{Review} Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt

Going Vintage
by Lindsey Leavitt
Pages: 320
Release Date: March 26, 2013
by Bloomsbury

Goodreads / Pre-Order

When Mallory’s boyfriend, Jeremy, cheats on her with an online girlfriend, Mallory decides the best way to de-Jeremy her life is to de-modernize things too. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in1962, Mallory swears off technology and returns to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn’t cheat with computer avatars). The List: 1. Run for pep club secretary 2. Host a fancy dinner party/soiree 3. Sew a dress for Homecoming 4. Find a steady 5. Do something dangerous But simple proves to be crazy-complicated, and the details of the past begin to change Mallory’s present. Add in a too-busy grandmother, a sassy sister, and the cute pep-club president–who just happens to be her ex’s cousin–and soon Mallory begins to wonder if going vintage is going too far.

*A copy was provided by Bloomsbury for review purposes*

What a cute, fun read!  Seriously, am I the only one who thinks this book would make the perfect movie?  I absolutely loved the idea and how Leavitt proved a point with this book.  The writing was funny, witty, and entertaining, and the story line was awesome.  I really loved all the different components of the book, especially the characters and how Mallory grew over the course of the story.  The romance was so sweet and cute to read about, and I really loved the twists and the ending in this book.

Mallory was really the perfect main character in this book.  I really respect several of her decisions throughout the book and I’m glad that Leavitt wrote her like she did.  I loved how Mallory grew over the course of the story, and how she was strong and independent, and sometimes funny as well.  Oliver was pretty awesome as well, and I really loved that he was such a sweet, nice guy and didn’t mess with Mallory.

This book was an awesome coming-off-age story that I thoroughly enjoyed.  The only reason I didn’t give this book 5 stars was the few boring parts with the grandma and sewing, but other than that this book was pretty awesome and exciting!

SMALL NOTE: Sorry my past couple reviews have been really short.  It’s been a while since I’ve written a review and I’m kind of out of practice, but I’ll try to improve in the future :)

4.5 pink flowers

Dualed Blog Tour Stop

Welcome to the Dualed blog tour, hosted by Sarah at The Book Life! Dualed is an exciting, fast-paced dystopian and the debut novel for author Elsie Chapman. We're so excited to be promoting Elsie and her book and we are so grateful to you for stopping by to join in on the fun! If you've already read and loved Dualed, feel free to help us spread the love. If you haven't read it yet, then we hope we can get you excited for it!

Dualed

by Elsie Chapman

Series: Dualed #1

Pages: 3047

Release Date: February 26, 2013

by Random House

Goodreads / Pre-Order

You or your Alt? Only one will survive.

The city of Kersh is a safe haven, but the price of safety is high. Everyone has a genetic Alternate—a twin raised by another family—and citizens must prove their worth by eliminating their Alts before their twentieth birthday. Survival means advanced schooling, a good job, marriage—life.

Fifteen-year-old West Grayer has trained as a fighter, preparing for the day when her assignment arrives and she will have one month to hunt down and kill her Alt. But then a tragic misstep shakes West’s confidence. Stricken with grief and guilt, she’s no longer certain that she’s the best version of herself, the version worthy of a future. If she is to have any chance of winning, she must stop running not only from her Alt, but also from love . . . though both have the power to destroy her.

Elsie Chapman's suspenseful YA debut weaves unexpected romance into a novel full of fast-paced action and thought-provoking philosophy. When the story ends, discussions will begin about this future society where every adult is a murderer and every child knows there is another out there who just might be better.

*A copy was provided by Random House for review purposes*

Wow, what a kick-ass book!  This was definitely a thrill-ride!  This book was action packed, fast paced, and breathtaking.  I really, really liked the idea for this book, even though it wasn’t an airtight idea (what if you and your Alt meet before you’re assigned? What if a completed goes nuts and becomes a mass-murdered?), and the writing was just awesome.  I really loved the beginning and ending of this book.  The middle was a bit more boring, not much was happening, but I did enjoy the rest of the story.  I thought I knew what was going to happen in this book, but Chapman added a little something to the story line.  I kind of wish she had chosen something else to add other than what she chose, because I don’t think the twist added anything to the story, and the excuse for the twist was horrible because nothing happened because of it.  I really enjoyed the story line though, and the ending was beyond thrilling.  I also liked the little hint of romance in the book – I think it was just the touch the book needed.  I liked the way Chapman developed it, and it didn’t take over the story, but was still present.

With such a strong, kick-ass book must come a strong, kick-ass heroine…and that was West.  She was freaking awesome!  I absolutely loved her!  She was smart, fierce, and kick-butt, but she had her weaknesses and flaws, and that made her a very interesting character, and I could kind of connect with her.  I also enjoyed the romance, and I liked how Chord was written.  I really appreciate the guy, because it’s obvious he’s really nice, but I liked the way he treated West, and I liked how he supported her.

I don’t have any idea where Chapman is going to go with the second book.  There weren’t any loose ends or things left unexplained, so maybe she’ll go on further with the little twist in the story that I mentioned.  I don’t know what she’s going to do, but I’m excited, for sure!

4 pink flowers

~Playlist~

Eyes Open by Taylor Swift

Radioactive by Imagine Dragons

~Giveaway~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~Follow the Tour~

2/25/13 Sarah @ The Book Life – Tour kick-off and Interview w/ Elsie

2/26/13 Jenna @ Making the Grade - Guest Post

2/27/13 Kristan @ Lost Amongst the Shelves - Review

2/28/13 Anna @ Literary Exploration - Guest Post

3/1/13 Inky @ Book Haven Extraordinaire - Review

3/2/13 Joli @ Actin’ Up with Books - Guest Post

3/4/13 Sara @ Forever 17 Books - Review

3/5/13 Tara @ Hobbitsies - Guest Post

3/6/13 Lilian @ A Novel Toybox - Guest Post

3/7/13 Kayla @ Bibliophilia, Please - Review

3/8/13 Emily @ Emily's Crammed Bookshelf - Review

3/9/13 Michelle @ Passionate Bookworm - Review

{Review} The Mirrored Shard by Caitlin Kittredge

The Mirrored Shard
by Caitlin Kittredge
Series: The Mirrored Shard #3
Pages: 304
Release Date: February 12, 2013
by Delacorte Press

Goodreads / Pre-Order

Aoife Grayson must face death to win back Dean—the love who was ripped from the Iron Lands of the living when he was shot in the arctic north. But getting to the Deadlands is something that Aoife can't do on her own. And if she can find a way there, Tremaine would surely never allow it. He has sworn to keep her in the Thorn Lands, the fairie home of her mother, Nerissa. But Aoife is determined to find her way out. And she has no trouble if that means she has to kill Tremain and his queen to do it.

*A copy was provided by Random House for review purposes*

Gah!  I’m so sad!  This series started out SO GREAT, and then it sunk like a stone, getting steadily worse over the course of the series.  This book is the final book, and, unfortunately, the worst.  The writing wasn’t awesome, and the story line was so simple, and the staging was absolutely horrible.  In the first book, The Iron Thorn, the escapes were very difficult, thrilling, and believable, the story line was smooth and flowing, and the staging was perfect, but in this book, it was the complete opposite.  The escapes were so easy!  Every single time either something “lucky” happened or someone just “happened” to leave a door unlocked (that didn’t actually happen, but it was kind of like that).  The story line was horrible, bumpy, and the staging was absolutely horrible.  Kittredge introduced and got rid of characters as she pleased, trying to introduce the next place Aoife had to go in the book, and it was so annoying to read.  And, speaking of annoying, pretty much every single chapter ended on a really dramatic, completely irrelevant line.  Example:

“My name,” I said, glaring at him.  “It’s not ‘little girl’.  It’s Aoife.”

~page 243, uncorrected ARC edition

Gah!  It drove me nuts!

In the first book, I absolutely loved Aoife and Dean, and the romance between them, but in this book, I hated it!  Aoife was such a strong character in the first book, but in this one Kittredge tied to hard to make her seem tough and kick-ass.  Instead, she sounded stuck-up and cocky.  Example:

“You have no idea what I can imagine.  Or endure.”

~page 212, uncorrected ARC edition

All.  Book.  Long.  Aoife was all “I’m so awesome, I’m so strong, I’m so kick-butt”.  It was so annoying,  Also, Dean wasn’t really featured in this book at all, so that was kind of disappointing.

This series started off so good, with The Iron Thorn, then it got worse, with The Nightmare Garden, and then just plummeted with this book, and I really, really wish that Kittredge could have followed through with this series.

1 pink flower

YADP Post: Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook

Young Adult Debut Promotions (YADP) is a post I do to help out debut authors, and to get them noticed.  My posts will definitely include a feature of the book, a feature of the author, and a giveaway, with an interview, guest post, or excerpt optional.  If you would like more information about YADP click here and scroll down until you come to the section talking about it.

Today I am featuring...


Kristin Halbrook
And she will be doing an interview and giveaway!

~The Book~



Nobody But Us

by Kristin Halbrook

Pages: 272

Release Date: January 29, 2013

by HarperTeen

Goodreads / Purchase

Bonnie and Clyde meets IF I STAY in this addictively heart-wrenching story of two desperate teenagers on the run from their pasts.

They’re young. They’re in love. They’re on the run.

Zoe wants to save Will as much as Will wants to save Zoe. When Will turns eighteen, they decide to run away together. But they never expected their escape to be so fraught with danger....

When the whole world is after you, sometimes it seems like you can’t run fast enough.

Nobody But Us, told in alternating perspectives from Will and Zoe, is an unflinching novel, in turns heartbreaking and hopeful, about survival, choices, and love...and how having love doesn’t always mean that you get a happy ending. Described as “beautiful, heartbreaking, and exhilarating” by Kody Keplinger, author of The DUFF, Nobody But Us will prove irresistible to fans of Nina Lacour, Jenny Han, and Sara Zarr.

*A copy was provided by HarperTeen for review purposes*

Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever read a debut this sad and this heartbreaking…it was just such a strong book…I’m so impressed with Halbrook.  The writing was really, really awesome, and the idea was really good as well.  The situation that these characters were in…no one should have to deal with stuff like that.  The story line was very good, and it wasn’t a boring book by any means.  It shows a whole another side of the YA contemporary genre, and a whole another side of life.  The ending…oh my gosh.  I sat there for literally two minutes after I read that ending.  I can’t believe that what happened happened.  I don’t usually cry at the endings of books, but I almost did in this one.  I can’t decide if I liked what Halbrook did after the ending.  SPOILER ALERT:[ I feel like Halbrook probably should have made Zoe a little more sad over the fact that Will died, but then on the other hand I liked that Halbrook didn’t go through 10 pages of Zoe crying…so I think I like that Halbrook just moved on.]

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with this kind of cast before.  The amount of crap that Zoe and Will had to deal with as young kids was just horrifying.  SPOILER ALERT:[I completely understand that Will had a difficult childhood, but if my boyfriend (HA, yeah, that’s a dream) had been kicked out of multiple schools for fighting, and had killed someone with a wine bottle, I would be sprinting the other way.]  Will was trying to fix stuff, and he was trying to make things right, but he kept on messing it up with each stupid and violent thing he did.  I know Halbrook wrote him like this to make a point, and I don’t think I’m supposed to like him, so I don’t really feel bad about not liking him.  Zoe is interesting too.  Halbrook made the romance and the characters this messed up on purpose, to show people what sometimes really happens in the world, and there are probably people out there just like Will and Zoe.  Zoe, I think, grew a ton over the course of this book, and I loved watching her change.  She was smart, strong, and tough.

This is definitely the most though-provoking and strong YA contemporary book I’ve read…I think ever.  The messed up characters, imperfect romance, and horrible situation made for a heartbreaking, sad, and riveting story.

4 pink flowers

~Author Interview~

1. Why did you become a writer?

Like so many authors, the desire to write has been with me since I was very little. I loved doing reports at school, entered (and sometimes won!) poetry, short story and essay contests throughout school, and generally loved to make up stories. I wrote terrible fantasy-based fiction as a teen, but took a break for a little while to write a zillion papers in college. A few years after that, I sold an essay to a magazine. It was a defining "I'm a writer" moment. I think the little check that came with the acceptance letter was a big help with that. After, I started novels that I only sometimes finished--my writing apprenticeship--until my craft was good enough to get an agent, and then a publishing contract. Always, this is simply what I wanted to do.

2. Who were your biggest influences?

All the authors I read over the course of my life. It's hard to rate them against each other, because each, from the heavy classics to the oft-mocked Babysitter's Club, contributed to my writing development. A writer will never be a great writer unless she is a great reader. Outside of writing, my parents and family have always been a great influence, encouraging me to follow my dreams and trusting that I knew the best way to achieve them, even if I took a misstep here or there.

3. When and how did you get the idea for Nobody But Us?

I honestly can't remember when--probably right before I started writing it a couple years ago! I tend to take ideas and run with them. As for how, I knew, first of all, that I wanted to write a character with good intentions whose life was a result of a system that hadn't prepared him to be the person he wanted to be. I wanted to write about a person desperate to improve, but who lacked resources. So it was about Will's story, in the beginning.

4. Do you have a special routine you do when writing?  Do you have a place you like to write?

I don't have a special routine. I'm always scared that if I did, and my routine was compromised, I would be unable to write. And I never want to be in that position. I try to set daily goals and reach them at the best times and in the best places. I enjoy writing in my home office, sprawled on the couch and at local coffee shops.

5. Do you like cats or dogs?

I'm 100% a dog person.

6. Dark chocolate or milk chocolate?

Ooooh, both? Probably dark chocolate over milk chocolate, but sometimes the lighter chocolate is nice. It's always a good idea to eat richer, high quality chocolate because a little goes a long way. Mmmm chocolate.

7. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

Pistachio! Yup, I was that weird kid who liked the green ice cream--the one that *didn't* have chocolate chips in it. I'm also a fan of Ben And Jerry's Mudslide, too. Their favorite of mine, though, was the Coconut Almond Fudge Chip. They don't make it anymore. :(

8. What is your favorite movie?

The English Patient. Also, Pan's Labyrinth. I love the direction, cinematography, acting and stories for each. Gorgeous films. I tend to prefer the more dramatic films as a whole, though an evening with Mean Girls is fun, too.

9. Is there another book in the works?  If so, what can we expect?

Definitely! Lots of projects. The most important is my next contemporary, which contains secretive pasts, lists of promises, redemption and fear.



~Plus a Little Extra Awesome~



Kristin's Top Ten Dream Road Trips

Since Nobody But Us features a road trip, I thought I would make of list of the top five places I want to road trip. I have taken a few gorgeous road trips already: Washington State to Yellowstone National Park, Highway 101 down the west coast, through the Olympic Rain Forest and down the Fife Coast from St. Andrews in Scotland. Here are some more I'd love to take:

5. The Cascade Loop. Gorgeous mountain and valley scenery, wildlife and breathtaking lakes, and small town charm are highlights of this trip around the Cascade mountain range in Washington.

4. Eastern Canada. Starting at Niagara Falls and routing through Toronto, Montreal and so-pretty Quebec City before making it to Prince Edward Island to see the Anne of Green Gables sites. Ideally, this would be an autumn trip full of delicious harvest food stops.

3. Australia's Great Ocean Road. From Brisbane and the beautiful beaches of the Gold Coast to cosmopolitan Sydney and finally Melbourne to visit some friends Down Under. This time of year, a trip like this with the promise of sun is especially appealing. The wineries along the way for samples don't hurt, either.

2. Russian River Cruise. Okay, this isn't technically a road trip. It's . . . a waterway version of the classic highway trip! I'd love to cruise from majestic St. Petersburg to fascinating and vibrant Moscow, visiting the lovely Golden Ring towns in between.

1. Hai Van Pass, Vietnam. I've been keen to visit Vietnam and Cambodia for some time, and this windy road with striking ocean views and atmospheric misty scenery would be the perfect way to get out of the cities for a time. It can be a dangerous road, but I'd still prefer the old route to the newer tunnel.

~Get to know Kristin Halbrook~

Bio:

When I was little, I wanted to be a writer, the President of the USA or the first female NFL quarterback. Despite being able to throw a wicked spiral, I didn't really grow to the size needed for the NFL. Then, as I got older and studied more, I came to realize there were better ways to effect positive change than becoming president. The first one, however, stuck. Even when I was pursuing other dreams, I always took time to write here and there. NOBODY BUT US will be published by HarperChildren's in 2013.

When I'm not writing or reading (which is what I do all day, in all of my work), I'm spending time with pixies, my Mad Scot soulmate, and one grumpy cocker spaniel; traveling across oceans and time; cooking and baking up a storm and watching sunsets and waves crash on the beach. I currently live, love and explore in The Emerald City, though I occasionally make wispy, dream-like plans to move to New York, Paris or a Scottish castle one day (if just temporarily).

Connect:

Goodreads | Twitter | Website

~Giveaway~

The Rules:

~There will be one winner

~Giveaway ends on February 9 @ 12:00 A.M.
~This giveaway is INT

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Thanks for checking out this post!  If you could share it with a friend that would be really great.  The whole point of this post was to get an awesome debut author noticed, so if you could help that would be great!

Review: What We Saw At Night

What We Saw At Night
by Jaquelyn Mitchard
Pages: 272
Release Date: January 8, 2013
by Soho Teen

Goodreads / Purchase

Allie Kim suffers from Xeroderma Pigmentosum: a fatal allergy to sunlight that confines her and her two best friends, Rob and Juliet, to the night. When freewheeling Juliet takes up Parkour—the stunt-sport of scaling and leaping off tall buildings—Allie and Rob have no choice but to join her, if only to protect her. Though potentially deadly, Parkour after dark makes Allie feel truly alive, and for the first time equal to the “daytimers.”

On a random summer night, the trio catches a glimpse of what appears to be murder. Allie alone takes it upon herself to investigate, and the truth comes at an unthinkable price. Navigating the shadowy world of specialized XP care, extreme sports, and forbidden love, Allie ultimately uncovers a secret that upends everything she believes about the people she trusts the most.

*A copy was provided by Soho Teen for review purposes*

I can honestly say that I have never read a book like What We Saw At Night…but it doesn’t automatically follow that it was an awesome book.  I must admit that I was a bit disappointed in it.  While the idea was really good, I feel like the story moved a little too slow, with a lot of unnecessary info-dumps throughout the book, which I usually just skipped.  There wasn’t a lot of action, but the plot was kind of complex, and it was interesting.  The writing was pretty good, and I liked how Mitchard got right into the story, but I just didn’t really click with this book.

I wasn’t a huge fan of this cast either, although, I will admit, they made the book more interesting.  I think the most interesting character was Juliet.  She was definitely spirited, but also kind of annoying.  She wasn’t exactly the best friend you could ever ask for, and she was kind of mean as well.  I wasn’t a huge fan of Allie either. She didn’t really have much personality, and she was kind of boring.  Rob was my favorite character in this book, and that was mostly just because he was pretty nice and he was a guy ;P

I really wish I could have liked this book a bit more, but I just didn’t really enjoy it.  What with the slow storyline and the meh characters, I had to give this book a not-so-great rating.

2.5 pink flowers

Review: Touch of Death

Touch of Death
by Kelly Hashway
Series: Touch of Death #1
Pages: 229
Release Date: January 15, 2013
by Spencer Hill Press

Goodreads / Pre-Order

Jodi Marshall isn't sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she's in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she's being stalked by some guy no one seems to know.
After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he's not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she's part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendants of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned blood writhing in their veins.
Jodi's deadly to the living and even more deadly to the deceased. She has to leave her old, normal life behind before she hurts the people she loves. As if that isn't difficult enough, Jodi discovers she's the chosen one who has to save the rest of her kind from perishing at the hands of Hades. If she can't figure out how to control her power, history will repeat itself, and her race will become extinct.

*A copy was provided by Spencer Hill press for review purposes*

Even though I’ve heard of books like this one, this is the only “my kiss/touch can kill you” book I’ve ever read, and I must admit, it was pretty decent.  I really loved how Hashway got right into the story from literally the first sentence, and then kept the non-stop action going from then on.  The idea was really good and original, and the writing was good.  I do feel like around the ending of the middle/the beginning of the end of this book Hashway got a little sloppy, and the story suffered for it.  Her writing became choppy, and it was like she was trying to make it fast-paced, but didn’t write it correctly.  Also, there was a bit of a twist concerning the romance, and when I read about it I literally groaned because the story was so good up until that point, and then it got so clichéd afterwards.  But other than that, this was a really great book.  I loved the twists and turns and the romance.  The ending was also really good.  Sometimes authors make it too sudden, or they make it too easy, but in this book Hashway wasn’t guilty of either of these things, so props to her.

This cast was relatively small – two characters – but I really enjoyed reading about Alex and Jodi’s story.  Alex is just awesome – funny, smart-ass, cute, nice, and sexy.  He really cracked me up, and most of the book I was like “why aren’t your real?!”.  I also really liked Jodi.  She was feisty, smart, kick-butt, and also smart-ass, so they balance each other off nicely.

Even though there was a twist I didn’t like and some choppy writing, this was an action-packed, fast-paced, kick-ass book with a freaking awesome cover, so I ended up really enjoying it.

3.5 pink flowers

Review: Timekeeper

Timekeeper
by Alexandra Monir
Series: Timeless #2
Pages: 288
Release Date: January 8, 2013
by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Goodreads / Pre-Order

When Philip Walker appears as a new student in Michele Windsor's high school class, she is floored. He is the love she thought she lost forever when they said goodbye during her time travels last century. Overjoyed that they can resume the relationship they had a lifetime ago, Michele eagerly approaches him and discovers the unthinkable: he doesn't remember her. In fact, he doesn't seem to remember anything about the Philip Walker of 1910. Michele then finds her father's journals, which tell stories of his time-traveling past. As she digs deeper, she learns about his entanglement with a mysterious and powerful organization called the Time Society and his dealings with a vengeful Windsor ancestor. Michele soon finds herself at the center of a rift over 120 years in the making, one whose resolution will have life-or-death consequences. Alexandra Monir's Timekeeper combines breathtaking romance with a tale of complex magic in a sequel that will have every reader believing in the transcendent power of love.

*A copy was provided by Delacorte Press for review purposes*

After reading the first book in this series, Timeless, I was pretty excited to find out how the love story of Michelle and Phillip would continue.  Timeless left off on a bit of a cliffhanger, so I couldn’t wait to read the next book.  And, in fact, I think that this book is actually better than Timeless.  I felt like more happened in this book.  It was a really good continuation to the series, and more complex than the first book.  Timeless was focused completely on the romance between Michelle and Phillip developing, but I loved that Monir spiced it up a bit.  Timekeeper had much more action, was faster paced, but still had really good writing.  Pretty much the only thing I can say bad about it is I feel the ending, which should have been really thrilling, well, wasn’t.  It was over way to fast, and it was kind of a too-easy solution to the problem, if you understand what I mean.

I really loved Michelle and Phillip in Timeless, and I really liked them again in this book.  Even though Phillip was a little different, I still enjoyed him falling in love with Michelle (again).  He was really sweet, handsome, and just a nice guy.  I’m glad that Michelle wasn’t a weak character, because sometimes in books like these the main female character relies on the guy, but Michelle didn’t.  She was feisty, smart, and strong, which I really appreciate.

This book was much more fast-paced and exciting than Timeless, and for that I like it a bit more than the first book.  There was more going on, and the story line was a bit more complex.  I can’t wait to see what Monir comes up with next!!

4.5 pink flowers


The Timeless series so far:

*Click here to check out my review of Timeless*

Review: The Dead and Buried

The Dead and Buried
by Kim Harrington
Pages: 304
Release Date: January 1, 2013
by Point

Goodreads / Purchase

A haunted house, a buried mystery, and a very angry ghost make this one unforgettable thriller.

Jade loves the house she's just moved into with her family. She doesn't even mind being the new girl at the high school: It's a fresh start, and there's that one guy with the dreamy blue eyes. . . . But then things begin happening. Strange, otherworldly things. Jade's little brother claims to see a glimmering girl in his room. Jade's jewelry gets moved around, as if by an invisible hand. Kids at school whisper behind her back like they know something she doesn't.

Soon, Jade must face an impossible fact: that her perfect house is haunted. Haunted by a ghost who's seeking not just vengeance, but the truth. The ghost of a girl who ruled Jade's school — until her untimely death last year. It's up to Jade to put the pieces together before her own life is at stake. As Jade investigates the mystery, she discovers that her new friends in town have more than a few deep, dark secrets. But is one of them a murderer.

*A copy was provided by Point in exchange for an honest review*

This is probably going to be a pretty short review, because I don’t really have a lot to say about this book.  In the beginning of this book, I was really loving it.  the writing was awesome, the idea was really original, and the story line was really good.  But I can’t help but be a little disappointed in this book.  For one thing, I don’t really feel like the mystery part of the book was very well executed.  The way the main character found out who was guilty wasn’t very well done, and the motive, while kind of believable, wasn’t that good either.

This cast of characters is average.  There is the love interest, and the main character; simple.  And that’s kind of what the characters were: average and simple.  There wasn’t really a reason for me to hate Donovan and Jude, the love interest and main character, but by the same token there wasn’t really a reason to love them either.  Jude was smart, nice, and pretty cool, and Donovan was cute, nice…and that’s about it.

After absolutely loving this book in the beginning, it went downhill, and ended up liking only a little.



2.5 pink flowers

Review: Deity

Deity
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Series: Covenant #3
Release Date: November 6, 2012
by Spencer Hill Press

Goodreads / Pre-Order

Alexandria isn't sure she's going to make it to her eighteenth birthday--to her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she's a goner... and so is Aiden. If that's not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time "training"--which really is just Seth's code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time--she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome. But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she's caught between love and Fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed... and destroyed. Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate...

*A copy was provided by Spencer Hill Press for review purposes*

Note: There are a few spoilers in this review, but they will be marked off with brackets [ ] to signify them starting and ending. I would suggest you don’t read those parts unless you've read this book, or you just don’t care about spoilers.

Even though there were some similarities to Vampire Academy in the first to books of this series, as it progresses it starts to draw away from the VA story line and follow its own.

One thing that Armentrout has been very consistent in with this series is she always gets right into the action. This whole series is pretty much non-stop action, and I love that. I like being entertained. The writing was really good, as usual, and there were a ton of funny parts that I laughed at. However, there were a few problems, and they all had to do with the story line:

[[Problem #1: In Pure Alex goes to the Covenant headquarters and sees a servant there who isn’t doped out with the elixir like the rest. Armentrout mentioned the servant several times. And then, in this book, it turns out that he is Alex’s father. Now, the second Armentrout introduced him, I knew he would be Alex’s father. It might just be that I’m exceptionally smart, or it could be that it was kind of obvious. However, I didn't see the next big shocker that was a result of him being Alex’s father, so props to Armentrout for that.]

[Problem #2: In this book, Alex and her guardians were talking about the gods and why the Apollyons were created. It’s a really imaginative idea by Armentrout, but her reasoning behind it isn’t rock solid. Apparently, the gods didn't want an uprising, so they called all their kids (the pures) and those who didn’t come were killed. But, they completely forgot about the halfs (the product of pures and mortals). So they created the Apollyons to keep the halfs in check. What I don’t understand is why, when the gods figured out they had forgotten the halfs, they didn't just kill them then. It was a huge plot hole, and Armentrout failed to correct it.]

Because of those two plot holes, I didn’t like this book as much as the others, but it was still pretty good by its own rights. The story line was really good, the staging was really good, and the ending was really good. I loved that Armentrout did explain some things at the end that didn’t make sense in the beginning. Also, she ended the book with the biggest freaking cliffhanger in the history of all cliffhangers. I felt like screaming!

I said in my review of Pure that I was totally Team Seth. Well, sorry Seth, Aiden is my man! And whoo-weeee, is Aiden ever smokin’. He is so sexy and kick-ass and cute and nice and gosh…I can’t even find the words to describe him I love him so much. Go Aiden!!
Yeah, I’ve completely fallen of the Seth bandwagon. Any ground he gained in Pure he totally lost in this book. I know despise him with every fiber of my being. He’s mean, abusive, a jerk, and a manipulator, and I hope Alex kicks his butt for me.
Alex is pretty much the only one I didn’t do a complete 180 on. She’s still kick-butt, big-mouthed, and funny.

This book had a ton of things going for it, with action and romance (*fans self*) and AIDEN (*fans self and then faints*) but because of two HUGE plot holes, I unfortunately have to lower my rating. But Armentrout better get the fourth book out asap or I swear I will die from the suspense. DO YOU REALLY WANT THAT ON YOUR CONSCIENCE, ARMENTROUT!?!?

3.5 pink flowers

Review: League of Strays

League of Strays
by L.B. Schulman
Pages: 288
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: October 1, 2012
by Amulet

Goodreads / Amazon

This suspenseful debut follows a group of teenage misfits in their delicious quest for revenge on those who have wronged them at their high school. When a mysterious note appears in Charlotte’s mailbox inviting her to join the League of Strays, she’s hopeful it will lead to making friends. What she discovers is a motley crew of loners and an alluring, manipulative ringleader named Kade. Kade convinces the group that they need one another both for friendship and to get back at the classmates and teachers who have betrayed them. But Kade has a bigger agenda. In addition to vandalizing their school and causing fights between other students, Kade’s real intention is a dangerous plot that will threaten lives and force Charlotte to choose between her loyalty to the League and her own conscience.

*A copy was provided by Amulet for review purposes*

I think I can safely say that I have never read a book like this one. From the cover, I was thinking that this book was a paranormal, but it turns out it’s contemporary. I was surprised by this. But, other than the misleading cover, I though it was a pretty good book.

The idea, the writing, the story line, the staging, everything was there in this book. The idea is one of the most original ones I’ve read of in a long time, the writing was superb, flowing together perfectly, and the story line was really good too. The beginning was a bit iffy to me, but once I got farther into the story I started to enjoy it. I though the staging was really good too. Schulman did a really good job of dropping hints about the “bad guy” (I won’t say his name) and how Charlotte grew to realize the truth. I also love how there was a happy ending. Ok, so it’s not necessarily a happy ending, like when they kiss and ride of into the sunset, more like a satisfying one, because you wanted it to end that way.

This is seriously one of the best casts I’ve seen in a long time. I loved how they were each from different walks of life, each dealing with their own problems, but were still able to be friends.
I will say that from the minute he was introduced, I hated Kade. I just had a feeling. He seemed really dark and evil and just creepy.
Even though in the middle of the book I didn’t really like her, by the end I did enjoy reading about Charlotte. The whole book, when the League was doing horrible, wrong things, I was waiting for her to step in and stop them, and when she didn’t I started to get kind of annoyed, but by the end of the book I liked her again.
Two of the supporting cast-members I really liked: Zoe and Richie. I loved how Zoe went from creepy, scary, look-at-me-and-you-die to nice, pretty, and sociable. I also liked how Richie went from being kind of a door-mat when people made fun of him for being gay to standing up for himself and not taking it anymore.
The one supporting cast member that I don’t like is Nora. I liked her in the beginning, but by the middle of the book I hated her as much as Kade.

Before I sign off I have to go into detail about what I think of this cover. First off, if you hadn’t read this book or the summery and were only looking at the cover, would you say it was a paranormal or contemporary book? If you picked paranormal, that’s what I would pick too. It looks nothing like a contemporary book.
On the other hand, this cover is perfect for this book, because of the actual people getting photographed. The guy looks just like I imagined Kade, and the girl looks just like I imagined Charlotte, so this cover is good and bad at the same time.

3 pink flowers

Review: Through To You

Through To You
by Emily Hainsworth
Pages: 272
Release Date: October 2, 2012
by Balzer + Bray

Goodreads / Amazon

Camden Pike has been grief-stricken since his girlfriend, Viv, died. Viv was the last good thing in his life: helping him rebuild his identity after a career-ending football injury, picking up the pieces when his home life shattered, and healing his pain long after the meds wore off. And now, he’d give anything for one more glimpse of her. But when Cam makes a visit to the site of Viv’s deadly car accident, he sees some kind of apparition. And it isn’t Viv.

The apparition’s name is Nina, and she’s not a ghost. She’s a girl from a parallel world, and in this world, Viv is still alive. Cam can’t believe his wildest dreams have come true. All he can focus on is getting his girlfriend back, no matter the cost. But things are different in this other world: Viv and Cam have both made very different choices, things between them have changed in unexpected ways, and Viv isn’t the same girl he remembers. Nina is keeping some dangerous secrets, too, and the window between the worlds is shrinking every day. As Cam comes to terms with who this Viv has become and the part Nina played in his parallel story, he’s forced to choose—stay with Viv or let her go—before the window closes between them once and for all.

*Huge thank you to Montana @ The Book Belles for sending me an ARC of this book!*

Coming into this book, I was a little nervous. I’ve never read a contemporary book from a guy’s point of view, so I didn’t think I would like it very much. But I ended up enjoying it.

I’ve never read a book like this before, and it was a good introduction to the genre. It was kind of contemporary/sci-fi, and that’s an extremely imaginative idea, so I really appreciate that. The writing was really good, as was the story line. Several things that happened I didn’t see coming at all.
If you are looking for a light, fun read I wouldn’t recommend this one, because let me tell you, it’s sad. One problem that I had with this book is the world changing. It took me a while to understand which world Cam was in. It was also kind of slow-paced throughout, but other than that it was pretty good.

In this book, Hainsworth kind of portrays Viv as not such a great person. I’m sure that in the real world Viv is really nice, but in the alternate universe she’s really mean. I can understand why Hainsworth makes her out to be like that, but I didn’t particularly like it.
Cam is a really good character, I think. I’m actually surprised how much I liked him as the main character. And seriously, I felt so bad for the guy.
I also really liked Nina. She’s my favorite character of the book, and with good cause. She’s smart, grounded, and a good person. Go Nina!

This book has an ending that can only be called a “Happily Ever After” ending, and I’m so glad. For a debut, Hainsworth did an excellent job.

3.5 pink flowers

Review: Burn for Burn by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian

Burn for Burn
by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian
Series: Burn for Burn #1
Release Date: September 18, 2012
by Simon & Schuster

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Lillia has never had any problems dealing with boys who like her. Not until this summer, when one went too far. No way will she let the same thing happen to her little sister.Kat is tired of the rumours, the insults, the cruel jokes. It all goes back to one person– her ex-best friend– and she's ready to make her pay.Four years ago, Mary left Jar Island because of a boy. But she's not the same girl anymore. And she's ready to prove it to him.Three very different girls who want the same thing: sweet, sweet revenge. And they won't stop until they each had a taste.

*A copy was provided by Simon & Schuster for review purposes*

For some reason, I just am not a huge fan of this book.  When I first started it, I was like “Yeah!  This is going to be a really good contemporary read”, but I was kind of disappointed.  I don’t really like these kinds of books, when all they are about is revenge, so I guess that’s why I didn’t like it.  It was a good idea, just not one that I enjoy reading about.  I loved how Han and Vivian went right into the action, and how they switched between the past and present.  They did a great job of explaining the history as well, and the writing was superb.  The staging was really good as well, but the actual revenge ideas weren’t that good.  Actually, I take it back; one revenge idea wasn’t good (the Alex Revenge was super lame) but the other two were really good.  I also didn’t really like the little supernatural twist thrown in.  But the ending was really good.  Cliffhanger!!

It’s kind of hard to write about these characters.  On the one hand, I feel really bad for them and the things that happened to them.  On the other, I don’t like them because they are doing exactly the same thing as the people that hurt them.  But, I’ll give it a try.

I like all the main characters: Mary, Kat, and Lillia.  I like Mary because she went from being a timid little door-mat to standing up for herself.  I like Kat because she’s tough, defiant, and doesn’t take any crap.  And I like Lillia because she’s not a typical popular girl, but nice.

And I would really like to know which author wrote which character.  Does anyone know?

One last thing before I sign off: the cover.  I’m just guessing here, but, looking at the cover, I think that Kat is on the far left, Mary is in the middle, and Lillia is on the right.  And seriously, this cover is awesome.  The models look exactly like I image the characters…well, except for Kat.  But it’s still pretty close.

3 PINK FLOWERS

Review: What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

What's Left of Me
by Kat Zhang
Release Date: September 18, 2012
by HarperTeen


Pre-Order / Goodreads

I should not exist. But I do.

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t . . .

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

*A copy was provided by HarperTeen for review purposes*

Coming into this book, I was super-excited.  The summery looked really good, and the cover was intriguing (yes, I totally judge books by their cover.  I mean, who doesn’t!?)  But I have to admit that I came away a little disappointed.

While this was a really good idea, it’s not an uncommon one.  I can think of at least one recent release that is basically the same idea as this book.  There were some parts that were action, and they were great, but the rest was kind of medium-paced.

The writing was really, really good, and the staging and escapes were awesome as well.  I also liked the point of view used in this book.  Eva, the weaker soul, was the main character, and I think it really helped the book that she was, instead of, say, switching points of view, or having Addie as the main character.  I really wanted to like this book, I really did, and I did, kind of, but it just wasn’t amazing for me.

I’ve never read a book where there are two souls in a person, so I’m going to do my best with the characters.

So I’ll start off by saying that I loved Eva.  She was definitely my favorite character.  I loved how she grew so much over the course of the story.  I liked her much better than Addie.

I also really loved Ryan/Devon.  I say them both because I really loved both, where as with Eva/Addie, I only really liked Eva.  Ryan/Devon was so nice, cute, and perfect.  I really liked him/him.

I tried really hard to love this book, but for some reason it just didn’t click with me.  I don’t know why not.  I will continue this series, and cross my fingers that the books to come are really good.

3.5 pink flowers