Candace's Book Blog

In My Mailbox (96)

2012-02-25T14:00:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and is where we share the books we got through the week.

Gift:

Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday

Thank you Steph at Once Upon a Chapter! She also sent an awesome bookmark and pen for her blog!

I've been wanting to read this one for a long time!

From Lynn Weingarten some awesome tattoos to distribute at bookstores.

Thank you Lynn!

Review:

Eye of the Sword (Angelaeon Circle #2) by Karyn Henley

Masquerade (Heven & Hell #1) by Cambria Hebert (Kindle book)

Bought for Kindle

(all under $2.99 I believe)

Intrinsical by Lani Woodland

Been wanting to read this since it first came out!

High Heels Mysteries Box Set (Books 1-5) by Gemma Halliday (Hmmm... just noticed this is the same author as Deadly Cool!)

I couldn't resist the good deal. And they're suppose to be funny, which I love!

Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane

Alexa from Pages of Forbidden Love talked me into getting this one.

Hunted by DJ DeSmyter

I've wanted to read this just because I know DJ (as a blogger) and I finally have a kindle to read it on! (I couldn't afford the paper copy.)

Lady of Devices by Shelley Adina

I've heard good things about this and it's suppose to be short. Plus I can't resist steampunk!

The Strange Case of Finley Jayne by Kady Cross

This is a novella that takes place before The Girl in the Steel Corset. It works fine as a stand alone or to test the waters to see if you want to read the series.

Thanks to amazon vine, Cambria Hebert, Stephanie and Lynn Weingarten for the tattoos!

Saturday Situation- Link Up Your Reviews & Give@ways!

2012-02-24T19:00:00.000-08:00

Saturday Situation is hosted by both Lori at Pure Imagination and myself. It's a linky for you to link your book related Giveaways and Reviews (and whatever neglected posts you may have). You'll find the same linky's at Pure Imagination, so don't enter them twice!

Keep in mind that you can add your links through the entire week.

You can find this post again by clicking the button on the right side of my blog. I'll try to keep it up to date to go to the newest Saturday Situation post.

Review: Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen

2012-02-24T07:00:00.000-08:00

Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen
Young Adult
Hardcover, 389 pgs.
Published October 12th, 2010 by Harper
Source: Library

From the "New York Times"-bestselling author of the Luxe books comes a new series set amid the decadence and excitement of 1920s New York City and Long Island.

I've wanted to read this book since before it came out. I think the 20's is a fascinating time period and I've really wanted to see how it came out in this book. I thought the author did a brilliant job in creating the setting. I felt transported back in time and it was perfect!

I thought the characters were all good but not quite brilliant. We get the story from three different girls but Cordelia seemed to have the most face time. I liked her quite a lot but yet never really felt like I quite knew her. I like that she lets things roll off her shoulders and doesn't stress things too much. Letty is the next one we get and her and Cordelia are best friends. The two get separated almost straight away so their stories are separate through the majority of the novel. She's quite naive but she's not weak. She can stand up for herself when need be and she's quite determined to find her way. I felt for her because she had to find some strength to stick around after going through some terrible things. Astrid is the third girl and she's the daughter of a mother who goes through husbands like candy and seems to marry them just for their money. Astrid is a bit snooty but we see her good side come out and I really felt bad for her and the things she's gone through. She seems very tough on her exterior but underneath she's very broken and sad. Her and Cordelia become good friends and I loved that their friendship was so easy. No hurting each other or blaming the other when they make mistakes. Overall all three girls were good characters but I'm anxious to get to know them a bit more. It really feels like this is just the start and so I can't wait to read the next book.

The story line was pretty interesting. I thought it played out well and I was anxious to keep reading. I didn't ever really know where things would go and so was always surprised with the twists. They weren't anything mind blowing, but it was still unpredictable most of the time. I didn't really feel like the story was really great until the very end though. So I was left feeling happy but I remember wishing for a bit more before that.

I'll give this one 3.5/5 stars but I do recommend it. Especially for the setting, it was perfect!

Review: The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily Danforth

2012-02-23T07:00:00.001-08:00

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth
Young Adult/ Contemporary (LGBT)
Hardcover, 480 pages.
Published Feb. 7th, 2012 by Balzer + Bray
Source: Gifted an ARC

When Cameron Post’s parents die suddenly in a car crash, her shocking first thought is relief. Relief she’ll never have to tell them that, hours earlier, she had been kissing a girl.

But that relief soon turns to heartbreak, as Cam is forced to move in with her conservative aunt Ruth. She knows that from this point on, her life will forever be different. Survival in Miles City, Montana, means blending in and not making waves, and Cam becomes an expert at this—especially at avoiding any questions about her sexuality.

Then Coley Taylor moves to town. Beautiful pickup-driving Coley is a perfect cowgirl with the perfect boyfriend to match. To Cam’s surprise, she and Coley become best friends—while Cam secretly dreams of something more. Just as that starts to seem like a real possibility, her secret is exposed. Ultrareligious Aunt Ruth takes drastic action to “fix” her niece, bringing Cam face-to-face with the cost of denying her true self—even if she’s not quite sure who that is.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post is a stunning and unforgettable literary debut about discovering who you are and finding the courage to live life according to your own rules.

This book was quietly beautiful. It had many passages that really moved me, words that really stuck in my head and felt so very perfect. It was slower paced but never boring. I found myself captivated by Cameron Post and her life as it felt so very similar to my own as a teenager. I didn't struggle with the same issues she did exactly but I still felt such a strong connection to so much in this book it took me back to my teenage years more then probably any other contemporary I've read. One reason is that this book takes in Miles City Montana and while I grew up in Sturgis South Dakota (a small town as well) I did spend many weekends and most summers in Sheridan Wyoming which is quite close to Miles City. We shopped in Billings (those from Miles City did as well) and we just lived similar lives. Lots of cowboys, lots of super religious people, lots of parties and smoking of weed (yes, there's lots of marijuana smoking in this book) and all those little things just brought me closer to Cameron and her life. I also had a very close friend who liked girls and struggled with the things that Cameron did. As her close friend it was so hard to watch her go through everything, to be ridiculed and put down and told it's a sickness and she needs to be strong in her faith and overcome it. I spent so many nights with her trying to convince her that nothing was wrong with her and once she was 18 she could get out of there and she would see that she's not the only one in the world and that others will accept her.

Another thing that I loved was that this takes place in the early 90's. I was a teenager in the 90's as well so the pop culture references, the music, the movies, the words, every little thing, that was me, that was my life as a teen. I remember watching Beaches over and over with my friend and crying and crying. I remember listening to the music Cameron listened to. All these things aren't that important to the story, but for those of us that lived through that, it's just a big bonus and made the book that much better for me.

This isn't a book for everyone. It has a strong LGBT theme. There's drug use (just marijuana) and drinking. There's cursing. There's sex (no description really, you just know what happens). Personally none of this bothered me which is strange since I usually dislike much of any of that and all of it is actually quite present in the book. Maybe it was because I was transported to being a teen and this book felt as accurate and authentic as it gets.

I very highly recommend this book and if you're concerned about getting it for your child or your classroom give it a read first. It's one I really feel should be in classrooms as there are so many teens that could really benefit from it, but I can also see that it is probably a book that will enrage some parents. It's definitely a high school and older kind of book.

Please, please give this book a chance. It makes me tear up to think about it, but this was a book I really could have used as a teenager. Whether a person is LGBT, it doesn't really matter. There's so much to connect with in this book for any teenager.

I give this one 5/5 stars, how could I not? It's perfect!

Weaving a Message in Your Writing by Meredith Zeitlin

2012-02-22T07:00:00.001-08:00

Today I have Meredith Zeitlin on the blog. She's the author of the brilliant young adult contemporary, Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters. This is one of the few books that as soon as I finished I wanted to turn it over and start reading it all over again. It's fun, hilarious and has one of the best characters I've ever read about. Please be sure to check out my review, which I posted yesterday HERE.

About the book:

Kelsey Finkelstein is fourteen and FRUSTRATED. Every time she tries to live up to her awesome potential, her plans are foiled – by her impossible parents, her annoying little sister, and life in general. But with her first day of high school coming up, Kelsey is positive that things are going to change. Enlisting the help of her three best friends — sweet and quiet Em, theatrical Cass, and wild JoJo — Kelsey gets ready to rebrand herself and make the kind of mark she knows is her destiny.

Things start out great - her arch-nemesis has moved across the country, giving Kelsey the perfect opportunity to stand out on the soccer team and finally catch the eye of her long-time crush. But soon enough, an evil junior’s thirst for revenge, a mysterious photographer, and a series of other catastrophes make it clear that just because KELSEY has a plan for greatness… it doesn’t mean the rest of the world is in on it.

Kelsey’s hilarious commentary throughout her disastrous freshman year will have you laughing out loud—while being thankful that you’re not in her shoes, of course…

Weaving a Message in Your Writing

I'll be honest: I didn't think at all about weaving a specific message into my book. Anytime I've consciously tried to do that, the story – or article, or whatever – has ended up seeming contrived and preachy. (Shockingly, no one really seems to be into that stuff. Hmm.) I think the work that's most successful has messages that end up in there by accident... messages that boldly sneak in when the author isn't paying attention.

When I set out to write Freshman Year... I mainly wanted to create characters that were more relatable than those I'd seen recently in YA books. Girls who weren't necessarily polished, or uber-fashionable, or the prettiest in school, or rich... girls who were, well, normal.

I felt like there was a major dearth of normal girls having normal experiences, and instead a whole lot of battles with supernatural creatures in suburban backyards and six-figure shopping sprees at Bergdorf Goodman's. Sometimes simultaneously. Which is fine, and even awesome... but certainly not normal fourteen-year-old behavior.

At least, it wasn't when I was fourteen. Or thirty. (But I digress.)

I think the message that snuck up on me – which I was happy to discover, and one I'm really passionate about sharing – is that it's okay, and even fantastic and funny and exciting (though sometimes exhausting and excruciating), to just be yourself. And that it's okay to screw up and not be perfect – all the time, or even EVER. It's something I have to remind myself every day, and something I treasured reading between the lines of my favorite YA books growing up. Not the world's most original message, to be sure, but such an important one. (It takes Kelsey awhile to get it, to be sure.) And I think what makes that message successful (I hope!) is that readers will be too caught up in Kelsey's and her friends' adventures to wonder what I'm REALLY trying to tell them about, like, life and stuff.

Ultimately, my sage advice on the matter would have to be: don't think about the message too much. If you have one, it'll come through your characters and what happens to them over the course of your story. THAT'S the part to focus on – the world you're creating.

You might even be surprised to find out what your message is – maybe it's totally different than what you initially started out thinking it would be. And different readers might have wildly varied opinions about it. Which, in my opinion, anyway, is how you know you've succeeded.

What do YOU think?

About the Author:
Meredith Zeitlin is a writer and voiceover artist who lives in Brooklyn with two adorable feline roommates. She also writes a column for Ladygunn Magazine, changes her hair color every few months, and has many fancy pairs of spectacles. In case you’re wondering whether any of Kelsey’s experiences are based on Meredith’s own, the answer is NO WAY. When she was fourteen, Meredith looked and behaved perfectly at all times, was never in a single embarrassing situation, and always rode to school on her very own unicorn.

Author's Websites:
Meredith Zeitlin’s Twitter:
@zeitlingeist

Meredith Zeitlin’s Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/FRESHMANYEARBOOK

Meredith Zeitlin’s website:
www.kelseyfinkelstein.com

Meredith Zeitlin’s blog:
http://www.kelseyfinkelstein.com

FRESHMAN YEAR AND OTHER UNNATURAL DISASTERS by Meredith Zeitlin from Anne Walls on Vimeo.

Review: Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin

2012-02-21T07:00:00.000-08:00

Young Adult Contemporary
288 pgs.
Expected Publication: March 1st, 2012 by Putnam
Source: Publisher *for review*

Kelsey Finkelstein is fourteen and FRUSTRATED. Every time she tries to live up to her awesome potential, her plans are foiled – by her impossible parents, her annoying little sister, and life in general. But with her first day of high school coming up, Kelsey is positive that things are going to change. Enlisting the help of her three best friends — sweet and quiet Em, theatrical Cass, and wild JoJo — Kelsey gets ready to rebrand herself and make the kind of mark she knows is her destiny.

Things start out great - her arch-nemesis has moved across the country, giving Kelsey the perfect opportunity to stand out on the soccer team and finally catch the eye of her long-time crush. But soon enough, an evil junior’s thirst for revenge, a mysterious photographer, and a series of other catastrophes make it clear that just because KELSEY has a plan for greatness… it doesn’t mean the rest of the world is in on it.

Kelsey’s hilarious commentary throughout her disastrous freshman year will have you laughing out loud—while being thankful that you’re not in her shoes, of course…

Kelsey Finkelstein has stolen my heart away! Now this is the kind of character I love to read about. She's sarcastic, enthusiastic, and absolutely hilarious! I spent so much time laughing when reading this book and at one point it took me ten minutes to read 3 pages because I was laughing so hard. I love that feeling! And when I finished I was ready to pick it up and start it all over again and I very rarely feel that way even when I do love a book.   Kelsey might overreact about some things but her ability to accept the inevitable is astounding. She ends up taking it in stride and I loved that about her. It seemed one thing after another happened to her and the embarrassing things she goes through has you thinking that she's just going to give up and walk away, but no way! That is definitely not her style. She follows through with everything she starts.

Now Kelsey is not only a fabulous character in her personality but she felt real to me. The things she thinks and does (as well as the other characters in the book) just feels real. We know that teens drink and there's some drinking involved but it's actually mostly responsible drinking. I mean, she's not all getting drunk and running around the city or doing stupid things. I was actually okay with how it played out, it all worked and felt right to me.

This book has a touch of romance and it's definitely very sweet but it's really only a touch and not much of anything until the end. I thought it was great because we actually have a chance for some real build up and never really know if things would ever go anywhere. The tension was unbelievable and perfect and although I wanted to see more it really was perfect.

This is a light hearted and fun book but it has real teen issues. These are things that normal everyday teens deal with. Friendship, romance, parties, school activities, family, it's all real stuff. No one's dying, no one has an eating disorder or is suicidal. But even though it has no big issues, these are Kelsey's issues and we see them as she sees them and they are still things she has to deal with. And I absolutely loved how this book went. How the author made things that may seem boring and mundane absolutely captivating. She blew me away and I am very eager for more from Meredith Zeitlin, this is one of the funnest (and funniest) books I've ever read! I very highly recommend you pick it up!

5/5 stars!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way. I read the ARC version of the book and the final version may have slight changes.

This book fits for the 2012 Young Adult Contemporary Challenge. Click the button to find out more!

Review: Fever (Chemical Garden #2) by Lauren DeStefano

2012-02-20T07:00:00.000-08:00

Fever (The Chemical Garden #2) Lauren DeStefano
Young Adult
Hardcover, 341 pgs.
Published Feb. 21st, 2012 by Simon & Schuster
Source: Publisher *for review*

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.

Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.

In the sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price - now that she has more to lose than ever.

Lauren DeStefano has created a unique and cunning world in her Chemical Garden books. I think it's creative what she's come up with and I find myself eager to find out more about it. While it seems like a world that could happen the fact that people die at a certain age makes it a touch unrealistic to me. I think maybe if it was around age 20-25 it would work better. However it's not something that bothers me greatly.

I think the villain in the story is brilliant. He's been done very well and I think he plays his role brilliantly. I'm able to picture him and feel the terror that Rhine feels about him. I'm happy that we only got just a bit of him in this one and has me eager and curious for more.

I don't feel a real connection to Rhine. I don't dislike her, but I don't feel a lot of warmth toward her either. I feel kind of neutral. However I do feel that she has some incredible strength and seeing her pull through some awful situations with some fight left in her I started to warm up a bit more. I also liked her more as I saw her spending time with a child. And Gabriel... I just don't really feel much at all toward him. I don't feel any romance between the two, I don't see really anything in him. He's just... there. I don't dislike him but I don't really like him either.

This book was really slow moving for me. They'd be in one place and it was interesting enough but it was like they were in this drug induced stupor most of the time. Then they'd move on and I'd feel like maybe it was getting good but it just sort of dragged and then the last bit was all kind of a stupor. I think that all that should have been cut out. I need more action, I need more to happen. I was bored with her going on and on page after page and not getting anywhere. Then the end came, there was a big thing that happened then it was over. It's a cliffhanger, kind of. It's not like WHOA or anything, just kind of a huh, well I want to know what happens now!

So it was an okay read. I think it's a great idea for a story I just felt like the author included too much of the drug induced/sickness stupor in a couple different parts of the book. It was just too slow paced. However I'm still really intrigued by the story and I'm extremely anxious to see where things go now so I'll definitely continue the stories.

3/5 stars

Disclosure: I received this book for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way. I read the advance readers copy and the final version may have changes.

In My Mailbox (95)

2012-02-18T13:00:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and is where we share the books we got through the week.

I had another amazing week (why oh why can't I read faster?!) but it started out with a bang. Because for Valentines Day (and with Christmas money and tax return money as well) I got a Kindle Fire! This is for the whole family so I'll only be reading on it occasionally, but I LOVE it!

To read on it I got:

A Killer First Date by Alyxandra Harvey (This is an enovella for the Drake Chronicles)

Cornerstone by Misty Provencher (This one was recommended by someone but I can't remember who. It has some good reviews by bloggers I trust though.)

I also got Bourne (River of Time 3.5) by Lisa Bergren. This is an enovella that comes out the end of February. It was AMAZING (no surprise there!). I'll be sure to let you know once it's for sale.

Review:

Black Howl (Madeline Black #3) by Christina Henry (I'm loving this series!)

Fated (Alex Versus #1) by Benedict Jacka (Been compared to Harry Dresden and it sounds awesome!)

How to Be Death (Calliope Reaper-Jones #4) by Amber Benson (Haven't started this series yet.)

Doubletake (Cal Leandros #7) Rob Thurman (Haven't started this series yet either...)

The Last Echo (The Body Finder #3) by Kimberly Derting (I adore this series!)

The Calling (Darkness Rising #2) by Kelley Armstrong (Loved the first book!)

Glamour in Glass (Shades of Milk and Honey #2) by Mary Robinette Kowal (I loved the first one. It's like a Jane Austen but with magic!)

Gift:

Exiled by M.R. Merrick *signed* Huge thanks to Alexa at Pages of Forbidden Love for getting this for me!

Bought:

Mark of the Rose (The Tudor Vampire Chronicles #3) by Kate Pearce (I ADORE this series!)

Thank you to Lisa Bergren, Penguin (Ace/Roc), HarperTeen, Tor, and Alexa for the books!

So what was in your mailbox this week?

Saturday Situation- Link Up Your Reviews & Give@ways!

2012-02-17T19:00:00.000-08:00

Keep in mind that you can add your links through the entire week.

You can find this post again by clicking the button on the right side of my blog. I'll try to keep it up to date to go to the newest Saturday Situation post.

Review: The Rift Walker (Vampire Empire #2)

2012-02-17T07:00:00.000-08:00

This is what I'm going to start doing for my adult reviews of books that are later in a series (first in a series will be a more full length review). Because I don't want it to be spoilery for the previous books in the series I won't include descriptions and I'll be vague about plot points. Mostly talking about character development and if I'm happy with how the series is turning out.

The Rift Walker (Vampire Empire #2) by Clay Griffith & Susan Griffith

This series is truly turning out epic. It certainly brings out the full range of crazy emotions in me and has me terrified to turn each page because of the intensity of the situations. The characters are amazing, the setting is sublime and the story is completely outstanding. A romance that brings romance to a whole new level is just one amazing part of these books. This isn't a romance like in a romance book, this is so much more. And they have to face so much and overcome so many obstacles and all we can do is cheer them on and pray they survive each obstacle because trust me- it's certainly life or death situations!

I know many many bloggers that adore this series and count it among their favorites. I do love this series and think it is far above so many books that are out there but the intense-ness is a bit stressful for me. I mean seriously, life is in peril like on every single page! And there's nothing easy, it's obstacle after obstacle for pretty much every character. Now I really think that this isn't a bad thing really, but it keeps me from reading the book straight through because I start to get light-headed from lack of oxygen. I'm so involved that I forget to breathe! I also have a bit of a hard time with all the death and gore. This is just a personal issue, but the vampires in this book are truly evil and they keep herds of humans like livestock for feeding. They kill without regret and it's just hard to watch and read all the evil. At the same time all this adds to epicness of the book because you know these things going on are truly serious.

The first quarter of this book moved slowly for me but then it picked up and all the oxygen loss {on my part} began and continued through the remainder of the book. So many amazing events happened and Princess Adele truly shows some real strength. She's definitely grown from the first book as all these horrible things that have happened have forced her to become incredibly strong. She's certainly everything I wish for and more in a character. The Greyfriar was pretty amazing as well but showed more weakness in this one which wasn't always easy to swallow. It wasn't anything of his doing, just his situation, but was still a little hard to read.

Overall I think this is a truly amazing series. Action, adventure, romance and steampunk goodness abound and I highly recommend you pick it up. Just be aware of the horror elements as well and use caution for younger readers {this is an adult book but if lots of death, gore and horror don't bother a person it could be considered a YA crossover, I'd hesitate to recommend it to younger readers myself though}.

4.5/5 stars
Note: I'd give this one 5 but the horror element was a bit too much for my poor sensibilities and so I'm bringing it down a notch for that reason.

Review: Grave Sins by Jenna Maclaine

2012-02-16T07:00:00.000-08:00

Grave Sins (Cin Craven #2) by Jenna Maclaine
Adult historical paranormal romance
Mass Market Paperback, 352 pgs.
Published Feb. 3rd, 2009 by St. Martins Press
Source: Purchased

In the arms of her lover Michael, Cin Craven has found satisfaction for her most primal longings, reaching heights of pleasure no mere human could ever imagine. She has also found a purpose for her unearthly powers. Cin is a member of The Righteous, a band of slayers that hunts down vampires who inflict evil upon the world. With Michael by her side, Cin’s latest mission brings her face-to-face with Marrakesh, a beautiful, half-mad vampire queen charged with slaughtering humans. If she’s found guilty, Marrakesh will pay with her life. But Cin is convinced that someone —or something—far more ruthless is trying to steal the queen’s throne.. It’s a mission that will pit Michael and Cin against each other for the first time, awakening their darkest instincts and testing their love like never before…

Normally for books that aren't first in a series I don't post the description and do more of a mini review. But this book works fine as a stand alone and there's not really any spoilers for the first book in the description. This book takes place 13 years after the first one and plays out like a mystery. It's historical, paranormal, mystery and romance.

I really enjoyed the first book quite a lot, but I loved this book! Cin is a character I love. She's kick ass but knows right from wrong. She's not at all struggling with what she is (a witch and a vampire) since 13 years have passed and I kind of enjoyed that. She does have some struggles regarding some of her witch powers, but it's a minor element to the story really.   And her and Michaels relationship is great because after that many years you fall into a kind of familiarity but they still have the spark and the strong attraction toward eachother. And they actually do run into trouble in this one but it's nice to see they are human (well, not really) and do have weaknesses.

The mystery was pretty good and I felt like I really wasn't sure who or what the culprit was that was causing the queens 'illness'. I actually had some ideas of the who but I was kind of clueless how or what was going on. In the end as the mystery was revealed and all was figured out I was quite happy with how it all went.

This is one of those comfortable books. I didn't feel all stressed and tense while reading, but it kept me turning the pages and not wanting to put the book down. I wanted it to go on forever but it's actually a very fast read and I read most of it in one evening before bed. I want this series to go on forever because I really love every aspect of it. The characters, the setting and the story itself; it's all perfect! I very highly recommend you pick this series up!

5/5 stars!

Review: Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler

2012-02-15T07:00:00.000-08:00

Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler
Young Adult
Hardcover, 378 pgs.
Published Jan. 3rd, 2012 by Simon Pulse
Source: Purchased

Once upon a time, Hudson knew exactly what her future looked like. Then a betrayal changed her life, and knocked her dreams to the ground. Now she’s a girl who doesn’t believe in second chances… a girl who stays under the radar by baking cupcakes at her mom’s diner and obsessing over what might have been.

So when things start looking up and she has another shot at her dreams, Hudson is equal parts hopeful and terrified. Of course, this is also the moment a cute, sweet guy walks into her life…and starts serving up some seriously mixed signals. She’s got a lot on her plate, and for a girl who’s been burned before, risking it all is easier said than done.

It’s time for Hudson to ask herself what she really wants, and how much she’s willing to sacrifice to get it. Because in a place where opportunities are fleeting, she knows this chance may very well be her last….

I think I started this one at the wrong time, I just had a hard time getting into it. I finally put it aside until I was more in the mood and the next time I picked it up it hit the spot much better. It was still a bit slow but as the story went on I found myself much more engrossed in the story.

Hudson was a character that had to grow on me. I just wasn't feeling her at first. But then I felt sorry for her because she had so much going on and her mother just kept piling more on her shoulders. She had much more responsibility then any teenager should have and I felt so much anger and frustration for her. She just let her mother walk all over her because she knew she had a lot going on herself. Now, it sounds like her mother is bad, and she's not really- she loves Hudson she just kind of forgets she's just a kid and needs a life too. As the story goes on Hudson learns to find her voice in some things and also becomes determined she's going to 'get out of this hole'. I think anyone who's lived in a small town knows that feeling. I know in my small town everyone was talking about getting out of there. Doing something better. It takes a lot for Hudson to realize and appreciate some of what she has. And I understand both points. Wanting to get out, but yet she loves her family. And her family includes her adorable little brother whom I loved! She also has an absent father, so that plays a role as well.

A lot of the book takes place in the diner that Hudsons mother owns. I can't say I really connected with this because I've never worked in a diner, but I thought it was interesting and equal parts terrifying because of the way some of the customers treat the waitresses. I tried to waitress once and I was the kind of waitress that didn't put up with stuff, which got me fired. Definitely not my thing. {Oh, you're not suppose to throw wine in the rude customers face? Hmmm...}

I really liked the main boys in the story. Even the one that is not all good was still kind of likable. Like he wasn't really a bad guy which I really liked in this case. And the romance was good, though a bit frustrating cause you just want to jump in and communicate for them. Seriously, just talk already! I wish there was more interaction with the hockey team as a whole because I think it would have been fun, but we get the gist of how things went at practice and how things changed for the team and for Hudson.

Overall it was a pretty good read. It's about a girl finding herself and her happiness, friendship, romance and family. I have a feeling that my timing was off when I read this one. I think in other circumstances I would probably rate this one higher. I'll have to do a reread one day in the future.

3.5/5 stars

This one fits for the 2012 Young Adult Contemporary Challenge. Click the button to find out more!

Review: The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten

2012-02-14T07:00:00.000-08:00

The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten
Young Adult
Hardcover, 352 pgs
Published: December 27th, 2011 by HarperTeen
Source: Amazon Vine

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?

This book was surprisingly good. I think I was expecting a fluffy read with shallow characters and it actually had some depth to it with a fantastic story line. While it was still an easy and fast read I felt connected to the story and to Lucy through the entire thing.

While Lucy may have been a touch naive I actually really 'got' her. We see in the beginning how her love is bordering on obsession (or maybe crossed over a bit ;) and I actually really got that. I remember when I fell in love the first time (or so I thought) and how obsessed I was and remembering those intense feelings made me really connect with Lucy and her feelings.

The actual secret sisterhood was quite interesting. It was hard to know if these girls are good or bad. I kept going back and forth because they kind of seemed like a group of mean girls but then we'd see another side of them and think maybe not, maybe they are just insecure or something. But as I read on I saw there was much more to the story and I really loved being surprised over and over and not ever really knowing for sure how things would go.

Through the story Lucy grows. I loved seeing how she found her voice, found her inner strength and overcame her weaknesses. She was really shy and had no self esteem to speak of and I think it's important that girls know that they don't have to have a boyfriend to be someone. And what they believe they are is often what others believe they are. If they find inner strength and carry themselves with confidence men/boys are more likely to be interested. But most important- you do not have to have a boyfriend to be someone. Even adults seem to have that problem and it's something I just don't understand. Well, I do, but I don't agree.

There's magic in this book and I knew that going in but wasn't sure how it would work. It actually fit with the story perfect and worked extremely well. It didn't feel like it was just a convenient tool, it felt right. And it wasn't overwhelming, it was more like just a touch of magic.

Overall I thought this ended up being a fabulous read. It turned out to be much better then I expected and I'm very pleased I took the time to read it. I highly recommend it! I do have to give a warning that there's a fair amount of cursing in this book. It actually was enough for me to really notice. It's the way teens talk, but I'm still not a fan of it being so much. (Please note I read an ARC, the final edition may have changes.)

4/5 stars!

Disclosure: I received an advance reader copy for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way. The final edition of the book may have slight changes from the ARC version I read.

Review: Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

2012-02-13T07:00:00.000-08:00

Finnikin of the Rock (Lumatere Chronicles #1) by Melina Marchetta
Young Adult
Hardcover, 399 pgs
Published February 9th, 2010 by Candlewick (US publication)
Source: Library

At the age of nine, Finnikin is warned by the gods that he must sacrifice a pound of flesh to save his kingdom. He stands on the rock of the three wonders with his friend Prince Balthazar and Balthazar's cousin, Lucian, and together they mix their blood to safeguard Lumatere.

But all safety is shattered during the five days of the unspeakable, when the king and queen and their children are brutally murdered in the palace. An impostor seizes the throne, a curse binds all who remain inside Lumatere's walls, and those who escape are left to roam the land as exiles, dying by the thousands in fever camps.

Ten years later, Finnikin is summoned to another rock--to meet Evanjalin, a young novice with a startling claim: Balthazar, heir to the throne of Lumatere, is alive. This arrogant young woman claims she'll lead Finnikin and his mentor, Sir Topher, to the prince. Instead, her leadership points them perilously toward home. Does Finnikin dare believe that Lumatere might one day rise united? Evanjalin is not what she seems, and the startling truth will test Finnikin's faith not only in her but in all he knows to be true about himself and his destiny.

In a bold departure from her acclaimed contemporary novels, Printz Medalist Melina Marchetta has crafted an epic fantasy of ancient magic, feudal intrigue, romance, and bloodshed that will rivet you from the first page.

In a high fantasy, a true epic fantasy there are a lot of elements I expect and need in my story. I need to feel it. To really feel transported into the story through the authors use of words and language and not feel overwhelmed with lengthy descriptions at the same time. I need the characters to be truly strong, to have weaknesses but overcome things, to be forever surprised by their actions and decisions. To never know how things might turn out. I like when a character that is once bad becomes good, when you really have no idea which way things might go. When a book is truly epic I want to cry because the beauty of the words, the tragedy of the story and epicness of the romance moves me. This book, this book did all that and more.

There is no way any words I put in this review can express the amazingness of this book. But if you're a fantasy lover there's no way you shouldn't read this book {haven't read fantasy? This is a great place to start!}. It's brilliant, it's tragic, and it's epic. Things are revealed through out the entire thing that shocked me over and over again and constant surprises, never ever knowing what could happen is always good. The characters blew me away. Finnikin wasn't always the most likable guy in the world but that made him more real. And as he grows as a character and as we get to see more of him he's very easy to fall in love with as he has some true inner strength and a heart you can't help but love. Evanjalin, well, she's one character you have to get to know yourself. But I can tell you that I have rarely seen a character with the strength she has.

I could talk about this book forever but you really need to go into it without really knowing much because I think you'll just enjoy it more. All I can tell you now is go read it! This is what a true high {epic} fantasy is all about! It's one book that I'll be thinking about for a very long time!

5/5 stars!

In My Mailbox (94)

2012-02-11T14:30:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and is where we share the books we got through the week.

I went NUTS this week! I seriously need like an intervention or something. I can't stop buying more! Some are fine, like I needed the next in a series and I needed the first in another series because I got the third for review, etc. But some I really could have lived without. I mean, I didn't think so when I got them, but honestly- who knows when I'll be able to get them read!

First of all, the amazing Denise Jaden sent some AWESOME swag! I put the magnet on my fridge but the rest is for spreading the word of her books, Losing Faith and Never Enough (out in July).

Review:

The Drowning Girl by Caitlin R. Kiernan (have any of you read her books? It sounds interesting but wasn't on my radar at all so I'm curious...) Out March 6th, 2012

Fair Game (Alpha and Omega #3) by Patricia Briggs (March, 2012)

Gifts:

The Miseducation of Cameron Post (ARC) by Emily M. Danforth

Thank You Lori at Pure Imagination! I'm SO excited to read this one!

Wizards First Rule (Sword of Truth #1) by Terry Goodkind

Thank you Natalie at Mindful Musings!

Have you guys watched the show Legend of the Seeker? It was canceled after two seasons but I absolutely LOVE it and that show is based on these books.

Bought:

Most of these were bought for like $1. Super cheap! A couple were $4 though...

Black Night (Madeline Black #2) by Christina Henry

I read the first one a couple weeks ago and really enjoyed it!

Phoenix Rising (Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences #1) by Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris

I read this book before it's release last year and loved it! But I didn't own a copy so now I do!

Stranger (The Blades of the Rose #4) by Zoe Archer

I adore this cover! I had Zoe on last year and have been dying to read her books! Of course I still need to get the first three...

Stone of Tears (Sword of Truth #2) by Terry Goodkind

Even though I haven't read the first one yet I found this one used for cheap but it looks brand new. And finding used fantasy books that don't have a broken spine is near impossible so I couldn't pass it up!

The Guardian (Dream Hunter #5) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

I'm frustrated because I looked it up and it according to amazon on my phone it was a stand alone, or more of a companion. I'm not sure, do these need to be read in order?

The Dream Hunter (Dark-Hunter #10) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Once again, my app said this was not a series. Like it was a stand alone. But it's in new condition so maybe I'll give it away. Or I'll trade it. Unless these can be read without reading the others.

Spy Glass (Glass #3) by Maria V. Snyder

I need to get the first two still. But this was really cheap so I couldn't pass it up.

Cry Wolf (Alpha and Omega #1) by Patricia Briggs

Got the third one for review but needed to start the series!

Huge thank you to Natalie and Lori for the gifts, Penguin for the review books, goodwill for the good deals and Cover to Cover Books for having awesome books I couldn't live without!

Saturday Situation- Link Up Your Reviews & Giveaways!

2012-02-10T19:00:00.000-08:00

Saturday Situation is hosted by both Lori at Pure Imagination and myself. It's a linky for you to link your Giveaways and Reviews (and whatever neglected posts you may have). You'll find the same linky's at Pure Imagination, so don't enter them twice!

Keep in mind that you can add your links through the entire week.

You can find this post again by clicking the button on the right side of my blog. I'll try to keep it up to date to go to the newest Saturday Situation post.

Review: First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones

2012-02-10T07:00:00.001-08:00

First Grave on the Right (Charley Davidson #1) by Darynda Jones
Adult
Mass Market Paperback, 310 pages
Published Feb. 1st, 2011 in Hardcover by St. Martins Press
Source: Purchased

A smashing, award-winning debut novel that introduces Charley Davidson: part-time private investigator and full-time Grim Reaper
Charley sees dead people. That’s right, she sees dead people. And it’s her job to convince them to “go into the light.” But when these very dead people have died under less than ideal circumstances (i.e. murder), sometimes they want Charley to bring the bad guys to justice. Complicating matters are the intensely hot dreams she’s been having about an Entity who has been following her all her life...and it turns out he might not be dead after all. In fact, he might be something else entirely.
This is a thrilling debut novel from an exciting newcomer to the world of paranormal romantic suspense.

I first heard of this book (I may have heard of it before but it didn't stick with me) on Giselle's blog at Xpresso Reads and her description of Charley had me saying I have to read this series now and I went out and bought it almost immediately. And I started it the same day. I was desperate for a smart, snarky woman with some unique abilities and Charley more then delivered. I seriously adored her. She can see ghosts, as a matter of fact she is the grim reaper. But really I felt like this was more ghost whisperer then anything else. She can help ghosts and they can help her {which is very helpful when you're a P.I. that helps out the police} and she also is how they move on if they so choose.

Charley's personality is amazing. She doesn't really take anything too serious, but yet she's not stupid. She says what's on her mind without being obnoxious. She's a caring person who is always trying to help everyone and she's a true friend to those who care about her. She's hilarious and witty and says the funniest things ever. And she's like one of my new favorite-est characters for real.

Now this book doesn't just have an amazing MC, but it has a fantastic story line as well. It's constant action as Charley is uncovering why three lawyers from the same firm were killed the same evening and with their help are discovering some pretty nasty stuff. At the same time she's trying to figure out who this 'guy/thing' is that is giving her sexy 'dreams' and does he have some relation to the 'guy/thing' that has saved her life countless times. There's lots to be discovered and Charley doesn't hesitate to do the dirty work nearly putting her life in peril time and time again.

I honestly cannot recommend this book any more highly. It was a fantastic start to a series and I'll be trying my hardest to get my hands on the next two books as soon as possible! If I haven't convinced you yet then go check out Giselle's review HERE. She's got some awesome quotes in hers.

5/5 stars!

I'm over at The Unread Reader today...

2012-02-09T14:34:00.000-08:00

I'm hanging out at The Unread Reader today for her When I'm Not Reading feature. Come find out what I'm doing When I'm Not Reading!

Ebook Give@way ENDED of Winterborne and Ravenstoke by @AugustaBlythe

2012-02-09T07:00:00.001-08:00

Today I have an ebook giveaway for you guys. Thanks to Augusta Blythe who is giving away Winterborne and Ravenstroke to one lucky winner! GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED

Winterborne (Universe Unbound #1)

Sixteen-year old Mia Winterborne is destined to be special. Details are sketchy, though, as her dad disappeared with all the answers when she was five. Mia only knows that she’ll inherit her kickass superpowers on her seventeenth birthday. Helping Mia prepare for her anticipated ascendancy is Loie Bryce, her best friend and eternal sidekick extraordinaire. The girls’ intense friendship has never wavered until now, when Andreas arrives in Salcey Ridge. They both fall hard for the British hottie, who quickly becomes a fixture in their lives. When they discover that Andreas is not who he appears to be, the frightening reality of Mia’s powers finally hits home. The nearer Mia’s birthday draws, the more the danger escalates and long-buried lies are exposed, putting the girls on a path that they never expected.

Ravenstoke (Universe Unbound #2)

In Winterborne, Loie and Mia's seventeenth birthdays brought more drama and surprises than they ever expected. Now, in Ravenstoke, they are adjusting to the aftermath and struggling to keep those newfound powers in check. When Andreas is called away to England under mysterious circumstances, a new guy is sent to Salcey Ridge in his place. Cian is smarmy and cocksure and Loie wants nothing more than to unleash a hellhound on him. Unfortunately, Cian isn't the only complication in their lives as the girls must also contend with the reappearance of Mr. Winterborne himself and Loie's most dreaded fear of all - a part in the school musical. Can the girls survive the rest of junior year unscathed?

Purchase:

Winterborne at Amazon

Winterborne at Barnes & Noble

Winterborne in Paperback

Ravenstoke at Amazon

Ravenstoke at Barnes & Noble

Ravenstoke will soon be available in paperback as well.

Find the author:

Blog | Facebook | Twitter

Giveaway:ENDED

Thanks to the author one person will win ebooks of both books.

Open International

Must be 13 or older to enter.

Ends 2/22/12

To Enter:

Leave a comment with contact information (email or twitter).

Review: The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour

2012-02-08T07:00:00.000-08:00

The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour
Young Adult
Hardcover, 304 pgs. *I read an ARC*
Published February 16th, 2012 by Dutton
Source: Publisher for Review

Colby and Bev have a long-standing pact: graduate, hit the road with Bev's band, and then spend the year wandering around Europe. But moments after the tour kicks off, Bev makes a shocking announcement: she's abandoning their plans - and Colby - to start college in the fall. But the show must go on and The Disenchantments weave through the Pacific Northwest, playing in small towns and dingy venues, while roadie- Colby struggles to deal with Bev's already-growing distance and the most important question of all: what's next?
Morris Award—finalist Nina LaCour draws together the beauty and influences of music and art to brilliantly capture a group of friends on the brink of the rest of their lives.

This was an absolutely lovely book! It really looks like it's a lighthearted and fun read but it really has some depth to it. Each character is dealing with something big and this tour is the last chance they all have to spend together before everything changes.

I really adore the characters in this one. Colby is the narrator (a male narrator, YAY!) and he was so cute! I mean, he seemed like a normal boy. He was a brilliant artist but other then that he was just normal. Well, except the fact that he's in love with his best friend Bev. Now Bev was one of those characters that I just didn't like at all. She seemed so stuck on herself and she was telling lie after lie and I just didn't know what to make of her. But then as the story went on I started to understand some of her actions. I think that she should never have let things get as bad as they did, but I kind of understood her a bit more. Now Alexa and Meg, oh I loved those girls! They are bold and outspoken but not in a rude way. It's like they are so full of love they just share it with everyone. They are quirky and they dress in this adorable way and they are just so lovable! They brought a lot more lightness to the book and kept it from ever really getting depressing. The main characters are all great but I also loved the characters that only had brief parts. They all stood out and were memorable. They were quirky and weird and they show that there are lots of awesome people in this world and getting out there and meeting some is totally worth it!

Now the road trip theme of the book I loved! And the end of their trip was here! In Portland (okay, I'm like a bridge away but I say that's close enough ;). So it was neat to really be able to picture them here. And while it was only a small part it was a bonus.

This was a fantastic and fun read but still dealt with these things that teens have to go through once they finish high school. The decisions they must make and how it's hard to part with your friends, family and life.

Now the characters in this book are 18 and so I would recommend it for more mature readers. There is sex, though it's not described, and there's a little bit of cursing.

4.5/5 stars!

Disclosure: I received an advance copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way. The finished version may have some changes from the copy I read.

This qualifies for the YA Contemporary Challenge 2102.

Don't Breathe a Word Book Trailer!

2012-02-07T09:00:00.000-08:00

This book is absolutely incredible! If you haven't read it yet you must. Seriously, read it!

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.

Review: Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

2012-02-07T07:00:00.001-08:00

Born Wicked (The Cahill Witch Chronicles #1) by Jessica Spotswood
Hardcover, 326 pgs.
Published Feb. 7th, 2012 by Putnam Juvenile
Source: Borrowed

"Blessed with a gift..."cursed" with a secret."
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.

Born Wicked is one of those books I would have read just for the cover. Seriously, I love this cover! But when I heard it was historical and was about witches, well- I was sold! And this book really lived up to my expectations!

It starts out just a bit slow and the entire story is slower paced. I thought it worked fine in the second half but the first half could have used maybe a bit more action. However in the whole scheme of things this ended up feeling rather minor to me by the end of the book. The second half I read in pretty much one sitting. It was getting to where I was dying to know more as more and more things we were revealed and I felt like something big was going to happen any moment. There was romance that had me swooning left and right (okay, that sounds kind of funny...) there were twists that I never saw coming and events revealed that could bring about some major catastrophe.

Cate took a bit to get used to. The story is told in first person present tense and I think her voice was just rather different. I can't pinpoint what it was because I'm fairly certain I liked her quite well from the get-go, but there was something about it that took me just a few chapters to adjust to. While Cate does have her faults (she's a bit over-protective of her sisters), it all felt real to me. That's how she should be because her mother placed this responsibility on her and the slightest slip up and they could all be sent away for being witches. I did love that Cate didn't deny herself her true feelings. She would contemplate what she should do and what she truly wanted to do. And she never denied herself the truth. I hate a character that goes on about how they will just force themselves to want something that they don't really and you know it never works out.

The way the romance plays out was pretty sweet. I wished for maybe a bit more time with Finn and Cate together but honestly I don't think we could ever get enough. I liked that they knew eachother for quite some time but as they run into the other time and time again they realize there's something there. And when placed in great danger your deepest, truest emotions come out. And this was one of those romances that I can honestly say was sweet. Yes it was forbidden, but it was still as sweet as they get.

Finn is a big reader and his mother owns the town bookstore. This puts him 'beneath' Cate, who really couldn't care less about that, and under the radar of the Brotherhood who suspect that unapproved books are being sold there. Which is not so good for Cate and her sisters since they are trying to stay off the radar of the Brotherhood. But Finn is just a 'good' guy. He's not good as in he believes in the Brotherhood, but he's scholarly and very smart and isn't about causing trouble. I liked that for once the smart guy gets the girl. But does he really get her? Well, you'll have to read the book to find out!

I very highly recommend you pick this one up! I can't wait for the next one!

4.5/5 stars!

Review: The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff

2012-02-06T07:00:00.000-08:00

The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff
Young Adult
Hardcover, 363 pgs.
Published November 15th, 2011 by Razorbill
Source: Won

Everything is made of steel, even the flowers. How can you love anything in a place like this?

Daphne is the half-demon, half-fallen angel daughter of Lucifer and Lilith. Life for her is an endless expanse of time, until her brother Obie is kidnapped - and Daphne realizes she may be partially responsible. Determined to find him, Daphne travels from her home in Pandemonium to the vast streets of Earth, where everything is colder and more terrifying. With the help of the human boy she believes was the last person to see her brother alive, Daphne glimpses into his dreams, discovering clues to Obie's whereabouts. As she delves deeper into her demonic powers, she must navigate the jealousies and alliances of the violent archangels who stand in her way. But she also discovers, unexpectedly, what it means to love and be human in a world where human is the hardest thing to be.

This second novel by rising star Brenna Yovanoff is a story of identity, discovery, and a troubled love between two people struggling to find their place both in our world and theirs.

I'm always looking for young adult paranormal that is truly different. That breaks the mold of so many others. Quite often the ideas are unique for the paranormal aspect but yet the story doesn't really feel that different. I often still enjoy the books but they aren't as memorable. This book, this book is very different from anything I've read. If you've read her book The Replacements, you have an idea that she comes up with crazy and twisted things and she creates a world that is dark and creepy and yet so beautiful. And this book was even better then The Replacements in my opinion. The romance was great, it wasn't insta-love, they got to know each other a bit before they realized they had feelings. It was really only a few days, but in so many books the characters are instantly in lust and talk about how gorgeous and hot the other one is and in this book we see they are drawn together but yet they don't really show attraction until they have gotten to know one another.

This story is so unique and beautiful. Daphne has always lived in Pandemonium (Hell) and is the daughter of Lilith and Lucifer. You would think she's evil, right? She's not. She's kind of numb at first, like she's spent her life not really feeling. She gets to earth and it's kind of like when an alien comes here, she has an idea of things because she's seen stuff on tv, but she's never experienced it. And all these experiences and then getting to know Truman we see her truly blossom and start to feel. The author also did a good job of just switching things around. We see all the people in Pandemonium which we know are demons, that should be bad but we're seeing good in them too. But what really makes it different is the angels, the ones that are normally good are the ones being bad. I mean, we see them from Daphne's perspective, but it's just kind of a turn around.

I really enjoyed how the plot line was completely unpredictable. Things happened that you would never dream of and there was no way to figure out what could happen next. There was one brief spot in the middle where I felt like nothing was really happening and I grew just a little bit bored but it didn't last long and it may have just been me.

I recommend this book to those looking for a twisted and crazy young adult paranormal read. It's dark and haunting, but beautiful and romantic. Pick it up!

4.5/5

In My Mailbox (93)

2012-02-04T13:00:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and is where we share the books we got through the week.

I had a pretty good book week. I went to the used bookstore and used up some trade credit and a few review books came as well.

Review:

The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten

Dreamless (Starcrossed #2) by Josephine Angelini (loved the first one!)

Not-For-Parents New York City: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

Gift:

Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin #1) by Robin LaFevers

Thank Nancy at Tales of the Ravenous Reader!

Bought:

With trade credit I got

First Grave on the Right (Charley Davidson #1) by Darynda Jones (I read it and LOVED it!)

Grave Witch (Alex Craft #1) by Kalayna Price

The Touch of Twilight (Signs of the Zodiac #3) by Vicki Pettersson (I read the first one a long time ago but recently got the 2nd and now I have the 3rd!)

Thanks to Amazon Vine, HarperCollins and Nancy for the books!

So what was in your mailbox this week?

Saturday Situation- Link Up Your Reviews & Give@ways!

2012-02-03T19:00:00.000-08:00

Keep in mind that you can add your links through the entire week.

You can find this post again by clicking the button on the right side of my blog. I'll try to keep it up to date to go to the newest Saturday Situation post.

Candace's Book Blog

In My Mailbox (96)

Saturday Situation- Link Up Your Reviews & Give@ways!

Review: Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen

Review: The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily Danforth

Weaving a Message in Your Writing by Meredith Zeitlin

Review: Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin

Review: Fever (Chemical Garden #2) by Lauren DeStefano

In My Mailbox (95)

Saturday Situation- Link Up Your Reviews & Give@ways!

Review: The Rift Walker (Vampire Empire #2)

Review: Grave Sins by Jenna Maclaine

Review: Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler

Review: The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten

Review: Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

In My Mailbox (94)

Saturday Situation- Link Up Your Reviews & Giveaways!

Review: First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones

I'm over at The Unread Reader today...

Ebook Give@way *ENDED* of Winterborne and Ravenstoke by @AugustaBlythe

Review: The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour

Don't Breathe a Word Book Trailer!

Review: Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Review: The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff

In My Mailbox (93)

Saturday Situation- Link Up Your Reviews & Give@ways!

Ebook Give@way ENDED of Winterborne and Ravenstoke by @AugustaBlythe