Giveaway and Review of The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1) by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Hardcover, 485 pages

Published April 24th 2012 by Harlequin Teen

series

Blood of Eden #1

Source: ARC

 

 Plot: 

"In a future world, vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity."Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of "them." The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked--and given the ultimate choice. Die...or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend--a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what--and who--is worth dying for. 

My Thoughts: 

And who says the vampire genre is dead? The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa has renewed my faith in blood thirsty, kick-ass vampires. Finally we have a teenage vampire who isn't afraid to sink her fangs into someone when the time comes.

Allie begins as a human who hates vampires in the beginning of the novel, which is a great place to start. We find out from her why vampires are so evil. Then later on in the novel when she becomes one, we understand her personal self-loathing at times.

I did enjoy this novel, however, I will warn you, it took me a while to get into this one. Nearly 150 pages. Things for me didn't pick up until Allie leaves the vampire city and runs into Zeke. I loved reading about the crew of drifter Zeke was with, and how they were on a quest to find a vampire free paradise called Eden. Get past the beginning, and I promise there's vampire action!!

The picture below I found while looking up book cover images. Apparently, this was a cover outtake, but I admit I love this picture. It's perfect for Allie's character!

I also read that this novel is in the works to become a movie!! So you better act fast and read this one before the craze hits!

Check out the amazing book trailer for this novel:



Overall, I say read it if you are a vampire fan, or love I AM LEGEND or just a fan of kick-butt heroines!

Now on to the good stuff! I have ONE copy of THE IMMORTAL RULES to give away. Leave a comment below with your email address to enter. No, you don't have to be a follower of this blog, but I will love you forever if you are!


Contest open today, July 4th 2012 through Monday, July 9th at midnight!
I will announce the winner Next Tuesday and email the winner!

Good luck!!

Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday Review

Title: Deadly Cool
Author: Gemma Halliday

Paperback, 303 pages

Published October 11th 2011 by HarperTeen 

Plot:

Hartley Grace Featherstone is having a very bad day. First she finds out that her boyfriend is cheating on her with the president of the Herbert Hoover High School Chastity Club. Then he’s pegged as the #1 suspect in a murder. And if that weren’t enough, now he’s depending on Hartley to clear his name.

But as much as Hartley wouldn’t mind seeing him squirm, she knows he’s innocent, and she’s the only one who can help him. Along with her best friend, Sam, and the school’s resident Bad Boy, Chase, Hartley starts investigating on her own. But as the dead bodies begin to pile up, the mystery deepens, the suspects multiply, and Hartley begins to fear that she may be the killer’s next victim.

My Thoughts:

The first thing that caught my attention about this novel was the incredible voice. The main character, Hartley, pulled me in right away. Her inner thought process was so sharp and witty. I felt like she was real. The opening paragraphs were great. Hooked me right away and I rooted for her from the beginning to get to the bottom of her boyfriend dilemma.  


I love mysteries. I haven't read a really good who is the killer one since I read Clarity and The Body Finder series...until now. I love books where the main character turns all Veronica Mars and gets down to the bottom of the story.


The only thing I didn't like about this story was the fact that Hartley helped her cheating boyfriend in the first place. I myself would have said sink or swim on your own, baby. But, to each their own I guess and I am glad she did get pissed at him several times over the whole cheating thing. She had every right to HATE his guts. 


Overall, I recommend this novel. Fans of murder mystery series will love this series.

The Weepers: The Other Life (The Other Life #1) by Susanne Winnacker Review

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Title: The Weepers: The Other Life (The Other Life #1)

Author: Susanne Winnacker

Hardcover, 352 pages

Published May 15th 2012 by Marshall Cavendish (first published February 1st 2012)

more details...

Series: The Other Life #1

 

 

 

 

Plot:

 

3 years, 1 month, 1 week and 6 days since I’d seen daylight. One-fifth of my life.

Sherry and her family have lived sealed in a bunker in the garden since things went wrong up above. Her grandfather has been in the freezer for the last three months, her parents are at each other’s throats and two minutes ago they ran out of food.

Sherry and her father leave the safety of the bunker and find a devastated and empty LA, smashed to pieces by bombs and haunted by ‘Weepers’ - rabid humans infected with a weaponized rabies virus.

While searching for food in a supermarket, Sherry’s father disappears and Sherry is saved by Joshua, a boy-hunter. He takes her to Safe-haven, a tumble-down vineyard in the hills outside LA, where a handful of other survivors are picking up the pieces of their ‘other lives’. As she falls in love for the first time, Sherry must save her father, stay alive and keep Joshua safe when his desire for vengeance threatens them all.

 

 

My Thoughts:

 

This novel had me hooked from the jump. When we meet the main character,  Sherry, in this novel we discover they have been living in this underground bunker in their home for over three years and they have just ran out of food. You can feel the desperation from the pages. Imagine yourself with a family to feed and not having anything to feed them. Desperate times, my friend, desperate times.

Sherry sets out with her father to try and locate food, while the rest of the family stay behind.

The tension is so thick at the beginning because you're not sure exactly what they are going to be up against. We they run into their first pack of Weepers, humans turned into mutated beasts with puss spilling from their eyes, the action takes off.

While Sherry escapes the Weeper attack with help from the mysterious Joshua, her father goes missing. And Sherry is willing to risk anything to get him back. Joshua agrees to help her move her family to a safe haven and try to locate her father in the Weeper ridden city of Los Anglos.

I adored this novel. Ms. Winnacker pounds out the action and kept me hooked the entire ride. The romance element between Sherry and Joshua was just enough to be believable in their crazy world. I can't wait to get my hands on book two and find out what happens to them because there were some twists I didn't see coming!

 

Read this is you like I AM LEGEND mixed a little HUNGER GAMES.

 

 

 

The Gathering (Darkness Rising #1) by Kelley Armstrong

The Gathering (Darkness Rising #1)

by Kelley Armstrong

Hardcover, 359 pages

Published April 12th 2011 by Harper (HarperCollins), New York
Source: Personal Collection

Plot:
Sixteen-year-old Maya is just an ordinary teen in an ordinary town. Sure, she doesn't know much about her background - the only thing she really has to cling to is an odd paw-print birthmark on her hip - but she never really put much thought into who her parents were or how she ended up with her adopted parents in this tiny medical-research community on Vancouver Island.

Until now.

Strange things have been happening in this claustrophobic town - from the mountain lions that have been approaching Maya to her best friend's hidden talent for "feeling" out people and situations, to the sexy new bad boy who makes Maya feel . . . . different. Combine that with a few unexplained deaths and a mystery involving Maya's biological parents and it's easy to suspect that this town might have more than its share of skeletons in its closet.

In The Gathering, New York Times best-selling author Kelley Armstrong brings all the supernatural thrills from her wildly successful Darkest Powers series to Darkness Rising, her scorching hot new trilogy. 

My Thoughts:

This novel to me just set up book two. I feel like Ms. Armstrong allowed us to dip our toes in the story with this one. I finished this novel with more questions than what I had while I was the middle of the plot. There are so many things I am curious about and I can't go into detail because that would just spoil the book for you guys, but I can tell you the mystery surrounding the town and her biological parents has me hooked. Sure there are parts of this novel that seem just like every other paranormal on the shelf, but this book has more mystery than just the paranormal elements. And that is very refreshing. 


I loved Maya's ability to get close with animals. It made me curious about her. Also I am still puzzled about the best friend who drowned. She actually start out with the friends death scene, but never get our answers about what really happened to her. Maybe we'll get that in book two...


Oh and Rafe. More of him please! He was one hot love interest. He was the token new guy who all the girls wanted but only had eyes for out main character, Maya. That seems to be the formula in YA now-a-days. And Daniel, Maya's closest friend...I'm left to wonder if he is hiding some secrets of his own. I kinda liked him and rooted for him and Maya to become something more.


If this series is anything like the Darkest Powers plot line, I know each book is just going to keep getting better. Can't wait for book two! I need these questions answered!


Pick this one up if you are into paranormals with animal-like bad boy love  interests.

Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1) by Tahereh Mafi Review

Title: Shatter Me

Author: Tahereh Mafi

Hardcover, 338 pages

Published November 15th 2011 by Harper/HarperCollins
Source: Personal Collection

Plot:

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.

My Thoughts:

This novel took me a while to get into it. I would say I struggled through the first 60-90 pages to find the flow of the book and whether I was going to like it or not. I’m glad I stuck with it, because once Warner came into the picture, things really took off for me.

The writing style is very different. It’s not like any other book I’ve ever read, which totally makes it stand out amongst the sea of YA novels out there. And the plot line is strange. Strange in a sense that you don’t really know what’s going on. Which is good. I like to be surprised. The plot just kept twisting and dragging me further and further into the story.

The only thing I would say I didn’t like about the novel was the quick emotional changes of the characters. Love just felt so rushed. I couldn’t see how this love triangle developed so quickly. I know that the MC and Adam have a past, but it was just a little hard for me to buy into a quick love story. They hadn’t seen each other in years, and even at that they never really spoke to each other before they are reintroduced in the current time frame of the novel.  But other than that I loved the book. The action was spot on and I enjoyed watching the MC morph into a strong female lead.

I recommend this novel to any YA Dystopian lovers!

 

The Vespertine (The Vespertine #1) by Saundra Mitchell

Title: The Vespertine (The Vespertine #1) 
Author: Saundra Mitchell

Hardcover, 293 pages

Published March 7th 2011 by Harcourt Children's Books

more details...

http://www.thevespertine.com

Characters: Amelia van den Broek, Zora Stewart, Nathaniel Witherspoon, Thomas Rea

Plot:

It’s the summer of 1889, and Amelia van den Broek is new to Baltimore and eager to take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset—visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. However, a forbidden romance with Nathaniel, an artist, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own—still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him. When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia’s world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she’s not the seer of dark portents, but the cause.

 My Thoughts:


I have to admit, I am not a historical fiction lover. The genre just isn't usually for me. Frankly the line heaving bosom makes me giggle every time. So when I started The Vespertine I had my doubts that I would love it. But after the first ten pages into this novel I found myself pleasantly surprised at how hooking this novel was. Sure it's historical, but the paranormal element and forbidden love plot lines were strong enough to keep me engaged in the story til the end. 


Amelia's relationship with the artist, Nathanial was so swoon worthy. He would drop these lines that would cause my pulse to race and, like Amelia, draw me in further to him. The only thing I thought was the relationship felt a little instantaneous, but that was easily forgotten because of the likable characters. 


The visions in this story were great. I loved getting glimpses into Amelia's future. The paranormal element was tightly written and had some twists at the end that simply wowed me. I really liked this one.


I recommend this novel to anyone who loves historical romances with a heavy paranormal twist. 

Populazzi by Elise Allen

Title:  Populazzi
Author: Elise Allen
Hardcover, 400 pages

Published August 1st 2011 by Harcourt Children's Books (first published July 20th 2011)

Plot:

Cara has never been one of those girls: confident, self-possessed, and always ready with the perfect thing to say. A girl at the very top of the popularity tower. One of the Populazzi.


Now, junior year could change everything. Cara’s moving to a new school, and her best friend urges her to seize the moment—with the help of the Ladder. Its rungs are relationships, and if Cara transforms into the perfect girlfriend for guys ever-higher on the tower, she’ll reach the ultimate goal: Supreme Populazzi.

The Ladder seems like a lighthearted social experiment, a straight climb up, but it quickly becomes gnarled and twisted. And when everything goes wrong, only the most audacious act Cara can think of has a chance of setting things even a little bit right.

My Thoughts:

I adored this novel. Cara was so fun to read about. She takes some major risks and at times I found myself biting my nails to see what she was going to do next. Cara and her best friend at times seem like they are only interested in climbing the social ladder and don't care who they hurt, but I was able to look past that because I was into the story.

There are so many deliciously steamy boys to read about in this novel. It really kept me hooked to watching Cara's climb to the upper hierarchy of popularity. There are some twists in this novel I didn't expect, but glad they were thrown in to make this novel stand out amongst the other YA contemporary novels out there.

All and all, I really liked it. I recommend this to any YA contemporary fan who likes plots centered around high school popularity and smexy time with guys.

A Need So Beautiful (A Need So Beautiful #1) by Suzanne Young

Hardcover, 272 pages

Published June 21st 2011 by Balzer & Bray

Plot:
We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be Forgotten...

Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become--her mark on this earth, her very existence--is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny--no matter how dark the consequences.

My Thoughts:

A Need So Beautiful is a novel that will stay with you. It's different. The whole time I was trying to figure things out, and I have to say I was pretty close with my predictions, but the ending threw me for a loop.  Harlin absolutely made the book for me. It was nice to go into a novel with the main character already in a stable relationship and watch her struggle to maintain it with Harlin.The Need forces Charlotte to do things she doesn't want to do. When she tries to fight it, the pain is overwhelming. Harlin stays with her, he fights to keep her with him even though he's clueless what he's fighting against.

The ending is where everything goes down. You'll see what choice Charlotte makes and how much of a sacrifice it is. I felt my heart strings tug a lot in the last few pages.

I cannot wait for book two! I have to see what happens next, because for once, I am clueless on what could happen. This really was tied up so nicely it could've been a stand alone book, so I am interested to see what Charlotte will be up to!

Read this one if you like stories about helping people, angels, supernatural stores and great romance. 

Are You Going to Kiss Me Now? by Sloane Tanen

Are You Going to Kiss Me Now?

by Sloane Tanen

Paperback, 354 pages

Published May 1st 2011 by Sourcebooks Fire (first published April 27th 2011)

Source: Sourcebooks Fire

 

 

Plot:

High school junior Francesca Manning is an outsider, an aspiring writer and secret devourer of celebrity gossip mags. A fake essay to Seventeen wins her the celeb-schmoozing opportunity of a lifetime, but after the plane crashes, she's stranded on a desert island with five of the most clueless, self-involved headcases to escape Hollywood. Happily skewering their foibles in witty observations on her iPhone proves surprisingly educational for Francesca. The group must work together to survive-if they don't insult each other to death first.

My Thoughts:

I'm lovin' all the great summer reads I've been sent lately. Are You Going To Kiss Me Now? was the funniest novel I've read in a long time. It took me back to the day when Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie started The Simple Life. Posh celebrities and their lifestyles crack me up. If they only knew how the other half of us live, right? This novel had the same kind of humor. I literally wanted to reach in and smack some of the characters for being so dumb.

The plot wasn't terribly involved, so if you are looking for a light read to throw in your beach bag that will entertain you for a while, this is it. You'll be able to zip through this one fairly quick and maybe get a laugh or two.

Original Sin (Personal Demons #2) by Lisa Desrochers

Original Sin (Personal Demons #2)

by Lisa Desrochers

Paperback, 398 pages

Published July 5th 2011 by Tor Teen 

Source: Review Copy from Tor Teen

Plot:

Luc Cain was born and raised in Hell, but he isn’t feeling as demonic as usual lately—thanks to Frannie Cavanaugh and the unique power she never realized she had. But you can’t desert Hell without consequences, and suddenly Frannie and Luc find themselves targeted by the same demons who used to be Luc’s allies.

Left with few options, Frannie and Luc accept the protection of Heaven and one of its most powerful angels, Gabe. Unfortunately, Luc isn’t the only one affected by Frannie, and it isn’t long before Gabe realizes that being around her is too…tempting. Rather than risk losing his wings, he leaves Frannie and Luc under the protection of her recently-acquired guardian angel.

Which would be fine, but Gabe is barely out the door before an assortment of demons appears—and they’re not leaving without dragging Luc back to Hell with them. Hell won’t give up and Heaven won’t give in. Frannie’s guardian exercises all the power he has to keep them away, but the demons are willing to hurt anyone close to Frannie in order to get what they want. It will take everything she has and then some to stay out of Hell’s grasp.

And not everyone will get out of it alive.

My Thoughts:

Going into this novel I knew there was a new point of view coming, thanks to Lisa's twitter teasers, but I wasn't sure who it would be until I got into the the book. I was surprised to find out it was Matt, Frannie's twin brother, whom we met in Personal Demons. It took me a while to get into his perspective on things mainly because he came off a little too pissed off at Frannie and Luc's relationship. I've always been Team Luc. But after reading further, I discovered the view from his eyes was imperative to propel the story forward and possibly lead us into book three. 

Luc is still Luc. Hot as ever and totally into Frannie, willing to do anything for her. And yes there are some smexy time scenes in this book. I can always count on Frannie to deliver those. That girl has some raging hormones. 

Gabe is still in the picture too, but he really only appears in the first and last 3/4 of the book. He wasn't really vital in the meat of the plot line this time. Frannie's attraction to Gabe is still there even though she and Luc are an official couple now. Is is wrong to lust after an angel? Because Frannie seems like she's always ready to jump his bones, which doesn't bother me because I love the love triangle and tension it creates. 

There's nothing like two guys jealous over a girl.

We meet some new demons this round as well. I like the spin Ms. Desrochers created on demons and biblical mythology. It was a cool twist. When you meet the villain, you'll want to punch them, or maybe that's just me.

This sequel is a must read for Personal Demons fans. If you haven't read book one and like demon vs angels stories, run out and get it. You won't be disappointed.

Sometimes It Happens by Lauren Barnholdt

Sometimes It Happens

by Lauren Barnholdt

Hardcover, 320 pages

Published July 12th 2011 by Simon Pulse 

Source: Galley Grab

 

 

Plot:

On the last day of her junior year, Hannah's boyfriend Sebastian dumped her. Facing a summer of loneliness, Hannah turns to her best friend Ava for comfort. Ava does what BFFs do: she stays by Hannah's side...until it's time for Ava to head up to Maine for the summer. Also left behind is Ava's boyfriend, Noah, who's such a great guy he gets Hannah a job at the diner he waits tables at. Slowly, Hannah comes out of her funk thanks to Noah's good conversation and their fun times at the diner. But things get complicated when their friendship turns into attraction--and one night, into a passionate kiss.

The novel opens on the first day of senior year; the day Hannah is going to see Ava, Sebastian, and Noah all in one place. Over the course of the day secrets and betrayals are revealed, and alliances are broken and reformed. In the end, everyone is paired up once again, but not the way you might think...

My Thoughts:

There's nothing like a good contemporary in the summer. They can totally lift your mood because they are fun and the plots aren't super complicated, kind of like a romantic comedy. Ms. Barnholdt wrote TWO WAY STREET, another contemp novel that I feel in love with, so I was excited to review this novel.

 

The main character (MC) of Sometimes It Happens had such a great voice, as well as all of the secondary characters. If you've read any of my reviews before, you know the voice of the novels make or break a book for me. In young adult fiction, the teen voice has to ring true. If the MC sounds like an experienced adult or uses phrases that no teen would say I totally get turned off. YA is all about making mistakes and learning from them while you are coming of age and the voice needs to represent that.

 

I'm glad to say Hannah, our MC, pulled me in immediately. I loved how the novel switched from present time to past (over the summer) so we could watch things unfold. I understood why she liked Noah by reading the past parts of the story and then understood how guilty she felt by reading the present part of the story.  

I would recommend this novel to any YA contemp fan. Readers who enjoyed novels like The Duff, Twenty Boy Summer, The Sky is Everywhere, Something Like Fate, Sarah Dessen novels, Anna and the French Kiss and Rachel Hawthorne novels will fall in love with this story.

 

The Book of Lost Souls by Michele Muto

The Book of Lost Souls

by Michelle Muto

Kindle Edition, 324 pages

Published March 6th 2011
Source: Author Provided ARC

Plot:

When teen witch Ivy MacTavish changes a lizard into her date for a Halloween dance, everything turns to chaos. And when no one is powerful enough to transform him back except Ivy, it sparks the rumor: Like father, like daughter. Ivy has heard it all before - that her father, who left when she was seven – was involved with the darkest of magic.


Making the rumors worse, someone uses an evil spell book to bring back two of history's most nefarious killers. Ivy's got a simple plan to set things right: find the real dark spell caster, steal the book, and reverse the spell. No problem! But she’ll have to deal with something more dangerous than murderous spirits that want her and her friends dead: the school’s resident bad boy and hotter-than-brimstone demon, Nick Marcelli. Nick’s offering Ivy more than his help with recovering the missing book – he’s offering her a way to ditch her scaly reputation as a lizard-lover. Demons are about as hard to handle as black magic, and as Ivy soon discovers, it’s going to take more than a lot of luck and a little charm if she wants to survive long enough to clear her status as a dark witch, get a warm-blooded boyfriend, and have her former date back to eating meal worms before the week’s end.

My Thoughts:

I must say that this cover is quite alluring. It immediately drew my interest and I had to find out more. I was pleasantly surprised to find the story is a blessedly fresh new take on the supernatural world. There is lots of mystery, plotting, subterfuge and generous handfuls of comedy throughout the story. While there is a love triangle, it does not overwhelm and derail the plot line. I particularly liked the group of friends and their intra-dynamic.


The story itself is fast-paced, had me laughing out loud and rooting for bad-boy love interest Nick. This YA novel is definitely worth the wait.

----Michele

Love Story by Jennifer Echols ARC Review

Love Story

by Jennifer Echols

Paperback, 256 pages

Expected publication: July 19th 2011 by MTV Books

http://jennifer-echols.com/lovestory.html

Source: Galley Grab

Plot:

She's writing about him. he's writing about her. And everybody is reading between the lines..


For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions--it's her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family's racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin's college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter . . . so why does he sneak into her thoughts as the hero of her latest writing assignment?

Then, on the day she's sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He's joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin's heart with longing. Now she's not just imagining what might have been. She's writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter . . . except this story could come true.

My Thoughts:

I love Jennifer Echols. Her contemporary YA stories hook me every time. I think I've read GOING TOO FAR at least three times. So, when I saw this book listed on Simon and Schuster Galley Grab I just had to read it.

This book is different than most YA contemp stories currently out there. Our main character (MC) Erin is a writer, just like many book worms out there. We follow along with Erin as she goes through her first critique session and watch as it doesn't go along as planned. We also get to read some of her work, including some steamy historical romance pieces that are based on events that have actually happened to her. No one would ever know this story is about her and the guy she used to lust after if said guy, Hunter, wouldn't happen to have joined her writing class on the second day.

I was embarrassed right along with Erin while Hunter read steamy scenes that obviously included him. I would've been mortified. I kept thinking OHMYGOD, OHMYGOD.

Another cool thing about this book is we get to read some of Hunter's writing, which obviously includes Erin. It was a way to get inside his head without the book having dual points of view. Let me just say, I don't know if I could've ever written about groping someone for my class. lol These two are very brave.

The only thing I didn't like about this book was it ended too quickly. I wanted more closure at the end. Sure it was implied what would happen, but I wanted to experience it with them. I wanted the showdown. For that reason I had to give this novel a 4/5 just because I felt a little gypped.

Read this one if you like a contemporary romances!

Die For Me by Amy Plum--Review

Title: Die For Me
Author: Amy Plum
Hardcover, 341 pages

Published May 10th 2011 by HarperTeen
Author Website: http://www.amyplumbooks.com/
Series: Revenants #1
Setting: Paris, 2010 (France)

Plot:

In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.


When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

My Thoughts:

The story of Kate and Vincent hooked me. I like a good old fashioned romance, matter of fact, that's what I liked best about this book--the romance. The mystery of where the relationship of Kate and Vincent was going sucked me in. I rooted for them to get together. They had great chemistry.

The premise was different. I hadn't read a spin on zombies like this before. It kept me reading on because I wanted to know more about the Revenants. Ms. Plum did a great job creating the world and explaining the world's rules in this novel.

Read this one if you like paranormal romance with a zombie twist. 

The Iron Thorn (Iron Codex #1) by Caitlin Kittredge

Title: The Iron Thorn (Iron Codex #1)
by Caitlin Kittredge

Hardcover, 512 pages

Published February 22nd 2011 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers (first published February 20th 2011)

Plot:

In the city of Lovecraft, the Proctors rule and a great Engine turns below the streets, grinding any resistance to their order to dust. The necrovirus is blamed for Lovecraft's epidemic of madness, for the strange and eldritch creatures that roam the streets after dark, and for everything that the city leaders deem Heretical—born of the belief in magic and witchcraft. And for Aoife Grayson, her time is growing shorter by the day.


Aoife Grayson's family is unique, in the worst way—every one of them, including her mother and her elder brother Conrad, has gone mad on their 16th birthday. And now, a ward of the state, and one of the only female students at the School of Engines, she is trying to pretend that her fate can be different.

My Thoughts:

I'm lovin' all these dystopian novels that are out right now. This was one was so dark and twisted, which to me, made it stand out among some of the others. There is some very dark imagery in his novel, but I kind of expected that going in because I have read Ms. Kittredge's adult series. I very much appreciate a dark story. They really pull me into the world.

The main character is very caring and somewhat brainwashed in this novel, but she a little snark in there and isn't afraid to turn it on when it comes to her family. The journey this story takes you on is awesome! It will keep you on the edge of your seat and make you root for Aoife to succeed.

Read this one if you like dytopian, steam punk novels! 

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma - Review

Forbidden

by Tabitha Suzuma

Published Orginally: May 27th 2010 by Definitions
My Copy Info: This edition: Hardcover, 464 pages; Publication date: June 28, 2011
Ages: above 16
Source: Galley Grab

Plot:

Seventeen-year-old Lochan and sixteen-year-old Maya have always felt more like friends than siblings. Together they have stepped in for their alcoholic, wayward mother to take care of their three younger siblings. As defacto parents to the little ones, Lochan and Maya have had to grow up fast. And the stress of their lives--and the way they understand each other so completely--has also also brought them closer than two siblings would ordinarily be. So close, in fact, that they have fallen in love. Their clandestine romance quickly blooms into deep, desperate love. They know their relationship is wrong and cannot possibly continue. And yet, they cannot stop what feels so incredibly right. As the novel careens toward an explosive and shocking finale, only one thing is certain: a love this devastating has no happy ending.--Simon and Schuster

My Thoughts:

 

I go into every book with an open mind. Some books surprise me. I get into them and a fall in love with the characters even though the subject matter of the novel may be a little uncomfortable. That's exactly what happened with FORBIDDEN. Sure, I've heard of this one through the blogging community when it was released over in the UK, but never got the opportunity to read it for myself. Reviews vary for this novel. Some love it while others hate it. I'll admit it is hard to get over the fact that the love story in this novel is between brother and sister, and no, I don't mean step. I'm talkin' same momma and daddy here. Full on siblings.

 

Now I know what you're thinking, ewwww gross, how can people read something like that. It is pretty creepy. But I will say Ms. Suzuma did such an excellent job building the characters that it was easy to forget they were siblings. Their lives are just so messed up. Their dad wants nothing to do with them. Their mom is an alcoholic that stays gone most of the time, which leaves the two main characters alone, raising the younger kids in the family. The dynamics of the family are so crazy, it's believable that this incestuous love story could happen. It's like they are in their own little world and no one else can understand but each other.

 

For me the story really took off the last 3/4 of the book. That was where all the action was. It really hooked me in and I flew through the end. It was sooooooo sad. Be prepared for that. It was probably the saddest YA contemporary story I've ever read. Very realistic and I can totally see a situation like that happening in real life. 

 

All in all I say read it with an open mind. This is not a book that I think is suitable for the younger YA crowd, best to stick with 16 and up for this one. There is a gritty sex scene in this one and the subject matter in general is best suited for a mature reader.  

 

 

Born At Midnight by C.C. Hunter - Review

Title: Born at Midnight (Shadow Falls #1)

Author: C.C. Hunter

Paperback, 416 pages

Published March 29th 2011 by St. Martin's Griffin (first published March 17th 2011)
Source: ARC review

Plot:
One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever. Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.” Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.


Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either. Or does she? They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason. As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas. Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past. Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart.

Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear Falls is exactly where she belongs…

My Thoughts:

This book started a little rocky for me, and at first I wasn't sure about it at all, but after I got into the novel (30-50 pages) I ended up loving it. This novel kind of puts me in mind of Hex Hall, which I absolutely LOVED, because of the camp of supernatural "freaks."

There were two things that kept me hooked in this one: Boys and the mystery of what kind of supernatural Kylie was.

Three potiental love interests in this book had me flipping the pages faster than I thought humanly possible. They all had likable quailties. Kylie could have easily picked any of the three as her main love interest and I would have still loved the possibilty that the other two were still on back-up. Such a great romance in there.

Kylie's supernatural ability makes her the freakiest freak at the school. Her power is as much a mystery to everyone else as it is to her. She didn't even really know she was gifted until she was shipped off to this camp. I love it when a main character is super special in some way.

Read this one if you like HAWT love interests and mutlitple supernatural creatures in one story.

Bumped by Megan McCafferty -- Review

Title: Bumped
Author: Megan McCafferty
Hardcover, 336 pages

Expected publication: April 26th 2011 by Balzer + Bray
Series: Bumped #1

Plot:

When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents are forced to pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society.


Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and had never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Until now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her whole life in religious Goodside, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to bring Melody back to Goodside and convince her that “pregging” for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

My Thoughts:

I need the next book!! I really liked this one. So different! Preggin' For Profit!

This book took me a few pages to get into, but once I did I was hooked. I enjoyed Melody's voice far more than Harmony's, but I loved Harmony's story more. Each chapter alternated between Melody and Harmony, twins that couldn't be more different. I like books with different points of view like that. Keeps things interesting.

If you are looking for your next dystopian fix give Bumped a shot!

Griffin Rising by Darby Karchut - Review

Quick Review:

Paperback, 174 pages

Expected publication: June 28th 2011 by Twilight Times Books
http://www.darbykarchut.com/
Setting: High Springs, Colorado, 2011

Griffin Rising by Darby Karchut


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


My Thoughts:




This novel really grew on me. I've read a lot of angel books this year, but GRIFFIN RISING was unlike any of the other angel YA novels I've read lately. The main character suffered throughout a lot of abuse from his first mentor Nicopolis in the beginning of the novel. Basil couldn't have come into the picture soon enough and saved Griffin from his current situation. It kind of reminded me of the 3rd Karate Kid movie for some reason, where the mentor was out to purposely hurt his pupil and the good mentor comes in and saves the kid.

The love story between Kate and Griffin was totally sweet. Romance makes or breaks a book for me and this adventurous story had just the right balance for this plot. The moments between Kate and Griffin were some of my favorite in the whole book.

The other thing I enjoyed about this novel was the presents of parents, which rarely happens in young adult stories. Most of the time the parents are non-existent.

Read this one if you want an angel book with a different spin.


More Reviews: Reading, Writing and Waiting


View all my reviews

Plot:
 
For Griffin, it's time to angel up.


For centuries, rumors have abounded of a lowly caste of supernatural beings known as the Terrae Angeli. Armed with the power to control Earth, Fire, Wind and Water, these warriors secretly serve as guardians for mortals in danger.

But for one young angel-in-training, Griffin, life is hell as a cruel master makes his apprenticeship a nightmare. On the verge of failing, a new mentor, Basil, enters his life and changes it forever. It is their father-and-son relationship, sometimes turbulent, often hilarious, always affectionate, that sings through the story like a pure note.

Masquerading as the average teen next door, Griffin struggles to learn his trade, navigate the ups and downs of modern life among humans (including falling in love with the girl next door), and prepare for the ancient trial-by-combat every apprentice must pass at sixteen or be forced to become mortal.

Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade

Title: Queen of the Dead
Author: Stacey Kade
Hardcover, 288 pages

Expected publication: June 7th 2011 by Hyperion Book CH (first published May 31st 2011)
Series: The Ghost and the Goth #2
Source: ARC Tour

Plot:
After being sent back from the light, Alona Dare - former homecoming queen, current Queen of the Dead - finds herself doing something she never expected: working. Instead of spending days perfecting her tan by the pool (her typical summer routine when she was, you know, alive), Alona must now cater to the needs of other lost spirits. By her side for all of this - ugh - “helping of others” is Will Killian: social outcast, seer of the dead, and someone Alona cares about more than she’d like.


Before Alona can make a final ruling on Will’s “friend” or “more” status, though, she discovers trouble at home. Her mom is tossing out Alona’s most valuable possessions, and her dad is expecting a new daughter with his wicked wife. Is it possible her family is already moving on? Hello! She’s only been dead for two months! Thankfully, Alona knows just the guy who can put a stop to this mess.

Unfortunately for Alona, Will has other stuff on his mind, and Mina, a young (and beautiful) seer, is at the top of the list. She’s the first ghost-talker Will’s ever met—aside from his father—and she may hold answers to Will’s troubled past. But can she be trusted? Alona immediately puts a check mark in the “clearly not” column. But Will is - ahem - willing to find out, even if it means leaving a hurt and angry Alona to her own devices, which is never a good idea.

Packed with romance, lovable characters, and a killer cliffhanger, Queen of the Dead is the out-of-this-world sequel to The Ghost and the Goth.

My Thoughts:

I really liked Ghost and the Goth--stories from mean girls points of view rock, but I have to say I think I actually enjoyed the sequel, QUEEN OF THE DEAD, more than the original story. Will's voice and personality made this story for me. Guy first person perspectives are rare, and when done well they can totally put a fresh spin on a story. Alona and Will's feelings really come through in this novel, which is so important to me because I am a romance junkie. If there's no romance in a story, it kinda fizzles for me.

Now I won't tell you what happens, but let's just say it'll be interesting to see how they deal with the outcome of the problem of the book in the next installment. Seriously, it was a brilliant twist. Hooked me and now I just have to know more. Kudos Ms. Kade for another rockin' book!