*REVIEW* The Heir by Kiera Cass

Synopsis:

Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible.

But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests.

Eadlyn doesn't expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn's heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she's always thought.

I SO wanted to love this book... I went into it with super high expectations because I truly adore The Selection Series. Unfortunately, this book didn't quite meet my expectations and left me feeling rather conflicted. On one hand, I flew through this book as quickly as I did the others and that usually is a good sign... but the real kicker for me is Eadlyn. 

What can I say about Eadlyn? I find her absolutely insufferable. She's snotty, selfish, arrogant, cruel at times, and frankly oblivious over things that seem so obvious to the reader. For about the first two-thirds of the book, I wanted to throat punch her every other time she opened her mouth. And if you think just dealing with her spoken words is annoying, HA! Her inner thoughts and dialogue make her just as repulsive. 

That being said... there were a few times towards the end where I might have seen the smallest glimmer of hope for her redemption. I'm truly hoping that Kiera Cass WANTED it to play out that way for readers... building up just the right amount of hate tempered with the tiniest little bit of hope that will keep us hooked and reading the next installment of this story. 

All in all, if you're a fan, I'd still recommend this book. Just keep in mind that you might feel some anger and annoyance as you're reading it. I have high hopes that Kiera Cass will redeem not only Eadlyn but the story as a whole with the sequel. Because right now? This book just seems to be an attempt to cash in on a popular series, not necessarily make the series bigger and better. 

                                 

Kindle Deal Alert: The Beginning of Everything

I was lucky enough to read a copy of this book when it was an ARC titled Severed Heads, Broken Hearts and although they have changed the name, this book is SERIOUSLY worth a read... and at $1.99? You have nothing to lose!!!

My review so you believe me when I say this book is awesomesauce! 

Gobble this deal up while you can. Enjoy! *XOXO*

*REVIEW* The Secrets We Keep

Synopsis:

A girl takes over her twin sister's identity in this emotionally charged page-turner about the complicated bond between sisters.

Ella and Maddy Lawton are identical twins. Ella has spent her high school years living in popular Maddy's shadows, but she has never been envious of Maddy. In fact, she's chosen the quiet, safe confines of her sketchbook over the constant battle for attention that has defined Maddy's world.

When—after a heated argument—Maddy and Ella get into a tragic accident that leaves her sister dead, Ella wakes up in the hospital surrounded by loved ones who believe she is Maddy. Feeling responsible for Maddy's death and everyone's grief, Ella makes a split-second decision to pretend to be Maddy. Soon, Ella realizes that Maddy's life was full of secrets. Caught in a web of lies, Ella is faced with two options—confess her deception or live her sister's life.

The Secrets We Keep was definitely an interesting read... Can you imagine trying to live your dead twin's life? Craziness! This book is full of promise and is definitely a solid read. Unfortunately, I couldn't completely get there emotionally so my rating is a little lower than most peoples.

The Secrets We Keep introduces us to Ella and Maddy, twin teenage girls who have drifted apart in the past couple of years. When the unthinkable happens and the girls are in a horrific car accident, Ella wakes up with no recollection of who she is. When she realizes the truth, she decides to keep letting her family, friends and everyone else believe that it was Maddy who survived. Ella soon realizes that living someone else's life is not as easy as she thought it would be, especially when secrets begin to unravel. Will Ella continue to live the lie or will the truth will out? All is revealed in this emotional tale by Trisha Leaver.

This book was really good but I smelled the truth about Maddy coming a mile away and at times, it was hard to be emotional about her loss. That being said, I did manage to tear up at the end so it did snag me emotionally eventually, just not as early as I'd hoped. This is still a SOLID read though, one I highly recommend.

                         

Mother's Day

There is no greater joy than being a mother... it's something that you really cannot wrap your mind around until a little baby is placed in your arms. The overwhelming and all-consuming love I feel for my daughter shocked me in the intensity because I just don't think you ever really "get it" until you're living it. I am even more grateful and in awe of my mother now because being a mom makes you realize how much your own mother loves YOU. It's humbling and I tear up just thinking about some of things that I put her through. Hug and love on your mamas this weekend. Whether you believe it or not, you carry a piece of your mama's heart with you each and every moment. I'll leave you with one of my favorite poems about parenthood:

The Last Time

From the moment you hold your baby in your arms,

you will never be the same.

You might long for the person you were before,

when you had freedom and time,

and nothing in particular to worry about.

You will know tiredness like you never knew it before,

and days will run into days that are exactly the same,

full of feedings and burping,

nappy changes and crying,

whining and fighting,

naps or a lack of naps...

it might seem like a never-ending cycle.

But do not forget...

there is a last time for everything.

There will come a time when you will feed

your baby for the very last time.

They will fall asleep on you after a long day,

and it will be the last time you ever hold your sleeping child.

One day you will carry them on your hip then set them down,

and never pick them up that way again. 

You will scrub their hair in the bath one night,

and from that day on they will want to bathe alone.

They will hold your hand to cross the road,

then never reach for it again.

They will creep into your room at midnight for cuddles,

and it will be the last time you ever wake to this.

One afternoon you will sing "the wheels on the bus" and do all the actions,

then never sing that song again.

They will kiss you goodbye at the school gate,

the next day they will ask to walk to the gate alone.

You will read a final bedtime story and wipe your last dirty face.

They will run to you with arms raised for the very last time.

The thing is, you won't even know it's the last time

until there are no more times,

and even then, 

it will take you awhile to realize.

So while you are living in these times,

remember there are only so many of them,

and when they are gone,

you will yearn for just one more day of them.

For one last time.

Waiting on Wednesday (49)

Synopsis:

Sadie Kingston, is a girl living in the aftermath. A year after surviving a car accident that killed her friend Trent and left her body and face scarred, she can’t move forward. The only person who seems to understand her is Trent’s brother, Max.

As Sadie begins to fall for Max, she's unsure if she is truly healed enough to be with him — even if Max is able to look at her scars and not shy away. But when the truth about the accident and subsequent events comes to light, Sadie has to decide if she can embrace the future or if she'll always be trapped in the past.

Expected publication date: November 3, 2015 by HarperTeen

This book sounds GOOD! I cannot imagine the coping that is required of someone who survives something like that. And the part about the "truth about the accident"? Color me intrigued! Can't wait to get my hands on this baby!

*REVIEW* Invaded by Melissa Landers

Synopsis:
The romantic sequel to Alienated takes long-distance relationships to a new level as Cara and Aelyx long for each other from opposite ends of the universe...until a threat to both their worlds reunites them. 

Cara always knew life on planet L’eihr would be an adjustment. With Aelyx, her L’eihr boyfriend, back on Earth, working to mend the broken alliance between their two planets, Cara is left to fend for herself at a new school, surrounded by hostile alien clones. Even the weird dorm pet hates her.

Things look up when Cara is appointed as human representative to a panel preparing for a human colony on L’eihr. A society melding their two cultures is a place where Cara and Aelyx could one day make a life together. But with L’eihr leaders balking at granting even the most basic freedoms, Cara begins to wonder if she could ever be happy on this planet, even with Aelyx by her side.

Meanwhile, on Earth, Aelyx, finds himself thrown into a full-scale PR campaign to improve human-L’eihr relations. Humans don’t know that their very survival depends on this alliance: only Aelyx’s people have the technology to fix the deadly contamination in the global water supply that human governments are hiding. Yet despite their upper hand, the leaders of his world suddenly seem desperate to get humans on their side, and hardly bat an eye at extremists’ multiple attempts on Aelyx’s life.

The Way clearly needs humans’ help . . . but with what? And what will they ask for in return?

It had been quite awhile since I read the first book, Alienated, so I was nervous that getting back into things would be difficult for me. Boy, was that fear unfounded!!! Melissa Landers just has a way about her writing that completely ensnares you. Slipping back into this world felt as comfortable as putting on my favorite pair of worn-in jeans.

Invaded picks up where the first book left off, with Cara traveling to L'eihr while Aelyx remains behind on Earth. Cara has a difficult time adjusting on her new planet and it's clear that many L'eihrs are not happy about her being there. Cara is framed for some crimes that pack some extremely hefty penalties and she begins to struggle with knowing who to trust. Meanwhile, on Earth, Aelyx is plagued with assassination attempts on his life, attempts that his government is very quick to overlook...

Cara and Aelyx begin to realize that everything is not as it seems and that The Way is hiding some pretty massive secrets. Will they be able to figure things out in time or will the life they planned together be destroyed before it even begins? Strap yourself in for some intense interplanetary love and strife with our favorite humans and L'eihrs.

SQUEEEEE! Returning to this world was awesomesauce, these books are SO good! Some of my favorite things:

*The planet L'eihr. Landers does a wonderful job describing this new and interesting planet to readers. Sidenote: I want a house pet, but preferably one who doesn't want to pee on my pillow.

*Cara and Aelyx... the love. Oh, the love. I just adore this fictional couple, keeping things strong even as they are literally worlds apart. 

*Syrine's character development. From most-hated to quite-liked, I'm impressed by her transformation. 

Of course there's a ton more that I loved about this book but you'll just have to read it for yourself to see. You will NOT be sorry!