't stand. I was hoping that Lucy would grow over the course of the book, and she would be redeemed. But she didn't--at least not as much as I would have liked.

I did not like the girls in the Sisterhood, either. I wasn't really expecting to, but these girls were heartless. I had hoped that Lucy would see through them eventually. 

I was not happy with the ending. I think it has a lot to do with Lucy's growth, or lack thereof. 

As intriguing and cute as Secret Sisterhood was, it didn't play out as I had hoped. 

Friday, February 24, 2012

Review: Girl at Sea

Girl at SeaGirl at Sea
Maureen Johnson
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: May 27, 2007

Sometimes you have to get lost . . .The Girl: Clio Ford, seventeen, wants to spend the summer smooching her art-store crush, not stuck on a boat in the Mediterranean. At least she'll get a killer tan.
The Mission: Survive her father's crazy antics. Oh, and also find some missing underwater treasure that could unlock the secrets of civilization.
The Crew: Dad's wacky best friend Martin, his bizarre research partner Julia, her voluptuous daughter Elsa . . . and then there's Aidan, Julia's incredibly attractive, incredibly arrogant assistant.
What's going on behind Aidan's intellectual, intensely green eyes, anyway?
As Clio sails into uncharted territory she unveils secrets that have the power to change history. But her most surprising discovery is that there's something deeper and more cryptic than the sea—her own heart.
. . . to find what you're looking for
I'm not going to lie, I wasn't expecting a lot from this book. I wasn't a huge fan of Suite Scarlet, which is the only other Maureen Johnson book I've read. But I was blown away by Girl at Sea. It was not what I was expecting at all, and I loved it. 

Although Clio whined a lot for the first half of the book, I still grew to like her a lot. I thought she was a really unique character. She did grow a lot over the book, which I was happy about. I also liked a lot of the other characters, such as Elsa, Martin, and even Clio's father. And Aidan. All I have to say that if I was stuck in a small boat for weeks, I would want to be stuck with Aidan. I found his and Clio's bickering hilarious. Aidan himself was just a funny character.

The only reason this book isn't one of my favorite books is that, as stated before, Clio's whining did get annoying. The first half of the book, while I was still intrigued and really liked it, wasn't anything compared to the second half of the novel.

Which brings me to that point. I can't say much about the second half without giving away any spoilers, but wow. It was so intense and amazing. I loved the adventure and the mystery in it.

Girl at Sea is one of the best books I've read in a while. I don't know why I waited so long to pick it up. I won't make the same mistake with other Maureen Johnson books.

Filled with mystery, adventure, romance, and intrigue, Girl at Sea is such a fun read.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday: Live Through This

Live Through This
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. 

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

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

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.


  1. Looking for Alaska by John Green- This books was so sad yet so good. It really had an impact on me. 
  2. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green- On the same vein, another fabulous yet heart-breakingly beautiful novel by John Green. 
  3. 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.
  4. 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. 
  5. 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. 
  6. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta- One of my favorite books. So heart-breaking yet so good!
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver- This one was really good, yet very sad. 
  10. Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly- Another so good yet so sad one. 
Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Monday, February 13, 2012

Review: A Million Suns

A Million Suns (Across the Universe, #2)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. 

Sunday, February 12, 2012

In My Mailbox (85)

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?

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Charming Covers [28]

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

Nevermore
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.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Review: The Iron Knight

The Iron Knight (Iron Fey, #4)

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. 

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

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

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).


  1. 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. 
  2. Graceling by Kristin Cashore- This action-packed high fantasy would be great for those who don't read. 
  3. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles- For those who I'd believe would prefer contemporary, I would recommend this book. 
  4. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins- Ditto
  5. 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.
  6. Divergent by veronica Roth- Action packed and addicting. Good for those who don't like to read. 
  7. 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!

Monday, February 6, 2012

Review: Pure

Pure (Pure, #1)

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.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Charming Covers [27]

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

Such a Rush
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!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday: Stealing Parker

Stealing Parker
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!