Waiting on Wednesday (120)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

My picks this week are:

Small Damages by Beth Kephart 

It’s senior year, and while Kenzie should be looking forward to prom and starting college in the fall, she is mourning the loss of her father. She finds solace in the one person she trusts, her boyfriend, and she soon finds herself pregnant. Kenzie’s boyfriend and mother do not understand her determination to keep the baby. She is sent to southern Spain for the summer, where she will live out her pregnancy as a cook’s assistant on a bull ranch, and her baby will be adopted by a Spanish couple.

Alone and resentful in a foreign country, Kenzie is at first sullen and difficult. She begins to open her eyes and her heart to the beauty that is all around her and inside of her.

I recently read Beth's latest book (You are My Only)  and really, really enjoyed it, so I can't wait to read Small Damages! Plus, it doesn't hurt that the premise sounds amazing, and I also love the simplicity of the cover-it makes it absolutely gorgeous in my eyes! 

First Comes Love by Katie Kacvinsky

Like his name, Gray is dark and stormy. Dylan, a girl always searching for what's next, seemingly unable to settle down, is the exact opposite: full of light and life. On the outside, they seem like an unlikely couple. But looks can be deceiving and besides, opposites attract.

What starts as friendship, turns into admiration, respect and caring, until finally these two lone souls find they are truly in love with each other.

But staying in love is not as easy as falling in love. If Dylan and Gray want their love to last, they're going to have to work at it. And learn that sometimes love means having to say you're sorry.

I loved Kate's debut book, Awaken, so I can't wait to see what she has up her sleeves for this one! It sounds a little cliched to tell the truth, but I'm still eager to give it a try. 

Top Ten Books On My TBR List For Winter

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely people at The Broke and The Bookish!

Top Ten Books On My TBR List For Winter

1) Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne (I have this one in my TBR pile and I seriously can't wait to start it...it sounds like it will be amazing! Plus it takes place at a boarding school! I mean, what's not to love about that?!)

2) And by the Way by Denise Deegan (I've had this one in my TBR pile for a couple of months now, and I really don't know why. It looks like so much fun, and that's not even the fact that it's of the contemporary genre!)

3) Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi (There truly isn't a day when I don't see at least one raving review for this one in my Google Reader, and because of that, I have a feeling this one will be superb. Guess I need to read it and find out for myself!)

4) Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst (I was so excited to read this one when I first got it, but it somehow feel to the wayside since then. I'm going to try my hardest to read this one soon!)

5) Without Tess by Marcella Pixley (This one came HIGHLY recommended by the Farrar, Straus and Giroux publicist so I really don't know why I haven't read it yet...)

6) The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff (This is another one that has been highly reviewed yet I still haven't gotten a chance to read it.)

7) Ruthless by Sara Shepard (After the cliff hanger ending the last one had, I've been dying to read Ruthless! I need to know what happens next to the PLL girls!) 

8) The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten (I loved Lynn's past book (Wherever Nina Lies) so I can't wait to see how this one is! Plus it doesn't hurt that the premise for this one sounds fabulous!)

9) The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder (I haven't heard a bad thing about this book thus far, so I have a feeling it's going to be pretty epic...can't wait!)

10) The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith (This one looks superb as well...can it be January already!?) 

What are some books on your TBR list for the winter? Any of the ones I listed above? Let me know in the comments, and feel free to link to your TTT! :) 

Review: Surrender by Lee Nichols

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

An evil ghost threatens Emma in this shocking series conclusion

After a devastating battle at headquarters in New York, the ghostkeeping world is in shambles. When Emma and Bennett return home, they are determined to defeat the wraithmaster, Neos, forever. But it's not going to be easy. Bennett's parents kick him out when they realize he is still using drugs to enhance his powers. Emma is convinced her aunt has come back from the dead to warn her of a new threat. And worst of all, Neos is using wraiths to possess the students at Thatcher Academy. If the ghosts manage to take over the entire school, even Emma won't be strong enough to stop them. But if either she or Bennett sacrifice his or her powers, they might be able to save the ghostkeeping world once and for all-and break the "ghostkeepers lose their powers when they fall in love" curse. The question is: who will be the one to surrender all power?

Fast-paced and romantic, this conclusion to the Haunting Emma trilogy will thrill readers as it brings the ghostly mystery to a close.

Review:

After reading both Deception, the first in the Haunting Emma series, and Betrayal, the second, I’ve been dying to read Surrender, the third and final one. I couldn’t wait to see how everything would end. Would Emma and her friends and family finally beat Neos? Would Emma and Bennett find a way to salvage their relationship before it was too late? There were so many questions swirling around in my head, and thankfully, Surrender was able to provided satisfying conclusions to every one of them.

Surrender picks up a little while after Betrayal ended. Emma’s still trying to find a way to defeat Neos, and she’s still dealing with the qualms she feels over Bennett’s addiction to Asarum. However, things are a bit different this time. Simon has left along with Bennett for headquarters, and replacing them is no one other than Bennett’s stony and cold parents, ones who aren’t particularly pleased with Emma, and so begins the third book...Plot wise this book kicked butt! There wasn’t a time when I wasn’t on the edge of my seat, dying to know what would happen next. Would another twist come out of the woodwork and blow everything away again? What was Neo’s big plan? I had to know, and this lead to me finishing this book in record time.

One of the things I loved most about this addition particular, though, was how the characters continued to grow even though this was the last addition. Emma in particular learns a lot in this one not only in making her own choices but as well as being there for the ones she loves. Sara, Natalie, Lukas, Henry, and Coby also get their moments of glory in this one, and believe it or not, even become more lovable, which made me all the more sad to finish Surrender. Last but not least, Bennett…I’ve loved this guy and I’ve hated this guy over the course of this series, because while he is a good guy deep down, his decisions and choices aren’t always the best things out there...However, he did manage to redeem himself quite a bit in this one, even though it did take a while.

Lastly, Lee Nichols’ writing was great in this one. I’ve loved seeing her writing grow as the series progressed, and just like Surrender was the best of the series plot and character wise it was just the same with the writing. She did a fabulous job in evoking and bringing to life the emotions of the characters as well as me, the reader, and I especially loved the ending. It was everything I wanted, but it still contained a taste of bittersweet.

In all, Surrender is a satisfying and amazing conclusion to the Haunting Emma series. I can’t begin to explain how sad I am to see Emma and her friends go, but it’s been quite the ride to say the least, one that I surely won’t forget. :)

Grade: A+

Surrender (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Goodreads) will be released December 6, 2011!

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Review: The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

To cold faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl—smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the unwelcome company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end—a quest to find a way to honor his vow to stand by Meghan's side.

To survive in the Iron Realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. And along the way Ash learns something that changes everything.

Review:

Ever since hearing that Julie Kagawa would be continuing the Iron Fey series with the release of The Iron Knight, I had eagerly been anticipating the book. I loved the first three books in the series, and with the extreme ending the third one contained, I could not wait to see what was next for Puck, Meghan, and Ash! Thankfully, The Iron Knight was everything I had hoped and wanted it to be!

The Iron Knight picks up just as Ash and Pack are on the path to discovering the secret to mortality, the aspect Ash desperately needs to be with Meghan once again. However, their path is not as smooth going as they would like, as not only do they keep getting into petty little arguments over the past, but they also keep running into danger as well as dead ends in nearly every corner. They end up getting one break, though, which is Grimalkin, the cat everyone has a love hate relationship with. Now with Grimalkin as well as other surprise allies, Ash is on the path to getting what he wants…but when an unexpected guest from his past shows up and makes his question everything, will what he ends up wanting in the end be different from what he wanted in the beginning? Only time and more pages can tell in this exciting and thrilling conclusion to the Iron Fey series…one that will have nearly every fan holding their breath until the final word.

When I first heard The Iron Knight would be told in Ash’s perspective instead of Meghan’s I was excited yet a bit weary, because while I knew it would be interesting to see things from Ash’s perspective, I was worried I wouldn’t like reading from his POV nearly as much as from Meghan’s. In the end, though, my worries were thrown right out the window, because not only did Ash’s perspective bring a fresh change to the series, but it also gave even more depth to his character. He wasn’t just the icy ice prince anymore. Instead, he was someone who had feelings, concerns, and fears as well…someone who even had a heart somewhere deep down. In addition, I enjoyed finally seeing more the rival between him and Puck as well as his former relationship with Ariella.

With The Iron Knight also came the addition of several characters I have loved getting to know over the series as well as ones that were (somewhat) new. For example, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing more about Puck, because he has to be my favorite character in this whole series! He’s so funny yet sweet…seriously can he just have his own book already? :) I also enjoyed Grimalkin, who was as mysterious and cunning as ever, and the Wolf, who contained more potential than I had first expected.

The plot in this was also thrilling! I was hooked from page one to the final one to say the least for a variety of reasons. One was the never-ending action as well as surprises. The adventure through the Nevernever to the End of the World contained excellent world building, some of which made this series even richer than it was before. The second was Julie’s amazing writing, because not only did she once again thoroughly flesh out the characters, but she also managed to present a fabulously crafted novel overall.

Containing twists, turns, and plenty of suspense, The Iron Knight is the perfect conclusion to The Iron Fey series. However, I have to say, I’m so happy that there will be a spin-off series!

Grade: A-

The Iron Knight (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads) is now out!

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Mini-Reviews for Blood, Love Story, & More!

Sometimes I run into books- ones I loved as well as ones I didn't- that I do not have too much to say about, so instead I write a mini-reviews for them. Here's the latest batch:

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Blood by K.J. Wignall 

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Will is a vampire in danger. Heir to the Earl of Mercia, he was brutally attacked and buried in the thirteenth century before he was able to assume his title. Perpetually sixteen, Will’s life has been lonely. He leaves his tomb every so often, adapts to the present day, feeds his bloodlust, and never gets close to anyone.
Until now.

Waking from a twenty-year slumber, hungry for the blood that sustains his undeath, he meets Eloise—but can’t bear to make her his next victim. Drawn to a girl he can never have, but whose fate seems bound with his own, he feels the need to protect her. But Will has an enemy who will stop at nothing to find him . . . and he’s closing in. . . .

Mini-Review:

Every once in a while I run into a book that I don't enjoy nearly as much as I thought I would, and unfortunately, Blood by K.J. Wignall is one of them. The premise was interesting and full of potential, but the execution never fully managed to grab my attention. The vampire bits were a little too cliched, and the whole past earl thing was sometimes hard to wrap my head around. For the most part, I had a hard time paying attention to the story at hand, especially when it got to the point where I wasn't even the biggest fan of the characters presented. Basically, Blood just wasn't the book for me, and given that, I don't think I will be continuing on with this series. However, if you're a die-hard vampire fan, this may just be the book for you.

Blood (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Goodreads) is now out!

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

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Love Story by Jennifer Echols 

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

SHE'S WRITING ABOUT HIM. HE'S WRITING ABOUT HER. AND EVERYBODY IS READING BETWEEN THE LINES.

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

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

Mini-Review:
 
My love for Jennifer Echols' books is no secret around here, so it's no surprise that I adored Love Story nearly as much as I did. The characters in this one are the typical ones associated with Jennifer's romantic drama. Erin Blackwell is confused, emotionally distant, and extremely sarcastic, and Hunter Allen, her love interest, is much of the same. However, combing both of their personalities together made for a dramatic as well as steamy romance, especially when their stories were involved. I especially loved the ending of this one, but I won't say anything more than that because I don't want to ruin it for anyone. So, in all, read this one. It's yet anther fabulous book by Echols! Plus the stories by Hunter and Erin are make for a book within a book in some ways.

Love Story (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Goodreads) is now out!

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 Little Women & Me by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

A twist in time gives Emily the power to fix Little Women. Oh, where to begin!

Emily is sick and tired of being a middle sister. So when she gets an assignment to describe what she'd change about a classic novel, Emily pounces on Little Women. After all, if she can't change things in her own family, maybe she can bring a little justice to the March sisters. (Kill off Beth? Have cute Laurie wind up with Amy instead of Jo? What was Louisa May Alcott thinking?!) But when Emily gets mysteriously transported into the 1860s world of the book, she discovers that righting fictional wrongs won't be easy. And after being immersed in a time and place so different from her own, it may be Emily-not the four March sisters-who undergoes the most surprising change of all. Lauren Baratz-Logsted's winning confection will appeal to fans of Little Women as well as anyone who enjoys a modern twist on an old favorite.

Mini-Review: 

Ever since I first heard about Little Women & Me last spring I've been looking forward to reading it. It sounded adorable. Plus, while I've never read the actual Little Women (I know...I need to change that), I have seen the movie version numerous times and loved it, so a modern twist on it sounded like just my speed. Sadly enough, after about 100 pages, I had to give up, because due to several things it just wasn't the book for me. For one, I couldn't relate to Emily, the main character, at all. She was whiny and seemed so much younger than her age. Secondly, the plot in this one wasn't exactly action packed. Instead, it dealt much with Emily's analyses of the Little Women characters, which really wasn't my speed. In all, Little Women & Me just wasn't the book for me. I wanted to like it...I really, really did, but it just wasn't possible. However, I still highly suggest this one to fans of Little Women as well as readers looking for a younger YA book.

Little Women & Me (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads) is now out!

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Lie by Carolina Bock 

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Everybody knows, nobody’s talking. . . .

Seventeen-year-old Skylar Thompson is being questioned by the police. Her boyfriend, Jimmy, stands accused of brutally assaulting two young El Salvadoran immigrants from a neighboring town, and she’s the prime witness. Skylar is keeping quiet about what she’s seen, but how long can she keep it up?

But Jimmy was her savior. . . .

When her mother died, he was the only person who made her feel safe, protected from the world. But when she begins to appreciate the enormity of what has happened, especially when Carlos Cortez, one of the victims, steps up to demand justice, she starts to have second thoughts about protecting Jimmy. Jimmy’s accomplice, Sean, is facing his own moral quandary. He’s out on bail and has been offered a plea in exchange for testifying against Jimmy.

The truth must be told. . . .

Sean must decide whether or not to turn on his friend in order to save himself. But most important, both he and Skylar need to figure out why they would follow someone like Jimmy in the first place.

Mini-Review:

When I first heard about Lie I was instantly intrigued, because not only did the premise sounded relatistic and unique but it was also backed by one of my favorite YA authors- Jennifer Brown, author of Hate List. However, I didn't end up enjoying Lie as much as I hoped I would. For one, while the premise was interesting, I felt the execution was a bit too choppy for my taste. Plus I felt that it was bogged down with way too many messages, and due to the constant switching of narrators, I never really got to know the main characters that well, which is something that always brings a book down a notch or two in my eyes. In all, Lie by Caroline Bock turned out to not be the book for me. However, others have enjoyed it, so if it sounds like something you would enjoy, I still suggest you give it a try.

Lie (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads) is now out!

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In My Mailbox (147)

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

For Review:

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney (unsolicted)

From Netgalley:

Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwing (Already half through this one, and I have to say I really, really like it so far!)

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows (This one looks AMAZING!)

Much thanks goes to Abrams Books as well as HarperTeen/Netgalley!

In all, a slow week book wise (thankfully! I need some time to catch up on my review books!) but a good one nonetheless!

Have a great week! :)

Review: The Mephisto Covenant by Trinity Faegen

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Sasha is desperate to find out who murdered her father. When getting the answer means pledging her soul to Eryx, she unlocks a secret that puts her in grave danger—she is an Anabo, a daughter of Eve, and Eryx’s biggest threat.

A son of Hell, immortal, and bound to Earth forever, Jax looks for redemption in the Mephisto Covenant—God’s promise he will find peace in the love of an Anabo. After a thousand years, he’s finally found the girl he’s been searching for: Sasha.

With the threat of Eryx always looming, Jax knows he has to keep Sasha safe and win her over. But can he? Will Sasha love him and give up her mortal life?

Review:

I’m a sucker for pretty dresses on YA covers, so as soon as I first saw the cover for The Mesphisto Covenant (and the pretty dress), I knew I had to read it without even glancing at the summary. Luckily, even with a few small setbacks, The Mesphisto Covenant managed to be interesting and unique YA filled with original characters, swoon worthy romance, and plot twists like no other.

The Mesphisto Covenant wasn’t one to build up slowly. Instead, it cut to the chase right from the get-go, fully throwing the reader right into the story just as Sasha is about to pledge her soul to Eryx, the leader of a scary cult but one who may just hold the secret of her father’s death. From there on, I was fully immerged in the story, and right along with Sasha, I began to see the secrets of the Sasha’s past as well as future unlock one at time with every twist and turn thrown her way. The best part of the plot, however, was the main idea as well as its execution, in my opinion. It was fully individual, and even though it at times could be a bit too much to handle and keep up with, it was never the slightest bit of boring. It was quite the opposite to say the least.

With the plot, came a huge cast of characters, big and small. Sasha, the main character, was one of my favorites. Thrown into numerous bad situations, Sasha never managed to lose her cool, even when it was the hardest thing not to do. In addition, throughout the book she began to become even more fierce and daring, even putting her whole life on line at times, which made her a pretty kick-butt main character, in my opinion. With her also came Jax, her love interest as well as the guy put in charge of her protection. Sweet, loving, and caring, Jax was a hard guy to hate, even when he was a bit naïve. Better yet, I loved seeing their relationship bloom as the book progressed, because not only was it sweet but Trinity also managed to present it in a way that tested YA boundaries content wise. In addition to Jax and Sasha, I also enjoyed reading more about Jax’s siblings as well as the various “bad guys” introduced, especially when they in particular managed to spice the book up in new ways.

However, The Mesphisto Covenant had a few slight setbacks. One was the level of information given throughout. I love rich plot lines, but there’s a point where there gets to be too much information given, and The Mesphisto Covenant managed to hit that point at times. Sometimes I was a little confused at what exactly was going on, especially when it switched suddenly from one thing to another. In addition, I felt the characters needed a little more development, because just like the plot information, they were copious and a little hard to keep track of.

The Mephisto Covenant, though, is still worth a read, in my opinion, especially for readers who love mythology as well as well as romance in their YA books.

Grade: B

The Mephisto Covenant (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads) is now out! 

Source: Publisher via Netgalley 

Review: The Shadowing: Hunted by Adam Slater

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Once every century, the barrier between the human world and the demon realm begins to break down. Creatures gather, anxiously waiting to cross the divide, to bring death and destruction from their world to ours. This time is called The Shadowing.

Callum Scott has always known that there is a supernatural world out there—he’s seen ghosts for as long as he can remember. Lately, he’s had visions of children being brutally murdered by a terrifying creature. Then the visions start coming true, and Callum realizes that he’s being hunted, too.

Driven by a dark destiny, he must stand against the demons that threaten our world.

And The Shadowing is almost here. . . .

Review:

Hunted, the first in The Shadowing series, is one book I wasn’t too sure about reading. I’m not the biggest fan of the cover, and the premise didn’t really sound like something I would personally enjoy. However, Hunted ended up surprising me in some big ways, because not only was I fully enchanted by the world presented, but I also adored nearly every scary yet delicious second of it.

Hunted starts just about how every other scary movie does: with the POV of the “bad guy”. However, it was the perfect way to start the book, in my opinion, because it managed to capture what the book would be like: frightening and eerie yet entertaining.

One of the ways that held true was through the plot. Adam Slater presented an interesting idea involving mythology as well as the supernatural with “The Shadowing." I really enjoyed learning more about it through the plot events as well as the challenges and dilemmas Callum faces throughout, especially when it threw some chilling twists and turns my way with not only change of events but also the switching of POVs.

Moreover, I really enjoyed the characters in this one, even though they weren’t the best developed or original. Callum was a likable protagonist, especially given the fact that he wasn’t the scared main character usually involved with scary books. Instead, Callum was almost dauntless, facing every problem thrown his way head on. I also enjoyed the addition of Callum’s grandmother, who managed to twist the books in some great ways as well, and the group of friends Callum managed to build up throughout Hunted.

Adam Slater’s writing was also decent. It wasn’t the best out there, but I really enjoyed the tone as well as voice he used in this…it felt almost like I was reading a movie screenplay in some ways, which was cool. Better yet, I loved the little twist he threw at the end, even though it means adding yet another sequel to my wish list.

In all, don’t let the cover of this one keep you away like it almost did to me, because Hunted is a great book, especially for fans of YA horror.

Grade: B+

The Shadowing: Hunted (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads) is now out!

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Review: Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Now is not the time for Carmen to fall in love. And Jeremy is hands-down the wrong guy for her to fall for. He is infuriating, arrogant, and the only person who can stand in the way of Carmen getting the one thing she wants most: to win the prestigious Guarneri competition. Carmen's whole life is violin, and until she met Jeremy, her whole focus was winning. But what if Jeremy isn't just hot...what if Jeremy isbetter?

Carmen knows that kissing Jeremy can't end well, but she just can't stay away. Nobody else understands her--and riles her up--like he does. Still, she can't trust him with her biggest secret: She is so desperate to win she takes anti-anxiety drugs to perform, and what started as an easy fix has become a hungry addiction. Carmen is sick of not feeling anything on stage and even more sick of always doing what she's told, doing what's expected.

Sometimes, being on top just means you have a long way to fall....

Review:

Virtuosity is another one of those books I’ve wanted to read for the longest of times. I love the cover for it, and the premise sounded amazing. Plus after seeing all the praise it was receiving, I knew there had to be something amazing about it, and as it turns out, there was…something very, very amazing! Simply put Virtuosity is one of my favorite 2011 reads due to not only the heart racing romance but also the characters as well as the writing!

Virtuosity begins the story of Carmen, a young yet very talented violin player who is facing the biggest competition of her life, one that might just break or make her. From the very first page, it was easy to see Carmen was struggling with life as well as the certainty and uncertainty lying around her future. She was also a very sheltered girl, one who knows everything about the violin but not much about real life…friends, romance, etc. are things she hasn’t had much experience with. However, in Virtuosity she begins to life and come to life in the process, which made her character all the more likable and easy to root for! I especially loved seeing her friendship as well as romance bloom with Jeremy. Jeremy is someone who has experienced life even with his big violin career, and because of this, he changes Carmen as much as she changes him and while Jeremy wasn’t always the most likable guy around, he had a heart of gold deep down- it just wasn’t always easy to see.

As mentioned above, Virtuosity also contained an interesting premise, and thankfully, the execution was even better. It was interesting seeing the ins and outs of the classical music world, especially from an author who has had their own experience in it. Plus, I really enjoyed seeing the focus on family in this one, as not only did it bring more understanding to Carmen’s character but it also brought a couple of twists and turns along the way. Least but not last, the romance between Carmen and Jeremy…simply put it was the definition of swoon worthy. It had a taste of Romeo and Juliet to yet it was completely its own. Better yet, I loved that it actually developed at a reasonable pace, and while the conclusion of it was a little too good to be true, it was good all the same.

Lastly, Jessica Martinez truly shines as an author in this one. Seriously, after reading this one, I can without a doubt understand why it’s been getting so much buzz. Because not only does Jessica fully present a three dimensional world as well as interesting and diverse characters but also she does so in a well-written way, one that fully brings the emotions and actions felt to life with every word.

Romantic and enchanting with taste of suspense, Virtuosity is a fabulous debut, one that will have fans eager to read more by Jessica Martinez, especially if it involves more about Jeremy and Carmen.

Grade: A+

Virtuosity (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads) is now out!

Source: Publicist at Simon Pulse- thanks Dawn! 

In My Mailbox (146)

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

For Review:

Ripper by Stefan Petrucha (Not something I would normally pick up on my own, but I'm really looking forward to giving it a try!)

Radiant Days by Elizabeth Hand (I've been looking forward to this one since it was first announced back in '09 (if I remember correctly)) 

The Right & the Real by Joëlle Anthony (I've heard so many excellent things about this one!) 

Truth by Julia Karr (I haven't read the first one in this series (XVI) but I'm really looking forward to reading both of them now.) 

Dark Eyes by William Richter (SOOO excited about this one! It sounds INCREDIBLE!) 

Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne + Brochure for Holbrook Academy (Show Up Close below) (Really excited about this one as well. Plus the cover is GORGEOUS!) 

 

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi (I'm really hoping this one lives up to all the hype surrounding it!) 

The Mother-Daughter Show by Natalie Wexler (Looks interesting!) 

From Netgalley:

 

The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Myers (This one has been compared to The Lying Game, which I love, so I can't wait to check this one out!) 

The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams (Looks adorable!) 

 

 Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen (Looks really interesting as well!) 

Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey (I really enjoyed Alyxandra's other paranormal standalone (Haunting Violet) so I can't wait to see what she has up her sleeves for this one!) 

Magic Under Stone by Jaclyn Dolamore (I really liked Magic Under Glass, the prequel to this, so I cant' wait to see what's next for the characters!) 

Fracture by Megan Miranda (I've heard countless good things about this one!) 

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally (I'm so happy that I finally I have my hands on a copy of this one!)

Much thanks goes to Netgalley, Sourcebooks, Bloomsbury/Walker Books, Penguin, HarperCollins & Lauren Brown, and Grace at Goldberg McDuffie Communications!

Have a great week everyone! :) 

Review: Mercy Lily by Lisa Albert

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

I take the bees outside, unscrew the lid of the bee jar, and listen to their angry buzzing. 

"I hate you," I whisper.

Lily's mother has slowly been losing herself to multiple sclerosis. After traditional treatment fails, she uses bee sting therapy, administered by Lily, to alleviate her pain. Lily is trained as a veterinary assistant, so she can easily handle the treatments. What she can't handle is what happens when the bee sting therapy fails and it becomes clear that her mom wants to die.

One beautiful spring day, Lily's mother asks her for the most impossible thing of all—mercy. While navigating first love, friendship, and other normal worries faced by high school sophomores, Lily also has to choose: help her mom go, or cling to her fading life for all it's worth.

Review:

When I first heard about Mercy Lily by Lisa Albert, I wasn’t too sure about it. The premise sounded interesting enough, but the overall tone of the story seemed sad. However, I ended up trying it, and I am so glad I did, as Mercy Lily is a quiet yet amazing book filled with hope and love as well as the sadness and happiness that comes with growing up. 

Mercy Lily tells the story of Lily, a girl who hasn’t had the most normal childhood due to her father’s sudden death a few years back and her mother’s terminal MS. Lily was someone I liked right from the beginning, as not only is she wise beyond her years, but also she is such an kind and amazing girl, someone who anyone would want on their side. Making her character even better was the level of depth Lisa Albert put into her emotions. I could honesty feel the hope, despair, anger, and love she felt just as if it were my own, and if that isn’t a sign of a well-developed character than I don’t know what is. Lisa also introduced a variety of side characters in this one, such as Jed, Lily’s “uncle” type figure and Shauna and Trent, Lily’s two childhood friends.

The plot in this was definitely intriguing. Mother asking her daughter for her permission to die? Well, I can honestly say I haven’t read a book about that. However, while this sounds almost soap opera worthy, Lisa presented it in a breathtaking way, one where the reader was fully able to see both sides to the situation as well as the feelings felt about both. However, the thing I loved most about this book that it wasn’t just about dying and death. Instead, it was more of a coming-of-age story, one that involved the pain, the love, and the happiness as well as hope involved with growing up.

Finally, I have to add that Lisa’s writing in this one was simply fantastic! As mentioned before, I could truly feel the variety of emotions felt due to the level of depth she gave to the characters and their plot lines.

Heartwarming yet heartbreaking, Lisa Albert’s Mercy Lily is one of the best contemporary YA reads of the year! I can’t suggest it highly enough!

Grade: A+

Mercy Lily (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Goodreads) is now out!

Source: Publicist at Flux 

Blog Tour: Unison Spark by Andy Marino (Guest Post & Giveaway!)

As part of the blog tour for Andy Marino's Unison Spark, I have not only a guest post today from him about what it means to be "social" in today's world but also a pretty awesome giveaway! To find out more, read on....

I remember being in the cafeteria at the end of an elementary-school lunch like any other, bringing my empty tray up to the front, when I suddenly became aware that other kids might be watching me as I walked. I knew it was unlikely that people were paying much attention, but I couldn’t overcome the fact that it was theoretically possible for everyone in the entire cafeteria—several hundred pairs of eyes—to be looking at me.

The strangest thing happened: it became hard to walk. I didn’t stop or fall down or do anything so dramatic, and if people were watching I doubt they would have noticed. But I was conscious of the way my arms might look, the way my upper body moved, the length of my stride and whether I was bending my knees in some bizarre and embarrassing way. Like breathing, walking is such an automatic movement that actually thinking about it can throw your circuitry out of joint.

If you think about all the eyes on you at any given time, it’s easy to become obsessed with how you’re being perceived. So what does it mean to be social these days, when Facebook and Twitter make even the most inconsequential thought into an instant performance piece?

Maybe the healthiest way to deal with all this stuff is to brush it off. But it’s pretty hard to trivialize social media, to think of it as only a small part of a greater web of human interaction. Every time I try to tell myself IT DOESN’T MEAN ANYTHING SO CALM DOWN, I come back around to the same realization: I enjoy broadcasting my thoughts too much to ever pull the plug, and I’m not sure it has anything to do with being social.

When I was writing Unison Spark, a novel about the all-encompassing social network of the future, I thought a lot about how online communities amplify and distort our emotions. This led to questions that don’t necessarily have answers, but are kind of fun to think about. I’ll leave you with two:

When a celebrity posts something designed to get a reaction from a million people, is this any different than when you update your status for the benefit of a hundred people, or are both instances just part of an ego trip that has nothing to do with anyone else?

Do you have a distinct persona that you adopt for social media, and has it changed how you interact with your friends in real life?

Thanks so much for stopping by Andy!

Now for the giveaway...I have THREE ARCs of Unison Spark up for grabs!

However, before I get to how you can enter, here's a little about the book:

Everyone is obsessed with Unison, the social network that knows you better than you know yourself. Everyone who can afford it, that is. Living beneath the vast ceiling that separates Eastern Seaboard City into rich topside and poor sub-canopy zones, fifteen-year-old Mistletoe can only dream of logging in and has to make do with technological hand-me-downs.

Worlds collide when Ambrose Truax, the privileged heir to the Unison empire, wanders into the dangerous sub-canopy streets and Mistletoe saves him from suspicious, uniformed men. They soon discover that they share eerily similar dreams, hinting at a significant past.

Together, Ambrose and Mistletoe begin to unravel the mystery of their identities and learn that they’re pawns in a bigger game: the Unison 3.0 upgrade, a whole new kind of Friendship.

To enter, 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 November 18, 2011 at 12:00 PM EST

To find out about previous stops on the blog tour as well as future ones, check out Andy's twitter!

Waiting on Wednesday (119)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

My picks this week are:

Hollyweird by Terri Clark 

Paranormal + Hollywood + cute fallen angel = WIN

When sixteen-year-old Aly King is the grand prizewinner in the “Win a Date with Dakota” contest, it seems like a dream come true. Along with her best friend Desi, and soap star wannabe sister Missy, she flies from Colorado to Hollywood for her celebrity date. Like every other girl in America, Aly knows that Dakota Danvers is a smoking hot movie star. What she doesn’t know is that he’s also Satan’s son.

Luckily for Aly, in the City of Angels there is one actual angel, Jameson Dagon. Granted, Jameson is a fallen angel, but he has one last chance at salvation if he can derail Dakota’s evil machinations. Can Jameson protect Aly and Desi from Dakota’s damning influence, put up with Missy’s prima donna antics—and ignore his smoldering attraction to Aly?

All the way back in 2008 I read a book called Sleepless (the first one by Terri Clark) and loved it, and ever since then, I've been eagerly awaiting a new book by Terri so to say I was excited when I found out about Hollyweird would be a serious understatement. I simply can't wait to read this one. It sound like it will be lots of fun! Though, I have to admit I'm not the biggest fan of the cover.

Miracle by Elizabeth Scott

Megan is a miracle. At least, that's what everyone says. Having survived a plane crash that killed everyone else on board, Megan knows she should be grateful just to be alive. The truth is, she doesn't feel like a miracle. In fact, she doesn't feel anything at all. Then memories from the crash start coming back. Scared and alone, Megan doesn't know who to turn to. Her entire community seems unable—or maybe unwilling—to see her as anything but Miracle Megan. Except for Joe, the beautiful boy next door with a tragic past and secrets of his own... All Megan wants is for her life to get back to normal, but the harder she tries to live up to everyone's expectations, the worse she feels. This time, she may be falling too fast to be saved....

Another Elizabeth Scott book?! Count me in for sure! Anyhow, this one sounds amazing, and I simply can't wait to read it!

Review: Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

She comes from the oceans; 

he comes from the skies. 

They'll find love somewhere in between

For as long as Esmerine can remember, she has longed to join her older sister, Dosinia, as a siren--the highest calling a mermaid can have. When Dosinia runs away to the mainland, Esmerine is sent to retrieve her. Using magic to transform her tail into legs, she makes her way unsteadily to the capital city. There she comes upon a friend she hasn't seen since childhood--a dashing young man named Alandare, who belongs to a winged race of people. As Esmerine and Alandare band together to search for Dosinia, they rekindle a friendship . . . and ignite the emotions for a love so great, it cannot be bound by sea, land, or air.

Review:

As soon as I first heard about Between the Sea and Sky, I knew I had to read it. Because not only did it contain two of my favorite topics in YA- mermaids and mythology- but it also was a book by Jaclyn Dolamore, an author who managed to enchant me with her first release, Magic Under Glass. Luckily, Between the Sea and Sky was everything I hoped it would be and even more!

Between the Sea and Sky had many good things going for it, and one of them, without a doubt, was the world building. I always love reading about mermaids, and when they’re underwater world is beautifully described and easy to picture, it makes it all the better. But the lovely descriptions and world building didn’t end there. Instead, Jaclyn also managed to bring to life the human world as well as the winged people’s world. I especially loved seeing more about the winged people, because I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with creatures exactly like them.

Going along with the world building was the plot. As briefly mentioned before, I always found it interesting to read about the customs and such the mermaids as well as the winged people had. Plus, the main plot line in this book- Esmerine searching for her sister with the aid of Alandare- was well delivered as well as action packed. What I enjoyed most about it, however, were the things that came from it, such as former friendship between Esmerine and Alandare rekindling and Esmerine’s own feelings about the human world as well as her own reforming because of it. It made for an interesting book to say the least.

In addition, the characters…would it be hard to believe to say that I loved nearly every one of them? Because I did. Esmerine was easy to root for and love from the beginning, because her search for her sister showed what a kind person she was and it would be hard not to like someone who saw the world in the  innocent way Esmerine did. Moreover, Esmerine loved books. So how hypercritical would it be if I didn’t enjoy reading about her? ;) Another favorite of mine was Alandare. He was somewhat standoff-ish at first, but it was easy to see how much of a softie he was deep down, especially when it came to Esmerine. I also enjoyed the addition of Alandare’s friends at the bookshop and Esmerine’s as well as Alandare’s families.

Last but not least, I really enjoyed the writing in this one as well. Jaclyn wrote Between the Sea and Sky in such a simple yet breathtaking way. Plus her descriptions were some of my absolute favorite parts of the book!

Enchanting as well as romantic, Between the Sea and Sky is one book I can’t suggest highly enough, especially to those of you who love fairy tale like books. However, word of warning: this book will probably add a new favorite author to your list: Jaclyn Dolamore. 

Grade: A

Between the Sea and Sky (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads) is now out! 

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

It's a Waverly Life by Maria Murnane

Summary/Cover Image from Author's Website:

After rebounding from a broken engagement and relinquishing her job in sports PR, the irrepressible Waverly Bryson has a new man, a new career, and a new lease on life. Her part-time gig as an advice columnist has proven to be as entertaining as it is affirming, and her fledgling greeting-card line, Honey Notes, is off to a promising start. After a series of disastrous romantic rebounds, she has settled into a long-distance relationship with handsome Jake McIntyre. Things are certainly looking up…at least, until lingering emotional baggage threatens her love life and her best friends stun her with a pair of shocking announcements. Suddenly, Waverly is faced with being left behind by everyone she loves. And in true Waverly fashion, things must get comically worse before they can get better. It takes forming an unexpected new friendship with an elderly neighbor and meddling in the love lives of two of her coworkers to make “the American Bridget Jones” realize that although life—before and after thirty—never fails to be messy and unpredictable, friendship and love make it all worthwhile.

Review:

After reading about Waverly’s first set of (mis)adventures in Perfect on Paper, I couldn’t wait to see what was up next for her. Would things work out between her and Jake? Would her Honey Notes business succeed or become one big mess? There were so many questions, and thankfully, most of them were answered in It’s a Waverly Life, a witty and fast paced sequel that managed to rise high above up my expectations.

It’s a Waverly Life starts up a little while after Perfect on Paper left off. Waverley’s life is steadily improving due to her recent career change as well as her budding romance with Jake. However, just as everything seems to go in Waverly’s life, perfect may just not stay that way, because as it turns out, her relationship with Jake isn’t nearly as great as she hoped, and her Honey Notes business is facing quite a few setbacks. What’s a girl to do- run or tough it out? Waverly doesn’t know but she’s sure to find out along the way.

Waverly may have had a few improvements to her life, but she’s still the same Waverly she was in Perfect on Paper: witty, sarcastic, and just a tiny bit awkward. However, in this addition, Waverly faces something new: big change. Moreover, Waverly still faces plenty of embarrassing yet hilarious mishaps in this one, especially when she lands on one of the biggest morning TV news shows and manages to cause quite a stir. It’s a Waverly Life also features some of the many lovely characters of the first novel as well as a few new additions. Nearly everyone managed to grow in some new way and bring something to the book. However, my personal favorite would have to be Red, but I wish there was more of him in the book.

In this addition, Maria Murnane had a variety of plot events as well as twists and turns that constantly had me on the edge of my seat, dying to know what would occur next. I especially loved seeing how Waverly’s relationship grew with Jake in this addition. When the plot didn’t focus on that, it focused on the variety of changes Waverly was facing in her personal as well as work life, as mentioned before. Seeing Waverly face the numerous changes ended up making the book even better, especially given how many of the problems she faced were realistic.

In all, It’s a Waverly Life is a fabulous and action-paced addition to The Mis(adventures) of Waverly Bryson series. I can only hope there will be another book, because I would love to see what’s next for Waverly, Jake, and all their friends.

Grade: A

It's a Waverly Life (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads) is now out!

Source: Publicist at Little Bird Publicity- thanks Katie! 

Perfect on Paper by Maria Murnane

Summary/Cover Image from Author's Website:

It seems so perfect… on paper

Waverly Bryson almost has it all: a dream job in sports PR, two loyal best friends, and a neighborhood bar where everybody knows her name. What she doesn’t have is a ring on her finger, but after being left at the altar, she’s in no hurry to go down that road again. Besides, she has other things to worry about, including a wayward father, a new rival at work, and the nagging fear that she’s not living the life she always thought she would … or should.

Review: 

Charming as well as witty, Perfect on Paper by Maria Murnane is the kind of adult contemporary read I adore!

Perfect on Paper begins the story of Waverly Bryson, a girl who hasn’t had the best of luck in the last year. It seems to all go back to when her then fiancé left her two weeks before they’re wedding claiming “he didn’t love her.” Since then, Waverly’s had some bad dates and some really, really bad dates, all of which have left her to think she’s not cut out for dating. Moreover, her “perfect” sports PR job is as far from perfect as it can get, especially given the fact that the new girl seems to be out to get her. However, everything seems to change when she meets Jake, an adorable and endearing guy who also works in the Sports field. There’s one tiny problem, though, she can’t seem to figure him out, but until she does, she has her friends as well as her “Honey Notes” to help her out along the way.

As soon as Waverly first appeared on the page, I knew she was going to be a funny protagonist, and as it turns out, she was just that and more. Her humor, which especially shined through with her “Honey Notes”, kept me laughing throughout, and the awkward yet funny situations she always seemed to end up in did much of the same. What I liked best about her, though, was that she seemed real. She had her own set of problems ranging from ones dealing with family to friends to her job to her dating life, and she had to work for the most part to get what she wanted. In addition to Waverly were several other hilarious and charming characters, which included McKenna and Andie, Waverly’s two best friends, as well the various people Waverly meet through her job.

The plot in this one was pretty simple and predictable, but it was still enjoyable. For one, I loved seeing how Waverly’s Honey Notes went from a funny way to get out her frustrations to an actual business idea! Secondly, Waverly’s romantic life plays a big role in Perfect on Paper, and while for Waverly it’s not always perfect, the various dates she went on caused for many laughs to say the least. Plus it was fun to see her relationship with Jake begin, even though it had quite a few problems itself. In addition, I also really liked seeing how Waverly’s job played a role in the book as did her friends and family. It gave this book an extra edge so to say.

However, while I enjoyed this book, I didn’t really like a few things. For one, I felt the book dragged in some places, especially in the middle. Also, I would have loved some more development to Jake’s character, but I guess there’s always the sequel for that to occur.

All in all, Perfect on Paper is an endearing and fun read about one girl’s journey to finding herself once again. I simply can’t wait to read more about Waverly!

Grade: B

Perfect on Paper (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Goodreads) is now out!

Source: Publicist at Little Bird Publicity- thanks Katie!