Devine Intervention by Martha Brockenbrough – Amazon | Goodreads
I’m not usually a big fan of angel themed books, but Devine Intervention sounds hilarious!

A Long Way from You by Gwendolyn Heasley – Amazon | Goodreads
I was a bit meh on Gwendolyn Heasley’s first book, Where You Belong, but one of my favourite characters in it is the star of A Long Way from You, so I must read it!

A Midsummer’s Nightmare by Kody Keplinger – Amazon | Goodreads
YES. I love everything about Kody Keplinger’s books, and A Midsummer’s Nightmare was by far my favourite. My full review is here.

All These Lives by Sarah Wylie – Amazon | Goodreads
I have a feeling I will end up crying. And I love that in a book.

Arise by Tara Hudson – Amazon | Goodreads
I loved ghosts, and I enjoyed the first book in this series, so I’m excited to read Arise!

Miracle by Elizabeth Scott – Amazon | Goodreads
Elizabeth Scott books are generally pretty hit or miss with me, but Miracle sounds very good – I’ll definitely be giving it a shot!

Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne – Amazon | Goodreads
I love the concept of Monument 14, and I’m always interested to read apocalyptic books, so I can’t wait!

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo – Amazon | Goodreads
EEE I have heard such good things about Shadow and Bone, and I can’t wait to read my copy!

Shadows Cast by Stars by Catherine Knutsson – Amazon | Goodreads
I am such a dystopian girl – I will never get over it. And I love the cover of Shadows Cast by Stars.

Tempest Unleashed by Tracy Deebs – Amazon | Goodreads
I’m not usually a mermaid person, but I really enjoyed the first book, Tempest Rising, so I can’t wait to read Tempest Unleashed!

Transcendence by CJ Omololu – Amazon | Goodreads
LONDON. What more do I need to know?

Chosen Ones by Tiffany Truitt – Amazon | Goodreads
Again – dystopians! Give them all to me! And Chosen Ones sounds pretty bitchin.

Flirting in Italian by Lauren Henderson – Amazon | Goodreads
I’ve heard super mixed things lately, but I’ll definitely be checking out Flirting in Italian to see what I think!

The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead – Amazon | Goodreads
Guys, c’mon. DUH.

Rapture by Lauren Kate – Amazon | Goodreads
I enjoyed Fallen and Torment okay, but I still haven’t read Passion. Nonetheless, someday I hope to finish this series.

Reunited by Hilary Weisman Graham – Amazon | Goodreads
Reunited made me cringe with its disasterousness, but MAN, it was good.

Timepiece by Myra McEntire – Amazon | Goodreads
Gulpdon’thurtme I still haven’t read Hourglass. But I can’t wait to read this series!

Keeping the Castle by Patrice Kindl – Amazon | Goodreads
Historical fiction! England! Honestly, after those two words, I’m already there.

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick – Amazon | Goodreads
I already read My Life Next Door and loved it! The writing style was amazing and the family dynamics were awesome, and the story was great! You want it.

Tokyo Heist by Diana Renn – Amazon | Goodreads
TOKYO, ART HEISTS, MYSTERY, ROMANCE. Aka book of awesome. My full review is here.

The Vindico by Wesley King – Amazon | Goodreads
I’m not a big super hero person, you know? But even I have to admit, that cover rocks and I’m more than a bit intrigued by the summary of The Vindico.

Something Like Normal by Trish Doller – Amazon | Goodreads
Something Like Normal was moving and beautiful and very relevant. Pick it up!

This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers – Amazon | Goodreads
I love Courtney Summers and I’ve heard great things about This Is Not a Test!

Violins of Autumn by Amy McAuley – Amazon | Goodreads
Historical fiction! Spies! I’ll definitely be picking up Violins of Autumn.

A Farewell to Charms by Lindsey Leavitt – Amazon | Goodreads
I love everything Lindsey Leavitt writes, including this MG series, and I can’t wait to read A Farewell to Charms.

A Midsummer’s Tights Dream by Louise Rennison – Amazon | Goodreads
It’s Louise Rennison. Enough said.

A Want So Wicked by Suzanne Young – Amazon | Goodreads
I read A Want So Wicked a few months ago and it truly is a stunning conclusion to A Need So Beautiful. Be sure to check it out when it hits the shelves!

Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer – Amazon | Goodreads
Fairy tales and illustrations and whatnot. Sounds fun!

Rebel McKenzie by Candice Ransom – Amazon | Goodreads
Eee, middle-grade! And the protagonist wants to go to an archaeology camp. I can already tell we’d be best friends.

Smart Girls Get What They Want by Sarah Strohmeyer – Amazon | Goodreads
I’ve heard mixed things, but Smart Girls Get What They Want looks like so much fun and I love contemps.

Temptation by Karen Ann Hopkins – Amazon | Goodreads
Amish! I love reading about the Amish.

Zoe Letting Go by Nora Price – Amazon | Goodreads
I love the cover of Zoe Letting Go, and I have a feeling it’s going to make me feel sad and uncomfortable (in a good way)! Plus, “psychological thriller” – I’m so there.

While you’re here, you can subscribe to my feed :)

Review of Dreamless

Title & Author:
Dreamless by Josephine Angelini
Publisher:
HarperTeen
Publication Date:
May 29, 2012
Pages:
487
Source:
ARC from Publisher

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. – Goodreads

I read Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini last year and while I liked it, I wouldn’t have put it on my favourites shelf or anything. But I picked up Dreamless and I absolutely loved it.

I was playing catch-up for a good chunk of Dreamless, however, so I would definitely recommend doing a refresher on Starcrossed if it’s been a while! After all, you don’t want to be like me and be saying “So who the hell is Kate?”

Anyway, the storyline in Dreamless was much more engaging to me. Although all the various Underworld scenes did get a little repetitive in the beginning, I was rooting so hard for Helen to accomplish her task and once things started really happening in the Underworld parts, I was all for it.

I loved the semi-love triangle going on with Helen and Orion and Lucas. I’m not a big love triangle person, but forbidden love usually bores me after a while and Orion added other options that kept me very entertained.

Also – I was complaining on Twitter a few weeks ago about how people keep doing the same boring mythology retelling over and over again, and then I picked up Dreamless and I was SO EXCITED to read something refreshing and unique. I loved that Josephine Angelini was able to get me excited about Greek mythology again.

To put it simply, I loved Dreamless by Josephine Angelini. It gripped me way more than Starcrossed, and was able to get me excited about Greek mythology again. If you’re looking for a fun YA paranormal-ish book with seriously high stakes and cute boys, I definitely recommend checking out Starcrossed and Dreamless.

While you’re here, you can subscribe to my feed :)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. It’s a weekly meme that allows bloggers to talk about what upcoming book they’re most looking forward to read :)

In an effort to make up for last week’s choice (I feel so bad for teasing you all with a book that doesn’t come until 2013), I’ve chosen Violins of Autumn by Amy McAuley – which comes out very soon, and looks pretty damn awesome. I mean, Adele sounds like a total badass. I love spies and historical fiction and badass protagonists and I cannot wait to read Violins of Autumn!

Violins of Autumn by Amy McAuley – 06/19/2012

When the Germans begin bombing London in World War II, Betty is determined to do her part. Instead of running air raid drills like most girls her age, she lies about her age and trains to become a spy. Now known by her secret agent persona, Adele Blanchard, she finds herself parachuting over German-occupied France under the cover of darkness to join the secret Resistance movement. Prepared to die for her cause, Adele wasn’t expecting to make a new best friend in her fellow agent or fall for a handsome American pilot. With the brutality of war ever present, can Adele dare to dream of a future where the world is at peace and she is free to live and love of her own accord?

Goodreads | Amazon

I mean, seriously. Doesn’t Violins of Autumn book look freaking awesome? What are you guys waiting for? Let me know!

While you’re here, you can subscribe to my feed :)

Are you going to BEA next week? Because Crewel by Gennifer Albin is one book you certainly don’t want to miss snagging a copy of – and meeting the awesomely amazing Gennifer Albin.

And if you’re not going to BEA, that’s okay too! Because Gennifer Albin and Macmillan are offering some great prizes – and I’m throwing in a pre-order of Crewel.

Now, if you don’t know much about Crewel, please allow me to briefly inform you of Crewel’s awesomeness and crazy and holy banana-ness. I’m going to attempt to do this using GIFs. I’m not usually a GIF person, and I probably won’t have them on my blog ever again, but my reactions were TOO HARD TO PUT INTO WORDS.

When I finished Crewel, my first thought was “Holy Bananas!” Because Gennifer Albin is one of those people who just…creates worlds. I mean, she did not hold back in Crewel and there were all sorts of things that were so hard for me to wrap my head around and I loved it! Seriously. I just can’t. You want this book. I am incoherent.

Crewel Pre-BEA Buzz Giveaway

Rules

US only
Giveaway offered by Gennifer Albin/Macmillan ends June 03
Giveaway offered by me ends June 26
Fill out the Rafflecopter forms below

Prizes offered by Gennifer Albin and Macmillan:

Grand Prize: A Macmillan Anniversary Package! Macmillan was kind enough to celebrate the one year anniversary of Crewel’s book deal with us and sent us some sweet swag as a prize, including books and a 50th Anniversary Wrinkle in Time tote and t-shirt!
Prize #2: A signed ARC and bookmark of Crewel
Prizes 3 and 4: Signed Crewel bookmarks and buttons!

Prizes offered by me:

1 pre-order of Crewel by Gennifer Albin

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

While you’re here, you can subscribe to my feed :)

Review of Keep Holding On

Title & Author:
Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti
Publisher:
Viking Juvenile
Publication Date:
June 16, 2012
Pages:
240
Source:
ARC Tour

 

Between Noelle’s difficult home life and the bullying she endures at school, all she wants is to get out of her small town. Noelle would give anything to be with Julian Porter. But staying with her emotionally distant boyfriend is safer. When things heat up between Noelle and Julian, she has to decide whether she can be her true self with him. – Goodreads

Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti was an unbelievably heartbreaking and moving book. I was not bullied back in high school, and I didn’t really know anyone who was, so Keep Holding On was also definitely an eye opener for me.

Through out the entirety of Keep Holding On, I just could not believe what was happening. People are truly this terrible to other people in high school? It was shocking and upsetting. Keep Holding On is definitely a book that needs to be out there in the world to give students hope.

As for the characters, I loved Noelle. She has a hard life and she’s not sure what she’s doing, but she’s still so inspiring and brave for all the things she does. Even if sometimes they were too late. She was definitely the most genuine character I’ve read in a while. And I loved the natural build of the romance between Noelle and Julian.

Like I said, the story completely broke my heart. I ached for Noelle. I wanted to fix all her problems and yell at all the terrible people in her life. Through out Keep Holding On we really got to watch her grow and become a stronger person, and I loved that.

Overall, you should buy Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti and give a copy to everyone you know. It’s eye opening, moving, and inspiring. A wonderful contemporary.

While you’re here, you can subscribe to my feed :)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by awesome Kristi at The Story Siren which allows bloggers to share what books they bought/received each week.

I kind of managed to keep my haul small this week, since I leave for BEA in exactly one week, WHAT, I am SO EXCITED.

For Review

Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer (Southern Book Bloggers)
Amber House by Kelly Moore, Tucker Reed, Larkin Reed (NetGalley)
The Encyclopedia of Me by Karen Rivers (NetGalley)

Bought

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins (Kindle)
A Midsummer’s Nightmare by Kody Keplinger (originally read as ARC – review here)
You Are Here by Jennifer E. Smith
Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

05/26 – Ladies in Waiting by Laura L. Sullivan (Review)
05/24 – Tokyo Heist by Diana Renn (Review)
05/23 – Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen (Review)
05/23 – Waiting on Wednesday: Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt (Feature)
05/22 – A Midsummer’s Nightmare by Kody Keplinger (Review)
05/23 – Gilt by Katherine Longshore Giveaway (Giveaway)

So that’s what I got in my mailbox this week! What did you all get in your mailbox? Please comment and let me know! :)

While you’re here, you can subscribe to my feed :)

Review of Ladies in Waiting

Title & Author:
Ladies in Waiting by Laura L. Sullivan
Publisher:
Harcourt Children’s Books
Publication Date:
May 08, 2012
Pages:
328
Source:
NetGalley

Eliza dreams of being a playwright for the king’s theater, where she will be admired for her witty turns of phrase rather than her father’s wealth. Beth is beautiful as the day but poor as a church mouse, so she must marry well, despite her love for her childhood sweetheart. Zabby comes to England to further her scientific studies—and ends up saving the life of King Charles II. Soon her friendship with him becomes a dangerous, impossible obsession. Though she knows she should stay away from the young, handsome king, Charles has a new bride, Queen Catherine, and a queen needs ladies in waiting. And so Zabby, Beth, and Eliza, three Elizabeths from very different walks of life, find themselves at the center of the most scandal-filled court that England has ever seen. – Goodreads

I’m kind of a historical fiction fangirl and so I picked up Ladies in Waiting by Laura L. Sullivan, excited to finally have the opportunity to give it a go.

And there were some things I really loved about Ladies in Waiting, but also some things that I didn’t really like.

I didn’t think I was really enjoying Ladies in Waiting at first – the third person omnipresent tense grated on my nerves a bit and kept throwing me for a loop, not to mention all of the protagonists were kind of weird and crude and I had trouble connecting with them.

But then about 70 or 80 pages into Ladies in Waiting, I realized I didn’t want to put it down. I had to know what happened to the three Elizabeths in the end, as well as Catherine. Did they end up happy with everything they ever wanted? Did anyone die? I just NEEDED to know, and I love that Laura L. Sullivan was able to hook me like that when I didn’t even realize I was being hooked. Unfortunately, the ending of Ladies in Waiting didn’t necessarily give me the closure I craved.

Basically, if you’re a fan of historical fiction, I definitely recommend checking out Ladies in Waiting by Laura L. Sullivan. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it to people who have never read historical fiction before. Nonetheless, Ladies in Waiting was enjoyable and engrossing once I got used to the writing style and the characters.

While you’re here, you can subscribe to my feed :)

]]>

Review of Dark Kiss

Title & Author:
Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen
Publisher:
HarlequinTeen
Publication Date:
May 29, 2012
Pages:
348
Source:
NetGalley

I don’t do dangerous. Smart, über-careful, ordinary Samantha-that’s me. But I just couldn’t pass up a surprise kiss from my number-one unattainable crush. A kiss that did something to me…something strange. Now I feel hungry all the time, but not for food. It’s like part of me is missing-and I don’t know if I can get it back. Then there’s Bishop. At first I thought he was just a street kid, but the secrets he’s keeping are as intense as his unearthly blue eyes. If he’s what I think he is, he may be the only one who can help me. But something terrifying is closing in, and the one chance Bishop and I have to stop it means losing everything I ever wanted and embracing the darkness inside me…. NIGHTWATCHERS When angels and demons must work together, something beyond evil is rising… – Goodreads

Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen is dark with an interesting and pretty unique storyline, but ultimately not a book that screams me, you know?

As far as angel books go, I definitely thought Dark Kiss was very unique. I liked the paranormal elements introduced in Dark Kiss, such as Greys and this balance between heaven and hell, and etc. I can’t go too much into it without spoiling it, but I was definitely curious to see how it all ended up.

I really liked Bishop, as a love interest and as a character, and one of the demons in Dark Kiss, Kraven. They were both very different and interesting with backstories that slowly start to come out throughout Dark Kiss. I liked Sam and her loyalty to her friends, but she did get on my nerves at some points. And some of the times, her reactions were very smart – she ran screaming from Bishop in the beginning after she witnessed something he did. But then other times she believed things too easily – my feelings were just so mixed on her.

But I loved the dynamic in Dark Kiss between the three of them – anytime Sam and Kraven were talking to each other, I was bound to giggle a little, and the relationship between Bishop and Sam was fairly slow building, with some added pushes from the hunger (which I can’t really explain without being spoilery).

But despite the original plot, Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen just didn’t really grab me. I’m just not a big paranormal person, I guess. I liked Dark Kiss okay, but it’s not something I’d read again.

However, if you are a paranormal person or you’re looking to find a more unique angel book, I do recommend checking out Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen.

While you’re here, you can subscribe to my feed :)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. It’s a weekly meme that allows bloggers to talk about what upcoming book they’re most looking forward to read :)

Don’t hate me for teasing you guys with Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt cause it comes out in 2013 but it looks SO GOOD! I love Lindsey Leavitt’s books so much – her MG series and Sean Griswold’s Head. And FINALLY she has another YA coming out and I am so stoked for Going Vintage!

Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt – 2013

The cure for a broken heart? Go vintage and live like it’s 1962!

Mallory’s boyfriend, Jeremy, isn’t just cheating on her. He’s cheating with an online girlfriend. So Mallory decides to swear off boys and modern technology. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in 1962, Mallory decides to “go vintage” and return to a simpler time. She sets out to complete grandma’s list: run for pep club secretary, host a dinner party, sew a homecoming dress, find a steady, do something dangerous.

The list proves to be trickier than it looks. Obviously finding a steady is out . . . no matter how intriguing she finds Oliver (er, Jeremy’s cousin). But with the help of her sister, Mallory will finish the list and find peace. Somehow.

GOING VINTAGE is the story of a girl figuring out the truths and illusions of life and love, both in the nostalgic past and in the very real now.

Goodreads

I mean, seriously. Doesn’t Going Vintage book look freaking awesome? What are you guys waiting for? Let me know!

While you’re here, you can subscribe to my feed :)