*REVIEW* Magnolia

Synopsis:

In Magnolia Branch, Mississippi, the Cafferty and Marsden families are southern royalty. Neighbors since the Civil War, the families have shared vacations, holidays, backyard barbecues, and the overwhelming desire to unite their two clans by marriage. So when a baby boy and girl were born to the families at the same time, the perfect opportunity seemed to have finally arrived.

Jemma Cafferty and Ryder Marsden have no intention of giving in to their parents’ wishes. They’re only seventeen, for goodness’ sake, not to mention that one little problem: They hate each other! Jemma can’t stand Ryder’s nauseating golden-boy persona, and Ryder would like nothing better than to pretend stubborn Jemma doesn’t exist.

But when a violent storm ravages Magnolia Branch, it unearths Jemma’s and Ryder’s true feelings for each other as the two discover that the line between love and hate may be thin enough to risk crossing over.

Magnolia is like a tall glass of sweet tea... southern, satisfying, sweet and refreshing. I INHALED this one because I found it impossible to put down. The chemistry between Jemma and Ryder leaps off the page and is guaranteed to ensnare and captivate anyone who reads this beauty of a book.

Magnolia introduces us to Jemma, a sweet southern teenager who has lived under the pressure to fall in love with Ryder her whole life. From shared pack n' plays and vacations to weekly forced dinners, Jemma is made to endure the presence of Ryder who she CANNOT stand. Jemma knows that there is no way that her mother's dream wedding will ever be a reality, but when a devastating and destructive hurricane bears down on Magnolia Branch, Jemma finds herself riding the storm out with only Ryder for company. As the weather escalates to truly dangerous conditions, will Jemma and Ryder recognize what's been in front of them all along, or will they realize their true feelings much too late? Readers will fall in love with this fast-paced and addictive story by the brilliant Kristi Cook. 

I seriously loved this book. It was such a quick and satisfying read that was really entertaining. I loved the drama of the storm, and the danger that was thisclose so many times to characters that you end up rooting for. Kristi Cook is a wonderful story teller and I promise that this one will keep you happily flipping the pages. Scoop this book up, throw it in your beach bag, and head to the beach for the day. You'll come home sunkissed and likely come home with a new favorite book. Enjoy! *XOXO*

*REVIEW* The Fine Art of Pretending

Synopsis:

According to the guys at Fairfield Academy, there are two types of girls: the kind you hook up with, and the kind you're friends with. Seventeen-year-old Alyssa Reed is the second type. And she hates it. With just one year left to change her rank, she devises a plan to become the first type by homecoming, and she sets her sights on the perfect date—Justin Carter, Fairfield Academy’s biggest hottie and most notorious player.

With 57 days until the dance, Aly launches Operation Sex Appeal and sheds her tomboy image. The only thing left is for Justin actually to notice her. Enter best friend Brandon Taylor, the school’s second biggest hottie, and now Aly’s pretend boyfriend. With his help, elevating from “funny friend” to “tempting vixen” is only a matter of time.

But when everything goes according to plan, the inevitable “break up” leaves their friendship in shambles, and Aly and Brandon with feelings they can’t explain. And the fake couple discovers pretending can sometimes cost you the one thing you never expected to want.

I'm going to be honest... when I started this one, I really thought that it wasn't the book for me. I even considered making it a DNF. Let me tell you, I am SO FLIPPIN' HAPPY that I stuck with it because once this book got rolling, I was HOOKED and I could not put it down! The characters are likable, the story is relatable, and you'll find yourself rooting for true love. This book is awesomesauce, totally made of win.

The Fine Art of Pretending introduces us to Aly, a teenager who is OVER being the "just a friend" girl. She learns from her best friend, Brandon, that the reason she's viewed that way is because the guys have dubbed her as a "commitment", a girl that you don't pursue unless you're ready for a full-fledged relationship. The "casual" girls are the ones the guys want to spend time with because it's all about having fun and not being serious. Aly decides that she's going to become a casual if it's the last thing she does... Operation Sex Appeal is underway!

Aly enlists Brandon's help by pulling the ultimate ruse... they pretend to be a couple, which Aly is hoping will solidify her new status since Brandon is a major hottie and player at school. The problem? The lines of pretend and real begin to get extremely blurry as old feelings are rekindled and confusion plagues them both. Will Aly's mission be a success, or will her plot destroy the real thing that's been under her nose all along? 

I just LOVE this book. It's a quick and easy read that's super engaging and just plain SWEET. Brandon and Aly have something real and extremely special, and watching them come to that realization is so enjoyable as a reader. This book will be the perfect companion as you soak up the last rays of warm sun as fall begins to take hold. Take this one to a park bench and be amazed at how quickly the time flies. Enjoy! *XOXO*

Expected publication date: September 30, 2014 by Spencer Hill Contemporary

Waiting on Wednesday (45)

Synopsis:

Something strange is going on in the tiny coastal town of Liberty, Oregon. Cara has never seen a whale swim close enough for her to touch it—let alone knock her into the freezing water. Fortunately, cute newcomer David is there to save her, and the rescue leads to a bond deeper than Cara ever imagined.

But then she learns something about David that changes everything, and Cara is devastated. She turns to her best friend for support, but Rachel has changed. She’s suddenly into witchcraft, and is becoming dangerously obsessed with her new boyfriend….

Cara has lost her best friend, discovered that her soul mate is off limits, and has attracted the attention of a stalker. But she’s not completely alone. Her mysterious, gorgeous new friend Garren is there to support her. But is Garren possibly too perfect?

Expected publication date: January 6, 2015 by Swoon Reads

This one sounds really intriguing... and it releases on my baby's first birthday so it's got sentimental value already! (haha) But mystery, magic, friendship woes, and yummy boys? Bring it on! 

*REVIEW* Sinner

Synopsis:

A standalone companion book to the internationally bestselling Shiver Trilogy. 

Sinner follows Cole St. Clair, a pivotal character from the #1 New York Times bestselling Shiver Trilogy. Everybody thinks they know Cole's story. Stardom. Addiction. Downfall. Disappearance. But only a few people know Cole's darkest secret -- his ability to shift into a wolf. One of these people is Isabel. At one point, they may have even loved each other. But that feels like a lifetime ago. Now Cole is back. Back in the spotlight. Back in the danger zone. Back in Isabel's life. Can this sinner be saved?

Meh. That about sums up this book for me. I went into Sinner with high expectations, quite liking the Shiver Trilogy and basically anything Maggie Stiefvater writes. I don't know if maybe I should have re-read the trilogy, maybe I was too far removed from it, but I found myself not giving a crap about these two extremely flawed characters. 

Sinner is the story of Cole and Isabel being reunited in sunny California. Cole is on a comeback, starring on his own reality show while putting together a new band and new music, reconnecting with the rockstar he was before his infamous disappearance. Isabel is living a suburban nightmare, watching her parents drift further and further apart, while she attends school and works in a fashionable boutique store. Cole has one goal when it comes to Isabel and he'll stop at nothing to convince her that they belong together. Will these two broken individuals be able to find their way to each other or will they continue their destructive ways, alienating themselves from the one person who may be capable of loving them exactly as they are? Love and sins collide in this new tale by Maggie Stiefvater.

Again... meh. I just couldn't find it in me to connect to either Cole or Isabel, finding them both to be annoying, whiny, ungrateful, and just unrelatable. In fairness, it's been an extremely long time since I read the Shiver Trilogy and maybe I've just forgotten what it is that makes these characters lovable. I really wish I had revisited the series before trying to read Sinner because maybe the book would have hit me differently. As it stands now, I know I'll never read this one again because once was way more than enough. The one bright spot I'll say is the ending... whether or not they deserve it, there's always something satisfying about a happy ending. But really? Isabel is such an unpleasant character, she could have died and I would have been just as pleased. HA! That's an Isabel-like thing to say but seriously, try to find some joy before you suck all of it out of the world around you. 

*REVIEW* Mayday

Synopsis:

Why’d I do it? I suppose it’s the only question that really matters. 

Seventeen-year-old Crow will stop at nothing to protect her younger sister—even if it costs her her own life. But then she’s given a chance to come back and make things right. There are a few catches, though. First, she won’t come back as herself. And before she can set things straight, she’ll have to figure out what’s what—and things aren’t exactly as clear-cut as she remembered.

Powerful and hard-hitting, this is a compelling story about what it means to live your life—for your own sake—from an award-winning author.

I've been putting off writing this review because I just can't seem to figure out what I want to say. I liked this book enough, but something about it left me feeling like there was something missing. That being said, I would still give this 3 of 5 stars because there IS something compelling about this book... I just wish the ending had me feeling more.

Mayday introduces us to Crow, a teenage girl who finds herself living an out-of-body experience as her body decays in a coma that doctors say she will never wake from. Crow is given the chance to go back in time, to relieve important moments, to get things right. Crow believes that she's been given this opportunity to go back in time to save her sister, but soon learns her sister may not be the one who needs saving after all. Unfortunately for Crow, she may figure things out much too late.

This book was very engaging for much of the story but as I said above, at the end I just felt sort of let down. Truthfully, that may be because even though the ending is told to us very early on, I suppose I just did not want to believe it. I was hoping there would be some catch or something that changed the outcome. That being said, watching Crow go back in time and learn things not only about herself but about her loved ones was very entertaining and moving. Mayday is definitely worth a read, but you may not end up elated at the end. That's my two cents! Enjoy!

*REVIEW* Trial By Fire

Synopsis:

Love burns. Worlds collide. Magic reigns.

This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying many of the experiences that other teenagers take for granted... which is why she is determined to enjoy her first (and perhaps only) high-school party. But Lily's life never goes according to plan, and after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly Lily is in a different Salem - one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruellest of all the Crucibles is Lillian... Lily's identical other self in this alternate universe. This new version of her world is terrifyingly sensual, and Lily is soon overwhelmed by new experiences.

Lily realizes that what makes her weak at home is exactly what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. It also puts her life in danger. Thrown into a world she doesn't understand, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone, and a love she never expected.

But how can Lily be the saviour of this world when she is literally her own worst enemy?

Trial by Fire was a surprising hit for me because I really wasn't too sure what to think when this one started out. The beginning was a little lackluster for me but once things picked up, they went full steam ahead, barreling towards an ending that will have readers salivating for the sequel.

Trial by Fire introduces us to Lily, a teenage girl with debilitating allergies, allergies that will soon place her under for-life house arrest. All Lily wants is to attend one high school party like a normal teenage girl, a party she is attending with her best friend turned maybe boyfriend. Unfortunately, the night ends in a total disaster and Lily finds herself wishing to disappear... she had no idea how very real that wish was about to become.

Lily finds herself in an alternate world, a world where her weaknesses are actually strengths and Lily learns that not only is she strong, she's one of the strongest witches in this new world. Lily finds herself in the midst of a war and she must decide which side she will fight on. Will Lily make the right choice? Will she find her way back home, or will she be stuck in this alternate world forever? All will be revealed in this fast-paced book by Josephine Angelini.

This book ended up surprising me quite a bit because at first, I wasn't too sure if it was going to be the book for me. Once I really got into it though, I got HOOKED. This is definitely a unique world that Angelini has created, I love the way that magic and science are intertwined in this story. If you're looking for a unique and fresh story, this could be the one for you! Magic, string theory, science, love, friendship and more collide to create a story that is engaging, entertaining, and definitely outside the box. Check it out for yourself when it releases in September. Enjoy!

Expected publication date: September 2, 2014 by Feiwel & Friends

*REVIEW* Famous Last Words

Synopsis:

Willa is freaking out. It seems like she's seeing things. Like a dead body in her swimming pool. Frantic messages on her walls.  A reflection that is not her own. It's almost as if someone -- or something -- is trying to send her a message.

Meanwhile, a killer is stalking Los Angeles -- a killer who reenacts famous movie murder scenes. Could Willa's strange visions have to do with these unsolved murders? Or is she going crazy? And who can she confide in? There's Marnie, her new friend who may not be totally trustworthy. And there's Reed, who's ridiculously handsome and seems to get Willa. There's also Wyatt, who's super smart but unhealthily obsessed with the Hollywood Killer.

All Willa knows is, she has to confront the possible-ghost in her house, or she just might lose her mind... or her life.

Famous Last Words is an entertaining and fast-paced read that I devoured in just a couple days. While the identity of the 'Hollywood Killer' was slightly predictable (mmkay, a whole lot predictable, I called it way early on), I was still completely invested in the story and wanted to see how things played out. Katie Alender weaved a tale that was a solid 4 stars. If mystery, murder, and ghostly mayhem are some of your things, this book could be for you.

Famous Last Words introduces us to Willa, a teenage girl uprooted and relocated to L.A. when her mom marries a famous Hollywood director. It's hard to feel too sorry for Willa when you read about the new mansion she'll be living in, complete with killer pool, killer views, and a killer--ghost?! Soon after moving in, Willa encounters some strange phenomenon... phenomenon that has her wondering whether or not her house (and her ghost) are somehow related to the Hollywood Killer's murders. Enlisting the help of Wyatt, a strange yet intriguing classmate, Willa begins to try to communicate with the ghost to discover the truth. Will Willa learn what she needs to learn in time, or will she be the next target of the infamous killer? 

I was surprised by how much I liked this one because while it definitely sounded interesting, I figured it would just be all right. Some of these murder mysteries end up being not all that mysterious and while the killer in this one was pretty predictable, the story was still pure entertainment. I really liked the supernatural element as well. The truly surprising thing about this book was the empathy you end up feeling for Willa as you watch her learn to love herself again and to allow other people in. And yes, there's even some love in this book. All good things. Check it out in September. Enjoy!

Expected publication date: September 30, 2014 by Point