About to Read

Love Triangles: The Elite

2013-05-23T07:59:00.002-07:00

Love Triangles is a feature I created to discuss how I feel about love triangles in the novels I read. I am assuming that those reading the love triangles posts have already read the books. Please be aware that these posts may contain spoilers.

Author: Kiera Cass

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: April 23, 2012

Format: ARC

Source: For Review

Goodreads Description:

"The hotly-anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestseller The Selection.

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending."

***

If you like this video, don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel: ForThoseAboutToRead

Aspen-America-Maxon

I would love to say that I’m all torn up about this love triangle and I don’t know who to pick, but I’m not. I hate Aspen. He is all wrong for America and claims to love her when he can’t even really see her for who she is. Aspen has this idea that America is someone who needs protection. He flat-out says that he doesn’t believe she is capable of being a Princess despite the aptitude and strength she shows. If Aspen doesn’t have the brains to see who she truly is or believe in her the way her father and Maxon do, he is simply an idiot.

Maxon on the other hand, sees America’s strength and passion and values her for it. She is compassionate and understands the lower castes in a way he simply can’t and he admires her for it. Maxon has tried to give America everything he possibly can to make her happy and comfortable. If he could give her the stars, there is no question that he would.

America-Maxon-Kris

The America-Maxon-Kris triangle is a bit tough to sort out. We don’t really see Kris and Maxon together often, so it’s a little hard to figure out who the better option is for Maxon. Now, as much as I am on team Maxon-America, I have to admit that there is some serious potential for Maxon and Kris thanks to America’s insecurity.

Maxon has a tough role as Prince, particularly since his dad, the King, is such a douche-lord. Maxon has to do a lot of things that he would prefer not to, most notably punishing Marlee. Instead of having faith in Maxon and understanding that in no way would he ever want this to happen, America turns on him. She is always so ready to believe the worst of him. Kris on the other hand writes him a card and tries to comfort him.

Maxon isn’t used to people giving him things and showing him kindness the way that Kris does. It’s so refreshing for him to have someone see past the crown and just see him for exactly who he is—not who he pretends to be for the public. Kris and Maxon seem to have a very sweet relationship based on trust and understanding, which is something he certainty doesn’t have with America.

All of America’s transgressions may be forgivable, but there is one BIG, GLARING problem...she is cheating on him. Maxon may be seeing other people to, but it is actually forgivable. At the end of this competition Maxon must pick a wife. This is it for him. This is his only opportunity to date and find someone that he can spend the rest of his life with. America, on the other hand, can always date Apsen when The Selection is over. Her options don’t end with the competition. The other BIG problem is that America is a liar. Maxon is upfront and honest about his other relationships. America? She hasn’t even told him that Aspen is in the Palace...and that’s a no, no.

So aside from not seeing Maxon for who he truly is, aside from not having faith in him, America is proving to be a liar and a cheat. I can’t really say for sure who I think the better match is for Maxon without seeing any of the private moments between him and Kris, but exploring what we do know about the two girls, America clearly isn’t all she’s cracked-up to be.

Waiting on Wednesday

2013-05-22T07:34:00.002-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking The Spine. Visit my Upcoming page to see more books I'm looking forward to.

The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

(October 2013)

Goodreads Description:

"The Retribution of Mara Dyer is the last book in the Mara Dyer Trilogy."

Tidal

2013-05-21T07:30:00.000-07:00

Author: Amanda Hocking

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Release Date: June 4, 2013

Format: ARC

Source: For Review

Goodreads Description:

"With Penn and Lexi determined to kill Gemma and replace her with another siren, Gemma's life is in grave danger...unless she can break the curse before it's too late. With the help of Harper and Daniel, she'll delve deep into her enemies' mythical past--and their darkest secrets. It's her only hope of saving everything she holds dear: her family, her life, and her relationship with Alex--the only guy she's ever loved."

***

The Watersong series just keeps getting better and better. Tidal gets even deeper into the siren mythology than Lullaby did. Not only do we know about how the sirens live and why they were cursed, but we also get glimpses into their past—which was absolutely fascinating!

Gemma and Harper have also grown tremendously. Gemma has become much more responsible and understands that her actions have consequences, while Harper has learned to relax. Harper still feels responsible for Gemma and is an incredibly protective sister, but she is no longer overbearing.

Harper’s romance with Daniel is still refreshing, but becomes a bit troubled thanks to the sirens. Penn is obsessed with Daniel and causes quite a few problems for Daniel and Harper—although at the end of the novel it isn’t entirely clear how far the damage will really go.

Tidal wasn’t incredibly action packed until the very end, but it has a lot of mystery. Gemma, Harper, and Daniel are doing everything in their power to learn more about the sirens and see if there is anything they can do to help Gemma. While I won’t reveal any of their findings, I will say that there are much deeper mysteries than one would have thought from reading Lullaby.

Tidal is a fantastic installment in the Watersong series. It is filled with heartache, mystery, and mythology and leaves readers begging for more. Ancient history is blended beautifully with the modern storyline and it’s hard not to feel a pang of sympathy for the villains. Hocking has created a well-developed cast of characters and an intriguing plot. Readers will want to pick up Elegy, the next installment, as soon as they finish Tidal.

Sound Good? Check Out...
*Click the image for more information

If He Had Been With Me Blog Tour

2013-05-20T03:00:00.000-07:00

Author: Laura Nowlin

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: April 1, 2013

Goodreads Description:

"If he had been with me, he wouldn't have died.

Throughout their whole childhood, Finn and Autumn were inseparable—they finished each other's sentences, they knew just what to say when the other person was hurting. But one incident in middle school puts them in separate social worlds come high school, and Autumn has been happily dating James for the last 2 years. But she's always wondered what if...

The night she's about to get the answer is also one of terrible tragedy."

***

Five things You Need to Know if You Want to be a Writer by Laura Nowlin

1. That whole “Stuggling Artist” thing? It’s really hard work. In the beginning, you are going to have to write your heart out with zero encouragement or financial profit. Okay, maybe you’ll get some encouragement from your Mom or your spouse, but they also want you to take out the trash and feed the dog when you get home from your dreaded day job. And unless you have a trust fund, you’re going to have that day job, so you’re essentially going to be working two jobs. One of which has no salary and no vacation days.

2. The readers don’t owe you anything. You owe them. You’re the one who thought that what you had to say was so important that they should pay money for it. And what they want is to enjoy reading your book. No one ever put down a book and said “Wow, that was boring and difficult, but it was so intelligent and unique that I loved it anyway.” I’m not saying you need to compromise your artistic ideals, I’m saying that the readers attention span must come before your ego.

3. You must honor those who came first. And by “honor” I mean read. You need to read the great geniuses of the past like Shakespeare, Austen and Hemingway, and you need to read the current bestsellers of your genre, like King, Rowling or Dessen. You have a lot to learn, and these guys all have something to teach you.

4. You need an agent. Writers stand in parking lots staring at the rainbows in puddles of antifreeze, wondering how they could capture in words this marriage of pollution and beauty. The part of their brain that allows them to do this is the part where other people have “Common Sense” and “Business Smarts.” Trust me, I’m happy to give my agent a percentage, she’s the one who actually reads and understands all of those contracts. And even if you are a bit business savvy, the publishing industry is like another country with its own language and customs; you are going to need a guide.

5. You’re going to have to get used to feeling exposed. When you give a person something you’ve written, you’re giving them a piece of yourself. And that piece is going to be criticized and analyzed. It doesn’t matter if it’s your next door neighbor or your editor, you gave it to them, so it’s their right to tell you what they think. Brace yourself. This is will be harder than you expect. You just poured your heart and soul into this, and now someone is telling you that it’s not perfect. But it’s not perfect, so listen.

6. It’s all worth it. Yes, I know this list is entitled “Five things you need to know…” but if you’re a real writer, you already intuitively know this one. I’m just reminding you, because you have a difficult path ahead.

Goddess

2013-05-16T03:00:00.000-07:00

Author: Josephine Angelini

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: May 28, 2013

Format: ARC

Source: For Review

Goodreads Description:

"After accidentally unleashing the gods from their captivity on Olympus, Helen must find a way to re-imprison them without starting a devastating war. But the gods are angry, and their thirst for blood already has a body count.

To make matters worse, the Oracle reveals that a diabolical Tyrant is lurking among them, which drives a wedge between the once-solid group of friends. As the gods use the Scions against one another, Lucas’s life hangs in the balance. Still unsure whether she loves him or Orion, Helen is forced to make a terrifying decision, for war is coming to her shores.

In Josephine Angelini’s compelling conclusion to the masterfully woven Starcrossed trilogy, a goddess must rise above it all to change a destiny that’s been written in the stars. With worlds built just as fast as they crumble, love and war collide in an all-out battle that will leave no question unanswered and no heart untouched."

***

Reading Goddess is such a bittersweet feeling. The story is so fantastic and readers have likely been on the edge of their seat wondering what happens since they put down Dreamless. As amazing as it is though, you know this is the end, and that does make it a little sad. Josephine Angelini continues to weave the same magic into Goddess that she did with the rest of the Starcrossed trilogy.

The love story hasn’t changed too much since Dreamless. Helen and Lucas still want each other even though they’re forbidden to be together, and Helen and Orion are trying to determine if they can be together in light of that fact.

More important that the love story, however, is the merging of all the houses into one. Since Lucas, Helen, and Orion became blood brothers at the end of Dreamless, they have officially released the gods from Mt. Olympus and opened the floodgates for the doomsday prophecy they’ve worked so hard to keep from happening.

Most of the novel focuses on the scions quest to prevent the prophecy from coming true and keeping the gods from wreaking havoc on the mortal world. While I won’t get into too much detail, so I don’t spoil the story, there was a ton of action and adventure! There was also a bit of mystery regarding the Tyrant, but it was fairly easy to figure that part out. We meet even more gods and goddesses than we did in Dreamless and the story as a whole is just really well done. I enjoyed everything from the mythology to the love story, and really, really loved all of the parallels Angelini created between the current story and Troy.

Goddess wraps up the Starcrossed series quite nicely. All of the major plot points have been answered, there are no seeming cop outs, and it was just a great read! It is impossible to put down and I finished the whole thing in essentially one sitting. Josephine Angelini is a master and I’m sure her next series will live up to this one.

Sound Good? Check Out...
*Click the image for more information

Waiting on Wednesday

2013-05-15T03:00:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking The Spine. Visit my Upcoming page to see more books I'm looking forward to.

Teardrop by Lauren Kate (October 2013)

Goodreads Description:

"Never, ever cry. . . . Eureka Boudreaux's mother drilled that rule into her daughter years ago. But now her mother is gone, and everywhere Eureka goes he is there: Ander, the tall, pale blond boy who seems to know things he shouldn't, who tells Eureka she is in grave danger, who comes closer to making her cry than anyone has before.

But Ander doesn't know Eureka's darkest secret: ever since her mother drowned in a freak accident, Eureka wishes she were dead, too. She has little left that she cares about, just her oldest friend, Brooks, and a strange inheritance—a locket, a letter, a mysterious stone, and an ancient book no one understands. The book contains a haunting tale about a girl who got her heart broken and cried an entire continent into the sea. Eureka is about to discover that the ancient tale is more than a story, that Ander might be telling the truth . . . and that her life has far darker undercurrents than she ever imagined. From Lauren Kate comes an epic saga of heart-stopping romance, devastating secrets, and dark magic . . . a world where everything you love can be washed away."

Tumble & Fall by Alexandra Coutts (September 2013)

Goodreads Description:

"A novel about the end of days full of surprising beginnings

The world is living in the shadow of oncoming disaster. An asteroid is set to strike the earth in just one week’s time; catastrophe is unavoidable. The question isn’t how to save the world—the question is, what to do with the time that's left? Against this stark backdrop, three island teens wrestle with intertwining stories of love, friendship and family—all with the ultimate stakes at hand.

Alexandra Coutts's TUMBLE & FALL is a powerful story of courage, love, and hope at the end of the world. "

Dissonance by Erica O'Rourke (October 2013)

Goodreads Description:

"Delancy Sullivan has always known there's more to reality than what people see. Every time someone makes a choice, a new, parallel world branches off from the existing one. Eating breakfast or skipping it, turning left instead of right, sneaking out instead of staying in bed ~ all of these choices create an alternate universe in which an echo self takes the road not travelled and makes the opposite decision. As a Walker, someone who can navigate between these worlds, Del's job is to keep all of the dimensions in harmony. Normally, Del can hear the dissonant frequency that each world emits as clear as a bell. But when a training session in an off-key world goes horribly wrong, she is forbidden from Walking by the Council. But Del's not big on following the rules and she secretly starts to investigate these other worlds. Something strange connecting them and it's not just her random encounters with echo versions of the guy she likes, Simon Lane. But Del's decisions have unimaginable consequences and, as she begins to fall for the Echo Simons in each world, she draws closer to a truth that the Council of Walkers is trying to hide ~ a secret that threatens the fate of the entire multiverse."

Sweet Peril

2013-05-14T03:00:00.000-07:00

Author: Wendy Higgins

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: April 30, 2013

Format: ARC

Source: For Review

Goodreads Description:

"Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things.

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?"

***

I have not been able to get Kaiden and Anna out of my head since I finished Sweet Evil last year, so I was dying to dive into Sweet Peril as soon as I got it. It’s an excellent story and a great romance! It just has so much going for it that I was shocked that Sweet Peril wasn’t picked up for publication until after Sweet Evil was released. Lucky for us, it was picked up because Sweet Peril turned out to be even better than Sweet Evil!

At first I was suffering from a bit of Kaiden withdraw. He isn’t quite as present at the beginning of Sweet Peril and he is just so swoon-worthy that I really missed his presence. Even though my need for Kaiden Rowe wasn’t immediately satisfied, the plot kept me more than engaged in the story.

In the first half of Sweet Evil, Anna was definitely suffering from good girl syndrome and it was a bit annoying. She was just too good. By the time Sweet Peril rolls around, she is decidedly over that. Anna is still good, of course, but in a normal good-girl way instead of a holier-than-though way.

The plight of the nephilim and Anna’s quest to save them all is just fascinating. Wendy Higgins has created an intense and intricate angel lore in this trilogy and I’m eating it all up! It doesn’t come across as particularly religious, and that may be because it focuses more on hell than on heaven. The use of the seven deadly sins is also really unique, and despite the many angel books out there, Sweet Peril really stands out as one of the best.

Sweet Peril is every bit as steamy as Sweet Evil, but the characters and plot are even better! All of the characters have done some growing up, which made the story more enjoyable. We also get a much deeper look into the fascinating mythology and the quest to defeat the demons is pretty intense! Since its a covert operation there is a ton of sneaking and intrigue that will cause readers to devour Sweet Peril immediately. The only downside is the year long wait for the sequel! We need the next installment now!

If you liked Sweet Evil and Sweet Peril make sure to check out the bonus scenes on Wendy Higgins website! These are scenes from Sweet Evil told from Kai’s point of view. They will make you fall even harder for Kai and get you even more excited for the series.

Sound Good? Check Out...
*Click the image for more information

Nantucket Blue Blog Tour + Giveaway

2013-05-13T04:48:00.000-07:00

Author: Leila Howland

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Release Date: May 7, 2013

Format: e-ARC

Source: For Review

Goodreads Description:

"For Cricket Thompson, a summer like this one will change everything. A summer spent on Nantucket with her best friend, Jules Clayton, and the indomitable Clayton family. A summer when she’ll make the almost unattainable Jay Logan hers. A summer to surpass all dreams.

Some of this turns out to be true. Some of it doesn’t.

When Jules and her family suffer a devastating tragedy that forces the girls apart, Jules becomes a stranger whom Cricket wonders whether she ever really knew. And instead of lying on the beach working on her caramel-colored tan, Cricket is making beds and cleaning bathrooms to support herself in paradise for the summer.

But it’s the things Cricket hadn’t counted on--most of all, falling hard for someone who should be completely off-limits--that turn her dreams into an exhilarating, bittersweet reality.

A beautiful future is within her grasp, and Cricket must find the grace to embrace it. If she does, her life could be the perfect shade of Nantucket blue."

***

Nantucket Blue is the perfect summer read. It’s carefree and fun, but still sad and tragic. It’s about growing up, discovering who you are, and falling in love. The setting was really charming and makes you want to escape for a perfect summer vacation.

Cricket is supposed to travel to Nantucket with her best friend Jules, but once Jules’ mom passes away unexpectedly, Jules just really needs some space. Cricket loved Jules’ mom and is devastated by her passing as well. She does everything she can think of to help Jules, and while she really goes about it the wrong way, it’s clear that she has the best of intentions.

Cricket makes sure she is on Nantucket in case Jules needs her. While she is there, she learns about herself and about being independent. Cricket really strikes out on her own that summer, and being so independent at such a young age is something I really admired.

The absolute best part about Nantucket Blue was the romance. It was sweet and innocent, and it is impossible to not hope that Cricket is able to find happiness with her love interest. While Cricket makes more than her fair share of blunders, and you sometimes have to wonder what she could possibly be thinking, I immensely enjoyed the young love story. It had me glued to the pages for hours and I know it’s one of those stories that will stay me.

Nantucket Blue is a wonderful tale of friendship and love. The Nantucket backdrop makes it the perfect summer read and will have you dying to go to the beach. Leila Howland finds the perfect balance between tragic and carefree in this not-to-be-missed contemporary.

About the Author

LEILA HOWLAND loves to read, explore L.A., and engage in funny and meaningful conversations with her friends and family, especially her brother who calls from Washington D.C. whenever he’s waiting for the bus. A lot gets discussed in those phone calls, but they tend to end abruptly when the bus shows up. She can really cut the rug, but wishes she could sing without people covering their ears. A graduate of Georgetown University, Leila spent five years acting in New York where she was a company member of the award-winning Flea Theater in Tribeca. It was a lot of fun and she often talks about “getting back into it.” The closest she has come was a stint as an extra on The Young and the Restless in 2010. Leila now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two dogs. She teaches high school English and blogs for HelloGiggles. NANTUCKET BLUE is her first novel.

Official Links: leilahowland.tumblr.com | twitter.com/leilahowland

Nantucket Blue Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sound Good? Check Out...
*Click the image for more information

Fairytale Fashions: Mermaid Water

2013-05-10T03:00:00.000-07:00

Today's fairytale fashions is mermaid water! Now I have been excited about mermaid water ever since I first heard about it, although I don't remember exactly where that was. Mermaid water is created by using two Lush products: sunny side up bubble bar and big blue bath bomb. For those of you who aren't familiar with Lush, they create homemade cosmetics and just so happen to be my new obsession. They have tons of products to create a "bath cocktail," which basically means the bath of your life–moisturizing, colorful, scented, and just simply descendant. Check out my mermaid water video and pictures below!

Sirens Blog Tour + Giveaway

2013-05-09T03:00:00.000-07:00

Sirens by Janet Fox

When Jo Winter’s parents send her off to live with her rich cousin on the glittering island of Manhattan, it’s to find a husband and forget about her brother Teddy’s death. But all that glitters is not gold..

Caught up in the swirl of her cousin’s bobbed-hair set—and the men that court them— Jo soon realizes that the talk of marriage never stops, and behind the seemingly boundless gains are illicit business endeavors, gangsters, and their molls. Jo would much rather spend time the handsome but quiet Charles, a waiter at the Algonquin Hotel, than drape herself over a bootlegger. But when she befriends a moll to one of the most powerful men in town, Jo begins to uncover secrets—secrets that threaten an empire and could secure Jo’s freedom from her family.

Can her newfound power buy her love? Or will it to ruin Jo, and everyone around her?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sirens Blog Tour Schedule

8th @ Alice Marvel

9th @ The Mod Podge Bookshelf

10th @ Rebecca's Book Blog

11th @ Chapter By Chapter

12th @ ReadingTeen

13th @ Little Library Muse

14th @ Mundie Moms

15th @ Fire & Ice

16th @ The Book Rat

17th @ Pieces of Whimsy

Sirens Book Trailer

Waiting on Wednesday

2013-05-08T03:00:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking The Spine. Visit my Upcoming page to see more books I'm looking forward to.

Where Beauty Lies by Elle & Blair Fowler (July 2013)

Description:

Sequel to Beneath the Glitter

Top Ten Books When You Need Something Light & Fun

2013-05-07T08:49:00.001-07:00

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Goodreads Description:
"Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming,beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend.

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?"

A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger

Goodreads Description:
"Whitley Johnson's dream summer with her divorcé dad has turned into a nightmare. She's just met his new fiancée and her kids. The fiancée's son? Whitley's one-night stand from graduation night. Just freakin' great.

Worse, she totally doesn't fit in with her dad's perfect new country-club family. So Whitley acts out. She parties. Hard. So hard she doesn't even notice the good things right under her nose: a sweet little future stepsister who is just about the only person she's ever liked, a best friend (even though Whitley swears she doesn't "do" friends), and a smoking-hot guy who isn't her stepbrother...at least, not yet. It will take all three of them to help Whitley get through her anger and begin to put the pieces of her family together.

Filled with authenticity and raw emotion, Whitley is Kody Keplinger's most compelling character to date: a cynical Holden Caulfield-esque girl you will wholly care about."

Ten Things We Did by Sarah Mlynowski

Goodreads Description:
"2 girls + 3 guys + 1 house - parents = 10 things April and her friends did that they (definitely, maybe, probably) shouldn't have.

If given the opportunity, what sixteen-year-old wouldn't jump at the chance to move in with a friend and live parent-free? Although maybe "opportunity" isn't the right word, since April had to tell her dad a tiny little untruth to make it happen (see #1: "Lied to Our Parents"). But she and her housemate Vi are totally responsible and able to take care of themselves. How they ended up "Skipping School" (#3), "Throwing a Crazy Party" (#8), "Buying a Hot Tub" (#4), and, um, "Harboring a Fugitive" (#7) at all is kind of a mystery to them.

In this hilarious and bittersweet tale, Sarah Mlynowski mines the heart and mind of a girl on her own for the first time. To get through the year, April will have to juggle a love triangle, learn to do her own laundry, and accept that her carefully constructed world just might be falling apart . . . one thing-she-shouldn't-have-done at a time."

52 Reasons to Hate My Father by Jessica Brody

Goodreads Description:
"Being America’s favorite heiress is a dirty job, but someone’s gotta do it.

Lexington Larrabee has never to work a day in her life. After all, she’s the heiress to the multi-billion-dollar Larrabee Media empire. And heiresses are not supposed to work. But then again, they’re not supposed to crash brand new Mercedes convertibles into convenience stores on Sunset Blvd either.

Which is why, on Lexi’s eighteen birthday, her ever-absent, tycoon father decides to take a more proactive approach to her wayward life. Every week for the next year, she will have to take on a different low-wage job if she ever wants to receive her beloved trust fund. But if there’s anything worse than working as a maid, a dishwasher, and a fast-food restaurant employee, it’s dealing with Luke, the arrogant, albeit moderately attractive, college intern her father has assigned to keep tabs on her.

In a hilarious “comedy of heiress” about family, forgiveness, good intentions, and best of all, second chances, Lexi learns that love can be unconditional, money can be immaterial, and, regardless of age, everyone needs a little saving. And although she might have 52 reasons to hate her father, she only needs one reason to love him."

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

Goodreads Description:
"Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part,Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention

Then Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. But what Lissa never sees coming is her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling..."

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

Goodreads Description:
"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. Having missed her flight, she's stuck at JFK airport and late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be stepmother Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's sitting in her row.

A long night on the plane passes in the blink of an eye, and Hadley and Oliver lose track of each other in the airport chaos upon arrival. Can fate intervene to bring them together once more?

Quirks of timing play out in this romantic and cinematic novel about family connections, second chances, and first loves. Set over a twenty-four-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it."

Life After Theft by Aprilynne Pike

Goodreads Description:
"Moving to a new high school sucks. Especially a rich-kid private school. With uniforms. But nothing is worse than finding out the first girl you meet is dead. And a klepto.

No one can see or hear Kimberlee except Jeff, so--in hopes of bringing an end to the snarkiest haunting in history--he agrees to help her complete her "unfinished business." But when the enmity between Kimberlee and Jeff's new crush, Sera, manages to continue posthumously, Jeff wonders if he's made the right choice.

Clash meets sass in this uproarious modern-day retelling of Baroness Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel."

Don't You Wish by Roxanne St. Clair

Goodreads Description:
"When plain and unpopular Annie Nutter gets zapped by one of her dad's whacked-out inventions, she lands in a parallel universe where her life becomes picture-perfect. Now she's Ayla Monroe, daughter of the same mother but a different father—and she's the gorgeous, rich queen bee of her high school.

In this universe, Ayla lives in glitzy Miami instead of dreary Pittsburgh and has beaucoup bucks, courtesy of her billionaire—if usually absent—father. Her friends hit the clubs, party backstage at concerts, and take risks that are exhilirating . . . and illegal. Here she's got a date to lose her V-card with the hottest guy she's ever seen.

But on the inside, Ayla is still Annie.

So when she's offered the chance to leave the dream life and head home to Pittsburgh, will she take it?

The choice isn't as simple as you think."

Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland

Goodreads Description:
"For Cricket Thompson, a summer like this one will change everything. A summer spent on Nantucket with her best friend, Jules Clayton, and the indomitable Clayton family. A summer when she’ll make the almost unattainable Jay Logan hers. A summer to surpass all dreams.

Some of this turns out to be true. Some of it doesn’t.

When Jules and her family suffer a devastating tragedy that forces the girls apart, Jules becomes a stranger whom Cricket wonders whether she ever really knew. And instead of lying on the beach working on her caramel-colored tan, Cricket is making beds and cleaning bathrooms to support herself in paradise for the summer.

But it’s the things Cricket hadn’t counted on--most of all, falling hard for someone who should be completely off-limits--that turn her dreams into an exhilarating, bittersweet reality.

A beautiful future is within her grasp, and Cricket must find the grace to embrace it. If she does, her life could be the perfect shade of Nantucket blue."

When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle

Goodreads Description:
"In this intensely romantic, modern recounting of the greatest love story ever told, Romeo’s original intended—Juliet’s cousin Rosaline—tells her side of the tale. What’s in a name, Shakespeare? I’ll tell you: Everything.

Rosaline knows that she and Rob are destined to be together. Rose has been waiting for years for Rob to kiss her—and when he finally does, it’s perfect. But then Juliet moves back to town. Juliet, who used to be Rose’s best friend. Juliet, who now inexplicably hates her. Juliet, who is gorgeous, vindictive, and a little bit crazy...and who has set her sights on Rob. He doesn’t even stand a chance.

Rose is devastated over losing Rob to Juliet. This is not how the story was supposed to go. And when rumors start swirling about Juliet’s instability, her neediness, and her threats of suicide, Rose starts to fear not only for Rob’s heart, but also for his life. Because Shakespeare may have gotten the story wrong, but we all still know how it ends…."

Spellbinding

2013-05-06T07:01:00.001-07:00

Author: Maya Gold

Publisher: Scholastic Point

Release Date: April 1, 2013

Format: Paperback

Source: For Review

Goodreads Description:

"There's more than one way to be powerful . . .

It is during a routine school project that Abby Silva--sixteen and nearly friendless--makes a startling discovery: She is descended from women who were accused of witchcraft back in 1600s Salem. And when Abby visits nearby Salem, strange, inexplicable events start to unfold. Objects move when she wills them to. Candles burst into sudden flame. And an ancient spellbook somehow winds up in her possession.

Trying to harness her newfound power, Abby concocts a love potion to win over her longtime crush--and exact revenge upon his cruel, bullying girlfriend. But old magic is not to be trifled with. Soon, Abby is thrust headlong into a world of hexes, secrets, and danger. And then there's Rem Anders, the beautiful, mysterious Salem boy who seems to know more about Abby than he first lets on.

A reckoning is coming, and Abby will have to make sense of her history--and her heart--before she can face the powerful truth."

***

As soon as I read the words “Salem witch trials,” I just knew I had to pick up Spellbinding. I have been fascinated with Salem since I was a child and have been dying to go to Salem since middle school. Reading Spellbinding renewed my desire to visit Salem and I’m hoping to pull it off in the next two years—wish me luck! I really loved this story. It was very well-paced, exciting, and slightly dangerous.

Abby knows she was descended from accused witches in the Salem witch trials. In fact, she has nightmares about drowning for being a witch! As soon as she visits Salem, she meets Rem (literally the boy of her dreams) and notices a bunch of strange things start to happen. Could Abby be a real witch? Yes, yes she can.

As Abby struggles to decide whether she is truly magical or simply crazy, the reader is pulled into a magical world where history resides side-by-side with modern day. Being in Salem, Abby is simultaneously surrounded by everyday life, and a past that just doesn’t seem to be completely gone. Abby struggles to answer all of these questions about who she is and about her ancestors, and the reader puts it all together way before Abby. While it’s always nice to be surprised by the plot, there are plenty of clues placed throughout the novel that Abby doesn’t piece together very quickly.

Aside from the page-turning plot, we have a pretty good love story and an ok cast of characters. Rem is very Edward Cullen like with his hot and cold syndrome, which can be a bit overdone, but worked well enough in Spellbinding. Megan, our quintessential bully, was pretty typical and maybe a bit over done in her meanness. That said, the goal is for the reader to not like Megan, and that is certainty accomplished. Travis, Abby’s childhood crush, mostly serves to add a love triangle and some drama. Overall, I could really take him or leave him, but he didn’t add much to the story for me.

The characters that truly shine in Spellbinding are Abby and Rem. They have this magnetic draw to each other and there is clearly some sort of shared ancient history there. As the two get to know each other, you can’t help but smile at how sweet they are together.

Salem provides the perfect back drop for Spellbinding. Filled with ancient history, magic, and a sweet love story, Maya Gold really uses the setting to make the most out of the story. If readers aren’t already intrigued by Salem, they certainly will be after reading Spellbinding. This is a must for those who are intrigued by the Salem witch trials and magic in general.

Sound Good? Check Out...
*Click the image for more information

In My Mailbox (50) / Stacking the Shelves (17)

2013-05-05T03:00:00.000-07:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren. Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

For Those About To Shop...

*Click the image for shopping information

One More Day

2013-05-04T03:00:00.000-07:00

Author: Aprilynne Pike

Publisher: HarperTeen Impulse

Release Date: April 2, 2013

Format: e-Book

Source: Purchased

Goodreads Description:

"This captivating and poignant 50-page digital original short story is a prequel to New York Times bestselling author Aprilynne Pike's Life After Theft—a haunting novel about the true cost of paying for one's mistakes.

Most teenagers would do anything to have Kimberlee Schaffer's life. But beneath the beauty, the wealth, and the popularity, Kimberlee has a terrible problem: an uncontrollable, insatiable need to steal. Over the years, she's learned to hide her secret from those closest to her, but now it's completely consuming her life—and Kimberlee is afraid that if she doesn't find a way to put an end to her compulsion, she may see her perfect world come crumbling down."

***

“One More Day” is the prequel to Aprilynne Pike’s Life After Theft (which was phenomenal by the way!). Even though it is a prequel, I ended up not reading it until I finished Life After Theft and I’m glad I did it that way. I got to know Kimberlee throughout Life After Theft and discovering more things about her and her past as the book progressed was one of my favorite parts.

Had I read “One More Day” before Life After Theft, I would have instantly known more about Kimberlee and I would have understood her better, but the reading experience would have been completely different. I so enjoyed getting to know Kimberlee through Life After Theft and I’m glad my experience wasn’t shadowed by the prequel.

The biggest question when reviewing a prequel or an in-between novella is whether or not it is essential to the plot. “One More Day” is definitely not essential. It provided a lot of insight into Kimberlee’s character and I was even more sympathetic to her than I was after reading Life After Theft. As much as I enjoyed this novella though, it is definitely in the “true fan” category. If you read Life After Theft and you loved it and are just dying for more, then this novella is definitely for you!

Sound Good? Check Out...
*Click the image for more information

Life After Theft

2013-05-03T03:00:00.000-07:00

Author: Aprilynne Pike

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: April 30, 2013

Format: Hardcover

Source: For Review

Goodreads Description:

"Moving to a new high school sucks. Especially a rich-kid private school. With uniforms. But nothing is worse than finding out the first girl you meet is dead. And a klepto.

No one can see or hear Kimberlee except Jeff, so--in hopes of bringing an end to the snarkiest haunting in history--he agrees to help her complete her "unfinished business." But when the enmity between Kimberlee and Jeff's new crush, Sera, manages to continue posthumously, Jeff wonders if he's made the right choice.

Clash meets sass in this uproarious modern-day retelling of Baroness Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel."

***

Life After Theft is one of those books that you pick up and instantly love. It’s hysterical and romantic, but at the same time it’s tragic. It has all of the elements of a good romance, a good contemporary, and a good paranormal wrapped up in one. Everything from the characters to the plot and the bone-chilling ending is flawlessly executed, and while this is very different from Aprilynne Pike’s prior series, fans will eat it up!

From the very first chapter you are instantly drawn to Jeff—he’s likable and slightly out-of-place, which makes him more endearing. Thrust into an elite California private school after years in a western public school, Jeff has a bit to say about the uniforms and people he is now surrounded by—think Holden Caulfield from Catcher in the Rye before he got annoying and you wanted to reach through the book and end him (I know I’m not the only Holden Caulfield hater out there!). Kimberlee, our resident ghost girl, is equally likable at first glance and will have you smiling the whole time! Remember the Disney Movie “Suzie Q.”? Think Suzie, only bad girl instead of goody-good.

The best part of the characters aside from their incredible humorous personalities, is their flaws. I felt so bad for Kimberlee reading the novel. She was so messed up and mean, but we saw the tragic part of her. The part that was lonely and had problems, and really just needed to be love. Jeff, on the other hand, for all his goodness and selflessness can be pretty mean. Sure, he had his reasons to be mad at Kimberlee at times, but man were his insults biting. He proverbially slapped Kimberlee a few times there! I love reading characters who are lovable, but realistic. No one is 100% good and no one is 100% bad. If an author can make me feel bad for the bad guy, then they’ve done a fantastic job at character development, as Aprilynne Pike clearly has with Life After Theft.

Since we have the characters down and they’re awesome, the next thing Life After Theft needs is a great plot to do the characters justice, and we have that! Kimberlee is a klepto, and while I wasn’t sure about that particular plot point going into it, it worked out wonderfully! Kimberlee had so many problems, and that is abundantly obvious from the amount of things she stole. She needed help desperately, and I personally think it was a cry for help. As we see people’s reactions to getting their missing belongings back we learn more about Kimberlee, her mistakes, and how people felt about her. The plot keeps readers engaged, while allowing us to learn more about the characters.

Life After Theft was utterly fantastic! The whole novel from start to finish was just incredibly well done. Seeing one of my favorite authors go from her debut series (more of a fantasy/paranormal) to something with a much more contemporary feel to it was great! Aprilynne Pike has more than proved that she is an incredibly talented author with an ability to tackle multiple types of stories. I am so looking forward to picking up whatever she chooses to write in the future!

Sound Good? Check Out...
*Click the image for more information

Dark Days Official: Q&A with Aprilynne Pike + Life After Theft Giveaway

2013-05-02T06:16:00.000-07:00

Where did the inspiration for Life After Theft come from?

Multiple places, actually, since I wrote it in bits and pieces over about four years. (And then edited for two and a half!:D) The original idea came—as many of my ideas do—in those moments in the morning between being awake and asleep when your whole body is relaxed and your brain can really think efficiently. (Science backs me up! It’s pretty cool!) So I woke up with a first chapter, a query letter pitch, oddly enough, and Jeff’s voice (as in narrative voice.) I immediately went out to my computer and wrote the first chapter and query pitch and then hand-scrawled notes about the plot. And that literally is all Life After Theft was for probably a full year.

Eventually I got back to it and started actually plotting it out. My original idea involved a murder mystery—finding out the truth about Kimberlee’s death. But eventually I realized I was making it too complicated. Kimberlee didn’t need to have been murdered, she was conflicted enough to have screwed everything up all by herself.:) I’m not sure just when I realized that it could be a retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel, but that’s when everything snapped into place. I had been writing very, very slowly on it, but after that, the second half pretty much poured out. Clearly meant to be!

What was it like to write from the male point of view?

Awesome!!! Seriously though, it was so much fun! I’m one of those girls who was always friends with the boys, so writing YA from a female perspective is actually more challenging to me because I mostly just have my experiences to draw from. Boys? I was well acquainted with many of them. So I got to take my personal sense of humor, roll it into a couple of different guys I knew in high school, and add that touch of larger-than-life that all fiction has. So incredibly fun!

However, I did always keep in mind that I am not a guy, and I had multiple male beta readers, including my agent’s assistant, Alec, who read the whole thing for me exclusively for voice.

Life After Theft is fairly different from Wings. What kind of stories do you like to write the most?

Life After Theft is what I call my “heart book.” It’s means so much to me on a very personal level, and I loved writing it. That being said, I did not love editing it. Because it is so close to my heart, it was hard to hear criticism about it, to have my editor make suggestions that I wasn’t sure aligned with my vision, etc. Heart books are amazing to write, but man do they suck you dry!!;) Will I write another book like Life After Theft? Yes. Absolutely. I have a story called Semi-Demi Gods that is very similar in tone (though it is a female POV) that I’ve been working on for two years. But like Life After Theft, it wants to be written slowly and you probably won’t hear about it for another several years. Apparently I’ve got one heart book in me every six years.:D

Which is not to say I don’t love my Magic and Kissing books! But those ones flow out of me like water—rather than, say, half-set cement—and I could write them all day! (And do, most of the time!*wink*) My fantasy novels are an example of writing what I love, while my more contemporary stand-alones are more loving what I write, if that makes sense.

Looking at the covers for Life After Theft, the Wings series, and Earthbound, it is clear that you have been blessed by the cover gods. How much input do you have in the cover process and which is your favorite?

Blessed by the cover gods is absolutely right!!! Like most debut novelists, I had no input on the cover of Wings and we actually went through several different versions before we got the utterly perfect image you see on the Wings cover. I suspect that because I suspect that since I was nice and reasonable during that process I’ve been asked about my opinion re: covers ever since. But really, I mostly blame the amazing art department. I often have suggestions for little tweaks, but to be honest, they generally just blow me away! Life After Theft in particular they totally hit out of the park on the first try!

My favorite? Oh man . . . I think Wings may still be my favorite. Having the flower petals appear to be butterfly wings was about three steps beyond brilliant. But seriously, I love them all!!!! (And don’t even get me started on my amazing foreign covers!)

Which authors have had the most influence on your writing?

Oh, man! This is always so hard to answer because I don’t think I have an author, or even a handful of authors that I would say influenced my writing. When I was little I literally read everything I could get my hands on. I didn’t have favorite authors; I loved them all. I don’t remember reading a book I didn’t like.

That being said, I continue to tell people that my favorite book is Lois Lowry’s The Giver, and rather than feeling like she really influenced my writing, per se, I would say that I always hope that my books affect just one reader the way that The Giver has affected me.

If you could live anywhere, real or imaginary where would it be? Personally, I have always wanted to take a trip to Avalon!

Live? Anywhere by the beach. I love love love the ocean. And I would have said the sunny part of Pacific Ocean in particular, but a few years ago I got to visit Northern California (the area where Wings is set) and totally fell in love with it. So apparently I’m not picky about my oceans. (And yes, that is definitely one of the reason Avalon is an island.;))

To visit would definitely be Paris, France. I’ve been in the airport. I want to go for real. But I don’t think I’d want to live there.

Which of your characters (from any of your novels) do you relate to most?

Probably Jeff. He very much has my sense of humor. My family all like life After Theft because they say they can hear the words coming out of my mouth in their heads when they read it.

Which character (from any of your novels) is the most fun to write?

Mean girls are always fun to write. I’m not sure why that is. Maybe because I knew plenty of them in school and now it’s nice to write them, but to be in control. And, of course, ultimately see them get what’s coming to them.;) So Mara and Kimberlee were both really fun to write for that reason.

What was your favorite part of writing Life After Theft?

The part where I wrote it for fun, without deadlines, without an internal editor in my head. Drafting is always, always fun for me, but since becoming a professional author, those little voices are always there in the back of my head. Even with Wings, I had an agent already and specifically wrote it for publication. So . . . voices. They weren’t with Life After Theft.

What kind of work can readers expect from you in the future? Paranormal? Fantasy? Contemporary?

Yes, yes, and yes! Well, no. ;) I don’t think I’ll ever write a straight-up contemporary book. However, I have two completely new books coming out in about the next year. Earthbound is a story about Tavia, the sole survivor of a planecrash who has more power than even she can imagine, and may have doomed humanity by falling for the wrong guy. That book will be out at the end of July. What I’m working on right now (edits!) is a new book called Don’t Close Your Eyes that’s about an Oracle named Charlotte who’s caught between following the rules she’s been taught her whole life, and risking everything—including her own sanity—to save the teenaged victims of a serial killer. That will be out next summer. Both books are very heavy on the paranormal, but Earthbound feels a lot like Destined and Don’t Close Your Eyes is more of a dark thriller. It has been exciting to write both of them!

Giveaway: Life After Theft by Aprilynne Pike (April 2013)

Description:

"Moving to a new high school sucks. Especially a rich-kid private school. With uniforms. But nothing is worse than finding out the first girl you meet is dead. And a klepto.

Contest Rules:

Open to US Only
Must be 13+ to enter

Everyone may enter, even if you are not a follower

Winners will be notified via email

A new winner will be chosen if a response is not received within 48 hours

Contest ends May 20, 2013

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For More Dark Days, Check Out the Official Schedule!

The Blog Tour

Monday, April 29

THE ELITE at The Divergent Examiner

Tuesday, April 30

UNBREAKABLE at All Things Urban Fantasy

Wednesday, May 1

ARCLIGHT at Cuddlebuggery

Thursday, May 2

LIFE AFTER THEFT at For Those About to Read

Friday, May 3

REBOOT at Rae Gun Ramblings

The Tour

Tuesday, May 7

Barnes & Noble

Edina, MN

7:00PM

Me, My Shelf, and I | @MyShelfAndI

Wednesday, May 8

Shorewood Public Library

Milwaukee, WI

6:30PM

The Hollow Cupboards | @ohaiitschey

Thursday, May 9

Anderson's Bookshop

Naperville, IL

7:00PM

Page Turners | @pageturnersblog

Friday, May 10

Schuler Books & Music

Lansing, MI

6:00PM

YA Books Central | @yabookscentral

http://www.pitchdark.com/blog/the-dark-days-of-summer-are-here/

Karma Week!

2013-05-01T15:00:00.000-07:00

In honor of Life After Theft it's Karma Week! What's that you ask? Check out the Epic Reads post to find out :)

Since it's Karma Week, Epic Reads has posted some pretty awesome image quotes from Life After Theft. The one above is my favorite because that part of the book was pretty funny and because I just love the image! How cool is it see the Santa Monica beach reflected in Kimberlee's glasses? The rest of the quotes are below, but don't forget to check out Epic Reads to see the original post and learn more about Karma Week!

Waiting on Wednesday

2013-05-01T03:00:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking The Spine. Visit my Upcoming page to see more books I'm looking forward to.

Cold Spell by Jackson Pierce (November 2013)

Goodreads Description:

"Kai and Ginny grew up together–best friends since they could toddle around their building’s rooftop rose garden. Now they’re seventeen, and their relationship has developed into something sweeter, complete with stolen kisses and plans to someday run away together.

But one night, Kai disappears with a mysterious stranger named Mora–a beautiful girl with a dark past and a heart of ice. Refusing to be cast aside, Ginny goes after them and is thrust into a world she never imagined, one filled with monsters and thieves and the idea that love is not enough.

If Ginny and Kai survive the journey, will she still be the girl he loved–and moreover, will she still be the girl who loved him?

Jackson Pearce, author of the acclaimed SISTERS RED and FATHOMLESS, has returned with a unique vision of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen,” one about power and redemption, failure and hope, and the true meaning of strength."

2013 Mythology Challenge Review Link Up!

2013-04-30T15:00:00.000-07:00

Are you participating in the 2013 YA Mythology Challenge? If not sign up here! You can link up any of your reviews for the challenge on this page.

Top Ten Words/Topics That Instantly Make Me Buy/Pick Up A Book

2013-04-30T07:18:00.003-07:00

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.

There are a couple of phrases that will make me (almost) instantly go out and buy a book (with a few exceptions of course).

1. Faeries

2. Mermaids

3. For fans of Gossip Girl/L.A. Candy

4. Anything written by Aprilynne Pike, Anna Godbersen, Melanie Rawn, Jennifer Echols. Kody Keplinger, Michelle Madow, and Sarah Mlynowski

5. For fans of The Luxe

6.Greek Mythology!!!!!!!!!

7. Fairytale Retellings

8. Anything Vampire Academy related

9. Time travel

10. Magic and intrigue

Fairytale Fashions (13): Cinderella Shoes

2013-04-29T07:12:00.003-07:00

I have been meaning to write this post since last May, when I came across this gorgeous pair of Marc Jacobs shoes on This is Glamourous.

It really doesn't get much more Cinderella than that! I tried to find a purchase link for these, but they may be unavailable at this point. After seeing these beauties, I looked for more Cinderella shows and have a few more to show you! Around the time that Cinderella was released from the vault, DSW & Christian Louboutin created Cinderella shoes. I haven't seen either of these shoes available from the official retail sites, but there is always the possibility that they're available on eBay.

Christian Louboutin

DSW

In My Mailbox (49)

2013-04-28T08:07:00.001-07:00

IMM is hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren.

Taking Chances by Molly McAdams (October 2012)

Goodreads Description:

"Eighteen year old Harper has grown up under her career Marine of a father's thumb. Ready to live life her own way and experience things she's only ever heard of from the jarheads in her father's unit; she's on her way to college at San Diego State University.

Thanks to her new roommate, Harper is introduced to a world of parties, gorgeous guys, family and emotions. Some she wasn't expecting yet, and others she never knew she was missing.

She finds herself being torn in two as she quickly falls in love with her boyfriend Brandon, and her roommate's brother Chase. Covered in tattoos, known for fighting in the Underground and ridiculously muscled...they're exactly what she was always warned to stay away from, but just what she needs. Despite their dangerous looks and histories, both adore and would do anything for Harper, including stepping back if it means she's happy.

Her first year away is turning out to be near perfect, but one weekend of giving in to heated passion will change everything."

The Elite

2013-04-26T03:00:00.000-07:00

Author: Kiera Cass

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: April 23, 2012

Format: ARC

Source: For Review

Goodreads Description:

"The hotly-anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestseller The Selection.

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

***

I loved The Selection so much and just couldn’t wait to dive into The Elite. It has such a beautiful love story and it’s impossible not to root for Maxon and America. I was a little apprehensive, however, because Aspen was brought back into the story at the very end, and I was very much against that particular plot twist.

After having read The Elite, I am happy to report that the Aspen story line wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. The Elite sucks you in, just as The Selection did and it is impossible to put down! I absolutely devoured it and cheered for America and Maxon the pretty much the entire time.

Reading The Elite was a wonderful experience, in part because I read The Prince first. The Prince is a novella told from Maxon’s point of view, and while it isn’t critical to the plot in anyway, it does provide crucial insight into Maxon’s character. There are so many times that I wondered what Maxon was thinking, and The Prince gave me the understanding I needed to figure it out.

My only gripe with The Elite is that it is very love triangle focused. The Selection was more of a complicated love story, and although there was a love triangle, it was more muted than in The Elite. The entire novel felt like a love triangle this time instead of a Maxon-America love story. I can’t help wondering what this novel would have been like as a stand alone, since it feels like the love triangle overdose exists to draw the story out into a trilogy, when it certainty could have been wrapped up very nicely by adding another 50 pages to The Selection.

We did learn more about Illea’s history, how the United States came to an end, and why the caste system evolved. I’d love to say it was interesting, but I’m not really interested in the world-building since the love story is why I am reading The Elite. Readers will instantly draw parallels between our current political situation and leaders and the history of Illea, and I have to commend Kiera Cass for making a statement whether I agree with it or not (note: I’m not stating whether I do or don’t agree, but it’s nice to see political issues addressed in YA, subtle or not).

The Elite still has that je ne sais quoi that makes it impossible to put down. Readers will absolutely devour it, and despite the love triangle being a bit over done, it is still a lovely story. Those who have been anxious for more world building will not be disappointed as Kiera Cass provides us with a healthy dose of history for Illea. At it’s heart, The Elite is a twisted, tangled love story and I am so looking forward to the conclusion, which will hopefully end happily for both Maxon and America.

Sound Good? Check Out...
*Click the image for more information

Waiting on Wednesday

2013-04-24T07:09:00.003-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking The Spine. Visit my Upcoming page to see more books I'm looking forward to.

The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa (October 2013)

Goodreads Description:
"IN THE REAL WORLD, WHEN YOU VANISH INTO THIN AIR FOR A WEEK, PEOPLE TEND TO NOTICE

After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for-his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.

But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all."