Becca Fitzpatrick

I don't know about you, but I luuuurve Becca Fitzpatrick's series Hush, Hush and Crescendo. Now the third book in the series is coming out soon! I can't wait! Aren't the covers soo beautiful? I think they're some of the best covers I've ever seen on books. What are your thoughts? Here is the cover and summary:

The noise between Patch and Nora is gone. They've overcome the secrets riddled in Patch's dark past...bridged two irreconcilable worlds...faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty and trust...and all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth. Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in one another, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they've worked for—and their love—forever.


Also, does anyone know if this is the last book? I thought it was a trilogy but it doesn't say on any website that it's the last book. I don't know.

In My Mailbox (10)

IMM is a meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It's for us bloggers to show everyone the new books we got his week. This week I got:

The Chaos by Rachel Ward
From Scholastic-thanks so much!



What did you guys get in your mailboxes this week?



Clockwork Angel

Author: Cassandra Clare
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Summary: Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all. (From Goodreads.com)

     So about a year ago I picked up City of Bones by Cassandra Clare because I've heard so many good things about the series, and that pretty much everyone loved it. And it was okay, but I didn't really get into it. But now that I've read Clockwork Angel, I am in love with the world of these books and I can't wait to get my hands on the rest of the series. Clockwork Angel is one of the best books I've read in awhile; I just couldn't put it down.

    I was in love with every single one of the characters. Even the villains I loved to hate. I loved Tessa, and I loved how the group at the Institute was like a family, and I especially love Jem and Will. I NEED to get the next book in the Infernal Devices series because I NEED to know what is happening with that love triangle!
    I really don't think that I can say one bad thing about this book, I loved it so much. I even love the cover, with the clockwork angel necklace and the guy tipping his hat, with London in the background. Is that supposed to be Will? I don't know.
    There was never a dull moment in this book, whether it was the creepy parts in the beginning, or the budding romances, or the different missions the Shadowhunters were going on. And each part of the plot and each little mystery was woven together so perfectly, I don't know how the author did it.
     I would reccomend this book for anyone. I think that middle schoolers and adults alike will love this, because it has a little of everything, and the writing is such good quality, it's hard not to like this book, and I really cannot wait for the second in this series. I'll be getting the rest of the Mortal Instruments series and reading them soon, and I'll be posting about those as well. Have you read this yet, and if you read her other series, which one do you like better?

Prophecy of the Sisters

Author: Michelle Zink
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Summary: An ancient prophecy divides two sisters-

One good...

One evil...

Who will prevail?

Twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe have just become orphans. They have also become enemies. As they discover their roles in a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other, the girls find themselves entangled in a mystery that involves a tattoo-like mark, their parents' deaths, a boy, a book, and a lifetime of secrets.

Lia and Alice don't know whom they can trust.

They just know they can't trust each other. (From Goodreads.com)


Hmmm, what to say about this one. Well, first of all, the setting. From reading the summary, I did not expect this to be taking place in the late 1800s to early 1900s time period. I thought it was present day, until they started talking all old and everyone was dressed in floor-length skirts. But I thought that the historical setting was really well done. I think it's pretty hard to do that, and Zink did it perfectly. I really felt like I was in that time period.

     I also really liked the imagery in the writing. I can picture perfectly the grand house the family lived in, and the cold gushing river that drowns people. I love when authors have good imagery, it makes it all the more real.

    The plot was very mysterious, and I was constantly guessing what was going to happen. It was like trying to fit together a puzzle. But that made the plot move very slowly, and it only picked up at the end. Also, I know this isn't a romance novel, but the main character did have a boyfriend from whom we heard like two sentences out of! Well, maybe I'm exhaggerating, but he was barely part of the book at all. If the plot is going to lag a little so that the plot will go smoother, then at least have some romance in there!

    Then, the cover. LOVE the cover. It's so... creepy and mysterious, which is the feeling of the whole book, so it's a perfect cover for the book. At first glance, you think the two statues are the same, but if you stare at it for a little, you realize that there are subtle differences in the faces, which the main character talks about. She and her sister are identical twins, but there are some small differences in their faces, and big differences in their personalities.

    If you really like fantasy, and don't mind there being no romance and the plot lagging a little, then this is the book for you. I enjoyed it, but it won't stand ou tto me when I think of my favorite reads this year so far.

By the way, check ou this website dedicated to this series! http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/features/prophecyofthesisters/index.html

Waiting on Wednesday (15)

Wow is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It's to generate buzz about all the awesome books that are coming out soon. This week I'm waiting on:

Fracture by Megan Miranda

Summary: Delaney Maxwell survives a fall into a Maine lake, and subsequent brain injury, only to discover she now has a strange and frightening affinity with the dying.

When Delaney is pulled from the icy waters of Falcon Lake by her best friend, Decker, she is blue and her heart isn’t beating – everyone knows she’s dead. And yet.... Six days later, she awakens from her coma, healthy enough to look at scans of her own damaged brain. Is she a miracle, a freak of nature – or something much more frightening?

And this is not the cover. The cover hasn't been released yet and I didn't know what to put, so here is a picture of someone's fractured femur (is that how you spell it?)!! I know tons of people got ARCs of this, and the cover just had the title and author on it. Sadly, I did not get one. :( What are you waiting on this week?

In My Mailbox (9)

IMM is a meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It's for us bloggers to show everyone the books we got this week. This week I got:

The Summer I Learned to Fly by Dana Reinhardt from Random Buzzers

















What did you get in your mailboxes this week?

The Body Finder

Author: Kimberly Derting
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Summary: Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes that the dead leave behind in the world... and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find the dead birds her cat had tired of playing with. But now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved to find herself hoping that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer... and becoming his prey herself.


    I started out reallly liking this, but then in the middle of the book, everything pretty much came to a complete stop and got really boring. But I can see how that would be nessecary so that there was not an insta-romance. Speaking of the romance, I loved it! Usually it's the same thing over and over with the romances, but Violet and Jay had been best friends thier whole lives, so it wasn't so sudden.
    I really did like the aspect of the main character being attracted to dead bodies, because it's so different from anything I've read in YA lately. Plus, there was a serial killer on the loose, and every couple of chapters was in his point of view, which was creepy but interesting.
    But other than that, it was kind of following the same standard format for all YA novels. It was predictable. But I know a lot of people will like this book, because it is similiar to contemporary fiction, and it's like a murder mystery without the scary parts. I think this is a really good book to give to the younger group of YA readers, as it's easy to read, and exciting in parts, but not too scary. It's good for readers in between moving from Middle grade literature to YA literature. I just felt like it was a little too watered-down if you know what I mean.
    That being said, my TBR pile is almost gone, and I need you guys to reccomend some good books for me that you want reviewed that are relatively new. I can't really buy any books right now though, because it'll just be more stuff to move. But I can order it from the library or get it when I move. Also, I'm really really bad with formatting websites, as you have nopticed. I just figured out how to put those count down thingies of the sidebar. So if you have any suggestions on improvements, they are welcome!

The Seven Rays

Author: Jessica Bendinger
Rating: 5/5 Stars
 Summary: You are more than you think you are.

THAT IS THE ANONYMOUS MESSAGE that Beth Michaels receives right before she starts seeing things. Not just a slept-through my-alarm-clock, late-for-homeroom, haven't had-my-caffeine-fix kind of seeing things. It all starts with some dots, annoying pink dots that pop up on and over her mom and her best friend's face. But then things get out of control and Beth is seeing people's pasts, their fears, their secrets, their desires. The images are coming at Beth in hi-def streaming video and she can't stop it. Everyone thinks she's crazy and she's pretty sure she agrees with them. But crazy doesn't explain the gold envelopes that have started arriving, containing seeing keys and mysterious tarot cards. To Beth, it all seems too weird to be true. You are more than you think you are? But here's the thing: What if she is?(From Goodreads.com)

I've been waiting to read this book for ages and when I finally finished it, it didn't disappoint. I was intrigued from the first page of this book. I felt like I read a huge whopper of a book in just a few hundred pages. That's how fast the pace was. I was never bored. I was always trying to figure out what would happen next, and it was hard to because I've never read a book like this before. Other reviews I've read on this book called it weird and odd, but that just made me love it even more! First I was caught up in Beth's new romance, then when she started seeing things, and then she fought with her best friend, all the while trying to figure out what secrets her mom was keeping from her. The list goes in, but I don't want to summarize the plot for you. But while the book was a whirlwind of events, I still connected with the characters; they were very well developed.
    I also loved the main character, Beth. She was pretty much a clone of me, haha. She was just going with the flow, even if people thought she was crazy. She was impulsive, but all the while kept her eye on what she wanted. I really connected with her, and that's something I rarely do with main characters, because they're usually shy and timid at first, but then break out of their shells a little, but not much.
     Another reason why I loved this was because the events that happened felt like they were unfolding like a journey, and that's exactly what it was. The first half of the book was completely different from the second half, but they were so perfectly woven together I didn't even notice the change until I looked back on the story.
    I think fans of action and adventure books will really like this book. I thought that the writing and the way the plot played out reminded me of Libba Bray's Going Bovine and James Patterson's Maximum Ride series. By the way, here is the book's website. I really like the playlist; I think it captures the book's events perfectly. And just because I feel like it, the new Coldplay song, Every Teardrop is A Waterfall captures the whole book perfectly, if you're into playlists for books. Here's the link: http://www.thesevenrays.com/

Between

Author: Cyndi Tefft
 Rating:1.5/5 Stars
 Summary: Sometimes death is just the beginning...

It just figures that the love of Lindsey Water's life isn't alive at all, but the grim reaper, complete with a dimpled smile and Scottish accent.

After transporting souls to heaven for the last 300 years, Aiden MacRae has all but given up on finding the one whose love will redeem him and allow him entry through the pearly gates.

Torn between her growing attraction to Aiden and heaven's siren song, Lindsey must learn the hard way whether love really can transcend all boundaries.


So this is the first book I've ever reviewed where the author emailed me and asked me to review it. How exciting! But the thing is, I didn't like this book. There was absolutely no character development, first of all. The book just jumped into where the main character all of a sudden is in a car that's hurtling off the road. Then, she meets Aiden and BAM they're in love. Everything is just so perfect that she doesn't even have one thought about her life before she died. It was a little unrealistic and cheesy. Then, like two chapters in when they were in the blissful lovey stage, they visited old Scotland and France, and that was just boring.
     I feel kind of bad writing this bad of a review, but I'm just being honest here. The book really did have potential. The premise for the story is interesting, but it was kind of just...empty. I had not connection with Lindsey or Aiden. I just didn't care what happened to them. Maybe it was just me. I'm other people with different tastes than me might like it. If you're into that whole fantasy wizards thing. That's kind of what it reminded me of.
     I think that if you like fantasy, you'll like this, but fantasy's not really my thing.

Wanted and an update

 Author: Sara Shepard
 Rating: 5/5 Stars
 Summary: In Rosewood, majestic estates sprawl for acres, and Tiffany toggle bracelets dangle from every girl's wrist. But not all that glitters is gold, and the town harbors secrets darker than anyone could imagine—like the truth about what really happened the night Alison DiLaurentis went missing. . . .
Back in middle school, Ali plucked Emily, Hanna, Aria, and Spencer from obscurity and turned them into the beautiful, popular girls everyone wanted to be. Ali was the best friend they ever had. But she also made them do terrible things and taunted them with their worst secrets. Now, three years later, all their questions about Ali have finally been answered and they can put this awful chapter of their lives behind them. Or so they think.
Not every story has a happy ending, especially when four pretty little liars have done so many wicked things. In the dramatic conclusion of Sara Shepard's bestselling Pretty Little Liars series, Emily, Hanna, Aria, and Spencer could get everything they've ever wanted—unless A has one more horrifying twist in store. (From Goodreads.com)


Woah. I'm in shock. I mean, woah. I just finished the last book in the Pretty Little Liars series and I loved it and can't believe what just happened. I did not see that one coming. I wanted to mention on here that I'm done with the series and loved the whole thing, but I can't really review it specifically or I'll give everything away and ruin it. Also, my review of the book before this one is up here and pretty much reviews the whole series.
    Also, an update. Since this isn't technically a review I'll just add this in. At my school, they give everyone our own mac laptop to keep from September until June. And now the school year is ending and I'll have to give back my laptop and blog from my crappy home PC. :( Also, In July and August I won't be able to post often because I'll be going on vacation, then as soon as we come back, my family is moving to Tennessee. I don't think I'll have access to my computer until we move into our new house, which will be in mid-august, and that's right when I start school. So that's what's up. What are your summer plans? :)

Bumped

 Author: Megan McCafferty
 Rating: 4/5 Stars
 Summary: When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society. Girls sport fake baby bumps and the school cafeteria stocks folic-acid-infused food.
Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and have never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Up to now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend, Zen, who is way too short for the job.
Harmony has spent her whole life in Goodside, a religious community, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to convince Melody that pregging for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.
When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.
From New York Times bestselling author Megan McCafferty comes a strikingly original look at friendship, love, and sisterhood—in a future that is eerily believable. (From Goodreads.com)

     I was soo looking forward to this book, and it was different than I expected. Not bad, just different. I really liked the plot, though. I hope Megan McCafferty writes more of these books. The whole virus-causing-sterility-and-teens-have-to-have-the-babies thing was so cool and so fun to read about. I especially liked it is because I want to be a Physician's Assistant for obstetrics, and I'm a teenager, so it was fun living in that world where all the teenage girls were pregnant, and proud. In fact, it was even considered pretty to be pregnant in that society, and you could buy fake bellies at the mall.
     The two main characters, Harmony and Melody, were also really different. They were identical twins, but they were complete opposites. I really liked Melody, but oh my god was Harmony annoying. I kind of dreaded reading her point of view every other chapter because she got on my nerves so much.
     Wow, this is a really short review, but I can't think of anything else to say about it, as it was a good book, but not a very exciting one, as far as dystopians go. It was more like a contemporary within another world. It only took me a few hours to read this book from start to finish; it was a fun, quick read.

Waiting on Wednesday (14)

WoW is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It's for us bloggers to show everyone all the new books we're excited for. This week I'm waiting on:

Author: Kelly Creagh
Summary: While Varen remains a prisoner in the dream-world, Isobel is haunted by his memory. He appears to her in her dreams and soon, even in her waking life. But is she just imagining it? Isobel knows she must find a way back to Varen. She makes plans to go to Baltimore. There, she confronts the figure known throughout the world as the Poe Toaster—the same dark man who once appeared to Isobel in her dreams, calling himself "Reynolds."
Isobel succeeds in interrupting the Toaster's ritual and, in doing so, discovers a way to return to the dream-world. Soon, she finds herself swept up in a realm which not only holds remnants of Poe's presence, but has also now taken on the characteristics of Varen's innermost self. It is a dark world comprised of fear, terror, and anger.
When Isobel once more encounters Varen, she finds him changed. With his mind poisoned by the dream world, he becomes a malevolent force, bent on destroying all—even himself. Now Isobel must face a new adversary, one who also happens to be her greatest love. (From Goodreads.com)

 I read and reviewed the first in this series, Nevermore, and you can read my review here. The summary sounds really good, but this cover.... well frankly it's crap. Sorry, but it is. I always hate when there is a full on face on the cover, and the way these are edited together just is not good. Hopefuly they'll change it before the book comes out, but that's not likely. :(

Skunk Girl

 Author: Sheba Karim (Sheba's my dog's name!! haha)
Rating: 4/5 Stars
 Summary: If Nina Khan were to rate herself on the unofficial Pakistani prestige point system – the one she’s sure all the aunties and uncles use to determine the most attractive marriage prospects for their children – her scoring might go something like this:

+2 points for getting excellent grades
–3 points for failing to live up to expectations set by genius older sister
+4 points for dutifully obeying parents and never, ever going to parties, no matter how antisocial that makes her seem to everyone at Deer Hook High
–1 point for harboring secret jealousy of her best friends, who are allowed to date like normal teenagers
+2 points for never drinking an alcoholic beverage
–10 points for obsessing about Asher Richelli, who talks to Nina like she’s not a freak at all, even though he knows that she has a disturbing line of hair running down her back In this wryly funny debut novel, the smart, sassy, and utterly lovable Nina Khan tackles friends, family, and love, and learns that it’s possible to embrace two very different cultures – even if things can get a little bit, well, hairy. (From Goodreads.com)

     So, I thought this book was about a girl who turned into a skunk-like creature. You know, like those books where the character turns into a mermaid or a fairy or something. I thought that this was a really unusual thing to  turn into, so I've been trying to find a copy of this book for forever. But once I got it and started reading it, it turns out it's actually about a Pakistani girl and her conservative Muslim family and their life in a small town. Whatddya know?
     This book really taught me a lot about the Muslim culture and lifestyle. I had no idea they were so traditional! They even still arrange the marriages for the girls! I never knew.  I did enjoy reading about the main character's life because my life in the complete opposite. I've been raised super duper liberal and encouraged to do anything I want to, and Nina and her family were the complete opposite. Although this was not one of those books where the main character wants to rebel and ditch her lifestyle. Nina was loyal to her family and her religion the whole book. Also, Nina's personality was the complete opposite of mine. She was so hesitant to do everything, and she was shy and kind of bitchy to some people some of the time. I was shouting in my head to her "JUST DO IT ALREADY STOP BEING SO TIMID". But I know a lot of people could relate to her because many people are really shy, especially those who read often.
     I really did enjoy reading this book, and I think others should read it too, because the Muslim religion is so misunderstood in these times. Also, it was a cute coming-of-age novel. You should pick this one up if you see it at your library.

Wherever Nina Lies

 Author: Lynn Weingarten
 Rating: 5/5 Stars
 Summary: Nina was beautiful, wild, and adored by her younger sister, Ellie. But one day, Nina disappeared. 2 years later, everyone has given up hope that Nina will return, but Ellie knows her sister is out there. If only Ellie had a clue where to look. Then she gets one, in the form of a mysterious drawing. Determined to find Nina, Ellie takes off on a crazy, sexy cross-country road trip with the only person who believes she's got a chance - her hot, adventurous new crush. Along the way, Ellie finds a few things she wasn't planning on. Like love. Lies. And the most shocking thing of all: the truth.(Goodreads.com)



I'm on a book streak where I'm only reading really really good books, and I don't want it to end. Wherever Nina Lies was so refreshing from all the other books I've been reading lately. I've never heard of the author before, but now I'll have to keep a lookout for her new books because I loved her writing in this book. The plot of this book... well it was crazy. At times I felt like I was on an acid trip then in a romance movie then in a horror movie. There was a huge shocker at the end that just makes you say OH MY GOD. I did NOT see that one coming. I thought this was going to be an innocent fluffy little book. But was I wrong. It went all Pretty Little Liars on me.
    If I were to have shared my thoughts on this book when I was halfway through it, I think I would have said the exact same things as I am now. All of the characters did a complete literary 180. Like, it just boggles my mind how surprising it all is. The people who read or watch Pretty Little Liars will get what I'm babbling about. If you like PLL then you will definitely love Wherever Nina Lies. It's pretty much a book everyone will love. Oh, and another really cool thing about this book was that there were pictures in this book that were supposed to be drawn by Nina, and they were really cool. Kind of like the drawings in Cathy's Book by Sean Stuart. So read it and love it. :)

In My Mailbox (8)

IMM is a meme started by Kristi at The Story Siren. It's for us blogger to show everyone all the books we got this week. This week I got:

All of these were from a nearby library.

Bumped by Megan McCafferty

Wanted by Sara Shepard

Skunk Girl by Sheba Karim

Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

The Seven Rays by Jessica Bendinger

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

What did you all get in you mailbox this week?

Like Mandarin

Author: Kirsten Hubbard
 Rating: 5/5 Stars
 Summary:

It's hard finding beauty in the badlands of Washokey, Wyoming, but 14-year-old Grace Carpenter knows it's not her mother's pageant obsessions, or the cowboy dances adored by her small-town classmates. True beauty is wild-girl Mandarin Ramey: 17, shameless and utterly carefree. Grace would give anything to be like Mandarin. When they're united for a project, they form an un
...moreIt's hard finding beauty in the badlands of Washokey, Wyoming, but 14-year-old Grace Carpenter knows it's not her mother's pageant obsessions, or the cowboy dances adored by her small-town classmates. True beauty is wild-girl Mandarin Ramey: 17, shameless and utterly carefree. Grace would give anything to be like Mandarin. When they're united for a project, they form an unlikely, explosive friendship, packed with nights spent skinny-dipping in the canal, liberating the town's animal-head trophies, and searching for someplace magic. Grace plays along when Mandarin suggests they run away together. Blame it on the crazy-making wildwinds plaguing their Badlands town. Because all too soon, Grace discovers Mandarin's unique beauty hides a girl who's troubled, broken, and even dangerous. And no matter how hard Grace fights to keep the magic, no friendship can withstand betrayal. (From Goodreads.com)

I wasn't really expecting much from this book because I hadn't heard anything on it before and I've never heard of the author. But surprisingly, I really loved this book. It was set in the badlands of Wyoming, and it was the exact opposite of the part of Wyoming the characters were in in the book Unearthly. Everything was plain and dry and windy. It really reminded me of the town where the book The Anatomy of Wings takes place. Actually, pretty much everything about this book reminds me of The Anatomy of Wings. Beth, the character in The Anatomy of Wings who is the older sister who does drugs and sleeps around is like the exact same person as Mandarin. Mandarin is also older than the main character in this book, and she also smokes and sleeps around with older men. The book also had a really surreal feel to it, like I was seeing the characters through a dream or a fairy tale. The lighting of the picture on the cover completely covers the whole feel. Also like TAOW there is so much symbolism and metaphors in this book. The main character, Grace, also grows and matures during the novel. I really like to watch her grow and connect it with the other parts of the plot that went along with her growth.
      If you liked TAOW or just want a good read, you should pick up Like Mandarin. It's pretty much for everyone. I know some people don't like paranormal or romance novels, and if you are one of those people then you will really like this book.

Woops

I'm really really sorry that I have been MIA for the past month, but those of you with blogs on this same website know that it signs you out of your account every three weeks or so. Well, I lost my password and I couldn't sign back in. THen I finally realized what the problem was. I had the wrong email in there. I thought I had by blog under the email I check all the time, summer2113@aim.com but it was actually under niixcoleex21@aim.com. And it turns out people have ben emailing me about book reviews on that email and I had no idea! So if you are one of those people, I'm really sorry and I hope it's not too late to accept them.

In My Mailbox (7)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme started by Kristi at The Story Siren. It's to show everyone all the new books we got this week! The week I got:

Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard from Random Buzzers












What did you get in your mailbox this week?

Waiting on Wednesday (13)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It's for us bloggers to spread the word about upcoming books. This week I'm waiting on:

Authors: Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Summary: Ethan Wate thought he was getting used to the strange, impossible events happening in Gatlin, his small Southern town. But now that Ethan and Lena have returned home, strange and impossible have taken on new meanings. Swarms of locusts, record-breaking heat, and devastating storms ravage Gatlin as Ethan and Lena struggle to understand the impact of Lena's Claiming. Even Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals is affected - and their abilities begin to dangerously misfire. As time passes, one question becomes clear: What - or who - will need to be sacrificed to save Gatlin?
For Ethan, the chaos is a frightening but welcome distraction. He's being haunted in his dreams again, but this time it isn't by Lena - and whatever is haunting him is following him out of his dreams and into his everyday life. Even worse, Ethan is gradually losing pieces of himself - forgetting names, phone numbers, even memories. He doesn't know why, and most days he's too afraid to ask.
Sometimes there isn't just one answer or one choice. Sometimes there's no going back. And this time there won't be a happy ending.

I've read the first of this series, Beautiful Creatures, and I loved it. The setting is my favorite part of this series; I used to live in the deep south, and this series makes me miss it so much! I can practically hear the cicadas and see the heat waves when I read the first book. The authors' writing is so pretty, I love it, and I can't wait to continue this series with Beautiful Darkness and Beautiful Chaos.

Waiting on Wednesday (12)

Waiting on Wednesday is a blogging meme started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It's for us bloggers to show our excitement about upcoming books! This week I'm waiting on:

Author: Mary E. Pearson
Summary: Once there were three. Three friends who loved each other—Jenna, Locke, and Kara. And after a terrible accident destroyed their bodies, their three minds were kept alive, spinning in a digital netherworld. Even in that disembodied nightmare, they were still together. At least at first. When Jenna disappeared, Locke and Kara had to go on without her. Decades passed, and then centuries.
Two-hundred-and-sixty years later, they have been released at last. Given new, perfect bodies, Locke and Kara awaken to a world they know nothing about, where everyone they once knew and loved is long dead.
Everyone except Jenna Fox. (From Goodreads.com)

I lololoved the first book in this series, The Adoration of Jenna Fox, and I know tons of other bloggers who loved it too.  I had no idea the author was making a sequel, and I guess she didn't either at the time, because there was an epilogue that occurred like one hundred years in the future. And it was a total surprise to me that Locke and Kara were saved the same way Jenna was. I can't wait for this book!

Unearthly

Author: Cynthia Hand
 Rating: 5/5 Stars
 Summary: In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.
Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.
As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny? 

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart. (From Goodreads.com)


     I really loved this book; pretty much everything about it I loved. I loved Clara and her family, and I loved both of the boys and her friends and the setting and the angel part. First, I had always thought that Wyoming was miles and miles of corn and sheep and grass. Well, was I wrong. In the book Clara's family moves there, and I could just see the mist in the mountains and the clear river in the summer that they jump into. I actually want to visit Wyoming sometime.
    And the love triangle. Oh Tucker, oh Christian I love you both. It's impossible for me to choose one. Actually it isn't, I would go with Christian. But you don't know what I'm talking about because you probably haven't read it! Anyway, and I also love both of Clara's new friends Wendy and Angela. I love that they're total opposites yet they're both so awesome. Angela's so sassy! Haha.
    I've read a lot of paranormal romances where the creature is an angel, (Hush, Hush, Fallen, Crescendo, etc.) but this book portrayed them so differently than the other books, which is amazing because that's like trying to create a unique type of vampire for a book. It's just so hard because everything's already been done! I really liked how the background of the angels didn't get all bible-y, because I'm just not really into that.
    Another thing that I really liked was that I never saw anything coming. Usually I'm really good at predicting what will happen, and I did a little in this book, but only like a paragraph before it happened, so I liked that I could be so surprised. The ending especially. Didn't see that comin'!
    I really think you should read this, even if you're to really into the whole angel scene. I'm on one of those book rolls right now where I've been reading so many good books and I have so many awesome ones with me to look forward to reading in the next couple of weeks. When this stops, I'm going to be really bummed.
P.S. You know me, I can't help myself if the cover is pretty. The cover is even better in real life because it's got like a shimmer or shine to it. It's really cool.

In My Mailbox (6)

In My Mailbox is a meme started by Kristi at The Story Siren. It's for us bloggers to show everyone the awesome new books we got this week! This week I got:
Fallout by Ellen Hopkins

Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves

I Will Always Love You by Cecily von Ziegesar

The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

DELIRIUM BY LAUREN OLIVER

I got all of these from my local borders that's closing soon. They had everything in the store at least half off, but most of the shelves were empty. I really had to scrounge for this awesome bunch. I can't believe I got Delirium. It's my dream come true. I'm so happy, this is the best day ever. Sorry the picture is so dark, but I'm too lazy to move to another room of the house that gets better lighting. I also got a book on netgalley but I'm not really sure what is it. I've never heard of it, but I requested it anyway and got it. Here it is:
Lost in Dreams by Roger Bruner














By the way, I'm reading Unearthly right now, and the review will probably be up sometime this week. But I'm kind of like, I have so many books to read right now and it's kind of freaking me out. Sometimes I like that. Like I'll go to the library and request like 20 books from the computer and then they all come in in like throughout the course of a week, and I become a speed reading beast. But I have a lot of books to read online and I don't have an ereader, and I really hate reading form my computer screen, but I want to read and review these books before they come out. But I also want to jump in my new pile of books. So I don't know. But anyway, what did you guys get in your mailboxes this week??

Nevermore

Author: Kelly Creagh
Rating: 5/5 Stars
 Summary: Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game.

Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look.

Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life.

As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind.

Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares.

His life depends on it. (From Goodreads.com)


I was initially drawn to this book because I love Edgar Allan Poe's stories. I love how they are so creepy and eerie and gothic. Which was exactly what this book was. Everything was dark and mysterious, which I loved in contrast with the main character, Isobel, who is a preppy blond cheerleader. I really liked how even at times she felt stupid, but she stayed true to herself. She was a really strong and stubborn girl who stuck up for what she believed in.
    The romance between her and Varen wasn't an insta-romance like it is a lot of the time, either. At first, they didn't even like each other, but gradually as they were forced to work together, they became friends, and then they started to acknowledge their feelings.
     I also really liked how there was references to Poe and all of his works throughout the book. They were bot in the dream world and the real world. If you aren't already familiar with some of Poe's works, I recommend you read a couple of his famous works before reading this, like The Raven and The Cask of Amontillado. Also, I found it extra creepy how some of the characters form his stories came alive and haunted the catacombs of the dream world.
     I really liked reading this book, and I think it's for almost everyone. It's got the mysterious factor, but it also has a little bit of contemporary mixed in, which is really hard to do when writing a book with unrealistic things. But it kind of stays like a contemporary fiction book until it starts leading up to the climax towards the end. But you should definitely read it.
P.S. As I was looking for a picture of the cover, I noticed that some of the covers have Varen with a lip ring, and some don't. Personally I like it without, and I also think the hard copies are missing it too.

Waiting on Wednesday (11)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It's for us bloggers to show our excitement about upcoming books. This week I'm waiting on:

Author: Stacey Jay
Summary: "These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which as they kiss consume."
—Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

The most tragic love story in history . . .

Juliet Capulet didn't take her own life. She was murdered by the person she trusted most, her new husband, Romeo Montague, a sacrifice made to ensure his own immortality. But what Romeo didn't anticipate was that Juliet would be granted eternity, as well, and would become an agent for the Ambassadors of Light. For 700 years, she's fought Romeo for the souls of true lovers, struggling to preserve romantic love and the lives of the innocent. Until the day she meets someone she's forbidden to love, and Romeo, oh Romeo, will do everything in his power to destroy that love. (From Goodreads.com)

My class read Romeo and Juliet for Language Arts earlier this year, so I'm pretty  familiar with this play, and this sounds so good! I never liked Romeo! But mostly because he cries and whines too much. But I really liked Juliet's character, and I'm excited to read about another version of her. Plus, isn't that cover beautiful?? So, what are you waiting on this week?

Ranting

So, in my Language Arts class we're reading A Separate Peace by John Knowles, and I need somewhere to rant about it. Since my teacher is close-minded and thinks we're wrong if we don't have the same opinions as her on all the books we read, it's hard to discuss things in class. So anyway, I'm about three quarters done with it, and at first it was fine. Although I thought it was a little too descriptive. It went on about things that didn't move the plot forward. But the thing that really bothers me about this book is Gene and Finny, the two main characters. First of all, Gene is a total nut-nut! He is so paranoid that everyone is out to get him, and it's like THE WORLD DOESN'T REVOLVE AROUND YOU, GENE. He is also really arrogant, which is one of the most annoying qualities in a person, in my opinion. Then, Finny. Oh, Phineas. How I hate you. (By the way, this book takes place in the middle of WWII.) Finny is convinced that there is no war on. That is just so insulting! Millions of innocent people died in the Holocaust, and he thinks it's all fake! ARRGGHH. Anyway, I don't even know why I'm posting this because you guys don't care. Oh, well. I feel better now. I'm a very picky person about my quality literature that is required reading in my school. My favorite books that were required reading are To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee (I wish Atticus was MY dad.) and Slaughter-House Five by Kurt Vonnegut. (I think it's so awesome that this book is required reading. It's on soo many banned books lists, just because it talks about some trippy alien stuff and mentions the f-word a few hundred times.) But I guess my school board is just really liberal. But last year we had to read The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger, and it was really good writing, I just really despised Holden Caulfield. He thought everything was so PHONY. Well, you know what I think? I THINK YOU ARE A PHONY HYPOCRITE, HOLDEN. Does anyone else feel the same way about these characters as I do? What is required reading in your schools? Do you also wish Atticus Finch was your dad? Okay, rant over. So it goes.

Waiting on Wednesday (10)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It's for us bloggers to show our excitement about upcoming books. This week I'm waiting on:

Author: Jocelyn Davies
Summary: Skye never questioned the story of her life. Her Aunt Jo adopted her after the death of her parents when she was just a child, and together they flip through memories the way some people flip through photo albums.

She never questioned if the stories were true.

Until the night of her 17th birthday, when the arrival of two strangers intrudes on her cozy life. Polar opposites, like fire and ice, Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair, cold, and aloof. Skye has no idea what they want—only that their presence coincides with the beginning of some shockingly strange events. Events that Skye, if she dares to think it, might be responsible for causing.

High up in the mountains of Boulder, Colorado, Skye finds herself caught in the middle of an ancient battle, one that began untold millennia ago. Torn between unpredictable Asher, whom she loves, and the infuriating Devin, who she can’t stay away from, her fate is murky as a starless night. And as the secrets of her true identity are revealed, Skye realizes that her destiny may reside in the Heavens—or somewhere darker. (From Goodreads.com)

OoOoOoOooo!!! Mysterious! And it looks like form the cover they'll be some near-death experiences which are always fun to read about. I just love the contrast and the spectrum of black and white on the cover. It's so pretty. So, what are you waiting on this week??

Shadow Hills

Author: Anastasia Hopcus
 Rating: 4.37
 Summary: After her sister Athena's tragic death, it's obvious that grief-stricken Persephone "Phe" Archer no longer belongs in Los Angeles. Hoping to make sense of her sister's sudden demise and the cryptic dreams following it, Phe abandons her bubbly LA life to attend an uptight East Coast preparatory school in Shadow Hills, MA — a school which her sister mysteriously mentioned in her last diary entry before she died.

Once there, Phe quickly realizes that something is deeply amiss in her new town. Not only does Shadow Hills' history boast an unexplained epidemic that decimated hundreds of its citizens in the 1700s, but its modern townies also seem eerily psychic, with the bizarre ability to bend metal. Even Zach — the gorgeous stranger Phe meets and immediately begins to lust after — seems as if he is hiding something serious. Phe is determined to get to the bottom of it. The longer she stays there, the more she suspects that her sister's untimely death and her own destiny are intricately linked to those who reside in Shadow Hills. (From Goodreads.com)

I'm FINALLY done with this book! I don't think I've ever taken so long to read a book. And I really liked it. It reminded me soooo much of Fallen by Lauren Kate. Even their writing style was similar. I think this book was a mix of Pretty Little Liars and Fallen. It had the mystery and suspense of Pretty Little Liars, bu the Gothic boarding school and love of Fallen. I was really smitten by this book, and until about 5/6 through the book I could put it down. It was a real page-turner. And although at times the romance between Zach and Phe was extremely annoying because it was so mushy, I really liked Phe. She was curious to learn about everything, and she went about it in a smart way.
    Also, maybe it was the way I dragged out the ending, but the end of the book was the worst part. The climax was really quick, and left me feeling like "that's it?".  I got into a state of mind where I was not caring what was happening.
    But, I really did like this book. But from the ending, I might be hesitant to read the sequel if there is one. I wouldn't mind continuing to read about Phe, but she and Zach were not romantic, they were ridiculous. But If you like that extremely mushy romance, with mystery and a little paranormalcy mixed in, then you'll love this book.

Sorry!

Guys, I'm really sorry I haven't posted in forever! I've been reading Shadow Hills, and I've been almost finished with it for like a week and a half, but I still haven't been able to finish it. But now I'm going away for the weekend and won't have access to a computer, and I feeel really bad about not posting any reviews in forever. I feel like I've been slacking big-time, so here is my apology! Sorryyyy!

Waiting on Wednesday (9)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It's for us bloggers to show our excitement for upcoming books. This week I'm waiting on:

Author: Kimberly Derting
Summary: Words are the most dangerous weapon of all.

In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she’s spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed.

Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can’t be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country’s only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime. (From Goodreads.com)

This sounds so exiting and thrilling! I love dystopians, and I heard Kimberly Derting is a really good author. I want to read her The Body Finder series, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. What are you waiting on this week?

In My Mailbox (5)

IMM is a meme started by Kristi at The Story Siren. Its for us bloggers to show off all the new books we got this week. This week I got:  Those That Wake by Jesse Karp from Netgalley

The Cellar by A. J. Whitten from Netgalley
















The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell from Netgalley

 Unearthly by Cynthia Hand from my library















 Angel Burn by L. A. Weatherly from Netgalley

My Soul To Take

Author: Rachel Vincent
Rating: 4/5 Stars
 Summary:
She doesn't see dead people. She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.

Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who'll be next.



    I've really been looking forward to reading this series. This is the first book, and it's been out for awhile, I just never got around to reading it. And it was so good! The concept of the soul screamers was really unique. This doesn't really follow the paranormal creature trend in YA. You know, first it was vampires, then werewolves, then angels. I really hope the next trend is mermaids or selkies, because those are my favorite! I love reading them in summer at the beach. But anyway, I didn't know any banshee lore or stories before reading this, and I also really liked how the grim reapers were thrown in there too.
     Even though there was nothing really special about Vincent's writing style, I still liked the way she made the plot play out, and the characters develop. There was never really a boring part; I was always kept interested in the story whether it was the main character, Kaylee, trying to find answers, the romance between her and Nash, or watching the next victim get attacked by the unseen killer. A lot of the problems were cleared up at the end, and I'm interested to see what will be going on in the next couple of books.
     In this book, I actually liked most of the characters. Kaylee was strong-willed and stood up for herself, which I liked. I hate when characters are weak, or don't have a spine and let people push them around. I also really liked her friend. She was really fun and supportive. The love interest, Nash, was not fantastic for me, but he wasn't bad. I was kind of suspicious of him at first, but he grew on me. But surprisingly, my favorite character was Tod, the reaper helping them. He was so angsty and mysterious, but I loved him. The only thing that really bothered me about the characters was that Kaylee didn't eat. She would always say "I could only pick at my food" or "I lost my appetite". It was so annoying! The girl never ate! And the thing was, she talked about one of the cheerleaders passing out because she "didn't eat enough to keep a hamster alive."
     So if you're looking for a quick read that you can keep coming back to in other books, this is the series for you. Good for lovers of paranormal romance, who doesn't want to read another vampire book.

Waiting on Wednesday (8)

I know it's Thursday, but I forgot to do a Waiting on Wednesday yesterday, and I wanted to do one. So, here it is. Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Author: Libba Bray
Summary:
From bestselling, Printz Award-winning author Libba Bray, the story of a plane of beauty pageant contestants that crashes on a desert island.
Teen beauty queens. A "Lost"-like island. Mysteries and dangers. No access to emall. And the spirit of fierce, feral competition that lives underground in girls, a savage brutality that can only be revealed by a journey into the heart of non-exfoliated darkness. Oh, the horror, the horror! Only funnier. With evening gowns. And a body count.

I looove Libba Bray! Most people really like her trilogy, A Great and Terrible Beauty, but I personally love Going Bovine. If you've read Going Bovine or her blog, you know she's crazy and really funny, so I'm looking forward to this one.

The Lonely Hearts Club

Author: Elizabeth Eulberg
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Summary: Love is all you need...or is it? Penny's about to find out in this wonderful debut.
Penny is sick of boys and sick of dating. So she vows - no more. It's a personal choice...and, of course, soon everyone wants to know about it. And a few other girls are inspired. A movement is born; The Lonely Hearts Club (named after the band from Sgt. Pepper). Penny is suddenly known for her nondating ways...which is too bad, because there's this certain boy she can't help but like...

     This was such a cute book! I'm a huge fan of The Beatles, and this book was constantly referencing them, hence the title. The main character and her sisters were even named after Beatles songs. There was also little snippets of lyrics in the beginnings of the chapters to set the theme, which was also pretty awesome.
     This was the first book I've read by this author, and I have to say, the writing style wasn't very unique. I couldn't hear a voice or personality like I can with some other authors. Also, it took awhile to get into. The beginning was a little boring. Before the plot really got rolling, I found myself thinking "Who cares?" to some of the things happening. But about 50 pages in, I started getting into it, and found I had finished it before I knew it. It wasn't a very long read, which was good, because there wasn't much you could do with the plot after awhile. I hate when in books, it just drags on, and you find yourself checking how many pages you have left, or feeling like everything was nicely tying up and everything was getting resolved, but then you have five more chapters! I hate that.
      I really did like the idea for this book, though. The club seems like it would be so much fun to be a part of. Like a big hunka sisterly love. I really liked the relationships between all the girls, and between Penny and her sister, Rita. It was a new thing to me because I only have a brother. But I don't know, I just really liked all the love between everyone. Even the relationship between Penny and her parents was pretty cool. Sometimes in books the main character has a bad relationship with their parents, and makes them out to be such horrible people, when they're just a little angsty. Her parents were huge Beatles fanatics, always spurting out quirky things.
     So, if you are in the mood for a cute little fluff book, or are just a Beatles fan like me, then this is the book for you. This is for fans of realistic fiction cutsy-wootsy books.

Friend Me

 Author: Cathy Hopkins
 Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
 Summary:  In Mates, Dates, and Inflatable Bras, Lucy is at a turning point. She doesn't feel like she fits in with her friends Izzie and Nesta. Then Lucy sees the most wonderful boy, and things start to change — in all areas of her life.
Izzie is smitten with Mark in Mates, Dates, and Cosmic Kisses. When Izzie cancels plans just so she's available if Mark should call, Lucy and Nesta know they need to intervene. But how can they help when Izzie is convinced that she and Mark are destined to be together?
Nesta meets a boy of her own in Mates, Dates, and Designer Divas. Simon is rich and his lifestyle is totally glamorous. So is his friend Cressida. But competing for Simon's affections could cost Nesta more than she anticipated.


Review: I was really looking forward to reading this, and it did not disappoint. It has three books in one, and it sounded really funny. It came out awhile ago, but I just never got around to reading it. Okay, so on with the review.
     If you have ever read Louise Rennison's Confessions of Georgia Nicolson series, you know what I'm talking about when I say that British slang is hilarious. It's awesome. I also really loved each of the characters. It was fun to read about the three best friends, each book from a different girl's point of view.
     Well, I actually can't really think of anything else to say about this book. It was a fun read, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes a fluffy book every once in awhile. I hate to write a review this short, but it was a simple book that I enjoyed. I'll definitely be reading the sequel soon.

Waiting on Wednesday (7)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, for bloggers to share our excitement about upcoming books! This week I'm waiting on:

Author: Aimee Carter
Summary: Every girl who has taken the test has died.

Now it's Kate's turn.

It's always been just Kate and her mom--and now her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

If she fails...


This book sounds like no other book I've read. I've always been interested in mythology, and it sounds like whatever happens in this book, it's going to be exciting and dramatic! I can't wait for this one. Also the cover is so pretty! I love those colors and the surreal feel. So what are you waiting on this week?

In My Mailbox (4)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren. It's to show off all the books we've gotten recently. This week I got:

My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent

The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

I got all these from my library and I will be reviewing them all when I finish them. What did you get in your mailbox this week?

Deadly Little Secret

 Author: Laurie Faria Stolarz
Rating: 4/5 Stars
 Summary: Some secrets shouldn't be kept... Up until three months ago, everything in sixteen-year-old Camelia's life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades; an okay relationship with her parents; and a pretty cool part-time job at the art studio downtown. But when Ben, the mysterious new guy, starts junior year at her high school, Camelia's life becomes anything but ordinary.
Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend's accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. She's reluctant to believe the rumors, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise. She's inexplicably drawn to Ben...and to his touch. But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that he can help--but can he be trusted? She knows he's hiding something... but he's not the only one with a secret. (From Goodreads.com)

Review: I saw this in the bookstore, and knew I wanted to read it only because it had a pretty cover. I didn't even read what it was about. So I ordered it through my library and found out it was a mystery. I was pretty pleased with it, overall. The writing was good, the characters well-developed, and the story eerie.
    And let me tell you, was it creepy. It wasn't scary like a slasher movie is scary. But it was scary because all these weird stalker-y things kept happening to the main character. I was reading this late last night, and it was so creepy I got paranoid and was checking all the dark corners in my house. It was so chilling when the main character, Camelia, got a new note or package. But I haven't read a book that did that in a while, so it was refreshing.
     I also really liked how all the characters were so deep and well-developed. Camelia wasn't one of those airheads in horror movies. Although it was very stupid of her to not tell her parents or the police about her stalker. I did find Ben a little meh, though. He was a little lifeless. He had potential, because of his background story, but he just didn't do anything for me. I didn't feel the connection between him and Camelia.
     The ending was so unexpected! Everything happened so quick, and it was so thrilling! Also, the person who was behind it all, I didn't expect at all. Usually I'm good at picking out who the person is in a mystery, but not this time. Stolarz did a great job of hiding their identity,
    So, I really enjoyed this book, I just didn't LOVE it. If you are looking for a creepy, chilling, book, this is for you. Also it was a pretty quick read, so it was good it didn't drag when it didn't need to.

Heartless

 Author: Sara Shepard
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Summary:
In picturesque Rosewood, Pennsylvania, neighbors gossip over picket fences, and gleaming SUVs sit in every crushed-granite driveway. But recently, friendly smiles have been replaced with suspicious glares and accusatory whispers—and it's all because Hanna, Aria, Emily, and Spencer just can't keep their mouths shut. . .


First they claimed they found a dead body in the woods behind Spencer's house, only to have it vanish without a trace. Then when the same woods went up in flames, they swore they saw someone who's supposed to be dead rise from the ashes. And even after all that, the pretty little liars are still playing with fire.
Hanna's trading in her Dior trench for a straitjacket. Aria's trying to contact the dead. Emily's dumped her boyfriend and is skipping town . . . again. And Spencer thinks someone in her family has gotten away with murder.
The friends insist they're telling the truth about what they saw, but all of Rosewood thinks they're simply out for attention—and nobody likes a girl who cries wolf. So when the big bad killer comes after the girls, will anyone believe them . . . or will they be the next to disappear?(From Harpercollins.com)

Review: So, let me just say that I don't watch the show Pretty Little Liars, and I was reading these books before there was a show. Don't you just love discovering something before everyone else does? I do. But anyway, sometimes it annoys me though. Like in the show, none of the actresses look like how they're described in the books. Emily has blonde hair and her family doesn't like black people in the books, but in the show, she's black! It makes no sense! Okay, rant over.
     This is the seventh book in the series. A lot of times, I can't make it this far in a series. But with Pretty Little Liars, I really can't get enough. Each book ends in a major cliffhanger; I just finished it about ten minutes ago, and I'm DYING to get the last book. I need to know what happens!!!
     So since this is way into the series and I'm not reviewing any other books fro this series, I'll just review all of them.
    Okay, This is one of my favorite series ever, because there is never a dull moment. There's pretty much every kind of drama happening without it being overkill. It starts out with a murder of the girls' best friend, then fast forwards to present-day when they are all in high school. So there is everything from coming out of the closet to the whole school at a party, cheating parents, and hooking up with teachers. It seriously never gets boring. Also, each character is so different, which I love. After spending seven books with them, I feel like I know them.
     The author, Sara Shepard, is also soo talented. I really don't know how she can come up with all this stuff, then weave it all together, all the while answering questions, but posing even more new ones. I just love it.
    I feel like from the show, this series is avoided by a lot of readers. Well, please don't. A lot of people think it's like Degrassi or something, where it's a bunch of petty he said she said, but it's so much better than that! It's an actual murder. So please, if you were avoiding this series because of the show, don't because I know you'll love it. Even if you don't really go for realistic fiction, it's so exciting and fast-paced that it's not like other realistic fiction books. So, the next time you are at the library, check out the first one, Pretty Little Liars. You won't regret it!