Dark Souls by Paula Morris (Review and Giveaway!)

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Welcome to York, England: the most haunted city in the world.

Miranda Tennant arrives in York with a terrible, tragic secret. She is eager to lose herself amid the quaint shops, hoping she won’t run into the many ghosts who supposedly roam the cobblestone streets. Then she meets Nick, an intense, dark-eyed boy who knows all of York’s hidden places and histories. Miranda wonders if Nick is falling for her, but she is distracted by another boy -- one even more handsome and mysterious than Nick. He lives in the house across from Miranda and seems desperate to send her some sort of message. Could this boy be one of York’s haunted souls?

Soon, Miranda realizes that something dangerous -- and deadly -- is being planned. And she may have to face the darkest part of herself in order to unravel the mystery -- and find redemption

Review:

Based on the cover alone, I had a strong feeling Dark Souls would be eerie yet delightfully so. As it turns out, my predication was right on. However, it also provided some great additions: a beautiful setting, interesting characters, and plot lines that constantly managed to twist and turn in surprising ways!

One of my favorite parts of Dark Souls was the setting. I've never read book that has taken place in York, England before, and boy have I been missing out! From Paula's beautiful and breathtaking descriptions to seeing Miranda adventure through the city, more times than one I felt like I was right there on those crowded streets, seeing all the enchanting storefronts and old buildings light brightly for the holiday season. Best of all, I loved how through the use of ghosts and their stories, Paula was also able to bring a bit of a historical aspect to York as well. It gave this book a great edge to say the least, especially when it was used to further the plot.

The characters in this one were great as well. From the first page, Miranda managed to fully gain my attention, as not only was she likable and easy to root for, but she also had a lot of spunk and mischief buried deep down- some of which managed to come out in full force during Dark Souls! What I liked most about her character, though, was seeing how she managed to grow and develop as the book barreled on. I also enjoyed the addition of Miranda's brother Rob as well as his love interest Sally. Because while they were secondary characters, they still managed to steal the show when they appeared on page based on how adorable and cute they were together!

As mentioned before, the plot of this was another high point of the novel. It constantly managed to surprise and thrill me as new plot characters as well as plot lines where introduced to give this book 360 degrees turns more times than one. Making the book even better was Lord Poole, a charming and interesting old man, as well as Nick, Miranda's sidekick in York. Both ended bringing a lot more than I expected to the book, and without them, I fell Dark Souls wouldn't nearly be the same. Lastly, the climax of this book was intense! I never was exactly sure how exactly it would end, and even when it did, I was still a bit shocked about how everything unraveled!

Eerie, beautifully written, and action paced, Dark Souls provides a thrilling and unique ghost story, one that is sure to have many readers flipping the pages, eager to know just how everything will end! Paula Morris has certainly created a fabulous book, and I can't wait to read more by her!

Grade: B+

Dark Souls is now out!

Source: Publicist at Publicity Firm/Publisher- thanks Big Honcho Media and Scholastic!

Photo Credit: Robert Trathan

About the Author: 

Paula Morris is the author of Ruined, and has published several novels for adults in her native New Zealand. She has lived in a number of cities around the world, including York, England. She now lives in Glasgow, Scotland, and teaches creative writing at the University of Stirling. Visit her online at www.paula-morris.com. To find out more about the book and its author, check out This Is Teen Facebook page as well! 

Thanks to Scholastic and Big Honcho Media, I also have TWO copies of Dark Souls up for grabs.

Official Giveaway Rules:

~ Must be 13 years or older to enter
~ Must have a US mailing address
~ This giveaway will close on September 13 at 12:00 PM EST

*THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.*

In My Mailbox (135)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

For Review:

Without Tess by Marcella Pixley (I've heard so many good things about this one!) 

Triangles by Ellen Hopkins (Love Ellen's books!) 

Perfect on Paper by Maria Murnane (Looking forward to reading this one as well as It's a Waverly Life!)

It's a Waverly Life by Maria Murnane (2nd copy) 

In Search of Fatherhood: A Mother Lode of Wisdom from the World of Daughterhood by Kevin Renner (Not my usual type of read, but it looks really interesting!) 

Bought:

Sweetly by Jackson Pearce (!!!) 

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead (!!!) 

Wildefire by Karsten Knight (!!!) 

In all, a great week book wise! I seriously can't wait to get started on all of these. Though, enough about me, what did YOU get this week? Anything exciting? Let me know in the comments, and feel free to link to your IMM post!

Have a great week everyone! Oh, and by the way, school starts for me tomorrow (yay Junior year!!) so I probably won't be online nearly as much as I have been during the summer, but don't worry regular posting will continue here and I'll still be tweeting wholeheartedly. :) 

Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

What's a girl to do when meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death?

Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Conner, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.

Review:

Spellbound has been high up on my wishlist ever since I first heard about it, and after seeing the cover as well as some fabulous praise, I was even more pumped about it! Thankfully, it turned out to a fun and romantic debut, one that's sure to have many clamoring for more Emma and Brendan adventures!

Ever since the deaths of her mother and brother and an accident that nearly took her own life shortly after, Emma hasn't had the easiest of times lately. So when her wealthy great-aunt offer's her a chance to attend at elite and exclusive NYC prep school and to become an official New Yorker, Emma jumps of the change, hoping that this time everything will work out in her favor. At first, it does. She starts making some new and fabulous friends and catches the eye of Brendan, an especially hot guy. However, not everything as it seems. Once Brendan and she start something, he soon begins to pull away from her, and for some reason she also keeps having the most alarming of dreams, one involving her and Brendan. What will occur next? Will Brendan and Emma find away to be together? Will Emma find an explanation for the dreams? Only more time and pages call tell in this fun supernatural flavored novel!

There were many things I enjoyed about this and one of them was the main characters! Emma was a character who had fallen on some hard times on the past, but it didn't bring her down one bit. Instead, she reached for the stars in many ways. Her relationship with Brendan had to be one of my favorite parts. Sure, it was a bit of insta-love but it was a case where it worked well, especially when everything relating to the plot was explained. What I loved most about Brendan and Emma's relationship, though, was the bit of the chase that occurred throughout. Constantly, one or both of them was trying to stay away from the other, or in some cases once was trying to get closer to the other, while the other one keep pulling away. It created lots of tension to the say the least!

The plot in this was also lots of fun. I loved the supernatural appeal in this- it was very unique. I also enjoyed the NYC setting (mostly because I love NYC) as well as the private school one. It was always interesting to see how each furthered the plot in bringing new characters and events to the mix.

Amusing and fast paced, Cara Lynn Shultz's Spellbound is well worth a read for anyone who loves books with a flavor of supernatural and main characters who are flawed yet fierce, or just the YA genre in general! I seriously can't wait to see what Cara has coming out next!

Grade: B+

Spellbound is now out!

Source: Publisher via Netgalley- thanks Harlequin Teen and Netgalley!

The Fox Inheritance Blog Tour (Guest Post & Giveaway!)

As part of the blog tour for Mary E. Person's The Fox Inheritance, the sequel to the widely popular The Adoration of Jenna Fox, I had the chance to ask Mary a question. So without a further ado...


My Question: 

Will you talk about the bridge between The Adoration of Jenna Fox and The Fox Inheritance, and the upcoming third book?

Mary's Answer: 

Thanks for kicking off my blog tour, Lauren! I'd be happy to talk about that!

When I finished The Adoration of Jenna Fox, I thought I was done, but I did keep wondering about one particular scene and a ‘what if’ question developed. Without giving too much away for your readers who haven't read the first book, it was the scene where Jenna threw something in the water. I kept wondering if she really had the right to do that, and also I couldn't get it out of my head that with all the pirating and illegal copies of everything from books to games, wouldn't it be likely that there would be copies made of something that was so very valuable.

I did my best to put this question out of my head, especially since I was now working on another book, but the question kept surfacing and I eventually succumbed to my curiosity. I set my work-in-progress aside for just one afternoon, and wrote what I thought would be just one quick chapter to get it out of my system. But after that I was hopelessly hooked. The voice exploded in my head. I had given it life and I couldn't wait to write more, but I was hesitant too, because I hadn't really planned to write a second book in the Jenna saga–plus I was in the middle of another one!

What should I do? So I ran that first chapter past my editor and agent to get their reactions, and I got a huge thumbs up from both of them. That's all I needed to dig in. This time I was certain it was only going to be a two volume series, but about mid-way I began to get a sneaking suspicion that a third story was lurking, and by the time I was done I was crazy with the possibilities. Did I dare tell my editor? But when I told her she was just as enthusiastic as I was. She thought a third story was begging to be told too.

I’m very much an organic writer, not planning ahead too much, and it's really interesting for me to see how this three part story has evolved and how the emotional plots seem to be following the natural progression of relationships in our lives. The emotional plot of Adoration centered around the first people in our lives–our parents–and the very strong and lasting bonds we have with them. In The Fox Inheritance the emotional plot revolves around our next meaningful relationships, our friends and peers who help to shape us at such a pivotal time in our lives and leave us forever changed–sometimes for better or worse. And the third book seems to be evolving into the final relationship we seek–a deep and lasting love relationship. But we’ll see. It's not finished yet and I'm often surprised at the unexpected turns my stories take before I get to the end.

Of course these are the underlying emotional plots–there’s a lot more going on that I had a great time exploring. The Fox Inheritance takes place 260 years after Adoration. That’s a huge jump into the future! So much could happen! I had lots of new territory to research before I wrote it, but like I did with the first book, I tried to make the advances and changes believable based on current events and where technology is now and where we may be headed.

For instance, I had read about a monster volcano in Yellowstone that erupts roughly every 600,000 years and now at 640,000 years was overdue for an explosion. If it explodes at full capacity it could be cataclysmic and even a “species-ending” event, plunging earth into winter for several years. Even though such an explosion happens in the future I have written, it doesn’t play a front and center role other than we see some of the lasting effects of it–like the rise of robots to supplement the wiped out workforce. All kinds of Bots! One in particular that I became quite fond of! But I’ll be talking about that in another post . . .

Thanks so much for having me here, Lauren! I hope you and your readers enjoy The Fox Inheritance!

~~

Thanks so much for stopping by, Mary!

About The Fox Inheritance:

Once there were three. Three friends who loved each other—Jenna, Locke, and Kara. After a terrible accident destroyed their bodies, their three minds were kept alive, spinning in a digital netherworld. Even in that disembodied nightmare, they were still together. At least at first. When Jenna disappeared, Locke and Kara had to go on without her. Decades passed, and then centuries.

Two-hundred-and-sixty years later, they have been released at last. Given new, perfect bodies, Locke and Kara awaken to a world they know nothing about, where everyone they once knew and loved is long dead.

Everyone except Jenna Fox.

Book Trailer/Amazon/Goodreads/Barnes and Noble

To find out more about Mary and her books, check out her website. 

Tomorrow the blog tour will take Mary to the Ya Ya Yas book blog where she will be talking about AI and her fictional fave robots.

Mary has also offered up one signed, personalized hardcover copy of The Fox Inheritance! To enter, please fill out the following form.

Official Giveaway Rules:

~ Must be 13 years or older

~ Must have a US mailing address

~ This giveaway will close on August 31, 2011 at 12:00 PM EST

~ For an extra entry, comment on this post.

*THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER.*

Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

The final book in the Perfect Chemistry trilogy is sure to be the hottest of them all.

Luis Fuentes is a good boy who doesn't live with the angst that his big brothers, Alex and Carlos, have always lived with. Luis is smart, funny, and has big dreams of becoming an astronaut. But when he falls for the wrong girl, Luis enters a dark world he's never known, and just when he thinks he's got life all figured out, learns some disturbing news about his family that destroys his positive outlook on life. Will that Fuentes bad boy streak come out with a vengeance and lure Luis to live on the edge like his new girlfriend and his own father?

Continuing all the steamy romance of the first two books, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Simone Elkeles gives fans one more satisfying taste of the irresistible Fuentes boys.

Review:

Simone Elkeles has to be one of my favorite contemporary authors out there. Her books, especially the Perfect Chemistry trilogy, are simply EPIC; so to say I was excited to read Chain Reaction, the last book in the much-loved Perfect Chemistry trilogy, would be a serious understatement. I was jumping-up-and-down and running-around-the-house-excited when it arrived in my mailbox. However, with a book like that, some high expectations came as well. Luckily, Chain Reaction managed to reach nearly every one, and while it's not my favorite of the series, it was definitely a pretty darn excellent end to the series.

Luis Fuentes may be the youngest Fuentes brother but he is probably the most put together out of the three. Charming, funny, and shockingly sweet, Luis is the boy all the boys want to be friends with and all the girls love. However, Luis meets his match with Nikki Cruz. Nikki is the ice queen of their high school. She doesn't give her trust out easily, especially when it comes to guys like Luis. This wouldn't be the biggest of problems expect for the fact that Luis is simply enchanted by her and would do nearly anything to gain her trust. That's not even adding in the new dilemma he's facing when an old friend recruits him into a gang, one that opens his eyes to more family secrets than just one. What will Luis end up doing? Will he put his family as well as Nikki before or after his fellow gang members? Or will Luis manage to lose everything in the process? Only time and more pages can tell in this fast paced and shocking new read!

In Chain Reaction, we finally get to find out more about Luis, and I have to say I loved seeing inside his head every step of the way. Cocky and headstrong yet sweet and likable, Luis was such an interesting character. What I liked most about him, though, was that even though he was much more put together than Luis and Carlos in the some ways, he's just as flawed as they are in others. On the other hand, Nikki was someone who managed pull on my heartstrings from the minute she was introduced due to the surprising yet heartbreaking situation she landed herself in. It allowed for a lot of development early on with her character to say the least. Together, Luis and Nikki had a roller coaster like relationship consisting of mixed signals, confusion, and many steamy moments. The various twists and turns it introduced constantly had me wondering how everything was going to end between them.

The plot of this one was also great, and while it contained the basic formula the other two contained, it still managed to become its own based on a chain of various events. I especially enjoyed the focus on Luis's mixed feelings over joining the gang his brother's had tried so hard to keep him away from as well as over his promises when it came to his family and the gang he had been raised with. It was realistic, in my opinion, and Simone did a great job of bringing the mixed feelings of it all off the page and to life. Every plot twist and turn within this also created drama, drama, drama and more drama as well as several shocking revelations that even had even me simply shocked at times. I also loved seeing the whole Fuentes family come together in this one!

Last but not least, the ending. It was just as sweet and adorable as the other ones, but that didn't stop me from loving because to tell the truth it was the perfect way to end the series.

Steamy and action packed, Chain Reaction is a satisfying end to a trilogy I've come to love over time. I simply can't wait to see what Simone has in the works next (another How to Ruin book would be great, as would a spin-off to this series possibly!), but one thing is for sure: whatever it may end up being, it's bound to be fabulous!

However, I have one last question: where's my Fuentes brother? ;)

Grade: A

Chain Reaction is now out!

Source: Publicist at Deb Shapiro & Co.- thanks Deb!

PS) Can I just add that I love that the cover of this is based off an actual scene in the book?

Book Trailer:

Top Ten Tuesday (3)

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Brooke and the Bookish.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday is about the books you loved but never wrote a review for. It can include books you loved but couldn't manage to write a review for or ones you read before you started blogging.

Top Ten Books I Loved But Never Wrote A Review For

(in no particular order)

1) Other Words for Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal: Even though this has to be one of my favorite books of '11, I couldn't bring myself to review it after I finished it. I didn't think I could possibly describe just how fabulous it is  in coherent thoughts. However, I'll say it now: read this book. It is epic.

2) Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys: This is another fantastic book. It's gritty yet beautifully written. It made me cry more times than I'd like to admit, but that still doesn't make me hesitant in the least to recommend it wholeheartedly.

3) Carrie Pilby by Caren Lissner: Prior to reading this book, I head heart a lot of mixed thoughts about it...some people loved it while others hated it. I actually ended up enjoying it quite a bit. It's a bit unrealistic at points (How can anyone truly be as self centered as Carrie?) but it's still a witty and unique read!

4) We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han: I adore every sing book in the Summer series but this one has to be my absolute favorite. It was so, so, SO good, and the ending was perfect in way's I can't even begin to describe.

5) Graceling by Kristin Cashore: I adore this book, but when it came time to write a review for it after I finished it, I just couldn't bring myself to do so. It was just too good so to say. Plus, my thoughts basically consisted of a neverending repetition of "THIS BOOK IS AMAZING! THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!"

6) My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent: I kind of hate to put this book on the list, because while I did love it, I haven't read any of the sequels to it yet. I know, shame on me, but I'm planning to soon...hopefully. :)

7) Bloom by Elizabeth Scott: This is Elizabeth's first book but it's one of my favorites of hers, and that's not just because the main character's name is Lauren. It's actually really good, and while I didn't always support Lauren's decisions (especially ones involving Evan) but her and Evan were still such an adorable couple!

8) Just Listen by Sarah Dessen: Since I talked about my favorite Scott book, I had to include my favorite Dessen book as well. Seriously, this one is my favorite one by her. I've read it at least ten times, and every time it's like I'm reading it for the first time. If you haven't read this one? I so think you should!

9) I Know It's Over by C.K. Kelly Martin: I read this one a long time ago, tough I still remember really enjoying it. It's not the easiest of reads at times because of the subject matters but it has to be one of the best books I've read involving teen pregnancies.

10) Sweethearts by Sara Zarr: Sara is one of my favorite authors based on this book alone. It's so amazing that I can't even begin to describe its greatness, but I will say that the ending still kills me everytime I think about it. It's the definition of bittersweet to say the least.

What are some of your favorite books that you read but didn't review? Any of the ones I listed above? Or something different? Let me know in the comments, and be sure to join in on the fun at The Broke and the Bookish with your own Top Ten Tuesday list!

Beyond the Grave by Mara Purnhagen

Summary/Cover Image from Author's Website:

I can’t move forward with my life

Until I know my demons are confined to the past…

Being Charlotte Silver, the daughter of famous paranormal investigators, means my life isn’t like other girls. Especially after what happened to my parents. Things changed. I missed prom and deferred my big college plans. But while my future is on hold, everyone else around me is moving on. At least I’m not alone. Noah is everything I could want in a boyfriend—if I can figure out what’s going on with him.

I feel like Noah’s hiding something from me, and I’m sure it has to do with what happened to us three months ago. The bruise he suffered during a paranormal attack has never completely faded. It’s a constant reminder of what a vicious entity whispered to Noah: You’re interesting.

Now Noah is researching demons and won’t talk about it. And when he disappears, it’s up to me to find him—before something else does.

Review:

After devouring the first two books in the Past Midnight series, I couldn't wait to read the third one. Because not only did the second leave off with a semi-huge cliffhanger but also because there's just so many aspects I adore about this series. Luckily, Beyond the Grave was yet another fabulous addition. It was actually probably my favorite one so far!

Beyond the Grave starts off a couple of months after One Hundred Candles left off. Charlotte is still reeling with the fact that her Mom is in a comma, one that she may never recover from safely. Because of this, Charlotte has decided not to head off to college just yet. Instead, she's hanging around home and taking a few classes at a local community college. However, it's not helping as much as she though it would. Her dad's never home, her best friend has abandoned her for college, and Noah, her usually fabulous boyfriend, is slowly beginning to pull away from her. Charlotte doesn't know what to chalk that last one up to, but she thinks it may just have to do with what happened a couple of weeks ago when Noah and her went on a paranormal investigation that went terribly wrong. Charlotte knows it's up to her to find out what's up with Noah and possibly save her mother in the process, but is she willing to put a few major things on the line? Charlotte's not too sure but she's bound to find out soon...

I have to admit: Beyond the Grave is probably the most serious book out of the series. Not to say the others were always light, fluffy reads, but this one definitely showed the less sunny sides of life. From Charlotte's mom's current state to the mix feelings she felt about that as well as her family specifically to her problems with Noah, Charlotte faced a lot of different challenges in this novel. Some were good and somewhere bad, but they all did one thing: they brought some major development to Charlotte's character. Charlotte truly bloomed into a strong, brave, and kick-butt character in this one. She refused to back down and let others determine her fate more times than one, and that's not even adding in all the times she put her own self on the line. I loved seeing this side of her, and I'm sure other fans of this series will feel the same way.

The other characters got some development as much. However, one of my favorite parts of Beyond the Grave was seeing the focus on one new character and one character who hasn't always been the nicest one prior in the series. I'm not going to give any names because I don't want to ruin any surprises, but I will say that both ended up being surprising adds. In some ways, they actually stole the show.

The plot in Beyond the Grave was also top notch. It contained many twists and turns that constantly managed to capture my attention. For the majority of the novel, I was on the edge of my chair, dying to know what would occur next. Would Charlotte's mom wake up? What exactly was wrong with Noah? Would Charlotte be able to save him before it was too late? There were so many questions, and the ways to the answers were nothing less than action packed to say the least.

The writing in this one was snazzy as well. I've read every book of Mara's with the exception of the two eBook short stories for this series, but I have to say Mara's writing has managed to get better and better over time. Beyond the Grave especially highlighted her talent of creating an action packed plot and an even better conclusion.

Full of twists and turns, Beyond the Grave certainly makes quite the impression. While I've heard this one is the last one in the series, I truly hope that's not the case. I would love to see more books about Charlotte and her friends/family or even a spin-off with the two characters that managed to steal the show in this one. Now that would provide an interesting storyline to say the least!

Oh, and if you haven't started this series yet: What are you waiting for? Get to it ASAP. I demand it.

Grade: A+

Beyond the Grave is now available!

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Fury by Elizabeth Miles

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Sometimes sorry isn't enough....

It’s winter break in Ascension, Maine. The snow is falling and everything looks pristine and peaceful. But not all is as it seems...

Between cozy traditions and parties with her friends, Emily loves the holidays. And this year’s even better--the guy she’s been into for months is finally noticing her. But Em knows if she starts things with him, there’s no turning back. Because his girlfriend is Em’s best friend.

On the other side of town, Chase is having problems of his own. The stress of his home life is starting to take its toll, and his social life is unraveling. But that’s nothing compared to what’s really haunting him. Chase has done something cruel...something the perfect guy he pretends to be would never do. And it’s only a matter of time before he’s exposed.

In Ascension, mistakes can be deadly. And three girls—three beautiful, mysterious girls—are here to choose who will pay.

Review:

Ever since I first saw the beautiful cover for Elizabeth Miles’s Fury, I have been eagerly anticipating reading it, especially when I heard it also involved Greek Mythology, one of new favorite trends in YA. Thankfully, Fury was a great debut. Not only because of the fascinating premise, but also because of the way Elizabeth brought it alive with her storytelling and characterization.

Fury begins just as the Em's and Chase’s lives are about to spin out of control. Em has always been a loyal friend, especially when it comes to Gabby, her best friend. However, she cannot hide the attraction she feels towards Zach, the hottest boy in school and…Gaby’s long-time boyfriend. Best of all she thinks he may like her too, and with Gabby going on vacation over winter break, it’s the best time to get the ball rolling, even if it means betraying her friend. Chase, on the other hand, has recently performed the ultimate betrayal, and when the other person involved ends up in a coma after a botched suicide attempt, Chase’s anxiety and guilt begins to overtake him. However, there is one bright side to his life lately- the redheaded girl with the brightest green eyes he has ever seen. She seems amazing…but is she worth the risk? Chase and Em have a lot to think about over winter break, and it is just about to start. Who will come out on top? What will happen? Most importantly, who will be the next person to reach their demise? Find out in this fast and furious new addition to YA paranormal lit.

One thing that always makes me happy with a book is an intricate and unique plot, and Fury possessed that and much, much more. For one, the idea of “furies” and the “sometimes sorry isn’t enough” message they never failed to present was simply fascinating, especially given the way Elizabeth spun it. They caused for lots of drama and intrigue, which makes me all the more eager to see what is next for them in the sequels. I also liked the level of creepiness. Bluntly this is one book you do not want to read the in the dark because of all the crazy stuff that occurs throughout! I never knew exactly what was going to happen next, and when something big did occur, I was more often than not blown away.

The characters in this are a bit selfish and dense, but that did not stop me from enjoying the book, because when it comes down to it, Fury is more plot driven than character driven. However, I will say the characters, namely Em and Chase, did make some progress throughout the book. At first, I was not the biggest fan of Em and her actions, but as she began to make up for what she did, she got a little more likable, especially when she finally started to fall for the boy-next-door type.

Miles’s writing was also great. As mentioned before, she did a fantastic job of spinning this story in a fast-paced way. Even better was the ending, which made me even more pumped about the next book.

Full of fun, intrigue, and creepiness, Fury is sure to have any reader reading long into the night!

Grade: B+

Fury will be released August 30, 2011!

Source: Publisher via Galley Grab- thanks Simon and Schuster!

To find out more about Fury and Elizabeth, head on over to the official Fury website. 

Thanks to the lovely people at Simon and Schuster, I also have a SIGNED copy of Fury to giveaway.

To enter, please fill out the following form.

Official Giveaway Rules:

~ Must be 13 years or older
~ Must have a US mailing address
~ This giveaway will end on August 31, 2011!
~ For an extra entry, tweet: Enter @Lauren817's giveaway for Fury by Elizabeth Miles. US only & 1 winner. http://bit.ly/pgkO1V

*THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER.*

In My Mailbox (134)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

For Review:

The Kite Runner Graphic Novel by Khaled Hosseini (Looks interesting!) 

Bought:

Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay (So excited about this one! I love Stacey's books!) 

From Netgalley:

Crave by Melissa Darnell (Love the cover of this one!)

Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Jennifer's books are always so much fun!) 

 

The Butterfly Clues by Kate Ellison (Looks interesting!) 

You Are My Only by Beth Kephart (Beth's books are always fabulous so here's to hopping this one follows through!) 

 

Hunted (The Shadowing #1) by Adam Slater (Looks good but I'm not the biggest fan of the cover.) 

The Mephisto Covenant by Trinity Faegen (Such a pretty cover! Plus I've heard what inside is even better!) 

Blood (Mercian Trilogy #1) by K.J. Wignall (Looks great as well!)

I'm really looking forward to reading all of these, especially The Mephisto Covenant and The Butterfly Clues! Though, enough about me, what did you get this week? Anything exciting? Let me know in the comments, and feel free to link to your IMM post!

Have a great week everyone! :) 

Abithica by Susan Goldsmith (+ Giveaway!)

Summary/Cover Image from Author's Website:

She’s found the love of a lifetime, but there’s a catch: the body she inhabits belongs to another.

How much change can one soul endure? It would help if she knew what she was or even how such a thing was possible. The one thing she does know is that God has a sense of humor where she’s concerned. Why else would He continue to place her in one host body after another without warning or a clear memory of previous switches? Abithica’s responsibility is to repair her host’s lives while they take a back seat. To ensure her survival and protection, she vows never to get attached, but this latest switch is different from the start. Abithica breaks all her own rules, and is left with a choice. What will happen if she refuses to leave her host’s body?

Will love be her downfall or her salvation?

Review:

When I first heard about Abithica, I knew I had to read it. It sounded promising, and I have to admit, the pretty cover had a lot to do with my decision as well. In the end, Abithica turned out to be something completely different from what I had been expecting, but in the best way possible of course.

First, I just loved the character of Abithica. From the first page, I became completely immersed in her story. She was fearless, brave, and extremely compassionate as well as giving. What I adored most about her character, though, was seeing how she changed people's lives over the course of the novel with her help, actions, and words. From Lane, her love interest, to Sydney, the person whose body she inhabits, to Faith, Sydeny's mother, to Shae, Lane's sister, each one of them faced some sort of positive change because of her presence.

As mentioned above, the premise of this novel was something that originally intrigued me about this novel. I mean, the idea of a person inhabiting another's body long enough to help them and get somewhat attached then be ripped away? It sounded unique, and unique was exactly what it ended up being. It was always interesting to learn more about Abithica's past and what her purpose was. In addition, I enjoyed the addition of Sydney's past troubles and what they now meant for everyone. It always cased extreme twists and turns that fully caught my attention, and with the addition of another POV (this time from someone involved in a gang), I was even more eager to see how everything would come together in the end.

The only aspect of this novel I wasn't completely thrilled about was the huge focus on faith. It became a bit much after a while, especially when it was used to explain every odd occurrence that happened in the character's lives. However, at the same time, it wasn't exactly pushed in my face, so it didn't really affect my feelings toward the story that much.

Completely unique and intricate, Abithica has ended up becoming one of my new favorite reads, and given that nearly heart stopping conclusion, I'm really intrigued to see what's next for Abithica!

Grade: A

Abithica is now out!

Source: eBook version provided by author- thanks Susan!

Thanks to the Susan, I also have one SIGNED copy of Abithica to giveaway.

To enter the giveaway, please fill out the following form.

Official Giveaway Rules:

~ Must be 13 years or older to enter.
~ Must have a US or Canadian mailing address
~ This giveaway will end on September 3, 2011 at 12:00 PM EST

And Then Things Fall Apart by Arlaina Tibensky

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Keek is not having a good summer. She and her boyfriend have just had their Worst Fight Ever (on the subject of her virginity, nonetheless), she’s been betrayed by a best friend, her parents are splitting up, and her mother is on the other side of the country tending to Keek’s newborn cousin, who may or may not make it home from the hospital. Oh, and Keek’s holed up at her grandmother’s technology-barren house with an abysmal case of the chicken pox. In Keek’s words, “Sofa king annoying.”

With her world collapsing around her, Keek’s only solace comes from rereading Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar and typing on an old electric typewriter. Keek—whose snappy narrative voice is darkly humorous and hysterically blunt—must ultimately decide for herself which relationships to salvage, which to set free, and what it means to fall in love.

Review:

Keek's big plan for the summer definitely didn't involve catching a rare case of the chicken pox and being stuck at her grandmother's house with only an old typewriter and a copy of The Bell Jar to keep her company. However, nothing has really been going Keek's way lately. Her parents are splitting up - probably for good if the fact that her mom has run all the way off to the other side of the country is any inkling. Her reckless best friend Amanda has deceived her in one of the worst ways possible and Keek has slowly lost contact with her other best friend. Finally, Keek is hiding from her boyfriend because the last time she saw him things did not go too well to say the least. The one good thing that comes from being cooped up in an old house? Keek has plenty of time to think about live, love, and the future. Will everything go her way in the end, or will it end up becoming one "Sofa king" huge problem? Only time and more pages can tell!

When I first heard about this book, I knew I had to read it. Because not only did Keek and I share a favorite book, The Bell Jar, but also And Then Things Fall Apart sounded like the perfect mixture of teen angst, wit, and complications. However, while I did enjoy it, I had a few slight problems with it.

Keek was an interesting main character. She’s blunt, witty, and one of a kind to say the least. However, I was not always her biggest fan, and that is where the main problem of mine laid within this. Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to like her character, but for the most part, I found her to be a bit immature when it came to many things, and her lack of confronting her problems became a bit old after a while as well. Her parents were much of the same, especially her mother. However, I have to say, I really did like Keek’s grandmother (Such a funny and introspective lady!) as well as Keek’s other friend Nic (who I wish made more appearances!).

I did enjoy the plot, though. It was filled with drama, drama, and more drama, and I always adore drama in my books. It also managed to keep the book going in a fast paced because I was intrigued to find out just how everything came together in the end. The scenes involving Sylvia Plath and The Bell Jar were also interesting and one of my favorite parts. Arlaina Tibensky’s writing was also a high point, because while I wasn’t always a fan of Keek, Arlaina did really mange to bring out the angst, confusion, and overall teenager-ness within her character.

In all, And Then Things Fall Apart was a decent debut. It was not necessarily the best book for me because of the main character, but I liked the overall picture.

Grade: B

And Then Things Fall Apart is now out!

Source: Publicist at Simon Pulse- thanks Dawn!

It's My Birthday...

And I'll giveaway books if I want to! 

Today, August 17, is my birthday (I'm officially 16, which I means I can finally drive! yay!), and since I know I'll be getting some pretty awesome gifts from my family and friends, I thought I would share the love and giveaway two prize packs including THREE books each.

If you win Prize Pack One, you will end up getting:

~ an ARC of the exciting and thrilling Fox Inheritance by Mary E. Pearson 

~ an ARC of the witty and sweet A & L Do Summer by Jan Blazanin 
~ a finished copy of one of my favorite books of the summer, If You Live Like Me by Lori Weber 

~ an assortment of swag 

If you win Prize Pack Two, you will end up getting:

~ an ARC of the sweet and realistic Sass & Serendipity by Jennifer Ziegler 
~ an ARC of the angst filled yet funny And Then Things Fall Apart by Arlaina Tibensky 
~ an ARC of the fabulously fun Crush Control by Jennifer Jabaley 

~ an assortment of swag 

How do you enter? Fill out the following form!

Official Giveaway Rules: 

~ Must be 13 years or older to enter

~ This giveaway is open internationally! 

~ This giveaway will end on August 31, 2011 at 12:00 PM EST

~ For an extra entry tweet: Enter @Lauren817's birthday giveaway! 2 winners and 2 prize packs. Open internationally! http://bit.ly/n0zH39

*THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER.*

Between by Jessica Warman (+ Giveaway!)

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

The buzz book of the international market, already sold to 9 countries, about a girl stuck in between life and the afterlife, trying to piece together the mystery of her death.

Elizabeth Valchar-pretty, popular, and perfect-wakes up the morning after her eighteenth birthday party on her family's yacht, where she'd been celebrating with her six closest friends. A persistent thumping noise has roused her. When she goes to investigate, what she finds will change everything she thought she knew about her life, her friends, and everything in between. As Liz begins to unravel the circumstances surrounding her birthday night, she will find that no one around her, least of all Liz herself, was perfect-or innocent. Critically acclaimed author Jessica Warman brings readers along on a roller-coaster ride of a mystery, one that is also a heartbreaking character study, a touching romance, and ultimately a hopeful tale of redemption, love, and letting go.

Review: 

Ever since reading Where the Truth Lies, Jessica's second novel, last year, I've been dying to read another book by her, so when Between landed on my radar I knew I had to read it. Not only because I was pretty sure I would love it, but also because it had been compared to two of my favorite YA books, Before I Fall and If I Stay. Luckily, it was pretty darn SPECTACULAR to say the least.

It all starts with a jarring noise. However, when Elizabeth (also known as Liz) goes to find out just what's making that sound, she gets much more than she garnered for: the sight of her body lying limply in the water. Shocked, Elizabeth begins to realize that she is officially dead and gone. Not knowing how this could be possible, she teams up with an unlikely ally to find out the truth, but everything, she's about to find out, isn't nearly as picture perfect as she thought. Her friends are hiding secrets, her stepsister, her supposed best friend, is moving in on Liz's boyfriend, and her boyfriend is weirdly enough going along with the advances. What's a girl to do? Will Liz figure it out before it's too late? Or will she forever be stuck in this between? Only more time and pages can tell in this complex and intricate new tale of secrets, second chances, soul mates, and the heavy price of popularity.

Similar to Before I Fall's main character, Liz starts out as an incredibly unlikable and selfish main character. However, even though I wasn't necessarily rooting for her at those times, it was part of the reasons why Between was so intriguing and hard to put down. You see, I had to know why Liz had turned out that way, what made her become to standoffish towards others and so reluctant to ask for help. In addition, when the pieces did start to come together, I was constantly surprised and shocked, making this book all the more fantastic, in my opinion. I also like the addition of her boyfriend Richie, more specifically, the bond the two shared. Unlike most things in Liz's life, their relationship was very innocent and very, very sweet. There weren't many people in Liz's life that saw who she was deep down, but Richie was one of him. I just adored his character to pieces, even though their relationship and ache for one anther throughout did make me tear up a little at times.

The premise of this is fascinating and the execution of the said idea is even better! For one, I loved that Jessica made the primary focus of this book on friendship, family, and redemption instead of just romance. It gave it a truly unique edge, especially when all the surprising twists and turns where thrown into the book. The addition of Alex Berg, another dead student from Liz's school, was another great addition to the plot, and while he severed more as a device at times then a character, he still managed to change Liz in ways that others couldn't.

Jessica's writing was also simply stunning! I loved how she switched between present situations to the flashback of Liz's life throughout the years, as it allowed more affect to be left than Liz just telling the reader what had occurred. I also appreciated the ending she gave. It was extremely bittersweet and emotional but it was just the way the novel should end so I can't really complain.

Beautifully written, introspective, and just all around fantastic, Between is my new favorite novel of '11, which gives me all the more reason to highly, highly suggest you pick this one up. It may not be for everyone but for people who enjoy a good story (similar to If I Stay, Before I Fall, and The Everafter) it's well worth a read. However, quick word of warning: grab some tissues before you start this one because if one thing's for sure, it will probably make you cry, especially when all the craziness comes out at the end.

Grade: A+ 

Between is now available!

Source: Publicist at Bloomsbury/Walker Books- thanks Kate!

To find out more about the Between and its author, head on over to Jessica's website.

Thanks to Bloomsbury/Walker Books, I also have ONE copy of Between to giveaway to one lucky winner. To enter, the giveaway please fill out the following form. 

Official Giveaway Rules:

~ Must be 13 years or older
~ Must have a US mailing address
~ This giveaway will close on August 31, 2011 at 12:00 PM EST
~ For an extra entry, tweet "Enter @Lauren817's giveaway for Between by Jessica Warman http://bit.ly/qcePwi"

*THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER.*

Top Ten Tuesday (2)

As I said last week, Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by the lovely people over at The Broke and the Bookish) is one of my favorite memes to see on the blogs I read, so I thought I would join in on the fun and switch back in forth between this meme and Waiting on Wednesday every once in a while. So without a further ado..


This week's Top Ten Tuesday is a freebie, which means any list about literature is game, so I thought I would do my list about my top ten favorite YA contemporary reads, because the contemporary genre always needs seem love, in my opinion.

Top Ten YA Contemporaries 

(in no particular order) 

1) Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers: I'm HUGE fan of Courtney Summers' due to not only how amazingly realistic her books are but the wide variety of topics they cover. However, while I did love Some Girls and her most recent release, Fall For Anything, Cracked Up to Be remains my favorite. It's an engrossing, honest, and bittersweet look at high school. 

2) Mostly Good Girls by Leila Sales: This book is funny, and when I say funny, I mean FUNNY. Plus it doesn't hurt that the main characters in this are pretty awesome and relatable as well. 

3) Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson: The word epic has every reason to be included in the title, because this book is EPIC to say the least. The road trip aspect is barrels of fun and the characters are pretty great as well. Oh, and who doesn't love a book that includes extras like playlists and pictures? 

4) The Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roecker: This book is the definition of awesome. It's funny, lively, and includes an intriguing mystery as well. The Roecker sisters are definitely authors to be on the look out for! 

5) Dear Dylan by Siobhan Curham: This one is another favorite of mine. Not only because of the fact that it's set in the UK, but also because just like the rest of the book listed, it's realistic and somewhat sweet at the same time.

6) Adios, Nirvana by Conrad Wesselhoeft: I'm always amazed that this book isn't more popular than it is. It's just an all around excellent book though, one I highly suggest you pick up, especially if you enjoy books told from a male POV.

7) Where the Truth Lies by Jessica Warman: Jessica has such a way of creating such compelling and interesting plots based really on characters only, and this one is no exception. It's an incredibly bittersweet book but well worth a read.

8) Before I Die by Jenny Downham: I read this book way back in '07 and yet I still remember it clearly, even though whenever I think about it I start to get a little teary eyed. It's just an amazing book, probably one of my absolute favorites to tell the truth. Oh, and did you know it's being made into a movie starting Dakota Fanning, Jeremy Irvine, and Kayla Scodelario? The title has been changed to Now Is Good and it will be released in 2012.

9) Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz: This book is amazing as well, and while it probably won't be everyone's type of book (what book really is though?), it's still one I highly suggest you pick up!

10) Chasing AllieCat by Rebecca Fjelland Davis: This is another underrated book that should be way more popular than it is. It's an interesting book to say the least, one that involves mountain biking actually.

What are some of your favorite YA contemporary reads? Any of the ones I listed above? Or something different? Let me know in the comments, and be sure to join in on the fun at The Broke and the Bookish with your own Top Ten Tuesday freebie!

Alison Wonderland by Helen Smith

Summary/Cover Image from Amazon:

After her husband leaves her for another woman, twentysomething Londoner Alison Temple impulsively applies for a job at the very P.I. firm she hired to trap her philandering ex. She hopes it will be the change of scene she so desperately needs to move on with her shattered life. At the all-female Fitzgerald’s Bureau of Investigation, she spends her days tracking lost objects and her nights shadowing unfaithful husbands. But no matter what the case, none of her clients can compare to the fascinating characters in her personal life. There’s her boss, the estimable and tidy Mrs. Fitzgerald; Taron, Alison’s eccentric best friend, who claims her mother is a witch; Jeff, her love-struck, poetry-writing neighbor; and—last but not least—her psychic postman. Her relationships with them all become entangled when she joins Taron for a road trip to the seaside and stumbles into a misadventure of epic proportions! Clever, quirky, and infused with just a hint of magic, this humorous literary novel introduces a memorable heroine struggling with the everyday complexities of modern life.

Review:

When Alison Wonderland first arrived in the mail, I read the summery and was instantly intrigued. P.I.s, witty, eccentric characters, and road trips all in one book? I simply couldn't wait to get started on it! Sadly enough, Alison Wonderland ended up not being my cup of tea exactly. It contained lots of potential and an interesting premise, but the overall execution left something to be desired, in my opinion.

Alison was an interesting character. I loved the story behind why she was called Alison Wonderland- it was sweet yet a little sad at the same time. However, the thing was besides little facts here and there I felt I never really got to know Alison deep down. Sure, I knew she worked as a P.I., had a somewhat shaky past, and an odd relationship with her neighbor, but besides that I felt the characterization didn't exactly doing deep down. The same could be said about the supporting characters. I knew who they were from basic facts and could keep track of them, but I never really felt like I got to know them. Even the characters who took the spotlight in their own short chapters, didn't exactly jump of the page and come to life.

The plot of this, however, was interesting as I mentioned above. It contained little bunches of mystery here and there and some surprising twists. However, I sometimes felt that it wasn't as fully as developed as it could have been, and that some details were just a bit too murky, especially toward the end were suddenly a bunch of things came into play at once. It was a bit over the top, and the conclusion it reached wasn't exactly satisfying. Instead, I felt like there was more left to say about the story and its characters.

Helen's writing was good, and I'm interested to see how her storytelling will develop over time, because while this Alison Wonderland did need some more development here and there, she did create a good basis for the story.

In all, Alison Wonderland wasn't my kind of book for a variety of reasons. However, as always, this is just my opinion. Others have enjoyed the book. I just wasn't one of them.

Grade: C

Alison Wonderland is now out!

Source: Publicist at Little Bird Publicity- thanks Katie!

In My Mailbox (133)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

For Review:

Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs (I'm so excited about this one!) 

Vanish: A Firelight Novel by Sophie Jordan (Loved Firelight so hopefully this one is as good, if not better!) 

It's a Wonderful Life by Maria Murnane (unsolicted review copy- looks interesting.) 

In the Forests of the Night by Kersten Hamilton (For an upcoming blog tour. I loved Tyger Tyger, the first one, so I'm hoping I'll enjoy this one as well.) 

The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff (unsolicited review copy, but I can't wait to read it. It looks like it will be epic!)
Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles (Already read and loved. Look for a review coming soon!)

In all, a great week book wise! I seriously can't wait to read some of these. Enough about me, though, what did you get this week? Anything exciting? Let me know in the comments, and feel free to link to your IMM posts as well!

Have a fabulous week everyone! 

Enlightened by Allyson Richards

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Alexis Randall is anything but a normal 16-year-old girl. Knowing that her curse can lead her to commit acts of extreme violence, she has vowed to live by one simple rule: Stay away from Normals. However, Alexis' clear-cut rule is tested by a chance meeting with one boy and an encounter that leaves another in a coma. As she struggles to suppress her feelings for the first and live with her guilt about the second, Alexis soon realizes that reality has a funny way of catching up with her. With engaging characters and fascinating plot twists, the first installment of THE ENLIGHTENED SERIES thrusts its readers into the wild and surreal life of Alexis Randall.

Review:

While I was a bit hesitant to pick up Allyson Richards' Enlightened at first, it turned out to be a fabulously fun debut, one that is sure to have readers begging for more books about Alexis and the gang.

Alexis Randall has a one big problem: she has special talents (like super speed and super strength) that can cause major harm if not used correctly. To say the least, Alexis is the typical high school student, and because of that, she has turned to isolation and anger over the past for years, praying for the moment this seemingly horrible curse will be lifted from her. However, everything changes when she Taylor, a sweet and kind boy. She suddenly feels normal and calm, which allows her to desire one thing she hasn't in a long time: time to spend with a seemingly ordinary 'normal.' Everything changes, though, when she allows her anger to over take her and in the process harms an innocent person. Suddenly, Alexis and her mom are on the run once again, much to their dismay, but this time everything will be different. Secrets will be reveled, relationships will be tested, and Alexis just may find herself in the process...

While Alexis was a bit hard to like at first because of her anger and resentment about her condition, she began to become more and more likable as time continued and more was reveled about her past. What I liked best about her character, though, was learning more about her 'curse.' It was always interesting to see what she was able to do, and what it meant for her character in general. I also enjoyed the addition of Taylor's character. He was sweet and kind, and while I felt a little more development could have been used, I always liked seeing how Taylor affected and changed Alexis as a person over time.

The premise and plot of this book was also great. As mentioned before, I really enjoyed the focus on Alexis' abilities. The background and mystery surrounding them was always interesting, and due to the surprising twists and turns they took over time, I'm eager to see what will be reveled in future books.

One of the main reasons I was bit hesitant to pick up this book in the beginning was because of the fact that it was self published. However, my worries were quickly thrown to the wayside as I saw Richards' writing. She did a great job of creating the characters and bringing the characters to live, especially given her young age. Yeah, sometimes things were a little underdeveloped, but I was still quite impressed.

Mysterious and enchanting, Enlightened is a great new addition to the genre of YA, one that I recommend you give a try.

Grade: B+

Source: Publicist

To find out more about Allyson and her books, visit her website. 

One Flight Up by Susan Fales-Hill

Summary/Cover Image from Author's Website:

After years of searching for and finally landing that one perfect man, four Manhattan friends find themselves simultaneously questioning their romantic choices. Smart, strong, but jaded divorce lawyer India Chumley leads this pack of feisty thirty-somethings, all friends since grade school at Sibley Academy, an Upper East Side institution for sophisticated ladies-in-training.

There’s Abby Rosenfeld Adams, a Jewish gallery owner married to her Wasp college sweetheart, Monique Dawkins-Dubois, gynecologist and card carrying member of Harlem’s thriving Buppie-ocracy, and Esme Santiago Talbot, a Columbian heiress married to the All-American boy next door. When India, the most straight-laced of them all, learns that her friends are considering straying from their partners, she is dismayed. That is, until India’s ex-fiance, the love of her life, the destroyer of her heart, and the best sex ever, comes back into her life – and she finds herself caught between the dependable man she thought was her future and the man she never quite let go of.

Review:

As of lately, I have really started to love the chick-lit genre. The books always tend to be fun, light reads for the most part and sometimes that's just what I need in a book. Therefore, when I was offered the chance to read and review Susan Fales-Hill's One Flight Up, I jumped at the chance. However, while I found the book to be well written and the storylines to be enticing and intriguing, I wasn't always the biggest fan of the characters presented.

One Flight Up tells the story of longtime friends India, Abby, Esme, and Monique, four girls who have stuck through it all since their past school days at the elite Manhattan's Sibley School for Girls. However, as of lately, everything is starting to became a bit chaotic. India is attempting to decide between two very different men, the kind and sweet Julian or the broody, sexy Keith. Bored in her own marriage, Esme has taken to stepping out on her husband to gain the thrill and suspense she craves, while sweet and timid Abby is dealing with her husband's long-time infidelity and her own feelings for a new man. Last but not least, Monique, a recent addition to the girl's inner circle, is dealing with her own seemingly disastrous marriage, hoping that a fling may provoke the feelings she's been craving. Jumping into their own affairs and deceit, all four women begin to see the pros and, most importantly, the cons of their infidelity. However, will they be able to save their marriages as well as their own wellbeing and reputation before it's too late? Only more time and pages will tell in this scandalous new read!

First, I have to say that I was quite impressed with Susan Fales-Hill's writing and overall storytelling in this. She did a fantastic job of switching between narrators in a way that allowed each woman's story to be developed thoroughly even with the limited page time. I also enjoyed how she took the reader on a ride through New York as well as Paris in this, allowing the setting to develop as the story continued to build as well.

However, I have to admit out right, I barely liked the characters in this one, and that's where One Flight Up began to fail in my eyes. Esme, Abby, Monique, and India are all very interesting and diverse woman, but their actions as well as decisions were disastrous and not very likable. You see, all four woman to do one thing that annoyed and irritated me to one end: instead of communicating with their spouse/partner about their worries and concerns about their relationship/marriage, they took to using affairs as a quick and easy alternative. That just struck a point in me, because while I wanted to like these women, I had one little problem: I didn't truly respect them. Sure, they had glamorous and admirable lives and jobs, but at the end of the day they were lost in a way that really didn't make me feel for them; sometimes I didn't even really want to root for them to overcome their troubles. While they did face the music eventually and become a little more likable (especially Abby), in some ways I felt it was a bit too late.

In all, I'm undecided about it, because while the writing and world building was fabulous, the characters weren't always my favorite. However, I still will be reading more by Susan based on her writing alone and I highly recommend this one to fans of the chick-lit genre, specifically ones who enjoy shows like Gossip Girl and Sex and the City.

Grade: B 

One Flight Up is now available in paperback!

Source: Publicist at Simon and Schuster- thanks Christina!

Video in which Susan discusses the book: