*REVIEW* All the Truth That's in Me

Synopsis:

Four years ago, Judith and her best friend disappeared from their small town of Roswell Station. Two years ago, only Judith returned, permanently mutilated, reviled and ignored by those who were once her friends and family. Unable to speak, Judith lives like a ghost in her own home, silently pouring out her thoughts to the boy who’s owned her heart as long as she can remember—even if he doesn’t know it—her childhood friend, Lucas. But when Roswell Station is attacked, long-buried secrets come to light, and Judith is forced to choose: continue to live in silence, or recover her voice, even if it means changing her world, and the lives around her, forever. This startlingly original novel will shock and disturb you; it will fill you with Judith’s passion and longing; and its mysteries will keep you feverishly turning the pages until the very last.

All the Truth That's in Me was a total surprise for me from the very beginning, mainly because I didn't know the book was not set in the modern world. This book will bring you back to a simpler time when towns were everything to people, and everyone in town knows EVERYONE else's business. But even though the time may have been simpler, the horrors that people can commit to each other are very much the same horrors people can face today.

All the Truth That's in Me introduces us to Judith, a girl who has been through a hellish ordeal, watching her best friend get murdered and then being kidnapped and mutilated before being set free. Judith has returned to her town as an outcast--she's mute now and feels like she's lost her voice in more ways than one. She is forced to watch the boy she loves live his life with another and truly feels that her life is hopeless. An attack on the town forces Judith to consider the unthinkable... what is she willing to trade for the safety of her town? Judith's choices lead to shocking revelations in her town, revelations that will change things forever...

This book was a little slow for me at first, but I was definitely intrigued to find out all that had happened to Judith in her captivity. And once the story really got going, it was impossible to put down. I finished it in one sitting once I reached the halfway mark! There's definitely some twists and turns that will keep you riveted and the ending is wonderful in more ways than one. This book? A definite winner. See for yourself when it releases in September. Enjoy! *XOXO*

Expected publication date: September 26, 2013 by Viking Juvenile

*REVIEW* Shadows

Synopsis:

Maggie knows something’s off about Val, her mom’s new husband. Val is from Oldworld, where they still use magic, and he won’t have any tech in his office-shed behind the house. But—more importantly—what are the huge, horrible, jagged, jumpy shadows following him around? Magic is illegal in Newworld, which is all about science. The magic-carrying gene was disabled two generations ago, back when Maggie’s great-grandmother was a notable magician. But that was a long time ago.

Then Maggie meets Casimir, the most beautiful boy she has ever seen. He’s from Oldworld too—and he’s heard of Maggie’s stepfather, and has a guess about Val’s shadows. Maggie doesn’t want to know... until earth-shattering events force her to depend on Val and his shadows. And perhaps on her own heritage.

In this dangerously unstable world, neither science nor magic has the necessary answers, but a truce between them is impossible. And although the two are supposed to be incompatible, Maggie’s discovering the world will need both to survive.

I really wasn't sure what to expect with Shadows, especially after the first couple of chapters. Robin McKinley has created a totally fresh and unique world that takes some adjusting to. I have to admit, I was confused quite a bit there in the beginning! That confusion kept me from loving the story at first, but once I got to know the characters? Completely different story. Shadows reeled me in and kept me glued to the pages until the very end.

Shadows introduces us to Maggie, a Newworlder who is less than thrilled with her mom's choice in a new husband. Val creeps Maggie out majorly, mainly due to the weird and frightening shadows that she sees clinging to him and following him around everywhere he goes. Maggie is convinced he's hiding secrets, and that he didn't quite leave all magic behind in Oldworld.

Just when Maggie begins to fear she's losing it, she meets Casimir, a beautiful stranger from Oldworld who seems quite intrigued and taken by her. An explosive encounter with Val leads Maggie to some shocking truths about what she has been seeing. It all comes to a head when Maggie and Casimir encounter a shocking and dangerous event in a park, an event that Maggie seems to have the power to stop. Maggie is thrust into a world that she thought was gone in Newworld forever and she learns that she may just have the power to help fix everything. Shocking twists and revelations abound in this fantastical tale by Robin McKinley.

Like I said above, there are many elements to the world that Robin McKinley created that are a tad bit confusing in the beginning. It takes a little while to wrap your mind around everything! But don't you worry... you will end up so attached to Maggie and Taks and Mongo and EVERYONE that you won't care that you don't FULLY know what's going on, it just ends up adding to the experience!

This book has so many good things going on: action, intrigue, mystery, romance, friendship, family, love, magic, and lots of sweet and helpful critters. I want a dog just like Mongo now! And the characters are FABULOUS and you will end up rooting for them all. And the romance... the romance!!! LOVED it! The book leaves things totally open so I'm hoping that Robin McKinley is planning on writing a sequel ASAP. Seriously... you will love this book. Look for it in September! Enjoy! *XOXO*

Expected publication date: September 26, 2013 by Penguin Group (USA)

*REVIEW* Relativity

Synopsis:

If Ruby Wright could have her way, her dad would never have met and married her stepmother Willow, her best friend George would be more than a friend, and her mom would still be alive. Ruby knows wishes can't come true; some things just can't be undone. Then she discovers a tree in the middle of an Ohio cornfield with a wormhole to nine alternative realities.

Suddenly, Ruby can access completely different realities, each containing variations of her life—if things had gone differently at key moments. The windshield wiper missing her mother’s throat... her big brother surviving his ill-fated birth...her father never having met Willow. Her ideal world—one with everything and everyone she wants most—could be within reach. But is there such a thing as a perfect world? What is Ruby willing to give up to find out?

Relativity by Cristin Bishara was a solid and entertaining read about a fascinating topic: alternate realities. Who doesn't think it would be neat to be able to travel to a world where your life has played out in a different way based on small and seemingly insignificant choices? If you're into that kind of thing, you will find this book highly entertaining.

Relativity introduces us to Ruby, a teenage girl who has been moved halfway across the country to live with her father's new wife and her heinous and evil daughter. Ruby is upset that her life has been uprooted, especially since she left behind her best friend, George, who she happens to be in love with. The only thing Ruby likes about her new house and life is this old and majestic tree on the property that she can't seem to stay away from. And this tree is hiding a powerful secret...

Turns out, the tree is a wormhole to alternate realities and Ruby quickly becomes engrossed in learning about the alternate lives going on. Ruby gets to experience life where her mom did not tragically die and she even gets to meet a brother that never existed in her world. And in several worlds, Ruby has a connection with George that is much more than friendship. Will Ruby decide to stay in an alternate and better world? Or will seeing how things could have been make her miss her real life that much more?

This book was super entertaining, I LOVE the idea of alternate realities! It was highly entertaining to see how each world was playing out and to see Ruby's reaction to the changes. And being able to spend time with her mom? Completely heartwarming. And her brother? Loved him! I hated that Ruby had to leave so much behind each time she moved on to another world.

I was pleased by the ending but refuse to spoiler it for anyone so you'll just have to check it out for yourself when it releases in September. You won't be sorry, enjoy! *XOXO*

Expected publication date: September 10, 2013 by Walker Childrens

Perfect Pins: Inspiration Edition

Welcome to PERFECT PINS! Perfect Pins is a nod to my newest obsession: Pinterest. Pinterest is AMAZING and I am so addicted to that site! I've gotten so many awesome ideas, DIY projects, and recipes from the site and I've really started to accumulate a list of things I've tried. So I figure once a week, I'll highlight something amazing that I've pinned.

This week's post stems from a very sad and heartbreaking thing... the loss of a dear soul much too soon in life. A high school classmate of mine unexpectedly collapsed at church this morning and could not be revived. While we still have not heard what caused her death, she was seemingly healthy, happy and young. At only 32 years old, and a mother of two young children, her death comes as a shocking blow to all who knew her. She was a beautiful and caring soul, inside and out, and she will be deeply missed.

How this ties into Pinterest for me is my Quotes and Inspiration Board. Pinterest has given me much to think about from famous words of famous people, to quotes from ordinary people like me. As there are too many wonderful ones to post, I will link my board here. If you're ever in need of inspiring words, you're sure to find some there.

And as for me, this will serve as a reminder to me right now:

Hold your loved ones a little closer tonight. Tomorrow is a gift, not a guarantee. *XOXO*

Waiting on Wednesday (42)

Synopsis:

A teenage girl is transformed into a reluctant superhero and must balance her old life with the dark secret of who she has become.

Prima ballerina Anthem Fleet is closely guarded by her parents in their penthouse apartment. But when she meets the handsome Gavin at a party on the wrong side of town, she is immediately drawn into his dangerous world. Then, in a tragic accident, Anthem falls to her death. She awakes in an underground lab, with a bionic heart ticking in her chest. As she navigates her new life, she uncovers the sinister truth behind those she trusted the most, and the chilling secret of her family lineage... and her duty to uphold it.

The Dark Knight meets Cinder in this gripping and cinematic story of heartbreak and revenge. From Alloy Entertainment, this inventive new superhero story is sure to captivate any reader.

YAYYYYY! Everyone knows I love me some superheroes so this book caught my eye immediately when I read the premise. Cannot wait to see what it's all about when it releases in October.

Expected publication date: October 8, 2013 by HarperTeen

It's JUNE, y'all!

HAPPY, HAPPY JUNE!!!!! :)

For all my fellow educators, you guys will understand why June is one of my favorite months of all... THE BEGINNING OF SUMMER VACATION!!! It's been one heck of a year for me at work and I am ready to put it all behind me and to use the summer months to refresh and recharge before the next school year is upon us. The official countdown has begun: 10 more work days and then it is blessed freedom. Cannot wait! Hope June treats you all kindly and that you get lots of summer reading done. Bring on the warm days, warm breezes, and lazy afternoons with favorite literary characters. Enjoy! *XOXO*