Review: And For Your Information by Denise Deegan

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Everyone thinks they know who I am - ditzy Sarah, who cares more about appearances than she does about anything real. And yeah, I do care about what people think of me.

Take my friends Alex and Rachel. We all go to Strandbrook College, Dublin. We're supposed to be best friends. But Alex and Rachel - they're really close. They tell each other things that they would never tell me. I try not to mind.

And then there's Simon. He's my sort-of boyfriend but we hardly see each other. And when we do, I feel like he doesn't really 'see' me, you know?

Everything's such a mess right now. My dad left us to be with Her; my mum is really angry all the time; and my brother Louis, he just doesn't care.

I guess that's why the shoplifting started. It makes me feel good. In control.

I just want everything to change. And it does. The day I got caught . . .

Review:

After reading And by the Way, the first in Butterfly series, I couldn't wait to see what was up next for Rachel, Alex, and Sarah, and just my luck, I had a copy of And for Your Information, the second one in the series, already in my possession. So I quickly dove right in, and oh my gosh, I was BLOWN away to say the least! I thought  And by the Way was good but this one was just its own kind of brand of good- amazing more like it! It was bittersweet, heartwarming, romantic, emotional...the list of adjectives goes on and on.

And for Your Information tells the story of Sarah, best friend to Alex (And by the Way's narrator) and Rachel (the narrator of the upcoming third book). In the first book, I wasn't the biggest fan of Sarah. She seemed a bit immature as well as goofy and not the greatest friend out there. However, in this one, I truly got to see what kind of person she is deep down, and I was pleasantly surprised. She's not half as flaky and silly as she appears. She's actually really sweet and funny, and throughout the book she really grew up to be someone great. I especially loved seeing her begin to develop a Shane, a boy dealing with several problems of his own. Shane was a lot like Sarah in some ways, because how he was at first didn't indicate at all what he turned out to be, and I really liked that about him. Plus I loved the way he was with Sarah. He played a big part in her growing up, and to be honest, it was just sweet seeing them fall in love.

The plot in this was a big steep up from And by the Way, because while And by the Way took a little while to get off the ground, this one was an action packed ride from beginning to end. I really enjoyed learning as well as seeing more about Sarah's life, especially when her older brother Louis was involved, and as mentioned before, I loved seeing her relationship with Shane bloom. In most ways, it wasn't at all like the typical YA romance, and that's one of the things I enjoyed most about it. It was innocent as well as surprising and bittersweet. I don't want to give too much away about it (because it's part of what makes the book so good), but I will say I didn't have one dry eye at the end. Moving on, I really enjoyed seeing more of Alex and Rachel, because while they may think there stories would be on a standstill a lot happened in this one that changed everything, especially in Alex's life. While the changes were at times very surprising, I ended up really loving the direction Denise took the book in, and I'm excited to see where everything is going to end up in the third book.

Lastly, Denise Deegan's writing truly improved in this one. She truly brought the characters and their emotions off the page and to life. She also never sugarcoated anything in this, especially towards the end, and I really respected that about her.

Heartbreaking, bittersweet, and simply spectacular, And For Your Information by Denise Deegan is a great addition to the Butterfly novels! I simply can't wait to see what she has in store for us next.

Grade: A+

And For Your Information (Amazon, Book Depository, Goodreads) is now out!

Source: Publicist at Hachette Ireland- thanks Joanna!

Sidenote: While this is a sequel to And By The Way, this one can easily be read on its own. 

Review: In the Arms of Stone Angels by Jordan Dane

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Two years ago I did a terrible thing. I accused my best friend of being a killer after seeing him kneeling over a girl's body. That moment and that outcast boy still haunt me.

Now my mom is forcing me back to Oklahoma and I can't get White Bird out of my mind. But when I find out he's not in juvie—that he's in a mental hospital, locked in his tormented brain at the worst moment of his life—I can't turn my back on him again.

No one wants me to see him. My mom doesn't trust me. The town sheriff still thinks I was involved in the murder. And the other kids who knew the dead girl are after me.

I'm as trapped as White Bird. And when I touch him, I get sucked into his living hell, a vision quest of horrifying demons and illusions of that night. Everything about him scares me now, but I have to do something.

This time I can't be a coward. This time I have to be his friend. Even if I get lost, as well…

Review:

I've been reading In the Arms of Stone Angels on and off since January of this year. It had an interesting premise, but the story as well as the main character's voice never managed to grab me. However, I recently decided to dive in and finally read it from start to finish, and while it still didn't really capture my interest, I'm glad I gave it a chance, because it was a good story, one full of plenty of interesting twists and turns, even though it wasn't the perfect story for me due to a few reasons.

In the Arms of Stone Angels tells the story Breanna Nash, a girl's who lived through utter torture since she turned in her best as well as only friend, White Bird, to the authorities two years ago after witnessing a horrible and gut wrenching sight. However, unlike White Bird, she as well as her mother fled after this, never to return...until now.

First, I never really liked Breanna's character all that much, and that's where the story officially began to go sour for me. There was something so rough about her character, and while I could understand why she was that way, I could never really understand why she didn't try to get help sooner. However, I will admit that I did respect her for being there for White Bird as well as the journey she went on to get him help once and for all. It allowed her character to grow, and while I still didn't like her all that much by the end, I did like her a bit more than before. The other characters in this one, such as Joe and White Bird, were also interesting people, ones I would've loved to seen more about, but that never really managed to occur. However, I did like how Jordan Dane showed the story from not only Breanna's eyes but from other passing characters as well. It was an interesting twist, one that I really enjoyed seeing!

The plot in In The Arms of Stone Angels is what managed to somewhat save the book in my eyes, because even though it took a while to get off the ground, I was still fully impressed by the level of detail as well as development, Jordan Dane put into the book. From the aspects that included Native American traditions to White Bird's trapped memories to the part that involved Heather's death, everything always managed to be fully developed as well as intricate, especially towards the end where everything went haywire in the best kind of way.

Lastly, I felt that Jordan's writing was decent in this one. She did a great of developing the plot and characters, and while I had problems with Breanna, I'll still admit Jordan really managed to capture the thoughts as well as feelings Breanna held inside.

In all, while In the Arms of Stone Angels wasn't my cup of tea, I still suggest it to fans of supernatural YA who enjoy an interesting plot.

Grade: C+

In the Arms of Stone Angels (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads) is now out!

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Waiting on Wednesday (123)

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

My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century 

by Rachel Harris

On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family’s trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze.

Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore.

Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?

First of all, I love the title of this one! It's cute and intriguing. Second of all, the premise of this one sounds like so much fun! Girl gets sent back into time to the Renaissance Firenze and gets to explore her ancestors' past? Sign me up for sure! I can't wait to see the final cover of this one as well.

My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century will be released sometime in 2012.

Grave Mercy 

by Robin LaFevers

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

The tagline to this one "Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?" is what drew my attention to Grave Mercy to begin with, because seriously isn't that one kick a** tagline?! Then I read the first summary and was like "I NEED to read this!" So April 2012, will you PLEASE hurry up?! ;)

Grave Mercy will be released April 3, 2012! 

Review: Happy Birthday to Me by Brian Rowe

Summary/Cover Image from Author's Website:

Seventeen-year-old Cameron Martin has a huge problem: he’s aging a whole year of his life with each passing day!

High school is hard enough; imagine rapidly aging from seventeen to seventy in a matter of weeks, with no logical explanation, and with prom, graduation, and the state championship basketball game all on the horizon. That’s what happens to Cameron, a popular pretty boy who's never had to face a day looking anything but perfect.

All Cameron wants to do is go back to normal, but no one, not even the best doctors, can diagnose his condition. When he finds love with a mysterious young woman, however, he realizes his only hope for survival might be with the one person who started his condition in the first place...

Review: 

Happy Birthday to Me by Brian Rowe is a book I hadn't heard too much about prior to reading it. However, the things I had heard were mostly good so I recently decided to dive right in and give it a try. How did it go? I ended up liking it quite a bit! It was certainly an interesting read, and while I do admit I had some qualms with it, it was overall an funny and quick read.

Happy Birthday to Me begins the story of Cameron Martin, one of the most popular and talented jocks at his high school. Cameron has always been giving everything to him on a silver platter so when he's suddenly faced with an ageing disease, he doesn't know what to do! With every passing day, he ages another year, getting weaker and weaker as the days go and the clock ticks down. What's happening to him? Is there a cure to this horrible situation? Only time and more pages can tell!

When Cameron was first introduced in the story, I wasn't his biggest fan. He was a bit too pompous and self centered to my liking. I especially didn't like the whole birthday gimmick he constantly pulled. However, as the novel progressed and he began to grow as a person, I started liking him a bit more. I was left with one little question, though, and that's if he wasn't faced with this horrible problem, would he have grown as a person? I wasn't too sure, and that bothered me in some ways. On the other hand, I really liked the secondary characters introduced in this such as Wesley, Cameron's best friend, as well as Liesel, the mysterious waitress. Both were funny as well as sweet and managed to teach Cameron a lessen or two throughout the novel.

One of the things that originally drew me to this book was the plot. The idea of ageing a year with every day was intriguing as well as creepy, and the way Brian presented it managed to do much of the same. I especially enjoyed the way in which Brian split the novel up by day aka the year Cameron had reached, because it caused for much suspense as the time continued to tick down. The other plot lines in this such as Liesel's involvement as well as Wesley's film(s) also provided little fun twists and turns. However, there were two plot lines I didn't particularly enjoy. One was Cameron's relationship with Charisma, his self centered girl friend. It truly added nothing to the book, and it didn't help that I could barely stand the girl. The second was the little twist at the end with the librarian. It was just odd and really added nothing to the story as well.

Lastly, I felt Brian Rowe's writing was pretty great overall. I thought he did a great job of building up the plot as well as presenting Cameron's problem in an emotional and intense way. While I would have loved a little more development here and there, I'm sure more will be done in the future additions.

Fast paced and interesting, Happy Birthday to Me is a book I suggest to readers who enjoy a little paranormal with their contemporary.

Grade: B

Happy Birthday to Me (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads) is now out!

Source: Author- thanks Brian! 

Giveaway: A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Today, December 27, 2011, the paperback addition of A Discovery of Witches was finally released, and thanks to Penguin, I have one brand new, right-off-the-press copy to give to one lucky reader!

Here's some info about the book:

In a sparkling debut, A Discovery of Witches became the "it" book of early 2011, bringing Deborah Harkness into the spotlight and galvanizing fans around the world. In this tale of passion and obsession, Diana Bishop, a young scholar and the descendant of witches, discovers a long-lost and enchanted alchemical manuscript deep in Oxford's Bodleian Library. Its reappearance summons a fantastical underworld, which she navigates with her leading man, vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont. Harkness has created a universe to rival those of Anne Rice, Diana Gabaldon, and Elizabeth Kostova, and she adds a scholar's depth to this riveting story of magic and suspense.

Official Giveaway Rules:

~ Must be 13 years or older to enter (be aware that this is an "adult" book)
~ Must have a US mailing address
~ This giveaway will close on January 6, 2012!

To enter use the Rafflecopter form below! 

*Please note that this widget may not show up in Google Reader or other blog reading devices.*

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Review: The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Myers

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website: 

A riveting thriller about a teen who thought her twin was dead - until he started writing her letters. 

Jocelyn's twin brother Jack was the only family she had growing up in a world of foster homes-and now he's dead, and she has nothing. Then she gets a cryptic letter from "Jason December"-the code name her brother used to use when they were children at Seale House, a terrifying foster home that they believed had dark powers. Only one other person knows about Jason December: Noah, Jocelyn's childhood crush and their only real friend among the troubled children at Seale House.

But when Jocelyn returns to Seale House and the city where she last saw Noah, she gets more than she bargained for. Turns out the house's powers weren't just a figment of a childish imagination. And someone is following Jocelyn. Is Jack still alive? And if he is, what kind of trouble is he in? The answer is revealed in a shocking twist that turns this story on its head and will send readers straight back to page 1 to read the book in a whole new light.

Review:

As soon as I first heard about this one, I KNEW that I HAD to read it. The summary made it sound like a delightfully creepy YA thriller. The cover was gorgeous as well as eye catching. In addition, this had been compared to The Lying Game by Sara Shepard, a book I had read and loved last year! Thankfully, The Vanishing Game ended up being just my kind of book! Full of thrill as well as plenty of twists and turns, it kept me guessing until the very last page, something that rarely occurs!

From the first page of this one, I was instantaneously hooked, because Myers threw a curve ball straight up front: Jocelyn's brother is dead...but is he? That question kept The Vanishing Game moving until the very, very last page, because not only did it lift that plot line as well as others fully off the ground, but it also created lots and lots of character development, something I love just as much as excellent plot lines!

However, before I get too far into that, let me talk a little about the characters in this one. First, Jocelyn was an interesting character from the start. I truly never knew what to expect from her, especially towards the end, but that was part of what made it so much fun! However, two things I did know for sure were not only did she love her brother but she also loved Noah, the boy who has kept her heart racing for years even if he never seemed to notice. Talking about Noah, I really enjoyed reading about him as well. He was the total reformed bad boy with quite a few secrets of his own, so once him and Jocelyn meet up to research the death of her brother as well as the letters from the grave, the story really got going.

As I've mentioned before, I really enjoyed the plot line of this one. Kate Kae Myers truly knows how to weave a great YA thriller together as well as the perfect cast of mismatched characters that never fail to bring a few surprises with them as well.While I would love nothing more to go on and on about the plot, I don't want to ruin anything for anyone, because part of what made this book as good as it was not knowing anything, trust me.

Creepy as well as frightening, The Vanishing Game is the perfect book to curl up with late at night, but word of warning: it won't let you go until you finish, and even then, I'm sure you won't manage to get that much sleep. ;)

Highly, highly recommended! 

Grade: A+

The Vanishing Game (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads) will be released February 14, 2011!

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Review: If I Tell by Janet Gurtler

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

“It was like watching a train wreck. I wanted to look away but couldn’t take my eyes off them.”

 IF ONLY… If only I hadn’t gone to that party. I never would have seen what I did. Jackson wouldn’t have driven me home. I wouldn’t have started to fall for a guy just out of reform school. I could go back to pretending everything was normal. I wouldn't be keeping a secret from my mom that could blow our family apart …

Review:

Going into If I Tell, I wasn't sure what to expect. The summary made it sound like an interesting and fresh contemporary read, but I had heard a variety of mix thoughts about it. Luckily, I ended up being pleasantly surprised, as not only Jasmine a unique and interesting main character, but her story was one that involved the tears, love, and hope as well as fear that comes with growing up and moving on!

One of the main things that I enjoyed about this one was the characters. Jasmine had a variety of characteristics that made her standout from the usual YA protagonist. One was the fact that she was biracial. To be honest, I don't come upon that much in the books I read, so I always found it to be interesting to see how Jasmine went upon dealing with that fact as well as coming to learn and love that she was that way. Another interesting part of Jasmine's character was seeing her interact with her family as well as friends. She never seemed to have the typical relationship with any of them, especially her mother. The only aspect I didn't like much about Jasmine was that she constantly seemed to put herself down and see the worst in people, but as any reader will see, overcoming these struggles were just part of the story, a big and rewarding part honestly.

The wide variety of other characters Janet Gurtler introduced also managed to provide lots of fun, even though some of them could have used a bit more development. I really enjoyed finding out more about Jackson in particular; because just like Jasmine he had more to him than you would think. In addition, I loved seeing his friendship with Jasmine bloom into something sweet, especially when it began to go past that friend stage! I also really enjoyed the additions of Jasmine's grandmother, one tough cookie to say the least, as well as Ashley and Lacey, Jasmine's two friends who were involved in her journey from start to finish!

The overall plot in this one had If I Tell moving at rapid speed- if the pace by which I flipped the pages was any indication! The plot line involving Simon, Lacey, and Jasmine's mother also managed to filled with twists and turns, which had me debating right along with Jasmine about whether or not she should tell or kept it in. However, the main focus in this book, though, was Jasmine's overall journey in filling comfortable in her own skin. From the time she was very little, she had always felt like the odd one out, not fitting in with the white kids nor the black kids, but as the book progressed she began to gather her "people" so to say and see that being white as well as black didn't define the person she was or was going to be. Instead, her actions did. It was an honest and heartwarming journey to say the least, and I felt that Janet truly got the emotions and feelings of Jasmine down pat.

Talking about Gurtler, I really enjoyed her writing in this one! This was the first book of hers I have read, but it certainly won't be the last. Due to real-to-life story lines and interesting and diverse characters, she's truly a great addition to the YA contemporary genre!

In all, if you're looking for an honest and unique look at the life of a biracial teen, or just a good story, If I Tell by Janet Gurtler is the book for you!

Grade: B+

If I Tell (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads) is now out!

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Waiting on Wednesday (122)

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

Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf

Allie lost everything the night her boyfriend, Trip, died in a horrible car accident—including her memory of the event. As their small town mourns his death, Allie is afraid to remember because doing so means delving into what she’s kept hidden for so long: the horrible reality of their abusive relationship.

When the police reopen the investigation, it casts suspicion on Allie and her best friend, Blake, especially as their budding romance raises eyebrows around town. Allie knows she must tell the truth. Can she reach deep enough to remember that night so she can finally break free? Debut writer Jennifer Shaw Wolf takes readers on an emotional ride through the murky waters of love, shame, and, ultimately, forgiveness.

This one sound absolutely amazing! The premise sounds unique and fresh, and the characters, especially Allie, seem like they will be interesting to learn more about. Plus, I have to say I really love the cover. It's simple yet eye catching! 

Breaking Beautiful will be released April 24, 2012! 

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein  

Oct. 11th, 1943—A British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France. Its pilot and passenger are best friends. One of the girls has a chance at survival. The other has lost the game before it's barely begun.

When “Verity” is arrested by the Gestapo, she's sure she doesn’t stand a chance. As a secret agent captured in enemy territory, she’s living a spy’s worst nightmare. Her Nazi interrogators give her a simple choice: reveal her mission or face a grisly execution.

As she intricately weaves her confession, Verity uncovers her past, how she became friends with the pilot Maddie, and why she left Maddie in the wrecked fuselage of their plane. On each new scrap of paper, Verity battles for her life, confronting her views on courage and failure and her desperate hope to make it home. But will trading her secrets be enough to save her from the enemy?

Harrowing and beautifully written, Elizabeth Wein creates a visceral read of danger, resolve, and survival that shows just how far true friends will go to save each other. Code Name Verity is an outstanding novel that will stick with you long after the last page.

I always love historical YA, and this one sounds like it will be no different! I can't wait to find out Verity's story as well as Maddie's and how everything fell apart!

Code Name Verity will be released May 15, 2012!

What books are you looking forward to this Wednesday?!

Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings

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

Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings 

1) The Implosion of Aggie Winchester by Lara Zielin- I loved Laura's debut novel, Donut Days, and I've been really wanting to give this one a try! It sounds pretty awesome. Plus who doesn't like a good YA contemporary?!

2) A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young- I've heard nothing but amazing things about this one. It's also about something I don't read too much about in YA: angels! 

3) Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake- This one is apparently really creepy as well as really, really good! And since I tend to look for books with both of this characteristics, this one sounds like a good book for me! 

4) As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott- I'm a HUGE Elizabeth Scott fangirl! I've read everyone of her book published (besides this one of course!) so there's no doubt in mind that I won't read this one...I just need to get my hands on a copy! :D 

5) Struck: Stupid Cupid; Flirting with Disaster; Pucker Up by Rhonda Stapleton: I read the first one in this series (Stupid Cupid) back when it was released in '09, and since then I've been meaning to get around to reading the other ones. So since this one is now available in bind up, I think it's the perfect time to get to doing this! 

6) The Survival Kit by Donna Freitas: I've heard numerous good things about this one as well. Plus it just sound superb! 

7) Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley: This book doesn't sound like my usual type of read, but the number of praise this one has gotten is INCREDIBLE! So I'm thinking I have to try to this one. 

8) Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore: I've heard this one has sexy cowboys, and seriously how can it get better than that?! ;) But seriously, this book looks great! The prefect Gothic mystery read! 

9) Huntress by Malinda Lo- I adored Malinda's first novel, Ash, so there's no doubt in my mind that I would love to read the prequel. :)

10) The Eternal Sea by Angie Frazier- I loved the first one in this series (Everlasting) but this one hasn't been on my radar too much even though I'm dying to read it!

In all, those are the Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings me this Sunday! What about you? What books are you looking forward to this holiday season?! Feel free to let me know in the comments, or link to your Top Ten Tuesday post! I'd love to see it!

Giveaway: Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala

I ended up with an extra copy of Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala (coming January 3, 2012!) this past week so I've decided to give away my ARC copy! And let me tell you, this is one book you don't want to miss! If you love contemporary, this is the book for you! If you love gritty stories, this is the book for you! Basically, if you just adore a great story overall, this is without a doubt a book you have got to read!

Here's some info about the book:

Joy Delamere is suffocating...

From asthma, which has nearly claimed her life. From her parents, who will do anything to keep that from happening. From delectably dangerous Asher, who is smothering her from the inside out.

Joy can take his words—tender words, cruel words—until the night they go too far.

Now, Joy will leave everything behind to find the one who has offered his help, a homeless boy called Creed. She will become someone else. She will learn to survive. She will breathe…if only she can get to Creed before it’s too late.

Set against the gritty backdrop of Seattle’s streets and a cast of characters with secrets of their own, Holly Cupala’s powerful new novel explores the subtleties of abuse, the meaning of love, and how far a girl will go to discover her own strength.

Some amazing YA authors have also chimed in about it's excellence!

“Nothing has hit me so hard since Laurie Halse Anderson’s SPEAK. Holly Cupala’s beautifully drawn characters are strong and fragile, vulnerable and raw, and best of all, they are real.”
—Stephanie Kuehnert, author of I WANNA BE YOUR JOEY RAMONE and BALLADS OF SUBURBIA

“A gorgeously written, intense page-turner. This is a beautiful book.”
—Courtney Summers, author of CRACKED UP TO BE, FALL FOR ANYTHING, and SOME GIRLS ARE

Official Giveaway Rules:

~ Must be 13 years or older to enter
~ Must have a US mailing address (sorry guys, I don't have the money for international shipping right now!)
~ This giveaway will end Monday, December 26, 2011!

To enter use the Rafflecopter form below! Please note that this widget may not show up in Google Reader or other blog reading devices.

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In My Mailbox (151)

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

For Review:

Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala (unsolicited)- Already read and loved this one! Plus since this is my second copy of this one (I have an ARC), look out for a giveaway soon!

Peace Meals: Candy-Wrapped Kalashnikovs and Other War Stories by Anna Badkhen- Not my usual type of book but it looked too interesting to pass up! 

She's With the Band by Georgia Clark- This is by an Australian author! How cool is that?! Can't wait to read it! 

The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe- I loved Megan's first book so I can't wait to get started on this one!  

From Netgalley:

Slide by Jill Hathaway- I've been really, really looking forward to this one!

Much thanks goes to HarperTeen, Netgalley, Simon and Schuster, Allen and Unwin, and Big Honcho Medio/Hyperion!

Have a great week everyone! :)

Review: Ruthless (Pretty Little Liars, #10) by Sara Shepard

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

For years scandal has rocked Rosewood, Pennsylvania—and high school seniors Aria, Emily, Hanna, and Spencer have always been at the center of the drama. They’ve lost friends, been targeted by a ruthless stalker named A, and narrowly escaped death. And it’s not over yet.

Aria’s love life is on the fritz. Emily’s exploring her wild side. Hanna’s kissing the enemy. And someone from Spencer’s past—someone she never thought she’d see again—is back to haunt her.

But none of that compares to what happened last spring break. It’s their darkest secret yet and guess who found out? Now A is determined to make them pay for their crime, and the only thing scarier than A is the fear that maybe, just maybe, they deserve what’s coming to them.

Review:

It's no secret around here that I adore the Pretty Little Liars series. Yes, the books are not especially life changing or amazingly well developed, but I love them nonetheless, and there's little (if anything) that can change that. Therefore, when Ruthless showed up on my doorstep the eve of its release, I dove right in, because I was dying to know what was up next for my four favorite Pretty Little Liars! As it turns out, it was just as scandalous and juicy as the previous ones, especially given the cameos and surprises that were often thrown in.

With Ruthless, the tenth Pretty Little Liars book, readers are thrown back into the world of Rosewood, where secrets grow with every word spoken. Aria, Spencer, Emily, and Hanna are still dealing with the things that haunted them in the previous book: the Tabitha problem and the new, deadly A. However, little’s going to get them down given how well things have been going lately. Aria’s old love is back and better than ever. Spencer is the lead in the play and may have even caught the eye of another over achiever. Emily’s also found love in a new place thanks to her oldest sister’s crazy new ways. Lastly, Hannah’s gone back to being daddy’s favorite and met a new guy who makes her heart flutter in ways it has never done before. However, as with most things in Rosewood, not everything is as it seems, especially when A is involved. What way is she going to torment them and their lives next? Better yet, what’s up with Tabitha and new A? Well, only time and more pages can tell in this heart racing new addition!

One of my favorite parts of this series has been seeing the point of views of the four girls, and it was just the same in Ruthless. I loved watching the girls get involved in new trouble, because not only did it provide for a suspenseful read, but it also provided some amazing cameos, especially when it came to Aria’s storyline. The only problem I had with the characters in this one was the little character development that occurred, but there’s still the chance of it being helped in future books.

Moving on, I loved the plot in this one! It was so SCANDLOUS! There was always a new twist or turn with every chapter. In addition, for once every girl got a chance at love in this one, which proved not only some sweet moments but also some big secrets. The ending was also shocking, and given that cliffhanger ending, I can’t wait to see what’s up next!

Full of suspense, romance, and lots of secrets, Ruthless is yet another fun addition to the Pretty Little Liars series, one that I’m sure diehard fans of PLL were eagerly eat right up, even if it means waiting for the next one that's sure to leave them with even more questions than answers.

Grade: A- 

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

Source: Publisher 

Waiting on Wednesday (121)

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

Dead Time by Anne Cassidy 

Rose and Joshua first met when Joshua and his dad came to live with Rose and her mum. Then Rose and Josh's world turns upside down when their mother and father go out for dinner one evening and never return. With police inquiries going nowhere, Rose is dispatched to live with her chilly, unfriendly grandmother and Joshua is sent to live with his uncle. Then Joshua comes to London to study and Rose is witness to not one, but two murders. Why is this happening to Rose? Can it be anything to do with the investigations Joshua has been doing into the disappearance of their parents? A taut and pacy thriller that is the start of a stylish new series from an acclaimed writer for teens.

I also love mysteries so this one sounds like just my kind of book! The premise just sounds fabulous, and I can't wait to see what kind of trouble Rose and Joshua get into. I also really like the cover.

Dead Time will be released on May 22, 2012!

The Thing About the Truth by Lauren Barnholdt 

Sixteen-year-old Kelsey Romano has always been one of the most popular girls at Concordia Prep. But after a disastrous breakup and her subsequent meltdown (um, destruction of school property, anyone?) she's kicked out of Con Prep and shipped off to Concordia High School, for good.

Seventeen-year-old Isaac Brandano has been kicked out of more prep schools than he can name. But now that his father's State Senate campaign is pushing a public school agenda, Isaac finds himself enrolled at Concordia High.

Kelsey and Isaac are destined to hate each other. And at first, they do. But when they are forced together on the creation of a new school club, sparks begin to fly. Then the club's critical event turns into chaos. Now Kelsey and Isaac must retrace their steps and figure out how and why everything got so got screwed up, who was to blame, and how they can move forward.

This new novel from fan-favorite Lauren Barnholdt showcases--through a sweet and sparkly narrative--how the last person you expect might just be the one who changes your life forever.

How I ever mentioned before how much I love Lauren's books? Because I do! This one sounds like it will be no different to tell the truth. I can't wait to see the sparks that fly between Isaac and Kelsey! :)

The Thing About the Truth will be released on July 10, 2012! 

Review: And by the Way by Denise Deegan

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

At Strandbrook College, we are Kids Of. Kids of diplomats, media stars, musicians, artists, actors, oh, and wealthy people who aspire to all of that. I'm the kid of a rock star. Means nothing to me.

When Mum died, six months ago, I didn't just lose her, I lost my dad - to work. The only thing he does now is annoy me. He hires people like 'The Stylist' who wears bullets in her belt and makes him look like a hobo. Seriously.

But 'The Rockstar' isn't the only person who drives me mad. There's David McFadden, a guy in my class who could have helped but didn't. Now, it's too late. I don't want his help. Because I'm not going to trust anyone, love anyone, rely on anyone. That way I'll never be hurt again.

If only I could solve the problem of Rachel, my best friend, who won't let me pull back just like that. Even David McFadden won't stay out of my face. But I'm not going to fall for his blue eyes, his windswept hair or the plaited leather on his wrist.

And when he says he wants to help, I'm sure as hell not going to listen....

Review:

When I was first offered the chance to read and review And By The Way, I knew nothing about the book whatsoever. However, after reading the summary as well as a few rave reviews, I knew I had to give it a chance, no matter what, and as it turns out I’m glad I felt that way, because And By The Way is an amazing, heartfelt book that’s perfect for fans of YA contemporary!

And By The Way tells the story of Alex, a girl who has felt nothing but lost ever since she lost her mother six months ago. It doesn’t help that her Dad’s never home or how he seems to never care. Due to these two things, though, Alex does know one thing, and that’s that she shouldn’t get close to people anymore, because who knows if they’ll be the next to go, or even worse, disappoint her in some way. However, everything changes when David McFadden suddenly catapults himself into her life. He’s frustrating and annoying yet gorgeous and completely captivating. Whenever Alex’s around him, she can’t help but feel more alive than she has in months, and the more she hangs out with him, the more she begins to fall head over heels for him. What happens, though, when their relationship begins to lose the glimmer it once held? Will Alex once again retreat into her shell, away from her family and friends, or will she grow stronger? Only time and more pages call tell in this heartwarming yet heartbreaking story of first love, friendship, and moving on.

When Alex’s character was first introduced, I felt mixed feelings toward her. It was easy to see and understand the pain and hurt she felt over her mother’s death, but it wasn’t always easy to see how she could be so mean to the people who cared most to her, especially her best friends, Rachel and Sarah, as well as David. However, as the novel progressed and Alex began to let go of her past mistakes and live again, I began to see how important that character trait of hers way, because not only did it allow her to bloom into someone amazing, but it also made her as well as her relationships stronger over time.

This leads me to one of my favorite parts of the book: seeing the relationships Alex held with others. All of the relationships in this one were flavored with complicity (to keep things interesting!) as well as heart and hope. I especially loved seeing Alex’s relationship with David grow. Not only because David was swoon worthy, but also because it was always interesting as well as fun to see how both of them, especially Alex, grew because of it all. At first, they were two emotionally messed up people, but by the end, they weren’t so much that way. Moving on, I also enjoyed the focus on the relationship between parents and their kids in this one. It played a major part in the story, especially Alex’s one with her dad, and it made the book even more emotionally charged to say the least.

The overall plot in this one was great! For a contemporary, it managed to surprise me in some surprising ways. Even in the end, I wasn’t sure how everything was exactly going to end, especially when everything took that sudden yet thrilling turn at the end. Denise Deegan sure knows how to pack in suspense to say the least!

Deegan’s writing was also fabulous! She truly captured Alex’s voice to the point where I felt like I was reading a real teen’s diary at times. She also fully developed the supporting characters to the best of her ability and even further at times, and even though the story did drag at times, I was quite impressed overall with her storytelling ability.

Thrilling, unique, and nearly flawless, And by the Way is a surprising new contemporary read that will have readers with one last demand at its finale: Where’s the next one?

Highly recommended.

Grade: A- 

And By The Way (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Goodreads) is now out!

Source: Publicist at Hachette Ireland  

Review: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Since she’d been on the outside, she’d survived an Aether storm, she’d had a knife held to her throat, and she’d seen men murdered. This was worse.

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland—known as The Death Shop—are slim. If the cannibals don’t get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She’s been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He’s wild—a savage—and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile—everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria’s help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

In her enthralling debut, Veronica Rossi sends readers on an unforgettable adventure set in a world brimming with harshness and beauty.

Review:

Veronica Rossi’s Under the Never Sky is one of the most highly anticipated as well as most buzzed about books of the new year, and because of that and its interesting premise, I had very, very high hopes for it. Thankfully, my hopes were well meet, as Under the Never Sky is one true gem in the sea of YA books.

Under the Never Sky introduces two main characters, Aria and Perry, in alternating third-person POVs. Aria and Perry are two very different people due to their upbringings. Aria is timid, whiny, and a bit unsure of what lies in front of her while Perry is someone who is unruly, brave, and not afraid to go after what he wants, even when it means risking his own life in the process. So to say they are two virtually opposite people would be a serious understatement. However, it made for a nearly perfect book character wise, as not only was it interesting to see both sides to this new world (the “Savages” vs. the “Dwellers”) but also it was always fun watching Perry and Aria learn to work together and even begin to become different but better people due to their somewhat shaky friendship.

Under the Never Sky also managed to introduce a set of well-developed and loveable set of secondary characters, such as Roar, Perry’s fierce yet loyal friend, Talon, Perry’s sweet and charming nephew, and Marron, the funny ruler of a fellow tribe. All of them managed to make the book even better and even bring in a funny scene or two.

Under the Never Sky is one of those books that take a while to build, but once it gets there, it’s easy to see it was well worth the wait. For example, in the beginning, I was kind of bored. I liked what I was seeing character and world development wise but plot and action wise the book was seriously lacking. However, from the middle all the way to the very last page, everything just came perfectly together. The action began, life and death consequences came into play, and a somewhat “forbidden” yet swoon worthy romance came slowly out of the woodwork. I was hooked and I couldn’t get enough. I loved finding out more about the “dweller” and “savage” worlds as well as the troubles that plagued and haunted each, and I loved seeing how far these characters would go for one another to save the day. Moreover, this book has its fair amount of twists and turns, especially towards the end where my mouth was literally hanging open in shock 99% of the time.

Lastly, I have to say Veronica Rossi shows lots of talent with this book. She did a fabulous job building up the plot and characters, and I have to give her props especially for making Perry and Aria jump of the page and come to life even with the third person POVs.

Startling as well as spectacular, Under the Never Sky took by breath away in more ways than one. So my suggestion for you? Give this book a chance. It takes a while to build up, but by the end, you’ll see it was well worth the wait! As for me, I'll be eagerly awaiting the sequel, because it's sure to be one book not to miss.

Grade: A-

Under the Never Sky (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads) will be released January 3, 2012!

Source: Publisher via Netgalley 

In My Mailbox (148, 149, & 150!)

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

From Paper Lantern Lit:

~ A "Revenge is Sweet" Shirt (Inspired by Fury by Elizabeth Miles!) 

~ An ARC of The Butterfly Clues by Kate Ellison- This one looks really good! 

For Review:

~ Inseparable by Dora Heldt (unsolicited)- Not sure about this one...
~ Bittersweet (formally titled The Language of Impossible Dreams) by Sarah Ockler (unsolicited)- It's so weird...just the other week I tweeted that I wish it was January already so I could get my hands on a copy of this, and the next week it appears in my mailbox unexpectedly?! Now that's what I call fate. :)
~ The Last Romanov by Dora Levy Mossanen (unsolicited)- I always love a good historical fiction read so I think I may just give this one a try!
~ Ruthless by Sara Shepard (unsolicited)- Already quickly devoured this one, and while it wasn't by absolute favorite of the series, it was still pretty darn amazing! Can't wait for the next one!

From Netgalley: 

  

Supergirl Mixtape by Meagan Brothers-Looks interesting!
The Night She Disappeared by April Henry- Ooh, a YA mystery?! Can't wait!

 

Life is But a Dream by Brian James-So excited about this one!
New Girl by Paige Harbison- Looks great!

My Favorite Mistake (An A Circuit Novel)- The first one in this series was fun so I'm looking forward to seeing what's up next for the characters!

Much thanks goes to Macmillan, Negalley, Harlequin Teen, Bloomsbury, Paper Lantern Lit, Sourcebooks, and Harper Collins!

Review: Fracture by Megan Miranda

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

In a striking debut, readers will be spellbound by this unforgettable story of life and death . . . and beyond

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine
-despite the scans that showed significant brain damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?

Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?

For fans of best-sellers like Before I Fall and If I Stay, this is a fascinating and heart-rending story about love and friendship and the fine line between life and death.

Review:  

Prior to reading Fracture by Megan Miranda, I had heard many mixed things about it. Some people loved. Some people hated it. Some people fell somewhere in between the two. However, I tried it nonetheless, because not only did it look good but also it was being compared to two of my favorite books ever, Before I Fall and If I Stay. How did I end up liking it? Well, I felt Megan Miranda introduced an interesting and complex premise, one I truly enjoyed reading about, but it also had a few slight problems that knocked it down a notch or two on my scale.

Fracture introduces the character of Delaney just as she's about to cross the seemingly frozen lake to play a game of manhunt, one that's surly not to go well as she's the only red thing in a sea of white. However, her plans suddenly come to a halting stop when the lake suddenly cracks below her and she falls straight into the icy, frigid waters. She stays there for eleven minutes...her brain goes dead...her heart stops beating...she's need in every way. But she comes back to life. She gets a miracle. Not everything is as it seems, though, because now she can tell when someone is about to die. She's pulled towards them, but she doesn't know whether she should help or let them go? Which is better? With the aid of Troy Varga, a new boy in town, she may just find out, but will the consequences leave her to wish she were dead rather than alive? Only time and more pages can tell in this heart racing mystery in the coldest of Maine winters!

With the premise of Fracture, come some interesting ideas and plot lines. It was interesting to see how Delaney had changed as a person when she came back to life in not only the big ways (such as now being able to tell when people die) but also in the small ways (not really feeling alive or the same in her skin). It provided a somewhat Catch-22 as Delaney herself said in the book, and I certainly enjoyed reading about it, especially when things took somewhat drastic turns suddenly. Troy was an interesting addition to the story, and while I enjoyed the insight he brought to the story, I felt he was more a plot device than a character in some ways, which brought down Fracture a bit in my eyes. Moreover, while the basis of what he did was clear, some things remained a big mystery even in the end, which somewhat annoyed me a times to say the least. However, I did enjoy some of the other aspects of this novel, such as the romance that begins to brew between Delaney and her best friend, even if I would've loved some more development to it at times.

Moving on, the characters in this one were certainly interesting but I would have enjoyed some more development to some of them. Megan did a great job with Delaney, though, as not only did I truly feel her emotions escape the page and come to life, but I also felt she made Delaney's journey realistic and interesting given the circumstances. I also enjoyed the addition of Decker as well as the extra plot lines and drama he brought with his character throughout the novel as mentioned above. Lastly, I really liked Janna's character as well.

Megan Miranda's writing was decent overall. I really felt she did a great job of creating Delaney's characters as well as the plot lines and premise. However, I sometimes felt like some things need better explaining and closure, especially towards the end where everything moved at a rapid speed.

In all, Fracture is a decent debut, one that I'm sure fans of thrillers and supernatural books will enjoy. It wasn't always my cup of tea, but I did enjoy it, and I look forward to seeing what Megan comes up with next.

Grade: B

Fracture (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads) will be released January 17, 2011.

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Review: Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Every other day, Kali D'Angelo is a normal sixteen-year-old girl. She goes to public high school. She attends pep rallies. She's human.

And then every day in between . . .She's something else entirely.

Though she still looks like herself, every twenty-four hours predatory instincts take over and Kali becomes a feared demon-hunter with the undeniable urge to hunt, trap, and kill zombies, hellhounds, and other supernatural creatures. Kali has no idea why she is the way she is, but she gives in to instinct anyway. Even though the government considers it environmental terrorism.

When Kali notices a mark on the lower back of a popular girl at school, she knows instantly that the girl is marked for death by one of these creatures. Kali has twenty-four hours to save her and, unfortunately, she'll have to do it as a human. With the help of a few new friends, Kali takes a risk that her human body might not survive. . .and learns the secrets of her mysterious condition in the process.

Review:

Prior to reading Every Other Day, I had read only one other book by Jennifer Lynn Barnes entitled Raised by Wolves, which I adored. So to say, I had high hopes for this one would be a serious understatement. Surprisingly enough, however, Every Other Day blew Raised by Wolves right out of the way, because not only was it fantastically written but also it was original and filled with enough suspense and thrill to keep nearly any reader hooked.

Every Other Day has many good things going for it, and two of those things were the plot and premise. All the mystery behind the fact that Kali was a normal girl one day and a supernatural being the next day constantly kept me hooked. Throughout the book, I needed to know why this was. Thankfully, Jennifer Lynn Barnes new how to dole out all the details and secrets perfectly, because not only did it all keep me glued to the book, but it also had me trying to figure things out on my own. Another thing I adored about this one was how Jennifer Lynn Barnes took average supernatural creatures, ones who overrun YA today, and made them completely and uniquely her own. For most of the book, I didn't even realize what Kali, the main character was, which is what I call a well-plotted twist! Moreover, I really enjoyed the fact that Every Other Day had little to no romance, because while I'm as big of fan of romance as the next person, sometimes it's just fun to have a book focus on suspense as well as building the plot and characters up.

Talking about characters, I really enjoyed Kali's character. Kali was someone who immediately grabbed hold of me with her narrative, because of the way she calmly told about events that were so not average. What I liked most about her character, though, was seeing how she began to bloom as a person throughout. At first, Kali was a bit mousy and down on herself and life, but as the book progressed and she began to form her own little "team", she truly came to life as someone who was strong and courageous...even a bit sneaky! I also really enjoyed some of the secondary characters in this one such as Kali's "team" of friends who ended up fully being their own people. In addition, the "bad guys" in this one perfect!

Last but not least, I felt Jennifer Lynn Barnes writing in this was fabulous! As mentioned above, she truly presented a unique and thrilling story within book. Best of all, while this book could definitely have a sequel, it also perfectly stands its own!

Thrilling and suspenseful, Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is one of my favorite books of the year, no doubt about it! I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

Grade: A+ 

Every Other Day (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Goodreads) will be released December 27, 2011.

Source: Publisher via Netgalley-thanks Egmont!

Review: Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Summary/Cover Image from Author's Website:

What girl doesn’t want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn’t just surrounded by hot guys, though—she leads them as the captain and quarterback on her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that’s just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there’s a new guy in town who threatens her starring position on the team…and has her suddenly wishing to be seen as more than just a teammate.

Review:

Catching Jordan has been on my wishlist for what seems like years now, but in reality, it's probably been barley a year since I first heard about it. Regardless of that, from the moment I first heard about this book, I had a strong feeling I would enjoy it, even though I wasn't a fan of football. As it turns out, my prediction was straight on!

There are so many things that I ADORED about this book. The characters, the writing, the romance, even the football in some ways...

However, I have to say the thing that made Catching Jordan superb in my eyes was, without a doubt, the characters! Funny, diverse, and just all around interesting people, I loved nearly every one of them, even the ones that weren't always the nicest. My favorite, though, would have to be Jordan, the main character! Now if that girl didn't totally show girl power to the fullest, I don't know who does. Jordan was strong and funny, but don't let that make you think she's perfect because she's wasn't. She sometimes thought the best in people in who don't deserve; she sometimes got a little too over her head with certain things. However, all of these "flaws" are what made her 100% likable, in my opinion, because it showed that she was realistic rather than perfect. Another favorite character of mine would have to be Sam Henry! Oh, how that boy made my heart swoon! :) Seriously, though, Henry has to be one of the sweetest boys I've come across in a YA book, and while he sometimes ended up on a different path than he should have been on (as did Jordan), he still ended up getting right back on the correct one in the end. I also adored the wide variety of other characters Miranda introduced in this one. From Jordan's family to her teammates to the cheerleaders everyone was fully developed to say the least!

I have to admit that after reading the summary for this one I thought I had the whole book figured out. However, that wasn't the case at all. Instead, I was constantly surprised with how everything turned out from who Jordan ended up with to who was actually the "good guy" in the end, I don't think there was an exact area where my predication was dead on, which made me love Catching Jordan all the more! One of the plot areas I loved the most was Jordan's football career. Reminiscent of the Dairy Queen trilogy, it was always interesting to see how female football players are perceived in the sport to how much or little opportunity they receive I also really enjoyed the romance part of this one as well, because not only did it allow Jordan to grow and bloom as a character, but it also created lots of tension as well as twists and turns, all of which are things I live for in books! I really enjoyed the character of Ty, especially given all the things that came out of the woodwork with his arrival.

Lastly, I adored Miranda Kenneally's writing in this one! She made the characters in this one jump of the page and come to life completely, and oh my gosh, the ending she dealt was perfect! It was everything I had hoped and wanted it to be, and I wasn't even that mad she kept me on my toes for a little while there....

In all, Catching Jordan is a one of a kind read! Perfect for fans of Simone Elkels and Jennifer Echols, Catching Jordan is sure to amass a whole team of fans for Miranda Kenneally, ones who will eagerly be awaiting her newest book.

Grade: A+

Catching Jordan (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Goodreads) is now out! You can read an excerpt here.

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Shattered Souls Blog Tour: A Guest Post by Mary Lindsey!

The Origin of Nicaragua Smith from Shattered Souls

“He died as he had lived, with unmentionable wickedness on his lips—a sad spectacle of depravity, unwept and unregretted by all!” Thomas North on Nicaragua Smith from Five Years in Texas, 1871.

When I heard that Galveston Texas had a real ghost, and he wasn’t a nice guy, I knew I had my antagonist for Shattered Souls.

Supposedly, there is a ghost hanging out in Old City Cemetery in Galveston who howls, screams, and curses his executioners on the night of January 8 every year.

Research revealed little more than what the locals told me.

It is thought his name was Thomas Smith and that he was born in New York, but nobody knows for sure. He got his nickname, “Nicaragua” after he went on an expedition headed by William Walker, in 1856.

Nicaragua jumped ship in Galveston and after a string of burglaries, was arrested and then put on a steamer to Houston, told to never return.

But he did. He came back after joining a Confederate artillery battery and was stationed in Galveston. He wasn’t the type to join the military and it’s unclear why he did; perhaps because he had no other means of survival.

Unhappy with military life, he stole a boat and surrendered to a union vessel in the harbor.

Through a series of events I won’t bore you with, but you can read about here and here, Nicaragua Smith ended up back in Galveston, was arrested, tried and found guilty of treason.

He was executed in Old City Cemetery in Galveston Texas at daylight on January, 8, 1863 by a firing squad.

Rumor has it, Smith rode in a wagon with his coffin to the cemetery. Then, tapped his foot on his coffin in time to the “execution music.” When given a chance to say some last words, he cursed his executioners and demanded to be buried face down, facing Hell, swearing vengeance from the grave.

My perfect villain.

I’ve been to Old City Cemetery on January 8^th, but did not hear Nicaragua Smith screaming from the grave, though local residents swear he can be heard over the sea wind if you listen hard enough.

Thanks, Lauren, for having me on your blog today. 

No thank you, Mary for providing such a great guest post!

You can find out more about Mary and Shattered Souls as well as her future projects here. Shattered Souls is now available for preorder through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Penguin. You can also add it to your Goodreads here.

Review: Vanish by Sophie Jordan

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?

In bestselling author Sophie Jordan’s dramatic follow-up to Firelight, forbidden love burns brighter than ever.

Review: 

Ever since reading Firelight, the prequel to Vanish, I've been dying to know what would happen next to Will, Jacinda, and Cassian. Would Will and Jacinda have the chance to be together again? Or would Jacinda fall for Cassian? Or something even more crazy? I also couldn't wait to see what happen to Jacinda and her family once they returned to their pride. Vanish ended up being a fun and quick read. However, I have to admit that I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as Firelight for a few reasons.

One of my favorite parts about Firelight was Jacinda. She was strong and dauntless, someone who would go to the end of the world to stand up for what she believed in. However, in this addition this trait of hers seemed to be missing. She ended up complaining and whining about what she didn't have instead of going after what she wanted, and don't even get me started about the love triangle that kept popping out throughout the book. I wanted the old Jacinda back. The Jacinda who was courageous and sneaky. While she started to regress back to her old ways toward the end, it still left me with a somewhat sour feeling towards the book. 

I will say I enjoyed the overall plot, though. It was suspenseful and filled with lots of twists and turns, some of which I didn't even see coming! I also enjoyed seeing how Tamra became a bigger part of the overall story throughout as well as how the pride reacted to the many revelations that came with Jacinda and her family's arrival home. There was one part I didn't enjoy about the plot, though, as I hinted to above and that was the love triangle sadly enough. When it comes to love triangles, I'm usually neutral: if it works well I'm all for, but if it doesn't work well I'm not for it. Sadly, Varnish’s ended up heading toward the later of the two more than once. I like both Cassian and Will...I really do...However, what I don't like is how Jacinda treats the both of them when it’s obvious who she is going to pick in the end. They just don't deserve it to say the least. Hopefully, the third book will bring a better resolution to this plot point, or I will surely be driven to madness...

Lastly, I really enjoyed Sophie's writing, even though I wasn't always too found about certain characters and plot points. I thought she did a great job of making Vanish a decent sequel, one that managed to move the story along and still leave readers with several questions.

All in all, Vanish is a decent sequel overall, and while I didn't always enjoy it to max, I'm still looking forward to seeing what's next for the characters in Hidden, the third in the series.

Grade: B 

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

Source: (1st copy) ARC provided by publisher via Publicity Firm (2nd copy) eARC provided by Netgalley via HarperTeen