*REVIEW* Time Between Us

Synopsis:

Anna and Bennett were never supposed to meet: she lives in 1995 Chicago and he lives in 2012 San Francisco. But Bennett’s unique ability to travel through time and space brings him into Anna’s life, and with him, a new world of adventure and possibility.

As their relationship deepens, they face the reality that time might knock Bennett back where he belongs, even as a devastating crisis throws everything they believe into question. Against a ticking clock, Anna and Bennett are forced to ask themselves how far they can push the bounds of fate—and what consequences they can bear in order to stay together.

Fresh, exciting, and deeply romantic, TIME BETWEEN US is a stunning and spellbinding debut from an extraordinary new talent in YA fiction.

People seem to ADORE this book... at least based on the early reviews I'm seeing on Goodreads. I wish I felt as passionate about it, but it didn't move me the way it seemed to move others. I definitely liked and enjoyed it and WOULD recommend it to others, but there will be no over-the-top gushing here.

Time Between Us introduces us to Anna, a teenage girl living outside Chicago in 1995. Anna has always dreamed of seeing the world and sometimes feel trapped by her small world existence. Then she meets Bennett and things really begin to change...

Bennett is a teenager from San Francisco, 2012. He's in town looking for his sister who got separated from him on one of his travels. He meets Anna and the two begin to fall in love. He shares all of his secrets with her and allows her to make the choice: Is it worth it to fall in love with him when he may have to leave her--forever?

I thought this book was good. The writing and pacing are truly wonderful and the 1995 details were spectacular considering I, myself, was a teenage girl at that time. In fact, I was only a year younger than Anna! It was neat to read details about that time frame, especially pertaining to the music.

I really liked this book but for some reason, I wasn't gripped by it. I felt the connection between the characters and I enjoyed all of them but I could easily put the book down and didn't find myself close to tears once, even when the young lovers faced tremendous odds. For whatever reason, I wasn't able to emotionally invest in the story and due to that, I liked it but cannot say I was overwhelmed with love. Rather than the romance of the story, I liked the time travel bits more. How cool would that be?!

I'd definitely recommend this book though because a lot of people seem to be truly moved by it. And it WAS entertaining. Hopefully, you'll fall in love with this book and maybe can tell me why I'm stuck in the like-phase! You're going to have to wait until the fall to let me know though since this baby doesn't come out until October. Until then... happy reading! *XOXO*

Expected publication date: October 9, 2012 by Hyperion

Waiting on Wednesday (30)

Synopsis:

It's been thirty days, two hours, and seventeen minutes since Calder left Lily standing on the shores of Lake Superior. Not that she's counting. And when Calder does return, it's not quite the reunion Lily hoped for. Especially after she lets her father in on a huge secret: he, like Calder, is a merman. Obsessed with his new identity, Lily's dad monopolizes Calder's time as the two of them spend every day in the water, leaving Lily behind.

Then dead bodies start washing ashore. Calder blames his mermaid sisters, but Lily fears her father has embraced the merman's natural need to kill. As the body count grows, everyone is pointing fingers. Lily doesn't know what to believe—only that whoever's responsible is sure to strike again...

Expected publication: 2013 by Random House/Delacorte

Yayness!!! I read Lies Beneath in March and was very pleased with it. Read my review here. Super stoked to see what's in store in the sequel. Here's hoping it's early in 2013!! :)

What are YOU waiting for? Leave me a link and I'll check it out! *XOXO*

*REVIEW* Alice in Zombieland

Synopsis:

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real...

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies...

I wish I could go back and do a thousand things differently.
I'd tell my sister no.
I'd never beg my mother to talk to my dad.
I'd zip my lips and swallow those hateful words.
Or, barring all of that, I'd hug my sister, my mom and my dad one last time.
I'd tell them I love them.
I wish... Yeah, I wish.

OMG, I love, love, LOVE this book! Alice in Zombieland is pure entertainment... I couldn't put it down! I have to admit that my memories of the Alice in Wonderland story are a bit vague so I can't really speak to similarities between the two, but I don't even care about that because THIS story was fan-freakin-tastic. Another solid win for Gena Showalter!

Alice in Zombieland introduces us to Alice and her family, a family that is slightly bizarre. See, Alice's dad sees monsters, monsters that terrify him and that have forced Alice and her sister, Emma, to grow up in a completely sheltered environment. They are locked up safe and sound in their house before nightfall every day, and Alice has missed out on all of the normal teenage stuff like football games, sleepovers, and even dates. The one thing she refuses to miss is Emma's dance recital. Emma wants to participate more than anything and Alice refuses to let her miss out. Alice's insistence is how she and her family find themselves in a car, at night, driving home. A night that changes EVERYTHING...

Alice moves in with her grandparents, dons the nickname Ali, and tries to assimilate into her new life. At school, she encounters a rough group of kids covered with bruises who have a terrible reputation for trouble. As her eyes lock with Cole, the leader, something extraordinary happens. Ali quickly becomes obsessed with Cole, and it seems as if he feels the exact same way. But Ali soon realizes that Cole is hiding some major secrets, dangerous ones that could end up getting her very hurt... or even killed.

As Ali becomes more enmeshed in Cole's world and learns more about the monsters, who turn out to be zombies, she develops a passion for vengeance and will not rest until she does her part to eradicate them all. If only she could have foreseen who her opponent would end up being... will Ali make it out alive? Or will she be turned into the very thing she fears?

*SQUEEEEEEE* I have to admit that I wasn't super jazzed about this one when I first heard about it but decided to give it a go and I am SOOOO happy I did. This book ROCKS! Zombies are of course awesomesauce but there's just so much in this book that is amazing. The characters... I LOVE them! And not even just the main characters, but the supporting cast as well. I want to know everything I can about all of them and that is so rare.

And then there's Cole. *dreamy sigh* There's just something about those bad boys! Cole is beyond sexy and I love his interactions with Ali. Seeing something develop between those two is a real treat! While romance doesn't play the number one role in this book, it's definitely there in what I think is just the right amount. Love it!

I really can't say enough about this book. Superb. 5 of 5 stars. It's pacing is great, the characters are relatable and engaging, the action is intense and frequent, and the romance is sizzling. Showalter is a genius! I can't believe I'm going to have to wait soooo long for book two! This is one I'll definitely be buying for myself when it comes out in September because I have to read it again! Soon! It's seriously that good. Make sure you do yourself a favor and snatch it up when it comes out. But go during the daylight hours... and if you see a rabbit shaped cloud, beware!! *XOXO*

Expected publication date: September 25, 2012 by Harlequin Teen

In My Mailbox (24)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. Here are books I've either won, been given, borrowed, or bought this past week:

For review:
*thanks to Around the World Tours*

Synopsis: Rachel and Alice are an extremely rare kind of identical twins—so identical that even their aunt and uncle, whom they’ve lived with since their parents passed away, can’t tell them apart. But the sisters are connected in a way that goes well beyond their surfaces: when one experiences pain, the other exhibits the exact same signs of distress. So when one twin mysteriously disappears, the other immediately knows something is wrong—especially when she starts experiencing serious physical traumas, despite the fact that nobody has touched her. As the search commences to find her sister, the twin left behind must rely on their intense bond to uncover the truth. But is there anyone around her she can trust, when everyone could be a suspect? And ultimately, can she even trust herself? Master storyteller Jessica Warman will keep readers guessing when everything they see—and everything they are told—suddenly becomes unreliable in this page-turning literary thriller.

Synopsis: Pia has grown up in a secret laboratory hidden deep in the Amazon rain forest. She was raised by a team of scientists who have created her to be the start of a new immortal race. But on the night of her seventeenth birthday, Pia discovers a hole in the electric fence that surrounds her sterile home—and sneaks outside the compound for the first time in her life.

Free in the jungle, Pia meets Eio, a boy from a nearby village. Together, they embark on a race against time to discover the truth about Pia’s origin—a truth with deadly consequences that will change their lives forever.

Origin is a beautifully told, shocking new way to look at an age-old desire: to live forever, no matter the cost. This is a supremely compelling debut novel that blends the awakening romance of Matched with the mystery and jungle conspiracy of Lost.

Synopsis: She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone. Her father was right. The monsters are real...

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies...

I wish I could go back and do a thousand things differently.
I'd tell my sister no.
I'd never beg my mother to talk to my dad.
I'd zip my lips and swallow those hateful words.
Or, barring all of that, I'd hug my sister, my mom and my dad one last time.
I'd tell them I love them.
I wish... Yeah, I wish.

Synopsis: Anna and Bennett were never supposed to meet: she lives in 1995 Chicago and he lives in 2012 San Francisco. But Bennett’s unique ability to travel through time and space brings him into Anna’s life, and with him, a new world of adventure and possibility.

As their relationship deepens, they face the reality that time might knock Bennett back where he belongs, even as a devastating crisis throws everything they believe into question. Against a ticking clock, Anna and Bennett are forced to ask themselves how far they can push the bounds of fate—and what consequences they can bear in order to stay together.

Fresh, exciting, and deeply romantic, TIME BETWEEN US is a stunning and spellbinding debut from an extraordinary new talent in YA fiction.

Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Ember Morrow is promised to a group called Conatus after one of their healers saves her mother's life. Once she arrives, Ember finds joy in wielding swords, learning magic, and fighting the encroaching darkness loose in the world. She also finds herself falling in love with her mentor, the dashing, brooding, and powerful Barrow Hess. When the knights realize Eira, one of their leaders, is dabbling in dark magic, Ember and Barrow must choose whether to follow Eira into the nether realm or to pledge their lives to destroying her and her kind.

With action, adventure, magic, and tantalizing sensuality, this book is as fast-paced and breathtaking as the Nightshade novels.

Given:
*thanks to Rachel Vincent*

Synopsis: I died on a Thursday-killed by a monster intent on stealing my soul. The good news? He didn't get it. The bad news? Turns out not even death will get you out of high school... Covering up her own murder was one thing, but faking life is much harder than Kaylee Cavanaugh expected. After weeks spent "recovering," she's back in school, fighting to stay visible to the human world, struggling to fit in with her friends and planning time alone with her new reaper boyfriend. But to earn her keep in the human world, Kaylee must reclaim stolen souls, and when her first assignment brings her face-to-face with an old foe, she knows the game has changed. Her immortal status won't keep her safe. And this time Kaylee isn't just gambling with her own life...

This has been one HECK of a book week for me! Reviews have already been posted for Beautiful Lies and Origin, and you can read all about my excitement over receiving Before I Wake here. How was YOUR week? Leave me a link, I'd love to check it out! And as always, HAPPY HAPPY READING!! *XOXO*

*REVIEW* Origin

Synopsis:

Pia has grown up in a secret laboratory hidden deep in the Amazon rain forest. She was raised by a team of scientists who have created her to be the start of a new immortal race. But on the night of her seventeenth birthday, Pia discovers a hole in the electric fence that surrounds her sterile home—and sneaks outside the compound for the first time in her life.

Free in the jungle, Pia meets Eio, a boy from a nearby village. Together, they embark on a race against time to discover the truth about Pia’s origin—a truth with deadly consequences that will change their lives forever.

Origin is a beautifully told, shocking new way to look at an age-old desire: to live forever, no matter the cost. This is a supremely compelling debut novel that blends the awakening romance of Matched with the mystery and jungle conspiracy of Lost.

This book was AWESOME!! There's something truly captivating about this story, I was not able to put the book down! Origin is a fantastic YA debut by author Jessica Khoury that will keep you frantically flipping the pages until you reach the end... and thinking about it long after you've put the book down.

Origin introduces us to Pia, an immortal created at Little Cam, a scientific community hidden in the middle of the rainforest. Pia is perfect, and has been told so her entire existence. Her skin is impenetrable, she never gets sick, her reflexes and senses are extremely advanced, her memory is flawless, and her intelligence is off the charts. Pia's entire life has been focused on training her to be ready to take over the Immortis project. She will be the one to usher in a new race, HER race of immortals. What else could she ever want?

The answer to that is ANSWERS... and freedom. Pia has never been outside the fence that surrounds Little Cam and it is forbidden for anyone at the compound to tell her of anything of the outside world. Pia's curiosity gets the best of her when she sees a hole in the fence, a hole that allows her to escape into the jungle. Here she meets Eio, an extremely attractive native with an interesting genetic makeup of his own. As Pia learns more about his world, and the world of his people, she starts to question where she really belongs. Could she have a life that does not revolve around elysia and the Immortis project?

Further complicating matters is shocking revelations that Pia uncovers about the true nature of the catalyst that granted her immortality. When she herself is given a task that horrifies her, will she be able to turn off her emotions and be the cold and dedicated scientist Paolo and the others require? Or is her humanity too great? Perfect is as perfect does in this amazing debut novel.

*SQUEE* I love this book!!! It's captivating, engaging, full of intrigue, romance, and even horror at times. This one will really get you thinking about right and wrong, good and evil, and the price of scientific discovery. Pia is the kind of character you just can't help rooting for. She's been sheltered and had secrets kept from her during her entire existence and getting to see her break out of that mold is wonderful.

Readers are taken on Pia's journey as she discovers everything there is to know about Little Cam and her role in the attainment of an immortal race. When it is all said and done, will she be able to make the right choice, even if the right choice means saying goodbye to everything she has ever known? And will falling in love open her eyes to a world of possibilities? All will be revealed!!

I really can't gush about this book enough. Everyone should read it! It's fresh, unique, and one of those books you just want to sit down with a glass of wine and a good friend and dissect! If you're over 21 anyway! Seriously though, this book is made of win. Be sure to grab a copy when it releases in September. Enjoy! *XOXO*

Expected publication date: September 4, 2012 by Razorbill
*thanks to Around the World Tours for the ARC*

SPECIAL PACKAGE!

Today, I got an incredible thing in the mail... a signed copy of Before I Wake by Rachel Vincent! *squee* This in and of itself would be cause for celebration, but it's EXTRA special because Rachel was looking for a high school guidance counselor's brain to pick for the book on twitter and I was lucky enough to be on that day and see her request. We emailed back and forth a few times and now I am in her acknowledgements which is super freakin' awesome and I cannot wait to read the scene with Kaylee and her guidance counselor!!! :)

Gush over. But how neat! I love how sites like twitter make it so easy for readers to get close to authors, close enough to be asked to help out! And YA authors seem especially willing to chit chat with fans and get to know them through these social outlets. Hard to believe we used to manage without the internet! Anywho... check out the synopsis for Before I Wake below and if you haven't tried this series yet, what are you waiting for???

Synopsis:

I died on a Thursday-killed by a monster intent on stealing my soul. The good news? He didn't get it. The bad news? Turns out not even death will get you out of high school... Covering up her own murder was one thing, but faking life is much harder than Kaylee Cavanaugh expected. After weeks spent "recovering," she's back in school, fighting to stay visible to the human world, struggling to fit in with her friends and planning time alone with her new reaper boyfriend. But to earn her keep in the human world, Kaylee must reclaim stolen souls, and when her first assignment brings her face-to-face with an old foe, she knows the game has changed. Her immortal status won't keep her safe. And this time Kaylee isn't just gambling with her own life...

Expected publication date: June 26, 2012 by Harlequin Teen

*REVIEW* Beautiful Lies

Synopsis:

Rachel and Alice are an extremely rare kind of identical twins—so identical that even their aunt and uncle, whom they’ve lived with since their parents passed away, can’t tell them apart. But the sisters are connected in a way that goes well beyond their surfaces: when one experiences pain, the other exhibits the exact same signs of distress. So when one twin mysteriously disappears, the other immediately knows something is wrong—especially when she starts experiencing serious physical traumas, despite the fact that nobody has touched her. As the search commences to find her sister, the twin left behind must rely on their intense bond to uncover the truth. But is there anyone around her she can trust, when everyone could be a suspect? And ultimately, can she even trust herself? Master storyteller Jessica Warman will keep readers guessing when everything they see—and everything they are told—suddenly becomes unreliable in this page-turning literary thriller.

What a ride this book is! Beautiful Lies is completely engaging and the pacing is fantastic. I didn't find myself bored at all and it was near impossible at times to put the book down! Warman does a fantastic job of spinning a tale full of mystery, intrigue, and twists and turns that will keep readers engaged until the very end.

Beautiful Lies introduces us to Rachel and Alice, identical twins who have been living with their aunt and uncle since a tragic car accident took the lives of their parents when they were younger. Rachel and Alice are extremely close and when Alice disappears, Rachel instantly senses that something is tragically wrong--especially when physical trauma begins popping up on her body in places where no one has touched her.

Rachel begins an intense search for her sister, convinced that she alone can find out what has happened to her. Readers quickly learn that NOTHING is as it seems and that everyone is a sispect. Will the left behind twin reach her sister in time? Will she uncover secrets that leave her doubting how close the twins really were? And will life ever be the same?

It's hard to write this review without spoilering so I'm going to be very, very careful. I thought this was a REALLY good book. I love it when I find it hard to put a book down and that was what this ENTIRE book was like for me. Warman's story-telling and pacing are spot on and I was fully engaged and invested in the story. Readers will frantically flip the pages of this thriller, dying to know what really happened.

Of course, it's not ALL good... there are things I STILL don't understand about this book and the unfortunate thing is, I can't go into detail without spoilering it. ARGH. I would have preferred a more wrapped up ending that answered some of my questions but it is what it is. And the ending itself? Was not expecting it and am a little bummed Warman went the direction that she did.

Anywho... would definitely recommend this one. I'd say it's about a 3.5 of 5 for me, the ending and the lasting confusion are the things keeping it from being higher. It's still a great book though and totally worth the read! Be sure to add it to your TBR pile for August releases. Enjoy! *XOXO*

Expected publication date: August 21, 2012 by Walker Childrens

*thanks to Around the World Tours for the ARC*

Teaser Tuesday: Beautiful Lies

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading!

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

-Grab your current read
-Open to a random page
-Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

This week's teaser comes from Beautiful Lies by Jessica Warman:

The room dissolves into inky patches of light and darkness. From somewhere far away, somewhere dark and damp and cruel, I hear my sister calling my name. The pain comes through her and into me. I feel it for both of us. Everything hurts. pg. 47

I'm currently reading the ARC of this book thanks to Around the World Tours. It's definitely interesting so far! There's a lot of mystery and intrigue and even though I'm only 130 pages in, there's already been an unpredicted twist. Be looking for a review later this week!

What are YOU reading? I love teasers so leave me a link and I'll check it out! *XOXO*

*REVIEW* Rapture

Synopsis:

The sky is dark with wings . . . .

Like sand in an hourglass, time is running out for Luce and Daniel. To stop Lucifer from erasing the past they must find the place where the angels fell to earth. Dark forces are after them, and Daniel doesn’t know if he can do this—live only to lose Luce again and again.

Yet together they will face an epic battle that will end with lifeless bodies . . . and angel dust. Great sacrifices are made. Hearts are destroyed. And suddenly Luce knows what must happen.

For she was meant to be with someone other than Daniel. The curse they’ve borne has always and only been about her—and the love she cast aside. The choice she makes now will be the only one that truly matters.

In the fight for Luce, who will win?

The astonishing conclusion to the FALLEN series. Heaven can’t wait any longer.

Welllll, the Fallen Series has reached it's end. I really don't know how I feel about it, to be honest. Perhaps I should have spent some more time reflecting before trying to write my review, but another book awaits and I wanted to write this while the story was fresh in my mind.

Rapture picks up where Passion left us, with Luce and Daniel racing against time to stop Lucifer's plan to erase thousands of years of history. The lovers team up with their angel pals, demon friends, and surprising allies to hunt down three relics, relics that will tell them the original site of the fall. This is where Luce will ultimately have to face Lucifer to save the world--if only she knew what her exact role would be.

The book is jam-packed with action and danger waits around every corner. Will Luce and Daniel get there in time to stop Lucifer? Will Luce finally learn all of her past, meaning who she is, how she met Daniel, and how this all began? Will the knowledge be too much for her to bear? And when it comes down to it, will an unexpected visitor turn everything upside down? All will be revealed in this fourth and final book of the Fallen Series.

I did like this book... a lot. The pacing was good and there was a lot of action that kept me completely engaged in the story. That being said, a big reveal wasn't that surprising because I had seen hints about it throughout the series, probably like most devoted readers have. What WAS surprising to me was the ending and I don't know that I like it all that much. While it didn't make me upset, angry, or shedding tears, it did leave me saying to myself, "Really?!" So I don't know... I guess I wish Lauren Kate had gone elsewhere with the ending. But it is what it is!

I think anyone who has read some of the Fallen Series should read it to its' conclusion. Rapture is a solid last book and many questions were finally answered. I'm sad to say goodbye to some of the characters, but thanks to the ending, it was a whole lot easier to say goodbye to a couple of them than I thought it would be.

Anywho... I still rated it 4 of 5 stars because it was a good book, even if the ending left me wanting. Hope you all enjoy it as much, or more, than I did! Happy Reading! *XOXO*

*REVIEW* Fallen in Love

Synopsis:

Unexpected. Unrequited. Forbidden. Eternal. Everyone has their own love story.

And in a twist of fate, four extraordinary love stories combine over the course of a romantic Valentine's Day in Medieval England. Miles and Shelby find love where they least expect it. Roland learns a painful lesson about finding-and losing love. Arianne pays the price for a love so fierce it burns. And for the first -and last- time, Daniel and Luce will spend a night together like none other.

Lauren Kate's FALLEN IN LOVE is filled with love stories . . . the ones everyone has been waiting for.

True love never says goodbye. . .

I ADORED this book! I didn't really have high expectations going into it because I assumed it would be pointless stories that didn't really add anything to the overall storyline but boy, was I wrong! The stories were not only entertaining and engaging, but they all tied together in a way that added to the overall storyline of the Fallen Series, allowed readers additional glimpses into the lives of loved characters, and for me at least, it led me to some SERIOUS speculation for the fourth and final book, Rapture.

Fallen in Love is four individual love stories that are tied together by a specific event, St. Valentine's Faire in Medieval England. We first visit Shelby and Miles who stumble into unexpected feelings while trying unsuccessfully to get home. They run into Roland who vows to help them with Luce and Daniel in this time period if they promise to return home immediately after. Roland does some returning of his own--to the love of his life who he harshly abandoned. Will she forgive Roland or did he break her heart past the point of no return? Or has she perhaps moved on and forgotten that he ever existed?

Next enters Arriane and her beautiful demon lover, Tess. Arriane and Tess have been sneaking around, stealing moments and kisses with one another for years and years. When Lucifer catches wind of what Tess has been up to, Arriane will be forced to choose between love and duty, right and wrong, and heaven and hell. Will she make the right choice or will she be burned... forever?

And throughout all of this is Luce and Daniel. Luce learns that her and Daniel have only ever had one Valentine's Day together, the night of St. Valentine's Faire in Medieval England. Though this experience will not help her in her travels, Luce decides to enjoy this rare moment of pure and unbridled joy with her love. Unbenownst to her, all of the others play a part in ensuring that she and Daniel have this night with one another.

*sighhhhh* I really liked this book. I just adore the love story of Luce and Daniel, especially when more and more becomes clear about them and the curse they must bear. And I LOVED the other stories as well! Getting to know more about Arriane, and how she received her hideous scar, and Roland with his sweet Rosaline! It was nice to get to know more about those characters. I only wish that Cam had been featured as well because I am DYING to know all there is to know about him.

And you can't forget about the Nephilim. Shelby and Miles' story was so CUTE. I like both of those characters a great deal and was so pleased to see their connection develop. Really curious to see if it continues in the next book! If you're a fan of the Fallen Series, I'd definitely mark this as a to-be-read book. In fact, I would read it BEFORE Rapture since as I mentioned before, I've got some hunches about where things might be headed.

Enjoy my fellow Fallen fans! *XOXO*

SUMMER, BABY!

Yayyy!!!! School is officially out for summer which means that I am on summer vaca until the end of August! I'm hoping to get a LOT of reading done this summer so I am super excited! I hope you all have a FABULOUS weekend!! *XOXO*

*REVIEW* Wicked Jealous: A Love Story

Synopsis:

Simone never saw herself as the “cute girl”—she was always the chunky, band tee wearing, France-obsessed smart girl. But now that Simone’s a few pounds lighter and sporting a new retro style, things have gotten, well, weird. Her crush Jason seems to actually know she exists. And when Simone’s soon-to-be stepmonster Hillary stops ignoring her, Simone knows something is up. When Simone’s brother offers to let her move in with him and his six roommates on the beach for the summer, Simone jumps at the chance. But living with seven very different college boys isn’t exactly helping her land her very own happily ever after.

What an adorable book! Wicked Jealous: A Love Story is a modern re-telling of Snow White and it is super cute, entertaining, and you'll find yourself rooting against the evil step-monster-to-be and rooting for the sweet girl who is slowly coming into her own. This is the perfect feel good summer book and everyone should scoop it up when it releases on July 19th.

The book begins by introducing us to Simone, the "Weird Fat Girl" who is most comfortable when she feels invisible, hiding from the world behind baggy clothes, extra pounds, and lots of super long hair. Simone never knew her mother, who died giving birth to her, and has turned to food for longer than she can remember for comfort. Just when Simone thinks things couldn't be worse, enter Hillary, a self-absorbed, over-bearing, and potentially evil woman who begins dating Simone's father. Things turn serious between the two which is how Simone finds herself shipped off to her brother's house for a month in the summer while her dad and Hillary take the family vacation--alone.

But before this happens, a miraculous thing happens to Simone... she begins losing weight. Inspired by Zumba, and some friendly middle-aged women who take the class with her, Simone begins focusing on a healthier life style. Simone's best friend, Nicola, takes the opportunity to perform the makeover of ALL makeovers on Simone, taking her from the sidelines of life and shoving her into the spotlight. Because hidden behind all of Simone's defenses was one seriously smokin' and interesting girl.

Simone enters into a summer, living with a house full of boys, that will change her life forever. She begins to learn who she really is, the things that matter to her, and gains confidence in her ability to know what is best for her and her life. It's possible that Simone just may fall in love, but will Hillary find a way to mess that up... permanently? You've got to read it to find out!

I really, really, really enjoyed this book. It was a super cute and relatable book and Simone was just a doll. I guess I can relate to her because I've struggled with weight and know how hiding behind those kinds of things can be a safety barrier. I found myself rooting for her, desperate to see her achieve true happiness. And the love thing? All I can say is, I saw that one coming and it couldn't have come fast enough! Definitely recommend this to all. Great, great read! Enjoy! *XOXO*

Manic Monday! (22)

Welcome to Manic Monday! Manic Monday is all about finding things to look forward to on Tuesday, because who loves Monday? And we all know Tuesday means NEW RELEASES!! So each Monday, I'll highlight a book or two that are coming out the next day. Just a little something to help you find that silver lining!

The book I'm highlighting this week is Rapture by Lauren Kate:

Synopsis:

The sky is dark with wings . . . .

Like sand in an hourglass, time is running out for Luce and Daniel. To stop Lucifer from erasing the past they must find the place where the angels fell to earth. Dark forces are after them, and Daniel doesn’t know if he can do this—live only to lose Luce again and again.

Yet together they will face an epic battle that will end with lifeless bodies . . . and angel dust. Great sacrifices are made. Hearts are destroyed. And suddenly Luce knows what must happen.

For she was meant to be with someone other than Daniel. The curse they’ve borne has always and only been about her—and the love she cast aside. The choice she makes now will be the only one that truly matters.

In the fight for Luce, who will win?

The astonishing conclusion to the FALLEN series. Heaven can’t wait any longer.

*SQUEEEEEEEEE* I am so freakin' EXCITED!!!! I have to admit that the second book in this series, Torment, wasn't the BEST and I wasn't expecting too much from book three, Passion. But book three surprised me and got me hooked back into this story. I can't wait to see the conclusion and to find out what happens to Luce and Daniel!! :)

*REVIEW* Cold Fury

Synopsis:

Sara Jane Rispoli is a normal sixteen-year-old coping with school and a budding romance--until her parents and brother are kidnapped and she discovers her family is deeply embedded in the Chicago Outfit (aka the mob).

Now on the run from a masked assassin, rogue cops and her turncoat uncle, Sara Jane is chased and attacked at every turn, fighting back with cold fury as she searches for her family. It's a quest that takes her through concealed doors and forgotten speakeasies--a city hiding in plain sight. Though armed with a .45 and 96K in cash, an old tattered notebook might be her best defense--hidden in its pages the secret to "ultimate power." It's why she's being pursued, why her family was taken, and could be the key to saving all of their lives.

Wow, what a RIDE! Cold Fury is packed full of action, violence, mystery, and surprises. After a fairly slow start (about the first 75 pages or so), things pick up and then go full speed ahead towards the conclusion of the book. Cold Fury is the first in a trilogy by T.M. Goeglein and I can't wait to see what happens next!

Cold Fury begins by introducing us to Sara Jane, a sixteen year old girl with an extremely tight-knit family. Her family is so close that she spends much of her free time with them and only has one real friend to speak of, Doug, who is hardly a close friend, but merely her fellow Classic Movie Club member. Right when things seem to be picking up in Sara Jane's life, with the addition of the hottie Max, Sara Jane's world turns upside down in the most violent way imaginable.

The Rispoli family, minus Sara Jane, has been brutally kidnapped and a masked man awaits Sara Jane when she arrives home on the scene. Barely escaping alive, and with the family dog in tow, Sara Jane begins an epic journey to discover who her family really is and what the secrets are that have led to them being taken. The revelation is shocking--Sara Jane's family is deeply involved in the Chicago Outfit and Sara Jane finds a mysterious notebook, a notebook that holds the key to how the Outfit operates and supposedly shows the way to the "ultimate power". As she delves deeper and deeper into the world of organized crime, and narrowly escapes numerous attacks on her life, Sara Jane discovers in herself a power that has been present in her family for ages, a power that may enable her to find her family before it is too late.

It would be a crime (ha! pun intended) to spoiler this book for anyone so I'm not even going to go there. Let me just say that you've got to give this book some time. I was groaning for the first 75 pages or so because it just seemed so slow but trust me, once things get going, they DO NOT STOP. The action and pacing in this book is superb and I found it extremely difficult to put it down! Everytime I thought I had gotten to a good resting place, something else would happen and I'd be sucked right back in. Cold Fury has that addicting quality that the best books master so well.

I'd highly recommend this book for anyone looking for something different. I hadn't read a mob-centered YA book before and was quite pleased! And since it's a trilogy, I can only imagine all that is to come. Because while readers do get some questions answered, there's still a lot of unknown in this fabulous world created by Goeglein. Grab this one when it releases, you owe it to yourself. Prepare for one hell of a ride... enjoy! *XOXO*

Expected publication Date: July 24, 2012 by Putnam Juvenile

*Thanks to Around the World Tours for the ARC!*

May TBR PILE Wrap-Up Challenge!

I am SO enjoying the TBR PILE Reading Challenge. For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, please click here for more information. Basically, it's a challenge designed to help readers (like me!) who have tons of books sitting on the shelf that have been waiting to be read for MONTHS. Since starting the challenge in January, I've read 18 books that had been collecting dust, being passed over time and again for newer releases. And aside from that benefit, this challenge is FUN. There are several blogs hosting and there's a fun wrap-up challenge and giveaway each month. What's not to like?! It's not too late to join in so think about it if you're like me and could use a push to get through some of those old books!

May's TBR PILE Wrap-Up Challenge's theme is MAYDAY: COVER DISASTERS! Here's the details and instructions from this month's host, Christa from Hooked on Books:

Here's what you need to do...

1) Find a book that you think has a horrible, eye sore of a cover. Post a picture of that cover in your May Wrap-up Post (or a separate post if you prefer)

2) Then tell me why you think this cover is so bad and what you would have done differently. Extra entry if you design an alternative cover!

3) Put the link to your post in the comments.

I didn't have to think about this one AT ALL. There is a cover that has irked me since I first laid eyes on it and here it is:

Wolfbane by Andrea Cremer is book two in the Nightshade Series and in my opinion, this cover is a HOT MESS. The pose is awkward, the colors are blah, the shading isn't good, and the girl just doesn't LOOK like Calla anymore. This cover probably wouldn't have been so offensive if the publishers hadn't decided to redo the look of them starting with book two. Because book one was GORGEOUS. And then the covers that came after it were just plain AWFUL. To see what I mean, check out the cover of book one:

Isn't Nightshade just splendid? I will never understand the decision making behind the change of these covers. I would have stuck with the same look of Calla for the cover of Wolfsbane and maybe had some wolves in the background or something, not just a really large moon. And I would have had more color, like Nightshade. Because let me tell you... if Nightshade had looked as craptastic as Wolfsbane when it came out, I may NEVER have picked up the series! Bad call, publishers. BAD CALL. Shame be on you!

Do you agree with my assessment? Think I'm being too harsh? I'd love to hear your opinions! And please have a HAPPY, HAPPY Friday and WEEKEND! And as always, HAPPY READING!! *XOXO*

*REVIEW* Passion

Synopsis:

Luce would die for Daniel.

And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn’t need to be that way. . .

Luce is certain that something—or someone—in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime . . . going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel . . . and finally unlock the key to making their love last.

Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history.

Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames . . . forever.

Passion is the third book in the Fallen Series and boy is it EVER full of passion! Lauren Kate does a brilliant job in this third installment of Luce and Daniel's story by taking us on an in-depth journey through their past--a journey that allows the readers to see how deep their love truly is and how devastating the curse is to them both. Equal parts romantic and heartbreaking, we gain a better understanding of what exactly the lovers are fighting for.

Passion is all about a journey--Luce's journey through her past. Luce decides to journey through the Announcers to gain as much understanding as she can about her and Daniel's love, and the horrible curse that continues to tear them apart. She goes into this journey doubting everything and wondering if it would be better for her and Daniel both if she found some way to move on. She encounters many different versions of herself including a Russian during World War II, a nurse during World War I, the Princess of Savoy, an actor at the Globe Theatre, and many, many more. Accompanying Luce on this voyage is Bill, a strange and mysterious creature she meets in an Announcer. While Bill seems to be helping her along, can he really be trusted?

While Luce flits through her past, Daniel desperately races after her, hoping and praying that she does not alter the path of history to the point that she ceases to exist. Unfortunately, he always seems to be a step or two behind. Will someone get to her first? Will Daniel get to her in time? Passion will leave you biting your nails as you await the answers to those questions.

I really liked this one, a solid 4 stars. I finally feel like I understand what's going on in this series and thank the FATES for that! And Luce and Daniel... *swoon*. What a romance! To see their love across the centuries, to see the pain they go through when it's time to part, yet knowing they do it over and over again because they have no other choice, what's not to love? It's a GREAT love story and who wouldn't want their very own Daniel? I have to admit I liked him WAY better in this book than I did in Torment. Passion shows us, without a shadow of a doubt, how much Daniel loves Luce and that everything he does is for her. My only SMALL complaint with this book was that even though I found the past lives intensely interesting, I found myself getting impatient about 3/4 of the way through. I wanted to get to the end and stopped caring about the details of their past lives.

I'm super stoked to see what happens when Rapture, the fourth and final book, comes out next week. The ending left me feeling really excited to see what happens when unlikely alliances are formed to take on a super baddie. Bring it on! :)

Waiting on Wednesday (29)

Synopsis:

Sixteen year-old Lark Ainsley has never seen the sky.

Her world ends at the edge of the vast domed barrier of energy enclosing all that’s left of humanity. For two hundred years the city has sustained this barrier by harvesting its children's innate magical energy when they reach adolescence. When it’s Lark’s turn to be harvested, she finds herself trapped in a nightmarish web of experiments and learns she is something out of legend itself: a Renewable, able to regenerate her own power after it’s been stripped.

Forced to flee the only home she knows to avoid life as a human battery, Lark must fight her way through the terrible wilderness beyond the edge of the world. With the city’s clockwork creations close on her heels and a strange wild boy stalking her in the countryside, she must move quickly if she is to have any hope of survival. She’s heard the stories that somewhere to the west are others like her, hidden in secret – but can she stay alive long enough to find them?

Expected publication: October 1, 2012 by Carolrhoda Lab

This one sounds AWESOME!!!! :)

I'm really interested to read this one, I love the premise of the children of this world having magical energy that is harvested to maintain the city barrier. Harvested... it's such a CREEPY word! I have a feeling it's going to be a little creepy in the book too. I can't wait to see what happens to Lark once she flees the city! What are YOU waiting on today? Leave me a link and I'll check it out! *XOXO*

*REVIEW* Torment

Synopsis:

Hell on earth.

That’s what it’s like for Luce to be apart from her fallen angel boyfriend, Daniel. It took them an eternity to find one another, but now he has told her he must go away. Just long enough to hunt down the Outcasts—immortals who want to kill Luce. Daniel hides Luce at Shoreline, a school on the rocky California coast with unusually gifted students: Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and humans.

At Shoreline, Luce learns what the Shadows are, and how she can use them as windows to her previous lives. Yet the more Luce learns, the more she suspects that Daniel hasn’t told her everything. He’s hiding something—something dangerous. What if Daniel’s version of the past isn’t actually true? What if Luce is really meant to be with someone else?

The second novel in the addictive FALLEN series . . . where love never dies.

Torment is the second book in the Fallen series and I think the title fits the book perfectly. It's obvious in this book that several of the characters are struggling with things, being "tormented" if you will by a past they can't escape and a future that is completely and utterly unclear. While I did not enjoy it as much as the first book, I think that Torment was a solid book two, albeit with a few minor annoyances which I'll delve into in a moment.

Torment picks up where Fallen left us, immediately after the battle at the cemetary. Daniel has made arrangements for Luce to transfer to Shoreline, a presitigous school on the west coast. Shoreline offers certain protections for Luce that will enable Daniel to work with Cam and others to hunt down the Outcasts, fallen angels who have been shunned by both camps. Rather than explain to Luce all that is going on, Daniel gives her as little information as possible and assumes she will obey his wishes and remain confined on the school's campus. He is hoping time at Shoreline will allow Luce to begin to learn the things that she must learn on her own. If only Daniel could have predicted her actions...

See, Luce begins to exert some independence at Shoreline in a MAJOR way. She begins experimenting with the Announcers, desperate to learn as much as she can about her past lives. She ignores Daniel's request for her to stay on campus and travels several times on various adventures, some of which could have ended very, very badly. And throughout it all, Luce begins to develop serious anger and doubt when it comes to everything she knows. Why is she being punished, forced to live again and again just to fall in love with Daniel and burn for it? And how much does her curse hurt the people who love her in each of her reincarnations?

On top of these newfound feelings, Luce begins to develop other feelings--feelings for Miles, a fellow student at Shoreline. Luce and Daniel have begun fighting nonstop and Luce is beyond frustrated with Daniel's inability to let her in, to tell her the things she desperately wants to know. And Miles is always there, so open and kind and stable and she can't help but form feelings for him, feelings that make her feel guilty, yet wonderful at the same time. Are her and Daniel truly meant to be? Or could she stop this cycle once and for all by finding love with someone else?

Like I said above, Torment is a solid book two. I liked the addition of the new characters and I enjoyed learning more about the angels and demons. However, there are still SO many unanswered questions, things that I really don't understand and that left me feeling quite a bit frustrated by the end of the book. And then there's Daniel... I really, really liked him in the first book but in this one, I struggled at times. He just seemed so unbending, unwilling to tell Luce anything, and he seemed a little controlling. While I'm SURE this came from a place of wanting to protect her, I found myself wanting to smack him!

And then there's Luce... yes, I understand it must be beyond frustrating to be left in the dark about so many things but she kind of plucked my nerves in this one a bit. On one hand, she seemed to grow more independent and I'd be cheering for her, but then she'd be overly negative and emotional and I'd find myself wanting to tell her to grow up. Because although Daniel did seem to be annoyingly controlling, it's clear that his intent is nothing but to keep her safe. It felt almost at times as if she did things simply because she thought she had been told not to, and that is WAY juvenile in my opinion.

All in all though, I'm still a huge fan of this series and will be starting Passion, book three, right away! If you haven't tried this series yet, I'd give it a go. If for nothing else, do it for the covers. Cause THEY ARE STUNNING. Enjoy! *XOXO*

2012 TBR PILE Reading Challenge: May Update!

FINALLY!! Things calmed down a bit for me and I was able to get some reading done. I read 9 books in May, woot woot! Of course, not all of them counted for this challenge. But I was able to knock 4 books off my TBR pile and that always feels so so good. Check 'em out:

Hush by Kate White

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Vol. 1: The Long Way Home by Joss Whedon and George Jeanty

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

Waiting for You by Susane Colasanti

What a great reading month! I'm hoping that June, July, and August continue the trend, especially since I only have two more weeks of work and then I'll be on SUMMER VACATION!!! It's this time of year that makes me LOVE the perks of my job. If you're looking for motivation to tackle your own TBR PILE, it's not too late to get in on this challenge! Check out my sidebar for more information and HAPPY READING! *XOXO*

FUN... SATURDAY?

Happy Fri... SATURDAY!! :) Welcome to FUN FRIDAY where I reveal something about me, some personal tidbit that will allow my followers to get to know me better. I follow several blogs and I sometimes wonder who the bloggers REALLY are behind the words, so I thought it would be a cool thing to open up a bit and to reveal more about who Karen really is. I'm clearly a day behind on this. I had started it yesterday but ended up leaving work early to take the fiance to get an MRI on his knee, and then I never got back to it last night!

Today I feel like talking about favorites. I know I've talked about my addiction to Blistex and Cherry Coke before, but there are SO many things that I love more than anything. One of those things: The Caramel Frappuccino from Starbucks. Oh my YUM. I have one most Friday mornings as a treat to myself for surviving the week. It's just so creamy and yummy and the caffeine kick is wonderful!! My other Starbucks addition: The Birthday Cake Pop. Goodness gracious, that is some ridiculously good stuff!

I make a spinach and strawberry salad that is soooooo tasty, I can't get enough of it when I make it. Unfortunately, it's not really healthy considering the two major ingredients of the dressing are vegetable oil and sugar but still, it's yum. Texas Roadhouse. Need I say more? They cook a MEAN steak there, I always leave super pleased and satisifed.

My MIO watch is AWESOME. It tracks your workout time and calories burned based on your heartrate since it tracks that as well. I'm not a huge fan of working out, but it's something I NEED to do in the coming months so the watch acts as a motivator, keeping me on track.

I could go on and on but it's SATURDAY!!! We have an appointment with our florist today for the wedding, then I have a hair appointment. THEN I think the fiance and I will park ourselves back on the couch to watch more Modern Family. We just got the third season through Amazon on Demand and I freakin' ADORE that show. Too funny. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. It's JUNE! Which means summer is here to stay. *XOXO*