Books Most Wanted

Review: Moonset by Scott Tracey

2013-04-04T08:30:00.000-05:00

Moonset by Scott Tracey

Paperback, 384 pages

Published April 8th 2013 by Flux
Source: ARC, NetGalley
Buy the book: Amazon : B&N : Goodreads

From Goodreads:

Justin Daggett, his trouble-making sister, and their three orphan-witch friends have gotten themselves kicked out of high school. Again. Now they’ve ended up in Carrow Mills, New York, the town where their parents—members of the terrorist witch organization known as Moonset—began their evil experiments with the dark arts one generation ago.

When the siblings are accused of unleashing black magic on the town, Justin fights to prove their innocence. But tracking down the true culprit leads him to a terrifying discovery about Moonset’s past . . . and its deadly future.

Moonset was a great surprise for me! I thought it would be a solid, good book, but did not expect it to wow me like it did.

The reader is thrown right into the lives of the Moonset five right out of the gate. School problems on an unimaginable level bring them to yet another new school. Here they learn that a lot of things in life are not accidents and things are NEVER as they seem. The story gives new meaning to the old saying "History is written by the victors." Sometimes you just have to be there to know what really happened. This set of friends endure so much because of past events. It fuels them and gives them a steadfast desire to prove themselves, but some act in more appropriate ways than others. Their story of overcoming the bans set upon them is phenomenal with all the events that blow up on them. You won't be able to put this one down once you get started. There is always a turn or something poking its head around the corner to jump out at you.

The characters truly make this story. I thought that five may be a little much for main characters, but Tracey really makes it work. It never feels overloaded or choppy. On top of this, other characters play key roles in areas that you normally wouldn't see them. Ash and Quinn has essential roles, but still are practically in the background a majority of the time. A couple characters had quirks that I didn't favor too much, but it really didn't detract from the book for me. I just skipped over a couple of lines and went about my way. They all are likeable in various ways and that made them easy to connect to. For me, all of their bantering conversations made them realistic and that made me enjoy them even more. I cannot wait to see where Tracey takes this story. I believe it can only get better with the groundwork that's been laid out!

Review: The Stone Demon by Karen Mahoney

2013-03-28T09:00:00.000-05:00


The Stone Demon by Karen Mahoney Paperback, 336 pages Expected publication: April 8th 2013 by Flux Source: ARC, NetGalley Buy the book: Amazon : B&N : Goodreads

From Goodreads:

After being tricked into opening the doorway to the Demon Realm by Aliette, the Wood Queen, Donna Underwood is faced with a terrible ultimatum from the newly released demon hordes. They demand that the alchemists deliver the Philosopher's Stone, or their reaper storm will plunge the world into a devastating modern-day Dark Age.

Donna is sent to London, England, where she must complete her alchemist's training and learn how to recreate the Stone. But time is running out. Between facing the vengeful demon king, Demian, and collecting the Stone's elements, Donna realizes she must give her own life in order to succeed. And this time, even braving death may not be enough to save the world.

The final installment of the Iron Witch series will take you for a ride and truly does live up to its predecessors. Donna and the gang face hard losses and challenges to overcome Demian and his army. Thankfully, they form an amazing group that wrangles through these incidents with their traditional clever tact. The process and journey they take is not easy and sometimes they trip up on what should be the simplest tasks. Normally, this would bother me but in this case it actually fits the story with the events occurring. It actually helps keep the book from being completely predictable. There are times you will probably think of similar series, but there is just enough of the author's touch to make it her own. Mahoney's keys are in the details. It's the little things she puts in the plot and characters that really make the difference. The snide remarks and small descriptions of Donna's arms in events all play a part, do your best to pay attention. You will particularly love the background information that we are privy to in this book. Info on Donna, her family, and especially Xan will let the characters come full circle for you. They slide past that awkward teenage phase and you get to see them begin to evolve into adulthood.

It would be so easy to give so much away. To justly define the book I would simply say that Mahoney masterfully wraps up loose ends and throws enough quirks in to keep you guessing and consistently turning the page. The Stone Demon does not disappoint, especially for those that already love the series. These fans will probably be dancing by the end and it may not even be for the reasons they think!

Waiting on Wednesday - March 27, 2013

2013-03-27T01:00:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme from Jill at Breaking the Spine. To join in, share the book or books that you are currently drooling over as you await their release and report back to Breaking the Spine with the link to your post. The gorgeous badge above is brought to us by Lindsay at The Violet Hour!

The grand finale to an amazing series from one of the most gracious authors I have met. There are so many questions left to answer and lines to wrap up in this one. I can't wait to get back in touch with Kate and Vincent and just see what happens with this "Champion" thing... ;)

If I Should Die by Amy Plum

Hardcover, 405 pages

Expected publication: May 7th 2013 by HarperTeen

From Goodreads:

I will not lose another person I love. I will not let history repeat itself.

Vincent waited lifetimes to find me, but in an instant our future together was shattered. He was betrayed by someone we both called a friend, and I lost him. Now our enemy is determined to rule over France’s immortals, and willing to wage a war to get what they want.

It shouldn’t be possible, none of it should be, but this is my reality. I know Vincent is somewhere out there, I know he’s not completely gone, and I will do anything to save him.

After what we’ve already fought to achieve, a life without Vincent is unimaginable. He once swore to avoid dying—to go against his nature and forsake sacrificing himself for others—so that we could be together. How can I not risk everything to bring my love back to me?

Review: Splintered by A. G. Howard

2013-03-23T09:00:00.000-05:00

Splintered by A. G. Howard

Hardcover, 384 pages

Published January 1st 2013 by Amulet Books

Source: ARC, NetGalley
Buy the book: Amazon : B&N : Goodreads

From Goodreads:

This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.
When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

The idea behind this Alice concept is amazing. The perspective Howard takes on the tale is wonderful and definitely different than many would be brave enough to try. Descriptions and excellent visualizations make this a great read for anyone. I simply wish there had been more originality in the book. I felt like I was reading just a deranged version of Alice in Wonderland. Yes, that is basically what it is, but there should have been more of the author's ideas thrown in somehow. The characters and their history's roles in the story are decently weaved into the traditional plot. It made the book very predictable, but Alyssa's and the others personalities make it worth it. Morpheus should have had a better role to play in the end. I think he was cheated of his true potential in the story. Jeb is sweet and great, but sometimes a story needs more than the boy next door. This is definitely one of those cases.

These aspects and the book's ending are what really brought this book down for me. Howard gives you a good ride through the story, but at the end you feel like you have been cut short. I seriously closed after the last page saying, "Wait, that's it?" I believe it to be a little bit of a miscalculation to just drop the ball with the characters like that.

Waiting on Wednesday - March 20, 2013

2013-03-20T01:00:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme from Jill at Breaking the Spine. To join in, share the book or books that you are currently drooling over as you await their release and report back to Breaking the Spine with the link to your post. The gorgeous badge above is brought to us by Lindsay at The Violet Hour!

Love the concept of this one! Especially since the incidents happen to the males instead of females. That's a nice change from the "damsel in distress" books. :)

Taken by Eric Bowman

Hardcover, 352 pages

Expected publication: April 16th 2013 by HarperTeen

From Goodreads:

There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends…and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?

Review: Princess of the Silver Woods by Jessica Day George

2013-03-14T08:30:00.000-05:00

Princess of the Silver Woods by Jessica Day George

Hardcover, 336 pages

Published December 11th 2012 by Bloomsbury USA Children's Books

Source: ARC, NetGalley
Buy the book: Amazon : B&N : Goodreads

From Goodreads:

When Petunia, the youngest of King Gregor's twelve dancing daughters, is invited to visit an elderly friend in the neighboring country of Westfalin, she welcomes the change of scenery. But in order to reach Westfalin, Petunia must pass through a forest where strange two-legged wolves are rumored to exist. Wolves intent on redistributing the wealth of the noble citizens who have entered their territory. But the bandit-wolves prove more rakishly handsome than truly dangerous, and it's not until Petunia reaches her destination that she realizes the kindly grandmother she has been summoned to visit is really an enemy bent on restoring an age-old curse. The stories of Red Riding Hood and Robin Hood get a twist as Petunia and her many sisters take on bandits, grannies, and the new King Under Stone to end their family curse once and for all.

The reader hits the ground running right from the beginning of this book. I thought this was a good thing until I realized I had no idea who half of the characters were. We're introduced to Petunia and her "wolf" right off the bat. These two are written well and really make the story like they should. They are extremely likeable and I found that I connected to them easily. Unfortunately, the other characters weren't so lucky with me. The sisters and their respective suitors were distant and sometimes aggravating to me. This is why I would probably read the other books in the series to get a better understanding of Petunia's story, but in no rush to learn about these others.

Adding to that frustration was the fact that magic just appeared here and there for no reason to me. However, this is when I realized that this was actually the final installment in the series. Everything finally made sense after that. After researching the series a little, I finally settled into the storyline once again. There were still incidents and actions that happened seemingly random, but the story managed to hold my attention right till the end. The perspective on the fairy tale was unique compared to many others I had read and I actually enjoyed this one the most.

Waiting on Wednesday - March 13, 2013

2013-03-13T01:00:00.000-05:00

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Hardcover, 592 pages

Expected publication: March 19th 2013 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

From Goodreads:

Danger intensifies for the Shadowhunters as the New York Times bestselling Infernal Devices trilogy comes to a close.

If the only way to save the world was to destroy what you loved most, would you do it?

The clock is ticking. Everyone must choose.

Passion. Power. Secrets. Enchantment.

Danger closes in around the Shadowhunters in the final installment of the bestselling Infernal Devices trilogy.

Review: Undeadly by Michelle Vail

2013-03-09T09:00:00.000-06:00

Undeadly by Michelle Vail

Paperback, 272 pages

Published November 20th 2012 by Harlequin Teen

Source: ARC, NetGalley
Buy the book: Amazon : B&N : Goodreads

From Goodreads:

The day I turned 16, my boyfriend-to-be died. I brought him back to life. Then things got a little weird...

Molly Bartolucci wants to blend in, date hottie Rick and keep her zombie-raising abilities on the down-low. Then the god Anubis chooses her to become a reaper—and she accidentally undoes the work of another reaper, Rath. Within days, she's shipped off to the Nekyia Academy, an elite boarding school that trains the best necromancers in the world. And her personal reaping tutor? Rath.

Life at Nekyia has its plusses. Molly has her own personal ghoul, for one. Rick follows her there out of the blue, for another...except, there's something a little off about him. When students at the academy start to die and Rath disappears, Molly starts to wonder if anything is as it seems. Only one thing is certain—-Molly's got an undeadly knack for finding trouble....

The concept won me over with this book, but the story itself could have benefited from a stronger heroine.

Molly is a horrible accident waiting to happen. This girl has the luck of a bad penny, but she always seems to just scathe by trouble. In many ways she is a typical teenager trying to make it through a regular school day. However, supernatural incidents keep reminding her that she is not quite normal. Just how not normal she is actually completely unknown to her until she gets to Nekyia. Here events open up a can of worms and Molly has no choice but to fall in line... Poor Rick. He gets drug along for the horrible ride, but is really a gem in the story. Rath. I adore him for some odd reason. He is a great character and compliment to Molly's naive personality.

Together, this set of characters will give you a chance to involve yourself in the story along with them. It does start off slow, but Molly's blunders quickly get it rolling. Whining and teenage angst slow it down in several spots as well. If that had deterred from the story, this would have been an easy 5 sticky book. Unfortunately, it made me flip through a few parts to hurry the story along.

Waiting on Wednesday - March 6, 2013

2013-03-06T01:00:00.000-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme from Jill at Breaking the Spine. To join in, share the book or books that you are currently drooling over as you await their release and report back to Breaking the Spine with the link to your post. The gorgeous badge above is brought to us by Lindsay at The Violet Hour!

I love a good story with a strong heroine. If this one lives up to its synopsis, it will be sitting on my shelves... Not too much longer to wait!

Poison by Bridget Zinn

Hardcover, 288 pages

Expected publication: March 12th 2013 by Disney Hyperion

From Goodreads:

Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she’s the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom’s future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend.

But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart . . . misses.

Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king’s army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she’s not alone. She’s armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can’t stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her?

Kyra is not your typical murderer, and she’s certainly no damsel-in-distress—she’s the lovable and quick-witted hero of this romantic novel that has all the right ingredients to make teen girls swoon.

Review: Parallel Visions by Cheryl Rainfield

2013-03-04T09:00:00.000-06:00


Parallel Visions by Cheryl Rainfield Paperback, 146 pages Published November 20th 2012 by Rain and Sun Press Source: ARC, NetGalley Buy the book: Amazon : B&N : Goodreads

From Goodreads:

Visions can kill you. Would you risk your life to save someone else’s?

Kate sees psychic visions of the future and the past—but only when she's having an asthma attack. When she "sees" her sister being beaten, she needs more visions to try to save her, along with a suicidal classmate—but triggering her asthma could kill her. Parallel Visions is the story of one brave, caring girl whose unusual gifts put her own life in danger.

A new YA fantasy from the award-winning author of SCARS and HUNTED

This was quite the little book. There is a whole lot of ground covered in short span, but the characters make it worth the ride.

Kate has an interesting dilemma. She has an asthma attack and a vision at the same time. No one believes her and most just think she is just "that sick kid that misses a lot of school." Then life intervenes. Issues with her sister and a friend's sister come up because of her visions and it doesn't lead to where you would think. Instead of creating complete conflict for Kate, it builds her life and opens doors for her that she couldn't have imagined. The build up to that point is a little slow, but then this book really picks up. The culminating events turned this one into a page turner quickly and almost leave you as breathless as Kate. Yes, some may say it is a little predictable and somewhat cliche when it comes to the romance part, but it makes the best out of the number of pages it is allowed. It is definitely a solid good book, but if it had been a "full-length" novel it would have been outstanding!

Review: Flesh and Bone by Jonathan Maberry

2013-02-28T08:30:00.000-06:00


Flesh & Bone by Jonathan Maberry Hardcover, 469 pages Published September 11th 2012 by Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers Source: Own Buy the book: Amazon : B&N : Goodreads

From Goodreads:

Reeling from the tragic events of Dust & Decay, Benny Imura and his friends plunge deep into the zombie-infested wastelands of the great Rot & Ruin. Benny, Nix, Lilah and Chong journey through a fierce wilderness that was once America, searching for the jet they saw in the skies months ago. If that jet exists then humanity itself must have survived…somewhere. Finding it is their best hope for having a future and a life worth living.

But the Ruin is far more dangerous than any of them can imagine. They are hunted by fierce animals escaped from zoos and circuses. They must raid zombie-infested towns for food and medical supplies. They discover the very real truth in the old saying: In the Rot & Ruin…everything wants to kill you.

And what is happening to the zombies? Swarms of them are coming from the east, devouring everything in their paths. These zoms are different. Faster, smarter, infinitely more dangerous. Has the zombie plague mutated, or is there something far more sinister behind this new invasion of the living dead?

In Flesh & Bone, Benny Imura, Nix Riley, Lou Chong and Lilah the Lost Girl are pitted against dangers greater than anything they've ever faced. To survive, each of them must rise to become the warriors Tom trained them to be.

One of my favorite series and it just keeps getting better and better. This installment takes the previous dangers met by our heroes and makes them look like teardrops falling into a five gallon bucket. The Rot & Ruin brings some horrific surprises for Benny and his crew!

The journey has already hurt them physically and mentally, but it continues to give our heroes grief. Things don't turn out anything like they thought they would. The cults they encounter are far more crazy than what they could have imagined. This takes their lives and journey into an entire new direction. The incident with Chong was one I was waiting for, just was not sure which character it would happen to. It will be interesting to see how the plot winds that one out. Especially with Lilah involved. We get to see so much more of her and her thoughts this time around and I loved every minute of it. She's become my favorite character.
Benny and Nix take on some almost hilarious scary events. They are totally plausible, but also laughable because that is all I would be able to do in those situations. Its that sad and horrific and I would be screwed. You will really get to see these two grow up in this book. They are learning the complete in's and out's of a relationship and time will tell if it is something they want to hold on to.

For a time their journeys are divided, but then combine again at the end. Both paths are filled will potholes, especially when they learn about the airplane and the real history of life after First Night. This opens a whole new can of worms to deal with. The crew's Sanctuary and new friends may not be all they are cracked up to be. From what we learn towards the end, Sanctuary could actually be anything but what it implies. The anxiety you will feel at the end of this book will make you extremely mad. There is so much left wide open, you will be sitting in a corner, rocking, and waiting for the final book in the series, Fire & Ash, to come out in September. Don't worry, you won't be alone. I will be patiently biting my nails until the end of this saga!

Waiting on Wednesday - February 27, 2013

2013-02-27T01:00:00.000-06:00

Unremembered by Jessica Brody

Hardcover, 320 pages

Expected publication: March 5th 2013 by Farrar, Straus, & Giroux

From Goodreads:

The only thing worse than forgetting her past... is remembering it.

When Freedom Airlines flight 121 went down over the Pacific Ocean, no one ever expected to find survivors. Which is why the sixteen-year-old girl discovered floating among the wreckage—alive—is making headlines across the globe.

Even more strange is that her body is miraculously unharmed and she has no memories of boarding the plane. She has no memories of her life before the crash. She has no memories period. No one knows how she survived. No one knows why she wasn’t on the passenger manifest. And no one can explain why her DNA and fingerprints can’t be found in a single database in the world.

Crippled by a world she doesn’t know, plagued by abilities she doesn’t understand, and haunted by a looming threat she can’t remember, Seraphina struggles to piece together her forgotten past and discover who she really is. But with every clue only comes more questions. And she’s running out of time to answer them.

Her only hope is a strangely alluring boy who claims to know her from before the crash. Who claims they were in love. But can she really trust him? And will he be able to protect her from the people who have been making her forget?

From popular young adult author, Jessica Brody comes a mesmerizing and suspenseful new series, set in a world where science knows no boundaries, memories are manipulated, and true love can never be forgotten.

Review: Sacrifice by Cayla Kluver

2013-02-23T09:00:00.000-06:00

Sacrifice by Cayla Kluver

Paperback, 438 pages

Published October 23rd 2012 by Harlequin Teen

Source: ARC, NetGalley
Buy the Book: Amazon : B&N : Goodreads

From Goodreads:

This is not the time for the fight to end. Now is when the fight will begin. This is the time to regain what has been lost.

Alera

Queen of a fallen kingdom, secretly in love with the enemy.

Shaselle

Daughter of a murdered father, rebel with a cause.

One lives behind the former Hytanican palace walls and walks the razor's edge to keep the fragile peace in her beloved homeland. The other slips through the war-torn streets, seeking retribution for her family's tragedy, following whispers of insurgency.

Both face choices that will separate them from those they cannot help but love. As their stories intertwine, a conspiracy ignites that may end in slavery or death—or lead to freedom anew, if only each can face what must be sacrificed.

A phenomenal ending to a brilliant series. Period.

I had questioned myself on whether I wanted to continue with the series after reading Legacy. I thought it was a good story, but took too long to get to where it was going. Thankfully I did carry on and this book was definitely worth the wait.

The two POV's in this book was iffy to me and I did not think that it would work well. It ended up being a great compliment to the story, especially being able to see the conflicts from both sides. I loved the pacing and placement of action in this installment. It was right where it needed to be and always held my attention to keep flipping pages. The plot didn't necessarily go the way I thought it would, or should really, but I understand the concessions Kluver made and the results of them. The culminating events that decide Hytanica's fate will leave you breathless!

The characters are fully matured now and the reader gets to enjoy the effects of their full circle. Alera and Narian are the essential "life-bloods" of the story. Everything that is to be decided is determined by their actions and influence. It was wonderful to see Alera step-up from childhood and truly embrace being decisive and tactical ruler. She finally learned how to put her foot down and inspires her country to do so as well. Narian takes an interesting journey this time around. We get to learn so much more about him and this information ends up being a significant player in the game. I wasn't convinced until this book that he would be a suitable leader or counterpart to Alera. Shaselle offers a great alternate POV to the events. I believe she is the girl that Alera would have been had she not been born into higher level royalty. She is very perceptive, but there were many times I wondered what in the world she was thinking. That was always with a decision that I knew would bring her grief and ultimately did in the end. The other characters pretty much played out the story as I thought they would. We find out a little more information here and there, but you will probably find the background on London and someone else really interesting.

Overall, this was my favorite book in the series. The characters and plot were right where they should be and Kluver's writing improved leaps and bounds. It is definitely worth the wait, but reading the previous books are a must. There is no starting in the middle of this series, you'd be completely lost. A highly recommended set of books by all means!

Waiting on Wednesday - February 20, 2013

2013-02-20T01:00:00.000-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme from Jill at Breaking the Spine. To join in, share the book or books that you are currently drooling over as you await their release and report back to Breaking the Spine with the link to your post. The gorgeous badge above is brought to us by Lindsay at The Violet Hour!

I have followed this series since the beginning and cannot wait to see what happens next. The Goddess Legacy was a great addition to the series and I believe it'll really help clarify many of the choices and attitudes of the characters in this installment. It'll be interesting to see how it is wrapped up!

The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter

Paperback, 384 pages

Expected publication: February 26th 2013 by Harlequin Teen

From Goodreads:

Love or life.
Henry or their child.
The end of her family or the end of the world.
Kate must choose.

During nine months of captivity, Kate Winters has survived a jealous goddess, a vengeful Titan and a pregnancy she never asked for. Now the Queen of the Gods wants her unborn child, and Kate can't stop her--until Cronus offers a deal.

In exchange for her loyalty and devotion, the King of the Titans will spare humanity and let Kate keep her child. Yet even if Kate agrees, he'll destroy Henry, her mother and the rest of the council. And if she refuses, Cronus will tear the world apart until every last god and mortal is dead.

With the fate of everyone she loves resting on her shoulders, Kate must do the impossible: find a way to defeat the most powerful being in existence, even if it costs her everything.

Even if it costs her eternity.

YA Paranormal Hop Giveaway!

2013-02-20T00:30:00.000-06:00

Our friends at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and YA Between the Lines have joined together to bring us the ultimate YA paranormal book hop! Over 150+ blogs have signed up to offer you the chance to win a plethora of our favorite paranormal books.

To sweeten the deal, I am going to offer up a book by a couple of my favorite authors. Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl are famous for their outstanding series, Beautiful Creatures. However, this year they are striding out on their own. Kami's Legion series and Margaret's Icons series both begin this year with Unbreakable and Icons respectively.

So here is the deal:

Enter the Rafflecopter below to win a book of your choice from these authors. For the sake of my budget, this will be US ONLY. Choose one to complete the Beautiful Creatures series you may have already started or choose to begin one of their next paranormal adventures!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

2013-02-18T09:01:00.000-06:00

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Hardcover, 392 pages

Published July 31st 2012 by Harlequin Teen

Source: ARC, NetGalley
Buy the book: Amazon : B&N : Goodreads

From Goodreads:

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

An absolutely amazing book. Do not let my 3 stickies fool you into thinking otherwise. While it is not something that I would normally read or purchase for my own, the book has wonderful characters and deals with so many teen social issues. The writing is so well done the story and characters flow fluidly right through to the end. There is a whole roller coaster of emotions in this one. You'll cover extreme anger to gut-wrenching sadness within a few pages. This is one that will awe you over and over again.

The main characters, Echo and Noah, have both been traumatic experiences in their life. Echo's has left her scarred mentally and physically to the point that her mind has blocked the event out entirely. Noah has the opposite issue of dealing with his problems on a daily basis. Together they face their demons and come to an absolution. The journey to that point is both beautiful and tragic, but readers will enjoy watching them grow and mature along the way. They were, however, very melodramatic and a little too full of angst for my taste.

Issues such as depression and other mental illnesses, drugs, sex, and peer pressure are covered thoroughly throughout the book. Fortunately, the book is also written well enough that it does not feel like you're reading a pamphlet that would be usually found in the counselor's office. This makes the book drag in spots though and it could have been a lightened a little bit. If you deal with any extreme emotions about these topics, consult a friend before reading this book.

For the Love of Swoon Giveaway Hop!

2013-02-13T01:04:00.000-06:00

The Book Hookup and I Am A Reader, Not A Writer have joined forces to bring you a completely swoon-worthy event. The blogs involved in this giveaway hop are offering up some of their favorite books that have just that "one thing" that makes their heart flutter. Well friends, this was an easy choice for me and I came up with some options for you!

Julie Kagawa is one of my favorite authors. Period. There are always so many aspects of her books that inspire my imagination and fill my dreams with wonder. Where's the swoon-worthiness? It is in her magnificent characters. Ash from the Iron Fey series is my top "swoon-worthy" character. He has the personality and protection of a true knight and has taken my breath away more than once. Yes, our Puck is adorable with his sarcasm and wit, but he just doesn't have the edge that Ash does. A couple of very close runner ups and heroes in their own rights are Megan's brother Ethan from the Call of the Forgotten series and the charm of Zeke from the Immortal Rules series. None of these will leave you short-handed in the swoon department!

So, to share the swoon love this Valentine's Day, I am offering up one (1) of the books by Julie Kagawa to be shipped to you via Amazon. If you've already started on a series, awesome. This will help you get the next installment or finale of that series. If not, prepare yourself for the ride that awaits you from the very first book!

The Iron Fey

The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten

The Immortal Rules

Releases April, 2013

For budget reasons, this one will have to be US ONLY.

Fill in the Rafflecopter for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday - February 13, 2013

2013-02-13T01:00:00.000-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme from Jill at Breaking the Spine. To join in, share the book or books that you are currently drooling over as you await their release and report back to Breaking the Spine with the link to your post. The gorgeous badge above is brought to us by Lindsay at The Violet Hour!

I know, a day late and dollar short, but I just had to fit this one in. This series was actually a tough sale for me. I loved many of the characters, but the main heroine needed some guts. Finally, towards the end of Glitch, she started to get them. That's why this book is probably in the top ten of my "waiting for" list for this year. :)

Override by Heather Anastasiu

Paperback, 320 pages

Expected publication: February 12th 2013 by St. Martin's Griffin

From Goodreads:

Zoe is free. She has escaped the enslavement of the Community, disconnected from the hardware that had controlled her every thought and emotion, and evaded capture by the Chancellor intent on killing her. She is finally free, but she is far from safe.

Zoe and Adrien hide themselves from detection at the Foundation, an academy that trains teen glitchers to fight in the Resistance movement. Together, Zoe and her new team of superhuman fighters must risk their lives to rescue other glitchers and humans from the Chancellor's control. Challenges abound at every turn, and Adrien, who has become silent, distant, and tormented by his visions of the future, only adds to the growing certainty of defeat. But worst of all, as Zoe's team fights against impossible odds, distrust and betrayal leads to the terrible discovery that their greatest threat could already be lurking behind the safe walls of the Foundation.

Full of high-adrenaline action and shocking twists, Heather Anastasiu's Override is an exciting continuation of this popular young adult trilogy.

Review: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

2013-02-11T08:00:00.000-06:00

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Hardcover, 563 pages

Published December 1st 2009 by Little, Brown and Company
Source: Own
Buy the book: Amazon : B&N : Goodreads

From Goodreads:

"There were no surprises in Gatlin County.
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that's what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave."

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

There's a lot of "differences" in this book when compared to others. Love, love the different perspective taken on magic in this book.Another is the POV that it is written from, Ethan's, instead of the heroine's. That itself should tell you the thought that the authors put into this book. It comes from a male perspective in a period there were very few of them, even compared to today.

There is A LOT of back story in the beginning of the book. Yes, it is somewhat long to a few people, but I see it as an essential tool. Otherwise, the rest of the story would not have the meaning that it did, especially Ethan's reason and purpose for his actions. The pacing in this book is awesome once you get the back story. You always want to just keep turning pages because something else is happening and you can't wait to see where it goes. The concept of Casters and other magical creatures in this book is eerie and utterly realistic. I've even had friends stop reading the book because they say it hit too close to home and they could see these events happening. It is that well written and reflects a lot of the southern aspects that I grew up in and love. Toss in the Gothic style southern POV on the setting and it is a fantastic foundation for magic.

The characters in this book are phenomenal, especially the villains. Ethan is a great example of a steadfast southern boy. He will absolutely make you laugh until you hurt and then melt your heart the next minute. I would like to keep him in a box just for safekeeping. Lena has so many layers to her that it takes the entire book to just begin to fold them back. It makes for long journey as you watch her spread her "magical" wings as the days to her claiming tick away. Even the supporting characters like Link and Macon are amazing. I could read books about either of them as well and be happy. Link is that friend that would not question you if you called him and said "I need your help, bring a shovel and a bag of lye." He would simply show up and nod his head. Macon is the parental figure that everyone wants growing up, but, be warned, he will break your heart by the end of the book. And the villains....wonderful. Creepy, mean people that makes you wonder and question if everyone has a side like that. You won't even look at your neighbor the same way again after getting to know these characters.

Be prepared to be wowed and ready to crave more after this book. Actually, buy the set. You won't regret it.

The movie is coming out on February 13th, learn more at IMDB!

Review: Dreamless by Josephine Angelini

2013-02-09T10:00:00.000-06:00

Dreamless by Josephine Angelini

Hardcover, 487 pages

Published May 29th 2012 by HarperTeen

Source: Own
Buy the book: Amazon : B&N : Goodreads

From Goodreads:

Can true love be forgotten?

As the only scion who can descend into the Underworld, Helen Hamilton has been given a nearly impossible task. By night she wanders through Hades, trying to stop the endless cycle of revenge that has cursed her family. By day she struggles to overcome the fatigue that is rapidly eroding her sanity. Without Lucas by her side, Helen is not sure she has the strength to go on.

Just as Helen is pushed to her breaking point, a mysterious new Scion comes to her rescue. Funny and brave, Orion shields her from the dangers of the Underworld. But time is running out--a ruthless foe plots against them, and the Furies' cry for blood is growing louder.

As the ancient Greek world collides with the mortal one, Helen's sheltered life on Nantucket descends into chaos. But the hardest task of all will be forgetting Lucas Delos.

Josephine Angelini's compelling saga becomes ever more intricate and spellbinding as an unforgettable love triangle emerges and the eternal cycle of revenge intensifies. Eagerly awaited, this sequel to the internationally bestselling Starcrossed delivers a gritty, action-packed love story that exceeds all expectations.

Angelini continues to impress me. Reading through her books are like watching a vivid movie: all encompassing and surreal. The writing is as superb as Starcrossed and she takes the story to a whole new level this time around.

Poor Helen has already been through so much and isn't even half way where she needs to be in life. Now she has to battle walking through Hades every night on top of everything else.Due to her journeys to the Underworld, Helen is pushed to her breaking point, physically and mentally, because of lack of sleep and rest. Sadly, I can understand where she is coming from. (Basically, she's going through the worst grad school experience ever, except with better purpose. :D) However, during her escapades she brings in a brand new character to the mix, Orion. He has an entrance to Hades as well, but he comes with more mysteries. I won't give away too much, but he is my favorite character thus far. Orion's perspective on life and particular situations is sometimes hilarious, but correct and informative too. And dear Lucas. It kills me to see what he has to go through just to keep everything going and keep people alive. The intricate web of character interactions lays a solid foundation for an amazing plot.

Get ready for a thrill ride with the storyline and plot in this one as well. If it wasn't steady paced and rolling, you were reading and flipping pages as quick as you can to see what happens next. It is simply. that. exciting. Sometimes it is simply the bad luck of the characters of course, but a good chunk of it was plot essentials and came at you from every angle. During the culminating events you will be holding your breath one minute and crying the next. And that ending...talk about leaving me wanting more. One word describes it all and it is what you will say when you finish the book: "Wow."

Waiting on Wednesday - February 6, 2013

2013-02-06T01:00:00.000-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme from Jill at Breaking the Spine. To join in, share the book or books that you are currently drooling over as you await their release and report back to Breaking the Spine with the link to your post. The gorgeous badge above is brought to us by Lindsay at The Violet Hour!

The grand finale of the Starcrossed series! This series has been a page turner since the beginning and I can't wait to see what Angelini has decided to put us through next!


Goddess by Jospehine Angelini Hardcover, 432 pages Expected publication: May 28th 2013 by HarperTeen

From Goodreads:

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

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

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

Review: Goliath by Scott Westerfeld

2013-02-04T08:00:00.000-06:00

Goliath by Scott Westerfeld

Hardcover, 545 pages

Published September 20th 2011 by Simon Pulse, Simon & Schuster

Source: Own
Buy the book: Amazon : B&N : Goodreads

From Goodreads:

Goliath is a magnetic beam weapon to encourage peace in 1914 alternative WW1 (between German mechanical Clankers and British Darwinist genetic animal/plant fabricators) by Serbian inventor Nicolas Tesla rescued from remote Siberia by organic 1K' British airship Leviathan midshipman Scottish Deryn Sharp, disguised as boy Daryl to join the Air Service, and her romantic interest, Prince Aleksander, secret heir to Austro-Hungarian throne. Grey-shaded sketches of fantastical contraptions, creative beasties, and impossibly slender characters adorn most of 44 chapters.

From Russia to Tokyo, California, and New York, the cast includes familiar mentors Dr Nora Barlow, London Zoological Society boffin (and Darwin granddaughter), and fencing master Count Vogel who warns Tesla may need to be assassinated. New faces are revolutionary leader Pancho Villa in Mexico, and newspaper and film mogul William Randolph Hearst showing first cliff-hanger episode from silent movie "Perils of Pauline". Hungry giant bears, ocean storms, attacking forces from sky, land, and underwater - how can the penniless royal and brave commoner achieve world peace and personal happiness?

The series has been one of the most imaginative that I have ever read. This finale completely does it justice, but could have used a little more action in the plot.

We're thrown right back into the throws of the war and the Leviathan's journey. However, now the addition of young, and even forbidden, love makes the world even more complicated for Deryn and Alek. Thankfully a few events finally allow their relationship to get somewhere. It seems like they have been pent up for two books...oh, wait they were. The situation changes the entire dynamic of book, as it should have, and I loved watching the two of them grow up because of it. They both became stronger persons and that really upped their interactions with the other characters to supplement the plot.

Unfortunately, the plot didn't feel as intense as it was in the other books. There were a few times that I skipped pages until I could get to something that would speed it up a little bit. The random and odd incidents are there just like before but they seemed disjointed sometimes. To make up for this, the characters and illustrations were still phenomenal and provided just enough "oomph" to keep my attention to make it through. I did love how Westerfeld wrote the ending and tied everything up beautifully. It is not the perfect way you want things to end for the series, but it does leave you with a completed feeling.

This series has been a great ride. I would recommend it for children and adults alike!

Win ARCs of The Archived and Boundless at The Midnight Garden

2013-02-01T19:12:00.003-06:00

Hey friends! Head over to The Midnight Garden to enter to win a couple of ARCs of two popular books!

Boundless by Cynthia Hand

The Archived by Victoria Schwab

A Book Blogger's Plea & Phd Valentine's Giveaway!

2013-02-01T14:55:00.000-06:00

Image courtesy of pixbox77 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Ok, friends. I am going to just be blunt and say that I need your help. My husband has been working on his dissertation and needs 500 people to take his survey. We've had an awesome response from you guys so far (Thank you!), but there is still a little ways to go.

We're in the home stretch, so I am upping the incentive. I'm cleaning off some of my shelves to make space for this year's books and offering them to you as prizes in a giveaway! You can still enter the giveaway without taking the survey, but it would be VERY much appreciated if you are age 18+ and would do so. Helping my grad student hubby get participants would be the ultimate "Phd Valentine" for him!!

If you have any concerns or questions about the survey or its topic (social presence), please do not hesitate to contact Scott Christen at schrist6@utk.edu.

There are four Book Bundles:

Book Bundle #1:

The COMPLETE, 4 book Hush, Hush series by Becca Fitzpatrick

Book Bundle #2:

The COMPLETE, 4 book Luxe series by Anna Godbersen

Book Bundle #3:

Hereafter by Tara Hudson, Legacy by Cayla Kluver, & Map of Time by Félix J. Palma

Book Bundle #4:

Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann, Fury by Elizabeth Miles, & Vicious Little Darlings by Katherine Easer

FOUR winners will be randomly chosen through Rafflecopter. The first winner chosen will get to choose which Book Bundle they want, the second will choose from the remaining three, and so on. I am funding this one, sorry my international friends, so it is US ONLY.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday - January 30, 2013

2013-01-30T00:28:00.000-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme from Jill at Breaking the Spine. To join in, share the book or books that you are currently drooling over as you await their release and report back to Breaking the Spine with the link to your post. The gorgeous badge above is brought to us by Lindsay at The Violet Hour!

Love, LOVE this series and author! I really wish Harlequin Teen hadn't started changing the covers, but I can understand their reasons. Check Julie's and Harlequin's Twitter feeds for some more exciting news about the author!

The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

Hardcover, 384 pages

Expected publication: April 23rd 2013 by Harlequin Teen

From Goodreads:

Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.

Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.