The Best Reader:
5 stars

Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles
Publisher: Flux (September 1st, 2010)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Paperback: 302 pages
Source: Publisher
Series: Leaving Paradise #2
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Caleb Becker left Paradise eight months ago, taking with him the secret he promised to take to his grave. If the truth got out, it would ruin everything.

Maggie Armstrong tried to be strong after Caleb broke her heart and disappeared. Somehow, she managed to move on. She's determined to make a new life for herself.

But then Caleb and Maggie are forced together on a summer trip. They try ignoring their passion for each other, but buried feelings resurface. Caleb must face the truth about the night of Maggie's accident, or the secret that destroyed their relationship will forever stand between them.

Review:

We all know that Simone Elkeles is a brilliant author. Her stories are always raw, honest, and emotional. I picked up Leaving Paradise (book 1) after reading the first two books in her Perfect Chemistry series and while I didn't fall in love with this story as much as those, it was still amazing.

I was excited to see where Caleb and Maggie end up after finishing Leaving Paradise but it took me a while to get to read this book. I was still able to dive right in and pick up where book 1 left off without being confused or forgetting many of the details. Return to Paradise takes place 8 months after Caleb left Paradise. He has tried to escape the town, his parents, and the pain of seeing Maggie. But, as we know, you can't hide from your problems. Caleb is soon in trouble again and his own real option is to go on a summer trip with some other teens.

Maggie has somehow gained even more strength since Caleb left. She was hurt, but found ways to heal. She even joined a summer trip to help share her story of the accident, but she never expected to see Caleb there.

When Caleb and Maggie see each other again I could literally feel their anxiety. As much as they may have thought they had moved on, it was obvious that the feelings were still there. I admired Maggie's determination and resistance of Caleb. He attempted to push her buttons but she remained composed and refused to let him rule her emotions. The trip opens up the thing they each tried to keep locked up — the accident and what happened after Caleb got out of the juvenile detention center. But, with some help from the other teens on the trip, they do eventually learn a lot about themselves.

Endings can make or break and entire book for me. I despise if an ending (especially of an entire series) is rushed. I was extremely satisfied with this ending. I obviously won't say what happened, and there are several surprises, but it was gratifying.

Don't think that this is just a clear-cut story. Simone placed a lot of surprises and twists along the way. And, we meet some new characters that bring a lot of life to the story.

Recommended: Contemporary readers looking for something with a deeper plot. Read Leaving Paradise first. Also, if you haven't checked out Simone's other series, Perfect Chemistry, go do that.NOW!

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The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
Publisher: EgmontUSA (December 22nd, 2009)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardback: 372 pages
Source: Won from author
Series: The Dark Divine #1
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.

The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.

The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret… and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul.
Review: I don't know why I waited so long to read this. I'm a big werewolf fan and this is a book I have wanted to read for a long time. The Dark Divine is from Grace's POV. She is a"good girl" with a loving family and her father happens to be a pastor. But, there is a lot going on behind the scenes.

Grace recalls the odd events that happened around the time her childhood friend Daniel disappeared. Suddenly, Daniel is back and he isn't exactly the same person who left 3 years before. Grace's family is desperate for her to stay away from him but she can't. She is determined to have him in her life and to find out why he went away.

I will say that nothing in particular about this book blew me away; however, it was a very well-rounded story. I enjoyed the characters. I never wanted to put the book down and I had no idea where the plot would take me. Grace was a good girl but she took a lot of risks. Daniel was just fascinating. I was curious to find out more about him because he started off as being very closed off and sad.

Another aspect of the story I really enjoyed was the fact that Grace's family was a critical part of the plot. That is often rare to find in YA books so I liked the fact that we get to know her father, mother, and older brother on a deeper level. It also allows the readers to see why Grace is who she is.

With Daniel's arrival, a lot of bad things start happening around town and people are blaming Daniel. Grace knows something evil is out there but she just can't believe Daniel would be the one causing the problems. The plot in this story was very creative and mysterious. I honestly didn't know what would happen and I was completely surprised many times.

Bree Despain is a fabulous author and The Dark Divine series is one that easily hooked me. Everything about this novel helped to bring the story to life and Bree's writing made me an immediate fan.

Recommended: In case anyone hasn't read this so far — paranormal/werewolf fans who like a good mystery.

Jordyn by Tiffany King
Published: A.T. Publishing (February 9th, 2013)
Reading Level: New Adult
Kindle Edition: 280 pages
Series: A Deamon Hunter Novel, #1
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Summary:
Hand to hand combat training: Check
Cardio and strength training: Check
Daemon hunting: Check
Anomaly: Check

Check, check, check, check… That's all my life is. There's nothing ordinary about me. I'm"special." I know this because I'm reminded of it every stinking day. I can kick a Daemon's ass with both hands tied behind my back. I can run up a mountain without breaking a sweat. Know what I can't do? Get guys to notice me, or hang out with friends like normal people do. I can't just be ordinary because I have an Arch Angel for a mentor who is always breathing down my neck, and a family of angelic Guides and Protectors who scrutinize every little thing I do. Just for a day I want a life where I'm no longer some anomaly, where I don't have to feel like a lab rat.

And then I met Emrys. Okay, so my mentor and family hate him, but probably for good reason. After-all, he is a Soul Trader, and they aren't the most trust worthy beings. But, he is sooo hot with his green eyes, leather jacket and the sexiest tattoo you've ever seen running down his back. And-he doesn't treat me like a project.

I've got myself in quite a little quandary here. Choosing between my responsibilities and the Trader that holds my heart is something I didn't sign up for. Torn between two different worlds, I must now decide who to trust and who to walk away from. What's a girl to do? See what I mean? I am an anomaly. I am Jordyn.

Review:

…
…

I was serious…

…

I CAN'T WAIT
…

IS BOOK 2 READY YET????: )

Okay, back to the review. This book has a huge amount of detail for such a small package! We learn a lot about Jordyn, her"family", their world, and what it's like being a Deamon hunter. Jordyn really kicks butt. I loved her! She was just so bad-ass and awesome! She's a tough girl with a strong personality. She has guardians who are training her and it was great to really get to know each one of them.

Then, of course, we have Emrys. He is a Soul Trader, which is not something her guardians are happy about. The more they try to keep Jordyn away from Emrys, the more she feels drawn to him.

This book mostly seemed like a set up for an epic battle coming up. We learn a lot about Jordyn's world and what she can do. Then we get to enjoy the building chemistry between Jordyn and Emrys. He is very mysterious indeed, and I can't wait to find out more!!

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Anew by Chelsea Fine
Publisher: Acacia Publishing (December 7th, 2011)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Paperback: 385 pages
Series: The Archers of Avalon #1
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Two years ago, Scarlet awoke in the forest alone, afraid, and unable to remember anything. Lost and confused, her life was a mystery… until she met a boy with a familiar voice.

Gabriel Archer has a voice from her past, and Scarlet's determined to remember why. She immerses herself in his life only to discover he has a brother he's kept hidden from her: Tristan Archer.

Upon meeting Tristan, Scarlet's world becomes even more muddled. While she's instinctively drawn to Gabriel, she's impossibly drawn to Tristan--and confused out of her mind. As she tries to piece together her history Scarlet realizes her past… might just be the death of her.

Review:

In Anew we meet Scarlet. She woke up in the woods on day, two years ago, with no real memories at all. Since then she's been living with a young woman (her caretaker), and hanging out with her best friend Heather. She has adjusted pretty well considering, but then she meets someone who triggers something in her mind. Gabriel steps into the picture and Scarlet just knows his voice is familiar. She is instantly drawn to him and they have a nice, cute romance.

Soon, she gets the feeling that Gabriel may be hiding something. She goes to his house one day and discovers his brother Tristan there. As much as Gabriel triggers new thoughts in Scarlet's mind, Tristan does even more. But she can't figure out why she feels linked with him, or why he seems to absolutely hate her.

This experience puts her on the path to finding out about her past, and discovering who Gabriel and Tristan truly are. This was the part that was surprising to me. I didn't expect the events to play out the way they did. One perk of this story is that we get to see the point-of-view of Scarlet, Gabriel, and Tristan so it is well-rounded and fully developed. There are no real missing points that I wished would have been there.

As for the characters, Scarlet has been through so much. She has no family, no memories, and no way of knowing who she really is. She remained strong and determined throughout this story and I feel she was partly that way due to her best friend Heather. Heather is not like Scarlet at all. She's a total girly-girl and wants Scarlet to take more pride in her fashion sense. They make a wonderful pair. Heather is such a good friend and it was obvious that she would stand up for Scarlet through anything. Gabriel is the good guy. He does care a lot about Scarlet but Tristan really had the passion. He may have been mean and angry most of the time, especially to Scarlet, but I could feel the true passion in his personality. He was a very nice surprise!

Anew just gives us the beginning of what I feel will be a terrific series. This book sets everything up and leaves a lot of mystery that I'm sure will be unraveled in the next book. And wow, what a cliffhanger! I will definitely be reading book 2 as soon as it is released.

Recommended: Paranormal fans looking for something unique and interesting. Great characters, multiple POVs, and a terrific plot.

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How to Ruin My Boyfriend's Reputation by Simon Elkeles
Publisher: Flux (November 8th, 2009)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Paperback: 257 pages
Series: How to Ruin #3
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
In the third book of this bestselling series, Amy Barak-Nelson misses her boyfriend Avi, who is in the Israeli army. Her grandmother convinces Amy to sign up for two weeks in a military training base. Not her idea of fun, but what's worse? Her team leader turns out to be Avi.

Review:

Nathan, Jessica, and Miranda are joining her and they get into quite a few hilarious situations. Amy isn't sure what to expect when she gets to the Israeli training base but she seemed to have no idea it would be so hard. The teens are treated like real soldiers and are forced to"rough it" just like everyone else.

The big surprise is that Avi is one of Amy's team leaders. They realize quickly that alone-time may not be possible on the base. And, while Amy may have thought Avi would be easy on her, she was wrong. He pushes her to do her best, while being absolutely adorable whenever she needs help. What is cuter than a tough team leader rushing to the aid of his girlfriend in front of all his friends? Nothing, I tell ya! So cute!

But, Avi made me angry in this book. Actually, very angry. I felt so invested in this story and Amy and Avi's romance that I really started mumbling things like"OMG how could he do that? That is so wrong! He'd better stop that!" LOL. Yes, I might be crazy, but I guess that's a good sign because I really connected with the story and cared about what they were going through.

There are a lot of physical and mental obstacles Amy and Avi must face in this story. Simone Elkeles really knows how to weave together a brilliant romance, laugh-out-loud humor, and serious moments throughout a story. I read this book in just a few hours and never even put it down. I am so sad to see it all end. *sigh* I'm glad we get the chance to get to know Amy's friends in this story and it all seemed to come together to show us the full picture of Amy's and Avi's experiences.

Recommended: EVERYONE. Pick up this series immediately. It's funny, romantic, and so well written. Start with How to Ruin My Summer Vacation so you don't miss a moment of Avi (and Amy, of course).

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How to Ruin a Summer Vacation by Simone Elkeles
Publisher: Llewellyn (October 8th, 2006)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Paperback: 234 pages
Series: How to Ruin #1
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Moshav? What’s a moshav? Is it “shopping mall” in Hebrew? I mean, from what Jessica was telling me, Israeli stores have the latest fashions from Europe. That black dress Jessica has is really awesome. I know I’d be selling out if I go with the Sperm Donor to a mall, but I keep thinking about all the great stuff I could bring back home.
Unfortunately for 16-year-old Amy Nelson, “moshav” is not Hebrew for “shopping mall.” Not even close. Think goats, not Gucci.
Going to Israel with her estranged Israeli father is the last thing Amy wants to do this summer. She’s got a serious grudge against her dad, a.k.a. “Sperm Donor,” for showing up so rarely in her life. Now he’s dragging her to a war zone to meet a family she’s never known, where she’ll probably be drafted into the army. At the very least, she’ll be stuck in a house with no AC and only one bathroom for seven people all summer—no best friend, no boyfriend, no shopping, no cell phone…
Goodbye pride—hello Israel.

Review:

I do admit, the summary doesn't even come close to really telling what this story is about. I have never read a book set in Israel so I was a little worried it would be a bit of a shock, but Simone captured the setting brilliantly. Amy is somewhat forced to spend the summer with her father"AKA Sperm Donor" and meet his Israeli family. She does not look forward to this in the least. Then once she arrives in Israel she really gets a huge culture shock. She has no idea what anyone is saying or what to think of the family she never knew existed.

Then she meets Avi and a few of his friends. Plus, a cousin who does not want to welcome her to their home with open arms. I gotta say, Simone is creative with names. Cousin O'Snot, and her friends (Doo-Doo included). Hilarious!

Amy is a fun character. She's not nice or one to walk away from a fight. This made her great IMO because a lot of YA characters fall flat but Amy did not, at all! She could be cruel but at least she had a strong personality.

Her relationship with Avi is very love/hate. Avi knows how to push her buttons and he seems to enjoy it. But Amy really learns how to survive by watching him and his friends. They are hard workers and very loyal to each other. She really gets a good idea of how people can live with very little and still have a good time. This experience also gives her a chance to get to know her sick grandmother. It was nice to see Amy's true self come forward whenever she spoke with her grandmother.

After reading How to Ruin a Summer Vacation, I immediately read the next book, How to Ruin My Teenage Life and purchased book 3, How to Ruin My Boyfriend's Reputation. It was that good! I have learned never to doubt the powers of Simone Elkeles and her epic writing skills.

Recommended: Contemporary fans looking for something hilarious!

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Pure by Janenifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press (April 3rd, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Paperback: 329 pages
Source: ARC from publisher
Series: Covenant #2
Rating: 5 of 5 stars

There is need. And then there is Fate…

Being destined to become some kind of supernatural electrical outlet isn't exactly awesome--especially when Alexandria's"other half" is everywhere she goes. Seth's in her training room, outside her classes, and keeps showing up in her bedroom--so not cool. Their connection does have some benefits, like staving off her nightmares of the tragic showdown with her mother, but it has no effect on what Alex feels for the forbidden, pure-blooded Aiden. Or what he will do--and sacrifice--for her.

When daimons infiltrate the Covenants and attack students, the gods send furies--lesser gods determined to eradicate any threat to the Covenants and to the gods, and that includes the Apollyon… and Alex. And if that and hordes of aether-sucking monsters didn't blow bad enough, a mysterious threat seems willing to do anything to neutralize Seth, even if that means forcing Alex into servitude… or killing her. When the gods are involved, some decisions can never, ever be undone.

Review:

I will try to avoid spoilers. I will start by saying that Alex is one of the best, most kick-butt, amazingly genuine heroines of YA literature. Her courage, determination, and strength is beyond comprehension. She has been through so much but she remains herself through it all. She is what really makes this series shine. Although she may have a life and destiny we may not be able to imagine, there is so much about her we can relate to. In many ways, she is just a young girl trying to find her place. But, what makes it even better is that her feisty personality lets everyone know she is not to be messed with.

Then we have Aiden. Oh poor, sweet, hunk of a man Aiden. Aiden can be intense, but Alex is always able to get to his soft side — rather he likes it or not. Seeing his reactions to Alex is always entertaining.

Now, we have Seth. Much, much, more Seth in this book! Seth can be infuriating but he is one of those guys people may act like they hate, but they would miss him if he wasn't around. I think that's something Alex realizes as well. We get much more of a build-up in the relationship between Alex and Seth, which was super nice! I have been a Seth fan since the beginning so I was eager to see where Janenifer went with this relationship.

I gotta say, I cracked up so many times during this book. I seemed to either be laughing, blushing, crying, or gasping during most of it. Yes, there was lots of blushing! Janenifer knows how to write steamy scenes. The connections between Alex and Aiden, and Alex and Seth, were so surprisingly different but they each felt honest and real. That can be a hard task for writers to achieve but Janenifer did this to perfection.

Next, the plot. I won't go into too much detail but I will just say that we get a lot more action and information about the inner-workings of the council. There are a ton of twists and turns going on and unexplained daimon attacks. All of that is combined with the frictions among the Pures and half-bloods. So to summarize, we have more action, drama, suspense, and romance… could we even handle any more?!

Jennifer L. Armentrout is the new hero of young adult novels. She is able to flawlessly create a world that is visually appealing, with compelling characters and a action-packed plot that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Recommended: EVERYONE. You don't have to be a paranormal fan to love this series. If you want something that will rock your world, pick up Half-Blood and Pure.

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You can follow the tour by clic king here.- http://www.stuckinbooks.com/p/pure-blog-tour.html

There are two giveaways that will be going on through the remainder of the tour. You can sign up by going to Stuck in Books and A Cupcake and a Latte. You can get extra entries for both giveaways by commenting on the tour posts. But wait, there's more!

You guys are so lucky today because I have a highly coveted ARC of Pure for one lucky reader! If you haven't read Half-Blood yet, DO IT NOW! You won't regret it.

• Just leave a comment WITH your email address!
• Must be at least 13 (or have permission) to enter.
• US mailing addresses only.
• Contest will close April 13th.

The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting
Publisher: HarperCollins (April 17th, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 358 pages
Source: ARC from Publisher
Series: The Body Finder #3
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
In the end, all that's left is an echo…
Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton. That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet's talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers. Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals—including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe—it's Violet's job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice. When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by"the girlfriend collector" she is determined to solve the case. But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new"relationship" and Violet may have caught his eye…

Review:

We all know Violet can see imprints of the dead and it helps her to find out who committed the murder. Now Violet has found others with unique abilities as well. Finally, Violet is able to get to know others who know what she is going through. She doesn't have to keep the big secret all bottled up as she had in the past. She spends more and more time with this group and it takes her a while to feel part of it. She worries about the purpose of her ability, but soon finds her place and appreciates the fact that these individuals know what she has been going through.

I did miss Jay a lot in this story. It seems that as the series progresses, we can really see Violet mature and notice how her situations mature as well. She is no longer a girl worried about high school issues, she has an important job to do. Her situations are much more dark and scary.

If there is one thing I know about Kimberly, she can sure come up with some creepy characters! In The Last Echo we meet"The Girlfriend Collector" and wow, he is very sinister and disturbing. One very unique factor in this series is that we get the point-of-view of the killers. We may not know who they are exactly, but we get a glimpse into their minds and see how they pick out and treat their victims. This particular character wishes for someone to love him and when they don't, he gets rid of them.

If I was Kimberly, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night after writing this stuff, eek! Definitely a book that kept my heart racing and my eyes darting around making sure no one is lurking in the dark. I think Kimberly must really enjoy knowing her readers are absolutely terrified and sleeping with a night light after reading her stories.

If you have been lucky enough to get your hands on the first 2 books in this series, you will devour this one as well. Kimberly Derting never fails to rise to the occasion and bring us heart pounding action, unique plot twists, and a brilliant romance. Delightfully chilling! I can't wait to get my hands on the next installment!

Recommended: Anyone looking for a YA that is truly terrifying! Be sure to start by reading The Body Finder and Desires of the Dead so you don't miss a second of the action!

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Today is the official kick-off of the 4th leg of the Dark Days tour! Kimberly Derting will be visiting my blog next Tuesday, the 10th, with an interview and giveaway so please stop back by!

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Partials by Dan Wells
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (February 28th, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardback: 472 pages
Source: Publisher
Series: Partials #1
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.

Review:

Kira is a medic. She is a 16-year-old who is intelligent far beyond her years, and her and her friends are well aware of the issues that plague the human race. To make things worse, it's not just the virus causing issues. Politics are causing people to rebel and n ow the leaders are trying to show more power as a way to make people listen.

Soon, Kira comes up with a plan that she feels will help save the humans. She will study a Partial, an engineered being that everyone feels is responsible for the spread of the virus years ago. Her and her friends go into dangerous territory to find a Partial and this journey shows her a lot more than she expected.

Dan Wells is a brilliant writer. The world we are introduced to in Partials is scary, desolate, and all too possible. A virus spreading quickly across the planet is a real threat so I think that's why Partials is such a frighting story. Dan brought a lot of science into this story. He didn't leave us with questions as to what exactly had happened to the rest of the humans. We know about the virus, what it did to the victims, and how it spreads. I loved that the readers can really feel like they take part in deconstructing the virus itself and seeing what can be done to stop it. This was really a book that allows readers to step back and think about what's going on, and attempt to figure it out with the characters.

Although few humans survived, I got a good idea of how the remaining population lived in their new surroundings. The young adults (and very young teens) were critical to the survival of the race. The political figures always made that clear and in a way it showed how the younger population had more power than one would think

The characters we meet in Partials were so well developed and interesting. Kira was intelligent, focused, and extraordinarily brave. She thought of herself last. Her friends were always at the top of her list. Kira's friends were each so different and brought so much to the story.

Probably the most surprising part of this book to me was just the visuals. Dan Wells used honest, descriptive language to describe a world that is harsh and ruined. Everything from the broken roads, abandoned homes and skyscrapers, decaying remains, and wild animals were things I could picture with such clarity. I saw it like a movie or one of those Discovery shows that that go through what would happen if humans didn't exist. It's so frightening.

If you are thinking of taking a chance and reading a post-apocalyptic/dystopian novel, pick up Partials!

Dan Wells did a remarkable job bringing this world to light and showing a harsh reality. Partials had everything I could hope for in a fabulous YA novel!

Recommended: Lovers of post-apocalyptic/dystopian, science fiction, with strong characters and outstanding world-building.

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Today I am posting my review of Shattered Promises for the blog tour! I absolutely adored this book and can't wait to read book 2.

Shattered Promises by Jessica Sorensen
Published: February 26th, 2013
Reading Level: New Adult
Paperback: 284 pages
Source: Author
Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary:

For twenty-one year-old Gemma, life has never been normal. She knows nothing about her past and has been haunted by the same monsters in her nightmares for the last few months. Unemotional and numb to life, she feels disconnected from everyone. Until the very first day she cries. After that, nothing in her life is the same.
Her emotions slowly surface and she starts experiencing love, happiness, and anger, feelings she never knew existed. But they leave her confused and she doesn’t know whether to embrace them or run away from them.
Her life only gets more complicated when she meets Alex. Sexy, arrogant, and secretive, Alex can get under Gemma’s skin like no one can. Yet she’s drawn to him by an invisible connection she has no control over. She’s also seen him before. In her nightmares.
Every part of Gemma’s mind is screaming at her to stay away from Alex, but every other part of her is begging to get close to him. But the closer she gets, the more she realizes Alex knows more about her than he originally let on.
As secrets about her past unravel, Gemma’s life becomes threatened. She needs to figure out what’s going on, before she winds up dead. But the only person she can turn to for answers is the one person she isn’t sure she can trust.

Review:

Gemma has no idea why she can't seem to get away from Alex but soon she finds out. Someone is after her and she is more important than she could have ever imagined. This introduces her to a world she never knew existed. The world-building in this book is excellent! It's so complicated but I never felt confused or put off by the details. I was completely entranced and couldn't make myself put the book down.

The other characters we meet in the story, Alex's sister and their"friend" Laylen. Wow, Laylen! You will love him, I promise! But each person brought so much to this story. I looked forward to finding out more about them as it continued.

Now, this book is 100% NA! These scenes were HOT! I was blushing like crazy. I felt it was the perfect type of romance that 2 young people have — passionate, spontaneous, and fun.

After reading this book I immediately checked with Jessica to see when the next one is coming out. I will be reading it as soon as I get my hands on it.

If you are a fan of NA, or just awesome books in general, pick this one up! The plot, characters, and romance were written to perfection and made this completely un-put-downable!

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Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons (March 1st, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Paperback: 288 pages
Source: Publisher
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Kelsey Finkelstein is fourteen and FRUSTRATED. Every time she tries to live up to her awesome potential, her plans are foiled – by her impossible parents, her annoying little sister, and life in general. But with her first day of high school coming up, Kelsey is positive that things are going to change. Enlisting the help of her three best friends — sweet and quiet Em, theatrical Cass, and wild JoJo — Kelsey gets ready to rebrand herself and make the kind of mark she knows is her destiny.

Things start out great — her arch-nemesis has moved across the country, giving Kelsey the perfect opportunity to stand out on the soccer team and finally catch the eye of her long-time crush. But soon enough, an evil junior’s thirst for revenge, a mysterious photographer, and a series of other catastrophes make it clear that just because KELSEY has a plan for greatness… it doesn’t mean the rest of the world is in on it.

Kelsey’s hilarious commentary throughout her disastrous freshman year will have you laughing out loud—while being thankful that you’re not in her shoes, of course…

Review:

First, Kelsey is hilarious. I highly enjoyed her internal commentary on her life. She was so enjoyable and I felt bad for the crazy stuff she had to go through. Kelsey is smart, pretty, and had a terrific group of friends, but her quirky nature sometimes gets her into embarrassing situations.

I really enjoyed the way Meredith Zeitlin captures the good, the bad, and the ugly of the high school experience. I think that pretty much every teenage girl can relate to some of the things Kelsey went through.

Kelsey's friends, JoJo, Em, and Cass were fabulous as well. They were all so different and they each brought something unique to the story. Although Kelsey deals with a few issues involving each girl, her friends always try to be there for her.

Something else unique about this book was the cute flirtations between Kelsey and a"mystery guy" she meets. It was a very nice touch and I couldn't help but get all giddy when he was mentioned. It really brought me back to when you can't help but get all flustered every time you see your crush walk down the hall in school.

This book isn't all fun and games. There are some more serious topics mentioned and they cover some very relevant topics for many young teenagers.

Meredith Zeitlin did an outstanding job taking many readers back to the glory days of high school. Kelsey was the perfect character for this story and I only wish I would have been as brilliantly quirky as she was when I was a teen.

Recommended: Contemporary fans looking for something funny!

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In His Eyes Anthology by Various Authors
Format: ebook (February 14th, 2011)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Authors
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Available NOW, just in time for Valentines Day, The Indelibles bring you a one-of-a-kind young adult anthology! Sixteen original short stories, all from the point of view of our favorite male characters — some are old flames from our novels and some were dreamed up especially for this anthology.

Let these imminently crushable, swoon-worthy guys show you what romance looks like – in his eyes.

The contributors to IN HIS EYES include award winners, frequent “Top 100” placers, and hot 2011 debut authors.

Surprise, Surprise by Stacey Wallace Benefiel, author of Glimpse: Half the women in Melody's family can see the future, which makes it nearly impossible for Raleigh to surprise her. What's a guy to do for Valentine's Day when his girlfriend is always one step ahead of him?

First Kiss or First Kill? by C.K. Bryant, author of Bound: Love isn't always rainbows and kittens, sometimes it can be downright deadly. (A deleted chapter from Bound.)

Shattered by Ali Cross, author of Become: James and Desi use each other in an effort to cling to the darkness in each of them, but in the end they discover that love changes you. (A chapter of Become from James’ POV.)

Before by Jessie Harrell, author of Destined: When a younger Eros is exiled to a land that doesn't believe in the Greek gods, he finds the first love of his immortal life. Read Eros' first person account of his romance, and heartbreak, in the time before he met Psyche.

The Qualm Before the Storm by Karen Amanda Hooper, author of Tangled Tides. Yara Jones doesn’t want to be a mermaid. Treygan doesn’t want to be the monster who turns her. You can’t always get what you want. (A short prequel to Tangled Tides.)

Unspeakable by S.R. Johannes, author of Untraceable: When Mo sees a strange girl in the woods, he follows her. He soon realizes they are both in a dangerous position and might not get out alive.

In the Beginning by Katie Klein, author of Cross My Heart: Seth is falling hard for Genesis Green, but the guardian angel is determined not to interfere, until an accident changes the course of their lives forever. (A short prequel to The Guardian.)

A Chance Encounter by Cheri Lasota, author of Artemis Rising: Finnian's eyes hide a terrible secret. But a girl on the train home, the girl in tears with a secret of her own… She sees right through him. A scene from the upcoming novel, Echoes in the Glass.

Family Bonds by Heather McCorkle, author of The Secret of Spruce Knoll: A Halloween party filled with teens who can channel energy and use it to kill, what could go wrong? For Spruce Knoll fans who are dying to read more about Fane.

Getting Closer by Lisa Nowak, author of Running Wide Open: Megan is smart, hot, and an upperclassman—in other words, way out of Cody’s league. So why did she choose him? (An excerpt of Getting Sideways.)

Precalculus by Cory Putman Oakes, author of The Veil: a re-telling of the fateful class period that changed Addison Russell’s life, from Luc’s point of view (a.k.a. Chapter 2 of The Veil from Luc’s perspective)

The Almost Assassin by Laura Pauling, author of A Spy Like Me, releasing Spring 2012: Malcolm tries his hand at the family business but his conscience and a beautiful"spy" may be his downfall.

Mind Games by Susan Kaye Quinn, author of Open Minds: Raf wants to take Kira—the only girl in school who doesn’t read minds—to the mindware Games, but his friends have other plans. (A short prequel to Open Minds.)

By The Firelight by Elle Strauss, author of Clockwise: When Nate McKenzie asks an unpopular girl to dance on a dare, he's in for the time of his life.

A Very Alien Valentine’s Day by Magan Vernon, author of How To Date An Alien: After surviving confinement and an intergalactic war for his human half, Alex, now he has to live through the biggest challenge of them all: Valentine's Day.

Aligned by RaShelle Workman, author of Exiled: A half-Eternal boy and an Eternal girl must free millions of tortured souls from a creature whose been feasting on their pain and suffering.
Review: I love a good anthology. It's a nice break from novel-length stories and often it gives us a glimpse into stories we may not have read in the past. That was exactly what this book was. It was a wonderful book full of cute love stories and perfect for a Valentine's day read.

One of the things i really loved about this anthology is that we get a little explanation of who we will meet before each story. These are often connected to other stories already available by the author. Links are listed as well so it's easy to click on it and go directly to the book page. I found myself doing that often. I would read one of the stories and go back to add the author's book to my list. I was worried I might be confused jumping into different stories that take place in contrasting worlds but that wasn't the case at all. Each story was so amazingly written.

Since these are short stories I won't go into too much detail but I will say that they bring so much emotion in a small package. For example, during the 2nd story First Kiss or First Kill I was cracking up through most of it.

Most people love a good male POV as well so if you are a fan of those, you gotta check this out. It was so adorable to see how these guys felt about love and romance.

In His Eyes was such a cute, enjoyable read. I was happy to get the chance to sample the writings of each author and have added many more titles to my to-read shelf now!

Recommended: Anthology fans. People looking for male POVs, short stories, and new books to read and would like to check out some new authors.

The Indelibles Website

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Amplified by Tara Kelly
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (October 25th, 2011)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardback: 304 pages
Source: Publisher
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
When privileged 17-year-old Jasmine gets kicked out of her house, she takes what is left of her savings and flees to Santa Cruz to pursue her dream of becoming a musician. Jasmine finds the ideal room in an oceanfront house, but she needs to convince the three guys living there that she's the perfect roommate and lead guitarist for their band, C-Side. Too bad she has major stage fright and the cute bassist doesn't think a spoiled girl from over the hill can hack it..
Review: I adored this book. I read it a few months ago and it singlehandedly brought me out of my reading slump. I even picked Jasmine as one of my favorite characters of 2011.

Jasmine was a kick-butt character. LOVED her! Even though she had a privileged background she didn't want that life anymore. She ran away with her savings and went off to pursue her dream to play music. She had no idea what was ahead of her but she was willing to jump in headfirst and take on all the obstacles.

As soon as she stars on her journey, she hits a roadblock. Her car breaks down and she has to deal with this guy who has a horrible attitude. He thinks he already knows all about her but Jasmine wants to show everyone that she is much more than what she seems.

She soon explores some ads for housing/bands and finds the perfect opportunity. She could live in an oceanfront house with the band members. But first she has to audition and a few of them have little hope of her impressing anyone.

Jasmine is a little afraid of playing in front of people but she soon shows them just how talented she is. And that guy she met at the body shop? Yeah, he may more a part of her new life than she would have thought.

This book was surprising in so many ways because I loved each and every character. They were so realistic and believable. I can't imagine how difficult it would be to bring a lot of major male characters to life in a story but Tara did an outstanding job! Each guy was so different and interesting. I wanted to live in that house!

Amplified is a perfect example of how characters can break free from stereotypes and show some spunk and personality. Jasmine is a girl so many people can relate to and she just may encourage some people to take a leap of faith on their own.

Tara Kelly, you rock!!

Recommended: Contemporary/music fans looking for a fun, exciting read with a lot of depth.

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Devotion by Kristie Cook
Publisher: Ang'dora Publishing (February 10th, 2012)
Paperback: 374 pages
Reading Level: 17+ Adult
Source: Author (Thank You!)
Series: Soul Savers #3
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
With powerful abilities gained from the Ang’dora and Tristan back by her side, Alexis thinks she’s ready for the next challenge—protecting her son from what appears to be the inevitable. But she has so much to learn about her powers, her new world and the people in it. Nothing is what it seems to be on the surface, including the Amadis. Having believed the secret society to be definitively good and righteous, she discovers she couldn’t have been more wrong.

Power-hungry politicians comprise the council and make impossible demands. A traitor lurks among them all, inciting trouble that could destroy the Amadis and, ultimately, humanity. The Daemoni wreak havoc in the human world, with the ultimatum that they’ll continue attacking innocents until Alexis and Tristan are expelled from the Amadis’ protection. The couple’s own society begins to shut them out. But that’s not all.

There’s a secret. A big one. And faith and hope in Alexis and Tristan will be restored if she can uncover the truth in time.

But the search for answers leads only to the discovery of more betrayals by those closest to Alexis. Her devotion is put to the test—devotion to her husband, to her family, to her people and to her beliefs—leaving her to question whom she’s fighting for and why she should even bother. But if she won’t fight … who will?
Review: Ah, and the epicness continues! If you haven't read the first 2 books in this series, run and do that! Then come back and read this review.: ) This series continues to amaze me. I'm not sure how Kristie keeps up with it all because this series creates such a complex world. The characters, the history, the action — all written with amazing clarity and creativity.

In Devotion, Tristan returns to us! Er, I mean Alexis. They have a moment to be a family and to be happy at last. But that time is brief. Alexis is going through a wide range of emotions. She is dealing with a new power that she isn't able to completely control, and there is a possibility that someone close to her could be betraying her. As she struggles to deal with the person she is now, and the good and bad of having her husband by her side, she discovers more about the Amadis and what could happen to her family. The last thing she wants is for them to be ripped apart again so she fights with everything she can in order to stop what most see as inevitable.

Devotion brings in a lot more characters (I'M ONE OF THEM!). Most of them are political-types who are not open to change within their rules. Then there are a few that are just insanely hot and awesome (ME! Or, at least the fictional me that is insanely hot and awesome). There is a lot of back and forth struggle and Alexis is in the middle of it all. One thing I love about this series is that Alexis truly takes the lead. Tristan is there, but he's more of a support for her. Alexis is the one with the power (as it should be!) and she is the glue holding everything together. Another great thing about this book was that it isn't all sunshine and roses for Alexis and Tristan once they are together. They argue and struggle with how to settle into married life.

And I can't review this book without mentioning Owen. (Did I mention that I get to interact with Owen.yes, me, the character, in the book, with my friend Lisa… ). Poor Owen has a lot to deal with in Devotion. I'm begging Kristie for a spin-off with him and his favorite faeries (me and Lisa!).

The Soul Savers series grabs you and refuses to let go! I guarantee a few sleepless nights, racing hearts, and inappropriate fantasies while reading these books. This is the perfect series for paranormal fans who want to plunge into a world featuring a struggle between good and evil, an insanely strong heroine, and a plot that will keep you guessing.

Recommended: Adult readers. Anyone who loves paranormal and a really smokin' hot romance.

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Article 5 by Kristen Simmons Publisher: Tor Teen (January 31st, 2012) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 368 pages
Source: ARC from Publisher Series: Article 5 #1
Rating: 5 of 5 stars New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.

The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.

There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back.

Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard for her to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It’s hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.

Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.

That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Janenings… the only boy Ember has ever loved.
Review: This review is difficult to write because I enjoyed this book so much! I could never find words to express exactly what this book captures. The world inside Article 5 is startling. The War has changed everything. The rights of each citizen have been revoked and everyone must adhere to the Mortal Statutes. Ember gets a stark dose of reality when she finds out a new revision in Article 5 puts her and her mother's life in danger.

Ember knows of only some of the dangers around her. The world has changed and now people get arrested for the simplest thing. One day when Ember arrives at home, officers soon come to her door — a familiar face included. Chase, the boy from next door and the boy who had Ember's heart is standing there as Ember and her mother fight to stay together. Ember knows Chase is one of them now. An officer doing what he is told. Ember's mother is soon taken away and Ember is forced into a Girls' Reformation and Rehabilitation Center where she is to stay until she is 18.

While there, Ember is determined to break free and find her mother. Soon she gets her chance but it doesn't come as she would have expected. All of this puts her on a course to rely on Chase, the boy she doesn't know if she can trust, as they try to find her a safe place away from the pains of reality.

Ember is a fighter. She is a bit stubborn but willing to give whatever it takes in order to find her mother. She has a difficult time dealing with Chase because he doesn't seem like the person who used to live next door. He can be cold, deadly, and eerily quiet.

Chase may have changed, but his care for Ember remains the same. He would do anything to keep her safe. He is dangerous but so passionate and selfless. The demons inside of him may keep him more distant but he has a good heart. And, I'd like to mention that he is super hot! That's always important. Oh, and Kristen describes him as being similar to Channing Tatum. Need I say more?

Okay, now for the plot. I was so nervous while reading this book! I couldn't put it down but my eyes were wide and I had to even re-read passages to make sure I didn't miss any little detail. It has an incredible amount of action! I don't think there was one single page where something dramatic didn't happen.

The world inside of Article 5 is truly a bleak depiction of what a country could be after a devastating war. People fighting for food, clothing and shelter. A type of government who can come into any home, take anything, and arrest anyone for any reason. All supplies are scarce and everyone is fighting just to survive.

Kristen Simmons constructed and described this world flawlessly. Each new place Ember explored has its own set of troubles and characteristics. I felt as if I could see it all through Ember's eyes. Everything from the barren lands and deserted homes, to the desperate people. It was haunting and poignant.

Article 5 transported me into a world that was unfamiliar but all too possible. The charming characters, heart-stopping action, and imaginative plot quickly made this book a favorite. Kristen Simmons did an outstanding job and I can't wait to see where she goes next with this series.

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Fracture by Megan Miranda
Publisher: Walker Children's Books (January 17th, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 262 pages
Source: ARC from Publisher
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
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?
Review: Fracture was an incredible read and I was completely engrossed in the mystery behind Delaney's injury. When we first meet Delaney she is going out with her best friend Decker and some other friends to the lake. Everything seems normal but then Delaney falls and the ice cracks. We get a detailed image of what she goes through during her time under the ice. My heart was pounding just reading about it!

When Delaney wakes up in the hospital she knows she was not supposed to survive. She's not supposed to ever be the same as she was before, but somehow she is.for the most part. Instantly, she has Decker by her side. He is devastated. This was the point where I immediately knew I'd love his character. He was so open with his feelings about the accident and it was easy to see how deep his connection with Delaney was.

After Delaney gets out of the hospital she runs into Troy. This is where the mystery heats up. I gotta say, I had no earthly idea what was going to happen. I soon figured out what was drawing Delaney to certain individuals; however, I didn't know why or what the heck Troy had to do with it all. Was he a demon, a guardian angel, just a dude? Who knows! That really kept me puzzled. I couldn't put the book down because my mind was whirling trying to figure out how everything was connected.

Delaney was a sweet girl. She seemed to have a kind heart and a need to help others. Decker was so realistic and sincere. He would do anything for Delaney and his devotion was something I never questioned. Troy was just a mass of confusion for me. I couldn't figure him out. If he did something good I would think"Oh, he's going to turn on her". If he did something bad I would think"But maybe it was for a good reason". But this is why I loved this book! So mysterious!

The way Megan Miranda delivered this story really sucked me in. I couldn't stop flipping the pages to see what would happen next. It was delightful and mystifying. Brilliantly done!
Recommended: This book is perfect for paranormal and contemporary book lovers. If you want a good mystery, this is a great pick!

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Cold Blood by Heather Hildenbrand
Publisher: Accendo Press (November 22nd, 2011)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Paperback: 366 pages
Source: Author (Thank You!)
Series: Dirty Blood #2
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wood Point Academy is not at all what I expected. For one thing, it looks like a cross between military school and Buckingham Palace. Everyone stares, the floors shine so bright you can see your reflection in them from a mile away, and no one smiles. Unless they're kicking your butt in the process.

At least I've got plenty to take my mind off the fact that my psycho cousin, Miles De'Luca, keeps calling and declaring his love and promising to come for me just as soon as he's destroyed anyone standing in our way. Wes isn't going to like that idea. So between Miles, Wood Point's evil welcoming committee, and the drill sergeant hottie trainer from hell, I just keep asking myself, how did I end up here?
Review: I truly adore this series, and in my opinion, book 2 was even better than book 1. After the battle in Dirty Blood, Tara's mom and grandmother send her to Wood Point Academy. There, she will train and learn the history behind her hunter background. As soon as Tara arrives, she knows she will never be embraced by the people at the school. They know that she is a"Dirty Blood" and most of them want nothing to do with her.

Tara is then introduced to Alex who will be training her to fight. He isn't very fond of her either so she knows their battles will be just full of excitement. Training with a super hot guy? SCORE. Training with a super hot guy who doesn't like that you exist? Bummer. But just maybe Tara can show him that there is much more to her than what he first thinks.

Luckily, Tara isn't alone with her school-time isolation. Cambria and Logan quickly take her under their wing and help her survive. They were terrific friends and really accepting. Cambria really didn't care what anyone thought of her and she stayed by Tara's side even with Tara's enemy/roommate tried to make her life hell.

We don't get a chance to see Wes much in this one and I gotta say, I didn't really miss that. Team Alex! Although Tara tries to keep in touch with Wes, he just never seems to open up. I felt Alex was more genuine and honest.

I think one of the big reasons why I love this series is because Tara is an incredible heroine! She does not back down and even with faced with the toughest fighter at the school (Alex) she shows him exactly what she can do. And, the plot is so fascinating. I love the werewolf/hunter/mix dynamic and seeing what new information is found out as the characters go along. For Tara, the bad guy is still out there and his plans are shocking.

Heather Hildenbrand has created a series that never lacks in action, drama, or suspense. The characters are strong and realistic and the surprises just keep coming!

Recommended: For paranormal readers or anyone who enjoys a nice spin on werewolf tales. Also, people who are fans of a strong heroine. Dirty Blood is book 1 in the series. Cold blood is book 2.

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Destiny's Fire by Trisha Wolfe
Omnific Publishing (January 10th, 2012)
Paperback: 159 pages
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Author/Publisher
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
It’s the year 2040, and sixteen-year-old Dez Harkly is one of the last of her kind—part of a nearly extinct race of shape-shifters descended from guardians to the Egyptian pharaohs. Her home and her secret are threatened when the Council lowers the barrier, allowing the enemy race to enter the Shythe haven.

As the Narcolym airships approach, Dez and her friends rebel against their Council and secretly train for battle. Not only is Dez wary of war and her growing affection for her best friend Jace, but she fears the change her birthday will bring. When Dez’s newfound power rockets out of control, it’s a Narcolym who could change her fate… if she can trust him.

Dez’s guarded world crumbles when she discovers why the Narcos have really come to Haven Falls, and she's forced to choose between the race who raised her and the enemy she's feared her whole life.
Review: I must say that I honestly didn't know what to expect when I started reading this book. I knew I loved Trisha's writing from what I read in her short story Unveiled, but this was my first time reading a steampunk novel. But as soon as I started reading, all my worries flew away. Destiny's Fire grabbed me on page 1. Literally, and if you've read the book, you know why! Immediately in the story we meet Dez and the triplets — Jace, Lana, and Nick. We learn about their world in 2040 where the Narcolym are coming to start mingling with the Shythe. No one really likes this idea, especially Jace. Dez and the triplets train for a battle they feel will be inevitable.

As I mentioned, steampunk is new to me and I thought I would be completely confused by the terms. I should have factored in Trisha's fabulousness. She made it exciting! She completely described this foreign world to me in a way that helped me truly visualize it. It all made sense!

Dez was incredible. She was such a strong character and she really cared about her friends. This is all tested when Reese, a Narcolym, pushes his way into the picture. Jace and Reese do not get along, at all! Due to all of this conflict, Jace finally stars showing his feelings for Dez and she tries to see what is stronger, her feelings for her best friend or her best friend's new enemy. Drama! Reese is more than he seems though, and he shows Dez a part of her past that she didn't know existed.

Jace or Reese, Jace or Reese. It's like picking cake or ice cream. Trisha created the type of love triangle I adore. I could see the pull for each guy and they both did have a downside. No one was perfect and between Jace's temper and Reese's secrets, I could see the conflict Dez had between them.

The plot and action Trisha created in this story was also an unexpected turn. There was a great back-story, a lot of manipulation, and a powerful Council that both races had to deal with. I felt like I was thrown headfirst into this intense battle and I loved every minute of it! Dealing with all the craziness really helped Dez grow as a person. It was as if she was 3 years older by the end of the book.

I was very satisfied with how everything wrapped up but I gotta have book 2 soon!! Who can resist reading more of a wonderful story with a sizzling romantic love triangle? Not me!

Destiny's Fire gave me a taste of something new and I'm hooked! I can't wait to read more from Trisha Wolfe and see where she takes these characters next.

Recommended: Paranormal/steampunk readers or anyone who wants a taste of steampunk. Also, anyone who just loves a lot of drama, action, and hotness.

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Cross My Heart by Katie Klein
Published: March 15th, 2011
Ebook: 225 pages
Source: Purchased
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
True love can blossom in unexpected places. This is Jaden pretending not to notice..

Jaden McEntyre and Parker Whalen are a wrong fit from the start. Jaden is driven and focused, Harvard Med School within reach. Parker has a past-a reputation-and the rumors about his mysterious habits abound. So there's no reason why, when they're assigned to work together on a project in English, they should discover they have anything in common, or even like each other, and they definitely shouldn't be falling in love.

As they bond over Edith Wharton's tragic novella, Ethan Frome, the"bad boy" vibe Parker plays begins to dissipate. Soon, Jaden finds herself shedding her own"good girl" image: sneaking around to be with him, confiding in him, and ultimately falling hard for this leather-wearing, motorcycle-driving loner who plays into the rebel stereotype.

Still, Jaden can't shake the feeling that there's more to Parker than he's letting on. He's hiding something from her, and discovering the truth means reconciling the Parker she's grown to love with the person he really is. Because it's possible that his life inside the classroom-everything Jaden knows-is one, massive lie.
Review: This book simply blew me away! That's probably why it was featured in so many of my Top 10 of 2011 posts. It is incredible, brilliant, intense, shocking, and all other appraising words you can throw at it. I simply went browsing amazon one day and bumped into it. I was looking for a light, cute read. I got so much more than I bargained for.

Cross My Heart is from Jaden's point of view. Jaden is an amazing student. She has her sights set on Harvard and nothing can break her focus, until Parker comes along. Parker is quiet and already has a bad reputation. There are rumors swirling about his past and his current activities. Then, to Jaden's horror, she gets paired with him for an assignment. Jaden just wants to push through and get it over with. She is a bit blown away when Parker seems to care about his grade and is much more intelligent than he first seemed.

Slowly throughout the novel Parker's walls come down. He talks more with Jaden and helps her realize a lot about herself. Even though Jaden has the"perfect" boyfriend and everything in a nice place in her life, Parker helps her see the flaws in being perfect. In turn, Jaden helps Parker see kindness. Someone now cares for him and looks past the outside image.

They are the perfect-dysfunctional pair. Jaden was hilarious. Her interactions with Parker could not have been portrayed any better than they were. They didn't have"insta-love" or a relationship that was fake or forced. They slowly built a connection that grew into affection and, later, into love.

But love isn't the only factor in this book. There is a twist I wouldn't have seen coming if I had 10,000 chances to guess it. I'm not sure if a book has ever shocked me as much as this one.

I think I've only shared quotes from a book a few times in my reviews but I need to for this one!

Prepare to swoon…
(Sets scene) Parker is on Jaden's roof with a notebook in his hands.
“He turns another page, and I read:

I'M NOT ETHAN..
..AND I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE UP..
..UNTIL I CAN PROVE TO YOU..
..THAT YOU ARE THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS.

He flips to the next page.

SO KEEP SENDING ME AWAY..
..BUT I'LL JUST KEEP COMING BACK TO YOU.
AGAIN..

He flips to the next page.

..AND AGAIN..

And the next:

..AND AGAIN.

Goose bumps rise to the surface of my skin. I shiver, hugging myself tightly.

AND IF YOU CAN EVER FIND IT IN YOUR ❤ TO FORGIVE ME..
..I WILL DO EVERYTHING IT TAKES TO MAKE IT UP TO YOU..

He closes the notebook and tosses it beside him. It lands on the roof with a dull thwack. Then, lifting his index finger, he draws an X across his chest.

Cross my heart.”
Ahhhh! For more quotes check out this page on Goodreads. But could anything be better than a guy doing that for you? FOR REAL! Reading this just makes me want to re-read the book! Do you ever read a book and then want to erase it from your mind so you can read it again without knowing what happens?? Am I the only crazy person who does that? It's rare, but it happened to me with this book. If I could tell people about 1 book from last year that was the most unexpected for me, it would be this book. Katie Klein's writing is not just incredible, but she was able to bring characters to life. I honestly cannot praise this book enough (as you can tell from this review).

Did I mention that Cross My Heart is only $3.99 on amazon!

Recommended: If you like a good romance at all, you have to get this book! Or, if you want something that will really shock you!

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Hallowed by Cynthia Hand
Publisher: HarperCollins (January 17th, 2011)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 416 pages
Source: ARC from publisher
Series: Unearthly, book #2
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.
Review: For the first time, I feel the need to start my review with a letter.

My letter to Christian:

Dear Christian,
How can you do this to me? I have always liked you but my heart belonged to Tucker. Then there you go, flapping your beautiful wings in front of my face and POOF, you fly away with my heart. It's not fair to play with my emotions like this Christian! Maybe it's your eyes, or your protective nature that makes you so irresistible. Either way, you have me flustered and questioning my feelings for Tucker. Tucker, who's rugged hotness and farm-boy ways made me swoon. Don't give me that look! You know exactly what you're doing. You haven't made this easy for me.

Sincerely,
Jessica

What can I really say about Hallowed that will do it justice (besides my heartfelt letter to Christian). Hallowed picks up where Unearthly leaves off and if you are worried that it won't live up to Unearthly's awesomeness, don't be! In Hallowed, Clara is struggling to figure out her purpose after the fire. There are still big mysteries surrounding what really happened and what it could mean to Clara.

Hallowed brings even more obstacles for Clara when she is faced with something devastating. I felt this was a turning point for her. She seemed to grow and mature in a way I didn't expect. During this time she wants to depend on Tucker but sometimes it's hard for him to understand her world. For this reason, it seemed inevitable that she will be linked to Christian. I must say that the tension this brings was strong for all characters involved. I admit, I enjoyed the.friction. between Tucker and Christian. It brought a lot of"typical teenage drama" to the story, which was a nice touch and helped ease some of the paranormal drama. If that makes sense: )

Christian grew on me during Hallowed. He has complicated my feelings! I have been 100% Team Tucker since the first time he annoyed Clara but now, I just don't know. If you are a fan of love triangles (raises hand!) then you will love this book!

Another thing I liked about Hallowed is that we get a chance to meet the community Clara is now part of. She learns a lot about her past and what could be ahead of her. I think this was another thing that really made her change and mature. She is getting a better grasp of what she may have to deal with later on.

While Unearthly may have introduced us to a world of White Wings and Black Wings, Hallowed explores more of the connection between the characters and the conflicts that come from a battle that may be impossible to win. Cynthia Hand has created a magical world with intriguing characters you can't help but love.

Recommended: For freakin' EVERYONE!

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