Panda Reads

The end.

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 22:08:00 +0000

It is with a heavy heart but lighter shoulders that I say good-bye to my blog today. It's a decision I haven't come to lightly, but my responsibilities between work and home and grown to the point where I simply cannot keep up with my blog. The thought of having to write a well-thought out review has been preventing me from reading recently. Quite simply, I want to go back to reading for me and for fun. This past year, my blog has unfortunately become more work than fun.

If you have been following my blog, I cannot thank you enough. The response to Panda Reads was much greater than I ever anticipated and even though I never made it to superstar status I appreciate each and every one of you. If you want to keep up with what I'm reading, please feel free to follow me on Goodreads.

Thank you and goodnight.

Fates

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Fates
Lanie Bross
336 pages
Releases: February 11, 2014
Publisher: Delacorte
Source: NetGalley
★★★☆☆

You can read the Goodreads summary here.

Corinthe has been exiled from her home in Pyralis and sent to the human world. There, under the guidance of her mentor, Miranda, she must complete several tasks before she can return home and be with her sisters. Her tasks involve making sure people's fate turns out as they are supposed to, including making sure they are in the right place at the right time for death. But her final task is new... she must actually kill. Problem is, she's feeling more and more human these days and she's starting to fall for her target, Lucas.

Not gonna lie, I was drawn in by the cover of this book. I was searching through NetGalley for something new and the blues and greens of this cover really drew me in. The description sounded like something I would like, so I requested it. Good job, Delacorte, for this gorgeous cover that's sure to draw readers in.

Fates really made me think about the question of choice versus fate. Do we have free will or is everything planned out for us? Sure we have choices, we make them every day, but are we really choosing or is the outcome already predetermined? These are fun things to ponder, especially if you're into Philosophy - it reminded me a lot of my PHL101 class in college. Although I spent time reflecting on this while reading, it wasn't something the author spent a lot of time on.

Like I said, Fates has a gorgeous cover, but a cover alone does not a good book make unfortunately, and I found more problems with this book than I found things to love. What stood out the most to me was the author's writing style - it seemed simplistic to me and I noticed it a lot more in the second half of the book. Also, I don't know if this was a formatting problem with my eGalley, but there didn't seem to be much of a distinction between scenes. That, combined with the fast paced nature of the book, made me feel like I was on a literary bullet train. I love fast paced novels, but it seems like the book lacked some detail that would have enriched the text.

Three stars. There were more downsides to this book for me, though ultimately I liked it enough to give it three stars. Fates might not have done it for me, but I can see a readership out there. I think fans of Aprilynne Pike's Wings series would adore Fates. If you're a fantasy or mythology fan, this one's for you.

Blog Tour: The Lair (The Farm, #2) by Emily McKay

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Sat, 23 Nov 2013 05:22:00 +0000

The Lair
Emily McKay
424 pages
Released: November 5, 2013
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Source: the publisher
★★★★☆

You can read the Goodreads summary here.

NOTE: This review will contain SPOILERS from The Farm. Proceed with caution.

Just about a year ago I read and reviewed The Farm and really enjoyed it. It was unique and I spent most of the time while reading it on the edge of my seat, so naturally when the opportunity arose to review The Lair, the sequel to The Farm, I was all over that. (FTC: I received a copy from the publisher for free, but that did not affect my review.)

The Lair picks up where The Farm left off - Mel is now a vampire and must come to terms with not only her new existence, but also the fact that her autism is now gone. The world is a completely different place for her as she navigates vampirism with Sebastian - the vamp that changed her. Meanwhile, Lily and Carter arrive at Base Camp with a very pregnant McKenna.

I was on the edge of my seat while reading The Farm and I was for most of The Lair, as well. This fast paced follow-up is full of twists and turns to keep you on your toes. Lily and Carter are forever trying to come up with a plan when before you know, circumstances have changed and so must their plans. I guess it just goes to show, if you're living in a post-apocalytpic world filled with vampires and Ticks - you've got to be flexible!

Pretty much everything in The Lair was interesting to read about - there are so many things I could talk about! Relationships are key in this series and there are two major ones that come to mind - Lily and Carter, and Lily and Mel. Lily and Carter's romance was in high gear in the first novel, and while they are still together in the second, I didn't feel that same chemistry between them. Maybe times are just too stressful for them to have that kind of chemistry, since pretty much everything falls on the line in The Lair. And course - Lily and Mel who have spent all their days together until point when they are separated for the first time ever. I admired their courage and resilience in being apart, though they never forgot about one another.

In addition, I was immediately drawn more into McKenna's story this time around since the birth of her baby as imminent. In a world with essentially no doctors, I knew teenage pregnancy could be dangerous, but imagine trying to handle being pregnant while also fearing for life. I can't even. McKenna is such a quietly courageous character and I rooted her, especially in her birth scenes.

Of course, probably the most interesting part of the novel was the ending - now, obviously I cannot give that away, but there were several moments of "What?! I did not see that coming!" The whole ending set up the scene for what I can only assume is a forthcoming third book, although Goodreads is quiet on that matter.

Four stars! I really liked The Farm and The Lair was an impressive followup. The only complaint I have is I wish there had been more Mel in this book, but I have a feeling we'll be seeing more of her in the next novel. If you haven't started this thrilling series yet, you might want to check it out soon!

Gratitude Giveaway Hop!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Thank you thank you thank you! I love the Gratitude Giveaway Hop because it's a way to thank my followers for just that - following me! Enter via the Rafflecopter below to win a ten dollar Amazon e-gift card. All you have to do is follow me one way or another: GFC, Bloglovin, Networked Blogs, Twitter (@daspanda)… however you want! Thanks so much!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Reunion Lie

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 20:46:00 +0000

The Reunion Lie
Lucy King
224 pages
Publisher: Harlequin KISS
Releases: November 19, 2013
Source: NetGalley
★★★★☆

You can read the Goodreads summary here.

On a whim, Zoe decided to attend her high school reunion despite the fact that she was bullied by practically everyone in attendance. She thought her successful professional career would finally impress them, but instead all they care about is her love life. On the spot she makes up a boyfriend and convinces a stranger at the bar to play the pretend boyfriend… but little does she know that Dan Forrester is more than she bargained for and soon the two are embarking on something much more real.

Ah! It's so strange for me to get all excited over a romance novel, but I really liked this book! I was drawn in right away and read the whole thing on one sitting, turning the page as fast as I could so I could see what was going to happen next. It is a romance novel, so we know how it's going to end, but watching Zoe and Dan get there was so much fun, they took so many twists and turns it was like a roller coaster. And you know I'm a sucker for romances where the girl accidentally falls in love with a famous person (Decked with Holly by Marni Bates is another great read, especially this time of year!)

What I loved the most was the way the author tied Zoe's past as a high school student in with her current life. As a fan of YA, I really enjoyed that realistic glimpse at Zoe's past and how she was still struggling to overcome it. As we all know, Bullying is a real epidemic right now and a book focusing on the outcomes for those who are bullied will always be relevant. Zoe didn't need saving, but it was great to see Dan's primal instincts come out when he found out about the bullying. That's when I knew they had to be together!

A quick note about the Harlequin KISS line of books - it's a relatively new line for the publisher and I've been wanting to try them out for awhile now because they seemed so refreshing. This is the second books I've read from the line and I've really enjoyed both. They seem to feature independent, driven women who know how to balance their careers with love. They also feature some pretty steamy scenes, which is always a plus, eh?

Four stars! The Reunion Lie and the rest of the Harlequin KISS line seems like a refreshing change for the romance publisher. I'm looking forward to reading more KISS books soon and I recommend them for those readers who like traditional romance occasionally, but are sick of the formulated plot lines.

Between The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Fri, 08 Nov 2013 00:47:00 +0000

Between The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
April Genevieve Tucholke
360 pages
Released: August 15, 2013
Publisher: Dial
Source: library
★★★★☆

You can read the Goodreads summary here.

Another YA book with shockingly absent parents, but Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea was absolutely fantastic. I spent most of the novel quite enthralled with the storyline. Twins Violet and Luke live in a huge, old mansion in a small town. Their parents are off painting who knows what in Europe. so they're left to their own devices for the summer. Violet is reading outside one day when River West, a complete stranger, shows up to rent her guesthouse. But soon things in town start getting strange; children claiming to have seen the devil, brandishing sticks in a cemetery; a man slits his throat and commits suicide right in the middle of town; a little girl goes missing... something's going very wrong and even though Violet thinks River has something to do with it, she's too in love to care.

Right, so how can you not be drawn in by a plot like that? River was admittedly swoon-worthy when he's first introduced in the novel and even though it was obvious something was up with River, like Violet I just didn't care. Their romance is front and center at the beginning of the book, and while it was insta-love, it wasn't the kind so many readers roll their eyes at. Instead, their insta-love was an integral part of the plot because it was River who made it happen.

But soon it's not just Violet that's affected by River, it's practically the whole town and that's when I snapped out of my dreamy "I love this book because of the love!" and realized something was seriously wrong with River. The difficult part, however, was figuring out what was wrong with River. River is liar and it's hard to know when he's telling the truth. So it was a bit of a relief when one of this relatives showed up to clear things up. Meanwhile, people were dying and children were acting crazy.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a definite page turner. If it wasn't one thing then it was another that kept me turning the pages. Mixed in is a mystery surrounding Vi's deceased grandmother and their family history. And if you thought all I've mentioned so far sounds crazy, just you wait until the climax of the novel! I can't even... I was so concerned when I finished the book, I had to rush and find out if there was a planned sequel, and thank goodness there is.

Four stars! If you love creepy book, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a must read! It ended in such a fashion, I cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel... in summer 2014. *gulp* What a long wait.

Get a free gift when you preorder Racing Savannah!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Fri, 08 Nov 2013 00:15:00 +0000

From Sourcebooks....

They’re from two different worlds, but Savannah isn’t exactly one to follow the rules. . . get the next contemporary novel from blockbuster YA novelist Miranda Kenneally: RACING SAVANNAH!

Right before her senior year, Savannah’s father whisks the family off to Tennessee to work as head groom at fancy Cedar Hill Farms. Savannah finally sees it as the perfect opportunity to earn extra money as an exercise rider—no matter how many others don’t want a girl around the barn. But she’s also caught the eye of Jack Goodwin, the owner’s son. She knows the rules: no mixing between the staff and the Goodwin family. But Jack has no such boundaries. With her dream of becoming a jockey, Savannah is not going to let someone tell her a girl isn’t tough enough to race. Sure, it’s dangerous. Then again, so is dating Jack.

We’ve put together a fun campaign to thank readers for pre-ordering: send us your proof of pre-order and we’ll send you this fabulous horseshoe key chain!

A Gift for You, for Pre-Ordering RACING SAVANNAH by Miranda Kenneally

We have a special offer for U.S. and Canada YA fans for the release of RACING SAVANNAH by Miranda Kenneally in stores in a little over three weeks! If you pre-order the book, we will send you an exclusive horseshoe key chain—perfect for any busy teen on the go! You have until December 2 or until quantities run out.

Here’s how to get your charm:
1. Pre-order the book (print or eBook) through any retailer (Barnes & Noble, Amazon, your local independent bookseller/Indiebound, Books-A-Million, Hastings, etc.)

2. Email your proof of purchase (receipt or picture of the receipt) to teenfire@sourcebooks.com. Put “Racing Savannah Pre-Order” in the subject line. Don’t forget to include your home address (US & Canada only please) so we can send you the horseshoe key chain! If you’ve already pre-ordered this book—not a problem! Send us your receipt!

3. You will get an email back confirming when the items have been sent out.

4. Enjoy Racing Savannah when it comes out in December!

Optional: take a pic of you and your horseshoe key chain and share it with Miranda Kenneally or Sourcebooks Fire on Twitter! You can find Miranda @mirandakennealy and Sourcebooks Fire @sourcebooksfire.

The Darkest Path

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 04:06:00 +0000

The Darkest Path

Jeff Hirsch

336 pages

Released: September 24, 2013

Publisher: Scholastic

Source: NetGalley

★★☆☆☆

You can read the Goodreads summary here.

Oh, what a bummer. I absolutely loved The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch, and I thought Magisterium was pretty good, too, so when I saw The Darkest Path on NetGalley I was like, "Hell yeah I want to read that!" I feel kind of deflated now and this review will probably be short because I hate writing bad reviews.

There's a civil war going on in the United States, or what's left of it anyway, and Callum and his younger brother are in the Glorious Path - a militant religious group slowly taking over the country. But Cal wants out, so he and his brother set out with a dog named Bear. His brother returns to the Glorious Path, but Cal continues on... battles, trouble, and convienient help ensue.

The Darkest Path is a boy book. Now before you get all up in arms about gender-izing books, let me tell you I'm the last person to believe in "boy books" and "girl books." Books are books if you like them, great, and if you don't, I don't think your gender has much to do with it. But as I read The Darkest Path, all I could think was that it was a boy book and it's hard to say why specifically. Perhaps it was the violence or the crummy romance story, but I've enjoyed plenty of other books filled with violence (Quarantine, for example) or crummy romances (hello, Twilight was my first book love).

Let me get off of that topic though and give you some real reasons The Darkest Path didn't do it for me. The plot didn't hold my attention - that's number one. I kept putting the book down and picking it up days later. Number two - it was a bit confusing. Every time I picked the book back up, I had to remind myself which side was which and who was winning. And thirdly, the romance. As I mentioned before, it was pretty crummy and didn't do much for me, which is fine I guess because the romance was the main point of the story.

On the positive side, I do think the book has a serious and important political message. But I hate talking about politics in public places, so it's up to you to read and figure that one out for yourself.

Augh, I just don't know, but this one gets only two stars, unfortunately. But if you're a dude, pick this up and give it a try. Maybe I should make my husband read it and tell me what he thinks...

Reality Boy

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 03:35:00 +0000

Reality Boy
A.S. King
368 pages
Released: October 22, 2013
Publisher: Little, Brown
Source: NetGalley
★★★★★

You can read the Goodreads summary here.

I'll admit it up front, I've never read anything by A.S. King before, so I didn't really know what to except out of Reality Boy, except that its description on NetGalley really drew me in. I didn't get anything close to what I excepted though - I thought I was going to get a fluffy comedy piece about a kid who used to be on television and is now struggling with the after effects. I expected maybe a three star book filled with humor, instead I got a hard-hitting, honest book, filled with realistic, raw emotion... a five star read hands down and you should pick up a copy today.

Gerald was five when a camera crew came into his home to film some episodes for Network Nanny (think Super Nanny). Soon Gerald was known across the country as "The Crapper," the kid who crapped on the kitchen table, his sister's bed, and his parents' shoes. But now Gerald is seventeen and the world still knows him as "The Crapper." Gerald has anger issues and he desperately wants to escape his public persona, but how?

I immediately realized Reality Boy wasn't going to be fluffy at all, but that turned out to be for the best because what I did get was a book I couldn't put down. I was sucked into the story right away, which alternated between Gerald's present time and scenes from episodes. The stories unravel simultaneously and it becomes apparent quickly that Gerald isn't crapping on tables for a simple "behavior" problem. Instead, there are deeper family issues at work. But evidently deeper family issues don't sell interesting television, because for the entire book "Nanny"did not pay attention to what young Gerald or his siblings were trying to tell her. Instead, the shows were scripted and scenes were filmed repeatedly. The story the public saw was fake, so is it any wonder they thought Gerald was just some dumb kid who crapped on his family's things.

But I really and truly felt bad for Gerald for the emotional abuse his sister and mother put him though. As the novel continues both Gerald and the reader learn about what really happened and I was appalled at his mother. I don't want to spoil it, but I don't understand how any mother can act in the way she did and then try to get pity for herself. I certainly didn't give her any.

There's also a love connection in Reality Boy and while it was a significant part of the novel, it wasn't a love-y dove-y romance at all. In fact, Gerald's anger coach and told him repeated to not get involved with girls because eventually they would just do things that angered him. But when Gerald met Hannah and they started to fall for each other, I knew he had no choice but to give love a chance. Their relationship added a real balance to the story line and helped keep Gerald grounded. They had their cute romance moments, but it was clear that each of them needed the other for a little bit of saving.

And how incredibly poignant at this day in age, when "reality" television dominates the airwaves, the more dramatic the better for ratings, but who really thinks about what it does to people? How about the young children on these shows, what will their lives be like when they're teenagers? I was thinking about the Gosselin children the most as a I read this book - America was fascinated with their family and then there was all kinds of fallout regarding both of their parents. How will they grow up? Only time will tell, but maybe we should be using Reality Boy as a warning.

Five stars! Read this book!

Series Review: Burn for Burn

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 02:47:00 +0000

Burn for Burn
Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian
358 pages
Released: September 18, 2012
Publisher: Simon and Schuster BFYR
Source: purchased
★★★★★

You can read the Goodreads summary here.

Why, oh why, did I wait so long to read this book? I had heard great things about it, purchased it, and yet there it sat on my shelf for nearly a year before I picked it up. Well, I'm so glad I did because Burn for Burn was a fantastic book and the start of a really wonderful series.

Burn for Burn is told from the point of view of three different girls. Lillia and Kat used to be friends in middle school, but drifted apart in high school thanks to their "friend" Rennie. The third point of view is from Mary, a girl who has switched schools for the school year. What's fantastic about these alternating points of view is they're diverse - each girl has a different personality and is coming from a different place. I think Mary's point of view was the most interesting to me because she's the outsider and has such a traumatizing past, but what I really loved was that despite their differences, Lillia and Kat both took Mary under their wings and befriended her. The three girls are a motley crew, but they have each other's backs. Love it!

I'm not going to lie, despite the great reviews I had read about this book, I was afraid that Burn for Burn would be a stereotypical novel about high school girls bullying other high school girls. Far from it, there wasn't much about this book that was stereotypical at all, starting off with Lillia, who was Asian. I can't remember the last time I read a YA novel with a prominent Asian character and it was refreshing. Also, much to my relief, Burn for Burn went far beyond the reaches of high school bullying. We learn a lot about Mary's backstory, for instance, which is centered around her being bullied in middle school, but when the three girls come together, they aren't out to bully back... they're out for revenge. And so begins their quest to ruin the lives of those who have hurt them the most.

There was one strange part to Burn for Burn though... it read like a contemporary novel straight through the end, but hinted very slightly at the paranormal. When the book ended I still wasn't sure whether or not it was 100% contemporary. I really think it could go either way and while I really wouldn't classify Burn for Burn as a horror novel in the least, fans of Carrie will love it, as will contemporary fans who enjoy the occasional book about difficult topics or strong friendships. Five stars!

Fire with Fire
Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian
528 pages
Released: August 13, 2013
Publisher: Simon and Schuster BFYR
Source: Little Shop of Stories (Thanks, Kim!)
★★★★☆

You can read the Goodreads summary here.

Well thank GOODNESS Kim at Little Shop of Stories had supplied me with the advanced reading cop of Fire with Fire, because as soon as I put Burn for Burn down, I picked up Fire with Fire and started reading. Thankfully, the story picked up right where Burn for Burn left off and I was immediately plummeted back into the story. I'm going to do my best here to not give away the dramatic ending from Burn for Burn, but be warned this review definitely contain spoilers from Burn for Burn.

So after said dramatic ending, the girls start to question their plans for revenge. Have they gone too far? Well, they must not have been too concerned with this since they continue on, focusing more on revenge for Mary, who was taunted by Reeve in middle school. They come up with the perfect plan for Mary's revenge - since Reeve is in Lillia's group of friends, Lillia will reel him in and trap him in a fake romance, then dump him in front of everyone so he can experience at least some of the heartbreak that he made Mary feel a few years ago.

Sounds foolproof, right? Ha! Things start going wrong all over the place and over the five hundred plus pages, Lillia struggles to capture Reeve's romantic attention and when she does have it they fight frequently. Will Mary get the revenge she's been dreaming of? That's all I'm going to say except you really should pick up this series.

Speaking of Mary, at the end of the first book I wasn't sure whether or not there was something paranormal going on with her, but there definitely is and I was surprised to see it happen, but at the same time the book still didn't feel paranormal to me. It felt just as realistic as the first book. Mary's powers grow stronger as the book goes on and she's trying to figure out exactly what they are, why she has them, all while dealing with family issues like her increasingly unhinged auth and completely absent parents. The ending of the book brings a HUGE revelation about Mary. I was completely and utterly shocked - did not see that one coming and that one moment at the end of book two makes the whole entire thing worth it (not that it wasn't worth it before, bur you know that I mean!)

Four stars! The book would have gotten five, and it should with that ending, but the book was so long and dragged a little in the middle. Nevertheless, I absolutely loved it and I cannot wait to read the next book, Ashes to Ashes, when it comes out next year. Such a long wait...

Note: as of this post going live, the ebook for Burn for Burn is only $1.99. It's definitely worth it, I think you should download it now and give it a go.

SPOOKTACULAR GIVEAWAY HOP!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 04:00:00 +0000

Ah! My favorite time of year... the air is getting cooler and things are getting considerably more... spooky! I'm happy to be participating in the fourth annual Spooktacular Giveaway Hop. Enter via the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win a Spooktacular book of your choice up to fifteen dollars. Here are some spooky suggestions...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Belle Epoque

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 17:26:00 +0000

Belle Epoque
Elizabeth Ross
326 pages
Released: June 11, 2013
Publisher: Delacorte
Source: library
★★★★★

You can read the Goodreads summary here.

Why oh why did I wait so long to read this book? I got it out of the library as soon as the had it available then renewed it twice, ran out of time and returned it. I immediately checked the book out again then renewed it twice and decided it was now or never - I read this book two days before it was due and as soon as I'm done typing up this review, I'm driving to the library to return it. Guys, GUYS - don't make the same mistake I made, I absolutely loved and adored this book and I'm mad at myself for renewing it for twelve weeks, preventing anyone else from checking it out and loving it, too.

Maude, a spunky young girl in France during the mid-ninteenth century, runs away from home when she discovers her father has betrothed her to the butcher. Knowing there's more for her in this life than to be a wife to a small town butcher, she flees to Paris with a vague job ad in her hand. But when she applies for the job in person and is accepted she learns what the job is really about - she's now a repoussoir. The agency hires unattractive young women who are then rented by wealthy families to stand near their debutante daughters at society events to make their daughters look more attractive.

This concept was a little stunning to me. Sure in real life people sometimes make friends with the less attractive to feel better about themselves - hello, it's called middle school - but I had no idea this was an actual business is nineteenth century France, and the authors note at the end of the book confirmed it. I immediately felt for Maude. It must be humiliating and horribly bad for one's self esteem to be reminded of one's flaws every single day. However, the pay was excellent and Maude took it in such stride most of the time that I was much more interested in her interactions with her client and her client's family.

Maude is immediately hired out by a countess for her daughter, whose first season is about to start. But the catch here is that Maude has been hired for the entire season and the daughter is never to find out. Maude is to befriend Isabelle and then report back to her mother about potential suitors. Plots like this never end well, in books or real life, so I knew some high class drama was on the way and was it ever. But aside from that, we learned a lot about Isabelle, who wasn't your standard young debutante. In fact, I absolutely adored Isabelle! She had her own dreams and she wasn't going to let her mother's dream of her marrying rich get in the way - until Maude stepped in and suddenly had the moral dilemma of doing her job, or helping a new friend. I won't spoil it - but you'll be surprised and you must read this book!

Five stars! I love you, Belle Epoque, and I'm sorry I neglected you for so long. It's back to the library now where hopefully someone else will pick you up and love you just as much.

One Day Kindle Deal - Truly, Madly, Deadly!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Fri, 04 Oct 2013 14:20:00 +0000

You know I love a good deal, especially when it comes to ebooks, so I'm thrilled to be sharing a great deal with you today - Truly, Madly, Deadly by Hannah Jayne (Sourcebooks, 2013) is only $1.99 today for Kindle! But it's just for today, so go check it out... I already got my copy and I can't wait to read it. Here's the summary from the publisher:

Truly Madly Deadly is an edge-of-your-seat thriller about love, obsession and murder. Sawyer Dodd has it all. She's a star track athlete, choir soloist, and A-student. And her boyfriend is the handsome all-star Kevin Anderson. But behind the medals, prom pictures, and perfect smiles, Sawyer finds herself trapped in a controlling, abusive relationship with Kevin.
When he dies in a drunk-driving accident, Sawyer is secretly relieved. She's free. Until she opens her locker and finds a mysterious letter signed by "an admirer" and printed with two simple words: "You're welcome."

And in celebration of this one day deal, I have the play list from the author along with some descriptions of why she choose those songs for her book! I love a good book playlist, so here goes...

There is so much emotion in TRULY, MADLY, DEADLY that the playlist had to reflect the same. Love, danger, terror – the book is packed with it and the playlist is, too!

1. Aftermath Lifehouse

2. My Song Knows What You Did in the Dark Fallout Boy

3. Time-Bomb All Time Low

4. Fighter The Fray

5. Ready Set Go Outasight

6. Nobody Listen Lifehouse

7. Flagpole Sitta Harvey Danger

8. Run Don’t Walk Hey Monday

9. If I Lose Myself Tonight One Republic

10. Hey Beautiful Seven Foot Wave

11. Stuck In The Middle Boys Like Girls

12. Brave Sara Bareilles

Aftermath is slow and a little dark; it reminds me of Kevin’s funeral. The lyrics, “If we can make it through the storm/become who we were before/promise me we’ll never look back,” haunt Sawyer as she walks up the Anderson’s stairs.

Besides being the best song title ever, My Song Knows What You Did in the Dark fits Sawyer and Kevin’s dangerous relationship. Sawyer walks down the hill the night of Kevin’s death. His words are drowned out by the pulse of this song – “So light ‘em up, up, up/Light ‘em up, up, up/I’m on fire.”

Time Bomb – “it was like a time bomb set into motion” – is Maggie’s and Sawyer’s first run-in, that Monday after the funeral.

I imagine Lucas looking so forlorn as he walks down the hall – I hear Fighter playing behind him: “Maybe we were meant to be lonely, lonely/maybe we were meant to be on our own.”

Ready Set Go is upbeat and fun, the perfect getting ready for the game song.

Sawyer’s run in with Mr. Hanson is intense – Nobody Listen – intense. “Everybody talk/Nobody listen/Nobody listen…”

Sawyer runs to the beat of Flagpole Sitta. Can’t you just hear her sneakers pounding out, “paranoia, paranoia/everyone is coming to get me/just say you never met me”?

Sawyer reads the second note with trembling breath, and the song Run Don’t Walk pulses through the hallway.

If I Lose Myself Tonight and Hey Beautiful filter out of a house party – calm, sweet lyrics before the storm.

Sawyer’s father drags her home and she’s terrified, looking over the destruction of her new baby sister’s nursery. She hears Stuck In The Middle, the words, “I know things’ll get better/Hold it together/Take your time.”

Finally, during the last few paragraphs, we hear Brave: “I wonder what would happen/if you say what you want to say/and let the words fall out/Honestly/I want to see you brave.”

The baby’s nursery

Stuck In the Middle Boys Like Girls

I know things’ll get better

Hold it together

Take your time

Stuck in the middle

The end

Brave Sara Bareilles

I wonder what would happen

If you say what you want to say

And let the words fall out

Honestly, I want to see you be brave

The second note

Nobody Listen Lifehouse

Wipe Your Eyes Maroon Five

Better With You Kris Allen

Shouldn’t Come Back Demi Lovato

I Choose U Timeflies

Ready Set Go Outasight (the football game)

Time-Bomb All Time Low

Run, Don’t Walk Hey Monday

Aftermath

So there you have it! Be sure to check out this great deal on Kindle today.

Find Me

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Sun, 29 Sep 2013 01:05:00 +0000

Find Me
Romily Bernard
307 pages
Released: September 24, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Goodreads win!
★★☆☆☆

You can read the Goodreads summary here.

It's been such a long time since I won a Goodreads Giveaway and I was so excited to win something from one of my favorite publishers, I was so sure this book was going to be a hit. Alas. It was not. But, let's start with the positive! I loved Wick and her sister. Both characters, despite their inherent differences and outlooks at life, seemed extremely realistic given their circumstances. On top of that I loved Wick's computer skills. Was she breaking the law? Yes. Was it for a good reason though? Yes. But beyond that, I love a YA novel that shows off that a girl can do anything they want. Wick had mad computer skills and if we could get more young girls interested in computers, math, and science in the U.S. we would be in a much better place. *steps off soapbox*

So why wasn't this book my cup of tea overall? This first thing that struck me right away was the lack of character development and plot set up. I wasn't looking for an info dump - please, we all hate those - but a little more information up front would have been helpful. I read the first two pages two or three times before deciding to plow ahead and eventually it all fell into place.

A couple other things about the book threw me off, as well. The overall plot sounded interesting me, but as I read it felt disjointed. I get that it was supposed to be a mystery, but that plot mixed with Wick's subplot about hacking was too much, I felt like both storylines were fighting each other for dominance. Interesting concept, but meh execution with this book.

Two stars. Find Me was okay, but the lack of character development and what felt like a choppy plot at times detracted from the promise of a good story. Still, if you're intrigued, it might be worth a look.

Quarantine: The Saints

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 02:57:00 +0000

Quarantine: The Saints

Lex Thomas

400 pages

Released: July 9, 2013

Publisher: Egmont

Source: the publisher

★★★★☆

You can read the Goodreads summary here.

WARNING: This review contains spoilers from the first book in the series. Don't spoil it for yourself! If you want to check out my review of the first book instead, you can find it here.

Quarantine: The Saints picks up right where Quarantine: The Loners left off, Will and Lucy are just about to escape McKingly high and its violent hallways, when the unthinkable happens... a bus slams into the school's exit, trapping the remaining students in the school once again. But there are new students on the bus and their entrance into the school brings with it the ability to get better supplies, which leads to huge parties and a whole new dynamic in the school.

At first I couldn't get over how Lucy and Will were so close to freedom only to have it taken right from their grasps. I was concerned that The Saints would be the same thing as The Loners (which don't get me wrong, I loved The Loners a lot and its Lord of The Flies-esque drama) but I was hoping for something more from The Saints. Happily, I can report I got something even more amazing in The Saints. The simple introduction of a few new characters completely changed the living situation in the high school. In fact, it was Gates who changed the whole school.

Oh, Gates. Gates, the leader of the new group, had a very distinct personality. I'm quite sure he had some sort of mental disorder going on, but I'm not a doctor so I can't diagnose. He was very clingy to those he loved, he loved power, and he loved to show off. As a result, he had the adults of the community, who also show up in this book, wrapped around his little finger. He demanded all kinds of supplies and used those supplies to throw parties. Gates' parties were pretty epic at McKinley high, you'll have to read for yourself to find out about all the random things he used to do.

Still, like I said, his presence really changed the school. With his ability to acquire supplies, the tension around finding food and bartering relaxed, and so did the cliques. Sure, you still have your distinctive groups, but there was a lot less group-on-group violence in this book. But don't think this installment is weak - far from it. There was one death in particular that stuck out to me as particularly gruesome. Yiiiikes. Teenagers left to their own devices with almost anything they could ask for - it's a dangerous combination.

And yet, despite it's uniqueness, The Saints still had some of what I loved the most from The Loners, particularly Will and Lucy. Their relationship continues to be on again off again and I loved watching them, rooting for them to get it together and be together.

Four stars! Quarantine: The Saints was a superb follow up to Quarantine: The Loners. I was really impressed with the plot and how the authors were able to change the dynamic at McKinley high simply by introducing a new group of characters. And the ending of the book! I'm on the edge of my seat, again, waiting for the next book in the series. I'm definitely hooked and if you haven't had a chance to check out this series, give it a look; I don't think you'll regret it!

PS: When I finished reading Quarantine: The Loners last month, I knew I had to get my hands on the sequel as soon as I could, so I'm grateful to Egmont for sending me a spare galley they had. Even though the book was sent by the publisher, this did not affect my review and I wasn't compensated in any way.

Banned Books Week Giveaway Hop!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Sat, 21 Sep 2013 04:00:00 +0000

It's Banned Books Week again! This week we're celebrating our right to read by reading some books that have been challenged and/or banned. If you want some information about Banned Books Week, here's a link to the ALA website and a link to a few lists of frequently challenged books. Peruse those lists because I will be choosing one winner to win a banned book of their choice! Hooray! Enter via the Rafflecopter below and be sure to check out those Terms & Conditions when doing so. Then check out the dozens of other participants in the hop. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In The Shadow of Blackbirds

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Sat, 21 Sep 2013 03:56:00 +0000

In The Shadow of Blackbirds
Cat Winters
387 pages
Released: April 2, 2013
Publisher: Amulet
Source: purchased
★★★★★

You can read the Goodreads summary here.

In The Shadow of Blackbirds was going to be on my reading list regardless, but when my book club begged me to return and told me we were reading this book, well, let's just say it got moved up on my list. Quick note: it would be so easy to make this review spoiler-ish, but I'm going to try very, very hard not to. As result, it might be vague. It might sound kind of blah, but IT'S NOT! In The Shadow of Blackbirds is one of the best books I've read this year.

When sixteen year old Mary Shelley's father is hauled off to jail for trying to keep young men out of the draft during WWI, she moves in with her aunt in San Diego. Supposedly the air is better out west and will help keep the Spanish Flu away, but by the time Mary arrives the Flu epidemic is in full swing there, as well. Anyway, Mary's never believed in ghosts but her aunt is a fan of a photographer who claims to be able to capture spirits in his pictures. As a result, Mary is sucked into a world with ghosts and a public desperate to reach into the afterlife and speak with the deceased loved ones. Adding to that, the novel is peppered with a few very creepy photographs, which I adored.

But there's more. Mary Shelley is in love, but before you think there's going to be a sweet romance in the novel, let me tell you the boy, Stephen - brother to the aforementioned photographer, enlisted in the army and is overseas in Europe. Still, while the couple isn't holding hands and swooning every other page, their romance is evident through letters and a little background from the author. The two seem so well suited for each other, I was really rooting for them.

What else can I mention to entice you without giving away dramatic plot points... there are seances! Those are always good for some old-timey, creepy fun. And I should mention Mary's aunt, Eva, who is in fact only in her twenties. Still, for the time period she is something of a spinster and a cat lady, though instead of a cat she has a bird who likes to chatter at people and is actually something of an integral part of the plot. Eva might have been a little paranoid, but she was a great character.

I have read paranormal books in the past and I have read historical fiction, but never before have a read a novel where the two genres were married together so perfectly. The book is rich in historical accuracy and the fact that it takes place in such a traumatic, isolated time in American history works so well with the paranormal aspect. As a result, the paranormal in this novel seems much more realistic than it might have otherwise. Even if you don't think ghosts could exits, this book will keep you guessing about what's real and what's not.

Five stars! This book is perfect for this time of year - fall and Halloween is right around the corner, so go pick up In The Shadow of Blackbirds immediately.

Mini Reviews!

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Sat, 21 Sep 2013 03:34:00 +0000

You can't tell because my blog has been a deserted wasteland since September 3rd, but I've actually been doing a lot of reading. I used to be so motivated to blog my reviews, to the point where I refused to start a new book until the review of the previous had been posted. But... there's a small stack of books next to me that either says I'm a slacker, or simply human. Either way, it's time to catch you up on some of the fun things I've been reading. A YA novel, a NA novel, and an adult novel. A little something for everyone.

Fallen Too Far (link to Goodreads)
Abbi Glines
188 Kindle pages
Publisher: the author
Source: purchased
★★★★☆

AH! *fans self off* This new adult book was simply steamy and fun. I purchased it for my Kindle after seeing Abbi Glines speak at the Decatur Book Festival. She had such personality on the stage and she really sold her stories, so I decided to start with this one. Nineteen year old Blaire has left Alabama to move in with her wealthy father, but instead she finds Rush, her new step-mother's son, in the house. It's a whole new lifestyle for Blaire, with huge mansions, lavish parties and country clubs, where she decides to get a job. Of course, then there's the sexy Rush who is guarding a huge secret (that I saw coming, but still...) This book was such a guilty pleasure for me, it drew me in and I read it all in one sitting. The chemistry Abbi creates in her writing is simply palpable. I really recommend this one for New Adult fans!

Werewolf in Alaska (Goodreads)
Vicki Lewis Thompson
316 pages
Publisher: Signet Eclipse
Source: purchased
★★★☆☆

Sometimes I just want some fluffy and fun to read, so with that in mind I headed off to Barnes & Noble yesterday. Yes, yesterday. I was wandering the romance aisle's new releases hoping for something Christmas-y (don't judge) when I was drawn in by this book's title and cover instead. I visited Alaska in 2012 and really miss it, plus the description on the back of the book really drew me in - Rachel makes a living as a famous wood carver and lives across the lake from Jake, who is secretly a werewolf. They've been watching each other for three years across that lake, but it all comes to a head when Rachel is attacked by a bear in Jake saves her in wolf form. This book started out slowwwly, but picked up in the middle and then had a very rushed ending. Still, I found Rachel and Jake's romance cute and definitely steamy. This is a great read if you love mass market paranormal romance. Evidently it's fifth in a series, the rest of which is probably worth checking out. The werewolf politics in this series seems really well thought out by the author. Thompson seems great at world building, though not moving the novel along at constant speed.

The Murmurings (Goodreads)
Carly Anne West
370 pages
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Source: the library
★★★☆

On a more serious note, I also recently finished The Murmurings, which has been on my radar quite some time because of its delightfully creepy cover and description. Sophie is mourning the loss of her sister Nell, after she "went crazy." But Sophie knows there was more to it than that, since she is hearing the same murmurings her sister did and is starting to see those strange things in the mirror, as well. After finding an unlikely partner in the new boy in town, Evan, they start investigating the hospital where Nell stayed and what the real story is behind the sketchy facility. While The Murmurings wasn't as creepy as I thought it would be, it definitely had its horror movie moments. (People dragged up to the ceilings, dangling upside down by one toe? Uh, hello, scary!) Evan and Sophie's chemistry was great and reading about Sophie's difficult home life really added to the plot. I really enjoyed this one and couldn't put it down, even though it made me wonder if I was hearing voices, too... dundundun.

By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 20:31:00 +0000

By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead

Julie Anne Peters

200 pages

Released: January 5, 2010

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Source: swapped for

★★★★☆

You can read the Goodreads summary here.

Daelyn is done. After her latest suicide attempt failed, she's determined not to fail this time. She signs up for a social website filled with others determined to kill themselves. The site gives her ten days before she has to end her life.

I put off writing this review for a week because I didn't know what to say. Quite simply, I don't think I have the vocabulary to describe how deeply this book touched me. This book was excruciatingly difficult to read because of how realistic it is and it's going to be hard for me to write this review as a result.

Each of the ten days Daelyn has left is chronicled in this book. Despite the fact that she's already decided to end her life once and for all, her life sort of goes on. Her parents continue to be annoying, she continues to not take her meds, and she continues to close everyone out of her life. But she meets Santana after school one day while she waiting for her mother to pick her up and Santana simply won't leave her alone. He slowly weasels his way into her life, much to Daelyn's chagrin.

I should mention that Daelyn isn't able to speak. We learn early on in the novel that she's wearing a neck brace and something has happened that prevents her from speaking. I assumed it was because of her previous suicide attempt, but I couldn't figure out exactly what happened. When I finally learned what happened, I just ached. My heart just ached for Daelyn. She's obviously fictional, but as I mentioned, the book - and Daelyn's character in particular - is so unbelievable realistic that I yearned to do something for her. I'm choking up a little bit even now, thinking about it.

Four stars. This book was extremely difficult to read but extremely worth it. If you or someone you know has had an experience bullying, depression, and or suicide, I highly recommend this one - with a box of tissues.

Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Mon, 02 Sep 2013 20:02:00 +0000

Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer
Katie Alender
304 pages
Releases: September 24, 2013
Publisher: Scholastic
Source: NetGalley
★★★★☆

You can read the Goodreads summary here.

You can't deny the catchy cover here, which is mainly the reason I requested this book from NetGalley. But aside from the eye-catching cover, Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer contains a pretty interesting plot. Colette Iselin - whose family originally hails from France - is headed to Paris on a class trip with her spoiled best friends. But when the girls arrive in France, they become aware of a serial killer on the lose, who has been beheading victims. Soon Colette is seeing visions of a young woman dressed in 18th century clothes and with the help of her charmingly adorable tour guide, Colette investigates to uncover her connection to Marie Antoinette and the murders.

This the the first book by Katie Alender that I've read (although I do have Bad Girls Don't Die on my shelf waiting to be picked up) and I wasn't disappointed. Alender has the ability to weave and interesting and fast paced plot. I started the book late last night, battling insomnia as usual, but found myself fighting sleep off later to try and finish the book. (I'm getting too old for this kind of reading, haha!) What gripped me right away was the mystery between Colette and her relationship to Marie Antoinette. Before leaving home, Colette found a necklace with a special symbol on it that belonged to her grandmother and then, upon visiting Versailles, Colette starts seeing the symbol everywhere in association with Marie Antoinette. Could they be related somehow? The mystery unravels into something of a secret society, something fans of Dan Brown and the like will really enjoy. And that's not even to mention the murders that tie in as well!

Aside from the gruesome, paranormal murder mystery on Colette's hands, which is sure to be a draw to any reader, I actually found Colette's personal journey much more interesting. Her two best friends are two of the most spoiled, ridiculous, slap-worthy characters I've ever read in YA literature. Props to Alender for creating such nasty but enjoyable characters! Anyway, Colette was headed down the same self-centered path until her parents split and she's suddenly without money. Reality slowly hits Colette in the face and with the help of said charmingly adorable tour guide, Jules, she really grows as a person throughout the novel. I love a story where the main character grows like this. I also love a story with a little romance, which wasn't lacking in this book, either, and reminded me a little of Anna and the French Kiss.

Four stars! Paranormal fans will surely enjoy Marie Antoinette's new hobby and contemporary fans will drool for the relationship between Colette and Jules. Marie Antoinette is a fast paced, quick read so add it to your fall reading list!

Piece of my Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Piece of My Heart
Lynn Maddelena Menna
239 pages
Released: June 18, 2013
Publisher: Merit Press
Source: the publisher
★★★☆☆

You can read the Goodreads summary here.

Books about teens who are aspiring singers never really do it for me, but last week I noticed a few really good reviews of Piece of My Heart floating around the Internet, so I decided to pick this one up off my advanced copy shelf and give it a read. This is one of the better books Merit Press has put out this year (I couldn't even get past the first twenty pages of Screwed) but it still fell short for me.

Marisol is still in high school, but she's harboring big dreams about being a popular singer. She and her DJ friend work several parties where she warms the crowds up for karaoke. Then at a party she's discovered and is soon thrown into a world of rappers and fancy parties. Classic Cinderella story - if Cinderella was from East Harlem.

All of the characters in Piece of My Heart fell flat to me, so I won't take up your time talking about all of them, but I will talk about Marisol since she's the main character. I'll be blunt: I don't get Marisol. She's supposed to be from "the mean streets of East Harlem" but nothing mean seems to be happening in her neighborhood. Also, I tend to assume that characters from "mean streets" aren't exactly well off if you know what I mean, but Marisol stated a couple times in the book that she wasn't hurting for money and she has no problem accepting expensive gifts from people who barely know her.

But what I really, really didn't about Marisol was her love for her boyfriend, Julian. They're on again off again because he hates that her job singing at clubs keeps her from him. I just got such a horrible, controlling vive from Julian and I wanted to slap Marisol and tell her to wake up! Any guy who wants you with him 24/7 and doesn't want you to pursue your dreams is not worth your time. Hello! Their relationship was so frustrating to me, I wanted to shake something. Marisol's relationship with the other males in the novel aren't exactly... well... let's just say she doesn't make smart choices about the opposite sex at all. Yuck.

I had a couple issues with the writing style of the book as well. A couple times the setting changed rapidly and without indication such that I was a little confused. For example, the end of chapter one finds Marisol at a club after finishing her song and meeting the famous music manager, Pablo Cruz. The beginning of chapter two finds Marisol still swooning about Pablo Cruz in a bathroom. As the reader, I assumed she was in the bathroom of the club she just sang at, but in actuality it's a few days later and she's in the recording studio. Some earlier indication of the scene change would have been useful. The book also had a few continuity issues - even on the first page! Marisol is supposed to be singing at a high school graduation party, but in the very next paragraph it's birthday party. How did no one catch this before it went to print?

Three stars. I rated this book three stars when I finished it five days ago, but now that I write this review I'm struggling to find something positive to say so I think it might be closer to a two star book. Just, meh. If you hardcore love books about teenage singer wannabes, by all means pick this up, but otherwise maybe give it a pass.

Never Let You Go

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Sun, 25 Aug 2013 01:18:00 +0000

Never Let You Go

Emma Carlson Berne

229 pages

Released: December 4, 2012

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Source: swapped for

★★★★★

You can read the Goodreads summary here.

Never Let You Go would be the perfect teen suspense movie. It's got a charming setting - beautiful summer weather on an idyllic farm where a bunch of young adults are spending their summer working and learning - topped off with suspense, deceit, and one very, very unhinged young lady. Megan has been invited by Anna to work with her on her uncle's farm this summer. This is a relief to Megan considering the fall out the two girls had a year ago when Megan kissed Anna's boyfriend. She's spent the year trying to win Anna back as a friend and now things are going to be back to normal.

Or are they? Anna's met a boy at the farm whom she's falling for. She wants Jordan more than anything, but despite her plentiful advances, Jordan seems to have eyes for Megan and she for him. Things around the farm start going wrong quickly, too, when a newborn foal keeps escaping the barn... and that's just the beginning.

It was clear from the beginning of the novel that Anna was a little bit unhinged. Clearly she hadn't gotten over what happened the year before and I knew it was only a matter of time before she did something nuts. When Anna really did start to lose it, I was completely enthralled with the book. Turning the pages quickly, I couldn't wait to see what she would pull next. By the end of the book, she had be shocked. I mean, I knew she was crazy, but I didn't know she was that crazy! And the last three words of the book really got me. Really got me.

One part of the plot I wish had been developed more was Anna's relationship with her aunt and uncle. She despises her aunt, but is overly friendly towards her uncle. I kept thinking there was something salacious going on behind the scenes, but nothing ever came of it. But that's okay, the ending of the novel completely threw me for a loop and shocked me, so how could I not love this book? I may or may not have hugged it when I finished. (Hint: I did.)

Five stars! If you take a look at the ratings on Goodreads you'll notice not a lot of people have read this book, let alone given it five stars (19 out of 165 as of this post going live) but I cannot understand why! This book was a quick, easy read that takes place during the summer, campfire and barn dance included - so to me it's the perfect read for this time of year, but on top of that it was utterly suspenseful and captivating. I was on the edge of my seat just waiting for Anna to become completely unhinged. I really do recommend this one, go check it out!

Quarantine: The Loners

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 04:37:00 +0000

Quarantine: The Loners
Lex Thomas
404 pages
Released: July 10, 2012
Publisher: Egmont
Source: purchased
★★★★☆

You can read the Goodreads summary here.

It's supposed to be a normal day in David's life when he and his younger brother head off for the first day of school in their brand new high school building. But things go dramatically wrong when the east wing of the school explodes and the remaining parts of the school are welded shut and blocked off by troops. Thanks to biological warfare, a virus had attacked the school, infected all the students. All the adults perished immediately, leaving a high school full of students to their own devices, closed off from the world save the occasional supply drop via helicopter.

Quarantine has been described in so many ways. The blurb on the book says "A Modern-Day Lord of the Flies," a quote on the back cover compares to Divergent, and I wouldn't be surprised to hear people comparing it to the Hunger Games, either. I mean, if you had to pick I'd go with Lord of the Flies, but let's skip the comparisons. Quarantine simply is Quarantine - a kickass, edge of your seat, "holy crap did that really just happen!?" thriller.

Going into the book I knew some sort of adult-less society would be forming in the high school, but I imagined it completely different than it played out. I thought the kids would get together and form some sort of democratic society and sure, I expected violence to ensue as well as some other teenaged antics, but what I got was a lot different. No government formed, instead social groups started banding together to form gangs - you had your jocks, your cheerleader types, the nerds, the artsy kids, and so on. And while I'd love to say, that's so stereotypical, let's give teenagers these days some credit, I can't. My high school was like that, and I'm sure yours was too to some extent.

The dynamics of these gangs really intrigued me, though. They had each others backs and did want anyone messing with their groups. So when supply drops happened, they had plans and fought for food. A rudimentary trading a monetary system developed in the school. It was a bit like a society, but certainly a lawless one. As I mentioned before, I expected violence in this book, but certainly not to the extent I witnessed. I'm not going to lie, I was a little shocked at some of the things I read! Shocked in a good way, I don't want to give away specifics, but I think you too will be in awe of what these gangs were capable of.

Four stars! Quarantine was just as good as I was hoping it would be, even if it was a completely unexpected experience. I loved every minute and the book only loses one star from me based on the arbitrary nature of the disease, which we don't really learn about as much as I would have liked. Still, I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in the series! If you're a fan of post-apocalyptic craziness, Quarantine is a book for you!

Rebel Spirits

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Rebel Spirits
Lois Ruby
300 pages
Released: June 1, 2013
Publisher: Point
Source: purchased
★★★☆☆

You can read the Goodreads summary here.

So here's what happened - I was at Barnes & Noble the other night with the rest of my Christmas giftcards itching in my pocket. Wait, let's all take a minute and be impressed that I was able to stretch my book buying giftcards to August - oooh, ahhh. Anyway, I was browsing the YA aisle when this cover caught my eye. What a dapper young gentleman in uniform. What a catchy tag line. I read the blurb and what - it takes place in Gettysburg? I knew I had to buy it. Here's the thing - I've been to Gettysburg more times than I can count. As a child, almost every single summer road trip started with an overnight in Gettysburg since we were usually always headed South and it was a reasonable stopping distance from our home in Buffalo. I will admit, part of the thrill of reading Rebel Sprits was recognizing all the places the author mentioned.

But let's get on with the actual story. Lorelei (aka Lori) has been uprooted by her parents as they move from Philadelphia to Gettysburg so they can run their own Bed & Breakfast. When they get there they find a mysterious staff already there, but Lori finds something more mysterious in her bedroom - a ghost. They're immediately attracted to each other and fall madly in love and...

Oh gawd, inter-paranomral-instalove.

The fact that Lori had a bout of instalove with a ghost kind of threw me off. I believe in ghosts and it just doesn't seem very plausible to me, but I'm willing to overlook that for the sake of the story, especially since this guy was evidently pretty handsome and had a mystery that needed to be solved. Yes, he died at Gettysburg but he didn't die from a war related injury - someone murdered him. Dun dun dun! But who? In order for him to rest peacefully, Lori need to solve that mystery. Oh, and she only has a few days left to do it.

To further complicate things, the gardener has the hots for Lori, too. Oh gawd, inter-paranormal-love triangle. But that's okay with me, because when you have an option between ghost or real human flesh, there's only one clear option to me. That option wasn't as clear to Lori, though. So she carries on her murder investigation with the help of the gardener and a ragtag group of locals/B&B guests. Meanwhile, there's also a fancy dress ball - fun! And why is the staff acting so weird - ou, mysteriousness continues.

Three stars! I don't think Rebel Spirits is a book the average reader would exclaim over, but if you're a nerdy history buff like me who also likes a touch of the paranormal in their reading, this is definitely a book to check out.

The Rules for Disappearing

noreply@blogger.com (Sandra) — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 18:36:00 +0000

The Rules for Disappearing
Ashely Elston
312 pages
Released: May 14, 2013
Publisher: Hyperion
Source: library
★★★★★

You can read the Goodreads summary here.

Everything is about to change again - uprooted from yet another life by the Witness Protection Program, Meg is on her way to Louisiana with her parents and little sister. This is the sixth time they're moving and it's not getting any easier, especially since with every move she feels her original identity slipping further away. Her father won't tell her why they're in the Witness Protection Program. Now, plagued with nightmares, Meg is determined to find out the truth.

This book blew me away. I loved every minute, from the moment we're thrown into the story as Meg is forced to change her appearance for the upcoming move, to the moment the book ends on a "OMGWTF" moment, but I'll get to that later. The Rules for Disappearing is a completely unique plot line. I have to give the author props for coming up with that and her plot twists. It's obvious from the start that there's something fishy going on with this family, but it's hard to know what, especially since Meg has no idea why they're even in the program. But I had a couple suspicions.

Meg made all sorts of rules for herself for this move (hence the title of the book) like don't make any friends, don't join any clubs, don't stand out... but human nature goes against her as she starts developing feelings for a boy at her new school. What's great about Ethan is that he's completely supportive of Meg. Obviously something's up with her, but he doesn't push her and he let's her do her thing for the most part. They had a sweet little romance that wasn't dipped in insta-love. It seemed pretty realistic aside from the fact that I'm not aware of too many teenage guys who are as understanding and sweet as Ethan.

But ah, those plot twists! I half guessed at the first one and was mostly right, although I had no idea how dramatic it would be when the truth came out. When we finally found out why Meg and her family was in the program, I was a little surprised at how in-depth the problem was. From that point on the book became all about how to fix it so Meg didn't have to be in the program anymore. More than anything, she just wanted to live a normal life - and who could blame her as the program was tearing her family apart.

The second plot twist came in the second last chapter of the book. I'll just say I was right about one of the characters, but I still have no idea what their motivation was. This was me as I finished the book: "Whaaaa?" *Turns the page... there's nothing left but the acknowledgments. Shakes the book furiously to see if another chapter will appear. It doesn't.* It wasn't an earth-shattering cliffhanger, but it was definitely left open ended. Thank goodness I discovered there's going to be a sequel! I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for it.

Five stars! The Rules for Disappearing was a fantastic novel I did not want to put down, resulting in my being rather sluggish at work Wednesday after a Tuesday night readathon. I've read a couple luke-warm reviews of this book but I don't understand - this book was unique and full of drama. Quite simply, it was amazing. If you're a contemporary fan, this is a must read!