Speed Date with Samantha: Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen

Hi! This feature is hosted by Mary over at The Book Swarm. Speed Dating is basically giving a shorter review of the book and it's ton of fun! Go check it out!

Title: Dark Kiss
Author: Michelle Rowen
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: May 29, 2012
Source: Thanks Netgalley and Harlequin!
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Summary: I don't do dangerous.  Smart, über-careful, ordinary Samantha-that's me. But I just couldn't pass up a surprise kiss from my number-one unattainable crush. A kiss that did something to me...something strange. Now I feel hungry all the time, but not for food. It's like part of me is missing-and I don't know if I can get it back. 

Then there's Bishop. At first I thought he was just a street kid, but the secrets he's keeping are as intense as his unearthly blue eyes. If he's what I think he is, he may be the only one who can help me. But something terrifying is closing in, and the one chance Bishop and I have to stop it means losing everything I ever wanted and embracing the darkness inside me.... 


Review: Dark Kiss a different read for me. I loved that angels and demons had been sent to Earth to work together but something else entirely different was missing. And that, my friends, was emotion.

Yes, there is plenty of emotion that the characters felt but I really didn't care at all for the characters. Their action elicited no reaction or even a smile or frown for me.  Usually it doesn't take much to make me happy but I would have liked to see characters that were more fleshed out and real. Kraven, a demon, was the only character that I felt was very well written. The rest were so-so.

The plot and mythology was engaging, though. Dark Kiss is another quick read that goes by really fast. There's lots of interesting action scenes that definitely kept me satisfied with the book.

I might read the sequel to Dark Kiss but I just wish this one could have been better. 

Rating:

Speed Date with Maggie: One Moment by Kristina McBride

Hi! This feature is hosted by Mary over at The Book Swarm. Speed Dating is basically giving a shorter review of the book and it's ton of fun! Go check it out!

Title: One Moment
Author: Kristina McBride
Publisher: Egmont USA
Publication Date: June 26, 2012
Source: Thanks Netgalley and Egmont
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Summary: This was supposed to be the best summer of Maggie’s life. Now it’s the one she’d do anything to forget.


Maggie Reynolds remembers hanging out at the gorge with her closest friends after a blowout party the night before. She remembers climbing the trail hand in hand with her perfect boyfriend, Joey. She remembers that last kiss, soft, lingering, and meant to reassure her. So why can’t she remember what happened in the moment before they were supposed to dive? Why was she left cowering at the top of the cliff, while Joey floated in the water below—dead?


As Maggie’s memories return in snatches, nothing seems to make sense. Why was Joey acting so strangely at the party? Where did he go after taking her home? And if Joey was keeping these secrets, what else was he hiding?


The latest novel from the author of The Tension of Opposites, One Moment is a mysterious, searing look at how an instant can change everything you believe about the world around you.


Review: One Moment is a sad, heart-breaking tale of a girl forced to deal with her friends and her boyfriend's actions after he dies.

The friend dynamic in this was absolutely spectacular. Each of the six friends were both unique and memorable. But the main character, Maggie, had to be the best of all of them. Maggie has to deal with pain and memory loss after her boyfriend, Joey, dies and that is exactly what makes this book so good. It's so easy to immerse yourself in this book, so much that you can feel all of Maggie's heartbreak and pain. But Maggie is also insanely determined to figure out her boyfriend's secret. It's a bit predictable but if you look at it from Maggie's stand point it becomes more realistic.

One Moment has a gorgeous writing style. It's one of the main reasons you can relate with Maggie.

One Moment is a special book that's able to worm its way into your heart and really mean something to you, the reader. 

Rating:

Something Like Normal by Trish Doller

Title: Something Like Normal
Author: Trish Doller
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication Date: June 19, 2012
Source: Thanks Netgalley and Bloomsbury
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Summary: When Travis returns home from a stint in Afghanistan, his parents are splitting up, his brother’s stolen his girlfriend and his car, and he’s haunted by nightmares of his best friend’s death. It’s not until Travis runs into Harper, a girl he’s had a rocky relationship with since middle school, that life actually starts looking up. And as he and Harper see more of each other, he begins to pick his way through the minefield of family problems and post-traumatic stress to the possibility of a life that might resemble normal again. Travis’s dry sense of humor, and incredible sense of honor, make him an irresistible and eminently lovable hero.


Review: Something Like Normal is a fantastic book. It has the ability to make you smile, hurt, but most of all it has the power to make you care something fierce about the characters. 


I automatically liked Travis. He's more than a bit sarcastic, funny, and he's been through more things that I can even begin to imagine. Sometimes male points of views come off wrong and fake sounding. This never happened once in Something Like Normal. Travis had the most realistic voice of a guy that I've read in a long, long time. I also loved watching Travis grow throughout the book. It's amazing how much character development was packed into such a quick read. 


The romance in this one is downright adorable. I doubt Travis or Harper would appreciate me saying that but it's just so true! Ever minute they spent together was sweet and just so unexpected. I was hoping Something Like Normal would have a good romance but it's even better then that. 


Something Like Normal does a great job with showing what life is like with post-traumatic stress disorder is like and what it's like overseas. It doesn't sugarcoat things it just shows the way things really are, and I loved that aspect.


Something Like Normal is a book that can change your mood from elated to sad in a moment. It has gorgeous writing but an even better main character in Travis. If you're into contemporary I think you'd really be missing out if you didn't read this one. 

Rating:

Speed Date with Dani: All These Lives by Sarah Wylie

Hi! This feature is hosted by Mary over at The Book Swarm. Speed Dating is basically giving a shorter review of the book and it's ton of fun! Go check it out!

Title: All These Lives
Author: Sarah Wylie
Publisher:  Farrar, Straus and Giroux  
Publication Date: June 5, 2012
Source: Thanks Netgalley and  Farrar, Straus and Giroux 
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Summary: Sixteen-year-old Dani is convinced she has nine lives. As a child she twice walked away from situations where she should have died. But Dani’s twin, Jena, isn’t so lucky.  She has cancer and might not even be able to keep her one life. Dani’s father is in denial. Her mother is trying to hold it together and prove everything’s normal.  And Jena is wasting away.  To cope, Dani sets out to rid herself of all her extra lives.  Maybe they’ll be released into the universe and someone who wants to live more than she does will get one.  Someone like Jena.  But just when Dani finds herself at the breaking point, she’s faced with a startling realization.  Maybe she doesn’t have nine lives after all.  Maybe she really only ever had one. 


Review: The main thing that I liked most in All These Lives was Dani's voice. Dani might not be the best or the nicest person but her voice is amazing. It's truly unique and I literally felt like I was in Dani's head. I initially thought Dani was a little crazy. Most people don't think they have nine lives if they survive many near-death experiences but Dani certainly does. I felt like this just added to her character. I caught myself almost believing this whole "nine lives" thing, which was more than a little scary.

All These Lives is a very short book. I was able to polish it off in a single morning because not only is it short but it's engrossing. I might not have liked Dani but I was definitely invested in her story.

The ending of All These Lives was more than a little abrupt but I didn't feel like anything else needed to be said. All These Lives is perfect is you're looking for a short book with a unique main character. 

Rating:

Speed Date with Mia: Struck by Jennifer Bosworth

Hi! This feature is hosted by Mary over at The Book Swarm. Speed Dating is basically giving a shorter review of the book and it's ton of fun! Go check it out!

Title: Struck
Author: Jennifer Bosworth
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux BYR 
Publication Date: May 8, 2012
Source: Thanks Netgalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux BYR
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Summary: Mia Price is a lightning addict. She’s survived countless strikes, but her craving to connect to the energy in storms endangers her life and the lives of those around her.

Los Angeles, where lightning rarely strikes, is one of the few places Mia feels safe from her addiction. But when an earthquake devastates the city, her haven is transformed into a minefield of chaos and danger. The beaches become massive tent cities. Downtown is a crumbling wasteland, where a traveling party moves to a different empty building each night, the revelers drawn to the destruction by a force they cannot deny. Two warring cults rise to power, and both see Mia as the key to their opposing doomsday prophecies. They believe she has a connection to the freak electrical storm that caused the quake, and to the far more devastating storm that is yet to come.

Mia wants to trust the enigmatic and alluring Jeremy when he promises to protect her, but she fears he isn’t who he claims to be. In the end, the passion and power that brought them together could be their downfall. When the final disaster strikes, Mia must risk unleashing the full horror of her strength to save the people she loves, or lose everything.


Review: Struck is an entertaining book. There was a never a dull moment and most of those moments were filled with exciting revelations and even more action.

I don't particularly like Mia Price, the main character, but I understood her. She's stubborn and brave but I just could never connect to her. She was a little distant, even in her narration. A character I really liked was Parker: he was willing to take care of people no matter what. Mia's love interest,  Jeremy,was all over the place. He hardly stayed in the book long enough for me to see if I liked him!

The whole concept of the Church of Light and the Seekers was awesome. I, of course, loved learning more and more about these two and their battle against each other.

Struck didn't quite do it for me but I did love the action and plotline!

Of Poseidon by Ann Banks

Title: Of Poseidon
Author: Anna Banks
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends 
Publication Date: May 22, 2012
Source: Thanks Netgalley and Feiwel & Friends
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Summary: Galen, a Syrena prince, searches land for a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. It’s while Emma is on vacation at the beach that she meets Galen. Although their connection is immediate and powerful, Galen's not fully convinced that Emma's the one he's been looking for. That is, until a deadly encounter with a shark proves  that Emma and her Gift may be the only thing that can save his kingdom. He needs her help--no matter what the risk. 


Review: I hadn't read the best reviews on Of Poseidon but I knew that I was definitely willing to give it a try. And I'm so glad I did. Of Poseidon may lack in some aspects but it always made me smile while I was reading it! 


This may sound a little silly but I found Of Poseidon to be a book that I could totally emerse myself in and forget everything else. Of Poseidon was super addicting for me. I wanted to keep reading and reading. I think this is mainly because of Emma's narration. It was just SO dang funny. She wasn't always the smartest but she kept be smirking and laughing throughout the entire book. I'm not quite sure what I feel about Emma as a character, I really didn't connect with her but I still liked her.


Emma's love interest is Galen has his own chapters in 3rd person narration. I hate to say this but I disliked Galen's chapters so much. I like Galen as a character and as a love interest but his chapters? They were the only thing that could make this book not addictive. Luckily for Galen he's a sweetheart and, well, he seems pretty hot. Of course, Galen and Emma have a little case of insta-love but these days I find myself overlooking this and not really caring. Slow romances will always be my favorite but for some books it just works well to have a little case of insta-love. 


In Of Poseidon the mermaids and mermen are all called Syrena. I loved learning all the little facts about them. I really hope we get to know more about their history once the second book comes out. Of Poseidon does end in a cliffhanger but I think most readers will be able to see it coming. It makes the blow of having a cliffhanger a bit less.


Of Poseidon definitely has its iffy moments but it still manged to wow me with the Syrena mythology and Emma's silly but lovable narration.


Rating: 3.5 stars

This is So Not Happening by Kieran Scott

Title: This is So Not Happening
Author: Kieran Scott
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Publication Date: May 1, 2012
Source: Bought
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Summary: The summary had a bit of spoilers to those who have not read the second book or even the first one. You can highlight below to read it! The review does not contain spoilers.


After their long summer apart, Ally and Jake were hoping for a drama free senior year. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like things will work out that way...again.


It turns out that Chloe is pregnant and says that Jake is the father. Hammond is pissed at his best friend, but mostly can't believe that Ally would stay with Jake. But Ally is tired of being apart from Jake and is willing to make it work. But that is easier said than done when Jake starts blowing Ally off to go to doctor's appointments with Chloe and Ally joins the school play and meets a new cute guy.But as graduation approaches, things get more complicated as new secrets come out and Ally realizes maybe Jake isn't the guy she thought he was. After everything they've been through can Ally and Jake get out of Orchard Hill with their relationship in tact? 


Review: This is So Not Happening is the end to one of my favorite series. This one, like the previous two, was filled was drama. I'm not a huge drama fan but this drama is done 100 percent right. 


My love for Ally grows and grows through every single book, and this one was no different. Ally's a very strong heroine and she never fails to be strong. She makes mistakes, like all people, but she's a real, relatable character. I suppose that's what makes her such a strong character and why I admire her so much. I'll miss all the other characters but I think I'll miss Ally's stubbornness and determination the most. .


But then I'm a huge fan of Jake, Ally's boyfriend. He is literally one of the most flawed love interests. He makes countless mistakes and says the wrong thing over and over again. You'd think I'd be sick of him. Truthfully, he can be a complete tool sometimes. Jake can also be one of the most caring and considerate people. I think that's what I like so much about Jake-he can be stupid sometimes but you're always rooting for him because you know that he deserves one more chance. And I don't mind saying that he's completely swoon, drool worthy or whatever. He's kind of hot.


I wasn't exactly sure where the plot was going to go in this one. I was expecting a shocking conclusion to the series but I was almost glad to see that it wasn't a huge conclusion. It was sweet, and it fit the feel of this book perfectly. 


I'm sad to see this fantastic series come to a close but it was a great one with This is So Not Happening. If you want to love and care about characters then I strongly suggest you pick this one up. The romance, the writing and I have to admit it, the drama, is what makes this a series that I wish would never end.


Rating: 

Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard

Title: Wanderlove
Author: Kirsten Hubbard
Publisher: Delacorte
Publication Date: March 13, 2012
Source: Thanks Netgalley and Delacorte!
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Summary: It all begins with a stupid question: 

Are you a Global Vagabond? 

No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path. 

Bria's a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan's a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they've got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan’s found, is to keep moving forward. 

But Bria comes to realize she can't run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back. Kirsten Hubbard lends her artistry to this ultimate backpacker novel, weaving her drawings into the text. Her career as a travel writer and her experiences as a real-life vagabond backpacking Central America are deeply seeded in this inspiring story. 


Review: I put off reading Wanderlove for a very long time. I believe I could have read it way back in August because I had it from Netgalley. But what did I do? I put it off. I regret that I did, but I'm so happy that I eventually picked it up. Wanderlove is more than fantastic. It is just SO good. 


Bria is a wonderful character. Scratch that, she's more than wonderful. She's something that I don't even know how to describe. All I can say is that I just loved her character. She's insanely stubborn about somethings but so vunerable about others. I automatically loved her, even before I got to know her better during the course of the book. Most importantly, Bria felt like a real fleshed out person instead of a one dimensional character in a book. Hubbard made Bria pop off the page.


There's tons of other supporting characters and I felt like I knew them so well. Rowan and Starling are two backpacking siblings that you almost have to love. Rowan is, well, awesome. There's something extra special about his character that makes him worm his way into your heart, over and over again. Bria and Rowan had a wonderful friendship. I knew it would turn into something more than that but when it did it was so awesome. 


This might sound a little silly but reading Wanderlove was almost like watching a movie. If Wanderlove doesn't make you want to travel I don't know what will. Hubbard made me feel like I was transported to Central America with Bria and Rowan, staying in grimy hostels and having lots of fun yet serious moments. I don't know how many times I can saw this, but it was just fantastic! 


Wanderlove also has drawings. Drawings done by Kirsten Hubbard, herself! I was so impressed. They added even more dimension to this story. All I want to do now is go out a buy myself a finished copy. Then drool over the pictures.


Wanderlove is a special sort of book that makes the adventurous person inside of you want to come out. Simply stated: you cannot miss this book. 


Rating:

Shooting Stars by Allsion Rushby

Title: Shooting Stars
Author: Allsion Rushby
Publisher: Walker
Publication Date: February 28, 2012
Source: Thanks Netgalley and Walker!
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Summary: Meet Josephine Foster, or Zo Jo as she’s called in the biz. The best pint-sized photographer of them all, Jo doesn't mind doing what it takes to get that perfect shot, until she’s sent on an undercover assignment to shoot Ned Hartnett—teen superstar and the only celebrity who’s ever been kind to her—at an exclusive rehabilitation retreat in Boston. The money will be enough to pay for Jo’s dream: real photography classes, and maybe even quitting her paparazzi gig for good. Everyone wants to know what Ned’s in for. But Jo certainly doesn’t know what she’s in for: falling in love with Ned was never supposed to be part of her assignment. 

Review: Shooting Stars is such a fun book. One that tells the tale of a young paparazzo, named Jo, and it was pretty fantastic!

Jo immediately wins you over with her voice but actually connecting to her was the problem with me. It wasn't that I didn't like Jo because I really did and I appreciated how she grew during the course of the novel. The main problem was that I just couldn't connect or relate with her. I just seem to be having this awful problem lately. It's probably just me though, Jo was an awesome girl and I did end up growing to like her a lot!

A ton of Hollywood/LA books are cliched and filled to the brim with brand names. Thankfully, Shooting Stars has none of that. It fact the realness of the Paparazzi was fantastic. In fact the story doesn't take place much in LA, it's in a retreat in Boston.

Another thing that I loved about this book was the supporting characters! Now they were the ones that I loved. There was just something special about all the kids that were at the retreat with Jo, where she was taking pictures of a star. I especially loved Ned! Seth and Katrina were really fun, as well.

Rushby does a great job with surprising you in Shooting Stars. There was just so many surprising things that went on during the course of the book. Most I didn't see coming what so ever. It was just very refreshing.

Shooting Stars is a sweet story filled with tons of funny moments and great characters. Rushby takes the idea of the paparazzi and turns it into something new and unique. If you're in the mood for something light and unique pick this one up!

Rating:

Speed Date with Drew: The Night She Disappeared by April Henry

Hi everyone, toady I'm doing something a little bit different. I'm participating in a thing called Speed Dating-with reviews. It's hosted by Mary over at The Book Swarm. The purpose is to tell your thoughts about the book in about 150 words. I think it's a fantastic idea! Go check out her blog to participate. 

Title: The Night She Disappeared
Author: April Henry
Publisher: Henry Holt
Publication Date: March 13, 2012
Source: Thanks Netgalley and Henry Holt!
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Summary: Gabie drives a Mini Cooper. She also works part time as a delivery girl at Pete’s Pizza. One night, Kayla—another delivery girl—goes missing. To her horror, Gabie learns that the supposed kidnapper had asked if the girl in the Mini Cooper was working that night. Gabie can’t move beyond the fact that Kayla’s fate was really meant for her, and she becomes obsessed with finding Kayla. She teams up with Drew, who also works at Pete’s. Together, they set out to prove that Kayla isn’t dead—and to find her before she is


Review: If I had to describe The Night She Disappeared I'd say that it was part mystery, and part really creepy!


The Night She Disappeared actually has alternating chapters between Drew, the boy who answered the fatal phone call, and Gabie, the girl who should have been kidnapped. There are multiple other chapters from various points of view that really added to the story. I loved that and little tidbits from newspapers, transcripts from calls and TV shows that related to the case of Kayla's kidnapping!


The main problem I had with this one is the characters. I just couldn't relate to them, but I really wished that I could!


The last 70 pages of the story are so gripping! You just have to know what happened to Kayla, the kidnapped girl. It gets very intense and I was going crazy because I just had to get to the end.


Overall, The Night She Disappeared is a creepy read that ends up being really exciting. I'd definitely recommend it to someone that's looking for something different.


Rating: 3.5 stars

Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig

Title: Pretty Crooked
Author: Elisa Ludwig
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: March 13, 2012
Source: Thanks Netgalley and Katherine Tegen!!
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Summary: Willa’s secret plan seems all too simple: take from the rich kids at Valley Prep and give to the poor ones. 

Yet Willa’s turn as Robin Hood at her ultra-exclusive high school is anything but. Bilking her “friends”—known to everyone as the Glitterati—without them suspecting a thing is far from easy. Learning how to pick pockets and break into lockers is as difficult as she’d thought it’d be. Delivering care packages to the scholarship girls, who are ostracized just for being from the “wrong” side of town, is way more fun than she’d expected. 

The complication Willa didn’t expect, though, is Aidan Murphy, Valley Prep’s most notorious (and gorgeous) ace-degenerate. His mere existence is distracting Willa from what matters most to her: evening the social playing field between the haves and have-nots. There’s no time for crushes and flirting with boys, especially conceited and obnoxious trust-funders like Aidan. 
But when the cops start investigating the string of thefts at Valley Prep and the Glitterati begin to seek revenge, could Aidan wind up being the person that Willa trusts most? 


Review: Pretty Crooked is such a fun book. It's filled with adventure, well mis-adventure, and a dash of Robin Hood. Pretty Crooked turned out to be a hilarious and very well-written debut.


Willa was quite the girl. I wasn't exactly sure what to think of her when I first started the book, but she did end up being great. She's funny and bubbly, I just really liked her. But when she started stealing she started to grate on my nerves a bit. I just really can't glorify stealing. This book doesn't do that at all, just to make that clear, but I just am so uncomfortable with stealing. Especially when I know that Willa, technically, was doing the wrong thing no matter how right it seemed in her mind. 


Don't get me wrong this is a great book-but I was more then a little uncomfortable with the whole stealing aspect. I'm not quite sure why but I couldn't take it in stride and go along with it. 


On the bright side, there are so many more good things going on with this book! I loved the dynamic of Willa's school. Ludwig really nailed it.  You have the poor, sweet girls to the Glitterati, the mean girls and school and most importantly you have Aidan Murphy. I loved Aidan! He actually doesn't get that much face time in Pretty Crooked but when he does he really shines. He and Willa are such a cute couple in the making! 


Pretty Crooked is a fantastic debut. I loved many of the characters and the writing style and even though I was a bit uncomfortable with the stealing aspect I'd definitely recommend this one. 


Rating:

Partials by Dan Wells

Title: Partials
Author: Dan Wells
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: February 28, 2012
Source: Thanks Netgalley and Balzer + Bray!
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Summary: Humanity is all but extinguished after a war with partials--engineered organic beings identical to humans--has decimated the world’s population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island. The threat of the partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to the disease in over a decade. Humanity’s time is running out. 

When sixteen-year-old Kira learns of her best friend’s pregnancy, she’s determined to find a solution. Then one rash decision forces Kira to flee her community with the unlikeliest of allies. As she tries desperately to save what is left of her race, she discovers that the survival of both humans and partials rests in her attempts to answer questions of the war’s origin that she never knew to ask. 
Combining the fast-paced action of The Hunger Games with the provocative themes of Battlestar Galactica, Partials is a pulse-pounding journey into a world where the very concept of what it means to be human is in question--one where our sense of humanity is both our greatest liability, and our only hope for survival. 


Review: Partials is not a book that I was expecting to love. It crept up on me and I instantly fell in love with it. If you're looking for something new, Partials is the book for you!


Partials is just about 30 pages shy of being 500 pages but it's paced perfectly. There was never a moment where I wanted to stop reading because it was boring or slow. The only moments I wanted to stop reading was when it got so intense, and I didn't stop even then because it was so good. There's just something about Partials that makes you want to keep reading and reading. It's nothing of short of addictive.


One of the reasons Partials is so addictive is because of the characters. Kira is such a strong girl. Any person who wants to find a cure to save the human race is a favorite of mine. She was just so amazing. Not to mention well-written. I'm still very curious about Kira and many of the other characters as well. They were all so unique and complex. I just felt this really emotional bond with all of them. 


There's even more in Partials then great characters and a wonderful pace. There's the actual Partials, "crazy" killing machines that were created plus, there's also an even crazier Senate. All of this makes for one intense, action-paced book. I'm not going to elaborate tons on the mentioned Partial and the Senate, you just have to experience them for yourselves.


When you get around to reading Partials, because I know you will, savor it. To me, the wait for the next one is going to be killer. I really don't want to leave this messed up world filled with Kira and her gang or the "crazy" Partials that I love. 


Rating: New favorite book!! 

Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey

Title: Stolen Away
Author: Alyxandra Harvey
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Publication Date: January 17, 2012
Source: Thanks Netgalley and Walker!
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Summary: For seventeen years, Eloise Hart had no idea the world of Faery even existed. Now she has been abducted and trapped in the Rath of Lord Strahan, King of Faery. Strahan was only meant to rule for seven years, as Faery tradition dictates, and then give up his crown to another. But he won't comply, and now chaos threatens both worlds.

The only one who can break his stranglehold on the Faery court is his wife. . . Eloise's aunt Antonia. Using Eloise to lure Antonia, Strahan captures his wife, desperate to end the only threat to his reign. Now Eloise must become the rescuer. Together with her best friends Jo and Devin, she must forge alliances with other Fae, including a gorgeous protector named Lucas, and Strahan's mysterious son, Eldric-who may or may not betray them. 

Review: Stolen Away is a unique spin on Faery lore that is done exceptionally well. Though there were some things that I didn't care for in Stolen Away is still proved to be a fun and enjoyable read!

One of my main problems with Stolen Away is the characters. I just didn't understand the need for alternating chapters between Eloise and Jo. Jo, in my mind, had almost nothing to do with the story. She's was just Eloise's friend. She really didn't have to be a main character. It would have been better, though, if you could tell the difference between the two narrations. They read very similar.

The beginning of the story was a tad slow at first, and I was so lost! I felt like I was just thrown into Stolen Away. It was clumsy and just a tad uncomfortable.

But, after awhile, I was drawn into the plot and the book just flew! The faery plot line gets very intriguing.  It's hard to put down Stolen Away after you're quite a way through the book, because it actually gets good! The end was simple and sweet, too. I definitely enjoyed that.

There was also some romance that I liked. I did not enjoy Jo's insta-love but Eloise's romance was awfully cute! I adored it! Eloise and Jo did grow on me after awhile but they just were SO similar, voice wise.

Overall, Stolen Away is a fun read. There's nothing too spectacular in it in terms of characters but I did appreciate the plot line and Harvey's writing. Since Haunting Violet is such a favorite of mine, I'll probably pick up more of her books. Yet, I'm just disappointed that I didn't like this one as much as I could have.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Slide by Jill Hathaway

Title: Slide
Author: Jill Hathaway
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: March 27, 2012
Source: Thanks Netgalley and Balzer + Bray!
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Summary: Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth—her sister’s friend Sophie didn’t kill herself. She was murdered. 

Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed “friend” when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body. 

Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can’t bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting off lately, more distant, especially now that she’s been spending more time with Zane. 

Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again.

Review: I was really expecting to like Slide. I've almost never met a good murder mystery that I didn't love. Slide proved to be just that and much more. I'm just so happy that I picked it up!


Vee, the main character, is a girl that I just can't quite figure out, and I mean this in the best possible way. I definitely developed a soft spot for Vee during Slide. She was such a rock for her family and others. I definitely admired Vee and her determination to figure out who Sophie's killer was.


Vee's ability to slide is a unique concept, as well. Whenever Vee touches something that has an emotional imprint of sorts she slides into them, experiencing the world through their eyes. Hathaway handed the concept brilliantly and I believe it was very well done. I'm definitely curious to see how this idea is going to be expanded on in the sequel, Impostor.


Along with the mystery, there's quite a bit of drama in Slide. It really didn't take away from the mystery aspect of the book but it did play a big role. The mystery at times could be a bit predictable but there were some moments when I had no idea what was going to happen next. It was a bit of a thrill ride!


Overall, Slide managed to hook me with the mystery and Vee's unusual ability but I kept reading because of those aspects and the characters. 


Rating: 4.5 stars

Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

Title: Scarlet
Author: A.C. Gaughen
Publisher: Walker 
Publication Date: February 14, 2012
Source: Thanks Netgalley and Walker!
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Summary: Many readers know the tale of Robin Hood, but they will be swept away by this new version full of action, secrets, and romance. 


Posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in. It’s only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for.


Review: Wow! Scarlet is an action-packed book that takes the tale of Robin Hood and twists into something wholly new and exciting.


I loved how Gaughen incorporated the original legend of Robin Hood into the story. She did it in subtle ways buts mostly the story was hers. It was so unique!


Scarlet, the main character, poses as a boy. I have always been so intrigued by stories where the main character is a girl but dressing up as a boy. Scarlet definitely fits the bill for that item. Scarlet also really surprised me, too. She is truly a brave character and is willing to risk anything for the people of Nottingham.


While there is tons of action and tricky escapades there is also a lot of romance. It never overpowered the story and other events but it was actually pretty intense. Scarlet and Rob have the cutest little love-hate relationship that I've seen in awhile. For some reason I love seeing two people fight/banter with each other but then realize how much they care about each other!


Overall, Scarlet is a great tale full of dangerous adventures. It could be a little confusing at times, keeping track of all the characters and names but it ended up being a great book from the usual YA fare.


Rating:

Everything You Need to Survive the Apocalypse

Title: Everything You Need to Survive the Apocalypse
Author: Lucas Klauss
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: January 3, 2012
Source: Galley Grab
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Summary: Phillip's sophomore year is off to a rough start. One of his best friends ditches him for a group of douchebags. His track coach singles him out for personalized, torturous training sessions. And his dad decides to clean out all of the emergency supplies from the basement, even though the world could end in disaster at any moment...and even though those supplies are all Phillip has left of his dead mom. Not that he wants to talk about that.

But then Phillip meets Rebekah. Not only is she unconventionally hot and smart, but she has seriously great boobs. And she might like him back.

As Phillip gets closer to Rebekah, he tries harder and harder to turn himself into the kind of person he thinks she wants him to be. But the question is, can he become that person? And does he really want to? 

Review: Everything You Need to Survive the Apocalypse sports a long title, but it also has some fun moments that are wholly enjoyable.

On a whole, I enjoyed this book but it was just "meh" in some aspects. This book is over 400 pages long and after the first 200 I knew this was going to be a long read. It does have those fun moments that I said but most of the book is filled with questioning religion and just about everything there is to question.

If you aren't comfortable with religion in books don't be put off by it. I felt that the religion aspect of this book was very real. Phillip doesn't believe anything before he meets Rebekah. He starts going to church with her and trying to be a better Christian for her. I loved that Klauss didn't glorify or condemn Christianity but let Phillip make his own decisions regarding it, like any teen would.

Phillip is just a tad bit weird. I liked him and he had great narration but he just isn't lovable. He gave off all the wrong vibes as a character.

Another thing that I really liked was the writing. Even though the story could get long the writing instantly made up more that. Klauss has a great style that I would love to read again!

Overall, Everything You Need to Survive the Apocalypse is a decent read that realistically deals with religion.


Rating:

The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges

Title: The Gathering Storm
Author: Robin Bridges
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: January 10, 2012
Source: Thank you Netgalley and Delacorte!


Summary: St. Petersburg, Russia, 1888. As she attends a whirl of glittering balls, royal debutante Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, tries to hide a dark secret: she can raise the dead. No one knows. Not her family. Not the girls at her finishing school. Not the tsar or anyone in her aristocratic circle. Katerina considers her talent a curse, not a gift. But when she uses her special skill to protect a member of the Imperial Family, she finds herself caught in a web of intrigue. 


An evil presence is growing within Europe's royal bloodlines—and those aligned with the darkness threaten to topple the tsar. Suddenly Katerina's strength as a necromancer attracts attention from unwelcome sources . . . including two young men—George Alexandrovich, the tsar's standoffish middle son, who needs Katerina's help to safeguard Russia, even if he's repelled by her secret, and the dashing Prince Danilo, heir to the throne of Montenegro, to whom Katerina feels inexplicably drawn. 


The time has come for Katerina to embrace her power, but which side will she choose—and to whom will she give her heart?


Review: The Gathering Storm is an intense historical read that incorporates many paranormal elements into a fantastic story.


The Gathering Storm has an amazing setting. Russia in 1888? I don't think it gets much better than that. I loved being alongside Katerina as she went to various social events and balls. I totally wish that I lived back then. Bridges makes St. Petersburg come alive with Katerina's voice.


Katerina is an admirable character but she did have her moments. At times she could bug me but I liked her character as a whole. She definitely wasn't afraid to figure out the mysteries that are present in this book. There are quite a few people and quite a few names to keep track of in the book. Once you get used to all the people it isn't confusing anymore.


There are some seriously evil characters in this book. I won't say who they were but they were so easy to dislike. But there is also quite a few lovable side characters, from Katerina's somewhat crazy mother to Grand Duke George. I think I'm partial to the Grand Duke, though. Romance is part of the book but it never  overwhelms the story line.


The only thing that detracts from this story is all the paranormal story lines. The Gathering Storm has a lot going for it in the paranormal department but there is so much of it. I was constantly learning new things and it is more than a little hard to keep things straight. After awhile I just went with it instead of trying to keep up. Then it all started to make sense!


The Gathering Storm is a win on the character and historical setting elements but it could get confusing at times. But, overall, The Gathering Storm is a must read for fans of historical fiction.


Rating:

The Grand Duke....

He's not too shabby for a guy that lived that long ago. His older bother was Nicholas II, who was the last tsar of Russia. Apparently, Grand Duke George died out on his motorcycle with blood coming out of his mouth. Um, OK?! I hope this has no role in the story. My grand duke does not die. Though, during the story he is around 17 and he doesn't die till 28 so I doubt it will come up. 

Fracture by Megan Miranda

Title: Fracture
Author: Megan Miranda
Publisher: Walker & Company
Publication Date: Januaray 17, 2012
Source: Thanks Netgalley and Walker!
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Summary: 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: Fracture is both stunning and intriguing. There's a mix of both light and dark moments in the book but my favorite was the one that occurred most often. The dark. 


Delaney has been under the water for 11 minutes. Just the fact that she could have survived surprised me. There is a little bit of science to Fracture making it more scientific than a paranormal read. This was an aspect that I loved. 


Delaney, herself, is an admirable character. She has been through more than I can even imagine. Her ability is what really drew me to her, though. Delaney definitely wants to do good with it and I admire that. Decker is such a sweet guy! Decker is not perfect in anyway but that just made him even more realistic. Troy, in my mind, is an enigma. He was so dang mysterious and I was constantly trying to figure him out. 


The only thing that I disliked, well I hardly disliked it, was the lack of closure in Delaney's relationships. I think I just wanted a little bit more. 


Lastly, I want to note on the cover. I'm so in love with it. I think that it captures the book perfectly. The snowy forest in the back for a harsh Maine winter, down to Delaney's red jacket. 


Fracture definitely managed to surprise me. The plot and the science involved kept me hooked the entire time. This is the perfect read if you're looking for something new in YA. I know that I'm definitely looking forward to more from Miranda!


Rating: 4.5 stars