On My Wishlist (#63)

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where I list all the books I desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming.

Bewitching
Alex Flinn
Kendra Chronicles #1

Synopsis: Bewitching can be a beast. . . .

Once, I put a curse on a beastly and arrogant high school boy. That one turned out all right. Others didn’t.

I go to a new school now—one where no one knows that I should have graduated long ago. I’m not still here because I’m stupid; I just don’t age.

You see, I’m immortal. And I pretty much know everything after hundreds of years—except for when to take my powers and butt out.

I want to help, but things just go awry in ways I could never predict. Like when I tried to free some children from a gingerbread house and ended up being hanged. After I came back from the dead (immortal, remember?), I tried to play matchmaker for a French prince and ended up banished from France forever. And that little mermaid I found in the Titanic lifeboat? I don’t even want to think about it.

Now a girl named Emma needs me. I probably shouldn’t get involved, but her gorgeous stepsister is conniving to the core. I think I have just the thing to fix that girl—and it isn’t an enchanted pumpkin. Although you never know what will happen when I start . . . bewitching.

Guest Post: Jessica Shirvington

Embrace

Synopsis: It starts with a whisper: “It’s time for you to know who you are…”

Violet Eden dreads her seventeenth birthday. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. As if that wasn’t enough, disturbing dreams haunt her sleep and leave her with very real injuries. There’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms that wasn’t there before.

Violet is determined to get some answers, but nothing could have prepared her for the truth. The guy she thought she could fall in love with has been keeping his identity a secret: he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her.

A centuries-old battle between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity has chosen its new warrior. It’s a fight Violet doesn’t want, but she lives her life by two rules: don’t run and don’t quit. When angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden…

Look for the sequels ENTICED in September 2012 and EMBLAZE in March 2013!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jessica Shirvington

Falling in love is easy. Staying in love … more complicated.

At 17, life is about new experiences. It is about self-discovery, friends, adventure, mistakes, career and university choices. And let’s be honest, there are not many 17 year olds out there that aren’t interested in falling in love.

But how many are truly interested in falling in love with THE ONE at 17?

I’m not sure I was. In fact, I probably wasn’t. I was planning to take the world by storm – solo. So when I met Matt, well, actually … it was pretty darn amazing. But it was a little frightening too.

When we first got together, it was sweet and young and … perfect. I was head over heels. But things became complicated quickly. He was an up and coming athletic star and I was working in hospitality. So basically he worked hard in the day, and I worked hard at night. His lifestyle demanded routine and healthy living, mine … not so much. But we were determined to make it work.

Falling in love so deeply at a young age made it difficult to be as reckless as our friends. We watched them coast in and out of short, fun, but meaningless relationships and it just seemed so different to what we had.

Writing the Embrace series has been an opportunity for me to pour some of the incredibly intense emotions of young love into Violet’s story. It has been important for me as a writer, and a person, to recognize that it’s completely realistic for someone at her young age to experience the full effect and heartbreak of love. Violet is one hundred percent invested with her heart. She makes bad choices, but we have to. She regrets many of her decisions, because we all do. And she fights for what she loves, because she is compelled to. Violet’s story is unique to her, I don’t pull on parallel scenarios from my own life, but I do pull on the emotion of intense love. Love that I think adults sometimes forget that 17 and 18 years-olds are very capable of feeling.

I often find one question helps a lot of adults, who maybe disagree with this view, to be more open minded: Do you remember you first true love? Do you ever wonder what your life would’ve been like if you had stayed together? For some, the answer is a resounding NOT INTERESTED, but for others … the pause says it all.

Matt and I celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary in March - I believe jewelry is in order ;)

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REVIEW: Unraveling

Unraveling

Elizabeth Norris

Synopsis: Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she's opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn't possible, she knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.

But her revival, and Ben's possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI agent father's files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what's right in front of her: Everything that's happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben's sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she's going to need to uncover Ben's secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.

From debut author Elizabeth Norris comes this shattering novel of one girl's fight to save herself, her world, and the boy she never saw coming.



My thoughts: I really enjoyed this book much more than I thought to.  It still didn't seem amazing, but I couldn't put the book down!  I loved the characters, the plot, and really felt like I could see the setting in my mind.  Three things to make an awesome book!

Janelle was really a character that I could relate to.  After being hit by the truck and brought back to life, Janelle hunts down Ben Michaels, the guy who saved her, and demands answers....even though she didn't associate with him before and he hangs out with what I would call the "potheads".  When he comes up with an excuse, Janelle doesn't believe it, but she doesn't push it right then either.  She is just a girl who wouldn't take no for an answer and is willing to do her own investigating, even if she could get in trouble, to get the answer she wants.  She finds out her dad is trying to figure out why people are showing up dead from radiation poisoning.  They've also found a device that is counting down.  Janelle doesn't leave it alone.  She wants her own answers.  So she starts doing her own investigation.  She gets a little too nosy a few times, but she's just so determined!

The plot was so interesting.  It was not what I expected at all.  And honestly, had I known that this book would go that way, I probably would have NEVER picked it up.  It turned almost sci-fi there for a bit.  And that is so not my thing, but this book did it right for me.  I'm sure that those people that are into sci-fi wouldn't be impressed with this book, but it didn't overdo any of that, so I really enjoyed it.  I loved all of the suspense with the end-of-the-world business!  There were a couple of times that I just didn't understand why they weren't doing anything!  Um, if I knew that the world was going to end, and that I could potentially do something about it, I would be doing something about it!  I don't think I would take a break. 

I wasn't impressed with the boys in this book.  It seems as though Janelle has some really great guy friends, but she needs a boyfriend!  Or a love interest that interests me!  It was kind of nice to read about something else than just romance though I guess.  Either way, I still enjoyed this book.  I just didn't connect with any of the boys.

All in all this was a really great book.  And I'm sure my review makes it sound like any other book, but it's not.  I think you'll just have to read it for yourself to believe me! 

"Waiting On" Wednesday (#51)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine. Here is what I am waiting on:

Auracle
Gina Rosati

Synopsis:
On the surface, there’s nothing remarkable about Anna Rogan: She gets average grades, she’s not especially fashionable, she spends most of her time just hanging out with her best friend Rei. But Anna does have a remarkable secret: she has the ability to do astral projection. She uses her out-of-body experiences to explore the universe, until one day when there’s an accident at school and her classmate Taylor gets into her body. Now Taylor’s using her new identity to accuse an innocent boy of murder and she shows no signs of leaving Anna’s body. The only person who knows Anna’s secret is Rei, and as her feelings for Rei grow she must face a future where they can never touch...unless they can find a way to get Taylor out of Anna’s body, stop the murder trial, and discover the true nature of Anna’s power.

REVIEW: Keep Holding On

Keep Holding On

Susane Colasanti

Synopsis: 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.

My thoughts: I really don't think I will have much to say about this book, because really there wasn't a whole lot going on in this book.  It's a short read and really to me is just a little snippet of what the life of a teenager is.  Not all teeangers deal with what Noelle had to deal with, but I think it happens more often than we like to admit.

I really didn't like Noelle.  She was really lucky to have the friends she did.  She's really kind of a downer.  I don't think I would have associated with someone like her in high school.  She had to have known that her secret relationship was never going to become public, on purpose that is.  What's the point of meeting up with some guy for 15 minutes so you can make out?  Maybe if you were doing that in addition to spending other time together....but that 15 minutes 5 days a week is spent making out, and you consider this guy your boyfriend?  Ugh, it completely annoyed me!  It makes me think she is desperate. 

I did understand that her life really sucks at home, but I think she really could have done more about it.  Nobody knows what is going on because Noelle doesn't let anyone in.  And if she was really starving, maybe she should have taken advantage of that free lunch, since she's already being teased about her mayo and mustard sandwiches.  She might as well get a decent meal if she is going to get teased anyway. 

The way Noelle's mother treats her is terrible.  I honestly probably would have walked out and went to live with someone else instead of listening to that crap.  I understand that money was tight, but that's still no excuse.  I was really happy when Noelle's mom started waking up towards the end of the book.  I do think that Noelle could end up becoming suicidal if things stayed the same.

Despite my annoyance with the main character, the author really did a good job writing this book.  I like when authors don't make their characters perfect.  It makes it so much more real.  If you get the chance to pick it up, I think you will enjoy it too.

In My Mailbox (#61)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. These are the books I bought or received this week.

When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle

Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris

Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti

Girl Overboard by Justina Chen Headley

The Queen of Kentucky by Alecia Whitaker

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore

REVIEW: Perception

 Perception

Kim Harrington

Clarity #2

Synopsis: When you can see things others can't, what do you do when someone's watching you?  Everybody knows about Clarity "Clare" Fern. She's the psychic girl in school, the one who can place her hands on something and see hidden visions from the past.  Only Clare would rather not be a celebrity. She prefers hanging back, observing. Her gift is not a game to her.  But then someone starts playing with her head . . . and heart. Messages and gifts from a secret admirer crop up everywhere Clare turns. Could they be from Gabriel, the gorgeous boy who gets Clare's pulse racing? Or from Justin, Clare's hopeful ex-boyfriend who'd do anything to win her back?  One thing is certain. Clare needs to solve this mystery, and soon. Because the messages are becoming sinister, and a girl in town has suddenly disappeared. 

My thoughts: Perception leaves me feeling the same way I did when I finished Clarity.  It is a light fluffy read, which is nice when I need a break from emotionally draining and time consuming books.  It doesn’t make my top 10, but it was still definitely worth my time.  I am excited for whatever the author has planned next, and will definitely plan on buying whatever that is!

One thing I really liked about Perception was that the characters were re-introduced.  Many books that are the second in a series jump right in to where they left off in the first book, which is ok and works for many books.  However, I may read several other books before getting to that second book.  So I often find myself questioning who people are and it all gradually comes back to me as I am reading.  I didn’t have to spend my time remembering who people were.  I was told right away who’s who.  So then I could really focus on the storyline.

I loved the murder mystery plot once again!  And actually, even more than that, I loved reading about Clare being stalked!  Several times while reading, I was thinking “oh that’s too easy” or “I could have guessed that”, but the author surprised me many times!  She made me think that it was too easy, but I ended up being wrong!  The stalker completely surprised me!  However, I think Clare could have definitely had worse stalkers!  It still would have been scary for anyone though.

I am so happy that Clare finally picked a boy!  Even if I am not amazed by this boy, I am happy that she chose.  I am really interested to see where their relationship goes and how things work out for them!  I don’t want to give anything away, because the love triangle was still very interesting to me in this book, and I don’t want to ruin it for you!  I definitely see a lot of potential though!

If you haven’t started this series, you should.  It is definitely a good light read.  It would be perfect to read while at the beach or just when you don’t want to put a whole lot of effort or emotion into it!  Sometimes you need that kind of read!

On My Wishlist (#62)

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where I list all the books I desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming.

Pure
Julianna Baggott
Pure #1

Synopsis: We know you are here, our brothers and sisters . . .
Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.

Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash . . .
There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss-maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it's his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her.

When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again.

REVIEW: Clarity

Clarity

Kim Harrington

Clarity #1

Synopsis: Clarity “Clare” Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It’s a gift.

And a curse.

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare’s ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case—but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare’s brother—who has supernatural gifts of his own—becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

My thoughts:  I really enjoyed Clarity.  It didn’t blow me away, but it was a light, easy read that kept my interest.  I really liked reading about Clare’s family and their abilities, but I think I liked the mystery and trying to solve the murder case more.  I think both of those things together made this a really good book, as I probably wouldn’t have read it if it was just about one or the other.

Clare acts like a typical teenager to me, although maybe she doesn’t have as much of the attitude.  She loves her family, butshe seems quite annoyed with them sometimes too.  Clare made me laugh.  She’s just so easy going, and she definitely had a personality that jumped out at me.  I really found it odd that she had no friends.  I just didn’t understand it.  Even if the popular crowd doesn’t like her, there has to be someone who does! 

I liked that she had two love interests, although I am not really rooting for either one.  Clare seemed to be using both of them throughout this whole book, which really irked me.  Justin was a jerk, and Gabriel just didn’t make me love him.  If she had to pick one, I would say Gabriel, but I don’t think they are perfect either. 

The murder mystery plot was so interesting!  I loved that Clare sort of felt obligated to help, but she also wanted to.  I don’t actually believe in her abilities, but if I did, I think she should help with that kind of stuff.  My favorite part was when she was in the room and was really putting herself in the dead girl’s shoes.  I am pretty skeptical of these sorts of abilities, but I loved it every time Clare had a new clue, and Gabriel had none!

I really enjoyed Clarity, and have actually already read Perception too (review coming soon!)  This is definitely a series to invest your time and money in!

REVIEW: Selection

The Selection

Kiera Cass

The Selection #1

Synopsis: For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

My thoughts: I have to say that all of my expectations were way beyond exceeded!  The synopsis sounded good to me, but I knew it was something that would have to be done right, and that there would be no gray area.  So I was a little hesitant when I did pick it up, but I was HOOKED!  Is it too soon to ask when the next one is coming out? :)

America and Aspen are so sweet.  The whole first part of the book I was totally rooting for them.  Sure they are in different castes, and financially it would be terrible for the both of them.  I felt like they really loved each other though, so they could pull through anything.  I think Aspen wants what is best for America and he is always looking out for her best interests.  However, I also think he seems to be guarding his heart and is hurting her in the process.

My heart was just aching for America, especially when she saw Aspen with another girl.  She had loved him for so long, and although she didn't know any details, it appeared as though he had moved on.  I felt like when she saw that, a switch was flipped and America suddenly was ready to go to the palace.  And even though at the time I didn't know what was going on between that girl and Aspen, his behavior was still ridiculous.  So, at that point, I was no longer rooting for Aspen.  I was totally all for the America living the single life!

And THEN America meets Maxon, and OMG!  I was laughing out loud.  I love the way they act around each other.  America was totally herself, as she wasn't trying to impress him at all.  She was straight up with him and told him how it is and really didn't seem to have the respect one should for a prince.  I loved that about her!  I totally think that she could fall in love with him.

This book was absolutely amazing.  The love triangle is one thing, but there is so much more to this book!  I loved reading about the relationships America has with these other girls, and some of them are definitely trying to compete.  I am so excited for the next book, and I am still rooting for Maxon!  I did love Aspen at one point too, but I think he would be better as a friend.  Maxon and America are perfect together.  Aspen will really have to win me over in the next book, or Maxon will have to do something extremely terrible for me to change my mind.

"Waiting On" Wednesday (#50)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine. Here is what I am waiting on:

Time Between Us
Tamara Ireland Stone

Synopsis: Anna and Bennett were never supposed to meet: she lives in 1995 Chicago and he lives in 2012 San Francisco. But Bennett’s unique ability to travel through time and space brings him into Anna’s life, and with him, a new world of adventure and possibility.

As their relationship deepens, they face the reality that time might knock Bennett back where he belongs, even as a devastating crisis throws everything they believe into question. Against a ticking clock, Anna and Bennett are forced to ask themselves how far they can push the bounds of fate—and what consequences they can bear in order to stay together.

Fresh, exciting, and deeply romantic, TIME BETWEEN US is a stunning and spellbinding debut from an extraordinary new talent in YA fiction.

Spring Cleaning Giveaway Hop

It has been a while since I have done a giveaway.  So I decided to participate in the Spring Cleaning Giveaway Hop....and it is perfect, because I have a couple of books that I would like to pass on to someone else!  Head on over to I am a Reader, Not a Writer to check out the rest of the giveaways.

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz

Rules:

US only.

One winner will get both books.

Giveaway ends March 25.

Fill out the form below.

 

REVIEW: Dreamless

 Dreamless

Josephine Angelini

Starcrossed #2

Synopsis:  As the only Scion that can enter Hades at will, Helen descends to the Underworld in search of a way to overcome the Furies and end the cycle of revenge that has cursed the Scions. But she’s running out of time. Each descent weakens her both in mind and spirit. A mysterious stranger might be her only salvation, but the price may be her love for Lucas Delos.

As an unforgettable love triangle emerges, Josephine Angelini’s compelling saga becomes ever more intricate and spellbinding. The eagerly awaited sequel to the internationally bestselling Starcrossed, Dreamless delivers with a huge emotional impact that will leave readers satisfied—and longing for more.  

 My thoughts:   Dreamless hasn’t even been released yet, and I am ready for the third book in this series already!  Dreamless was definitely much better than Starcrossed, which I expected because it always seems that the first book in a series is just setting up the foundation of the following books.  In Dreamless, we already know most of the characters, so it focused quite a bit on the actual events, which I like. 

The love triangle in this book was interesting.  First of all, I hated it that Lucas had to make Helen hate him.  I mean, it makes sense that he did that, but I wish they would figure out that they are not really cousins!  I just want them to be together!  It got really tense when Lucas flipped a switch and started acting as if he couldn’t stand Helen.  He even punched Castor!  I think it was just too much all at once.  Lucas seemed to have lost control.  He had to pretend to hate Helen, but yet he was really upset with Castor for having him do that.  I think Lucas knew why he had to do it, but it still hurt him to behave that way.  I think the new love interest for Helen definitely eased it all for me.  I needed someone to be there for her!

I really felt bad for Helen in this book.  Lucas is acting terrible towards her, and she has to go into the Underworld.  She is completely exhausted.  Claire was there for her and flat out told her that she didn’t need to go into the Underworld every night.  She made Helen realize that she needs to take care of herself too.  Helen wants to save everyone, but she really needed a break.

I think the ending to this book was amazing.  I love the whole journey that Helen went through, and I love that she had a partner in it all.  I think the author really has her work cut out for her though….I think it would be pretty tough to top Dreamless!

REVIEW: Starcrossed

 Starcrossed

Josephine Angelini

Starcrossed #1

 Synopsis: Helen Hamilton has spent her entire 16 years trying to hide how different she is--no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust.

My thoughts: 

Starcrossed is a great story.  I love the mythology aspects of it.  However, I had no instant connection to any of the characters.  I was especially unimpressed with Helen, who I feel I should instantly love because she is the main character!  Even after reading this, I don’t really have any feelings about her at all.  I feel like I don’t really know her and that I couldn’t connect with her.  

I did, however, love the interactions between Helen and Lucas, even though many times I didn’t understand what was going on between the two of them.  I loved that Helen wasn’t really impressed with Lucas or his family, whereas everyone else is all ga-ga over them.  I was also much more interested when Helen wanted to kill Lucas.  I really thought the whole “revenge” thing was awesome throughout this whole story.  I liked the action and the complete loss of control at some points.

Even though I didn’t feel a connection with Helen, I did enjoy reading about her progression and learning about who she is now and who she is becoming.  She always knew she was different, but had no idea why or what she could do about it.  I liked that she was finally getting some answers.   I was really impressed with Helen after she learned who she really is and what she can do.  She didn’t let it get to her head and she didn’t want to hurt anyone.  She doesn’t want to fight at all.  She was very lucky to have this family to look after her and help her too.  It reminded me of the family of vampires in Twilight, except better.  They are all very protective of each other, and they don’t push Helen beyond her limits.

I am very interested to see what Helen’s part of this prophecy is.  Any book I have read that has had some sort of prophecy has really sucked me in!  And I am lucky enough to have a copy of Dreamless to read next!  I don’t think I could wait much longer to find out what happens next!