Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf

In My Mailbox (159)

2012-02-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

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

Physical Copies for Review:

The Onyx Talisman by Brenda Pandos: So excited about this one! I can't wait to see how everything ends.

Daughters for a Time by Jennifer Handford (unsolicited review copy): Not too sure if I'll give this one a try or not...

Collision by Stefne Miller- Stefne Miller is a FANTASTIC author so I can't wait to see what story she tell in this one!

Wildflowers from Winter by Katie Ganshert: I was a little hesitant to accept this one for review because it's Christian Fiction, but the story seemed way too good to pass up.

Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult: I've read one other book by Jodi (The Pact) and loved it so I can't wait to see what this one is like.

Netgalley:

The Savage Grace by Bree Despain: !!!!!!!!!!!

The Last Condo Board of the Apocalypse by Nina Post: Looks really interesting!

eBooks for Review:

Wander Dust by Michelle Warren: I seriously just love the cover for this one! The premise sounds pretty awesome as well.

Lily by LM DeWalt

Much thanks goes to Michelle at Central Avenue Publishing, Michelle Warren, Nina Post/Curiosity Quills Press/Netgalley, Egmont/Netgalley, Stefne Miller, Brenda Pandos, Kathleen at Goldberg McDuffie Communications, Lynette at WaterBrook Multnomah, and Little Bird Publicity/Amazon!

Review: Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

2012-02-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Robin Hood is given a fresh, feminine twist in this romantic retelling from the point of view of "Will Scarlet"

Many readers know the tale of Robin Hood, but they will be swept away by this new version full of action, secrets, and romance, from debut author A. C. Gaughen. Posing as one of Robin Hood's thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. When the heat turns on up the band of thieves as the Sheriff of Nottingham seeks revenge, the romance burns strong between Scarlet and her flirtatious fellow outlaws. Helping the people of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in. It's only her fierce loyalty to Robin-whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her-that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for.

Review:

I have to be honest: I had been holding off reading Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen for quite a while now. It's not that I didn't want to read it, because I did. I mean, the cover and summary make it look fantastic! However, I was worried that it wouldn't be as good as I hoped, or that I wouldn't like it nearly as much as I wanted to. I recently decided to dive in, though, and my worries were thrown right to the wayside, because I LOVED this book! Scarlet was an incredibly fierce main character, and the plot and writing were excellent. Truly, I don't think this book could get much better..

One of the biggest reasons why this book rocked my role was because of no one other than Will Scarlet! Fierce, independent main characters are one of my favorite types, and that was just the case with Scarlet. From the first page, it was easy to see she was someone you didn't mess with, especially if you were the "bad" one in the situation. I just loved how she told everyone how it was, especially the boys, and how dedicated she was to the townspeople, even when her heroic actions put her own life on the line. What I especially loved about Scarlet, though, was how she wasn't perfect. She was impatient, reluctant to trust, and a bit irrational, but it truly added more greatness to her character, especially when she worked on those characteristics throughout the book. I also just loved the character of Robin Hood. He was just as well developed as Scarlet, and seeing how giving and genuine of a guy he was made me love him all the more. I especially loved seeing him interact with Scarlet, because not only did they have great chemistry but also they constant batter was hilarious as well as well done to say the least. The other two boys in their pack were just as amazing and devious as Scarlet and Robin Hood and characters I adored seeing evolve as time went on.

The plot in this was also nothing but suspenseful, twisty, and well crafted. What I liked most about it, though, was Scarlet's voice. It was a little hard to get into at first because of how she spoke, but the end, it truly added a great edge to her character and made her all the more relatable. I especially enjoyed seeing her tell of the different events occurring in her village as well as her reoccurring acts to save the people of the town- it added lots of little twists and turns to keep me glued to the pages! The romance was equally awesome, because not only did it surprise me in more ways than one, but it also add me guessing to the end who (if any) Scarlet would end up with.

The only aspect of this book I wasn't too pleased with was the ending. It was a bit more open than I would've liked it, and I don't know if this is just my thirst for more story talking or an actual concern, but either way, I would openly welcome a sequel or two.

Lastly, A.C. Gauhen proved to be an amazing writer within this one, as mentioned before. She perfectly nailed Scarlet's voice, and I adored how authentic and creative she made everything...from the setting, to the characters, to the plot events, everything was nearly perfect.

Addicting as well as fierce, Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen is one debut I couldn't get enough of to tell the truth, so my advice for you: get your hands on a copy of this one ASAP. It's worth the money, no doubt about it!

Grade: A

Scarlet (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads) will be released February 14, 2012!

To find out more about the author and her books: website/twitter/scarlet fan page

Source: Publisher via Netgalley (Thanks, Walker Books!)

Review: The Sweetest Thing by Christina Mandelski

2012-02-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

In the world of Sheridan Wells, life is perfect when she’s decorating a cake. Unfortunately, everything else is a complete mess: her mom ran off years ago, her dad is more interested in his restaurant, and the idea of a boyfriend is laughable.

But Sheridan is convinced finding her mom will solve all her problems—only her dad’s about to get a cooking show in New York, which means her dream of a perfect family will be dashed.

Using just the right amount of romance, family drama, and cute boys,The Sweetest Thing will entice fans with its perfect mixture of girl-friendly ingredients.

Review:

The Sweetest Thing by Cristina Mandelski has been on my to be read list for a while now, because not only was the cover and title simply adorable, but the premise sounded amazing as well as Sarah Dessen like- which is ALWAYS a big win in my book. Luckily, I recently had the chance to read it, and even though it contained a few slight flaws, I found it to be just as sweet and endearing as it appeared!

The Sweetest Thing introduces the character of Sheridan Wells aka "Cake Girl." Sheridan has always taken great pride her in cakes because (a) she enjoys creating them and (b) it brings her closer to her MIA mother. Recently, though, the cakes have been the only constant good thing in her life, as not only did her father just spring a huge surprise on her-one that may change her life forever- but she's also dealing with friend as well as boy problems. However, Sheridan knows how she will fix this all: she will find her mother and ask for her to come back home. A win-win for all, right? Well, as Sheridan is soon to learn you can't have always have your cake and eat it too...

The Sweetest Thing has a lot of good things going for it, and one of them was definitely the plot. It wasn't the most original and suspenseful one out there, but I still enjoyed it nonetheless. First, I liked seeing Sheridan's cake hobby. I don't thing I've ever read a YA book where the main character loved making cakes, so it was fun to see why Sheridan enjoyed making her cakes as well as the yummy descriptions of them. The mother-daughter drama in this one, though, got on my nerves from time to time. It was just a bit too cliched and compliant-filled for me to really get invested in it, and to be honest, I never really saw what Sheridan saw in her mother, because in all truth, her mother was a grade-a jerk for most of the book, especially towards the end. However, as they say, you live and you learn and that was without a doubt the case for Sheridan in this. The boy drama was also a little overdone, especially since it was easy to predict who Sheridan would end up with in the end, but I did enjoy seeing the different problems and twists that appeared up throughout Sheridan's path to her future boyfriend.

Sheridan herself was a character I had love-hate feelings toward, because while I did find her to be a funny and sweet girl for the most part, her constant whining as well as dependency on her mother got the best of me sometimes. I still enjoyed seeing her journey develop on the page, because she did evolve greatly as a character by the end. I really enjoyed the side characters in this one, though. I loved Lori's wisdom as well as her hilarious little one-lines, and Jack, Sheridan's other BFF, was just as great and lovebable! I also enjoyed seeing Sheridan's grandma.

Lastly, I really enjoyed the writing in this one. Christina created a very readable and addicting plot, even though I wasn't also the biggest fan of all the characters and plot lines. I also really enjoyed the titles for each chapter- they really managed to grab my attention.

Sweet as well as sugary, The Sweetest Thing by Christina Mandelski is a decent debut. Not a "MUST-read" but certainly a great pick for a lazy day. I looked forward to reading more by Ms. Mandelski.

Grade: B

The Sweetest Thing (Amazon/Barnes and Noble/Goodreads) is now out!

Find out more about Christina and her books: website/twitter

Source: Publisher via Netgalley (Thanks Egmont!)

Waiting on Wednesday (127)

2012-02-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

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

Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen

I don’t do dangerous.

Smart, uber-careful, ordinary Samantha – that’s me. But I just couldn’t pass up a surprise kiss from my number-one unattainable crush. A kiss that did something to me – something strange. Now I feel hungry all the time, but not for food. It’s like part of me is missing – and I don’t know if I can get it back.

Then there’s Bishop. At first I thought he was just a street kid, but the secrets he’s keeping are as intense as his unearthly blue eyes. If he’s what I think he is, he may be the only one who can help me. But something terrifying is closing in, and the one chance Bishop and I have to stop it means losing everything I ever wanted and embracing the darkness inside me.

I read Michelle Rowen's other book (Demon Princess: Reign or Shine) a couple of years ago, and really enjoyed it, so when I heard she had a new YA book coming out with Harlequin Teen, I was BEYOND ecstatic. Luckily, the premise sounds fabulous, and even though it is ANOTHER series, I'll forgive it if it's as good as it looks. :)

Dark Kiss will be released May 22, 2012!

Cross my Heart by Katie Klein

True love can blossom in unexpected places. This is Jaden pretending not to notice. . . .

Jaden McEntyre and Parker Whalen are a wrong fit from the start. Jaden is driven and focused, Harvard Med School within reach. Parker has a past-a reputation-and the rumors about his mysterious habits abound. So there's no reason why, when they're assigned to work together on a project in English, they should discover they have anything in common, or even like each other, and they definitely shouldn't be falling in love.

As they bond over Edith Wharton's tragic novella, Ethan Frome, the "bad boy" vibe Parker plays begins to dissipate. Soon, Jaden finds herself shedding her own "good girl" image: sneaking around to be with him, confiding in him, and ultimately falling hard for this leather-wearing, motorcycle-driving loner who plays into the rebel stereotype.

Still, Jaden can't shake the feeling that there's more to Parker than he's letting on. He's hiding something from her, and discovering the truth means reconciling the Parker she's grown to love with the person he really is. Because it's possible that his life inside the classroom-everything Jaden knows-is one, massive lie.

I was reading an interview Mandy Hubbard did on In the Next Room the other day where she mentioned she read this book, and since she described it as "freaking amazing" I immediately checked it. As it turns out, this looks like just my kind of book. It's sounds Simone Elkels-esque, which is win #1. Win #2 is that the overall premise sounds absolutely spectacular, and Win #3 is that it's been getting FAB reviews. In short, I NEED this book ASAP, if not sooner!

Cross my Heart is now out!

In My Mailbox (158)

2012-02-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

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

Physical Copies for Review:

The Hunger Pains: a Parody by The Harvard Lampoon- This one looked too hilarious to pass up!

White Horse by Alex Adams- This one looks absolutely amazing! Plus it's a post-apocalyptic thriller!

The Summer Garden by Sherryl Woods- I'm starting to become a huge fan of the adult contemporary romance genre so I'm really looking forward to giving this one a try!

Where It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler (unsolicited review copy)- This was SUCH a great surprise!

eBooks for Review:

Under my Skin by Judith Graves- Really looking forward to this one! Look for an upcoming review/interview feature!

Scary School by Derek The Ghost- Not my typical kind of read, but it's supposed to be funny, so I decided to give it a try.

Much thanks goes to Judith Graves, Derek the Ghost aka Derek Kent, Kaitlyn at Simon and Schuster, Mellony at Simon and Schuster, Simon Pulse, and Eric at Planned Television Arts!

Cover Reveal for Evergreen by Brenda Pandos & Lucid by P.T. Michelle

2012-02-04T17:00:00.000-05:00

Two incredible new YA covers were recently sent my way, and I thought I would take the time to share them with you all today. So without a further ado...

Evergreen by Brenda Pandos

A kingdom on the brink of war.

A king on the fringes of insanity.

A family running for their lives.

Ash and Fin’s only desire is to be together and dive into their happily ever after, though their conflicting worlds work to pull them apart. Neither is ready to convert to the other’s life: become a human or a mer. Little do they know that somewhere in Natatoria a secret holds the fine fabric of everyone’s lives together. If the truth is discovered, Ash and Fin will no longer have the luxury of waiting. They’ll be forced to choose. But will it be for loyalty or love? Or will someone else make the choice for them if they can’t decide?

Enter the watery world of treachery, greed, and the binding mer kiss as the story continues with Evergreen, book two of Mer Tales.

I read Everblue, the first book in the Mer Tales series, this past summer and loved it! It was so much fun, because not only did it contain a suspenseful and unique plot, but some incredible main characters. Therefore, I can't wait to read Evergreen. Don't you just love the cover for it? I know I do!

More about the book/author: goodreads/website/blog/twitter/facebook

Brenda is also having a name Tatchi's Novella Contest for a $50 Amazon giftcard. All can enter! Details can be found here.

Lucid by P.T. Michelle

There's no summary for Lucid yet, so instead I've included the summary for the Brightest Kind of Darkness, the prequel to this, below:

Nara Collins is an average sixteen-year-old, with one exception: every night she dreams the events of the following day. Due to an incident in her past, Nara avoids using her special gift to change fate…until she dreams a future she can’t ignore.

After Nara prevents a bombing at Blue Ridge High, her ability to see the future starts to fade, while people at school are suddenly being injured at an unusually high rate.

Grappling with her diminishing powers and the need to prevent another disaster, Nara meets Ethan Harris, a mysterious loner who seems to understand her better than anyone. Ethan and Nara forge an irresistible connection, but as their relationship heats up, so do her questions about his dark past.

I'm really, really loving the cover of this one! The background in gorgeous and makes me crave fall. I'm actually in the middle of reading Brightest Kind of Darkness (review forthcoming!) right now and I'm really enjoying it so far! :)

More about P.T. and her books: Lucid goodreads/ Brightest Kind of Darkness goodreads /Twitter/ Facebook/ Website

Did you like one for both of the covers? Let me know below! :)

The International Kissing Club Blog Tour (Guest Post & Giveaway!)

2012-02-04T08:18:00.003-05:00

As part of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for The International Kissing Club, a book that I loved and reviewed here, Shellee Roberts, one of the three coauthors of book, is here today to take about her top ten guilty pleasures as well as offer a chance to win some great prizes (look towards the end for that part!)

Shellee’s Top Ten Guilty Pleasures

1) The Vampire Diaries – I was a late comer to this show, but I am obsessed. Looking forward to Thursday nights with the (preferably shirtless) Salvatore brothers can get me through the week’s rough spots.
2) White Chocolate Mochas – this beverage has more calories and fat than most meals, but when I really need a treat this is what I want.
3) Twilight Saga – I read all four books in a week and have seen all four movies to date on opening day. Shhh…tell no one.
4) Bacon – I know it’s weird, but if I could eat bacon everyday and not have it kill me I would.
5) Where’s My Water? – have you seen this app with the little alligator who wants a shower? This is where a lot of my time goes.
6) 80s hair bands – Bon Jovi, Warrant, Skid Row, Great White, Nelson (god, remember Nelson?); when it’s just me in the car and the windows are completely rolled up, this is my go to music.
7) Shipper videos on YouTube – I cannot believe I’m actually putting this out on the internet for the world to know, but I have seriously lost too many hours of my life watching fan vids of my favorite TV couples.
8) Fake-cheese nachos – like the kind you get at football games and the movie theater. I know it is probably the worst thing a human can put in their body but I love it. With extra jalapenos.
9) Spa facials and massage – When I hit the NYT Bestseller list I will do these every week. Until then I will do them more often than I can afford but not tell my hubby.
10) Lainey Gossip – First things I do when I turn on my computer in the morning is check email, review my calendar, groan, the hop to Lainey Gossip for a salacious dose of celebrity gossip.

What’s your guiltiest pleasure? Tell us in the comments (leave your email so we can contact you) to be entered to win the Around the World In 80 Kisses daily and weekly prize and also become eligible to win the Grand Prize, a Kindle Fire. For a list of all our Smooch Posts you can visit and earn more entries to win, visit us here.

The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams is the story of four best friends: Piper, Cassidy, Mei, and Izzy--the misfits of Paris, Texas. Their whole lives, they’ve dreamed of escaping small-town life and seeing the world. So when Piper is the victim of an embarrassing prank that goes viral online, she gets the idea that the girls should escape via the school’s international exchange program, in search of fun, love and internet redemption.

Emily McKay, Shellee Roberts and Tracy Deebs write under the pseudonym Ivy Adams. They shop, gossip and watch movies in Austin, Texas.

~~

Thanks for stopping by, Shellee!

To find out more about the book and Ivy Adams, check out the official International Kissing Club website, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and/or Goodreads!

Review: On a Dark Wing by Jordan Dane

2012-02-03T07:26:00.000-05:00

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

The choices I had made led to the moment when fate took over. I would learn a lesson I wasn't prepared for. And Death would be my willing teacher.

Five years ago, Abbey Chandler cheated Death. She survived a horrific car accident, but her "lucky" break came at the expense of her mother's life and changed everything. After she crossed paths with Death—by taking the hand of an ethereal boy made of clouds and sky—she would never be normal again.

Now she's the target of Death's ravens and an innocent boy's life is on the line. When Nate Holden—Abbey's secret crush—starts to climb Alaska's Denali, the Angel of Death stalks him because of her.

And Abbey finds out the hard way that Death never forgets.

Review:

Even though I wasn't the biggest fan of In the Arms of Stone Angels, Jordan's debut YA, I still decided to give On a Dark Wing a try. It seemed interesting, and the reviews coming in for it made it sound like a worthwhile read. As it turns out, I ended up liking it for the most part, even though I did have a few slight problems with it.

On a Dark Wing tells the story of Abbey, a girl who always been a slight outcast in her school. As I read more of Jordan's books, I'm starting to think she never really writes likable protagonists. Well, at least not in the beginning. It took me a long time to warm up to Abbey. She always seemed childish, especially with her whole Nate Holden crush, and I couldn't stand how little she trusted everyone even when when it involved something dire. However, I did start to like her just a bit more as the book progressed and she grew as a character. She grew up a lot to tell the truth, and by the end, I was happy to see where her character was going. The character I enjoyed from the start, though, was Tanner. Tanner was the underdog, the boy's who has always loved Abbey, even though she fails to realize it. Tanner was a sweet kid, one who I constantly rooted for, especially when it came to him getting Abbey. On a Dark Wing also introduced the POV of Nate Holden's Abbey's crush. He wasn't a big favorite of mine, because I couldn't really find a common ground with him, but I did enjoy his Denali mountain story.

On a Dark Wing possessed a great premise, and I especially enjoyed how Jordan Dane delivered it. It was the type of story that was easy to predict from the start, but still managed to surprise you here and there as well as keep your attention. I especially enjoyed the addition of the Angel of Death subplot. He was an interesting character, and I never was really sure just how he was going to end everything. Another interesting part of the book was Nate's Denali climb, as mentioned before. It's something I would never do, but it was still fascinating to see the level of preparation that goes into such a climb as well as just how sour everything can turn in just about a second.

Lastly, Jordan's writing in this one was decent as well. She did a great job of switching back and forth between various character POVs as well as really capturing their feelings as well as their thoughts. All of this had made me excited to see what's up next for her.

In all, On a Dark Wing is a interesting and fast paced paranormal YA.

Grade: B

On a Dark Wing (Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes and Noble) is now out!

Source: Publisher via Netgalley (Thanks Harlequin Teen!)

More about the author/book: website/twitter/blog

Review: Incarnate (Newsoul, #1) by Jodi Meadows

2012-02-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

New soul

Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

No soul

Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

Heart

Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life.

Review:

I've been looking forward to reading Incarnate by Jodi Meadows ever since I first heard about it. The premise sounded amazing, and I'm always on the lookout for new authors. Plus I just adored the cover! As it turns out, Incarnate by Jodi Meadows was an enjoyable and well developed debut, even though it was a bit slow to start in the beginning.

Incarnate introduces the character Ana, the first new soul in thousands and thousands of years. From the first page, I was instantly captured by her voice and I looked forward to finding out more about her and her past. However, it took me a while to truly like Ana. She's someone who is incredibly broken. She's never truly been loved and cherished in her life, and more times than one she's been left to fend for herself, especially when it involves her mother. Therefore, Ana doesn't trust easily nor does she really let herself live in the moment, and while there was times where I wanted nothing more than to shake her on the shoulders, and tell her to live her live to the fullest, I understood where she was coming from, which made the point where she finally let loose so to say all the better. The development of Ana as a character was seriously one of the best parts of the book, because not only was her trip emotional, but it also was worthwhile and interesting to see. Along with Anna came Sam, an old soul who takes Ana under his wing. Sam was someone who I instantly adored from the start. He was sweet and kind, and I just loved the way he was with Ana. Better yet, I adored the wide variety of characters that came with his entrance. Everyone of his friends were even more interesting, diverse, and likable than the one before, and even his enemies brought a lot to the table.

The world in Incarnate was another high point. I always enjoyed finding out more about heart and its creatures as well as the rules and customs it has developed over time. I also liked hearing more about Jonah and what his character meant for the rest of the souls, especially Ana. Actually, the most interesting thing about Jonah was how he was Heart's "god" so to say and his word was what they followed. It was a religion in someways and not in others, but either way, it introduced an unique aspect to the novel.

The plot of the book was the only part where I was iffy about. The premise was amazing don't get me wrong. The idea of souls reincarnating over and over was fascinating, and ideas and mysterious behind Ana's soul were even more so. The story, though, just took a while to get going. A lot of the first chapters developed the characters and Heart, and while that was essential to the book, I would have loved a little more action thrown in. However, by the end, everything was at an equal spot character, development, and plot wise, and I couldn't be happier that I stuck with it.

Lastly, Jodi Meadows writing in this was fantastic. She did a fabulous job of creating Ana's character in way that made her realistic given her surroundings but also likable, and I also enjoyed how much detail and time she put into everything. And that ending?! Seriously spectacular! I can't wait to see what happens next.

While Incarnate is a slow building novel, it truly becomes one of a kind by the end! So my advice? Get your hands on a copy and give it a try. It may take some effort to get through the first half, but trust me: it's all worth it in the end.

Grade: B+

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

Source: Publisher via Netgalley (Thanks HarperTeen!)

More about the author/book: website/twitter/facebook fan page

Giveaway: The Butterfly Clues by Kate Ellison

2012-02-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

Thanks to the lovely people at Paper Lantern Lit, I have ONE SIGNED hardcover copy of The Butterfly Clues by Kate Ellison to giveaway!

About the book:

Penelope (Lo) Marin has always loved to collect beautiful things. Her dad's consulting job means she's grown up moving from one rundown city to the next, and she's learned to cope by collecting (sometimes even stealing) quirky trinkets and souvenirs in each new place--possessions that allow her to feel at least some semblance of home.

But in the year since her brother Oren's death, Lo's hoarding has blossomed into a full-blown, potentially dangerous obsession. She discovers a beautiful, antique butterfly pendant during a routine scour at a weekend flea market, and recognizes it as having been stolen from the home of a recently murdered girl known only as "Sapphire" – a girl just a few years older than Lo. As usual when Lo begins to obsess over something, she can't get the murder out of her mind.

As she attempts to piece together the mysterious "butterfly clues," with the unlikely help of a street artist named Flynt, Lo quickly finds herself caught up in a seedy, violent underworld much closer to home than she ever imagined--a world, she'll ultimately discover, that could hold the key to her brother's tragic death.

More about the book/author: website/goodreads/amazon/barnes and noble

Book Trailer:

Official Giveaway Rules:

~ Must be 13 years or older to enter!

~ Internationally Open!
~ Giveaway ends February 13, 2012 and the winner will be announced on Valentine's Day aka The Butterfly Clues' release date!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Crave (The Clann, #1) by Melissa Darnell

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

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Savannah Colbert has never known why she's so hated by the kids of the Clann. Nor can she deny her instinct to get close to Clann golden boy Tristan Coleman. Especially when she recovers from a strange illness and the attraction becomes nearly irresistible. It's as if he's a magnet, pulling her gaze, her thoughts, even her dreams. Her family has warned her to have nothing to do with him, or any members of the Clann. But when Tristan is suddenly everywhere she goes, Savannah fears she's destined to fail.

For years, Tristan has been forbidden to even speak to Savannah Colbert. Then Savannah disappears from school for a week and comes back…different, and suddenly he can't stay away. Boys seem intoxicated just from looking at her. His own family becomes stricter than ever. And Tristan has to fight his own urge to protect her, to be near her no matter the consequences….

Review:

Crave is one book I've been looking forward to reading for a while now, but have been putting off due to its length (it's a little over 400 pages). However, I recently decided to give it a shot, and I'm so glad I did, because not only was it interesting and lots of fun, but also it was a book I just flew through at rapid pace even with its slightly large page count!

Crave is told from of the view points of Savannah and Tristan. Savannah is a girl who keeps to herself, trying not to bother anyone else. However, everything changes when she learns a surprising part about her family as well as herself. Suddenly, she has the eye of everyone in town in good and bad ways. It took me a while to warm up to Savannah to tell the truth. She was just a little too Ms. Goody Two-Shoes at times. However, as the book progressed, and I really got to see into her life, I started to like her a lot more. I loved how she was dedicated to dancing, even though she couldn't dance in the team herself, and I also enjoyed how far she would go to protect her family and friends. She truly was a sweet girl, and I can't wait to see more of her in the sequels. Tristan, on the other hand, is the typical high school golden boy who can do no wrong, but who his also severely disgusted with his own life. I liked Tristan from the beginning, because not only did he take risks for the things he loved, but he also had a lot of heart to him. Together, Tristan and Savannah were quite the couple, and while there love is nothing but easy, all the drama and twists that came from it was nothing but fun as well as intense!

With Savannah and Tristan came a variety of secondary characters, ones who I loved and ones who I didn't. One of my favorites, though, would have to be Savannah's grandmother who was quiet the lady to say the least as well as Savannah's best friend Anne who was Savannah's rock in more ways than one. I also really enjoyed the addition of the Charm dance team, and I even liked seeing the Clann kids, because even though I didn't find them all that likable, the drama they caused still managed to provide lots of valuable plot development.

The basic premise of Crave is nothing new, but nonetheless, I enjoyed it quite a bit. For one, it was fun and thrilling. I also enjoyed seeing how everything worked behind the scenes at the Clann as well as what they were exactly. Another high point was Tristan and Savannah's relationship, because not only did it provide a major plot line, but I just loved the whole forbidden angle of it, even though it was just a tad bit cliche. The best part of the story, though, were the chapters leading up to the climax. They were eventful and exciting, and I have to say, I didn't see some of it coming.

In all, Crave by Melissa Darnell is a worthwhile debut, one that I highly suggest to fans of paranormal YA. However, once you're done with this one, you'll be DYING to read the next one...trust me!

Grade: B+

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

Source: Publisher via Netgalley (Thanks Harlequin Teen!)

More about the author/book: chapter 1/website

Review: Hallowed (Unearthly, #2) by Cynthia Hand

2012-01-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

For months Clara Gardner trained to face the fire from her visions, but she wasn’t prepared for the choice she had to make that day. And in the aftermath, she discovered that nothing about being part angel is as straightforward as she thought.

Now, torn between her love for Tucker and her complicated feelings about the roles she and Christian seem destined to play in a world that is both dangerous and beautiful, Clara struggles with a shocking revelation: Someone she loves will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

In this compelling sequel to Unearthly, Cynthia Hand captures the joy of first love, the anguish of loss, and the confusion of becoming who you are.

Review:

After devouring Unearthly, last year's prequel to Hallowed, I found a new series and author to follow, so when the chance came to read and review the sequel, I jumped at the chance. I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next to Clara, Tucker, and Christian. Thankfully, Hallowed was even more amazing than the first book. It made me laugh. It made me cry. And best of all, it provided a well developed arc to the story. I couldn't have been any happier to tell the truth!

One of my absolute favorite parts of this book was the characters. I really liked all of them in the first book, but in this one, I just out right adored them. Every single one grew greatly as the book progressed, and I love the paths that they're on. Just like in the first book, Clara is my favorite. Her feelings presented in this one always seemed realistic given the situations, and best of all, she grew to be even more kick-a## in this one! Seriously, this is one girl you don't want to mess with! I also enjoyed seeing the return of Tucker as well as Christian. However, I have to admit: I'm officially on team Christian. There's just something so enchanting and swoon worthy about that boy!

The plot in this one was another high point. From the first page, the action began. There were even more twits and turns contained in this one than the last book. Some were surprising, shocking, and/or just plain out crazy, but they managed to really move this book at a fast and fun pace! I especially enjoyed the emotional turn this book took towards the end. I knew something bad was going to happen from the summary, but I couldn't have ever imagined just what would've occurred. It blew me away, and to be honest, I shed a couple of tears...okay maybe a more than just a couple. I also enjoyed the development in the angel plot as well as the romance one. The angel one provided to be even more fascinating, and the romance one was sweet and adorable, even though my favorite didn't really lead...

Lastly, Cynthia Hand's writing was great in this one! She really dug into the emotions and feelings of her characters in this one...seriously I loved just about every way she spun the book in this one! I can't wait to see what's up next.

Bittersweet as well as fast paced, Hallowed by Cynthia Hand manages to be a great addition to the Unearthly series!

Grade: A+

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

Source: Publisher via Netgalley (Thanks HarperTeen!)

More about the book/author: website/blog/twitter/chapters 1 to 5

In My Mailbox (157)

2012-01-29T10:57:00.002-05:00

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

Physical Copies for Review:

The Butterfly Clues by Kate Ellison (unsolicited)- I've been really looking forward to reading this one, and since I already have an ARC, I'll probably giving one of my copies away soon! :)

Kings of Colorado by David E. Hilton- Looks different from my usual read but really interesting!

eBooks for Review:

The Earthquake Machine by Mary Pauline Lowry- I'm not the biggest fan of the cover but the story still seems unique.

Netgalley:

Partials by Dan Wells- I've heard so many good things about this one!

Much thanks goes to Netgalley, HarperCollins, Mary, Deb/Egmont, and Amanda at Simon and Schuster!

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

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 is 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, mild mannered while Jo was fierce, and someone not to mess with. I also enjoyed the addition of their friends as well as perspective 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!