New Books to read after Thoughtless, Fifty Shades of Grey and Beautiful Disaster

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Okay, so I'll admit it. I've jumped on the Erotica bandwagon. After I read Beautiful Disaster and Thoughtless I was hooked. Seriously hooked. I know a lot of people are with me on this. Here we go with some I've gotten my hands on lately that I HIGHLY recommend!

Devoured by Emily Snow



Avoiding Commitment by K.A. Linde



The Proposition by Katie Ashley


Taken by Kelli Maine



Rock the Heart by Michelle A. Valentine


 If you guys find any more books like this one let me know so I can gobble them right up! LOL
Happy reading and don't forget to add these books to your TBR list!

ROCK THE HEART by Michelle Valentine

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Rock the Heart
Kindle Edition
Published (first published November 1st 2012)


For the last four years, good girl Lane has regretted breaking up with Noel Falcon. She thought she was sensible when she told him his dreams of being a rock star would get him nowhere, but now that he's a rock god and her career is stagnant, she realizes just how wrong she was. When Noel hires the marketing company where Lane is an intern, she’s forced to see him again. If she wants to land her dream job as executive within the company, she has to win him over and secure his account. Too bad Noel is still pissed at her for breaking his heart.

When Lane’s company flies her to a Black Falcon concert to gain Noel’s attention, emotions run high the moment she sees him and realizes she’s far from over him. But Noel’s countless trysts with groupies and his cocky attitude make Lane believe he isn’t the same guy she once loved—now he seems to only want her body. Then after Lane discloses she needs him to procure a job, Noel proves he’s a changed man by forcing her to go on the road with him in order to get it.

After Lane reluctantly takes Noel up on his offer, she becomes willing to do whatever it takes to keep him satisfied, even if it means succumbing to his seductive ways. Lane soon finds deception is a dangerous game and she’s not the only one playing.




Go add this one to your Goodreads account!

Devoured by Emily Snow

DEVOURED by Emily Snow

I CANNOT wait to get my hands on this book!! This cover is to DIE for! Come on OCTOBER 9TH!!!!






Sienna Jensen had no plans to return home when she graduated college last spring—after all, her dreams lie in California. But when she discovers her grandmother’s posh Nashville home has been foreclosed, and the new owner has started the eviction process, Sienna has no other choice but go back to Music City. And she comes face to face with the flawed, gorgeous man she never thought she’d see again. The man who now holds the deed to her grandma’s estate.

When millionaire rock star Lucas Wolfe finds the outspoken redhead glaring at him from across a courtroom, he’s both infuriated and intrigued. He still can't get the night Sienna almost spent with him out of his mind, and the chemistry between them is as undeniable as it was two years ago. He craves Sienna more than ever. And just like everything Lucas hungers for, he’s determined to have her.

Now, Lucas will do whatever it takes to lure Sienna into his bed, even if that means making a deal with her: ten days with him, playing by his rules, and he’ll hand over the deed to her grandmother’s home. Though she agrees to the arrangement, Sienna is conflicted. Because of her duty to her family. Because of promises she’s made to herself and a past that still haunts her. And as Lucas’s game of seduction continues, and Sienna is introduced to his dark, erotic world and even darker background, she realizes that at any moment, she could be devoured.

*This novel contains adult situations and content
 

GOODREADS

Taken by Kelli Maine

Saturday, August 25, 2012


Taken (Give & Take #1)

by

Source: ARC Review
 
 



Plot:


ABDUCTION.
You steal me away to a deserted island, to the one place I’ve dreamed of being—the one place I can’t go.

SEDUCTION.
You’re used to buying whatever you want, but you can’t buy me...how do I resist the magnetism of your body, the longing ache deep inside me? I want you to take me—on my terms.

DESPERATION.
Every attempt you make to love me only hurts me. How can we go on like this?

This is the story of how I was TAKEN.


Rachael DeSalvo cares for those she loves with no regard for what she needs from them in return. When her father dies, her mother’s emotional dependency becomes overbearing. Unable to leave her distressed mother, Rachael turns down her dream job with Rocha Enterprises.

Billionaire real estate mogul, Merrick Rocha, knows what motivates people and what buttons to push to get what he wants. When the perfect project manager candidate turns down his job offer, it drives him mad. Three months of watching Rachael from afar has him more determined than ever to have her—for much, much more than an employee.

Merrick takes what he wants, but can he convince Rachael to give him what he needs?





My Thoughts:



I loved the story line of TAKEN. The idea of a misunderstood abduction screamed must read to me. While I admit, at first I was like who is this Merrick creep and why in the heck did he kidnap her, I grew to understand him—just like the main character, Rachel did. The idea of a lonely billionaire with a closet full of emotional baggage may fit the same profile as my beloved Christian Grey, but Merrick’s skeletons were different. They were not as twisted as Christian’s, but that doesn’t mean Merrick doesn’t have major flaws. The way Ms. Maine reveals his dark, dirty secrets made me understand a little about more about Merrick and the way he ticked. I felt more of a connection with him because his love and affection for Rachel wasn’t coming from such a dark and creepy place as Christian Grey.

 

I seen some of the other reviewers hated the 2nd person tense the story was written in. I understand how it may seem a little weird, but if YOU think about it, we speak in 2nd person all the time. So, that’s how I read it. I read it as if Rachel was speaking to me like I was Merrick and she was telling me her side of the story. I rather enjoyed it after a few pages. It made me feel closer and more involved in the story. To me it was a fresh way to present a cool concept in a book.

 

Overall, I loved this novel. It has all the makings of some of my other favorites in this genre (Thoughtless, Fifty Shades of Grey, Rock Me, Backstage Pass, and Beautiful Disaster…) of an epic love story. I just can’t get enough of these flawed bad boys. And Kelli Maine has created a new one for me to love. So, kudos Ms. Maine for an awesome novel!


Populazzi by Elise Allen Goes Paperback!

Monday, August 6, 2012

I loved this novel! So glad it's getting a paperback version! Check out my review here!

About POPULAZZI (In paperback August 7)
What would you do if you had the chance to erase your past and reinvent yourself as the person you’ve always wanted to be? Would you grab it? Would you stick with it, no matter what the consequences? Cara Leonard always wished she could be one of those girls: confident, self-possessed, and never at a loss for the perfect thing to say. One of the Populazzi.
It always seemed impossible… but now could be her chance. When Cara moves to a new school just before junior year, her best friend urges her to seize the opportunity and change her life… with the help of The Ladder. Its rungs are relationships, and if Cara transforms herself into the perfect girlfriend for guys higher and higher on the Popularity Tower, she can reach the ultimate goal: Supreme Populazzi, the most popular girl in school. The Ladder seems like a lighthearted social experiment — a straight climb up — but it quickly becomes gnarled and twisted. And when everything goes wrong, only the most audacious act Cara can think of has a chance of setting things even a little bit right.

About Elise Allen
POPULAZZI is Elise Allen’s first solo novel but she previously co-wrote the bestselling novel ELIXIR with author and actress Hilary Duff and is at work on the next book in the series with Hilary. She's written for several television shows from Cosby to Muppets to Dinosaur Train, which garnered her two Daytime Emmy Awards. Elise Allen has among the most random television-writing resumes ever, with credits that run the gamut from Cosby to Dinosaur Train. She recently fulfilled one of her many life’s ambitions by writing for the Muppets. Another ambition, anytime-access to Disneyland’s Club 33, is for the moment still a pipe dream. Elise has a sick penchant for running marathons, and can’t seem to stop even though fifteen really should be enough already. She lives in L.A. with her husband, daughter, and insatiable food-hound of a dog, Riley. For more, visit www.eliseallen.com or follow Elise on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EliseLAllen.

Praise for Elise Allen’s POPULAZZI

“Fresh, funny, and sometimes wrenching, POPULAZZI nails what it’s like to try to find yourself while navigating the crazy world of high school. I loved it." – Hilary Duff

"In her first solo novel, Allen offers a smart mix of hilarity and tragedy in this Macbeth–meets–Mean Girls tale.” - Publisher's Weekly

“Hilarious, psychologically chewy, downright Machiavellian, and heartfelt in all the most satisfying ways. Populazzi had me blazing through pages. Elise Allen rocks!” – Matthew Quick, author ofSorta Like a Rock Star and The Silver Linings Playbook

“Populazzi is a fresh, fun peek behind the popularity curtain. If you ever wanted to fit in, wondered how to climb the popularity ladder, or needed how to figure out which guy was the best for you- then you’ll love this book. Elise Allen is a welcome new voice in YA fiction and Populazzi is destined to climb the best seller lists.” – Eileen Cook, author of The Education of Hailey Kendrick

Hemlock (Hemlock #1) by Kathleen Peacock Review

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Hemlock (Hemlock #1)

by
Hardcover, 416 pages
Published May 8th 2012 by Katherine Tegen Books











Plot:


Mackenzie and Amy were best friends.

Since then, Mac's life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac's hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy's killer:

A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome--also known as the werewolf virus--is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy's murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy's boy-friend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Kathleen Peacock's thrilling novel is the first in the Hemlock trilogy, a spell-binding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love.


My Thoughts:


I have never read a werewolf story like this one. This plot has so many twists and turns and I enjoyed experiencing every single one of them. This novel reminded me why I love YA so much! The tastes of first love and crushes as well as betrayal are all present here. 

After rereading the above plot, I realize I can't say much without giving away a ton, but can I just say I am team JASON ALL THE WAY. You'll see what I mean when you read it. I know he's not the intended love interest, but he has that same quality that Jacob from Twilight has, you can't help but to notice and love him. Gah! There's just something about him that draws you in. 

When Mac gets to the bottom of Amy's murder it's like OMG I didn't see that one coming! Ms. Peacock did a great job throwing in a ton of suspicious people to draw my attention away from the real killer, but it wasn't like a blindside when I found out who. It was more like, why didn't I see that? The signs were right there!!  


Anyway, this is a must read! This is like Veronica Mars mixed with Buffy!!




Double Take Covers: Taken by Kelli Maine

I had the oppurtuinty to review this novel (review to post closer to release date) and I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVED it!! This novel is due out late summer! If you loved 50 Shades, Beautiful Disaster and Thoughtless, then you will devour this too! Add it to your reading list!

 


ABDUCTION.
You steal me away to a deserted island, to the one place I’ve dreamed of being—the one place I can’t go.

SEDUCTION.
You’re used to buying whatever you want, but you can’t buy me…how do I resist the magnetism of your body, the longing ache deep inside me? I want you to take me—on my terms.

DESPERATION.
Every attempt you make to love me only hurts me. How can we go on like this?

This is the story of how I was TAKEN.

Rachael DeSalvo cares for those she loves with no regard for what she needs from them in return. When her father dies, her mother’s emotional dependency becomes overbearing. Unable to leave her distressed mother, Rachael turns down her dream job with Rocha Enterprises.
Billionaire real estate mogul, Merrick Rocha, knows what motivates people and what buttons to push to get what he wants. When the perfect project manager candidate turns down his job offer, it drives him mad. Three months of watching Rachael from afar has him more determined than ever to have her—for much, much more than an employee.

Merrick takes what he wants, but can he convince Rachael to give him what he needs?

Slammed (Slammed #1) by Colleen Hoover REVIEW

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

 Which bestselling book features slam poetry, The Avett Brothers lyrics and the best characters in YA that I’ve read all year?

If you’ve been awake in 2012 at all, you’ll know the answer is SLAMMED by Colleen Hoover. http://www.amazon.com/Slammed-ebook/dp/B006RUJST6


Slammed (Slammed #1)

by
ebook, 314 pages
Published January 5th 2012 by Colleen Hoover



Plot:


Following the unexpected death of her father, 18-year-old Layken is forced to be the rock for both her mother and younger brother. Outwardly, she appears resilient and tenacious, but inwardly, she's losing hope.
Enter Will Cooper: The attractive, 21-year-old new neighbor with an intriguing passion for slam poetry and a unique sense of humor. Within days of their introduction, Will and Layken form an intense emotional connection, leaving Layken with a renewed sense of hope.
 
Not long after an intense, heart-stopping first date, they are slammed to the core when a shocking revelation forces their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together, and the secret that keeps them apart.
 

My Thoughts:


I emailed Colleen after I read SLAMMED to tell her that she had just surpassed John Green on my author idol list. She emailed back to tell me he was her idol too—and you can tell. If you’re a fan of John Green’s fully-realized characters, you’ll adore Colleen’s main characters, Layken and Will. But, you’ll also love the supporting characters just as much!

Colleen doesn’t write books, she creates people and populates worlds—alternate realities you’re certain you could find if you plugged Layken’s address into your Garmin. They’re out there, Layken and Will, living across the street from each other with their little brothers.

SLAMMED made me laugh and cry. It made me want to be a better writer, a better daughter, a better mother, a better sister, because you just don’t know how long you’ll have the ones you love. And just when I thought the roller coaster ride of emotions had ended, there was POINT OF RETREAT, the sequel.


"Layken and Will's relationship persevered through hardships, heartache and a cruel twist of fate, further solidifying the fact that they belong together.  What they don't expect is that the things that brought them together may ultimately be the very things that tear them apart.

 Layken is left questioning the very foundation on which their relationship was built. 

Will is left questioning how to prove his love for a girl who can't seem to stop "carving pumpkins."

Once they find answers, the couple faces an even greater challenge.  One that could change not only their lives, but the lives of everyone who depend on them."  

I had about 500 (butterflying*) heart attacks reading POINT OF RETREAT. Layken and Will’s relationship gets pushed to the brink and back. You know they’re strong enough to survive the turmoil and stay together, but does Layken know? Can she face the issues head-on and hand-in-hand with Will?

*if you’re not sure what butterflying means, go read POINT OF RETREAT, but only after you read SLAMMED and watch a few videos of The Avett Brothers on YouTube—start here:

http://youtu.be/qqZZlL0l5Uk

Trailer:

http://youtu.be/VLHwPX-p5cU

This is an author to put on your I’ll Read Everything She Writes list. She’s definitely on mine!


~~~Jamie~~~

Winner of The Immortal Rules

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Congrats Jenn B on winning The Immortal Rules!!! ENJOY!!


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

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

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

Author:


Hardcover, 485 pages
Published April 24th 2012 by Harlequin Teen
series
Source: ARC
 

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

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

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

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

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



My Thoughts: 


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

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

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

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


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

Check out the amazing book trailer for this novel:



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


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


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

Good luck!!


Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday Review

Friday, May 25, 2012

Title: Deadly Cool
Author: Gemma Halliday
Paperback, 303 pages
Published October 11th 2011 by HarperTeen 


Plot:

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

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


My Thoughts:

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


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


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


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

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

Tuesday, May 15, 2012


View the full version of this book online

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

Happy Hemlock Release Day!

Tuesday, May 8, 2012



Title: Hemlock
Author: Kathleen Peacock

Plot:


Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered.

Since then, Mac’s life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac’s hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy’s killer: A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy’s murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy’s boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Kathleen Peacock’s thrilling novel is the first in the Hemlock trilogy, a spellbinding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love.

Buy it on Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/Hemlock-Trilogy-Kathleen-Peacock/dp/0062048651/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336512685&sr=8-1

And all other book retailers today!!  

5 Must Read New Adult Novels with College Aged Characters

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

1. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire



The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn't drink or swear, and she has the appropriate percentage of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance between her and the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend America, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University's Walking One-Night Stand.
Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby needs-and-wants to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the most-eligible college co-ed. Intrigued by Abby's resistance to his charm, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis' apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has finally met his match.


2. Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens


For almost two years now, Kiera's boyfriend, Denny, has been everything she's ever wanted: loving, tender and endlessly devoted to her. When they head off to a new city to start their lives together, Denny at his dream job and Kiera at a top-notch university, everything seems perfect. Then an unforeseen obligation forces the happy couple apart.

Feeling lonely, confused, and in need of comfort, Kiera turns to an unexpected source – a local rock star named Kellan Kyle. At first, he's purely a friend that she can lean on, but as her loneliness grows, so does their relationship. And then one night everything changes...and none of them will ever be the same.

3. Fifty Shades of Gray




When literature student Anastasia Steele is drafted to interview the successful young entrepreneur Christian Grey for her campus magazine, she finds him attractive, enigmatic and intimidating. Convinced their meeting went badly, she tries to put Grey out of her mind - until he happens to turn up at the out-of-town hardware store where she works part-time.

The unworldly, innocent Ana is shocked to realize she wants this man, and when he warns her to keep her distance it only makes her more desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her - but on his own terms.

Shocked yet thrilled by Grey's singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success – his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving adoptive family – Grey is man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a passionate, physical and daring affair, Ana learns more about her own dark desires, as well as the Christian Grey hidden away from public scrutiny.

Can their relationship transcend physical passion? Will Ana find it in herself to submit to the self-indulgent Master? And if she does, will she still love what she finds?

Erotic, amusing, and deeply moving, the Fifty Shades Trilogy is a tale that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever.


4. Vicious Little Darlings by




Sarah Weaver wasn't looking forward to starting at an all-girls school. But that was before she met Maddy. Maddy and her best friend, Agnes, are fun and rich and interesting-and for some reason, they seem to really like Sarah. Before long, Maddy and Agnes have moved Sarah into a big house off campus, where they cook together, buy each other presents, and share each other's secrets. So why does Sarah feel like something's bizarrely wrong? As more and more cracks start to show in Maddy's and Agnes's perfect veneers, Sarah notices some strange and disturbing things: Maddy's compulsive lying, Agnes's obsession with Maddy, and the deterioration of their friendship. And just when Sarah begins to question her own sanity, things turns deadly.


5. The Ivy by




Congratulations! You have been admitted to the most prestigious university in the world. Now what are you going to do?
Callie Andrews may not have money or connections or the right clothes, and she may have way too many complications in her love life, what with

Gregory
the guy she loves to hate ...

Evan
the guy she'd love to forget ...

Clint
the guy she'd love to love ...

and Matt
the guy she really should love ...

all vying for her attention.

But she has three fantastic roommates (best friends or her worst nightmare?) and a wholesome California-girl reputation (oops) and brains and beauty and big, big dreams.

Will it be enough to help her survive freshman year at Harvard?

The Gathering (Darkness Rising #1) by Kelley Armstrong

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

The Gathering (Darkness Rising #1)

by
Hardcover, 359 pages
Published April 12th 2011 by Harper (HarperCollins), New York
Source: Personal Collection



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

Until now.

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

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











A Beautiful Dark (A Beautiful Dark #1) by Jocelyn Davies

A Beautiful Dark (A Beautiful Dark #1)

by

Hardcover, 390 pages
Published September 27th 2011 by HarperTeen


Plot: 

On the night of Skye's seventeenth birthday, she meets two enigmatic strangers. Complete opposites;like fire and ice; Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair and aloof. Their sudden appearance sends Skye's life into a tailspin. She has no idea what they want, or why they seem to follow her every move only that their presence coincides with a flurry of strange events. Soon she begins to doubt not just the identity of the two boys, but also the truth about her own past.
In the dead of a bitingly cold Colorado winter, Skye finds herself coming to terms with the impossible secret that threatens to shatter her world. Torn between Asher, who she can't help falling for, and Devin, who she can't stay away from, the consequences of Skye's choice will reach further than the three of them could ever imagine.

My Thoughts:

This novel was just okay for me. I enjoyed the story line, but I felt like I'd read it before. There really wasn't any huge shock or twist until the very, very end, so the plot was predictable. Maybe it was because I'd read a crap ton of YA paranormal/fantasy novels in the last few years. Who knows. But I didn't hate the book or anything, it was just an easy read for me. Nothing about it made it stand out.

What I did love about the novel was the secondary characters. Skye's best friend, Cassie, stole the show. She was funny, spunky, was in a bad. I totally loved her. Oh and I am still a sucker for bad boys, so I was team Asher throughout the whole book.

So read this one if you need your next angel book fix.

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

Monday, February 27, 2012

Title: Shatter Me
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Hardcover, 338 pages
Published November 15th 2011 by Harper/HarperCollins
Source: Personal Collection


Plot:

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

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

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

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

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

My Thoughts:

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

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

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

I recommend this novel to any YA Dystopian lovers!
 

The Iron Queen (Iron Fey #3) by Julie Kagawa

Monday, February 20, 2012

The Iron Queen (Iron Fey #3)

by
Paperback, 358 pages
Published January 25th 2011 by Harlequin Teen 
Source: Netgalley
Plot:

My name is Meghan Chase.I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.
This time, there will be no turning back.

My Thoughts:

I am absolutely in love with this series. The Iron Fey series is one of my all time favorite series. This series has taken me on a whirlwind journey and I have loved every second of it. Throughout this series there has been tons of actions and stakes that make me hang on to the edge of my seat and forgo nights of sleep just to see what happens next.

The love story between Ash and Meghan is so epic. Their love for each other shines on every page and I can only pray the next book in the series The Iron Knight continues this pattern.

The end to the series in Meghan's point of view broke my heart. I so didn't want it to end like that. But I have faith that Ash's story, The Iron Knight, will mend the pieces.

Kudos Ms. Kagawa on a kick ass series!

Trickster's Girl (Raven Duet #1) by Hilari Bell

Author: Trickster's Girl (Raven Duet #1)

Author: 

Hardcover, 288 pages

Published January 3rd 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

In the year 2098 America isn't so different from the USA of today. But, in a post-9/11 security-obssessed world, "secured" doesn't just refer to borders between countries, it also refer to borders between states. Teenagers still think they know everything, but there is no cure for cancer, as Kelsa knows first-hand from watching her father die.

The night Kelsa buries her father, a boy appears. He claims magic is responsible for the health of Earth, but human damage disrupts its flow. The planet is dying.

Kelsa has the powers to reverse the damage, but first she must accept that magic exists and see beyond her own pain in order to heal the planet.

The Vespertine (The Vespertine #1) by Saundra Mitchell

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Title: The Vespertine (The Vespertine #1) 
Author:
Hardcover, 293 pages
Published March 7th 2011 by Harcourt Children's Books






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



 My Thoughts:


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


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


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


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




The Devil of Jedburgh

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

This would probabaly be closer to 4 1/2 stars. A hot love interest who wears a kilt and talks with a Scottish accent? Um, yes, please!!

I've been reading outside my YA genre lately, and since I love historical fiction, I decided to give historical romance a try. Since Breghan is only nineteen in the book, I guess that it isn't far disposed from YA!

I loved that Breghan was a sassy, spunky woman of the 17th century. Even though she'd heard horrible stories about Arran, she always stood her ground and stood up to him and the patriarchal society she found herself in. Their chemistry was red hot from the first moment they met(even though he didn't know who she was). Of course, her spunk sometimes drove her away from Arran and would have served her a few times to read things between them a little differently.

Arran's devil reputation was only the product of legends. Instead of being a beast, he's a hottie with a sad past in love that leaves him emotionally stunted when it comes to love. Sure, he wouldn't mind a roll in the hay with Breghan, but he doesn't want to marry her bc he totally separates marriage and love. Plus, he only wants a wife to give him heirs.

Would totally recommend this to anyone who loves historical romance, and even though I read the eARc, I'll probably buy this one when it comes out. Great steamy scenes, historical tidbits interspersed(had never heard of handfasting, which is where a man would take a woman for a year as a trial marriage. If he liked her, he'd marry her, if not, he'd send her back to her family), and swoonworthy hero....and a sweet romance!

The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver

Monday, January 30, 2012


Hot damn, a book that takes place in Hot-lanta!!!

Demon Trapper Riley Blackthorne just needs a chance to prove herself—and that’s exactly what Lucifer is counting on…

It’s the year 2018, and with human society seriously disrupted by the economic upheavals of the previous decade, Lucifer has increased the number of demons in all major cities. Atlanta is no exception. Fortunately, humans are protected by Demon Trappers, who work to keep homes and streets safe from the things that go bump in the night. Seventeen-year-old Riley, only daughter of legendary Demon Trapper Paul Blackthorne, has always dreamed of following in her father’s footsteps. When she’s not keeping up with her homework or trying to manage her growing attraction to fellow Trapper apprentice, Simon, Riley’s out saving citizens from Grade One Hellspawn. Business as usual, really, for a demon-trapping teen. When a Grade Five Geo-Fiend crashes Riley’s routine assignment at a library, jeopardizing her life and her chosen livelihood, she realizes that she’s caught in the middle of a battle between Heaven and Hell.



So, I'm not much of a demon, YAUF kinda girl. But one of my students brought this book to my attention the other day. She'd gotten it for Christmas, already devoured it, and was reading the 2nd book. When I found out the author lived in Atlana and the sights and sounds of the city were highlighted(5 Points, Oakland Cemetery, and the Tabernacle), I thought, "Okay, I'll give it a chance!"

Yep, I gave it a chance by devouring it one night!! It was that good! It was a totally different take on demons and demon trapping. The opening scene in the library was so Ghostbusters almost, and I loved it...I also loved the usage of angels and the spiritual quest for belief/continuing belief that Riley found herself on.

As for Riley, I loved her. She was strong and tough and took no shit off anyone--especially Beck. I really loved Saint Simon(somepeople go for the bad boys, I love the goody boys!). At the same time, Beck was pretty hot and tormented and then surprisingly a father figure all rolled into one.


There was some great futristic bits like Necromancers that leased dead bodies to be slaves for rich people. Grieving familes who needed money could rent their deceased loved one! It was crazy!

Really looking forward to reading Book 2 and more by this author!!

The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Wow, gotta love me some hot, Southern YA! Trust me, The Vincent Boys sure does deliver on that note. But the cover could use some serious help to help deliver the note of steamy Southern summer nights.

Here's a quick summary:

Being the good girl isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Ashton Gray has grown weary of playing the part to please her parents, and to be worthy of the town’s prince charming, Sawyer Vincent. Maybe That’s why she’s found herself spending time with Sawyer’s cousin, Beau, while he’s away for the summer camping with his family. Beau is nothing like her perfect boyfriend. He’s the sexiest guy she’s ever seen, dangerous in ways she’s only day dreamed about, and the one guy she should stay away from.
Beau never envied Sawyer his loving parents, his big nice home, or his position as quarterback. He loves him like a brother. Which is why he's tried everything in his power to keep his distance from Sawyer’s girlfriend. Even if he has loved her since the age of five, Ashton is Sawyer’s girl, so therefore she’s off limits. But when Sawyer leaves for the summer, Ashton, the one girl Beau would move Heaven and Earth for, decides she wants to get into trouble. Stabbing the one person who’s always accepted him and stood by him in the back, is the cost of finally holding Ashton Gray in his arms. Is she worth losing his cousin over?.... Hell Yeah.

I'll admit that when I saw a typos/grammatical errors on the first page, I got a sinking feeling in my the pit of my stomach. You know the one that self pubbed books are crap? Yeah, that one.

Luckily, that feeling dissapated quickly, and I got completely and totally sucked into the book! I totally got Ashton's dilemma of always being what other people expected of her, but at the same time wanting to be a little rebellious. I didn't quite agree with one major rebellious thing she did(baby steps, Ashton!), but at the same time, she'd been so smothered in the small town and being a preacher's kid. She sees her entire life being lived for her by the expectations of her parents, her church family, and Sawyer--sometimes even her group of best friends since their friendships have run deep for many years.

I think the beauty of the book is that you fall in love with Beau as Ashton is recognizing her feelings for him. When we first meet Beau, he's your stereotypical drunken, manwhore player. But then we start seeing him differently--that he has a good heart and a caring spirit despite his unfortunate upbringing. There's a particular scene where he really comes through for Ashton that will make you go, "Aw, that's such love!" While a lot of his focus is on Ashton's looks, he's loved and cared about her since they were kids. He loves the fire she has within her--the sassiness that she doesn't show very much.

Didn't really root for Sawyer even though I always go for the good boy. He seemed to only want Ashton because she was a trophy girlfriend--what was expected of him. And then he let some not nice things happen that really, really mad me dislike him...not to mention we find out our Golden Boy is a little tarnished.


I can't wait to see what the sequel is like!!!


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