Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf

Review: Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey

2012-01-27T17:58:00.001-05:00

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Alyxandra Harvey brings her trademark romance and adventure to the world of Faery

For seventeen years, Eloise Hart had no idea the world of Faery even existed. Now she has been abducted and trapped in the Rath of Lord Strahan, King of Faery. Strahan was only meant to rule for seven years, as Faery tradition dictates, and then give up his crown to another. But he won't comply, and now chaos threatens both worlds.

The only one who can break his stranglehold on the Faery court is his wife….Eloise's aunt Antonia. Using Eloise to lure Antonia, Strahan captures his wife, desperate to end the only threat to his reign. Now Eloise must become the rescuer. Together with her best friends Jo and Devin, she must forge alliances with other Fae, including a gorgeous protector named Lucas, and Strahan's mysterious son, Eldric--who may or may not betray them.

Review:

After reading the ghostly and exciting Haunting Violet, Alyxandra's first standalone novel, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of her next book, so when the chance came up to read and review Stolen Away, I jumped at the chance. Sadly enough, I didn't end up enjoying it nearly as much as Haunting Violet, but it still was a fun and quick read.

Eloise has always lived a relatively normal existence. She lives with her single mom, has friends she adores, and a pretty sweet looking future. However, everything changes soon after her seventeenth birthday. Suddenly, magical creatures start popping out of nowhere, and Lucas, a good looking yet seemingly crazy boy, appears, claiming to be her "guardian." Eloise doesn't know what to think, and before she can even manage to gain any knowledge into this, she lands in world of faery under the thumb of Strahan, an evil and conniving man. Eloise doesn't know what they exactly want with her, but she is pretty sure it has something to do with her aunt Antonia. As Eloise tries to piece everything together, her friends Jo and Devin as well as Lucas devise a plan to save her once and for all. However, what happens when everything gets thrown to the wind? Only time and more pages can tell in this exciting read!

I liked the characters in this one well enough. I enjoyed how the story was told from the viewpoint of Eloise as well as Jo, because it gave me a view into what was occurring in the faery world as well as the human one. Both were fun characters to read about on their own. Eloise was sweet and mild mannered while Jo was fierce and someone not to mess with. I also enjoyed the addition of their friends as well as prespective love interests. However, there was one small problem: I never really became fully invested in their stories. Don't get me wrong, I liked reading about them, but I never really came close to fully relating to them, and that's where problem number laid in my eyes.

The number two problem was in the plot itself. Everything in this book seemed rushed. The characters were constantly running back and forth between faery land, and while a fast paced story as much as the next person, I also enjoy development. I felt that some plot lines (such as Aunt Antonia as well as the faery land itself) could have been more fleshed out. However, I will admit that I enjoyed the overall story. It was whimsical and exciting, but with just a tad more development it would have been fantastic.

Alyxandra Harvey's writing was good though. She did a fabulous job switching between the narrators as well as their worlds. I also really enjoyed the premise she spun together within this one, and even though I enjoyed Haunting Violet more, I still look forward to Alyxandra's future books.

In all, Stolen Away is a good enough novel, but not one I highly suggest. For die hard faery fans, though, this one may just be the book for you. So give it a try, hopefully you'll enjoy it more than I did.

Grade: B-

Stolen Away (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads) is now out!

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

More about the author/book: website/twitter

Review: New Girl by Paige Harbison

2012-01-26T07:00:00.000-05:00

Summary/Cover Image from Amazon:

Welcome to Manderley Academy

I hadn't wanted to go, but my parents were so excited…. So here I am, the new girl at Manderley, a true fish out of water. But mine's not the name on everyone's lips. Oh, no.

It's Becca Normandy they can't stop talking about. Perfect, beautiful Becca. She went missing at the end of last year, leaving a spot open at Manderley—the spot that I got. And everyone acts like it's my fault that infallible, beloved Becca is gone and has been replaced by not perfect, completely fallible, unknown Me.

Then, there's the name on my lips—Max Holloway. Becca's ex. The one boy I should avoid, but can't. Thing is, it seems like he wants me, too. But the memory of Becca is always between us. And as much as I'm starting to like it at Manderley, I can't help but think she's out there, somewhere, watching me take her place.

Waiting to take it back.

Review:

I read Paige Harbison's debut novel last year, and while I didn't completely love it, I still enjoyed it quite a bit and have been eagerly anticipating her future books ever since. Therefor, when I caught wind of New Girl, I knew I had to read it, and luckily enough, it was even better than I expected! Mysterious, fast paced, and deliciously creepy, New Girl by Paige Harbison offers a fantastic new twist to the classic Rebecca while crossing the lines between contemporary and paranormal.

Manderley Academy hasn't been the same since Becca Normandy arrived and then suddenly departed the previous year. Becca was infamous for her bad and mysterious ways that lured boys to her and made girls want to be just like her. Becca was the queen of the school, and ever since she left one night and didn't come back, everything has changed. However, at the start of the new year, New Girl, the first new student since Becca, enters the scene. Unlike Becca, New Girl isn't instantly loved or adored. More accurately, nobody wants anything to do with her... except Max Halloway, a nice and swoon worthy boy as well as Becca's ex-boyfriend. New Girl is instantly charmed by him, even though the Manderley student population has left her know he's "off limits." But what happens when the lies and secrets of Manderley academy start poring out and secrets and lies beyond Becca's disappearance comes out of the woodwork bit by bit? Only more time and pages can tell in this thrilling read perfect for a late, sleepless night!

New Girl has a lot of good things going for it, and one of those things is definitely the premise as well as the plot. When I first sat down to read New Girl, I only planned to read a chapter or two and then go to bed. Instead, I ended up flying right through the whole novel, because I NEEDED to know what was going to happen next. I wanted to know why Becca was the way she was. I wanted to know why Becca suddenly disappeared. Better yet, was she dead or alive? Most importantly, would New Girl ever be given her chance to shine and let her voice be heard? There were seriously so many questions, and the pace at which Paige reveled everything was tantalizing and perfectly done, especially when she added in a little twist or two I never saw coming. Anther of this book that was wickedly awesome was the fact that the main character remained nameless until the very, very end. Until the end when it was finally reveled, I barley even noticed, and that, everyone, is the sign of a greatly plotted tidbit!

The characters in this one were ones I didn't particularly like but still enjoyed reading about. Becca was certainly an interesting girl. I couldn't get over how catty and superficial she was when the story first introduced her point of view. However, as the story progressed and her character was developed further, I began to understand her character a bit more, and even though I still didn't particularly favor the majority of her choices, it gave me a new level of understanding. New Girl, on the other hand, was a character I liked from the start, even though the majority of her school didn't feel the same. New Girl was someone who didn't take other peoples crap, especially when it involved taunting and teasing her because she wasn't Becca. She truly managed to stand up for herself throughout, and while most would sink under her circumstances, she truly managed to grow strong and wiser throughout it. I also enjoyed reading about the secondary characters in this one as well. Max as well as Johnny were interesting additions as well as characters I enjoyed reading about. I even liked seeing Dana evolve as a character throughout, because even though she wasn't the most sane of people, she still played an essential and noteworthy part in the story.

Lastly, I have to say, Paige Harbison has truly grown as a writer in this one! I was blown away by how seamlessly she created the plot in this one as well as how perfectly she ended it. I was looking forward to reading more by her after Here Lies Bridget, but now that I've read this one, she's become a must read author in my eyes!

One of a kind and fully engrossing, New Girl by Paige Harbison is a book I can't suggest highly enough! Trust me me why I say: this is one book you don't want to miss!

Grade: A+

New Girl (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreas) will be released January 31, 2012!

Source: Publisher via Netgalley (Thanks Harlequin Teen!)

Find out more about the author: website/twitter/blog

Waiting on Wednesday (126)

2012-01-25T07:00:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

My picks this week are:

Lucid by Adrienne Stoltz and Ron Bass

What if you could dream your way into a different life? What if you could choose to live that life forever?

Sloane and Maggie have never met. Sloane is a straight-A student with a big and loving family. Maggie lives a glamorously independent life as an up-and-coming actress in New York. The two girls couldn't be more different - except for one thing. They share a secret that they can't tell a soul. At night, they dream that they're each other.

The deeper they're pulled into the promise of their own lives, the more their worlds begin to blur dangerously together. Before long, Sloane and Maggie can no longer tell which life is real and which is just a dream. They realize that eventually they will have to choose one life to wake up to, or risk spiraling into insanity. But that means giving up one world, one love, and one self, forever.

This is a dazzling debut that will still readers' hearts.

Books dealing with dreams are usually a epic win for me or an epic loss, but hopefully this will be the former of the two! I really like the cover, and the premise just sounds fabulous. Can't wait to find out how it is.

Lucid will be released August 30, 2012!

So Close to You by Rachel Carter

Lydia Bentley has heard stories about the Montauk Project all her life: stories about the experiments that took place at the abandoned military base near her home and the people who’ve disappeared over the years. When she stumbles into a vessel that transports her to a dangerous and strange new reality, Lydia realizes that all the stories she’s ever heard about the Montauk Project are true—and that she’s in the middle of one of the most dangerous experiments in history.

Alongside Wes, a darkly mysterious boy whom she is wary to trust, Lydia begins to unravel the secrets surrounding the project. But the truths behind these secrets force her to question all her choices. And if Lydia chooses wrong, she might not save her family but destroy them...and herself.

Ooh, this one sounds great! Secrets, new realities, and a swoon worthy boy?! What's not to love! Plus I really like the cover for this one. It's different but in a good kind of way.

So Close to You will be released July 10, 2012!

Review: The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams

2012-01-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

What could be better than traveling abroad and kissing cute boys? Sharing it with your three best friends, of course!

Piper, Cassidy, Mei, and Izzy have been best friends their whole lives. And they've always agreed on one goal: to get out of tiny Paris, Texas, and see the world. The school's foreign exchange program seems like the perfect escape: Piper will go to the original Paris; Mei will go to China; Cassidy will go to Australia; and Izzy, unable to afford the program, will stay at home. To add spice to their semester away, and to stay connected to their best friends, the girls start The International Kissing Club, a Facebook page where they can anonymously update one another and brag about all the amazing guys they're meeting. After all, these girls are traveling abroad: amazing guys abound at every turn! But sometimes fun, flirty vacation flings turn into more serious romances, and sometimes you don't return from abroad the same person you were. Will the girls' relationships-and their friendships-be able to survive?

Review:

The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams is one of those perfect feel good kind of books. It's adorable; it's romantic; it's hilarious; and most importantly, the girls presented in it are one hundred percent realistic! Basically it's a win in all ways possible!

The International Kissing Club begins the story of Cassidy, Piper, Mei, and Izzy, three girls who are sick of living in small town Paris, Texas. Nothing every happens in Paris, but when it does, it usually involves massive embarrassment for at least one of the girls. Everything changes, though, when the girls are told of a new foreign exchange program their school has. Piper decides on France, hoping to find a cute boy or two to help ease the pain of the "Pig Incident" as well as her lackluster family. Mei decides on China, hoping to find out a thing or two about her birth country. Cassidy decides on Australia. And while Izzy would like nothing but to go away as well, she's stuck in Paris, Texas for the time being. The girls can't wait to set out on their new adventures, and to stay in touch over the semester, they start The International Kissing Club. What happens next? Will each girl find their perfect guy? And will The International Kissing Club come back to haunt them? Only more time and pages can tell!

One thing that always makes or breaks a contemporary YA book for me is the characters. I have to love them, or at least like them, or the whole book "fails" in my eyes. Luckily, I plain out adored the girls in this book! Mei was the serious one of the group, the one most likely to succeed in life, and while sometimes I wished the girl would come out of her shell and live a little more, she was an awesome person. Piper was the "wild child" of the group. She's the one who comes up with the whole kissing idea, and while at first, I was somewhat put back by her tell like it is attitude, I really came to love her as the book progressed. Cassidy was probably my favorite. Her story will managed to strike a chord in me (and not just because I ADORED her love interest), because to me, she was one of the most real out of the group, and I really loved that she got her moment to shine in this! Lastly, Izzy...this girl was one confusing person, but I adored her nonetheless. I felt bad for the fact that she was left behind in Texas while the others jetted off, but it ended up doing wonders for her character. What I adored most about these four girls, though, was how realistically Ivy Adams presented them. They had their setbacks and their problems, and while they suddenly didn't become "perfect" overnight, they really managed to grow as the book continued, and I just love seeing that transformation occur.

The premise of this is one of the reasons I originally read the book, and it turned out to be just as great as I imagined and hoped. For one, the kissing club idea was unique as well as lots of fun, and I especially loved how they added a social media aspect to this novel by including the Facebook page of the group as well as the interactions and comments they had through it. I also enjoyed seeing each girl take control of their lives in this book, because while this book does have a lot to do with kissing and boys, it's mainly about coming to age, and learning to live and make your way on your own. Lastly, the settings in this book were amazing as well! I loved seeing Paris, Australia, China, and Paris, Texas through the eyes of the characters, even though it made me yearn to take a trip of my own.

In all, The International Kissing Club is a fabulous debut from Ivy Adams, and if you love contemp or just a GREAT book, this one is for you! My only compliant? I really want a second book!

Grade: A+

The International Kissing Club (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads) is now available in hardcover, paperback, AND eBook formats.

Source: Publisher via Netgalley- Thanks Bloomsbury/Walker Books!

To find out more about the book and Ivy Adams, check out the official International Kissing Club website!

Interview with Jay Clark, author of The Edumacation of Jay Baker

2012-01-23T17:49:00.003-05:00

Jay Clark, author of The Edumacation of Jay Baker, is here today to answer some questions about his book and such. So without a further ado...

In your opinion, what are the top three reasons why teens (or even adults) should consider buying The Edumacation of Jay Baker the next time they see it in stores or online?

1. Because each book comes with a Golden Retriever puppy! Just kidding, but everything sounds more appealing when you associate it with a furry canine snugglemuffin. Until those mischief-makers start peeing on my book, then the deal is off!

2. Because it’ll remind you of your own awkward high school experiences in the most humorous possible way. On the count of three, let’s all rid ourselves of our inferiority complexes. One, two…gotta go, the cool kids just offered me a spot at their lunch table.

3. Because every time you buy this book, an angel gets its wings. Plus, I’ll donate an unspecified sum of money to the “Angel Wings Are Ridiculously Expensive, Especially in This Economy Foundation.*

The Edumacation of Jay Baker tells the story of Jay so you can you tell us a little about it? In addition, if you could offer him any advice, what would you say?

Edumacation is a coming-of-age tome about a man-boy dealing with girl/parental/IBS problems in the best way he knows how—by being a sarcasm-spewing b-hole. Will he learn to get real and deal with the turds that life’s toilet bowl swirls his way, or drown in a sea of irony a la poop-on-a-stick?

Insofar as advice to Jay, I’d say, “Give that buttprint on the couch a breather, put down your Cherry Pop-Tart, and go kiss the girl(s) of your dreams, Jay Baker—I’m trying to write a decent book about you.” Then he’d probably flip me the “J-bird” and offer up his other Wii controller, to which I’d respond by killing him at Mario Kart with the ever-capable Yoshi at the helm.

How did the title The Edumacation of Jay Baker come to be?

I originally pitched the book as—brace yourselves—Teen Makeover: Broken Home Edition. But then I realized that every dude within a ten-mile radius would run away screaming from it, so I started racking my brain for song/album titles to spoof. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill popped into my head. I replaced the “Misedu” with “Eduma,” and now…I don’t think anybody gets it. They’re like, “Funny word…but what does it mean?” Ha!

As a debut author, what has been one of the most exciting events you have encountered so far?

It was pretty awesome having a big spread about the book on the front page of my hometown paper, The Bellefontaine Examiner. It was also surprisingly embarrassing. I thought I’d eat that kind of recognition up with a spoon, but I’m really just a hermit at heart.

I adore the cover of the book. What was your reaction when you saw it for the first time?

Thank you! I’ve grown to like the cover. At first, I didn’t think it was edgy enough. I wanted to add some graffiti to the desk, classy phrases like “Who farted?” and “Suck it!” and “Smallz wuz here—what’s up?!” This is a perfect example of how bad my ideas can be at times.

What’s up next for you book wise? Is there anything else you’d like to add?

A small-town girl tries out for an American Idol-like show and the hot mess hits the fan before you can say, “Pitchy!” We’re smack-dab amid the revision process now, so it may end up being a book about horse whisperers or something. I’m flexible.

Just want to say a thank-you to you, Lauren, and to your readers, for giving this book some bloggy love. Good times.

*Not an actual foundation.

Thanks, Jay!

The Edumacation of Jay Baker (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads) will be released January 31, 2012! You can find out more about Jay and his books on his author facebook page and twitter.

In My Mailbox (156)

2012-01-22T07:00:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Physical Copies for Review:

Sorry for the horrible picture quality! My phone's camera was having one of its bad days...

Dumped (A Year in Girl Hell, #2) by Meredith Costain- Looks good!
Trafficked by Kim Purcell- I've heard so many good things about this one!

eBooks for Review:

Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin- This one looks hilarious!

Much thanks goes to Meredith/Anne, Shara at Independent Publishers Group, and Deb/Penguin!

What books did you get this week? Anything exciting?! Let me know in the comments, and feel free to link to your IMM posts!

Have a great week everyone!

Introducing...Strange Chemistry's First Two Authors & their Books!

2012-01-21T12:00:00.000-05:00

A couple of month's ago, I was alerted of Strange Chemistry, an upcoming global imprint for YA sci-fi and fantasy books. Awesomely enough, Amanda Rutter, the editor of Strange Chemistry, is a former book blogger. From then on, I became a regular reader of the Strange Chemistry blog and eagerly awaited the announcement of their first books...and finally that time has arrived, and I've decided to share a bit about each book with you all!

~~~

Kim Curren is one of the two new authors. Kim's first book is titled Shift and will be released this fall with a sequel following in 2013. Here's some info about the book straight from their website:

Her debut novel, Shift is the tale of your average, 16-year old loser Scott Tyler. When he meets the beautiful and mysterious Aubrey Jones, he learns he’s not quite so average after all. He’s a ‘Shifter’. And that means he has the power to undo any decision he’s ever made. At first, he thinks the power to shift is pretty cool. But as his world quickly starts to unravel around him he realises that each time he uses his power, it has consequences; terrible unforeseen consequences. Shifting is going to get him killed. In a world where everything can change with a thought, Scott has to decide where he stands.

Doesn't it sound awesome?! I especially love how it will be told from a boy's POV, and the paranormal aspect seems unique a well.

~~

Sean Cummings is the second. His first book is Poltergeeks, which will be released this fall with a sequel to follow in 2013 as well. Here's some info about it:

Julie is an apprentice witch – or so she believes. When a dark power comes stalking out of the past to haunt her and her mother, Julie learns that she is far more than just a witch. With the help of her best friend Marcus and a rather unusual Great Dane, Julie has to race against time to ensure she can defeat the bad guy, save her mother and avoid being grounded – again!

Witches?! I can't wait!

~~

Strange Chemistry's titles will be released in paperback and in all major eBook formats. Distribution is through Random House for North America and GBS for the UK.

Are excited about either or both of these upcoming books?! Let me know in the comments, and be sure to check out Strange Chemistry's website for more info as well as weekly blog posts! It's a lot of fun, trust me! :)

Review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

2012-01-20T20:27:00.001-05:00

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

"You can't touch me," I whisper.

I'm lying, is what I don't tell him.

He can touch me, is what I'll never tell him.

But things happen when people touch me.

Strange things.

Bad things.

No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal, but The Reestablishment has plans for her. Plans to use her as a weapon.

But Juliette has plans of her own.

After a lifetime without freedom, she's finally discovering a strength to fight back for the very first time—and to find a future with the one boy she thought she'd lost forever.

Review:

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi is a book I have been looking forward to reading for ages now. It sounded amazing, and the early reviews coming in for it praised it immensely, especially for its dystopian elements. However, I was worried if I would like the book as much as everyone else..if it would live up to all the hype and glory surrounding it. Luckily, it did, as not only was Shatter Me a fantastic and noteworthy debut, but it's certainly a great first book, one that I'm absolutely, 100% stoked to read the sequels for.

Shatter Me begins the story of Juliette, a girl who's been under the thumb of The Reestablishment for 264 days because of her deadly touch. The people around Juliette have always marked her as outcast, but now that The Reestablishment has control of her, she knows it's true. She doesn't deserve to be around people...to be touched and cared for...because when people touch her and she touches them they only get hurt. Everything changes, though, when Adam gets thrown into her cell. He's quiet, daunting, and mysterious, and he's completely caught her eye. He gets her in ways she could have never imagined, but what happens when she finds out Adam isn't the person Juliette thought he was? Will Juliette prosper or sink further into the ground? Only time and more pages can tell in this lively, thrilling debut that's sure to have anyone saying, "What's going to happen next?!"

Juliette was certainly one of my favorite parts of Shatter Me. From the first page, I was instantly intrigued by her character. She seemed so hurt and damaged, and I wondered what made her that way, and what it would take for her to realize that she's still a great and strong person under it all. Because of that all, I loved watching her character develop and grow as the book progressed. It was a true transformation, and one that I'm eager to see it continued in the next book. I also ADORED Adam! He was just as swoon-worthy as everyone said he was, and I really liked seeing his relationship with Juliette develop as the book continued, especially when he grew as a person right along with her. Another great as well as surprising aspect of this book were the supporting characters. I loved Adam's little brother who was sweet, funny, and wise beyond his years, as well as Kenji who managed to make me chuckle more than once with his wry remarks.

The plot in this was action packed from start to finish. I really enjoyed the level of detail Mafi put into The Reestablishment. They were creepy as well as deadly, and the perfect "villain" in most senses. And while I have a lot of questions to be answered, I'm sure the sequels will answer them. I also enjoyed seeing the romance in this one bloom too. It was steamy, and even though it developed at a fast past, it seemed somewhat realistic given the circumstances, which made me happy. Lastly, the paranormal abilities in this one rocked my socks! I seriously can't wait to learn more about Juliette's abilities in the sequels as well as some other possible ones.

The only problem I had with the book is that I felt like some of the scenes were sort of dry, and perhaps needed some more spark and emotion, but besides that Shatter Me was truly a treat to read!

Grade: A-

Shatter Me (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads) is now out!

Source: Publisher via Publicist (Thanks Lauren!)

Review: Fateful by Claudia Gray

2012-01-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Eighteen-year-old maid Tess Davies is determined to escape the wealthy, troubled family she serves. It’s 1912, and Tess has been trapped in the employ of the Lisles for years, amid painful memories and twisted secrets. But now the Lisle family is headed to America, with Tess in tow. Once the ship they’re sailing on—the RMS Titanic—reaches its destination, Tess plans to strike out and create a new life for herself.

Her single-minded focus shatters when she meets Alec, a handsome first-class passenger who captivates her instantly. But Alec has secrets of his own. He’s in a hurry to leave Europe, and whispers aboard the ship say it’s because of the tragic end of his last affair with the French actress who died so gruesomely and so mysteriously. . . .

Soon Tess will learn just how dark Alec’s past truly is. The danger they face is no ordinary enemy: werewolves exist and are stalking him—and now her, too. Her growing love for Alec will put Tess in mortal peril, and fate will do the same before their journey on the Titanic is over.

In Fateful, New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray delivers paranormal adventure, dark suspense, and alluring romance set against the opulent backdrop of the Titanic’s first—and last—voyage.

Review:

I'm a sucker for anything Titanic related. I've seen the Titanic movie a least a dozen times (Who else can't wait for it to be released in 3D this spring?!), and every time I see a book about, I always give it a try, so it's no surprise that I read Fateful. What the surprise was, though, was just how much I enjoyed it. It was romantic, suspenseful, and well presented.

Fateful begins the story of Tess Davies, a girl who is planning to escape the controlling and demanding family she works for once they set foot off the Titanic and into New York. What she wasn't planning for, though, was catching the eye of Alec, a mysterious and handsome wealthy man, as well as Mikhail, a older gentlemen who seems to wanting not but death for Tess. Tess doesn't know what's inspired any of this, but as the clock ticks down and she begins to fall in love with Alec as well as fall into the dangerous path of Mikhail, secrets begin to reveal themselves...secrets that are even more deadly and disturbing than she could have ever imagined! What will happen next? Only more pages can tell in this great new addition to Titanic lit!

One of my favorite parts of this book was without a doubt the setting! I adored all the descriptions Claudia Gray used to bring the story to life, and I especially enjoyed how she altered some facts and events to make it even more fun and original.

I also really enjoyed the characters! Tess was someone I could automatically sympathizes with, because not only was the family she worked for truly horrible and demanding (save for Ned and Irene), but also her past wasn't the most pleasant thing out there. There wasn't a moment where I wasn't rooting for her to stand up for herself and get out of that toxic environment. What I loved most about her character, though, was how she truly found herself on the ship, even if it wasn't under the most usual circumstances. At the beginning, Tess was a bit weak and nimble, but by the end, she certainly wasn't someone you wanted to mess with. Alec was another great addition, and even though I sometimes wondered whether if he was a good or bad guy, I more than once found him to be a pretty great guy, especially when Tess was involved. Also, the bad guys in this one were great in the way that they were drop dead evil. From Mikhail and the family for which Tess worked for, all presented were pretty darn scary to say the least!

Lastly, I felt the plot and writing in this was decent as well! I have to admit that for the most part I saw where this one was going to end from the beginning but even with that, it still managed to surprises me occasionally. I also enjoyed the paranormal addition to this one. I felt like it was presented in an interesting way and it truly did work with the characters and such.

Romantic, fun, and suspenseful, Fateful by Claudia Gray is a great addition to Historical Paranormal. I can't wait to see what's up next for Claudia, especially if it's a sequel to this one!

Grade: A-

Fateful (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads) is now out!

Source: Publisher- thanks HarperTeen!

Waiting on Wednesday (125)

2012-01-18T15:00:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross

True love’s kiss just may prove deadly....

Mirabelle’s past is shrouded in secrecy, from her parents’ tragic deaths to her guardians’ half-truths about why she can’t return to her birthplace, Beau Rivage. Desperate to see the town, Mira runs away a week before her sixteenth birthday—and discovers a world she never could have imagined.

In Beau Rivage, nothing is what it seems—the strangely pale girl with a morbid interest in apples, the obnoxious playboy who’s a beast to everyone he meets, and the chivalrous guy who has a thing for damsels in distress. Here, fairy tales come to life, curses are awakened, and ancient stories are played out again and again.

But fairy tales aren’t pretty things, and they don’t always end in happily ever after. Mira has a role to play, a fairy-tale destiny to embrace or resist. As she struggles to take control of her fate, Mira is drawn into the lives of two brothers with fairy-tale curses of their own ... brothers who share a dark secret. And she’ll find that love, just like fairy tales, can have sharp edges and hidden thorns.

Ooh, this one sounds and looks amazing! I just love the cover and title for one, and the premise sounds pretty darn fabulous as well. Secrets? Places where fairy tales come to life? And two brothers who hold pasts of their own? Count me in for sure!

Kill Me Softly will be released April 10, 2012!

Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield

On the night of Becca’s high school graduation, the discovery of an unidentified dead girl left to bleed out on the side of a dirt road sends the town—and Becca—into a tailspin. Becca has always longed to break free from her small home town, but as the violence of the outside world creeps into her backyard, she withdraws and retreats inward, paralyzed for the first time in her life.

Short chapters detailing the last days of Amelia Anne Richardson’s life are intercut with Becca’s own coming-of-age summer, unfolding into the parallel stories of two young women struggling with self-identity and tense romantic relationships as the summer’s tumultuous events twist Becca closer and closer to the truth about Amelia’s murder.

Ooh, this one sounds so good! I love books that are delightfully creepy, and this one seems like it will be just that.

Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone will be released July 5, 2012!

Giveaway: An Audiobook of Cinder by Marissa Meyer

2012-01-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Macmillan Audio, I have one audiobook of Cinder by Marissa Meyer up for grabs.

Here's some info about the book:

A wicked mash-up of fairy tale and Terminator—set in a Star Wars kind of world—Marissa Meyer's Cinder is a fresh and fiercely ingenious futuristic retelling of Cinderella

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

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

You can find my review here.

Audio Excerpt:

Official Giveaway Rules:

~Must be 13 years or older
~Must have a US mailing address
~This giveaway will close on February 2, 2012 at 12:00 PM EST!

To enter, please fill out the following form.

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Top Ten Books I'd Recommend To Someone Who Doesn't Read Contemporary YA

2012-01-17T12:00:00.000-05:00

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

This week's Top Ten Tuesday is about recommending books to someone who doesn't read a certain area or group of books (YA for example or classics), and for my post, I decided to recommend 10 YA contemporary reads for someone who doesn't normally read this genre of YA. It's no secret that I love contemporary YA, and after suggesting some of them the other day to a blogger friend on twitter, I realized there's quite a few hidden gems out there!

Top Ten Books I'd Recommend To Someone Who Doesn't Read Contemporary YA

1) Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally: I suggest this one at basically any opportunity that arises because not only is it FABULOUS but I also want people to buy it so Miranda can write more amazing books like it. If you like romance and just a great, strong main character, this one is for you, and don't let the fact that it involves football detour you one bit!

2) Sass & Serendipity by Jennifer Ziegler: Who doesn't love a good books about sisters, especially sisters as funny, sweet, and messed up as Daphne and Gabby?!

3) Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler: I always love Sarah's books, but this one holds a special place in my heart! It's sweet. It's honest. It's about growing up and moving on. And it even involves a really cute boy. So really why wouldn't you give this book a chance?!

4) This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen: This list wouldn't be complete without at least one book by Sarah Dessen! Seriously, Sarah Dessen is one of the queens of YA contemp, if not the queen, and while This Lullaby isn't my favorite one of hers (Just Listen holds that spot!), it's still so, so, so good!

5) Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys by Kate Brian: This one is an oldie but a good one nonetheless! It's nothing too fancy but it's still a lot of fun as well as hilarious! I'm still holding out hope that Kate writes a sequel to it one day.

6) The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg: Any book by Eulberg is a good one but The Lonely Hearts Club is especially this way. It's a book about recovering about boys, dating, and finding love in place where you least expect. More importantly, it's a book about growing up. I can't suggest it highly enough! Plus, for those of you who love the Beatles, you'll probably adore this one as well, as it contains Beatles references.

7) Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers: Courtney Summers is the author who also brings the seriousness and grit back to YA, and while her books are not light reads, there are still beautifully written and gorgeously told! Fall for Anything is certainly one of my favorites by her (though to be honest all of her books are my favorite)!

8) Stay by Deb Caletti: Stay is a book about a girl recovering from an abusive relationship, and it's one that really dives in there and digs deep. I especially loved how this one moved from past to present as well as how beautifully and honestly it was told!

9) The Party Room Trilogy by Morgan Burke: I was recently reminded of this trilogy due to another book (The Girl in the Park by Mariah Fredericks- review coming soon!) I recently finished, realized how similar it was to this trilogy, and from there I was reminded how fabulous this series was it. It involves murder, deceit, and romance, and boy, is it amazing- something that will keep you reading from start to finish! Sadly, these were the only books Morgan ever wrote. :(

10) Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala: This is one I read not too long ago yet I still really, really enjoyed it! It's about a girl's life on the streets of Seattle, and it really presented an honest and intriguing looks at the lives of homeless teens.

In all, those are some YA contemporaries I highly suggest, and if you would like more info about some other ones out there, check out the The Contemps site for sure!

Are you a reader of Contemporary YA? If so, what are some books you would suggest to readers who aren't? Let me know in the comments, and also feel free to leave a link to your TTT! I can't wait to see it!

Giveaway: The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe

2012-01-17T00:00:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Hyperion and Big Honcho Media, I have one copy of The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe and one Minimergency Kit to giveaway to one winner!

It starts with an itch you just can't shake.

Then comes a fever and a tickle in your throat.

A few days later, you'll be blabbing your secrets and chatting with strangers like they’re old friends. Three more, and the paranoid hallucinations kick in. And then you're dead.

When a deadly virus begins to sweep through sixteen-year-old Kaelyn’s community, the government quarantines her island—no one can leave, and no one can come back.

Those still healthy must fight for dwindling supplies, or lose all chance of survival. As everything familiar comes crashing down, Kaelyn joins forces with a former rival and discovers a new love in the midst of heartbreak. When the virus starts to rob her of friends and family, she clings to the belief that there must be a way to save the people she holds dearest.

Because how will she go on if there isn't?

Book Trailer:

To find out more about the book and its author, head on over here.

Official Giveaway Rules:

~Must be 13 years or older to enter

~ Must have a US mailing address

~ This giveaway will close on February 1, 2012 at 12:00 PM EST

To enter, please fill out the following form.

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Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

2012-01-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath. Now she’s returned—to her old life, her family, her boyfriend—before she’s banished back to the underworld . . . this time forever. She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can’t find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these precious months forgetting the Everneath and trying to reconnect with her boyfriend, Jack, the person most devastated by her disappearance—and the one person she loves more than anything. But there’s just one problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who enticed her to the Everneath in the first place, has followed Nikki home. Cole wants to take over the throne in the underworld and is convinced Nikki is the key to making it happen. And he’ll do whatever it takes to bring her back, this time as his queen.

As Nikki’s time on the Surface draws to a close and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she is forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole’s queen.

Everneath is a captivating story of love, loss, and immortality from debut author Brodi Ashton.

Review:

I'll admit it straight up front: I'm a sucker for a pretty cover, especially when it involves a gorgeous dress. The fact that the summary made the story behind the cover sound amazing just added to my desire to read it. Thankfully, Everneath managed to live up to its beautiful cover, because not only did it manage to provide a fully imaginative and creative story, but also the romance in this was hot with a capital H.

One of my favorite aspects of this book was the characters of course! As soon as Nikki appeared on the page, she managed to capture my attention fully with her unique voice and bittersweet story as well as the daunting deadline she faced. Nikki was the kind of the character I especially always love to read about. She was funny, sweet, and protective of the ones she loved, even the latter of the three sometimes meant distancing herself from the ones she loved the most. What I loved most about her character, though, was seeing her interact with her family and friends, especially Jack. Jack was the definition of swoon worthy. Better yet, he was also an amazing guy below the surface.

As mentioned briefly before, the story in this one was beyond great! I seriously loved just about everything about it. From the descriptions of the Underworld, which always managed to put fright as well as thrill in me, to the daunting and bleak future Nikki faced to the sweet and adorable bond she shared with Jack, everything was just incredible and developed perfectly. I especially thought Brodi Ashton did a prefect job of installing the perfect mix of feelings in Nikki's character: from the fear to the love to the hope as well as hate. I also have to add that Cole was the perfect bad guy based on his actions alone. I was also shocked as well as angered by the new developments that occurred with his character to say the least!

Brodi Ashton's writing in this one was superb, especially given the fact that this is only her first book! She did such a great job with the characters as well as the plot line, and the ending was INCREDIBLE! I totally didn't see it coming, and even though it making the wait for the next addition even more tedious, I still loved it.

Romantic as well as spellbinding, Everneath by Brodi Ashton managed to take my breath away with every word! So my suggestion? Get your hands on a copy of this one as soon as it's released! You will not regret it one bit.

Grade: A+

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

In My Mailbox (155)

2012-01-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

For Review:

Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin (unsolicited)- I'm so excited about this one! :D

From Netgalley:

Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter- The sequel to The Goddess Test?!! Count me in for sure!

Spellcaster by Cara Lynn Shultz- Loved the first one in this series!

Much thanks goes to Harlequin Teen, Netgalley, and HarperTeen!

In all, a quite yet exciting week! I can't wait to read all of these! Though, enough about me, what did you get this week? Anything super exciting? Let me know in the comments, and feel free to link to your IMM post! :)

Have a great week!

Review: The Fox Inheritance by Mary E. Pearson

2012-01-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Once there were three. Three friends who loved each other—Jenna, Locke, and Kara. And after a terrible accident destroyed their bodies, their three minds were kept alive, spinning in a digital netherworld. Even in that disembodied nightmare, they were still together. At least at first. When Jenna disappeared, Locke and Kara had to go on without her. Decades passed, and then centuries.

Two-hundred-and-sixty years later, they have been released at last. Given new, perfect bodies, Locke and Kara awaken to a world they know nothing about, where everyone they once knew and loved is long dead.

Everyone except Jenna Fox.

Review:

A couple of years ago, I read the amazing and emotional The Adoration of Jenna Fox. Ever since then I've quickly gobbled up anything Mary's released so when I first heard about The Fox Inheritance, a companion to Jenna Fox, as well as an upcoming third book in the series, I knew I had to read them. As it turns out, The Fox Inheritance was an interesting and quick read, but it wasn't anywhere near what Jenna Fox was.

The Fox Inheritance tells the story of Locke and Kara, the two friends of Jenna Fox's who "died" while she lived. However, they've recently been brought back to life by a crazy scientist, only to find a world totally unlike what they left behind. Everyone they loved is long gone. Their houses are either gone or remodeled beyond their imagination. The only thing that remains from their past is Jenna Fox, and within her, she may provide their last hope of survival as well as understanding. So they pack up their bags and live with only one goal in mind: find Jenna Fox. However, what happens when one of the long lost friends goes a little haywire? Only time and more pages can tell in this interesting and fresh addition to the Jenna Fox Chronicles.

In this addition, the narrator is Locke, and it was exciting to see that change occur, because while I loved Jenna's character, I was very curious to see things from Locke's POV, especially since his situation had been very different from Jenna's and even Kara's in some ways. Through Locke's eyes, I really got to feel and understand the world of The Fox Inheritance in new ways as well as what had occurred in the past book. Locke was a very strong and tough character, one who managed to do a lot of growing up in this one, and while he faced challenge upon challenge, he really held strong, and I admired that about him. In this, I also got to see a bit more of Kara, who was very different from how I had imagined her, as well as Jenna's future self. The later of the two, though, is what brought this book down a grade or two. In the first book, I loved Jenna, because while she was innocent and somewhat scared, she always managed to stand up for what she believed, but in this addition, she really didn't do anything. Her friends needed her help, but she just kind of stood back, and left them take care of themselves. She just wasn't the Jenna I knew, and that bothered me. Hopefully, she will be able to redeem herself in the next one.

The plot in this, though, was what made it interesting. I was very fast paced, and because of that and other things, I was constantly flipping pages, dying to know what would occur next, especially towards the ending when everything became truly surprising. The one thing I especially loved about this addition was the way Mary brought the future to life with the cool gadgets as well as the introduction of new characters such as Bot (who I loved!) and Miesha. It really helped move the book along!

Mary's writing in this was also decent, and while I had a love/hate relationship with the fact that this addition was more of an "adventure" than more of a slow yet beautifully told "coming of age", I still liked it overall. I especially have to give props to Mary for making this a pretty decent sequel.

In all, while The Fox Inheritance wasn't necessarily my favorite of the series so far, I still enjoyed it, and suggest it to others who loved Jenna Fox.

Grade: B

The Fox Inheritance (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads) is now out!

Source: Publicist at Macmillan- thanks Kathryn!

The Fox Inheritance is also available in audiobook format. You can find an audio excerpt here.

Review: Inseparable by Dora Heldt

2012-01-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

Summary/Cover Image from Amazon:

Still reeling from her recent divorce, Christine, the beloved protagonist of Dora Heldt’s uproarious Life After Forty, is sure that yet another birthday is the last thing she needs. But here it comes nonetheless, the big 4-4, in all its lonely mid-life glory. Making matters worse is Christine’s fear that, throughout her life, she has relied too heavily on the support of her girlfriends. As the big day nears, she begins to think that none of those women can understand just what she is going through. Alarmed by Christine’s growing despair, her best friend and sister hatch a plan to prove her wrong: they will gather together all of Christine’s old friends from the various stages of her life and throw a surprise party the likes of which she has never seen. Of course finding all of those women turns out to be easier said than done! Nonetheless, the final result proves to be a priceless gift, a moving and laugh-out-loud funny portrait of one woman’s life as told through the stories of her friendships.

Review:

When I first received Inseparable in the mail, I was all gun-ho about reading it. The summary made it sound interesting, and I just loved the fact that it was about friendship, so I gave it a try, and I was pleasantly surprised! It turned out to be a fun and quick read, even though I had a few slight problems with it.

Inseparable tells the story of Christine, a middle-aged women living a fun, nearly care-free life in Hamburg, Germany. Christine loves the few close friends she has, but she's never been one to really put a lot of faith in friendship, especially with other women. She was scorned once, and in her opinion, why be scorned again? However, Christine's friends as well as her sister decide to surprise for her forty-fourth birthday with a surprise party filled with all of Christine's friends from her past. Their goal is to show her that friends are still important and worth the risk. Will everything work out? Will Christine gain more faith in friendship, or will she move two steps back? Only time and more pages can tell!

One of the things I loved most about this book was the German backdrop. It was also interesting to see not only the various backdrops of the country, but the wide variety of differences between their culture and that of America.

Another high point was the characters. For the most part they weren't the most highly developed ones out there, but I still enjoyed reading about them. I especially liked Christine. She was a strong and timber women, and throughout the book I was continually rooting for, especially when it involved her becoming more close to her current and past friends. I also enjoyed how Dora Heldt introduced a variety of other character POVs. It was fun getting into the heads of all of Dora's friend, that's for sure, and it also added an extra, unique glance into Christine's life.

The plot of this was for the most part slow moving, because it focused more on friendship then on any specific action and adventure. However, it still managed to move the book along at a good pace, especially since I found the way Dora dealt with the friendship theme interesting. Friends are important part of life, and even though some people would rather not get hurt then risk the jump, it's still important to take chances. The women in this learned this over the book, and it really managed to provide lots of great development on their part.

Sweet, fun, and fully entertaining, Inseparable by Dora Heldt is a great addition to women's fiction. I look forward to seeing what she writes next.

Grade: B

Inseparable (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads) is now out!

Source: Publicist at Little Bird Publicity- thanks Katie!

Waiting on Wednesday (124)

2012-01-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

While He Was Away by Karen Schreck

“This is just something I have to do, okay?” I hear David say. “The right thing.”

He cradles my face in his hands. He kisses me hard. Then he lets go of me. His eyes dart from me to whatever’s next.

When Penna Weaver’s boyfriend goes off to Iraq, she’s left facing life without him. As summer sets in, Penna tries to distract herself with work and her art, but the not knowing is slowly driving her crazy. Especially when David stops writing. She knows in her heart he will come home— but will he be the same boy she fell in love with?

Katie from Katie's Book Blog (Her blog is awesome!) recently tweeted about this one, and as soon as I saw the summary and cover for it, I added it to my wishlist. It looks so good! Plus it's contemporary.

The Summer of No Regrets by Katherine Grace Bond

Is he or isn't he? Brigitta's best friend is convinced that Brigitta's new crush, Luke, is actually egotistical teen heartthrob Trent Yves, hiding from his fans in their tiny town. But Brigitta actually likes Luke, whereas Trent is an arrogant jerk. As the two spend the summer together raising orphaned cougar cubs, Brigitta still can't be sure of his true identity. But then again, since her grandparents' death, her father's sudden urge to give away all their possessions and become a shaman, and her own awkward transition from girlhood into a young woman, what can she be sure of?

Another cute and fun looking summer read from Sourcebooks! This one sounds equally great- almost like a take off of Teen Idol by Meg Cabot, which I loved! Can't wait to check this one out.

On a side note: is it just me or do the models on both books seem to be the same people?

Either way, what books are you looking forward to this Wednesday? Either of the ones I listed above? Let me know in the comments, and feel free to link to your WOW post!

Top Ten Authors I Wish Would Write Another Book

2012-01-10T07:31:00.000-05:00

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

Top Ten Authors I Wish Would Write Another Book

1) Amanda Cockrell: I really enjoyed What We Keep Is Not Always What Will Stay (review forthcoming!) this past summer, and I would love to see another YA book by her. She writes really interesting contemp fiction with an almost mystical touch.

2) Karen Metcalf: I read a short story by Karen (In the Storm) last February and it was a really interesting little work. I really hope she will be writing a full length novel sometime soon!

3) Jennifer Castle: Jennifer's first book (The Beginning of the After) was superb, and I would love a new book by her, especially if it's another contemp.

4) Amy Holder: I adored The Lipstick Laws. It was fun, sweet, and cute, so anther book by her would be great!

5) Elizabeth Rudnick: Tweet Heart was ADORABLE!

6) Lila Castle: The Star Shack was one of those great, little beach reads, and since I'm always game for some new summer reads, I'm all for anther book by Lila!

7) Eilis O'Neal: I adored The False Princess. It was the perfect mix of fantasy and fairy tale

8) Melissa Francis: Melissa hasn't had a new book since the 2010 Love Sucks (sequel to Bit Me), which is sad, because her books are good AND funny AND they make me hate the vampire genre a little less. In other words: I. NEED.A.NEW. MELISSA.BOOK.PRONTO.

9) Amy Huntley: Amy Huntley's The Everafter was so sad but so, so good!

10) Nina de Gramont: I loved Every Little Thing in the World. I love Nina. Therefor, a new book by Nina would be fabulous! :)

What authors do you wish would write anther book? Any of the ones I listed above? Let me know in the comments, and feel free to link to your TTT post as well. I'd love to see it! :)

Review: Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala

2012-01-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Joy Delamere is suffocating.

From asthma, from her parents, and from her boyfriend, Asher, who is smothering her from the inside out. She can take his cruel words, his tender words . . . until the night they go too far.

To escape, Joy sacrifices her suburban life to find the one who offered his help, a homeless boy called Creed. He introduces her to a world of fierce loyalty, to its rules of survival, and to love—a world she won’t easily let go.

Set against the backdrop of the streets of Seattle, Holly Cupala’s powerful new novel explores the subtleties of abuse, the secrets we keep, and the ways to redemption. But above all, it is an unflinching story about the extraordinary lengths one girl will go to discover her own strength.

Review:

After reading Tell Me a Secret, Holly Cupala's first book, I couldn't wait to read more by her, so when I first heard about Don't Breathe a Word, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy as soon as possible. The book sounded amazing, and after seeing all the great praise it had been getting as well as the gorgeous cover, I just wanted to read it even more. Luckily, I was able to get an early copy and I dove right in only to find one AMAZING new contemporary read! Seriously this book was even better than I had expected.

Don't Breathe a Word begins the story of Joy, a girl who's life has been filled with anything but what her name promises lately. However, after an extremely bad run-in with her Asher, her abusive boyfriend, she makes a run for it. She runs away to Seattle, hoping to get back on the right track again. The streets of Seattle, though, aren't anything like she thought. They're filled with scary people and tough circumstances as well as situations. Just as Joy's about to hit rock bottom, Creed, a boy who gave her the idea originally, swoops in and saves her. As he begins to teach her the ins and outs of Seattle, Joy begins to feel at one with herself, but will everything stay this way? Or does more trouble lay in her path? Will she ever return home? Only more time and pages call in this heartbreaking and gritty portrayal of one teen's life on the streets.

From page one, I immediately became invested in Joy's story. She was a girl who had faced a lot in her past due to not only Asher but from her asthma as well, and while in some ways this had broken her beyond pieces, she was willing to take a stand for herself, even if running away wasn't the best choice ever. What I loved most about her character, though, was seeing her begin to trust herself again as well as grow as a character. She truly became one strong girl by the end of this, and I couldn't have been more proud. I also liked the variety of other characters Holly Cupala introduced. My favorites, though, would have had to be Creed, who was very sweet especially when it came to Joy, as well as Santos and May, two other members of Creed's pack. Each one was fully developed, and by the end, I was not only invested in Joy's story but theirs as well.

The plot in this one really got the ball rolling though. From the first page, I was dying to know more about Joy. What exactly did Asher do to her? Why did she feel so smothered by her parents? I kept looking for answers, and as Holly slowly reveled them, I was pleasantly surprised by the level of detail and development she put into each. I also really enjoyed seeing Creed and Joy's relationship bloom as the novel progressed. They were two people who came from bad situations, but together, they were able to overcome their past demons. Plus it didn't hurt that their relationship developed at a reasonable pace.

Cupala's writing was also very good! I felt she did an excellent job with development as well as showing what street life is really like for teens. She truly didn't sugar coat it one bit, and I really appreciated that and I'm sure many other readers will feel the same.

Diverse, bittersweet, and well written, Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala is an amazing contemporary read, one I just couldn't get enough of. I can't wait to read her next book, because if this is any indication, it's sure to be FABULOUS!

Grade: A+

Don't Breathe a Word (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads) is now out in original paperback for only $8.99 and eBook for $7.99...both of which are stellar deals if you ask me! You can also read the first 64 pages of the book here.

Source: Author (1st copy)- thanks Holly! Publisher (2nd copy)- thanks HarperTeen!

In My Mailbox (152, 153, 154)

2012-01-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

For Review:

~Out of Xibalba by Liz Coley-Looking forward to giving this one a try!

~The Edumacation of Jay Baker by Jay Clark- Supposedly this one is really funny, and usually if a book is funny in my eyes, it's an instant win!
~ Hidden Summit by Robyn Carr (2nd copy)- You can find my review here.
~Fat is the New 30: The Sweet Potato Queens' Guide to Coping with (the crappy parts of) Life by Jill Conner Brown (unsolicited review copy)- Doesn't really sound like my kind of book so I'm not sure if I'm going to give it a try or not...

From Netgalley:

~Loss by Jackie Morse Kessler- Loved the first two in this series and am hoping this one is just as good-if not better!
~The Bro-Magnet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted- Looks so funny! Plus I'm always up for a male POV.

~Redwood Bend (Virgin River, #18) by Robyn Carr- After reading Hidden Summit, I knew I had to read the next book ASAP.

eBooks for Review:

~ Unscripted by Natalie Aaron & Marla Schwartz

~ Notes to Self by Avery Sawyer

~ Untraceable by S.R. Johannes

Christmas Gifts of the Bookish Variety:

~The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

~The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder

~ Past Perfect by Leila Sales

~ Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Lani Taylor

Bought:

~The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith- So excited about this one!

~Struck: Stupid Cupid; Flirting with Disaster; Pucker Up by Rhonda Stapleton- 3 books in 1?! What's not to love about this! Plus I read the first in this series (Stupid Cupid) back when it was released so I can't wait to read the whole series!

~Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins- So pumped to read this one, even though I haven't read Anna and the French Kiss yet.

~Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly- Looks so good! Plus I've heard from a few trusted blogging friends that it's great.

Much thanks goes to Liz Coley, Kathryn at Macmillan, Jackie Morse Kessler/HMH/Netgalley, Natalie & Marla, Avery, S.R. Johannes, Katie at Little Bird Publicity, Lauren, and Harlequin/Netgalley!

Review: Hidden Summit (Virgin River, #17) by Robyn Carr

2012-01-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Sick of running into her cheery ex-husband and his new wife, Leslie Petruso accepts a job at the Virgin River branch of Haggerty Construction and takes the high road right out of town. Now she's got Paul Haggerty's business running like a well-oiled machine. In fact, things are so busy Paul jumps at the chance to hire an extra set of hands.

Just like Leslie, Conner Danson has been burned by love. But if Leslie was disappointed by her relationship going bad, Conner was decimated. He's got no time for women…although he spends an awful lot of time pretending not to notice Leslie. And she's pretty busy "ignoring" the chemistry between them.

According to Conner and Leslie, they have only one thing in common—they're done with love. But everyone in Virgin River can see that things are heating up at Haggerty Construction. And as far as Paul Haggerty can tell, the best thing he can do is hang on to his hard hat and watch the sparks fly!

Review:

When Hidden Summit first appeared in the mail, I wasn't too sure about it. I hadn't read any of the previous books in the Virgin River series, but after reading a few reviews, I found out that reading the previous books wasn't necessary- they were just all companions basically and this new addition actually started a new "era" of the series. So I ended up giving Hidden Summit a chance, and I'm so glad I did, because not only did I adore the book, but I've also found a new favorite series, one that I'll surely be reading in the future!

Hidden Summit tells the story of Leslie and Conner, two people who've been especially down on luck lately. For Leslie, Virgin River is an escape from her over friendly ex-husband and his new pregnant wife. She feels that Virgin River will be the perfect chance to start over, and just get away from love and romance for a while. Conner, on the other hand, is running from his past, even though it's the last thing he wants to do. However, he does know one thing: his stay in Virgin River is going to be a quick one where no strings or ties will be left behind. When Leslie and Conner meet, though, sparks fly, and before they know it, they're falling deeper and deeper for each other, but will the past catch up with them sooner than later? Only time and more pages can tell in this fun and sweet romance read that ensures a happy ending for all!

Told in alternating points of view, Hidden Summit allowed for me to get into both Conner and Leslie's heads, which let me to not only fully get to know them, but also really understand their actions and decisions. Plus it didn't hurt one bit that I adored both! Conner was the typical rugged yet sweet hero. One who has had a sad past, but still may get a chance at a fabulous future. Leslie, on the other hand, was a great heroine. She was sweet, funny, and she fully held her own! She was no damsel in distress...that's for sure! I especially loved how she constantly stood up for herself, especially when her ex-husband was involved. I also loved the addition of the community of Virgin River. Everyone was also so distinct and likable to the point where I'm dying to read the past books to know everything about them!

The plot in this was not necessarily the most complex or suspenseful, but I still ended up really enjoying it. It was fun seeing Conner and Leslie begin to fall in love, and became even better people because of it. I also liked how Robyn developed their relationship at a reasonable pace. Another great addition was the parts about Conner and Leslie's past. All the the little tidbits and twists that showed up because of them truly made this book even better in my eyes!

Finally, I really enjoyed Robyn's writing She truly knows how to write a feel good story, one similar to a Susan Mallory and/or Emilie Richards book- both authors I adore as well. I especially loved the descriptions of Virgin River. It made me really want to live in that tiny little town, even though I currently live in small town and hate it. ;)

In all, I can't suggest Hidden Summit high enough. Fans of women's fiction as well as romance will just eat this book right up, because not only is it sweet and realistic, but it's sure to bring out a smile or two as well. Word of warning, though: you'll be dying to read the past and future books once you're done!

Grade: B+

Hidden Summit (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads) is now out in paperback and eBook (which is currently priced at less than $5!)

Source: Publicist at Little Bird Publicity- thanks Katie!

Review: Nightshade (The Poison Diaries, #2) by Maryrose Wood

2012-01-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Sixteen-year-old Jessamine Luxton is heartbroken. Her true love, Weed, the strange but intriguing young man who came into her life so suddenly, has disappeared. How could he have left her with no farewell, and no word since?

Jessamine may not know why Weed vanished, but she does suspect that her own father, Thomas, may have had something to do with it. Thomas, who was so obsessed with Weed’s secret knowledge of dangerous plants that he would do anything to learn it. This suspicion—and her experiences with poisons—has changed her. She is no longer innocent, and now she has her own intimate knowledge of the power of the plants.

So when Jessamine learns that Weed is alive, she will do whatever it takes to be reunited with him.

She is, after all, her father’s daughter....

Review:

After reading last year's The Poison Diaries, the first addition in this series, I had been eagerly anticipating Nightshade, the newest addition. I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next to Jessamine and Weed. Would Jessamine finally be able to escape the grip of her controlling father? Would Weed be able to reunite with Jessamine before it was too late? Only Nightshade would let me know, so as soon as I received the book in the mail, I quickly gobbled it up. While my questions were indeed answered, I didn't find this addition to be nearly as good as the first one sadly enough.

Nightshade picks up shortly after The Poison Diaries ended. Jessamine is missing Weed as well as wondering what caused his sudden and rash disappearance. Jessamine's father Thomas argues that it was all Weed's decision to leave, but Jessamine knows there's more to the story, and this time she's not going to let her father's word be the final ruling. However, on the search for the truth, Jessamine makes allies with some surprising and dangerous plants, plants that are to change her for the worst. What will happen to Jessamine? Will Weed be able to save her before it's too late? Only time and more pages can tell in this fast paced addition!

With Nightshade came some surprising developments. One of the biggest, though, was Jessamine's transformation from a quiet, sweet girl into a daring and dauntless murderess. It was a surprising twist from the previous book, and while I love fierce characters, there's was something just off about this transformation. I never found it to be that believable nor did I really see a point to it in the long run. Yes, it created plenty of tension in this one. But is really going to do much in the long run? I'm not really sure... I did like the development with Weed's character though. It was also a treat to see the POV change from Jessamine's to his, because not only did he bring some freshness to the story, but it was also fun yet bittersweet to see his journey to rescue Jessamine from the danger of the dark plants.

The plot in this one was interesting, yet it never really managed to capture my attention fully. The whole plot line with Jessamine tended to get on my nerves in more ways than one, because really how naive can one girl be? Plus, the whole thing with the Dark Prince as well as her promiscuous adventures in this one were just a bit too much, in my opinion. I did enjoy the ending, though. It was dramatic and provided some conclusion, but I'm still unsure for the most part on how everything is going to end.

In all, Nightshade didn't end up being my favorite addition to The Poisson Diaries series, sadly enough, and while I'm curious to see what's going to occur in the next book, I don't think it's going to be a book I'm going to run out in get...

However, I still recommend this one those of you who enjoyed the first one...hopefully you'll be able to enjoy it more than I did.

Grade: C

Source: Publisher- thanks HarperTeen!

Review: She's with the Band by Georgia Clark

2012-01-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

'Life never starts when you think it will. When I turned 15, I figured I'd be tossed the keys to the city, make out with a hottie, and have a modest parade thrown in my honour. But all that happened was that I got out of doing the washing up. The day we moved to Sydney was supposed to be the start of the new Mia Mannix - confident, charming, taller. But so far, it sucked.'

Mia Mannix has made a deal: in return for moving from the social backwater of the Snowy Mountains to life in the fast lane in Sydney, she's promised her dad she'd give up music and concentrate on real art.

But that was before she discovered new friends, a cool record store and a ridiculously hot rockstar.

'She's With the Band' is for every girl who's ever wanted to start a band, had a crush on the wrong boy, or made a promise she couldn't keep.

Review:

When I was first offered the chance to read and review She's with the Band, I instantly agreed! As most of you know by now, I always jump at the chance to read a new contemporary, and since She's with the Band was just that, I knew I had to give it a try. Thankfully, even though She's with the Band fell victim to a few cliches and a little underdevelopment, it was still a funny and sweet book about growing up and learning how to be yourself!

She's with the Band tells the story of Mia Mannix, a girl who ready to embark on new journeys in Sydney, Australia and leave her boring old town in the dust. However, as Mia is about to learn, everything won't be as easy or glamorous as she thinks, because lying in her path are mean girls with hidden agendas, the right and wrong guys (but which one is which?!), and a great opportunity if only her dad would allow her to give it a try. What will happen to Mia? Will she find her place, or become more lost than ever before? Only time and more pages can tell in this fast paced book filled with plenty of musical goodness!

From the first page, I instantly liked Mia. She carried a sarcastic yet sweet tone throughout the book, and even though she was a bit naive at times when it came to making decisions, it was still very easy to root for her character, especially when she finally made the right choice! In addition to her character I also adored the addition of her band mates as well as Emil! Her band contained Lexie, a girl facing her own demons, and Sabe, an adorable guy hiding a few secrets of his own! Together, all of them made for a great book due to the problems and fun that always ensued when they were together.

In addition to the characters, the plot in this was also lots of fun, and even though I've seen this formula (new girl goes to new school, makes some bad decisions, and finds herself in the process) countless times, I still enjoyed it. I felt the music addition allowed it to stand on its own a bit, especially when Georgia gave it a little twist, and even though I knew who Mia was going to end up with from the beginning, it was still fun (albeit a little frustrating) watching her figure everything out.

However, I did have a few tiny problems with this book. One was the constant amount of cliches thrown in my face as mentioned before, but , it wasn't the biggest of problems. I also would have loved some more development into the characters, specifically Mia's family life.

In all, She's with the Band is a good little novel, and while it wasn't necessarily a favorite of mine, I still suggest it to fans of contemporary looking for a small book for a rainy or snowy day.

Grade: B

She's with the Band (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads) is now out!

Source: Publicist at Independent Publishers Group- thanks Shara!

Review: Cinder (Lunar Chronicles, #1) by Marissa Meyer

2012-01-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

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

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

Review:

Prior to reading Cinder by Marissa Meyer, I had heard countless good things about it. From the characters to the story to the world building, readers alike seemed to be loving it all. However, while I was excited to read it, I was also a bit hesitant. It looked amazing don't get me wrong, but I worried about whether or not I would like it as much as everyone else. As it turns out, I ended up loving Cinder, because not only was it as good as everyone had said, but it was such a great and diverse spin on Cinderella!

Cinder begins the story of Cinder, a mechanic who is also a cyborg. Cinder has never had the easiest of lives. She was adopted by a man with mysterious reasons why only to be left to live with his with his wretched wife and her two daughters (one who is sweet and one who is anything but) after his sudden death. Blaming her husband's death on Cinder, Cinder's stepmother has never felt anything but hate towards Cinder, especially when Cinder's one stepsister suddenly drops ill from their world's horrible and deadly disease. However, everything is about to change. Cinder is about to discover some exclusive info about her past, things she could have never imagined. Cinder is also about to catch the eye of the handsome Prince Kai who finds Cinder to be different from anyone he's ever meet before as well as the eye of the a mysterious doctor who has his own private reasons for needing Cinder's help. What will happen next? Only time and more pages can tell in this thrilling and intricate debut!

One of the best things about Cinder was the characters! For one, Cinder was a strong and smart heroine, one who I couldn't help but love from the start. I especially liked the way in which she treated people. She was nothing but kind and sweet, even to the people who gave her the hardest of times. I also really enjoyed the variety of friendships Cinder possessed that Marissa Meyer showcased throughout. From her budding romance with Prince Kai to her need to protect her nice stepsister as well as Iko to her surprising friendship with the doctor, everything was fully developed to my liking, and it didn't help that I had nothing but love for all the main characters, especially Prince Kai.

Another high point to this novel was without a doubt the exquisite world and plot building. Throughout the book, I couldn't enough of Cinder's world. I wanted to know why everything was the way it was as well as more about the mysterious and deadly Lunar and their society. While everything wasn't reveled in Cinder, Marissa Meyer did a fabulous job of slowly doling out the necessary tidbits, ones that always came at the most perfect of times and always left me craving for more, more, and more! I also enjoyed that this book contained a slow burning romance instead of insta-love, because not only did it create for a more believable relationship, but it also allowed for other important plot parts to take center stage.

Lastly, as I alluded to throughout, Marissa Meyer's writing in this was fabulous! I couldn't get over how addicted I was to this novel, and that in most causes was do to the level of development and time Marissa put into making everything perfect. I especially loved the ending of this one! It provided a great little kick to the book, one that gave me the prefect little insight to tie me over until the next one!

Unique and well written, Cinder by Marissa Meyer is one book I can't suggest highly enough, especially to die hard dystopian fans! But quick question: I can have book #2 now? ;)

Grade: A+

Cinder (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads) is now out!

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Edit to Add: My review was mentioned on BlogHer on Friday, January 6, 2012!